On the Brink of a Miracle

Pastor Melinda Song

The very first Christmas occurred during a very dark time in the life of Israel. God has been silent for 400 years since God had spoken to His people through the prophet Malachi. God is still at work although the people still felt like God had abandoned them. But now, God is going to announce the source of a new hope in quite an unexpected way – by sending his angel to an old priest who had experienced his own sorrow in life because he and his wife were childless.

I have entitled today’s message “On the Brink of a Miracle” and the text is taken from…

Luke 1:5-25, NIV

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Of the four Gospel writers, Luke gives us the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth, childhood and development. He begins his Christmas story by introducing us to two people, the parents of John the Baptist, who are “On the Brink of a Miracle”. 

1.     A godly couple (v. 5-6)

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Zechariah was one of about 20,000 priests serving the temple who were divided by King David into 24 divisions (1 Chron. 23-24) due to their large number. Each division would serve in the temple one week at a time, twice a year. Thus a priest could only serve once in his lifetime.

Unlike the religious leaders whom Jesus called hypocrites, Zechariah and Elizabeth were a godly couple who pleased God with lives of outward compliance with inward obedience.

2.     BUT (v. 7)

7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Having children was seen as a blessing from God in the Jewish culture – an indication of divine favour. So being childless was a great disappointment to them and a disgrace for Elizabeth (v. 21)

There was little hope of things changing as they were old. The possibility of a touch from God was remote. Do you ever feel that it’s just time to give up? Yet childlessness was a theme repeated throughout the Old Testament, as with Sarah, Rebekah, Manoah’s wife, and Hannah. God can turn around the situation.

TRUST GOD WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND

Some of you, despite being faithful, are disappointed because of unanswered prayers. You don’t understand why things are happening against you and that is where you need faith to trust God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

You may be facing a dead-end situation right now—financial, emotional, or relational, but if you will trust God He will make a way for you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. This is what a walk of faith is about: you trust God even when you do not seem to understand.

A WORD OF CAUTION! Barrenness was considered a sign of God¡¦s disfavour and punishment so this couple lived with shame because there are some who probably suspected them of serious secret sin. Often we look at people and their difficult situation and blame or condemn them. We look at a couple who haven’t had children and wonder what is wrong? We look at families whose children are turning away from God and people condemn them for not being good parents. We look at couples who have separated or divorced and wonder what they’ve done wrong.

It is all too easy to lay blame on people and condemn them, but here is a couple who were God fearing, who were right with God, yet they didn’t have all the “blessings” we think they should have. The lesson? Even righteous people live with disappointments and hurt and instead of making that greater, we need to empathize with them and support them in their pain.

Zacharias could also have gotten rid of Elizabeth and married a younger woman to have children but he didn’t. Instead he honoured the covenant of marriage and committed the situation to God, the one person who could do something about it.

3.    A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (vv. 8-10)

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Each morning lots were cast to decide on the priest who would enter the holy place, bearing burning coals from the bronze altar in the temple court, to burn incense which symbolised the prayers of God’s people rising toward heaven. That day the lot fell to Zechariah

HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

In spite of uncertainties, in spite shame in the society; Zechariah not only believed God but he faithfully went to the temple to perform his duties as a priest.

It is important to have the right perspective/attitude when waiting for your promise. The problem with many of us is that when things don’t work out as we plan, we get discouraged, lose our joy and our spiritual life goes downhill. Such people are no more seen at church.

Zechariah DID NOT GIVE UP. We have to keep doing good despite the bad happening in your life.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”

God is looking for people like this today. You may be facing a hopeless situation, an unanswered prayer but can you praise God in spite of the problem?

God has a set time for your breakthrough, but if you want that victory in God’s time, you need to have the right perspective.

Remember the 12 spies? Just because the majority had the wrong perspective, out of the 2 million people who were camped next door to the Promised Land, only 2 made it to the Promised Land just because of the right perspective. Many times it is our perspective that stops our breakthrough.

You show up (that is faith) and God (your faithful God) will show up!

That day was Zechariah’s day! God was ready to make His move. Had Zechariah given up he would have lost his appointment with God.

4.     An Angel shows up! (vv. 11-13)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

WAIT FOR GOD

Maybe you are waiting for a breakthrough. God is telling you, “Fear not, your prayers have been answered. Today is the day of your deliverance.” Zechariah trusted God in the impossible, kept the right perspective, continued with his devotions and worship, and God decided to step in.

Some of you are discouraged because your prayers are not answered but what if God showed you His side of the story?

Maybe you are praying for your marriage and God is telling that on January 12, 2018, at 3.00 pm you are going to meet the person of your dreams. You will not be discouraged. You will be all excited and relaxed. Why? You know the big day is coming.

God promises that there are set times in our future, but he does not tell us when they will be. There is a set time for the problem to turn around, a set time for your healing, for your promotion, for your breakthrough.

It maybe tomorrow, next week, or a year from now, but when you understand the time has already been set it takes all the pressure off. Do you trust God when you do not understand. Will you continue to do worship God like Zechariah? That is when God works, so don’t give up. You are on the brink of a miracle!

5.     The Angel’s Prophecy (vv. 14-17)

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Elijah, like John the Baptist, was known for his bold, uncompromising stand for the Word of God—even in the face of a ruthless monarch. The final two verses of the Old Testament (Mal. 4:5-6) had promised the return of Elijah before the Day of the Lord.

GOD HAS A GREATER PURPOSE FOR THE DELAY

John’s birth is not merely a nice story of an old couple having a baby. It is about the fulfillment of prophecy; it is about the special role the child is going to play in the unfolding of God’s eternal plan of redemption for his people and the whole world. God had a greater purpose for Zechariah’s delay.

It would be good for us in the Christmas season to grasp the big picture that our lives fit in to. When we raise the issue of why certain things happen to us – whether good or bad – we fall back on Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We then look for the good thing in the situation.

6.     Zechariah’s lack of faith (v. 18)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Zechariah was questioning God’s ability to fulfill His own Word! He totally dismissed the idea that God can enable an old couple to have a baby even though there is certainly precedent for that in the account of what God did for Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:9-15).

Unbelief is the reason that some prayers are not answered. But let this encourage us also: Even blameless people slip up. God is a God of patience and continues to work with us and often despite us.

7.     The result of unbelief (vv. 19-22)

19 "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Zechariah doubted God and a sign of silence was given. When Zechariah came out dumb the people outside realised that something extraordinary had happened to him.

8.    Elizabeth became pregnant (v. 23-25)

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

God is faithful. His promises never fail! The Lord is your glory and the lifter of your head and He shall take away your disgrace.

Conclusion

Advent begins with Zechariah – God remembers.

It begins with Elizabeth – God is my oath, and

it begins with the birth of John – God has been gracious.

They remind us that from the beginning God has been the author of a story that results in bringing hope into the midst of a dark world to those who will call upon the name of our coming Savior – Jesus.

When it might seem like God has forgotten His people, God remembers.

It reminds us that God is faithful to carry out His oath that He made with Adam and Abraham and every generation of His people throughout history to send a Savior, the Messiah, who would bring hope to all.

And it reminds us that God delights in extending His grace to us.

Whatever your disappointment is at the moment, God has a set time for your situation and when He answers, He not only takes care of your need but it will be for a greater purpose.

Are you in the same situation as Zechariah and Elizabeth - literally they had given up the hope? Don’t give up! Nothing is impossible for God.

He can reach down and touch you at the most unexpected time in your life. God’s touch always comes in God’s perfect time. Don’t give up! Today you are standing on the brink of a miracle. Come and we shall stand in prayer with you.

Mission Breakthrough through Abraham’s Journey of Faith

Rev Ezra Chin of Emmanuel Church


Our church is a very unique church started five years ago. I was a corporate man and was a lay pastor. I was asked why I decided to go ministry when I am earning five figure pay. Just the last 2 years I went full time. We have ministry students and some of them are here this morning. It’s a laborious work.


If you have about 50 in the church some 10 of them will answer the call, then our church numbers will go down. God has blessed us with good leaders and that’s how we grew.


I was invited to a youth conference in North Sabah and it talked about the teaching of the Holy Spirit. I availed myself to teach. While walking up to the first floor there were about 80 students gathered there. And God said to me to pray for incest. I was hesitant to  say that but decided to pray for those that were sexually abused like by their fathers and uncles. The pastor was hesitant to allow me too. I said I won’t preach, I just want to pray. Out of 180 students with about 120 being girls, I asked that I wanted to pray for those that were abused.


When I said that in Bahasa those that were raped, some just went hysteria. There were at least 30 of them. Not because they are poor but because they have escaping issues. The population of Christians are reducing drastically. RM1.2 million are being invested in mosques. And many families are converting. We need to be a lighthouse there. What are we to do? If I can save one of them I’ve done my job.


I went full time about two years ago. And we are planting churches now. Why? Because we need to equip the leaders with the word of God. To equip and train and this is called discipleship. To plant more Assembly of God churches. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work there will be revival in Sabah.


Genesis 12:1-9 (NIV)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.


It’s the same mandate that Jesus gave us. Go ye therefore and be a blessing and make disciples. It’s the same calling from Abraham to us now. Mission is about building nations. We are the influencers of the world. To transform the community and it has to start in the church first.


Abraham served the Lord at 75. And in 15 years he made an impact. And he and his descendants inherited the nation that God has promised him. You are never too old to serve God. I’ve got arthritis pastor. So what? You’re an usher. Look for something to serve. God wants the availability of your heart. If you want the favour of God in TOP there must be a ministry and service centric attitude in this church.


The Lord appeared to Abraham and said: to your offspring I will give this land. So he built an altar to the Lord. An altar means a place of worship and a place of sacrifice. Altar means slaughter ya. Like here is the altar where we gather to worship God.


I’ll give you five Cs that will help you in your missions. Mission is not just going or giving. Giving is just part of the mission. Missions is actually growing. To give you nations and increase descendants.


From Isaac to Joseph there was only a handful. From Joseph to Moses is 490 years there were 1.2 million Israelites leaving Egypt. More and more Israelites believe on the Jehovah God. People were attracted to Abraham’s God. These are the Israelites.


1. Crossover from your Comfort zone for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 12:4 (NIV)
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.


Acts 7:2-4 (NIV)
2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’
4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.


They had a divine encounter with God. When the glory of God appeared to the family and that’s why they moved to Harran. I know it’s tough. That’s why I moved from the corporate world and sacrificed. Not exactly all la because my EPF not yet withdrawn.


We all want to stay in our comfort zone. We cannot stay at Harran. Most of you are first generation from the CA (Christ's Ambassadors). During your teens. We don’t have a second generation. How many of you are at your thirties? We need to reach the people. We cannot stay at our comfort zone and move to a new place and new environment in this period of new ministry. To move from Harran.


While on his journey God increase and multiply them many times. If you continue to be obedient and continue to expand you will be blessed. You have to move out of Harran.


We have a big heart for missions. And we don’t pay our pastors well. RM800 a month. And sometimes that may be a meal’s cost. We have to leave our comfort zone and God will appear. I enjoy serving. It’s not hardship. You may say it’s because I’ve saved enough but no.


2. Courage to build for your mission breakthrough.


Church is not for maintenance. Church is to grow and to plant.


Genesis 12:6-7 (NIV)
6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.


He built the altar at Shechem. Courage to built in the place of his aggressors. We have to believe. Many churches are planted by co-partnering. RM2000 a month we can built one church. I believe that we here of about 300 if we just give RM2 we can save a church in Sabah.


We recently just baptised 4 persons in a small settlement. Give God the glory. It’s a settlement where we have squatters and people from surrounding countries. It’s the poorest of the poorest. We start there because the government is trying to build the largest hostels there with islamisation being the agenda. If we can save some of them, praise the Lord. Go to a place like Shechem. Tough.


If we want to see the manifestation of God we need faith with action. Faith alone will not save people. When we go out and share without fear you will see something happen.


I came from a Buddhist family. My father said to me when I wanted to be a Christian. He said when I come back I’ll be blue black. And second he said I will disown you because I want someone to carry my casket. I prayed. In 2007, my mom got baptised at the age of 75. After more than 30 years of prayer one by one my family got saved. If only you believe and take action.


8 years ago I was at a pharmaceutical company. A doctor diagnosed my father with cancer. I went to see three urologist. I challenged my father it’s time to get saved. If you want to be with my mom, you need to get saved so that you all can be together. And I said that I will pray and he will be healed. Now he’s still alive after 8 years. Courage to believe.


30 years ago you say I will. Now you say I pray first.


Haggai 1:2-5 (NIV)
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.


We have become so complacent. We need to have courage and cross over. 


3. Commitment to Call on the name of the Lord for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 12:8 (NIV)
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.


He called the name of the Lord in the house of God. The local church is the life giver and the solution to the problem of the world. This is the place where many will find the comfort of God. Abraham never complained but continue to believe and to hope in the Lord. Commitment and hold on for this church. You are the sons and daughters of TOP. Iron sharpens iron in this church. It’s okay. We are family.


Pursue the promise of God with great commitment.


4. Be a Companion-partner of God for your mission breakthrough.


Genesis 13:14-18 (NIV)
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.


I asked why Abraham wanted to go to a high place? Elevated. Abraham said this is my land and he built another altar. It talks about companion to partner with God. Strategic alliances. Every time God wants us to plant a church the resources will appear.


God allows us to make choices. You may see it’s tough but that’s commitment. Pastor Ronald said I’ll die in Sabah and that’s because I love Sabah. I want to plant 20 churches in my lifetime.


5. Ceding of your rights for your missions breakthrough.


Genesis 22:2 (NIV)
Then God said, “Take your son , your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. ”


Genesis 22:13-18 (NIV)
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. ”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”


Before Abraham sacrificed his son the Lord provided. Seeding before you reap. There is a comparison on the life of Abraham and the life of the church. Make disciples. We need to go out and extend the kingdom of God.


2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NIV)
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Unlocking God’s Power in Your Life

Rev Mark Barnard

What a joy it is to be with you. We have been here numerous times. We came during Ps Geoffrey, then Ps Gideon and now Ps Ronald. This is a beautiful place and you are a beautiful people so tell your neighbour you look good. Everywhere I go everybody talks to me about this forbidden fruit called the durian. It must be the fruit at the Garden of Eden where it says if you eat it you will surely die. I have tried it before. Maybe some day I may try again.

How many of you believe that God has unlimited power? That God can do everything? How many of you believe that nothing is impossible with God? Who believe that God is all powerful? You all put up your hands. We believe that for everybody else but when it comes to ourselves we find that it's difficult to believe.

We believe and we verbalise it but in our lives we have to actualise it.

In the OT, God brought out the people from Egypt. And God did incredible things. A group of slaves walked out from the most powerful man on earth.  Miracles after miracles. He fed them manna, provided them with water from rocks, led them day and night and God even parted the Red Sea for them and they walked on dry lands. And God closed the waters and the Egyptians in their chariots died. What an incredible thing. What an amazing God.

Yet these people kept complaining all the time. They complained about no water and no food. They complained on everything until when Moses went up to Mt Sinai after putting up with these people where God wrote the law on two tablets of stone and told Moses take these two tablets and it’ll get better. Israel tempted and tested God and limited the Holy One of Israel. They limited the God almighty.

We want to unlock the limitless power of God in our life.

John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

That is speaking about Jesus.

John 1:9-11 (NKJV)

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Jesus came through the Jews.  And God has always been with these people but by the time we get to here, these people are looking for the Messiah. They were desperate for the Messiah to come and deliver them from the Romans. But his own did not receive Him. That word receive Him is very important.

John 1:12 (NKJV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Receive Him brought some transformation to their lives. They rejected him and his power to transform their lives were limited. To those that receive Him he gave the right, authority or power or ability to become children of God. By receiving Jesus  they receive the power to become another person.

We become a new creation. We became born again by the Spirit of God, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. We receive eternal life from that moment. We become something new. Something else.

1. We give power to the things we receive.

If we take gossip for example. If we receive gossip, we keep it going by gossiping but if we stop, we stop it in its track. If we receive negative things we give it power. The negative had power in their lives. Negative rules when I receive negative. The same with positives in our lives. Then the positive things take root in our life.

If you receive the truth, the truth will set you free. It liberates and transforms your life. So it's important to know what to receive and what to reject. Here the Jews rejected Jesus. We give power to the things we receive in our lives.

Everywhere Jesus went people were excited but some people were not happy.

Mark 6:1-2 (NKJV)

1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

They all saw the incredible work of Jesus. They saw and acknowledged all these things that Jesus did. They have seen and heard these things.

Then they said:

Mark 6:3 (NKJV)

Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

Something here stopped them from receiving from him.

Mark 6:4-6 (NKJV)

4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

We give power to the things we receive.

But when we choose to receive Jesus, it will transforms us. Our mindset keeps us in or out of certain things. We all have a way of thinking.

If our way of thinking do not align with God's word then we will miss out. We need to open up our lives to God. We want what God has for our lives and be changed by his word and his spirit.

I grew up in a very traditional church. Those church where the pastor wears like my mother but calls himself a father. He stands there and is so aloof. I went to that church for 20 years and would not have recognised Jesus if I bumped into him.

At about 20 years old I went into a Pentecostal church and it was strange because they were speaking in tongues. I thought they belonged to the nuthouse. But I saw how they loved God and I received Jesus that day.

So I went back to the father and I told him about that and he said it'll pass. I told him I wanted to be baptised but he wouldn't do it. So I went back to that Pentecostal church and got baptised. And then I saw them being baptised in the Holy Spirit and I also wanted it. But I keep going out for altar call and nothing happened. But after many times they took me to the back room and the day came I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I went back and told the father and he told me to get out and don't come back.

If God deals with you don't fight it but yield to God. You get power from the things you receive. There is great value in receiving from God.

Unlocking the power of believing in God.

2. We receive power from the things that we believe.

Mark 2:1-5 (NKJV)

1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Later Jesus said to that man arise and walk.

Mark 2:9 (NKJV)

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

Jesus saw their faith. How could Jesus see their faith? By the hole in the roof. The story shows their faith unlocks something in their situation. We receive power from the things we believe. They believed Jesus can heal their friend and they were willing to do anything to get to Jesus.

When they had broken through, that's the key. Some of us has to get pass obstacles to get to Jesus. I'm sure in this room there are people who has obstacles, problems in their life. When we really believe something we are willing to do what is necessary to get what we need.

If we believe Jesus has the power, then we receive that power from Jesus. So my question is what do you believe about Jesus? Do you believe that he is the answer to your problems? There is the fact and there is the truth. Doctors will give us the diagnosis that is very bleak. That's the fact. But will we hang on to the truth. That by his stripes we are healed. That's the truth. There is a journey that take the fact to the truth. Man and medicine are wonderful so I'm not against medicine. But the truth is that God will heal all our diseases. God sent his word and he healed them.

We have no problems believing that Jesus save us from our sins. And we believe he forgives me when I do wrong or I fall. In the same way that he forgives us he also heals us. We receive healing whether it's emotional, physical or spiritual.

3. Experiencing the blessings of trusting in God.

Sometimes in our journey we have to trust the Lord. God loves people who believe. And have faith. Faith is what unlocks God's treasure chest and God's blessings in your life even when it looks impossible.

Luke 5:1-5 (NKJV)

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

Simon is first of all a professional fisherman. That's his job so he knows how to fish, not Jesus who is a preacher. Simon could have said there is no fish out there. Don't tell me there are fishes out there because there is none. I'm the fisherman.

But Simon said nevertheless at your word I will let down the net. Everything natural said there's no fish but Simon chose to listen to Jesus. Just like when God spoke to Mary. Let it be unto me according to your word. You cannot conceive without sex. But she obeyed.

Luke 5:6-7 (NKJV)

6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Who wants to go fishing with Jesus? They had a big haul of fishes. In the natural there's no fish.

When God called us to come to Malaysia we didn't know anyone. We had no money. It cost money to do the work of the Lord. So I told God I have no money and God said to trust him. So I prayed and half an hour later I got a call from someone 300 miles away and he said God spoke to him that he has open the door for me to do international work. And he said he wants to sow into our ministry.

So I said okay but right about then, God spoke to me to bring a team of 10 people. Oh, okay. But God told me I am to pay for all of them. I was at a person's office and as I was leaving he passed me an envelope.

Immediately when I went back I open the envelope and in there was 9,000 dollars. That's a lot of money at that time.

If God orders it God will pay for it. God showed me by a miracle. I didn't manipulate because it's never about the money. We are not interested in that. I did not want the love of money to be in my heart. The Lord has always provided when we trust him. It released God's power into our circumstances. We need to experience the blessings of trusting in God.

These three things are very important.

1. We give power to the things we receive.
2. We receive power from the things that we believe.
3. Experiencing the blessings of trusting in God.

Perhaps today you are here and you need a breakthrough from God. Make a choice to receive the truth and the life. To receive Jesus. Make a choice today. Put that issue on God's hands. It could be financial or your marriage or a child that has moved away from God. Believe and put your trust in God.