WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.000 Welcome. Just hand Away Tagalog Sermon Podcast your daily dose 2 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:12.919 of inspiring from heartfelt tagalog sermons from different characters and 3 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.480 speakers all over the Philippines. We've hopen this podcast finds 4 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.839 you in good shape and now here's your message. 5 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.960 You're listening to a podcast or from Victory. The outworking 6 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.839 of a disciple of life is a spirit empowered life. 7 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:34.359 Learn more about this message and week six of our 8 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:36.000 series Make Rooms. 9 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:43.479 When I was still lost and not yet a Christian, 10 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:47.479 every time somebody would invite me to church, I would 11 00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:51.640 say no for three reasons. One, I have three mindsets 12 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:56.200 that I have Mali church. One is that I thought 13 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.719 church is boring, so I don't want to be bored, 14 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:01.520 so I don't want to go to church. Second, I 15 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.040 thought the church is just for older people. I'm not 16 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:08.319 sure if young people have a place in church. And third, 17 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:12.239 I thought church is for good people, but for people 18 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:15.439 like me who is I know I'm not good, I'm 19 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:20.159 not righteous, so I'm not ready for church. And praise God, 20 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:25.400 God changed that mindset and I was eventually invited to church, 21 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.560 and I discovered that church is completely the opposite of 22 00:01:29.560 --> 00:01:34.879 what I was thinking. I realized church is not boring. Well, 23 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:40.760 I'm convinced no, church is not boring. I thought church 24 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:46.040 is boring. Mindset compuna. Church is a gathering that I 25 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:49.640 attend once a week. I realize eventually the church is 26 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:52.879 beyond that. It's not just the meeting that I attend. 27 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:57.200 There's more to church than just attending a service, because 28 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:58.400 the church is the people. 29 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:01.959 It's not a building. It's not this mall. 30 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:06.200 It's not can third floor for floor Palata and then 31 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:10.639 sab Bahamali Patai is a third floor Sa Toy Kingdola 32 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:16.879 second Florians. But anyway, we're in the building. But the 33 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.599 church is not the building, it's the people. 34 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:20.400 And so uh. 35 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:22.879 And also church is not just for older people, it's 36 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:26.879 also for the younger generation. And that the church is 37 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.240 really not for the good people. 38 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:31.080 It's actually for the bad people. 39 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:33.919 So if you're wondering why that person is here in 40 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:37.360 church today. 41 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.960 Now you know. But we all need Jesus. 42 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.439 It's not just people who are far away from Christ, 43 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:46.439 but even those who think they are close to Him. 44 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:47.400 Now we are. 45 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.199 I want to go straight to the word today to 46 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:54.159 make sure that will end on time. But we are 47 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:56.840 now in the last installment of our series and we're 48 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:01.400 talking about the Holy Spirit. We said side six weeks 49 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:05.719 talking about the Holy Spirit because we want to understand 50 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:09.560 the person in the works of the Holy Spirit. I 51 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.840 shared at the beginning of this series that I grew 52 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:16.400 up knowing and not knowing, but hearing. 53 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:17.240 About the Holy Spirit. 54 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:20.879 I was taught to pray in the name of the Father, 55 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.120 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So I grew up 56 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:30.000 reciting it without me really understanding what I'm saying. Then 57 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.360 when I became a Christian, I understood the importance the 58 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.960 person and the necessity of the Holy Spirit. That I 59 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:42.360 cannot live as a Christian without the Holy Spirit, that 60 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:45.759 it will be empty religion without the Holy Spirit. 61 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:48.680 So today we are at the. 62 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:52.840 Last installment and we're trusting that this series really is 63 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:56.639 helping you in terms of your walk with God. Yesterday 64 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.439 we had a shooting, a video shoot or one of 65 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.120 our trainings here in church. 66 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:04.520 And one thing I. 67 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.840 You know, I realized because say in a train Ami mcvlog, 68 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:09.479 you know, mug. 69 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:15.159 Shooting, and here Helen you are saying you need may screing. 70 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:24.680 You means some jolly person camera and also happen Baramo 71 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:31.639 and becomas natural Paramascan and yesterday we struggled the first 72 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:36.639 few minutes trying to make ourselves really comfortable in front 73 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:39.920 of the camera. It's not really easy, but you know, 74 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:46.720 we're doing this not because we need a sideline and 75 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:51.199 extra kita, but because we want to be effective as 76 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:51.680 a church. 77 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:54.279 We need to evolve as a church. 78 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:56.920 We kind of just keep doing the things that we're 79 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.720 doing just because it worked in the past. 80 00:04:58.800 --> 00:04:59.639 It doesn't mean. 81 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:01.920 That we can just keep doing it and hope that 82 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.199 it will continue to be effective and reaching to the 83 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:07.120 people that God is calling. 84 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:07.360 Us to reach. 85 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:11.759 And we all know our behavior today maramitaios now or 86 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.399 us in ubusun atens a harabnan screen, whether that's Facebook, 87 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.879 whether that's Instagram, that's where people are today. And if 88 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:21.879 we are going to be the light and salt of 89 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.480 this world, we need to be where the people are. 90 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.560 And so we're trying to learn although it's not easy, 91 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:31.040 although it's not convenient for us, we're trying to do 92 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.120 it again because we don't want to become irrelevant as 93 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:40.399 a church. Because God called us to be part of 94 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:43.279 his mission. You know, there's a book that we are 95 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:45.959 assigned to read today by pastor den is our boss. 96 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:49.399 And the title of this book is Beyond Charity. 97 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.519 By John Perkins, and I like to quote a portion 98 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:57.759 of this book talking about what's happening to some churches today. 99 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.040 He said, we have turned the church into an institution 100 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:04.920 that serves us instead of God. In fact, the church 101 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:07.360 that we are most committed to is the church that 102 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:11.439 will meet most of our personal and family needs. This 103 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:17.000 is known as consumer Christianity, wherein many Christians are becoming 104 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:21.759 experience seekers rather than effective ministers of the gospel. We're 105 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.920 jumping from one church to another depending on what church. 106 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:28.319 Is meeting our needs better. 107 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:33.360 Sanmas Magundu music, Sinemas Magandu preaching, sin Mus maganda young 108 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.000 kids church. 109 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:35.279 And there's nothing wrong with that. 110 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:38.319 We want to be better in serving people, but that 111 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.439 should not be the main consideration why we stay in church. 112 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:46.399 We stay in church because God placed us in this 113 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:50.959 church and there is a role, a function that God 114 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:55.199 is expecting us to play. I like this calle from 115 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:58.040 Henry Martin's a missionary to India. He said, the spirit 116 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:02.439 of Christ is the spirit missions. The nearer we get 117 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.639 to Him, the more intensely missionary we become. You know, 118 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:09.680 one way we can know we are going deeper in 119 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.120 our walk with God is when we find ourselves becoming 120 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.680 active in bringing people to Jesus, because the nearer we 121 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.319 get to him, the more we catch his heart for people. 122 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:24.279 And there's no way we can continue to ignore the 123 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:27.720 people around us, the people that were intimidated with or 124 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.600 irritated with. 125 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:30.160 Even if we. 126 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:35.759 Don't like people, we cannot ignore them the closer we 127 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:42.279 get to Jesus, because Jesus loves people and the reason 128 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.519 Jesus came and died on the cross, the Bible says 129 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:48.759 for God, who love the world. So the more we 130 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:51.360 become close to him, the more we catch his heart 131 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:57.839 for people. And our God is a missional God. That's 132 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.279 one thing that we can know about him, and he 133 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.199 wants the Church to be on mission. And that's what 134 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:06.639 we want to talk about today, us the church, not 135 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:10.920 just enjoying our relationship with God, but us as a 136 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.399 church on mission with God. So if you have your 137 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:17.319 Bible with you, we're going to read from Acts chapter one, 138 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.800 beginning in verse eight. There's just one verse for all 139 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:23.120 of us today. 140 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:26.920 It says, but you will receive power. Everyone say power. 141 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.160 When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you 142 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:34.399 will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, 143 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:37.120 and to the end of the earth. Let's just pray 144 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:40.000 right now, Lord, we thank you for your word today. 145 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:44.399 We thank you that your word is active, it's alive, 146 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:49.000 it's powerful. One verse can change us from the inside out. 147 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:51.519 So Lord, I thank you, Lord the True have a 148 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.480 word for us today, for the people who are here 149 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:56.879 for the first time, and for the people who've been 150 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.360 in church for many years. 151 00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:02.159 Lord, we thank you that you are going to just reinforce. 152 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:07.279 A conviction. Lord, you will enlighten us and open. Lord God, 153 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:10.759 just a revelation once again, in order for us to 154 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:14.919 understand Lord and be on fire again. 155 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:17.840 With the calling we received from you in Jesus. They 156 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:22.600 may pray. Amen. I'm not going to spend. 157 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:28.559 Minutes a long time explaining the context the verses before 158 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:32.159 the scripture, because in the first few weeks we already 159 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:36.519 talked about the context of this verse where Jesus rose 160 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:39.639 from the dead and for forty days he appeared to 161 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:42.840 his disciples to prove them that he's really alive. And 162 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.679 in that forty days he talked about the kingdom, not 163 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.919 just about salvation, but what God wants to do here 164 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:53.080 on earth. And then he asked them a question concerning 165 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:00.679 a question that is connected to their top concern that time. 166 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:03.240 It's connected to their political. 167 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:09.320 Concern, economic concern, concern about their ethnicity. And we can 168 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.840 all relate to that today because we are all in 169 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:16.559 church today with our different concerns. So many of you here, 170 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:21.639 you have a concern today. Maybe for some of us, 171 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:25.200 we are very concerned about politics in our nation, or 172 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:28.559 maybe we are concerned about our finances as a family, 173 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:34.960 or concern about the business or relationship. When they asked 174 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:37.759 their question to Jesus, this is the answer that he 175 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:42.639 gave them. Their concern was valid. But there is something 176 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:46.600 bigger than just the need at hand. And sometimes there's 177 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.039 a tendency for us to be so caught up with 178 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:52.279 the concern of the moment that we miss out on 179 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:56.440 what is bigger and what's more important in our lives. 180 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:59.960 And here's what Jesus told them, But you will receive power. 181 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:04.799 And I want to highlight three words for us today. 182 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:08.399 Three words I want to highlight in order for us 183 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:09.840 to get the message of Jesus. 184 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.720 First one is the word you, he. 185 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.360 Said, but you Okay, can you please turn to the 186 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:18.320 person say the next you tell that person you Because 187 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:22.600 Jesus was talking not just to the early disciples, this 188 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:28.600 message is for you and me today. Maybe you're wondering, uh, 189 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:34.679 sinebato manata is up Jesus and about profile and manata anata, 190 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:36.240 you know the. 191 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:37.879 People that is talking to. 192 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:40.240 According to the critics, there's a verse in the Bible 193 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.759 when they were describing the disciples of Jesus. They said, 194 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:50.039 they are ordinary people who are unschooled, meaning they don't 195 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:54.919 have formal training in scriptures, just like ninety nine percent 196 00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:00.679 of us here today. They are unimpressive and they have 197 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.759 imperfect lives. If you read about the story of Peter, 198 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:07.399 if you learn about the story of James, these people 199 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:13.279 have issues. They are imperfect, and they are not trained 200 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:16.320 in the scripture, just like you and me today. He 201 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:20.840 was talking to them and he's giving this message so 202 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.000 the same way with us. If you are sitting there, 203 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:28.960 imagine Jesus talking to you, you who have imperfect life, 204 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:34.279 You have issue you and then he talked about this verse. 205 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.559 You know, I remember Matthew chapter nine, verse thirty six. 206 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:42.039 One time when Jesus was talking to a crowd in 207 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:45.840 a gathering like this. The Bible says in Matthew nine, 208 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:47.960 verse thirty six, when he saw the crowds, he had 209 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.759 compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like 210 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.200 sheep without a shepherd. 211 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.720 It was a mixed group of people. 212 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:59.799 There are rich and poor, young and old, educated uneducated. 213 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:06.279 God felt the same way. He felt compassion for him. 214 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.639 They are just the same. 215 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:12.480 They have the same issues, they have the same problem, 216 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:14.799 they have the same spiritual condition. 217 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:19.840 That's why Jesus felt the same way. 218 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:25.840 You know, many people were stunned and left asking why 219 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.799 when two famous people died, actually committed suicide this month, 220 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:35.399 Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, and a lot of people 221 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:39.799 are following them. Many articles were written about them. But 222 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:44.600 there's this one article from Time magazine entitled Anthony Bourdain, 223 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:48.720 Kate Spade and the Dangers of envying perfect lives. And 224 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:53.080 I find this article insightful. There's an excerpt I want 225 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.840 to read. 226 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.159 He said. 227 00:13:56.519 --> 00:14:00.279 Bourdain's suicide, which followed shortly after that of facts and 228 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.600 designer Cage Spade, was a one two punch to our 229 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:05.960 belief that there are some people who are living the 230 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.519 perfect life, that each of them chose to end an 231 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.639 existence that to outsider seems so idyllic and and viable. 232 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.440 Is a mystery to people, especially since these were not 233 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:21.879 teenagers or lost twenty somethings, but two people who might 234 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:25.519 reasonably be expected to have reached some sort of self knowledge. 235 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.720 Some people are dreaming of their job and their life. 236 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:33.720 I mean, for many women, they are saying, if I 237 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:39.679 only have her business, can you imagine I'm business moll bags, shoes, clothing. 238 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.440 You have family, you have successful career, you have a 239 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:49.519 global brand. This you have everything that many people are 240 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:54.279 dreaming of. Yet why And then Anthony Bourdain, A lot 241 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:58.159 of people are dreaming to have this job of traveling 242 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:02.080 around the world, tasting their food and receiving all the 243 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.879 awards and wealth. 244 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:09.159 And they both took their life. 245 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.559 So now I like the last portion of the article 246 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.200 because he said, of course there's a lot of details 247 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:19.200 that we don't know about them, but what can we 248 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:23.080 learn about stories like this? And first one at the 249 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:26.159 tail end of that article, he said, first one is 250 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:32.679 that it's wrong to envy other people, especially people who 251 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:37.240 have seemingly perfect lives and Instagram. We can't envy other 252 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.080 people because God has given us our own life, and 253 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.039 we have to be grateful about it. You know, one 254 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.679 of the things I'm trying to teach my daughter right now, 255 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:49.000 eight years old is to always find something to be 256 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:53.480 grateful about every day. You have to appreciate the life 257 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:57.679 that you have rather than dreaming every day of living 258 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:01.360 someone else's life. And another thing is said is lesson 259 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.200 we can learn is that we need to have more 260 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:08.360 compassion because sometimes when we look at other people, especially 261 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:12.919 the rich, we think that they don't need anything. There's 262 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.440 no reason for me to show compassion. But if we 263 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.399 can just look beyond the looks and the clothes and 264 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:21.879 the cars and the house and see inside, we will 265 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.679 see a person who is in need of Christ. That's 266 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.480 why Jesus, when they look at the crowds, he said, 267 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:33.639 he felt compassion on them because all of us have 268 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:38.279 the same need. All of us have the same spiritual condition. 269 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:40.639 And Jesus said, apart. 270 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:41.519 From me, you have nothing. 271 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:50.919 Imperfect people, you he said, and then he said, and 272 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:53.799 you will receive power. 273 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.720 We see power. 274 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.799 How many of you here you want to have power? 275 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:03.679 Ilenus said, you need to put three as mahalipad. You 276 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.599 want extraordinary power? But here's the good news. The Bible says, 277 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:10.400 if you have the Holy Spirit, you have power. You know, 278 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.200 the Christian life is not easy. It's not easy to 279 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.200 be a Christian. How many of you can agree. I've 280 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.359 been a Christian for many years, and I tell you 281 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:24.240 it's not always easy to be a Christian. It's I 282 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.079 love being a Christian, but it's not always easy to 283 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.400 be a Christian. It's not always easy to wait for 284 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.640 the answer to your prayer. I know some people who 285 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:36.759 are praying for an answered prayer for ten years already. 286 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:40.000 I tell you it's not easy. It's not always easy 287 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.559 to say no to temptation. It's not always easy to 288 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:46.960 stand for what is right. It's not always easy to 289 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:50.799 do what is good, even when people are not appreciating you. 290 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.319 It's not always easy. 291 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.200 But the Christian life is not just hard, it's actually 292 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:04.519 impossible to live without the help of God. Without divine empowerment, 293 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.799 there is no way we can measure up to the 294 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.119 life that God is calling. 295 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.480 Us to live. 296 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:15.319 We need power, and the goodness is with the Holy Spirit, 297 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:19.240 we have power. That's why we can do what God 298 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:22.279 is calling us to do. We can forgive, we can 299 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.480 be generous. We can reach out to people. We can 300 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.200 be selfless because God has given us the power. Power 301 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.799 is the divine ability. That's what it means when we 302 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:37.960 say the word power. It's divine ability. 303 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.759 You know. It's a home. 304 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:44.039 So and enjoying a time. I'm in you know, son 305 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:46.680 call a three years old. You know, we enjoy so 306 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:50.160 much swimming. That's what we do today. As much as 307 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:54.319 we can. We would do our best to swim. I 308 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.519 have a picture of my three year old son. His 309 00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:11.599 name is Jackson and water five feet six feet and. 310 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:24.400 Floater big. That was because and it would do that repeatedly. 311 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.960 I enjoy moments like that. 312 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:31.599 But sometimes, you know, would put this floater and then 313 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:34.599 I will just let him float in the water. 314 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.480 And this floater. 315 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:46.759 Don't only make sure that he will not drown, it 316 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:52.599 enables him to move around. He can actually go from 317 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.799 one place to another because of this floater. But in reality, 318 00:19:56.200 --> 00:20:04.799 on his own he can't do that as so, but 319 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.920 with the floater, not only that is he don't end 320 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.880 up getting drowned, he is able to move. 321 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.960 What I'm saying is. 322 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:14.839 That God did not only save us. He did not 323 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.039 only give us salvation. He gave us the power so 324 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:21.519 he can we can join him in his mission. That's why, 325 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:24.920 as Christians, we are not supposed to just make sure 326 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:28.200 we are safe and wait for heaven. We're supposed to 327 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:31.839 be moving today. We should be part of his movement, 328 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:34.559 and He has given us power. 329 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.519 To do that. 330 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.759 That's the experience of the apostle Paul in Second Christians, 331 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:43.119 Chapter twelve, verse nine, he said, but he said to me, 332 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:46.680 my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is 333 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:50.799 made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the 334 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:53.039 more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of 335 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:59.119 Christ may rest upon me. We all have our own weakness. Hey, Elen, 336 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:04.240 uid to make because you're feeling your weakness? Helen, who 337 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:12.599 saying you detail and weakness new food? You know, in 338 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.279 the world we try our best to hide our weakness. 339 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:21.400 We don't want people to know our weakness. We make 340 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:25.920 extra effort to show to the world that we're okay, 341 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:30.559 that everything is okay. What I like about Christianity is 342 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:36.240 that in Christ it's okay not to be okay. That 343 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.319 that in Christ we don't have to be ashamed of 344 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:43.759 our weakness. We can actually boast about our weakness. I 345 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:47.640 can say that I'm not good in this area. I 346 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:53.960 struggle with patience. You know why, because my weakness is 347 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:59.279 an avenue for me to experience Christ's power. Our weakness 348 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:03.400 should not hinder us from bringing people to Christ, because 349 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:09.079 our weakness is our venue to experience God's power. That's 350 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:14.720 why Paul said, I boast gladly about my weakness, because 351 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:18.160 in my weakness that's where I experience God's power and 352 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:21.640 a weakness. More maybe if some of us maybe were 353 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:26.839 saying in the whole relational natae, or maybe in Diajo 354 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:30.799 mcgilli magsalitai. But you know, there's a verse in the 355 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:34.319 Bible before I forget First Corintians, chapter two, verse four 356 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:38.359 to five. Paul testified to that that's also his experience. 357 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:42.079 He said, in my message and my preaching were not 358 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:45.160 in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the 359 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.839 spirit and power. Paul said, I'm not a gifted speaker. 360 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:54.200 I was not a born communicator. So every time I speak, 361 00:22:55.559 --> 00:23:00.119 it's not a showcase of my great ability to speak. 362 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.160 Every time I speak, it's a showcase of God's ability 363 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:08.920 to empower people like me that even though I'm not 364 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:14.200 good God can use me to speak this message in 365 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:17.240 such a way that people can come to know Jesus. 366 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.319 The Bible says, but when you receive the Holy Spirit, 367 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:29.599 you will receive power. You know. I have this. 368 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:36.480 Colleague, okay, say men Hong Kong work before it's a 369 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.160 U built and panelampot as a savior. 370 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.119 I have a picture of him. 371 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:42.240 We were able to work together for ten years. He's 372 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:45.880 used to be part of my staff of campus missionaries, 373 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:47.920 and when I was there, this was one of the 374 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:53.960 teaching moments I had with God, my leadership development with God. 375 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.240 When we were working together. 376 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:59.400 I know he was called to be a campus missionary, 377 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:02.240 but in my mind, is not cut out to be 378 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:06.680 a campus director. If you're a campus director, if you 379 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.519 are in one local church, you know we have we're 380 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.839 in eighteen locations right now. 381 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.759 We have one in Alabama. We have at the fourth. 382 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:16.240 If you're the campus director in one area, you're in 383 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:20.839 charge and given the assignment to oversee our campus ministry 384 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.759 work in the area, all the campuses. 385 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:27.000 So I have this picture of. 386 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.880 A campus director that if you're going to be a 387 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:30.079 campus director. 388 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.480 You have to be like this and like this and 389 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:31.759 like this. 390 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:34.839 So every time we're going to pray for a new 391 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.720 campus director. 392 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:39.319 I don't pray for him. 393 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:44.839 This was a long time ago in a Ganie Lloyd. 394 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.480 I learned my lesson. 395 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.920 Because in my mind during that time, I was just 396 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:54.119 trying to help people find their sweet spot. I'm just 397 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.240 trying to put people where I feel like they are 398 00:24:56.359 --> 00:25:00.400 gifted by God to serve, not realize saying that in 399 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:05.000 the I'm already boxing people. Actually, until there was a 400 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:10.680 time when circumstances, situation happened that this is the only 401 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:14.440