WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Said, Saw and Good - Genesis 1v3 Publishing Date: 2024-11-10T05:04:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/said-saw-and-good-genesis-1v3/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.700 So today I've titled my teaching as said, saw and good. 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:16.700 Yeah? 00:00:16.700 --> 00:00:21.820 Said, saw and good. 00:00:21.820 --> 00:00:22.820 Thank you, Jane. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:29.000 I think it was the Spirit of God that definitely led in that direction. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:32.480 I think they set up beautifully for what I am about to share. 00:00:32.480 --> 00:00:34.720 So thanks, Dawn and Jane. 00:00:34.720 --> 00:00:36.920 Thank you for being sensitive to the Spirit. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:43.120 It was exactly what, like speaking, I speak Jesus, I speak Jesus into our situation, into 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:45.560 the streets, into the mountains, into the valleys. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:47.040 That's what I'm talking about. 00:00:47.040 --> 00:00:50.040 So thank you guys. 00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:59.320 SAID, said, saw and good. 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:00.320 Yeah. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:05.640 So those three words, said, saw and good. 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:09.360 The idea came from Genesis chapter 1 verse 3. 00:01:09.360 --> 00:01:12.480 Genesis chapter 1 verse 3. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:17.960 So when we look at Genesis, from Genesis 1, the creation account, the first thing that 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.480 we see is God creating the heavens and the earth, right? 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:29.200 And we see the power of God right from the beginning, the power of God's word, right? 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:31.340 The earth was formless. 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:33.920 The earth was void. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:37.220 And there was darkness over the surface of the deep. 00:01:37.220 --> 00:01:44.720 And it was in that moment where there is emptiness, there is darkness, there is void. 00:01:44.720 --> 00:01:47.720 I think it's gone. 00:01:47.720 --> 00:01:48.720 Let me check. 00:01:48.720 --> 00:01:52.720 Maybe I can just use the microphone or? 00:01:52.720 --> 00:01:53.720 Okay. 00:01:53.720 --> 00:01:54.720 Okay. 00:01:54.720 --> 00:01:57.960 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:01:57.960 --> 00:02:01.440 So it was in that situation. 00:02:01.440 --> 00:02:06.680 And it was in that moment God spoke light. 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.280 And there came light, right? 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:15.520 So notice in that situation, there was this hovering spirit, right? 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:17.560 There was this hovering spirit. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:23.600 And yet, the hovering spirit did not go to work until God spoke, right? 00:02:23.600 --> 00:02:28.800 So there's this hovering spirit of God that is over the surface of the deep. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:30.680 And there is darkness. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:33.180 There is void. 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:35.100 And it was formless. 00:02:35.100 --> 00:02:39.500 And then God spoke light and light came into existence. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:45.340 So the hovering spirit only goes to work at the sound of his voice. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:47.860 And that's a very important line. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:54.820 The hovering spirit only went to work at the sound of his voice. 00:02:54.820 --> 00:03:01.140 So God spoke, God saw, and it was good. 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:03.340 That's the teaching for the day, yeah? 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:07.300 God spoke, God saw, and it was good. 00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:15.740 So when it comes to sermons, we Christians, oftentimes we look and expect very profound 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:16.740 sermons, right? 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:20.580 Because we've been believers for a long period of time. 00:03:20.580 --> 00:03:23.200 So our expectations are high. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:26.860 We are always looking for sermons that will stir us up. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:30.700 Sermons that are profound. 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:34.060 Sermons that sound philosophical, right? 00:03:34.060 --> 00:03:44.740 But what I'm trying to say is that the word of God is very simple and yet very deep. 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:51.460 And just because the cookies are on the lower shelf doesn't mean it's shallow, yeah? 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:57.620 There's an assumption that anything that is philosophical or sound philosophical is deep. 00:03:57.620 --> 00:04:03.860 And anything that is very simple is shallow, yeah? 00:04:03.940 --> 00:04:08.180 Let me say for example, let me say this sentence. 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:16.820 In the early hours, I partook in a ritualistic alchemy of caffeinated consciousness and proceeded 00:04:16.820 --> 00:04:25.020 to embark upon a contemplative ambulation and allowing each step to intertwine with 00:04:25.020 --> 00:04:29.820 the rhythm of awakening awareness, yeah? 00:04:29.820 --> 00:04:31.260 Let me say it again. 00:04:31.260 --> 00:04:40.180 In the early hours, I partook in a ritualistic alchemy of caffeinated consciousness and proceeded 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:47.460 to embark upon a contemplative ambulation and allowing each step to intertwine with 00:04:47.460 --> 00:04:52.460 the rhythm of awakening awareness, yeah? 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:54.140 Sounds fancy, right? 00:04:54.140 --> 00:05:00.220 All I'm saying is I had coffee and I went for a walk. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:02.220 That's all I'm saying, right? 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:05.020 And yet, that's the catch, right? 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:13.740 Sometimes God's word is so simple that we think that it is so shallow. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:15.700 But that's the word of God. 00:05:15.700 --> 00:05:21.020 The word of God is that a three-year-old can understand and a 40-year-old can completely 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:24.180 miss it, yeah? 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:28.060 So I pray that we'll have ears to hear. 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:34.900 Jesus is dealing with a very sophisticated group, yeah, who are the elite thinkers, the 00:05:34.900 --> 00:05:37.100 scholars of his time. 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:45.660 And here is a renowned scholar by the name Nicodemus who comes to Jesus. 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:49.900 And yet, Jesus doesn't want to play an academic game with him, yeah? 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:56.540 So here is a renowned scholar and Jesus is saying, you should consider being born again, 00:05:56.540 --> 00:05:57.540 yeah? 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:03.260 And Nicodemus thought, surely I will not go back in my mother's womb, yeah? 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:10.100 So Nicodemus is thinking literally, and born again is a very simple term, and yet so deep. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:12.780 It's like you're missing out. 00:06:12.780 --> 00:06:16.980 There's not just a physical life, but there's a spiritual life which you can experience 00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:19.380 here on earth and you're missing that out. 00:06:19.380 --> 00:06:23.700 And yet, his words were, think about being born again. 00:06:23.700 --> 00:06:26.620 And Nicodemus couldn't get it, yeah? 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:37.980 So when these Pharisees and the scribes offer or throw big questions, Jesus would say, 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:40.020 let me tell you a story. 00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:42.740 And then he would start sharing his parables, right? 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:50.700 And his parables often had double-edged meanings, very easy to grasp on the surface and yet 00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:54.420 very profound, yeah? 00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:58.140 So I pray that today's teaching will be something like that. 00:06:58.140 --> 00:07:04.700 It will be very easy, very easy to grasp, but maybe life-transforming for you. 00:07:04.700 --> 00:07:08.100 Let me show why that is important. 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:14.780 Because we've got to understand that God is the one who communicates, who speaks things 00:07:14.780 --> 00:07:16.460 into existence. 00:07:16.460 --> 00:07:17.820 That's his nature, right? 00:07:17.820 --> 00:07:23.140 Whenever he's going to do something, he announces first before he acts upon it, yeah? 00:07:24.060 --> 00:07:25.700 So he's a speaking God. 00:07:25.700 --> 00:07:27.580 He communicates. 00:07:27.580 --> 00:07:35.220 And in Isaiah 55 verse 11 where it says, so is my word that goes out of my mouth, it will 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:42.060 not return empty, but it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:44.000 I sent, right? 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.620 So meaning like God's word is guaranteed to fulfill the purpose and it's never going 00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:51.920 to return empty, right? 00:07:51.920 --> 00:08:00.000 The moment the word comes from the mouth of God, the moment word is released from God, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:05.880 it's going to accomplish for the very reason why it was sent out for, yeah? 00:08:05.880 --> 00:08:12.040 So for example, if God says that you're going to go to Brazil or Argentina and going to 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:21.440 raise a bivocational, you know, a bivocational young apostolic and who are gifted in the 00:08:21.440 --> 00:08:23.920 business man. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:29.160 If that's the word that God had spoken over your life, it may take a year, it may take 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:34.680 five years, it may take 20 years, but it will come to pass, yeah? 00:08:34.680 --> 00:08:37.120 That's the certainty of God's word. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.940 It will surely come to pass. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:44.040 Such is the power and the reliability of God's word, yeah? 00:08:44.040 --> 00:08:47.740 So this is why man does not live on bread alone. 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:50.500 We are never by bread alone, yeah? 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:57.900 But we are sustained by the word that proceeds from the mouth of God and God speaks yesterday, 00:08:57.900 --> 00:09:03.300 he spoke yesterday, he's speaking today for our generation and he will continue to speak 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:05.660 for the generation to come, right? 00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:11.300 So in the Bible, you'll come across this phrase, thus says the Lord, right? 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:12.540 Thus says the Lord. 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:17.480 I really love that phrase, thus says the Lord and I started exploring that phrase, thus 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.460 says the Lord, thus says the Lord. 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:24.740 And every time he says, thus says the Lord, be it through a prophet, be it through an 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:29.340 angel, it always accomplishes, right? 00:09:29.540 --> 00:09:31.580 That very phrase is released by God. 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:33.180 Thus says the Lord. 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:39.380 It's guaranteed that whatever that following sentence is, it's going to come to fruition, 00:09:39.380 --> 00:09:40.380 right? 00:09:40.380 --> 00:09:50.380 So take for example, in 2 Kings, chapter 3, here's this three kings, King Jehoram, King 00:09:50.420 --> 00:09:54.300 Josephet and King of Edom. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:10:01.300 These three kings, they team up and they march against the King of Moab and seven days they 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:06.180 traveled in the wilderness and they ran out of water. 00:10:06.180 --> 00:10:09.060 And so one king said, we are doomed. 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:14.780 And then the other king, King Josephet said, isn't there a man of God in this region from 00:10:14.780 --> 00:10:16.980 whom we can inquire of the Lord? 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:20.940 So just to cut the story short, Elisha was proposed. 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:27.860 And so these three kings, they saw Elisha and then Elisha said, get me a musician. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.740 And then they brought him a harpist. 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:36.740 And so when the harpist started playing, the word of the Lord came powerfully upon him, 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:37.740 right? 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:41.060 And he said this phrase, thus says the Lord, right? 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:44.420 And then he instructed them to dig the trenches. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:48.820 It was a desert and yet the word of the Lord said, dig up the trenches. 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:52.420 And so they dug this whole valley with trenches. 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:56.460 Not one trench, not two, but full, right? 00:10:56.460 --> 00:11:02.220 And then what happened was the next morning, like what God said was that, I'm not going 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:06.260 to use rain, I'm not going to use wind. 00:11:06.260 --> 00:11:09.740 But the valleys, the trenches are going to be filled with water. 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:14.120 He's saying, I'm going to do it my supernatural way. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:18.160 No wind, no rain, still the water will be filled, right? 00:11:18.160 --> 00:11:24.040 And so as we read that story, we saw that in the morning for real. 00:11:24.040 --> 00:11:29.240 Sure enough, the next morning, and after they offered their grain offering, the whole trenches 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.140 were miraculously filled. 00:11:32.140 --> 00:11:36.020 That's what God's word does, right? 00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:41.480 When he speaks, it is guaranteed that it's going to come to fruition. 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:47.000 God says, the Lord, that phrase had appeared several times in the Bible. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.760 And each one, God fulfills every time. 00:11:50.760 --> 00:11:57.000 And so God had spoken through his written word, right? 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:02.200 That God's, all scripture is God's breathed, as Timothy would put it, right? 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:05.440 I mean, Paul's letter to Timothy. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.320 And so God spoke through his written word. 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:13.320 God spoke through his Holy Spirit. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:16.000 And he continues to speak through his Holy Spirit. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.840 Thirdly, he spoke through the prophets, right? 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:24.280 Back in the day, the word of the Lord was very limited. 00:12:24.280 --> 00:12:31.760 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in the 13th year of the king of reign of King Josiah, 00:12:31.760 --> 00:12:32.760 right? 00:12:32.760 --> 00:12:35.400 Or, you know, or Hosea 1. 00:12:35.400 --> 00:12:40.020 The word of the Lord came to Hosea, son of Barai, during the reigns of Uzziah, right? 00:12:40.020 --> 00:12:43.920 The word of the Lord was very rare. 00:12:43.920 --> 00:12:46.760 It would come through prophets, right? 00:12:46.760 --> 00:12:51.560 But the beauty or the advantage that you and I have now is that we have the Lord, we have 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:54.740 the word of the Lord every day. 00:12:54.740 --> 00:13:00.520 If you are paying attention every minute, huge advantage, right? 00:13:00.520 --> 00:13:03.520 So that's the third one. 00:13:03.520 --> 00:13:05.360 God had spoken through his written word. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.160 God had spoken through his Spirit. 00:13:07.160 --> 00:13:10.400 God had spoken through his prophets and priests. 00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:13.040 And God had spoken through his angels, right? 00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:16.440 You know, angel Gabriel would bring message of the Lord, right? 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.600 And then the fifth one. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.280 God had spoken through visions and dreams. 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.680 God spoke to Daniel. 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:23.160 God spoke to Solomon. 00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:25.600 God spoke to Daniel. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.520 We can go on. 00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:32.400 So in the Old Testament, God always speaks through different channels. 00:13:32.400 --> 00:13:35.080 When it comes to the New Testament, it's a little different. 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:38.480 Now God is speaking through Jesus. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.760 The word, God has become flesh. 00:13:41.760 --> 00:13:49.520 And now whatever that Jesus had spoken, it will always come to fruition. 00:13:49.520 --> 00:13:53.520 Not a single word of Christ falls to the ground empty. 00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:55.600 So there's no change of plan. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.040 There's no change of plan. 00:13:57.040 --> 00:14:02.020 It's always plan A. God spoke, he will continue to speak, right? 00:14:02.020 --> 00:14:13.420 So when Jesus came, Jesus said, Jesus saw and it was good. 00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:18.840 The very phrase which I started, it continues through Jesus Christ, right? 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:24.880 On one occasion, Jesus was even willing to go to that centurion's house. 00:14:24.880 --> 00:14:27.580 And so he said, shall I come to your house? 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:32.980 This centurion came to Jesus and said, my servant is suffering terribly. 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:35.580 He's paralyzed and he's terribly suffering. 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:40.140 And so Jesus offered that, shall I come to your house and then heal your servant? 00:14:40.140 --> 00:14:47.220 And then this servant, sorry, this man in a centurion said, say the word and my servant 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:48.940 shall be healed. 00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:50.780 Say the word. 00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:55.740 He believed that Jesus doesn't need to come to his house. 00:14:56.140 --> 00:15:02.500 If only Jesus had spoken, whether he is physically there or not doesn't really matter. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:05.140 It's going to happen, right? 00:15:05.140 --> 00:15:11.140 So Jesus was impressed with his faith and he said, go. 00:15:11.140 --> 00:15:14.140 And he goes, right? 00:15:14.140 --> 00:15:18.500 And let it be done so, just as you have believed, right? 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:25.180 And then when this man, centurion, went home, that time his servant was healed. 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:31.100 So Jesus spoke, the centurion saw and it was good. 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:33.660 Yeah? 00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:42.300 Every word that Jesus spoke brings healing, brings order, brings life. 00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:45.460 Jesus isn't speaking whatever he wants. 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:47.140 He isn't speaking whatever he wants. 00:15:47.140 --> 00:15:47.780 Yeah? 00:15:47.780 --> 00:15:51.380 He's only speaking what the Father is revealing. 00:15:51.380 --> 00:15:55.780 He only sees what the Father is showing him. 00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:58.460 So he does nothing on his own. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.580 And that's the thing, right? 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:04.340 In the Old Testament, the God of Israel, Yahweh, had spoken through a burning bush, 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:11.580 through a pillar of fire, and his words carried divine authority. 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:13.260 That's the God of the Old Testament. 00:16:13.260 --> 00:16:18.620 In the New Testament, Jesus comes in the flesh and yet he says, all authority in heaven and 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.260 on earth has been given to me. 00:16:20.260 --> 00:16:25.700 And so Jesus carries here on earth, though in the flesh, same authority. 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:29.540 Whatever he spoke, things happen, right? 00:16:29.540 --> 00:16:31.940 And so there's much more to say. 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:35.020 But you and I have been commissioned. 00:16:35.020 --> 00:16:37.260 You and I have been empowered. 00:16:37.260 --> 00:16:42.260 You and I have been authorized to be the mouthpiece of Jesus Christ. 00:16:42.260 --> 00:16:47.100 And many Christians sometimes, we don't underestimate, we don't understand the 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:51.220 importance of that. 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:54.980 There's a weight upon our shoulders, guys. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:58.740 This is why Jesus says, you are in the world, but you are not of the world. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.380 You represent me. 00:17:00.380 --> 00:17:02.020 You are created in my image. 00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:04.180 I have put my own spirit in you. 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:05.420 Yeah? 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:08.460 You are not speaking in your own authority. 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.900 I am commissioning you. 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:14.220 Jesus is saying, you know, before the Great Commission, right, he says, all authority 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.780 in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:17:16.780 --> 00:17:18.660 Now I empower you. 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:24.060 I commission you to go and make disciples to proclaim the gospel to the four corners 00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:26.260 of the world. 00:17:26.260 --> 00:17:28.620 That's the mandate you have and I have. 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:31.540 It doesn't really matter whether you're an engineer, whether you're a doctor, whether 00:17:31.540 --> 00:17:34.820 you're a student, whether you are an IT guy. 00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:37.380 It doesn't really matter. 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:41.820 You are authorized to be the mouthpiece of God. 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:42.820 You're authorized. 00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:43.820 Yeah? 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:47.820 So, you know, I'm going to share just three points here. 00:17:47.820 --> 00:17:53.260 First, why it is really important for us to use words, right? 00:17:53.260 --> 00:17:57.060 And here, you know, I'm not talking about preaching or I'm not talking about, you know, 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.060 evangelism. 00:17:58.060 --> 00:17:59.420 That's for another day. 00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:01.100 Of course, it's important to evangelize. 00:18:01.100 --> 00:18:06.140 It's important to share the gospel to our non-Christian friends and everybody. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.180 That's true. 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:14.980 But here, I'm talking about words that you and I use every day at home, at work, or in 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:17.900 the bus, or wherever it is. 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:20.580 The importance of using words. 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:22.180 Yeah? 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:28.060 Because we only, because our words only matters or we, or say, we give importance to our words 00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:36.780 only when we are evangelizing, only when we are preaching, or only when we are praying. 00:18:36.780 --> 00:18:42.660 I pray that you will understand the weight of our words, the weight, the responsibility, 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:46.380 the privilege, and the honor we carry with our words. 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.380 Yeah? 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:53.180 So, first, the power of our words aligned with God's will. 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:56.860 The power of our words aligned with God's will. 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.860 Yeah? 00:18:57.860 --> 00:19:01.100 Words of our own are lifeless. 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:04.220 Words of our own are powerless. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:08.980 Human-originated words carries no power. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:12.980 Human-originated words doesn't have any power. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.060 I may come and say, repent. 00:19:15.060 --> 00:19:16.060 Don't repent. 00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:18.340 It's like, who are you? 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.340 Yeah? 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:23.820 It's like, there's no authority if my words are human-originated. 00:19:23.820 --> 00:19:26.180 Yeah? 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:33.900 But when God breathes into my words, when there is the breath of God, when there is 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:38.220 the Spirit of God breathing through my words, there's power. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.780 It brings conviction. 00:19:39.780 --> 00:19:40.780 Yeah? 00:19:40.780 --> 00:19:48.740 How sinners come to know Christ is that somebody shares the Word of God, and one may not be 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:57.860 a great preacher, but it's just simple words that you spoke and your friend is convinced. 00:19:57.860 --> 00:20:00.780 You and I, it's so hard to convince others. 00:20:00.780 --> 00:20:01.780 Yeah? 00:20:02.260 --> 00:20:08.060 I remember, and I shared this story with some of our friends, but I'm just going to repeat 00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:09.060 it. 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:16.100 There was a very famous preacher who came to my previous college, Regent College. 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.060 The auditorium was filled. 00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:24.180 There were thousands of people and gave this wonderful lecture. 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:28.980 We were blown away by how wise this person is. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:37.780 But as we were having coffee after that event, one of our friends said, yeah, but I don't 00:20:37.780 --> 00:20:39.580 agree with him. 00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:41.300 Yeah? 00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:43.860 That's all it takes, eh? 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:45.480 Human words are like that. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:48.860 You may agree with me, you may not agree with me. 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:53.460 And if you don't agree with me, no matter how smart I am, no matter how philosophical 00:20:53.540 --> 00:20:56.540 I may sound, it doesn't convince you. 00:20:56.540 --> 00:20:57.540 Yeah? 00:20:57.540 --> 00:21:02.820 That's why knowledge puffs up. 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:04.500 It doesn't bring transformation. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:11.940 My mom used to say, Tuni, there are two kinds of preachers who comes to our village. 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:17.700 One group is that they will come and we will be blown away by how much they know and how 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:19.780 little we know. 00:21:19.780 --> 00:21:21.780 Yeah? 00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:23.900 It fascinates us. 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:29.060 And yet, the second kind of preacher comes to our village. 00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:33.300 When they come and preach, lives change. 00:21:33.300 --> 00:21:34.300 People repent. 00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:36.300 They change their ways. 00:21:36.300 --> 00:21:37.300 Yeah? 00:21:37.300 --> 00:21:41.380 There are two kinds of preachers here. 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:45.020 One is just mere human-originated wisdom and knowledge. 00:21:45.020 --> 00:21:48.500 One is spirit-inspired, God-inspired. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:50.500 And the second one is your mandate. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:53.300 The second one is my mandate. 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:55.300 You and I are empowered for this. 00:21:55.300 --> 00:21:56.300 Yeah? 00:21:56.300 --> 00:21:59.140 And this is not just to do with leaders here in this house. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.580 Not just leaders. 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:02.140 Everybody. 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:05.700 That's why he had put his spirit in you in the first place. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.700 Right? 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:11.540 So, you know, Jeremiah 1, 9 and 10 talks about that. 00:22:11.540 --> 00:22:15.740 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:20.140 And the Lord said to me, behold, I have put words in your mouth. 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:22.340 I really love that verse. 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:28.380 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms to pluck up and to break 00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:33.220 down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plan. 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:37.620 So he's been authorized, he's been given to do this. 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:41.500 And yet, God is saying, I have put words in your mouth. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.540 Yeah? 00:22:43.540 --> 00:22:48.340 On one hand, there is God's sovereignty. 00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:55.820 He is saying that nations and given kingdoms, right, I have set you this day over nations, 00:22:55.820 --> 00:23:00.840 over kingdoms to pluck, to break, to destroy, to overthrow, to build, to plan. 00:23:00.840 --> 00:23:04.720 He is saying that I am the sovereign one. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:08.540 And so I have set you over these nations. 00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:12.060 On one hand, we see God's sovereignty. 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:17.300 On the other hand, we see I have put words in your mouth. 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:19.380 Man has a responsibility here. 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.460 Yeah? 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:26.260 So God's sovereignty, man's responsibility, they have to meet. 00:23:26.260 --> 00:23:27.580 They have to meet. 00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.580 Yeah? 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:34.980 Until and unless God's sovereignty and man's responsibility meet, we will not see change 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:37.100 here on earth. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:44.900 God, as St. Augustine would put it, God, without us, he will not. 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:49.380 Though God can do everything by himself, God without us, he will not. 00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:51.500 And man without God cannot. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:56.900 No matter how hard you and I try, we cannot without God. 00:23:56.900 --> 00:24:02.100 And yet God, on the other hand, even though he can, he doesn't want to do it without us. 00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:08.000 You know, the song goes, you didn't want heaven without us, right? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.900 You didn't want heaven without us. 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.900 And heaven would be empty. 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:15.300 Yeah? 00:24:15.300 --> 00:24:24.340 So God's sovereignty, man's responsibility, and as they meet, so we have a responsibility 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:32.340 and that responsibility is our response to God's ability, that is our responsibility. 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:36.220 Yeah, I say that again. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:46.820 Our response to God's ability, that becomes our responsibility. 00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:53.640 So when we see the prevalence of sickness, darkness, spiritual bondage, and addiction, 00:24:53.640 --> 00:25:00.040 all kinds of diseases and challenges in our lives and in the lives of the people around us, 00:25:00.040 --> 00:25:06.640 yet often we fail to speak light into these situations. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.640 Yeah? 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:10.440 We see darkness all around and we're like, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:17.240 We just admit the reality and do nothing about it. 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:21.040 That's not for you, that's not for me. 00:25:21.040 --> 00:25:25.640 You and I are given the mandate to speak into dark things. 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.640 Yeah? 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.040 That's what Jesus has commissioned you and I. 00:25:30.040 --> 00:25:37.340 We are never meant to live a defeated life. 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:43.540 For many Christians, it's difficult to speak good things into a world that is lost and 00:25:43.540 --> 00:25:45.840 tainted with negativity. 00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:48.440 Yeah? 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:53.640 So this isn't just about positive thinking or positive speaking. 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.640 Yeah? 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.640 That's different. 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:59.440 That's very shallow, you know, being positive thinking and having positive mindset. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:04.640 No, it is about aligning with a divine perspective. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:06.240 Yeah? 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:12.240 So on one hand, yes, we acknowledge the reality of our conditions, right? 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.440 We're not denying the reality. 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:19.840 And yet, on the other, we are given the mandate to speak victory into these darkness, into 00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.840 these challenges, right? 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.840 Yeah? 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:26.440 Are you getting what I'm saying here? 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.440 Yeah. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:32.340 So we're not brushing aside reality. 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:38.840 So in faith, we bring our requests into alignment with God's will. 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.840 Yeah? 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:43.640 In faith, we bring our requests into alignment with God's will. 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.640 Right? 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:49.040 So we've got to put two Bible verses together here. 00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:52.240 First is 1 John 5 verse 14. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:27:00.040 1 John 5 verse 14, where it says that if we ask according to his will, he'll answer us, 00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:01.800 even if we ask anything, right? 00:27:01.800 --> 00:27:05.440 So it's not like Tuni asking anything he wants, right? 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:10.000 It is Tuni asking according to the will of God, right? 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.000 So that's one. 00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:14.000 And Hebrews chapter 2, right? 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:22.720 The word of God, which they heard, did not profit them because they did not mix faith 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:26.780 with it, because there was no faith in it, right? 00:27:26.780 --> 00:27:31.600 So without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:36.800 Faith is an essential ingredient to whatever we do as Christians, right? 00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:41.520 Because without faith, even if you're starting a business, even if you're commanding, there's 00:27:41.520 --> 00:27:44.160 no faith, right? 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.760 Because it doesn't please God. 00:27:45.760 --> 00:27:47.760 Because without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:27:47.760 --> 00:27:48.960 That's what it says. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.400 Without faith, it may not be possible. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.800 No, it is impossible to please God. 00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.800 Yeah? 00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:55.640 That's a hard line. 00:27:55.640 --> 00:28:01.480 So we bring faith, yet not just what I want, but with the will. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:08.520 So when you and I are able to mix our faith in accordance with the will of God, God is 00:28:08.520 --> 00:28:12.580 saying, you ask whatever it is, it will be done. 00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:18.920 So faith is not in ourself, but faith is grounded in God's word, right? 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:23.440 Faith is not in ourselves, in our own abilities, in our own giftings, but faith is grounded 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.560 in the word. 00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:27.960 So it is partnering with God. 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:29.640 It is partnering with God. 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:33.120 So faith is not a blind leap in the dark. 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:36.720 We say that faith is like jumping in the dark, you know? 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:38.680 No, that's stupidity. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.680 Yeah? 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:42.520 Faith is not a leap in the dark. 00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:43.520 Yes? 00:28:43.520 --> 00:28:50.800 Faith is still a leap into something uncertain, unknown, and yet, while holding the God who 00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:53.600 really knows you well. 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.600 That's faith. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.600 Yeah? 00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:58.040 You know the nature of God. 00:28:58.040 --> 00:29:00.200 You know God is this, God is that. 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.540 You know that God's truth. 00:29:01.540 --> 00:29:02.960 You know God's principles. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.460 You know how God operates. 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:12.680 And so even though the next step is uncertain, unsure, yet you still walk in faith. 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.680 Why? 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:18.600 Because you're holding the hands of the God of the universe who knows you by name. 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:20.220 That is faith, right? 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:21.220 That is faith. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:28.380 So why sometimes we speak and yet things doesn't happen? 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:31.020 We pray and yet things doesn't happen. 00:29:31.020 --> 00:29:32.020 Why? 00:29:32.020 --> 00:29:37.240 Here, you know, I want to share two reasons here. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:39.060 Everything about God is true. 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.880 Everything about God is transparent. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.420 Everything about God is holy. 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:50.700 And so when we mix with our own ambition, when we mix with greed, when we speak with 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:59.420 our own greed and jealousy or revengeful attitude, it doesn't serve Christ and the kingdom. 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.420 That's one. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:06.700 Secondly, the other extreme is name it, claim it. 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.700 Right? 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:09.100 Name it, claim it. 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:14.420 It's like if you have the faith for it, just ask the Lord and by faith you will receive 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.420 it, yeah? 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.860 God wants you to be rich. 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:21.060 So just pray that God will give you a new car. 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.060 Don't doubt it. 00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:23.900 Believe it. 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.900 Have faith. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.900 Receive it. 00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.900 Right? 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.900 Name it. 00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.900 Claim it. 00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:31.900 That's the other extreme, right? 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:33.660 No. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:39.420 True faith operates within the bound of God's will. 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:44.220 True faith operates within the bounds of God's will. 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:45.220 Right? 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:54.740 You know, recently God showed me a vision and it was impossible, humanly speaking. 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.740 It was impossible. 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:59.420 Yet, I am confident that that was God's will. 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:05.300 So what I started doing is that I started declaring what God had shown me. 00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:13.340 I'm yet to see it come to fruition, but whenever I get an opportunity, I'm starting to declare 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:16.180 what God had shown me, yeah? 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:20.100 And that's just one practice that I'm doing, which I'm just sharing, which might be helpful 00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:21.860 maybe for some of you. 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:28.020 So the point that I'm making here is that we are called to come into alignment with 00:31:28.020 --> 00:31:29.980 God's will. 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:33.060 John would put it, abiding Christ, right? 00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:40.460 And in this abiding, mixed with faith, powerful combination, right? 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.260 Powerful combination. 00:31:42.260 --> 00:31:48.620 Not words of our own, but when we now begin to use words according to the will of God, 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:53.700 aligned with the will of God, and you speak those words with faith. 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:57.780 It's a deadly combination, guys. 00:31:57.780 --> 00:31:59.780 So that's the first one. 00:31:59.780 --> 00:32:06.060 Second, miracle is in your mouth. 00:32:06.060 --> 00:32:07.060 Miracle is in your mouth. 00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:08.820 Do you believe that? 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:13.700 When I first heard that phrase, I thought and thought, and again and again, miracle 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.700 is in your mouth. 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:17.060 Victory is in your mouth. 00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:18.060 Success is in your mouth. 00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:19.060 Why? 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:20.940 Where do I draw this from? 00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:27.900 Proverbs 18-21, where it says, death and life are in the power of the tongue, right? 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:34.500 Some versions say that the tongue can bring life and death, and those who love will reap 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:36.180 the consequences. 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:40.860 Some versions say those who love it will eat the labor of its fruits. 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.860 Yeah? 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:54.660 And you know, Proverbs 13-3 also says, whoever guards his mouth preserves his life, and he 00:32:54.660 --> 00:33:00.620 opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:04.020 There's power of words in what we speak. 00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:06.860 There's life, there's death. 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:17.180 One can be under this roof, and we can go out, and as we have coffee, the same teaching, 00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:22.660 the same spirit moving in our midst, one can say, life is dull. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.900 Life is boring. 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:29.540 One can say, life is amazing. 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:33.100 And it's in the power of the tongue. 00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:45.060 Sometimes the least optimistic people are strangely Christians. 00:33:45.060 --> 00:33:48.540 Yeah? 00:33:48.540 --> 00:33:55.220 Despite having the God of the universe, the God of the universe doing extraordinary things, 00:33:55.220 --> 00:34:02.620 and yet often we struggle with our own self, with our own problems, and this is a very 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.100 important line. 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:10.660 Unknowingly, we pronounce judgment and spiritual bondage over ourselves. 00:34:10.660 --> 00:34:12.420 Yeah? 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:18.980 Unknowingly, we pronounce judgment and speak spiritual bondage over ourselves. 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:22.100 Let me tell you why. 00:34:22.100 --> 00:34:31.220 Some say, my depression, my ADHD, my cancer, my addiction, and so my question is, when 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:35.340 have you started owning these things? 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:39.780 We even begin to say, my addiction, my cancer. 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:46.620 Yes, acknowledging them is one reality, and I'm not denying that, but claiming them to 00:34:46.620 --> 00:34:49.740 be ours isn't right. 00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:51.500 You don't own cancer. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:55.660 God doesn't say, hey, it's just cancer, take it. 00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:58.420 It's just depression, take it. 00:34:58.620 --> 00:35:03.020 No, God doesn't give you, and you don't receive such sicknesses. 00:35:03.020 --> 00:35:04.340 It's not yours. 00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:06.940 It's not mine. 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:10.360 Yeah? 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:12.500 We don't own them. 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:19.980 Maybe it is what you are wrestling with, but it's not a gift from God. 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:22.100 You don't own that. 00:35:22.100 --> 00:35:27.540 I once had cancer, as you all know, but I don't own that. 00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:30.580 God had removed that. 00:35:30.580 --> 00:35:33.980 So I think we've got to change our words. 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:36.940 We don't say, my cancer, my depression. 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:38.540 No, it's not yours. 00:35:38.540 --> 00:35:39.540 It's not yours. 00:35:39.540 --> 00:35:41.140 God hasn't given you that. 00:35:41.140 --> 00:35:42.140 Yeah? 00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:47.100 The enemy might torment you. 00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:54.580 Similarly, we speak poverty over ourselves. 00:35:54.620 --> 00:35:58.020 I'll never be able to afford it. 00:35:58.020 --> 00:36:00.700 I'll never be able to afford it. 00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:08.820 You may not be able to afford it for now, but God may be able to do it for you. 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:15.700 It's important because we restrict, we limit God. 00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:21.140 And you will read that in Psalm 78, where the Israelites, right? 00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:29.060 From the TBT version, where it says, again and again, they limited God, preventing from 00:36:29.060 --> 00:36:32.060 blessing them. 00:36:32.060 --> 00:36:36.140 Again and again, they limited God, preventing Him from blessing them. 00:36:36.140 --> 00:36:37.140 How? 00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:38.140 They grumbled. 00:36:38.140 --> 00:36:40.260 They rebelled. 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:45.440 And that really stopped God from blessing them because God wanted them to show who He 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:47.580 is to their enemies. 00:36:47.580 --> 00:36:48.580 Yeah? 00:36:48.580 --> 00:36:50.300 I will be an enemy to your enemies. 00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:51.580 Yeah? 00:36:51.580 --> 00:36:53.900 I will bless those you bless. 00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:57.380 I will show you don't need to have kings. 00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.380 I am your king. 00:36:58.380 --> 00:36:59.460 I am your father. 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.980 I will do whatever it takes. 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:03.900 I will show the world that you are my chosen people. 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:05.660 You will be a light to the nations. 00:37:05.660 --> 00:37:06.940 That's what God is saying. 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:12.700 And yet, again and again, just because they don't have meat, yeah? 00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:13.700 There's no water. 00:37:13.700 --> 00:37:14.700 Complain. 00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:15.700 Complain. 00:37:15.700 --> 00:37:16.700 Complain. 00:37:17.100 --> 00:37:19.880 They limit God. 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.920 We all limit God. 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.900 Don't think this is just Israelite story. 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:25.480 We all limit God. 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:29.580 We limit God at varying degrees. 00:37:29.580 --> 00:37:31.000 Yeah? 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:35.860 Some of us limits God more than others. 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:38.660 Some have more faith. 00:37:38.660 --> 00:37:44.660 Because of our fear, because of our lack of faith, because of our insecurities, for different 00:37:45.140 --> 00:37:47.140 We limit God. 00:37:47.140 --> 00:37:48.140 Yeah? 00:37:48.140 --> 00:37:55.060 So, that's another one. 00:37:55.060 --> 00:37:58.060 This even extends to spiritual giftings. 00:37:58.060 --> 00:37:59.060 Yeah? 00:37:59.060 --> 00:38:04.580 Ah, you know, speaking in tongues is never for me. 00:38:04.580 --> 00:38:06.780 Yeah? 00:38:06.780 --> 00:38:09.380 Never for me. 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:15.780 To prophesy, to heal when I pray and forgot to heal, that's never me. 00:38:15.780 --> 00:38:17.900 To pastor, that's never me. 00:38:17.900 --> 00:38:18.900 Yeah? 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:23.820 Like, oh, God would never use someone like me. 00:38:23.820 --> 00:38:29.140 It's a false humility. 00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:33.140 Where in the Bible where it says, God won't use you? 00:38:33.140 --> 00:38:34.900 Yeah? 00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:38.540 God chose the most unexpected people. 00:38:38.540 --> 00:38:40.100 He knows my shortcomings. 00:38:40.100 --> 00:38:42.180 He knows your shortcomings. 00:38:42.180 --> 00:38:45.540 Knowing the fact that we have fallen short, He calls you and I. 00:38:45.540 --> 00:38:54.540 So, you know, we've got to avoid these words because we limit God. 00:38:54.540 --> 00:38:55.540 Yeah? 00:38:55.540 --> 00:39:02.100 That may not be your reality, but that doesn't mean you have the license to say it will never 00:39:02.100 --> 00:39:03.100 happen. 00:39:03.100 --> 00:39:04.100 No. 00:39:04.100 --> 00:39:05.100 Yeah? 00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:13.260 So we've got to match our prayer with what we speak. 00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:18.100 There have been occasions where we pray for the sick and then come out and, ah, I don't 00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:19.900 think he will get well. 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.900 Yeah? 00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.900 Yeah? 00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:25.540 Oh, I prayed for a financial breakthrough. 00:39:25.540 --> 00:39:30.660 And then you come out and say, ah, I can't afford it. 00:39:30.660 --> 00:39:34.500 We pray for what we want to let God do for us. 00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:38.820 And yet when we start speaking in our everyday conversations, we speak a different language 00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:40.100 again. 00:39:40.100 --> 00:39:44.780 Our prayers and the things we speak doesn't match. 00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:50.380 I pray that we will match because we will limit God with our mouth. 00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:52.460 Yeah? 00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:56.940 So we must change our sound. 00:39:56.980 --> 00:40:04.220 We must change our sound because God has given us the privilege, the honor, and the responsibility 00:40:04.220 --> 00:40:06.020 to speak on his behalf. 00:40:06.020 --> 00:40:08.980 We are to decree heaven's strategies. 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:11.500 We are to decree heaven's plans. 00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:16.940 We are to decree heaven's purposes here on earth. 00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:17.940 That's for you. 00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:18.940 That's for me. 00:40:18.940 --> 00:40:20.220 Not just for pastors. 00:40:20.220 --> 00:40:21.940 It's for everybody. 00:40:21.940 --> 00:40:22.980 Right? 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:26.900 So your miracle will be in your mouth. 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:29.740 You will eat its fruit. 00:40:29.740 --> 00:40:35.020 Life and death are in the power of the tongue. 00:40:35.020 --> 00:40:40.820 This is why speaking in tongues becomes very important. 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:45.220 Because I can only pray with words that I know. 00:40:45.220 --> 00:40:49.900 Yet when I learn to begin to speak in tongues, I don't even understand what I'm praying, 00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:53.780 but the Spirit of God is interceding on my behalf. 00:40:53.780 --> 00:40:57.260 For many Christians, they think that everybody doesn't need to speak in tongues. 00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:58.260 It's true. 00:40:58.260 --> 00:41:00.500 Everybody doesn't need to. 00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:06.900 Because this is a gift that God offers for free. 00:41:06.900 --> 00:41:08.380 So it's not mandatory. 00:41:08.380 --> 00:41:09.540 Yeah? 00:41:09.540 --> 00:41:10.540 It's not mandatory. 00:41:10.540 --> 00:41:12.820 It doesn't prove your spirituality. 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:14.660 But it's a gift. 00:41:14.660 --> 00:41:16.620 It's a free gift. 00:41:16.620 --> 00:41:20.460 And the gift of tongue edifies the person. 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.860 It helps you to intercede. 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:26.940 The Spirit will help you to intercede with groanings that you can't even understand. 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:30.620 And he's going to pray in alignment with the will of God. 00:41:30.620 --> 00:41:34.940 Meaning your prayer may fall short, but the Spirit will pray on your behalf so that he 00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:37.980 matches your prayer with the will of God. 00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:42.020 That's what praying in tongues does. 00:41:42.020 --> 00:41:45.060 And many Christians say, oh no, no, no, I don't need it. 00:41:45.060 --> 00:41:46.260 I don't want it. 00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:48.740 We should pray for it, friends. 00:41:48.740 --> 00:41:50.220 Yeah? 00:41:50.220 --> 00:41:51.900 And I'm not saying that it's mandatory. 00:41:51.900 --> 00:41:54.340 It's not mandatory. 00:41:54.340 --> 00:41:56.700 But it's a gift. 00:41:56.700 --> 00:42:00.020 It's a gift. 00:42:00.020 --> 00:42:01.900 So that's the second one. 00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:05.380 And the last one. 00:42:05.380 --> 00:42:07.700 Echoing God's voice. 00:42:07.700 --> 00:42:10.060 Echoing God's voice. 00:42:10.060 --> 00:42:13.180 Because it releases the power of the Spirit. 00:42:13.180 --> 00:42:14.940 It releases the power of the Spirit. 00:42:14.940 --> 00:42:17.740 You know, remember how we started? 00:42:17.740 --> 00:42:20.020 The earth was formless. 00:42:20.020 --> 00:42:22.100 It was empty. 00:42:22.100 --> 00:42:24.460 It was dark. 00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:33.060 And in that moment, and in that situation, God spoke light and light came into existence. 00:42:33.060 --> 00:42:35.900 Your life may be dark. 00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:37.820 Your life may be formless. 00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:40.980 You don't really know what you're doing right now. 00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:43.140 Purposelessness. 00:42:43.140 --> 00:42:44.860 Fear of lack. 00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:48.700 You feel like you have hit your rock bottom. 00:42:48.700 --> 00:42:51.260 You feel like there's addiction. 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:52.700 There is lack. 00:42:52.700 --> 00:42:53.700 There is purposelessness. 00:42:53.700 --> 00:42:55.140 There is depression. 00:42:55.140 --> 00:42:56.540 There is anxiety. 00:42:56.540 --> 00:43:01.300 And you feel like darkness is hovering over your life. 00:43:01.300 --> 00:43:05.220 You feel like you are covered with darkness. 00:43:05.220 --> 00:43:08.100 Seize that moment. 00:43:08.100 --> 00:43:09.100 Seize that moment. 00:43:09.100 --> 00:43:13.300 Rise up to that occasion and speak light into your situation. 00:43:13.300 --> 00:43:14.300 Yeah? 00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:20.540 Remember, the hovering Spirit of God only goes to work when God spoke. 00:43:20.540 --> 00:43:26.100 At the sound of God's voice, the hovering Spirit goes to work. 00:43:26.100 --> 00:43:30.660 God will change your situation as you speak into your situation. 00:43:30.660 --> 00:43:32.220 Is there a scripture backup for that? 00:43:32.220 --> 00:43:33.220 Yes. 00:43:33.220 --> 00:43:34.220 Mark 11, 23. 00:43:34.220 --> 00:43:39.740 Jesus is saying, like, Jesus is not saying, I will speak to the mountains. 00:43:39.740 --> 00:43:41.260 I will remove mountains for you. 00:43:41.260 --> 00:43:42.660 Jesus isn't saying that. 00:43:42.700 --> 00:43:45.820 Jesus is saying, whoever. 00:43:45.820 --> 00:43:46.980 Yeah? 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:49.900 Jesus is saying, whoever. 00:43:49.900 --> 00:43:51.100 Let me read. 00:43:51.100 --> 00:43:55.620 Whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea 00:43:55.620 --> 00:43:59.820 and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says 00:43:59.820 --> 00:44:04.180 will be done and he will have whatever he says. 00:44:04.180 --> 00:44:05.340 It's for whom? 00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:07.980 Whoever. 00:44:07.980 --> 00:44:10.100 Yeah? 00:44:10.100 --> 00:44:17.500 Jesus is commissioning you and I to speak, to speak to our mountains, 00:44:17.500 --> 00:44:19.620 whatever your mountains is. 00:44:19.620 --> 00:44:20.620 Yeah? 00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:21.620 Is it a mountain of depression? 00:44:21.620 --> 00:44:23.620 Is it a mountain of fear? 00:44:23.620 --> 00:44:25.540 Is it a mountain of lack? 00:44:25.540 --> 00:44:29.820 Mountain of purposelessness? 00:44:29.820 --> 00:44:34.060 See, sometimes we don't have to pray. 00:44:34.060 --> 00:44:39.940 Yes, there's room for prayer, but sometimes we have to speak into it. 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:42.340 Jesus isn't praying everywhere he goes. 00:44:42.340 --> 00:44:45.940 There are times when he uses words he commands. 00:44:45.940 --> 00:44:48.980 He rebuked the fever. 00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:49.380 Yeah? 00:44:49.380 --> 00:44:51.340 He rebuked. 00:44:51.340 --> 00:44:53.380 He commanded the sea. 00:44:56.140 --> 00:45:02.100 So friends, not every situation needs to be with our religious, 00:45:02.100 --> 00:45:04.540 Christiany prayer. 00:45:04.540 --> 00:45:08.700 There are areas in our lives where you just have to believe and speak by faith. 00:45:10.940 --> 00:45:11.780 Yeah? 00:45:17.220 --> 00:45:21.700 We all have days that are harder, that are more challenging than some other days, 00:45:21.700 --> 00:45:25.380 be it at work, be it at church, or wherever it is. 00:45:25.380 --> 00:45:31.700 There are days when we are not at our best physically, emotionally, mentally, 00:45:31.700 --> 00:45:33.580 and I get that. 00:45:33.580 --> 00:45:36.500 I often, I mean, not often, sorry. 00:45:36.580 --> 00:45:42.660 I sometimes come to church to lead worship, and yet I'm feeling tired. 00:45:44.900 --> 00:45:45.620 Yeah? 00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:46.980 My body feels drained. 00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:55.540 And there are days like that for you I know. 00:45:55.540 --> 00:45:58.700 Mind feels dull. 00:45:58.700 --> 00:46:04.100 Maybe even those days, I would encourage you, rise up. 00:46:04.100 --> 00:46:08.500 Maybe those are the days when you just want to sit quiet in the church and listen 00:46:08.500 --> 00:46:09.860 and stay low key. 00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:13.780 I would say those days, rise up. 00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:15.740 Be intentional. 00:46:15.740 --> 00:46:18.060 Give him the due honor and reverence. 00:46:18.060 --> 00:46:22.100 Give your worship like you have never given before. 00:46:22.100 --> 00:46:22.780 Yeah? 00:46:22.780 --> 00:46:24.260 Declare who God is. 00:46:24.260 --> 00:46:26.380 Declare his sovereignty. 00:46:26.380 --> 00:46:27.420 Yeah? 00:46:27.420 --> 00:46:28.220 Declare his truth. 00:46:28.220 --> 00:46:29.140 Declare his presence. 00:46:29.140 --> 00:46:30.220 Declare his joy. 00:46:30.220 --> 00:46:32.020 Declare his grace. 00:46:32.020 --> 00:46:33.140 Declare his peace. 00:46:33.180 --> 00:46:34.540 Declare his glory. 00:46:34.540 --> 00:46:37.260 Declare his presence. 00:46:37.260 --> 00:46:44.220 And I tell you, you will see and experience the renewing power of God. 00:46:44.220 --> 00:46:46.740 Renewing power of God. 00:46:46.740 --> 00:46:52.220 There have been so many times when we are not at our best and yet we worship, things 00:46:52.220 --> 00:46:53.180 change. 00:46:53.180 --> 00:46:55.060 The atmosphere changes. 00:46:55.060 --> 00:46:57.300 You know, remember Paul and Silas. 00:46:57.340 --> 00:47:05.300 They were beaten, chained, feeling sore from their lashes, barely alive. 00:47:05.300 --> 00:47:08.500 And about midnight, they chose to worship. 00:47:08.500 --> 00:47:10.900 I always find this story very fascinating. 00:47:10.900 --> 00:47:11.900 Yeah? 00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:16.340 Every time I read this, I'm always encouraged. 00:47:16.340 --> 00:47:20.140 They're on the verge of almost like dying. 00:47:20.140 --> 00:47:22.500 And then they would get up around midnight. 00:47:22.500 --> 00:47:27.540 And I love the phrase where as they were praising and worshiping God around midnight, the other 00:47:27.540 --> 00:47:32.100 prisoners were listening to them. 00:47:32.100 --> 00:47:34.220 And what happened? 00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:37.180 The power of the Lord came. 00:47:37.180 --> 00:47:38.180 Chains fell off. 00:47:38.180 --> 00:47:39.180 Not just their chains. 00:47:39.180 --> 00:47:40.860 Not just the chains of Paul and Silas. 00:47:40.860 --> 00:47:45.380 The chains of every other prisoner around them. 00:47:45.380 --> 00:47:51.940 It changes the atmosphere, man, friends. 00:47:51.940 --> 00:47:54.660 Be that voice. 00:47:54.660 --> 00:48:00.580 Be that voice of praise when things aren't going the way you want. 00:48:00.580 --> 00:48:02.700 Be that voice of praise. 00:48:02.700 --> 00:48:06.460 Get up in such situations. 00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:15.180 Because the hovering spirit will transform, will go to work as you declare the things 00:48:15.180 --> 00:48:17.220 of God. 00:48:17.220 --> 00:48:19.620 Yeah? 00:48:19.620 --> 00:48:22.600 So change your sound, guys. 00:48:22.600 --> 00:48:29.020 Change your sound if you want God to change your sight. 00:48:29.020 --> 00:48:35.940 As you and I change our sound, God changes our sight and it will be good. 00:48:35.940 --> 00:48:36.940 Yeah? 00:48:36.940 --> 00:48:42.780 God said, and then he saw, and it was good. 00:48:42.780 --> 00:48:45.740 You speak. 00:48:45.740 --> 00:48:48.260 You will see. 00:48:48.260 --> 00:48:49.860 And it will be good. 00:48:49.860 --> 00:48:50.860 Yeah? 00:48:50.860 --> 00:48:52.860 Thank you, guys.