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.

Was Joseph A Good Dad?

Kenny Song at Harvest Revival Centre

http://harvestrevivalcentre.com/

How many here are fathers, may I see your hands? Grandfathers? My hands are also raised, both hands, because I have two grandsons. That's my daughter Pam with my two grandsons while on holiday. I learned a long time ago becoming a father is much easier than being one. I became a father at 24 so you can imagine the responsibilities that came with it when I was just getting my footing on my business and married life.

Fathers, tell me if these words sound familiar.

- This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.

- How should I know? Go ask your mother.

- Just wait till you have kids of your own.

- Who’s paying the bills around here, anyway?

- When you make your own money, you buy what you want!

- Stop playing with your food.

- Quiet! Can’t you see I’m trying to think!

- Why? Because I said so!

- My pocket money was only 20 cents.

- Buy what toys? I make my own toys when growing up.

And my favourite:

- When I was your age…

Fathers…do these sound familiar? We fathers may be very different and comes from all walks of life but there are some things only fathers can relate to. Like I said, being a father is no easy task. We have to provide, protect, instruct and discipline our children on a practical level and love and guide them spiritually.

Today, I want to look at one particular father mentioned in the bible. He is responsible for the upbringing of the Son of God. Who's that?

I titled my message, "Was Joseph a good dad?"

We have don’t have much Biblical material to work with, but I believe that Joseph like us, struggled with being a “dad” as well. In many ways, I feel for Joseph. While Mary is lifted up as the one who sacrificed, Joseph is peripheral where even in the Biblical accounts, only a few passages tell his story. Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, the man entrusted to raise the Son of God.

Matthew 1:19-20

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Joseph was a righteous, merciful, discrete, obedient and intelligent man, who followed God’s direction in the midst of other options.

And we know that Jesus of Nazareth came directly from his Joseph’s lineage. Jesus spent thirty years with his family before his ministry. And I have to believe that Jesus picked up his personality traits not only from His heavenly Father to whom he gives much of the credit, but also from his earthly father, who was there at least in those beginning years.

Skilled as a carpenter in the small town of Nazareth, Joseph spent time teaching his son the trade as well as providing spiritual training. Jesus is very often described as working and being taught by Joseph in his carpenter’s shop. This was an inherited occupation Jesus performed before going into His ministry. We see this today as well, as businessmen hand the mantle over to their sons or daughters. What the father does, often influences the career choices of their children.

When Jesus spoke of God as being like a loving Father, he could draw from his youth the kind of love he had from Joseph. Joseph stands as a testimony to the value of integrity, obedience, faithfulness, and especially to honouring the entrusted role of "fatherhood.” 

So, this morning let's look at Joseph and see how he was a good father.

1. First and foremost, Joseph loved his wife

Ephesians 5:28 says, “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.”

There is no doubt that children watch their parents…

I strongly believe that to be a good father, you must first and foremost be a good husband (not just because my wife is here ya).

If they see disrespect, statistics show that it will carry into the children’s marriage. If they see verbal, mental, or physical abuse, children will think that to be normal. If there is little value given to wives and to the opposite spouse, children will use that model in their future homes, families, and marriages.

Words between husbands and wives, like please, sorry and thank you will be picked up by your children. During their formative years, they are like a sponge and pick up everything.

That is why when children swear, or behave rudely, it often reflects on their parents, carbon copies of the original.

Often, we use the term wreaked marriages that ends up in divorce. Have we considered the wreaked lives of their children because of the divorce? Their insecurities, their pain, and the helplessness of seeing their parents split apart.

But…

If they visibly see love and respect, it will be modelled in their marriage and family. If the father honours the mother (and vice versa), that is exactly what the children will look for in their marriage.

If the parents cherish one another, love each other, then that will carry into the children’s lives as they grow older.

That familiar Proverb rings true, “Train up a child in the way they should go: and when they are old, they will not depart from it.” (22:6)

The earthly Jesus treated women with respect. Probably more respect than any other religious leader of his day…

He loved his mom. Even to the point of making sure that she would be cared for as he died on the cross.

He valued each and every person. Whether the thief on the cross or the solider or the blind or the sick...he saw value in each person.

When Joseph had the decision before him to either leave Mary quietly or make a big fuss, even in the midst of his own pain, he wanted to do what was best for Mary, sacrificing himself, his reputation.

Jesus did the same as he gave himself up because of his love for the church. I believe he first saw that all-giving love in his father’s love for his mother. If we want to be good fathers, we need to love our wives, just as Joseph did.

2. Second, Joseph didn’t expect perfect children

I remember when my daughter came into this world, and I carried our baby for the first time, I just whispered to myself…perfect. We were very specific when we prayed for our daughter before she was born. We named her Pam after Pamela Ewing, that TV series playing at that time, because the actress was the kindest person in the TV series. Anyone knows what TV series is that?

We prayed that she would have dimples, my skin, my wife's chin, my nose, my wife's ears…and you know what? God answered every one of our heart's desire for her. She even has four dimples, though we never prayed specifically for that. Perfect. Babies are such angels. Then they grow up and how often we hear parents scream at those "little devils". We quickly learn they are not perfect.

The story in Luke of Jesus in the temple is one example. The parents take off expecting Jesus to be playing with his friends only to find out that they’ve lost their kid. (Anybody ever been there?). Have you ever suddenly lost your child for a moment, like maybe at the malls?

I remembered when I was an 8 year old, my mother took me shopping along Penang Road. We were from Alor Star. She was busy looking at clothes with my auntie, when a bald man suddenly grabbed me and ran towards Chowrasta Market. Other pedestrians shouted at him and he dropped me after about 50 meters. My mother ran and grabbed me and just held on to me crying. That feeling where you think you have lost your child. After she calmed down, I remember vividly what she told me next. "Don't tell your father". :)

Mary asked Jesus, “Why have you done this to us?” and Jesus’ response, “Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business?”

We know now what Jesus was talking about, and today we don’t fault him for this, because we understand that Jesus had a different agenda than mom or dad.

But I’d be willing to admit that Joseph had a long talk with his son on the way back home just as I would have done if that happened to my daughter.

But the point is that just as there are no perfect fathers, there was only one perfect child in Jesus Christ.

As fathers, we cannot expect children to meet all our expectations, to fulfill all our goals for them, to be what we want them to be. They are not perfect.

I was not perfect growing up. I was lazy, played a lot and exam results were never stellar. I was an average student. So when I got my results for Form 6, HSC, I failed. But I love to draw, so I told my father I want to join an Art College. Those days, Art was very different from Design Schools today. My relatives discouraged my father, saying I can never make good money and job options are few. They say artists only make money after they die.

But my dad sat me down and asked me this. Are you sure that's what you want to do? I said yes! And he took me out to Penang to register at an Art College and because of his encouragement and support, I have loved my work and I praise God I didn’t do too badly either. My dad didn’t ask for a perfect son, he just loved me, imperfect as I was.

Spilled milk, broken things here and there, a poorly written test, a dent in the family car… children make mistakes and they are far from perfect. Things can always be replaced but a broken heart is hard to mend.

But it’s the good father, like Joseph, who, even when he doesn’t understand his child, like that time in the temple, says “that’s okay, let’s go home.”

Fathers, our children may be clumsy or athletic, scatter-brained or organised, shy or cakap banyak, crude or sophisticated… love them for who they are, they are your children.

Colossians 3:21 says – “Fathers, don’t make your children resentful, or they will become discouraged.”

If we want to be good fathers, we need to understand that our children are far from perfect. Just love and encourage them.

3. For our last point this morning, Joseph did all that he could do for his child

If you turn in your Bibles to Matthew 2:13-23, we see the familiar story of Joseph taking his family to Egypt and then to Nazareth by direction of angels.

Can you imagine leaving house and home, job and career, family homestead and family ties, to pick up and move to a foreign land, just because an angel told you so?

I have to believe that Joseph was a man of prayer. And no one can contest the fact the Joseph wasn’t in direct communication with God.

For his child, for his family, and for himself, I am sure that Joseph was in prayer. Even when he and Mary couldn’t be with Jesus, they knew that where they couldn’t be, God could be.

As fathers, we need to pray for our children and our families and to God for our strength. Why? Because our Heavenly Father loves our children and our families as much as we do…even more…Amen?

I also believe that Joseph did all that he could do for his family, he prepared his children.

Joseph not only prepared his child to leave home, he prepared Jesus for a lifetime, and beyond.

Proverbs 23:24 says, “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.”

Preparing our children for that day when they finally leave our home is only part of the picture. Preparing them to live a productive lifetime in this world experiencing success and coping with failure, is another integral part, but it’s just that…a part.

As fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers, we need to be preparing our children for eternity. God didn’t give us our children just to be doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, or preachers. He gave them to us to prepare them for everlasting life through Jesus Christ.

While we can’t choose for them, we CAN choose to show them the Way, the Truth, and the Life that leads to salvation, and their spiritual destiny. As parents, we need to be giving our children every opportunity to accept Christ for themselves.

We can’t choose for them, we can’t decide which path they are going to take, but we can set the example. I believe this is what Joseph did. Jesus knew about his spiritual heritage because of his parent’s devotion.

We, as parents, can have a Godly influence on our children. Let us never forget that their physical presence in this world is only a shadow of what eternity will be.

If we want to be good fathers, we need to do all that we can do for our families, just as Joseph did.

I do not have to tell you that Fatherhood is not doing well in our society…

Some sad and tragic incidents have happened right at our doorsteps. A group of young children riding their bicycles dangerously in the wee hours of the morning was mowed down. Where were their fathers?

Just this week a young 18 year old teenager, Nhaveen was physically and sexually attacked, because he was different and was declared brain dead before he succumbed to his injuries. Why? He knew those boys. Somebody wrote an article titled: Bullies are not born. They are raised. Where were their fathers in their upbringing?

It's not just here but it is happening everywhere. Children hardly see their fathers. I call them "Disappearing dads". Who do these children turn to for advice and guidance. Mr Google has replaced many fathers. It's sad. Google can give you information, but not Godly guidance.

My daughter Pam loves talking to my wife. They can spend hours talking. I also don't know WHAT they talk about? So much to say meh? She gives her emotional support, shares her hurts and joys, and tell each other what's happening in their lives.

Then when advice is needed, my wife will often tell her, go ask your father. Every time I get a call from her, it's for advice, opinions and decisions. That's what I'm there for. She runs to me in her time of need.

When she was just about 7 years old, she was crossing the road and the person watching her lost sight of her for 2 seconds and a motorcyclist rammed into her and she was flung meters away. I carried her in my arms and we rushed her to Gleneagles. Her waist area was turning blue black. Thank God it was only bruises because the doctor said she was so light she didn’t take the full impact.

But during that time at the hospital, she refused to let me go. Just wanting daddy to be beside. Fathers, we give our child assurance and security. It makes a world of a difference for them. A feeling only fathers can give.

Studies of young criminals have found that more than 70% of juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes. Children from broken families are nearly twice as likely as those in two-parent families to drop out of high school.

Now, more than ever, I believe that as fathers, we need to be positive role models. The most precious commodity we can give to our children are our prayers and our time. Not things.

Let us fathers learn from Joseph.

• We have to love our wives.
• We have to understand that our children are not perfect.
• We have to do all that we can do for our families.

Will you join me in prayer this morning for all fathers, grandfathers and spiritual fathers….

God, our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things, including each and everyone of us. We give you thanks in that you are not absent, but present with us.

Bless our fathers, may they be strengthened by their faith, may they become an example of your love, and may they honour you always.

For those fathers, who have given us life and love, we show them our respect and love.

For those fathers who have lost a child through death, we pray that their faith will bring them hope and comfort.

For men, though without children, who have nurtured and cared for us as spiritual fathers, we give you thanks.

And for those fathers who are struggling, we pray for strength and wisdom that comes from you, our Abba Father.

Amen.

Wonderful worship. Love that song Good, Good Father.

Senior Pastor Rev Dr Benard Augustine

Sermon titled: "Was Joseph a Good Dad?"

The Crowd and the Cross

Ps Joel Tan, Youth Pastor of Victory Family Centre.

It's awesome to worship Jesus and lift up his name on high and let his presence come. We love Jesus.

I've been on staff in the church for about 3½ years.  And we just finished our youth service and we flew up this morning so if I'm not speaking sense it's because of my lack of sleep.

I heard that you guys just came back from camp. I heard you guys had a great time. I enjoy camps and usually in camp we try to stop the young people from doing stupid things. When a group of young people come together, it's possible stupid things happen.

They say the week after the camp is the best and worst time to preach. Maybe that's why I'm invited to speak today. I believe God is going to bring you to the next level. So how do you make sure that what God does to you at the camp move you to make a difference.

God has called the church to make a difference in our generation. Not just to come back to a building but to make a difference in our work and our school.

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 18:18-26 (NIV)

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

18:18-30pp — Mt 19:16-29; Mk 10:17-30

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus made this statement that any who wants to follow him has to take up their cross daily. A few chapters later was the story of a man who was probably in the crowd. He wants to inherit eternal life. He was someone that represented someone that needed to take up his cross.

God wants to use you in your generation and make an impact in your city. But many are called but few are chosen. Are we going to respond like the crowd or the cross?

The crowd and the cross are polar opposites. Everywhere Jesus went the crowd would gather to listen to Jesus teach and watch his miracles. Some of these people in the crowd are the ones who even experienced the healing themselves. The crowd wanted to get in on the experience. To say that they were there to be a part of the experience.

The Crowd is an experience but the Cross is an encounter.

The people that followed Jesus always calls him master. But this man called Jesus good teacher. So he was not someone close to Jesus. The apostles had an encounter with Jesus that made them do miracles. Jesus wanted this man to have an encounter with Jesus. Come and follow me. Jesus was inviting this man out of the crowd to have an encounter with Jesus.

It's interesting how this man responded. We can guess that he saw Jesus had this reputation and he was wondering how he may also have that same reputation. He was just interested in a quick answer from Jesus. And he said I've done that and done that and done that. All is good. But when it comes to the point when Jesus said follow me, give your life to me, he said wait wait wait. He wanted answers to his questions without wanting to be tied down to him. He wants the experience minus the encounter that comes with it.

Encounters that would change the person, the way he talks and acts. Jesus said sell all your possessions and the Bible says he walked away dejected and sad because he was not willing to do that because he was rich. He was willing to do whatever Jesus said until a point where it would cause him something, a sacrifice.

All of us has a line we are not willing to cross. What is the line for you? Where you are willing to do everything until it reaches that line. Sometimes, you are willing to do everything except an area of your life that cannot be touched. Some of us that line is your job. Or a relationship that you have. Or some of us it's our children.

This young man was not able to cross that line. This generation's line is comfort and convenience. I'm talking about the generation that is alive today and not just the young. If it's something that does not make you comfortable you say it's not from God.

The Crowd is convenience but the Cross is commitment.

Selling everything to follow Jesus is something else. To follow the crowd is convenient. You can just be there and then go back your own way. Things you sell is not easy to get back. Jesus was asking him to do something where there's no turning back. A decision he cannot walk away from. Jesus is calling you out of your convenience. You cannot pick up and put down your cross. It's to pick up the cross daily.

Do you serve only when you are free? Or to give only when you have extra. We would inconvenience ourselves to pick up the cross. We have to be all in.

And here's the last thought.

The Crowd can be ambiguous but the Cross demands response.

The man went away sad. This young man's response was to walk away. He said no and walked away. Crowd feels safe in numbers.

I'm in a boys school and when you put all the boys together you have problems. It's a crowd mentality or herd mentality. When one claps in the hall, all clap. That's the way a crowd response because it waves off responsibility. You just go with the crowd which is a crowd mentality.

This man hung onto his stuff and money and walked away. You have to make a decision where you have to walk out from the crowd and respond to the cross. Will you listen to the crowd or the cross? The crowd says do what you want to do, but the cross says do what he wants you to do. The crowd says follow your heart, the cross says follow him.

In a few moments, I'm going to let you response to your cross. We are to pick it up daily whether you are a new Christian or a 50 year old Christian.

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

These disciples managed to do what that young man couldn't. Each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were saved. It shows us the many miraculous signs and wonders. The cross invaded every aspect and area of your life. Whatever that line is, you have to release that line. That we will go all the way in and you will see how God moves in your life. Make what happens at the camp becomes a reality when you have to pick up your cross. Respond to the cross.

Ps Joel leading the people to worship backed by TOP's youth team.

Topians responding to Ps Joel's call at the end of the sermon.