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.

Shield of Faith

Rev Gideon Lee

When we say shield we often think about the armour of God. Let us read from the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 6:10-16

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

The shield of faith. But before that I want to point out a few things with regards to the armour of God. First we are in a battle. Whether you feel like I'm in a battle or not you're in a spiritual battle the day you accepted Jesus as your Saviour. We are all in a battle and we want to be an effective soldier. The victory has already been won for us at the cross but we want to press on. I pray that we will be good and effective soldiers. The first thing is that we need to put on the full armour of God.

We learnt this in cell. How many of you attend cell? It's the place where we go deep. Where the rubber meets the road. We study the Bible. This week we did Jehovah Mekadesh. The Lord who sanctifies.

We need to wear the full armour. You cannot say you just want to put on your helmet because you look cool. I don't like to wear a hat because it messes with my hair. But I cannot say I go to battle without my helmet. I'll get a head shot like in those shoot-em video games. We need the full armour.

We are in constant battle. How many of you have fiery darts thrown at you often? Even this morning when coming to church? You need to pick up the shield of faith.

First and foremost gird yourself with the belt of truth. What is this truth? Truth that comes from the word of God. With what God says. The belt those days were leather belts. It may not be nice looking but it's important because it holds up the rest of the armour. And when you are tired you can rest your shield on it and also place your sword.

Then it's the breastplate of righteousness. The enemy likes to condemn us. You have sin, you don't deserve his love but God says put on the breastplate of righteousness and it covers your back too. And all your vital organs like your heart and lungs. Not our own righteousness but his imputed righteousness.

The breastplate is made of bronze. They shine the bronze so nicely that the sun rays bounce off the armour and blinds the enemy. You'll be afraid to face them.

Then the Bible says put on your boots. It's not like your sandals and snickers. It covers your entire feet made of bronze. It covers up to your knees. I read their boots has a 3 inch spike. It will not slip on slippery ground. And it is also a weapon when they kick the enemy.

I love army stuff. In my house there is a room for some of those stuff. In the army everything is provided for you. Everything. They will have a chop to show its provided by the government. Hak Kerajaan Malaysia. And you can get replacements if they are worned out.

But I like their boots. It's front is like those construction boots. It is protected. It's the kind of boots that you wear as you march for God.  

And then the Bible says wear your shield of faith. So that you can be protected from the fiery darts of the enemy. The spiritual armour we put on is something we need everyday.

Let me tell you a little bit about the shield. It's made from leather. It's not just one piece but it's six layers. And it's not easy to be penetrated. It's the same word oblong. It also means a door. The shield is as big as a door and it's oblong in shaped and it's six layers of leather.

As we pick it up we need to understand where does our faith comes from? Faith comes from hearing the word of God. We need to first and foremost learn how to grow our faith.

Each one of us is given a measure of faith. A shield is custom made to the individual soldier. If Joshua is a Roman soldier I cannot give him a tiny shield. Joshua being Joshua needs a shield that is big enough so that he is protected.

Danny. Stand up Danny. If he was a Roman soldier I cannot give him a shield that is taller than him. It'll be too big for him. God has given us a measure of faith according to the individual.

The problem is not we do not have faith. The problem is we don't exercise our faith.

One day it has not been raining in this country for the last 6 months. Situation was dire and the pastor say come to prayer meeting and we will pray for rain. Everybody say they'll come. Wednesday night the church was full. All came except everyone came but only one brought an umbrella. They came to pray for rain. We don't put our faith into action. We gotta exercise our faith.

19th December are we going to bring our friends? Transfer your yes into action.

The shield is useless if it's on the floor or leave it at home. Your faith is useless if you don't exercise it. Your faith comes from Jesus. He's the way. It's by hearing the word of God. You may ask what about reading the word of God? It does help but if you read the word of God aloud and you hear what you read it makes a lot of difference. If your quiet time is too quiet, can you take your Bible and read aloud? When you do that our faith increases.

Even when you are driving, put all the Christian tapes and good sermons on. Hear the word of God and Christian songs. To increase your faith hear the word of God.

It's not whether we have faith or not, the most important is are we exercising our faith. That's how we grow our faith. Are we doing that church? Or is our faith like the stock market.

In order to maintain the shield, they need to apply oil on the leather. When it's dry it becomes brittle. If you have leather sofa, you'll need to apply leather oil so that it remains supple. If not it wrinkles. Like your shoes. To maintain their shield they apply some oil. Some soldier soak their shield in water and the leather absorbs all the water. The shield then becomes heavy, and when they go into battle, the fiery darts are distinguished because of the water.

Sometimes we get discouraged when things don't go the way we want them. So it's important you maintain your faith. You only so it one way.

Ephesians 5:22-26

Marriage-Christ and the Church

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Have you soak your shield in the word of God? Soak your faith in God's presence. What are you spending your most time on? Your work? Your hobbies? That's where you are soaking your faith on. Are we soaking our faith in his presence.

Last but not least, how many of you feel so tired you cannot lift your shield?

Here's the secret. The shield is made with a hinge. When the soldier face the enemy, the soldier link their hinge so that they form a barricade. This manoeuvre is called the Roman testudo, or the tortoise. It becomes almost impossible to attack. They were hinged to one another. If you hold it on your own you'll be tired.

We need to learn to hinge on one another. We are not in this battle alone. When we hinge our faith on one another we can do it. Support one another. In church we need to do this. We are all not alone.  If you go through something and you tell me we have a prayer group and we stand with you. You are not alone when you go through a problem. We go through together as a body of believers. But some of us want to be a Rambo. You know Rambo? We go solo.

That shield also becomes a weapon. How many of you see Captain America? What is his weapon? He has his shield. He sometimes use his shield as a weapon. How do we use our faith as a weapon? Sometimes the devil come and tell you you are a sinner but our shield is that Yes, we are a sinner but a forgiven one by Jesus. Remember when Jesus was in the dessert? How he was tempted? But Jesus give it to the devil with the word of God.

How many of you are exercising your faith? How many of you maintain your shield? How many of you hinge your shield? If we don't we become as easy prey for the devil.

The Bible says put on the full armour of God and after this is to stand firm and to resist. Too often the enemy comes and push us around. 

We are all in a war. Whether you like it or not. Let's be effective soldiers.

The Rapture

Rev Gideon Lee

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

The Coming of the Lord

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

This morning I want to talk to you about the Rapture. For the last three weeks I have been conducting funerals. It started with Sis Varinda's grandmother. Then Sis Julie's mother and this week our dear Bro Moses' sister in law.

It's not easy to lose a loved ones. We see how before a person pass, the body deteriorates. Even to gasped for the next breath is so hard.

As Christians although we will be sad we have this blessed hope. The Rapture is often associated with the end times. People like to know what happens in the end. Like Korean dramas. We all want to know the end.

When we talk about the Rapture we confuse it with another event called the second coming. The Rapture happens when Jesus comes mid air and the dead in Christ will rise first and all those of us who are still alive will be caught up. The second coming is when his feet touch on Mount Olives. Jesus is coming for the Saints and it's a joyous occasion but the second coming is for judgement of the world.

Some people say there is no such word Rapture in the Bible. We call it the Rapture but just because the word is not in the Bible does not mean it will not happen. Like the word Trinity. It's not in the Bible but we believe in the Trinity.

Another word not found in the Bible is pornography. Just because it's not in the Bible does that mean it's okay?

The Rapture has been described even since the book of Genesis.

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

One moment Enoch was here in earth and in another moment he is no more and is with God.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

It will not be a silent event. The trumpet and the voice of the archangel will be heard by all. Because we are his sheep and we know the shepherds voice, it is only those who are saved that will meet him in the air.

The Saints that have passed on will be the first. We are not people without hope. Even as I conducted funerals we do not grief like those without hope. We are sad but not hopeless. One day I dreamt of meeting my father in heaven. He never saw all my children. Only Elisa at one years old. I'm sure he will love all of them. One day I want to see my father.

We who are still alive will be caught up. But as Christians all is not lost. We have the blessed hope. The church talks about the Rapture but Jesus have not come yet. It's been more than 2000 years.

One day this man was on a long distance travel. He was driving his car and he brought his dog along with him. As he was halfway he needed to make a stop at the petrol station. He was filling his car and saw his dog inside. He opened the door for the dog to go out a while. The dog happily went out and sniffed around.

The master got into the car after he finished he drove off. The dog didn't chase because he knew the car was too fast for him to chase. The dog decided to just stay put because he knows when the master realised his dog is missing he will turn back.

But the dog thought, don't know how long. So he thought while waiting he might as well be useful. So he thought he might as well help guard the petrol station.

Sometimes we are like that dog. We get so used to doing things that we forget Jesus is coming back. Sometimes people ask me when is the date and time Jesus is coming back? The Bible say no man knows. September has come and gone and Jesus is not coming back yet.  I'm not belittling prophesy but my question is are you ready when Jesus comes? It's not about the blood moon. The Bible says he comes like a thief in the night.

No thief tells you when he is coming. We know only the season and if you look around us the season is ripe for Jesus to come back. If Jesus will come in the next 5 minutes are you ready? Don't say, Jesus come in another three months because I'm not married yet. Or that you have not made your  first million. The only way you can be ready is if you have Jesus in your heart as Lord and Saviour.

I want to see my loved ones there, not just my father. I hope to see all of you there. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. It's walking with God and having Jesus in your life. Are you ready if Jesus comes back?

The second is are you ready and can you get others ready. That is our responsibility. His last commission to us is to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This December we have 400 seats. I hope we have 200 non believers. Everyone just bring one non Christian. One. TOP boleh? Bring them. Jesus is coming back soon.

Are you ready? Let's gets others ready.

Some people ask me, we will have a glorified body, so will I look 25? Did the disciples recognise Jesus? Yes. I will know we can recognise each other. No more pain and sickness. The mark of a Christian is faithfulness. It's in the faithfulness in all.you do.

So church, are we ready?

How to turn our weaknesses into strength

Rev Gideon Lee

I want to look at a familiar passage of scripture.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

The Vision of Paradise

​1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There was once a man who had a large sum of money. He thought he would invest his money but he didn't know how to go about it. He sought out someone who knew how. A financial planner. If I want to know about advertising or media, I'd go to bro Kenny. We go to the person who is expert in their field for advice. So he went to this financial planner and asked how and the more he talked, the more he realised he didn't know much. There was so much he didn't know.

1. Confront your weaknesses

The key to understanding is to know what our weaknesses are. To confront our weaknesses. All of us have weaknesses. Something we didn't know. We cannot know everything. So we need to seek out people who are experts on those areas.

How many of you are aware of your weaknesses? Not to let it cripple us but to confront it so that it can become our strength. Paul was talking about himself. He could have boasts about what he knew but he also knew God allowed a thorn in his fresh to keep him humble.

Many debated on what was this thorn in the flesh. We don't know but we know it vexed Paul so much he asked God to remove it from him. But what was God's reply? My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in you.

We need to confront our weaknesses. What is it we need to work on? Is it our devotion? To wake up early and study the Bible? I know my weaknesses. Leaders in ministry, you will know sometimes you will give your best message and people will response at the altar call and many will be touched and God moved mightily. And one of my weakness is that I think I have arrived. Walk also gaya. We are so caught up that we forget it's not about us. We need to know what's our weaknesses and we must confront them.

Paul studied amongst the best teachers. He had pedigree. But he had weaknesses and had to confront them.

Those of you who are married will know what I mean. We must set perimeters. Pastors also have emotions. We are not made of wood. Billy Graham for example, we have not heard any scandals. He set perimeters. He never go to a hotel room alone. His assistant will check the room before he goes in. All of us have to set perimeters. Like I don't counsel a lady one on one. And not outside. If you want to see me come to my office. We all have our weaknesses and one of it is to set perimeters. I don't even fetch one of the opposite sex. If I have to you sit behind. Confront your weaknesses. 

Singles, set perimeters. Don't ask them to come or go to their homes when parents are not in. Don't say you are only wanting to study the bible.

2. Confess the truth

For example you may say you're suffering from cancer this morning, that's your weakness,  but you say God is your healer, that's the truth. You may say you have no money, that's your weakness but God is your provider, that's the truth.

What is God's truth? You may say your didn't come from a good family but now the truth is you can call him Abba Father. The weakness is that once we were all in sin. We gave in to our sinful desires. But the truth is he has set us free. Our weaknesses becomes the strength.

Do you have a friend who knows everything? He talk about everything he'll know. Sometimes it's difficult to be with people like them but until we learn that we have weaknesses and things we don't know that's how we'll grow.

There was this student who was a genius and seems to know everything. His professor invited him to his home,for tea. As the professor poured tea for him, he continued to pour and didn't stop until it reached the brim and continued to pour until it spilled onto the floor. The professor then told him he is like that. As long as he is not teachable, he will never learn new things and it'll just be like that cup where it'll just spill.

3. Commit it to God

God also wants to use you in your strength. If you can play the guitar God will use you. God can use both your strength and weakness. Work on your weaknesses to turn it into your strength. God will help you when you commit it to the Lord. Surrender to him. Be vulnerable.

If I want to be close to my wife, I'll know her inside out. And that's being vulnerable. How many of us like our weaknesses to be known? In order to have that relationship we have to trust God and know what he's doing. That's being vulnerable. In our weaknesses as we surrender to him, we can do all things. To be vulnerable means you're saying we need help.

Sometimes we think we have things under our control that we forget about God. We need to come to God and admit we need him. God love you. Ask God to help you and he wants to help you.

What is your weakness? Is it durians? I heard it's a bumper crop. The price is like the stock market but it's going down.

What's your weakness? Confront it. Confess the truth and commit it to God. If you want God's grace you must know how to surrender. I'm going to close by saying this.

The first president of USA, Abraham Lincoln felt he was inadequate to become president. He said often he was driven to his knees because he had nowhere else to go to as president. I pray that at the end of the day I can say I did it because his grace was sufficient for me.

Alliances

Rev John Kirby

I met someone in the car park and it seems it's been five years since Rev Gideon has been here. It feels like it's just two years ago. 

We're all in the Christmas season. 

Sometimes we have to separate to restore. Much like marriage counselling. Where we need to talk to each of the couples separately. 

I'll try to read this quickly but I like to expound on the word of God, verse by verse and even word by word. There's so much to hear from God's word. God is alive and he speaks. The problem is our listening. 

2 Chronicles 18:1

​Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

It was by marriage that he had alliance. Alliance with Ahab. 

I want to speak to people who are inclined to be married. Be not yolked unequally. Many think I can win her or him to Christ. Remember the priority is not to win the person to Christ when you entered into the relationship but it's because you are in love. This is where you get into trouble. And it gets worst after marriage and you find one is more inclined to the world. And with children comes more complications. Please honour the Lord. 

2 Chronicles 18:2

Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead.

This is the will of the flesh being activated. He made a good impression so how to say no. Be careful of the world. Sometimes they tempt you with things of the world to slant your decision. 

2 Chronicles 18:3-4

Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” 

Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.” 4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”

Listen to what the spirit of the Lord says today. Jehoshaphat is someone conscious of the Lord and his word. He seek counsel from the Lord. 

Some people freak me out when they pray for everything. Like I ask them to worship lead and they say let me pray about it. There are things where we need to seek the Lord but not for everything. 

2 Chronicles 18:5

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets–four hundred men–and asked them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,” they answered, “for God will give it into the king’s hand.”

Without hesitation they decided to go as God has said it so it's a done deal. We have to study the word and not just hear what the internet says. We have to check it with the authority of the word of God. 

2 Chronicles 18:6

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?”

There were already 400 so why wait for 401? The majority rules. But praise the Lord for Jehoshaphat who is looking for one who may hear from the Lord. 

2 Chronicles 18:7

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

There is one who will prophesy but is not in favour of the king. But there is something about Micaiah and somehow King Ahab knew he has something from God or he would have got rid of him a long time ago. 

So he called his soldiers to bring Micaiah. 

2 Chronicles 18:10-11

Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ”

11 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

But all these still did not convince the King. Sometimes people say what you want to hear. But Ahab knew this prophet was different. Sometimes people around you sees something different in you because you're a spokesman for God. Like how Joseph spoke to the Pharaoh. 

2 Chronicles 18:15

The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord.”

Sometimes telling the truth Is the only right thing to do. By doing that you are in the right place. 

2 Chronicles 18:18

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.

2 Chronicles 18:20

Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 

“ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

This is one from the dark side. 

2 Chronicles 18:21-22

‘I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

22 “So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

This ministry has been abused over and over again that the church no longer wants to prophesy. False prophets and lying spirits can be found everywhere. Go back to the word. God speaks through his word and confirms exactly what he wants to do. Walk in the truth. You're going to be blessed. 

2 Chronicles 18:28-29

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

In those days the king goes out to battle in the front. It is so easy for the enemy to spot him. The world can spot us and know we are believers. Like at meals when the food is served but here is a group of people with their heads bowed. We are noticed. 

2 Chronicles 18:31-34

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

33 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 34 All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.

What God has spoken God has spoken. The king died as prophesied. God reminds us and speaks to us and knock at the door of our hearts continuously but it will end. Jesus is coming back again. What he says will come to pass. How will you end? Will he say I know you not? Or will he say well done my good and faithful servant. Alliance. Believers needs to connect with believers. God wants to make us one and we need to align with him. 

If we alliance with the wrong company, there is a price to pay. Let us wisely choose who we alliance with. We need to get it right. Maybe some of you are at the wrong place. Come to Jesus and ask him to save you.