1 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,120 Hi and welcome to the Via Zion Sermon podcast. 2 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,440 We are a local church based here in Chennai, India. 3 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,079 We are so glad you are with us and hope that this will 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,560 encourage, inspire and instill fresh faith in you. 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,920 We finish our series today on the book of Psalms where we 6 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,560 looked closer at this book and gleaned from it invaluable 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,010 treasure. We believe that through this 8 00:00:30,010 --> 00:00:34,130 series your worship of God went deeper and your love for Him 9 00:00:34,170 --> 00:00:37,930 grew stronger. We have geshroom share with us 10 00:00:38,250 --> 00:00:41,450 from Psalm 73. And helps us understand. 11 00:00:41,450 --> 00:00:45,410 How we can approach God unashamedly and unafraid, 12 00:00:45,730 --> 00:00:48,490 knowing that He will hear and answer us. 13 00:00:49,970 --> 00:00:53,770 Hi Church, welcome to Church Online and for those of you who 14 00:00:53,770 --> 00:00:56,570 are watching, or for those of you who are later on listening 15 00:00:56,570 --> 00:00:59,310 to God's Word. I considered a joy and a 16 00:00:59,310 --> 00:01:02,390 privilege that I get to stand here in front of you and speak 17 00:01:02,390 --> 00:01:05,630 God's word to you today and even before we get into God's word, I 18 00:01:05,630 --> 00:01:08,790 just want to take some time to just say a quick word of prayer 19 00:01:08,790 --> 00:01:12,070 so that His word will fall on good soil, on our hearts. 20 00:01:12,590 --> 00:01:14,190 Not even right now. I just thank you, Lord, for this 21 00:01:14,190 --> 00:01:15,510 time. Thank you, Lord, for all those 22 00:01:15,510 --> 00:01:17,670 who are watching online and those who are listening. 23 00:01:18,230 --> 00:01:20,230 I pray even right now. Lord, even as we listen to your 24 00:01:20,230 --> 00:01:23,790 word, and even as we meditate on your word, may it come alive. 25 00:01:23,790 --> 00:01:26,710 Lord Jesus, in us, Holy Spirit, would you do your work. 26 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:31,200 If areas where we need to change convict us for areas where we 27 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,400 need strengthening so that our faith can be secured, kindly do 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,760 that lot. We are desperate for you. 29 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,540 We want to lean into you lot. Be with us and bless us your 30 00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:42,420 most renamely pray. Amen. 31 00:01:42,460 --> 00:01:44,580 Amen. So church, we are coming to the 32 00:01:44,580 --> 00:01:48,820 last part of this seas that we've been doing on Psalms, 33 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:52,780 studying the Psalms and over the course of the last five weeks 34 00:01:52,780 --> 00:01:57,420 we've seen from Psalm 22169439 and 34. 35 00:01:57,780 --> 00:02:01,900 And going through all this, it's evident that if there's one 36 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:08,060 overarching theme is the fact that we can come to God as we 37 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:10,900 are. We can come to God as we are. 38 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,700 And today I've taken from Psalm 73. 39 00:02:14,060 --> 00:02:17,780 It's a Psalm of Asaf. And even as I was reading 40 00:02:17,780 --> 00:02:21,940 through a whole bunch of psalms that were written by Asaf, there 41 00:02:21,940 --> 00:02:25,420 was something that I could relate with him on a personal 42 00:02:25,420 --> 00:02:27,260 level. He was a musician. 43 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:32,180 He was appointed by David so that he can bring glory to God 44 00:02:32,220 --> 00:02:35,780 in God's house. He was giving of himself. 45 00:02:35,860 --> 00:02:42,940 That's why he was there. He many a times was being honest 46 00:02:43,180 --> 00:02:46,580 about what he felt standing in God's presence. 47 00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:51,180 And even as I was meditating, I realized God wanted me to come 48 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:55,100 to that place of being honest. It may be for those of us who 49 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:59,900 are serving in some capacity, big or small, we all tend to get 50 00:02:59,900 --> 00:03:04,620 lost in our serving. For some who are shying away 51 00:03:04,620 --> 00:03:08,420 from serving, we feel like if we go there, we will be expected to 52 00:03:08,420 --> 00:03:10,620 do certain things. And I think one of the 53 00:03:10,620 --> 00:03:14,300 liberating things is the fact that you can only be real within 54 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:17,860 between yourself and God. And ASAP has done that. 55 00:03:18,020 --> 00:03:21,740 And so my sermon title for today is the Standpoint of faith. 56 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:26,180 Today we all have to take a stand with regard to our faith. 57 00:03:26,850 --> 00:03:29,410 We all have to take and make decisions with regard to our 58 00:03:29,410 --> 00:03:32,810 faith. And So what did Asaf do that 59 00:03:32,810 --> 00:03:34,570 would strengthen his faith? Because he's here. 60 00:03:34,570 --> 00:03:38,490 He's a chief musician, You know, when you look back, he served, 61 00:03:38,530 --> 00:03:41,610 he was appointed by David. He served under Solomon's 62 00:03:41,610 --> 00:03:43,970 regime. He also was there during the 63 00:03:43,970 --> 00:03:48,410 dedication of the temple. He was skilled, definitely, 64 00:03:48,730 --> 00:03:54,250 because to last from David to Solomon, from a worship leader 65 00:03:54,250 --> 00:03:57,830 himself to appoint someone. You know, I feel like many a 66 00:03:57,830 --> 00:04:01,830 times we are in security place. But here ASAP is a very secure 67 00:04:01,830 --> 00:04:05,150 person. He knows who he is and who he's 68 00:04:05,150 --> 00:04:08,270 called to serve and he did it diligently. 69 00:04:08,950 --> 00:04:12,390 And so even as we go through this Psalm entirely, there are a 70 00:04:12,390 --> 00:04:16,350 couple of close to 20 verses. We'll go through it part by part 71 00:04:16,870 --> 00:04:20,769 and as we meditate on it. Im sure there are areas that the 72 00:04:20,769 --> 00:04:22,850 Holy Spirit will convict because he convicted me when I was 73 00:04:22,850 --> 00:04:25,330 preparing. He convicted areas where I have 74 00:04:25,330 --> 00:04:29,130 questioned him time and again. But I want to look through that 75 00:04:29,130 --> 00:04:32,330 entire thing of what ISAF did because theres a way in which 76 00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:34,890 hes written the entire sum. At the end of it he goes back to 77 00:04:34,890 --> 00:04:37,890 God. So today our main intention of 78 00:04:38,010 --> 00:04:41,850 doing this is so that we go back to God that because. 79 00:04:42,710 --> 00:04:46,230 We know when we are in His room, when we are in His sanctuary, 80 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:49,630 when we are in His church, when we are amongst believers who are 81 00:04:49,630 --> 00:04:52,790 of the same faith, we can only go back to Him. 82 00:04:53,390 --> 00:04:55,950 So let's read from Psalm 73 today. 83 00:04:56,190 --> 00:04:58,750 Psalm 73 versus one to three, and this is what it says. 84 00:04:58,950 --> 00:05:02,430 Surely God is good to Israel to those who are pure in heart. 85 00:05:03,030 --> 00:05:05,870 But As for me, my feet had almost slipped. 86 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:10,350 I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envy the arrogant when I 87 00:05:10,350 --> 00:05:12,630 saw the prosperity of the wicked. 88 00:05:12,990 --> 00:05:17,710 ASAP starts the Psalm by saying you know God is good to Israel 89 00:05:17,710 --> 00:05:22,990 For those who are pure in heart. He's heard the stories of how 90 00:05:22,990 --> 00:05:26,630 Israel has journeyed from Egypt from slavery, how they've 91 00:05:26,630 --> 00:05:29,950 experienced freedom, how they've been allotted lands, and how 92 00:05:29,950 --> 00:05:33,790 they've, you know, been through the seasons of judges and now in 93 00:05:33,790 --> 00:05:36,200 the season of kings. And he says we need to have a 94 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,120 pure heart. God is good to those who have a 95 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,360 pure heart. And he starts off by saying this 96 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,560 because he feels that he is not having a pure heart. 97 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:51,160 Today in 2023, a lot of us are just coming to church to put 98 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,160 attendance. We want to mark and say, you 99 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,200 know what, I'm here. But are we coming here so that 100 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,360 we will get our heart right, so that the remaining 6 days of the 101 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,690 week we will live? According to what he's called us 102 00:06:04,690 --> 00:06:07,730 to live. And so today he says here God is 103 00:06:07,730 --> 00:06:09,970 good to those who are pure, who are pure in heart. 104 00:06:09,970 --> 00:06:14,050 And he knows that he's not had a week probably where his heart 105 00:06:14,050 --> 00:06:15,850 has been pure. He's harnessed. 106 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:18,810 He comes down to saying, you know, my feet almost slipped. 107 00:06:18,810 --> 00:06:23,450 I nearly lost my foot hold. If you see people are climbing 108 00:06:23,450 --> 00:06:28,970 mountains, all they need is a small area to keep their foot 109 00:06:29,050 --> 00:06:33,990 and stand. And many a times we feel like 110 00:06:34,270 --> 00:06:38,350 our faith is not standing on firm ground because we are 111 00:06:38,350 --> 00:06:41,870 struggling with our coworkers. We are struggling because our 112 00:06:41,870 --> 00:06:44,670 integrity is coming in the way of how we need to do things 113 00:06:44,670 --> 00:06:46,190 because we are followers of Jesus. 114 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:48,960 And the world is expecting it differently. 115 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,920 Or you feel like you're lost, you're not included in the 116 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,040 crowd, and you're away from certain things. 117 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,240 And so we try including ourselves, and most often times 118 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,920 we make decisions where we feel like you're slipping or some of 119 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:06,680 us are even slipped. And so today, even before guilt 120 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:11,360 and shame can set in, Asaf is starting to look at his heart. 121 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:13,840 God, I have slipped. I have. 122 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,560 I have thought of things that probably are not right of me. 123 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:23,280 To think I have seen, you know, through a lens of the world and 124 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,560 not through the lens of you. Because he goes on to Saint 125 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,880 Versi for I envy the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the 126 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,560 wicked. And today it might look to us. 127 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,440 Everyone outside of the faith is thriving. 128 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,720 They've got a good, they've got good jobs, they've put in good 129 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,640 positions. Their business strategies are 130 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,440 working. They able to make ends meet and 131 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,400 travel the world. Today we need to come to a place 132 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,840 of being real with God. And so can I ask you, church, 133 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,680 can we come to a place of being real? 134 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,920 Many a times we mask it. Today we are as Christians. 135 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,400 Many a times we're jealous of those who are within the 136 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,520 community of faith. Leave it on the people who are 137 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,440 outside of the faith. We think you know what that they 138 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,600 are prosperous and I'm not prospering but ASAP here is like 139 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,990 God. I feel like I've slept. 140 00:08:12,990 --> 00:08:16,510 I've started thinking outside of the goodness that you've called 141 00:08:16,510 --> 00:08:20,830 me to live. And ASAP, when he's talking 142 00:08:20,830 --> 00:08:22,790 here, he's clearly talking of two camps. 143 00:08:23,150 --> 00:08:26,910 Our Christian faith is 1 where we need to choose which camp 144 00:08:26,910 --> 00:08:30,590 you're part of, the camp which belongs to Jesus or the camp 145 00:08:30,590 --> 00:08:35,230 which is not belonging to Jesus. And we, especially in this 146 00:08:35,230 --> 00:08:39,909 situation, can. We are in the camp of Jesus, but 147 00:08:39,909 --> 00:08:42,720 we feel like our foot. Is slipping. 148 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,160 We are not able to stand on ground and we are looking and 149 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,600 comparing ourselves to the people on the other side of the 150 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:54,240 camp. And so how do we look at God 151 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:59,680 matters because maybe a lot of us are having one struggle after 152 00:08:59,680 --> 00:09:01,240 the other and we are questioning God. 153 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,880 But it's interesting that if we've decided to follow Jesus, 154 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,200 which means he is ahead of us and we are behind him and 155 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:15,320 following him. Wherever Jesus goes, we go. 156 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,160 We will experience certain things. 157 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,360 We will experience storms. We will experience hurricanes. 158 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:28,280 We might experience hail. But if we ask Jesus to follow us 159 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,960 and the minute storms come, we will disown the faith and we 160 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:36,160 will move off to the other side. And I think when I. 161 00:09:36,950 --> 00:09:39,870 And when I was looking at these verses, it reminded me that a 162 00:09:39,870 --> 00:09:43,950 lot of us are in this place of contemplation where we don't 163 00:09:43,950 --> 00:09:47,870 know whether Jesus is ahead of us or He's behind us. 164 00:09:48,550 --> 00:09:51,870 Because if He's behind us, we can reason out and give up on 165 00:09:51,870 --> 00:09:53,390 the faith that we are called to live. 166 00:09:54,110 --> 00:09:58,830 But if He's ahead of us, our eyes have to be on Jesus. 167 00:09:59,990 --> 00:10:05,390 Let's go on from verses 4 to 6. It goes on to say they have no 168 00:10:05,390 --> 00:10:07,940 struggles. Their bodies are healthy and 169 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:10,420 strong. They are free from common human 170 00:10:10,420 --> 00:10:12,180 burdens. They are not plagued by human 171 00:10:12,180 --> 00:10:13,740 health. Therefore, pride is their 172 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:16,420 necklace. They clothe themselves with 173 00:10:16,420 --> 00:10:21,180 violence. And so ASAP here is looking at 174 00:10:21,180 --> 00:10:23,020 the other side. And he's like God. 175 00:10:23,020 --> 00:10:24,540 They don't even have struggles in their body. 176 00:10:24,540 --> 00:10:26,300 They seem to be healthy. They are. 177 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:29,860 They are strong. They seem to be, you know, free 178 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:35,280 of all the common burdens. Of school fees, of business 179 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,360 doing well, of marriage being OK. 180 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:43,120 They seem to have everything, and they are confident in who 181 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:49,560 and how they live. God's calling us today not to 182 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:54,560 live lives of comparison, not to live lives of comparison. 183 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,120 If there's anything that we can compare today is between us and 184 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,720 God, not us and fellow human beings. 185 00:11:02,940 --> 00:11:07,660 The life that we've chosen to live is the one where we follow 186 00:11:07,740 --> 00:11:11,300 Jesus and our comparison can only be with Him. 187 00:11:11,340 --> 00:11:12,900 Our grievances can only be with Him. 188 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:15,500 The way that we see blessings can only be with Him. 189 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:18,140 The way we see fulfillment can only be with Him. 190 00:11:19,620 --> 00:11:24,980 If we have to compare it to the people around, we will see 191 00:11:25,580 --> 00:11:29,140 things we will. Spirit of jealousy sets in 192 00:11:29,500 --> 00:11:32,980 Spirit of. You know, discontent sets in 193 00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:37,300 spirits of envy, malice. And before we know it, we're not 194 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:40,540 exhibiting God's love, the love that he has for us to show in 195 00:11:40,540 --> 00:11:42,700 this earth. We in fact are insecure. 196 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:45,540 We start belittling what he's doing. 197 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:51,620 But here we see Asaf being honest before God. 198 00:11:52,260 --> 00:11:54,660 He looks at them. He says God, Why God? 199 00:11:55,540 --> 00:11:59,100 He's comparing only to God. He's not going and comparing it 200 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,800 to other people around. He's careful about that. 201 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,160 He knows he can only take it to God. 202 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,520 So he's being honest with God and many a times though 203 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,880 outworking of our salvation happens from inside out. 204 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,000 The problem when we compare with people outside they their 205 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,680 fulfillment of life is is seen from what the way they live 206 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:22,240 outside. And here I'm not here to say 207 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:26,040 that you know what we don't have to grow socio economically all 208 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:31,200 that is good but often times. We are judging everyone by what 209 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,040 is portrayed outside. We don't know what's happening 210 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,320 inside. Our salvation is an inside out 211 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,760 experience, which means it works in and through us and manifests 212 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,440 itself outside so that others can experience. 213 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,360 My change is just not a one off change. 214 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:50,360 It's a living out change, which means it's lived out every day, 215 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:56,280 every year, every season. Romans chapter 8, verse 18 says, 216 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,160 for I consider from the standpoint of faith, that the 217 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,760 sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared 218 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,560 with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us. 219 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,000 Paul writes to the Romans and he says, you know what? 220 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:17,960 Our faith is not worth comparing because we are not going to 221 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:20,760 enjoy this life here on this earth temporary. 222 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,800 This is a very short face. This is a very short face. 223 00:13:24,210 --> 00:13:27,210 We see a lot of people who are aimless here. 224 00:13:27,210 --> 00:13:31,570 They think if they have made it here, we are striving to build 225 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:35,330 something for us. For those of us who are in our 226 00:13:35,330 --> 00:13:39,250 40s want to establish, establish ourselves for those of them on 227 00:13:39,250 --> 00:13:41,170 their 50s want to build a legacy. 228 00:13:42,330 --> 00:13:46,610 But I think if we are following Jesus, we will do what he is 229 00:13:46,610 --> 00:13:48,450 calling us to do and everything else will follow. 230 00:13:49,310 --> 00:13:53,070 We will leave a legacy for Jesus so that his name will be 231 00:13:53,070 --> 00:13:57,390 glorified, so that his name will be caught by many others in the 232 00:13:57,390 --> 00:14:03,230 coming generations. So let's stop comparing how they 233 00:14:03,230 --> 00:14:06,350 are living. The second part of Asap's 234 00:14:06,350 --> 00:14:09,390 comparison is comparing how the others are behaving. 235 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,240 And hes being honest with God. A lot of us, many a times are 236 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,480 comparing. We have these mind talks just by 237 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,480 ourselves. Or we, you know, have our 238 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,560 besties and we are talking to them about it. 239 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,960 But can we take it to God? He says in Psalm 73 versus 7 to 240 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:24,880 10. From the careless hearts comes 241 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,000 iniquity. Their evil imaginations have no 242 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,360 limits. They scoff and speak with 243 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,040 malice. With arrogance they threaten 244 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,640 oppression. Their mouths lay claim to 245 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,000 heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 246 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,920 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in 247 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:46,320 abundance. Today you and I are comparing a 248 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:51,400 lot between how we live and how others we see their behaviour. 249 00:14:52,110 --> 00:14:54,790 We see you know what, God, I'm here exhibiting the fruit that 250 00:14:54,790 --> 00:14:57,190 you want me to exhibit because I have the Holy Spirit, you know. 251 00:14:57,590 --> 00:14:59,550 But they seem to be getting away with it. 252 00:14:59,630 --> 00:15:03,230 They make to be you know they they cause a fanfare of all the 253 00:15:03,230 --> 00:15:06,430 little things that they do and they seem to be doing something 254 00:15:06,430 --> 00:15:10,030 their Lord. Why why do I not get the 255 00:15:10,030 --> 00:15:11,270 visibility that they are getting? 256 00:15:12,110 --> 00:15:15,790 And I the problem is our comparison over the years has 257 00:15:15,790 --> 00:15:19,510 just magnified and today, you know you don't have to be 258 00:15:19,510 --> 00:15:21,710 amongst them. You can just be sitting in your 259 00:15:21,710 --> 00:15:24,470 home all by yourself. For those of you watching our 260 00:15:24,470 --> 00:15:28,110 church online right now can also just be simultaneously scrolling 261 00:15:28,110 --> 00:15:30,550 through some other Instagram posts and be seeing God. 262 00:15:30,550 --> 00:15:33,630 Why are they having the life they seem to be travelling to 263 00:15:33,630 --> 00:15:36,270 destinations they seem to be having it put together? 264 00:15:36,470 --> 00:15:40,190 They seem to be putting it all. They have everything they you 265 00:15:40,190 --> 00:15:41,870 know. We don't know the struggles, but 266 00:15:41,870 --> 00:15:44,510 we make assumptions based on their behaviour. 267 00:15:46,750 --> 00:15:51,130 But today? Are we making life choices, 268 00:15:51,130 --> 00:15:54,730 faith choices based on comparison of how others are 269 00:15:54,730 --> 00:15:56,330 living and how others are behaving? 270 00:15:56,650 --> 00:16:01,010 Or are we making life choices and faith choices based on what 271 00:16:01,010 --> 00:16:06,210 God's asking us to do, which means I have to live a life of 272 00:16:06,210 --> 00:16:09,970 contentment? What does comparing look like? 273 00:16:10,770 --> 00:16:12,850 Are we coveting another person's wife? 274 00:16:13,730 --> 00:16:15,930 Are we coveting another person's family? 275 00:16:16,570 --> 00:16:18,570 Are we coveting another person's wealth? 276 00:16:19,250 --> 00:16:22,410 Are we coveting another person's body? 277 00:16:22,410 --> 00:16:24,290 Because I'm not happy the way I was created. 278 00:16:24,290 --> 00:16:27,530 By God. Am I coveting another person's 279 00:16:27,530 --> 00:16:30,890 skin color because I feel this has given me a bad deal? 280 00:16:32,610 --> 00:16:35,970 Take it to God. Take it to God. 281 00:16:37,010 --> 00:16:41,290 You will soon realize the way God created you was for a 282 00:16:41,290 --> 00:16:44,730 purpose. The doors that are meant to be 283 00:16:44,730 --> 00:16:49,090 opened by God for you will happen the way He's created you, 284 00:16:49,890 --> 00:16:53,610 not the way you want to be created or what the things that 285 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:56,250 you want to have. Many a times we fail to see God 286 00:16:56,250 --> 00:17:00,530 wants to open doors the way He has created us to be, and soon 287 00:17:00,530 --> 00:17:03,810 we come to that realization. We'll be comfortable who is 288 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:08,770 created and we will be able to see differences happen today. 289 00:17:08,770 --> 00:17:12,730 Can we look beyond comparing? Can we look beyond? 290 00:17:13,630 --> 00:17:16,589 John Piper says this. This is God's universal purpose 291 00:17:16,589 --> 00:17:21,589 for all Christian suffering. More contentment in God and less 292 00:17:21,589 --> 00:17:27,270 satisfaction in world, more contentment in God and less 293 00:17:27,270 --> 00:17:31,230 satisfaction in the world. We are not called to be 294 00:17:31,230 --> 00:17:34,750 satisfied by the world. Rather, the world will use us. 295 00:17:34,750 --> 00:17:38,630 It will see what it can benefit from us, leave us there, and 296 00:17:38,630 --> 00:17:41,080 move on. But we need to have a 297 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,680 contentment in God. What does contentment in God 298 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,240 look like In a season where im used? 299 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,360 I know why gods using me for that season. 300 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,160 The season where im doing the next thing. 301 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,320 Ill see that gods enlarge my tent to do something a little 302 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,520 different from what ive done and I start encouraging those who 303 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,880 are coming, you know after me. And as this goes on youll see 304 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:07,840 beautifully that as Paul writes the older at looking after the 305 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,980 younger. They are teaching them ways, 306 00:18:09,980 --> 00:18:12,540 decisions, and in turn what happens? 307 00:18:12,540 --> 00:18:17,060 His Kingdom expands, His love expands, his sufficiency 308 00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:21,620 expands, his his community expands. 309 00:18:23,420 --> 00:18:30,860 So today can we stop comparing? And as Asaf says, our cry can be 310 00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:35,380 only taken to God. And Asaf is in this position as 311 00:18:35,380 --> 00:18:37,700 a chief musician, as a chief worship leader. 312 00:18:38,490 --> 00:18:39,930 He knows he can't take it to the king. 313 00:18:39,930 --> 00:18:41,450 He knows he can't take it to others at all. 314 00:18:42,450 --> 00:18:44,730 But being in the Presence, he can only take it to him. 315 00:18:45,130 --> 00:18:48,250 And so my encouragement today is find a community. 316 00:18:48,770 --> 00:18:51,770 You need to be amongst other believers. 317 00:18:52,730 --> 00:18:55,770 Come to a place where you can gather every week. 318 00:18:56,650 --> 00:19:00,850 We gather here every week, and I know many of them don't feel 319 00:19:00,850 --> 00:19:04,650 like coming, but it's when they come here, I'm sure God is 320 00:19:04,650 --> 00:19:06,090 speaking and ministering to them. 321 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,840 Bring your questions to his sanctuary. 322 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:15,440 So our cry is to God alone so that He will listen to us. 323 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,440 Psalm 73 versus 11 to 12, they say. 324 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,240 How would God know? Does the most I know anything. 325 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:23,160 This is what the wicked are like. 326 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,280 Always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. 327 00:19:27,340 --> 00:19:29,660 Was 13 to 17, was on to say, surely in vain. 328 00:19:29,660 --> 00:19:33,180 I've kept my heart pure and I've washed my hands in innocence. 329 00:19:33,180 --> 00:19:36,620 All day long I've been afflicted and every morning brings new 330 00:19:36,620 --> 00:19:39,300 punishment. If I'd spoken out like that, I 331 00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:40,820 would have betrayed your children. 332 00:19:41,420 --> 00:19:45,980 When I try to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till 333 00:19:45,980 --> 00:19:50,020 I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their final 334 00:19:50,020 --> 00:19:53,540 destiny. We see here that you know, as 335 00:19:54,700 --> 00:19:57,020 Asaf is talking, he's going to God. 336 00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:01,230 He's in God, I know you, but these are my struggles. 337 00:20:01,230 --> 00:20:05,270 My flesh is struggling because all this is happening. 338 00:20:06,710 --> 00:20:09,030 It feels like I've, you know, kept my heart in me. 339 00:20:09,030 --> 00:20:12,630 It seems like all that I've done till now seems useless because 340 00:20:12,910 --> 00:20:16,030 others are not even following this discipline, are not 341 00:20:16,030 --> 00:20:17,710 following this correction that you're giving. 342 00:20:17,870 --> 00:20:21,510 This revelation of your truth allows them to, you know, I'm 343 00:20:21,510 --> 00:20:25,180 living in in. Within the boundary lines, they 344 00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:26,740 are living. Outside the boundary lines, they 345 00:20:26,740 --> 00:20:29,140 seem to be prosperous. Why? 346 00:20:29,580 --> 00:20:32,500 Why God it? See. 347 00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:34,940 He says that every morning when I wake up it seems like I've 348 00:20:34,940 --> 00:20:38,820 been afflicted with new things. The thing about following Jesus 349 00:20:38,820 --> 00:20:42,180 is he carves out the things of the world outside. 350 00:20:42,340 --> 00:20:45,140 He peels it out of our very nature. 351 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:48,620 If lying was something, he removes that. 352 00:20:48,620 --> 00:20:51,180 For those of us who are struggling with addictions he 353 00:20:51,300 --> 00:20:53,300 handles. He gives us a grace to. 354 00:20:53,710 --> 00:20:56,230 Push through that so that we make the right choices. 355 00:20:57,310 --> 00:21:01,390 For those who have angry issues, he allows his spirit to saturate 356 00:21:01,390 --> 00:21:03,590 us so that we won't have those outbursts. 357 00:21:04,390 --> 00:21:07,590 For those of us who are mentally, you know, wanting to 358 00:21:07,590 --> 00:21:11,310 give up and feeling like a cloud is sitting over our head, A dark 359 00:21:11,310 --> 00:21:14,390 cloud. He's encouraging us to push 360 00:21:14,390 --> 00:21:17,710 through and come out and it feels heavy. 361 00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:21,710 The author here ASAP is talking of. 362 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:25,700 The heaviness that comes with following him, he says. 363 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:28,180 I'm not able to speak it out because if I speak it out, 364 00:21:28,460 --> 00:21:30,740 others in the community will feel like I'm betraying their 365 00:21:30,740 --> 00:21:36,940 faith and we can only bring it to God. 366 00:21:37,580 --> 00:21:40,060 God alone can handle our distress. 367 00:21:40,460 --> 00:21:43,020 God alone can handle our insecurity. 368 00:21:43,260 --> 00:21:45,660 God alone can handle our struggles. 369 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,980 You know, in this day and age of mental health being big and 370 00:21:49,980 --> 00:21:52,830 counselors being big. You know, I would encourage you, 371 00:21:52,830 --> 00:21:56,870 for those of you who are following Jesus, if you can 372 00:21:56,870 --> 00:22:01,550 really be honest with Jesus, stop pursuing and being so 373 00:22:01,550 --> 00:22:05,990 honest with your counselor. You know, at the end of it, if 374 00:22:05,990 --> 00:22:07,630 it's all about feeling good, go ahead. 375 00:22:08,230 --> 00:22:11,030 But if it want change to happen, go to God. 376 00:22:12,350 --> 00:22:14,990 If you want to see a change happen in your child, go to God. 377 00:22:15,590 --> 00:22:17,790 If you want to see a change happen in your marriage, go to 378 00:22:17,790 --> 00:22:21,320 God. If you want to see change happen 379 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,880 within yourself, go to God. By me saying this, I'm not 380 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:29,160 denouncing going to counseling. It's not for some of us, it's 381 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:33,760 very serious. We need to go there, but don't 382 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,840 discount what God can also do. There's a reason why ASAP says 383 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,160 here I have if I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed 384 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,840 your children. There is a sense of I need, I 385 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,120 can only bring this to you. I can only bring this, this, 386 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,400 this heaviness that I have, the the reason why I feel like I'm 387 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,240 slipping, the reason why I feel like I'm struggling, I can only 388 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:01,920 bring it to you, he says. Till I entered the sanctuary of 389 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:07,800 God, then I understand the final destiny, which means he's able 390 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,640 to see I am not about the temporary. 391 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,280 I'm about the eternal. I'm not about, you know, getting 392 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,280 it right here. I'm about getting it right for 393 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:21,500 eternity. Oftentimes in a pursuit of 394 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:23,780 getting it right, here we compromise. 395 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:27,260 We make certain choices which you know, does not cause us to 396 00:23:27,260 --> 00:23:33,660 be happy or we are not proud of. But with Jesus with eternity in 397 00:23:33,660 --> 00:23:36,540 mind, we will be living heaven here on earth. 398 00:23:38,140 --> 00:23:41,700 We will be living a life of contentment, of love and joy and 399 00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:46,820 of peace. So today are you feeling? 400 00:23:48,070 --> 00:23:49,390 Heavy. Are you feeling? 401 00:23:50,470 --> 00:23:55,190 Are you feeling this heaviness? Take it to God, don't take it 402 00:23:55,190 --> 00:23:56,750 anywhere else. ASAP didn't take it anywhere 403 00:23:56,750 --> 00:23:57,590 else. He took it to God. 404 00:23:58,550 --> 00:24:00,310 And so today I would ask you to take it to God. 405 00:24:00,950 --> 00:24:02,190 You're warning that breakthrough? 406 00:24:02,510 --> 00:24:07,750 Have you sought God honestly or are you trying to control 407 00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:09,790 everything by yourself? And the reason why? 408 00:24:09,790 --> 00:24:13,990 ASAP says I'll bring it to the Sanctuary is my struggle and me 409 00:24:13,990 --> 00:24:16,620 taking it to God. Will bring encouragement to 410 00:24:16,620 --> 00:24:19,740 another person who is also struggling in the community. 411 00:24:20,380 --> 00:24:23,260 Two Corinthians chapter one, verse 3, says Praise be to God 412 00:24:23,540 --> 00:24:26,620 and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion 413 00:24:26,620 --> 00:24:30,300 and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles 414 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:34,980 so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we 415 00:24:34,980 --> 00:24:38,820 ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly 416 00:24:38,820 --> 00:24:43,660 in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through 417 00:24:43,660 --> 00:24:45,880 Christ. And so, Church, I want to 418 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,480 encourage you. You're not in this alone as ASF, 419 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:51,760 he as he is struggling in this alone. 420 00:24:52,120 --> 00:24:58,440 He steps out, takes it to God, finds God, and then is amongst 421 00:24:58,440 --> 00:24:59,880 people. He's still there. 422 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:02,560 He's still worshipping, He's still leading, but he's leading 423 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,480 from a right place. As we conclude this song, as I 424 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,360 was reading through, I came across a story by Sadhus and the 425 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,640 Singh. It says, you know, he was on a 426 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,040 long journey and he rested in front of a house. 427 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:16,340 Suddenly there was strong winds that's coming and he saw the 428 00:25:16,340 --> 00:25:20,140 Sparrow that was struggling to fly against the wind and the 429 00:25:20,140 --> 00:25:21,700 other side. He saw this eagle come. 430 00:25:21,820 --> 00:25:25,260 He knew that in a moment the eagle can snatch the Sparrow, 431 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:30,740 but the Sparrow conveniently saw this him sitting that he just 432 00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:36,860 just came straight and fell on, you know, his lap and the eagle 433 00:25:36,860 --> 00:25:40,460 couldn't come close. And this is what he says when he 434 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:45,010 narrates the story, he says. As the Sparrow was threatened 435 00:25:45,130 --> 00:25:49,930 from a different direction, the Sparrow flew into my lap by 436 00:25:49,930 --> 00:25:52,290 choice. Would not It would not normally 437 00:25:52,290 --> 00:25:54,690 do that. However, the little bird was 438 00:25:54,690 --> 00:25:57,290 seeking for a refuge from a great danger. 439 00:25:57,890 --> 00:26:01,690 Likewise, the violent bills of suffering and trouble blow us 440 00:26:01,730 --> 00:26:05,450 into the Lords protective hands. Your questions are right. 441 00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:09,140 You're you've been abandoned. You've been struggling in the 442 00:26:09,140 --> 00:26:10,500 relationship. You're broken up. 443 00:26:10,820 --> 00:26:13,780 You've struggled in work. You're struggling with your 444 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:15,500 self-confidence. All these are real. 445 00:26:16,460 --> 00:26:21,300 All these are real issues. Take it to God, your 446 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:23,300 insecurities. Take it to God your 447 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:25,060 insufficiency. Take it to God. 448 00:26:25,380 --> 00:26:31,140 Fall in this protective hand. Don't allow the world to devour 449 00:26:31,140 --> 00:26:34,540 you today. How does the world devour self? 450 00:26:34,540 --> 00:26:37,040 Help. The world devours you through 451 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:39,880 ways in which they try giving you coping mechanism which is 452 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:42,720 not even proven and tested at the end of it. 453 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,800 Do they actually tell you how peaceful they are? 454 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:50,840 Never trust content because at the end of the day it's 455 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,480 marketing. It's it's not the right way to 456 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,120 consume. It's not lived out. 457 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,720 Consume content that's lived out. 458 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,680 Lean into people who've lived out their faith. 459 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,240 Asaf comes to a conclusion saying God at the end of this I 460 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:14,200 dont want my opinions to thrive. I want your truth to rise above 461 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,800 Psalm 73 versus 18 to 20. And this is what it reads. 462 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,000 Surely you place them on slippery ground, you cast them 463 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,040 down to the wind. How suddenly are they destroyed? 464 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,920 Completely swept away by terrors? 465 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,560 They are like a dream when one awakens. 466 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:35,400 When you arise Lord, you will despise them as. 467 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,800 Fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my 468 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:43,000 spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant and I was 469 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:48,320 a brute beast before you and Asaf realizes at the end of it. 470 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:54,680 I'm sorry lot for comparing because I know where they are 471 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,560 headed. I know where they are at. 472 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,040 I know what position that they hold. 473 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:04,920 If their riches crumble, they will crumble with it. 474 00:28:05,510 --> 00:28:08,910 If things fail around them, they will fail with it because they 475 00:28:08,910 --> 00:28:11,990 have no hope. But my hope is in you. 476 00:28:12,670 --> 00:28:17,110 And so today, for those of you, it says, yeah, how completely 477 00:28:17,110 --> 00:28:18,990 they are suddenly swept away by terrors. 478 00:28:19,430 --> 00:28:21,630 They are like a dream and one awakens. 479 00:28:22,710 --> 00:28:28,270 They seem like fantasies. So today, trust the process. 480 00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:31,430 Let's be repentant. Of the eight times when we've 481 00:28:31,670 --> 00:28:34,190 failed to trust the process God's taken is from. 482 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:41,040 Abundance is good, but the road leading to abundance is one of 483 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:44,720 struggle. And you know hardship, where our 484 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:50,360 faith is renewed, tested, and made fine so that it lasts a 485 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:54,920 lifetime. So today, ask God to take your 486 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,200 doubts to Him. Take your questions to him. 487 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,800 Allow him to answer. Seek him diligently. 488 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,600 When when we want things here on this earth, we do it diligently. 489 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,840 Take that same diligence to him. You want that breakthrough in 490 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,280 your life. Go to him diligently. 491 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,200 Be honest with him. Tell him, God, I'm messed up. 492 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,440 I I don't know what I'm doing. Would you please deal with me 493 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,920 ASAP? Goes on to say this beautiful 494 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,160 thing, he says. God, your strength will become 495 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:30,880 my strength. Psalm 73 versus 23 or 26, it 496 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,970 says yet. I am always with you. 497 00:29:33,970 --> 00:29:37,850 You hold me by my right hand, you guide me with your counsel, 498 00:29:37,850 --> 00:29:40,130 and afterward you will take me into glory. 499 00:29:40,570 --> 00:29:45,250 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire 500 00:29:45,250 --> 00:29:48,490 beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, 501 00:29:48,810 --> 00:29:52,250 but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 502 00:29:52,930 --> 00:29:55,330 Those who are far from you will perish. 503 00:29:55,690 --> 00:29:58,210 You destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 504 00:29:58,690 --> 00:30:02,990 But As for me, it is good. To be near God, I have made the 505 00:30:02,990 --> 00:30:07,990 sovereign Lord my refuge. I will tell of all your deeds. 506 00:30:08,990 --> 00:30:11,830 Asaf comes to this conclusion saying, God, you are the 507 00:30:11,830 --> 00:30:14,630 strength who have high in heaven but you. 508 00:30:14,750 --> 00:30:18,390 There's nothing that I desire beside you. 509 00:30:19,030 --> 00:30:23,190 My flesh and my heart will fail, but God is the strength of my 510 00:30:23,190 --> 00:30:28,230 heart and my portion forever. There's a worship song that was 511 00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:32,210 sung with the same exact words. And I believe as we are entering 512 00:30:32,210 --> 00:30:37,330 into the next season, as we've completed six months of 2023, as 513 00:30:37,330 --> 00:30:41,290 we are entering into the remainder of the six months, may 514 00:30:41,290 --> 00:30:45,050 you not go into a place of comparing and feeling, you know 515 00:30:45,050 --> 00:30:47,490 what, I've not achieved anything, but may you go into a 516 00:30:47,490 --> 00:30:51,090 place of fullness knowing that, God, you are my strength, you 517 00:30:51,090 --> 00:30:53,770 are my portion. I'll seek contentment. 518 00:30:53,770 --> 00:30:56,250 I'll be happy at the place that you call me in. 519 00:30:57,050 --> 00:31:01,770 You know, many a times we are looking for what is pleasing to 520 00:31:01,770 --> 00:31:05,810 our ears, is convenient for us, is easy for us. 521 00:31:06,330 --> 00:31:08,730 In fact, we choose churches which are convenient for us. 522 00:31:08,730 --> 00:31:12,850 We choose communities which have the certain vibe that we want. 523 00:31:14,370 --> 00:31:16,730 But if you're all following the same God, shouldn't every 524 00:31:16,730 --> 00:31:19,730 community matter? Shouldn't every gathering be the 525 00:31:19,730 --> 00:31:23,130 same, even if it's in a different language? 526 00:31:23,130 --> 00:31:26,590 Wouldn't it be the? Place where people of God are 527 00:31:26,590 --> 00:31:28,990 gathered together because it's the same God, it's the same 528 00:31:28,990 --> 00:31:30,510 police spirit who's ministry to us. 529 00:31:30,910 --> 00:31:34,230 And so today wherever you're at, if you've not plugged into a 530 00:31:34,230 --> 00:31:37,270 community, if you've had hesitation, I would say don't 531 00:31:37,590 --> 00:31:41,310 look for something that will vibe with you, but rather see 532 00:31:41,590 --> 00:31:44,790 are they really having Jesus in their congregation and get 533 00:31:44,790 --> 00:31:48,190 plugged in because your strengthening of your faith will 534 00:31:48,190 --> 00:31:51,460 happen in situations like that. Your strengthening of your inner 535 00:31:51,460 --> 00:31:54,260 man will happen there. Your life's journey will be 536 00:31:54,260 --> 00:31:55,780 increased and strengthened there. 537 00:31:57,380 --> 00:32:01,500 You know, many a times we think I need to surround myself with 538 00:32:01,620 --> 00:32:05,620 these kind of people. But God wants you to be 539 00:32:05,620 --> 00:32:12,660 surrounded by people who love him, care for him, I mean, who 540 00:32:12,660 --> 00:32:15,780 love him wholeheartedly, who are doing what he's called 541 00:32:15,780 --> 00:32:17,810 wholeheartedly. Surround yourselves. 542 00:32:18,050 --> 00:32:20,730 Surround yourselves with people who have taken those steps of 543 00:32:20,730 --> 00:32:24,330 faith and seen God come through. Surround yourselves with people 544 00:32:24,330 --> 00:32:27,770 who have the miraculous God Work in and through their lives so 545 00:32:27,770 --> 00:32:30,010 that you will be able to experience that miraculous in 546 00:32:30,010 --> 00:32:34,130 your own life. Today we take a lot of time to 547 00:32:34,490 --> 00:32:37,720 put ourselves together. We set our clothes up. 548 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:42,600 We make sure we follow the right influences of what to wear with 549 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,200 what of how to look, of whether my hair is good, whether I put 550 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:48,840 the right band, or whether I have the right strap for my 551 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:54,000 watch. It will all pass away. 552 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,880 Where is your heart? Are you filling up certain 553 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:00,480 things because your heart is empty? 554 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,720 Are you trying to make certain things look right? 555 00:33:05,110 --> 00:33:08,070 Because you're feeling unfulfilled entirely inside. 556 00:33:09,870 --> 00:33:13,150 Never judge things by an outward appearance. 557 00:33:14,070 --> 00:33:18,590 I've learnt that time and again. I've learnt that time and again 558 00:33:21,110 --> 00:33:27,390 we need to move to a place of finding God's strength to be our 559 00:33:27,390 --> 00:33:31,670 strength, God's portion to be my portion, God's. 560 00:33:33,460 --> 00:33:38,300 Everything to be my everything. And as I was reading this I 561 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:41,260 wanted to be encouraged. And the beautiful thing about 562 00:33:41,260 --> 00:33:45,180 this is this entire verse especially was 24 says you guide 563 00:33:45,180 --> 00:33:48,460 me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into 564 00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:50,460 glory. The word counsel there in the 565 00:33:50,460 --> 00:33:53,380 passion translation it says secret wisdom. 566 00:33:54,340 --> 00:33:58,100 So this is not wisdom that comes of following certain leadership 567 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:00,460 gurus who are giving out wisdom, secret wisdom. 568 00:34:01,310 --> 00:34:05,310 Which means God wants to speak certain things exclusively to 569 00:34:05,310 --> 00:34:09,310 your ears. Decisions that you can make that 570 00:34:09,310 --> 00:34:11,510 will change the course of your life. 571 00:34:11,670 --> 00:34:14,030 That secret wisdom you wants to speak into your ears. 572 00:34:15,230 --> 00:34:17,070 Are you tuning your ears for that? 573 00:34:17,550 --> 00:34:19,670 Are you willing to listen to him? 574 00:34:19,989 --> 00:34:21,710 Are you willing to commune with him? 575 00:34:22,469 --> 00:34:26,510 So how does God speak? Oftentimes we are pursuing 576 00:34:26,510 --> 00:34:28,550 saying, God, I want to know how you're speaking. 577 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,679 But the right question that we need to be asking is how do I 578 00:34:31,679 --> 00:34:35,920 listen to God's speaking? Because God is speaking. 579 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:38,159 Am I listening? Right. 580 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,360 To hear his secret wisdom, I need to be close. 581 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:49,040 Anything that has been spoken in secret is done. 582 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:52,840 Like how we talk. It's at that close. 583 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:58,160 So today, what is our take away from? 584 00:34:58,820 --> 00:35:03,420 This entire Psalm that Asaf has written suffering will come. 585 00:35:03,780 --> 00:35:08,620 In fact you know Tim Keller wrote in his in one of his books 586 00:35:08,820 --> 00:35:12,260 he's given this quote which says if you see God as the non 587 00:35:12,260 --> 00:35:16,140 negotiable good of your life you will get happiness thrown in. 588 00:35:16,820 --> 00:35:21,020 If however you aim mainly at personal happiness you will get 589 00:35:21,020 --> 00:35:24,140 neither. You will get neither. 590 00:35:25,180 --> 00:35:28,020 He has to be the non negotiable good of your life. 591 00:35:28,810 --> 00:35:32,010 And today, many a times he is the negotiable thing. 592 00:35:32,410 --> 00:35:37,610 Today am I leaning into God wholly and solely. 593 00:35:39,290 --> 00:35:43,530 A lot of us today, you know if you have to have this response 594 00:35:43,530 --> 00:35:47,570 like ASAP because he only leaned into God today. 595 00:35:47,570 --> 00:35:50,450 A lot of us even after your married, we are struggling to 596 00:35:50,450 --> 00:35:52,490 lean into our spouse. You are rather leaning still 597 00:35:52,490 --> 00:35:55,930 into our parents. How can God speak something for 598 00:35:55,930 --> 00:35:58,650 your marriage when you're leaning on to someone else? 599 00:35:59,410 --> 00:36:02,610 Today, as a young person, you're probably leaning on to the 600 00:36:02,850 --> 00:36:05,650 patterns of this world, the systems of the world. 601 00:36:06,090 --> 00:36:07,810 He's asking. Would you lean on to me? 602 00:36:08,010 --> 00:36:10,810 What is he speaking to you? What is he wanting to encourage 603 00:36:10,810 --> 00:36:13,450 you? You're scared you'll be part of 604 00:36:13,450 --> 00:36:17,690 the rat race, but he'll say being part of it, I can still do 605 00:36:17,690 --> 00:36:20,090 something new. I can still do something 606 00:36:20,090 --> 00:36:23,670 different. Today, when that one dream job 607 00:36:23,670 --> 00:36:28,270 of yours goes out of your hand, do you think life is over or 608 00:36:28,270 --> 00:36:29,990 still? Do you have God who is in 609 00:36:29,990 --> 00:36:35,790 control of you? Situations will change, but if I 610 00:36:35,790 --> 00:36:38,750 have to find fulfillment, it comes down to me leaning on God 611 00:36:38,950 --> 00:36:44,870 wholly and solely. Romans 12 says this Do not 612 00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:47,750 conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the 613 00:36:47,750 --> 00:36:51,050 renewing of a mind. Then you will be able to test 614 00:36:51,050 --> 00:36:54,330 and approve what God's will is, is good, pleasing and perfect 615 00:36:54,330 --> 00:36:57,290 will. If some doors have not opened 616 00:36:57,290 --> 00:37:01,850 for you this year, it's probably because God's will is not for 617 00:37:01,850 --> 00:37:04,210 that to be opened. He has something else better 618 00:37:06,570 --> 00:37:10,130 come to terms with it. Allow Jesus to go forward and 619 00:37:10,130 --> 00:37:15,730 follow Jesus. And as ASAP said, you are my 620 00:37:15,730 --> 00:37:20,150 strength, you are my portion. You are my everything. 621 00:37:20,750 --> 00:37:23,750 So today I don't know who I'm talking this for, but I believe 622 00:37:24,030 --> 00:37:29,990 a lot of us today are pursuing things which need us to come to 623 00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:32,190 a place in God. Is this of you or is this not of 624 00:37:32,190 --> 00:37:34,750 you? And as if this is not of you, 625 00:37:34,750 --> 00:37:39,910 Lord, let me pursue what is of you, so that his good and 626 00:37:39,910 --> 00:37:44,470 pleasing and perfect plan will become into fulfillment. 627 00:37:45,390 --> 00:37:47,710 Trust is timing. He knows the beginning from the 628 00:37:47,710 --> 00:37:49,690 end. He knows everything that's ahead 629 00:37:49,690 --> 00:37:52,570 of us. I would trust God and follow him 630 00:37:53,250 --> 00:37:57,610 every day till I close my eyes here on the earth or till I see 631 00:37:57,610 --> 00:38:01,850 him face to face. So today, Church, even as I 632 00:38:01,850 --> 00:38:06,650 conclude the standpoint of faith is first, we stop comparing how 633 00:38:06,650 --> 00:38:10,690 we live. We stop comparing how the others 634 00:38:10,690 --> 00:38:14,710 live, how the others behave. And we come to terms with the 635 00:38:14,710 --> 00:38:16,630 fact that, Lord, I am on slippery ground. 636 00:38:16,630 --> 00:38:19,150 I have been doing this and be honest with God alone. 637 00:38:20,350 --> 00:38:22,910 And so that because when we are honest with Him only he will 638 00:38:22,910 --> 00:38:24,950 listen. Many times people around will 639 00:38:24,950 --> 00:38:27,430 not understand, but he only understands. 640 00:38:28,430 --> 00:38:31,790 And I come to a place of realizing that his truth will 641 00:38:31,790 --> 00:38:36,910 prevail, my opinion will fade away, and that his strength will 642 00:38:36,910 --> 00:38:41,110 become my strength. Can I just pray for you? 643 00:38:41,950 --> 00:38:46,230 As Asaf sought encouragement from his word, I want to speak 644 00:38:46,230 --> 00:38:49,590 that over your life that God's strength will be your strength. 645 00:38:50,390 --> 00:38:54,830 Whom I am high in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire 646 00:38:54,830 --> 00:38:58,270 beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, 647 00:38:58,590 --> 00:39:02,950 but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, 648 00:39:03,670 --> 00:39:05,830 Not even right now. I just pray for each and 649 00:39:05,830 --> 00:39:08,550 everyone. Lord Jesus, who are listening to 650 00:39:08,550 --> 00:39:11,140 this? I pray if they are going through 651 00:39:11,140 --> 00:39:15,100 a hard time, a hard season, and if all that we've done is 652 00:39:15,100 --> 00:39:17,300 compare. Lord, we ask for repentance. 653 00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:20,420 Right now we say we are sorry and we ask that you would come 654 00:39:20,740 --> 00:39:24,580 into our situation right now. We openly ask and lift our 655 00:39:24,580 --> 00:39:27,100 hands, Lord, in submission and say you are our strength. 656 00:39:27,380 --> 00:39:30,220 You are our portion who have I in heaven but you. 657 00:39:30,540 --> 00:39:32,900 There's nothing that I desire beside you. 658 00:39:32,900 --> 00:39:38,380 Lord, my heart and my flesh may fail, but you are the strength 659 00:39:38,420 --> 00:39:41,280 of my life. Would you come down, Lord Jesus, 660 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:43,880 into each and every home right now, into each and every 661 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:47,000 situation right now, into each and every decision that we all 662 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,880 have to take? I pray we'll come to a place 663 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:51,960 where we are not afraid to come to you without doubts, are free 664 00:39:51,960 --> 00:39:54,200 to come to you without questions, are free to come and 665 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,040 be honest with you, Lord. And even right now as people do 666 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:01,000 that as they take time this week to be honest with you. 667 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:03,680 Would your revelation happened right now, Lord? 668 00:40:04,310 --> 00:40:07,550 And even right now I just recommit all of us that you will 669 00:40:07,550 --> 00:40:09,830 go ahead of us, Lord Jesus, that we will follow you. 670 00:40:10,590 --> 00:40:13,870 We will follow our leader. We will follow our God. 671 00:40:14,030 --> 00:40:17,390 We will follow the plans and the and the things that you have set 672 00:40:17,390 --> 00:40:20,630 out for us. Lord Jesus, go before us. 673 00:40:20,910 --> 00:40:23,630 Strengthen us. I pray that Lord your peace and 674 00:40:23,630 --> 00:40:26,670 your joy will prevail. Strengthen each and everyone. 675 00:40:26,670 --> 00:40:28,990 God, we give you the glory and the honor. 676 00:40:29,710 --> 00:40:32,190 In your most holy name we pray. Amen. 677 00:40:32,470 --> 00:40:35,190 Amen. So, church, even as you step 678 00:40:35,230 --> 00:40:37,630 out, I pray specifically that God will be your portion. 679 00:40:38,110 --> 00:40:41,950 God will be your strength. If you're having heartaches and 680 00:40:42,270 --> 00:40:44,950 strife and questions, please take it to God. 681 00:40:46,030 --> 00:40:48,470 And we as a community of believers are here to pray 682 00:40:48,470 --> 00:40:52,230 alongside with you, to see and intercede so that God's 683 00:40:52,230 --> 00:40:54,350 miraculous will come and work in and through you. 684 00:40:55,110 --> 00:40:57,270 I pray specifically that God will work in and through your 685 00:40:57,270 --> 00:41:00,830 lives, that He'll step in you, that He'll bless you. 686 00:41:01,510 --> 00:41:04,630 And that you will be changed inside out, so that in due time 687 00:41:04,910 --> 00:41:08,750 you will bear a harvest so that many others can taste of his 688 00:41:08,750 --> 00:41:13,510 goodness and see what he's done and follow the same God that 689 00:41:13,510 --> 00:41:16,110 you're following. I pray that you'll be 690 00:41:16,110 --> 00:41:18,990 encouraged. God will strengthen his 691 00:41:18,990 --> 00:41:22,510 strength, will be your strength this week and for the days to 692 00:41:22,510 --> 00:41:24,150 come. God bless you all. 693 00:41:25,230 --> 00:41:26,950 Thanks for listening to this message. 694 00:41:27,310 --> 00:41:30,790 We hope you were blessed to hear more messages like this. 695 00:41:31,150 --> 00:41:35,150 Make sure to subscribe and check out our podcast channel for past 696 00:41:35,150 --> 00:41:37,470 episodes. If you like what you are 697 00:41:37,470 --> 00:41:42,030 hearing, consider rating us, subscribing, and even sharing it 698 00:41:42,030 --> 00:41:44,630 with friends. That would really help us. 699 00:41:45,310 --> 00:41:49,910 For more content from Via Zion and to connect with us, go to 700 00:41:50,070 --> 00:41:56,040 Via Zion dot in Remember. Whoever finds Jesus finds life.