Time to take the Mountain

Praise the Lord Everyone

It is good to be in the house of the Lord.

I’m thankful for another day that I can worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Thank you Pastor for inviting me to speak today.

Before I share about the Mission’s work, I’d like to speak the word of the Lord

I will be reading from The Book of Joshua, Chapter 14, Verses 6 to 12 (NKJV)

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’

10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out… as the Lord said.”

The title of this message is it's “Time to take the Mountain”

Let’s pray

Thank you, Lord, for this day, thank you, Lord, for everyone that is here today and for everything you do for us, help me to speak your word and minister to your people.

For your Kingdom! And For your Glory! In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen

You May be Seated

It is a privilege to stand before you

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The Scriptures we just read, this conversation between Joshua and Caleb…was 45 years in the making

When the children of Israel… were receiving their inheritance,... in the Land that God had promised them…Caleb said to Joshua…”give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day”

Now, he wasn’t looking for a quick blessing….or something that was easy to conquer…

Because, in the art of war, the one who has the higher ground… generally has the advantage…

Castles and fortresses are built on high ground.

It is easier to position your weaponry…to be thrown or fired from above.

Archers can fire their arrows…. much farther… when they are stationed at a higher ground

Stones can be used as weapons, and rolled down a hill, when you have the higher ground

Now, if you want to go sightseeing…and you want to see a full view of the city…you get to the highest point… if you ever went up on the CN tower…you get to see all across the city…

That’s why having the High Ground was so beneficial…

Watch towers are built on the high ground.

Ever try to climb a hill…you're climbing or hiking for like 30 mins…and when you get to the top…you’re all tired…and you want a drink…and you want to rest and take a break

But if you’re already up there waiting...you’re not tired…

An Army that is encamped on the high ground… has the advantage of stamina…

They're up on the hill conserving energy…waiting for the adversary to climb up and meet them

Caleb, knowing all the challenges of conquering the High Ground…insisted on taking this land

Because what the Lord had promised…The LORD would accomplish

Numbers 26:51 says that there were about 600,000 men of Israel ready to enter into the Promised Land, …but only Joshua and Caleb…could truly understand the significance of what Caleb was asking for.

Because 45 years ago…

When the Lord was ready… to bring the Israelites….into the land that He had promised them….He said…I’ve set the land before you.

…Go in and take possession…. of the land that [I] swore to your fathers…, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,... to give to them and to their offspring.’(Deuteronomy 1:8)

But the men of Israel did not believe in the Word of the Lord…they did not have faith in the LORD their God.

And they said to Moses…… Let us send men before us,.. that they may explore the land … and bring back information… on how we should go….and which cities we should enter (Deut 1:22).

They wanted to know all the little details… and only if they were convinced that they could win…they would follow the voice of God

So the LORD approved their request... and Moses chose twelve men,... one from each tribe of Israel…. and sent them out

Now, there job was to gather the following information:

How many people lived in these cities?

Were the people strong or weak? (Numbers 13:18)

How were these cities protected? Did they have walls or were they open? (Numbers 13:19)

And they had to check the soil…was it good to grow crops…and Moses wanted them to bring back some of the fruit (Numbers 13:20).

So the 12 spies went…and they gathered all the information…and when they came back they said to the people: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit” (Numbers 13:27).

And they said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord is giving us.’

Now I'm going to assume… that when the people heard these words…they were all excited…this is great news…this land is everything the Lord has promised…we are a blessed people…our God is so good to us…let’s go in and take possession it…

But that’s not how it played it…….10 of the 12 had more to say….they couldn’t just stop right there…

…And instead of lifting up the people…and speaking: hope and faith…they discouraged them by saying…the Canaanites are stronger…the Canaanites are taller…and that their cities are great and hard to conquer….

They came up with all the excuses in the book…and made it sound like…the Israelites had no chance against them

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) says ”Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

The 10 spies that brought back a negative report…and discouraged the people…never inherited and ate the fruit of the promised land.

They spoke death into their blessings and died in the wilderness.

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Folks, it matters what you say…

Even when your faith is low …you got to speak life over your situation

No matter how hard things appear,... you gotta have faith in Jesus

If you focus on the negative things in life, then that’s what you’re going to see.

If you’re looking for negativity,...that’s what you’re going to find it

But it won’t stop there

You will speak discouragement into the lives of those around you

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When all the men of war,.... from the twelve tribes of Israel, ….heard this negative report from the 10 spies….they panicked… got scared…and refused to follow the voice of God…

Instead of believing the Word of the Lord, they believed the report of these faithless men

Moses tried to convince them…He told them…. “the Lord your God goes before you…and He will fight for you,...

But they refused to listen

They would not believe

….as if the God who went before them…and led them with fire by night…and a cloud by the day…to bring them this far…could no longer lead them going forward….

…as if the God who split the Red Sea…so that they could escape Pharaoh's army….was incapable of delivering them going forward…

They forgot the God of their salvation

They did not trust in the Lord their God

So the Lord said…you know what…if this is what you want…then this is what you’ll get…you won’t enter into this Land …

In fact…only Joshua and Caleb...the two spies that had faith in God…and fully followed the Lord…were allowed to enter. (Numbers 14:6–9).

Every other man…twenty years old and above… from the twelve tribes of Israel…not including the levites…were not allowed to enter

So, Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness…until all the men of unbelief had died

Folks, a few people in the past, discouraged the people with a bad report…and it set Caleb back 40 years… from receiving the mountain which the Lord had promised

He saw family and friends die in the wilderness because 10 men started planting seeds of discouragement, unbelief, and fear in the people

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Oftentimes…we deal with the consequences…of someone else’s actions….

We all know someone that, at one point or another, has slowed us down, hurt our lives, or hurt our walk with God…

Some of you have struggled because of other people’s decisions.

You have followed the Lord your God… with the integrity of your heart…but the actions of someone else may have held you back from pursuing the things of God…

Circumstances may have held you back…

Obstacles may have been placed in your way…

But you’re still here…you decided to come to the house of the Lord…there’s something inside your spirit that said…I’m not giving up…I’m not going to allow someone else’s choices, keep me away from God’s promises....

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Folks, we don’t choose the family or nation that we’re born into …we all go through life just like everyone else….

All of us face different situations and circumstances…

Your valley of the shadow of death is much different then the valley that I go through….

I haven’t walked in your shoes…I cannot speak for you.….but whatever valley you’re going through…make sure you come out through the other side…make sure you complete the journey……whatever obstacle has been placed in your way….do whatever it takes to go over it…

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Sometimes we are our biggest enemies…we are the ones that place obstacles in our way…we are the ones that make bad decisions…

I’ve made a lot of bad choices in my life…but I cannot live in the past…or allow my past to determine my future…Nothing I do now is going to change my past.

Folks, don’t allow your past mistakes to determine your future

It doesn’t matter how you started this journey…what matters is how you finish.

We can all make a choice right now…that from this point forward…we’re going to live for God…we’re going to be a better person than the one we were yesterday…

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Folks, don’t allow people to discourage you…and speak negativity over your life…tell you that you can never accomplish anything because of the things you’ve done in the past…

…The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;...

…If God has given you another day…you keep moving forward….

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Caleb didn’t allow the faithlessness of those 10 men to determine his future

He didn’t allow his story to end in the Wilderness

He completed the journey that he had started and took the mountain which the Lord had promised

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I’M STANDING BEFORE YOU AS A MISSIONARY TO INDIA

Missions - India

The Global Missions committee told me ..that India hasn’t had a resident missionary in years…and when I further looked into it…I found out that it’s been over 3 years…

….and just about a month ago…India surprised China in population….

I spoke to a few people that wanted to serve in India and they told me how their visas were denied or they couldn’t go back for some reason.

And when God called me to be a missionary, He told me that I will eventually go to India.

And I was praying and I said, Lord…I don’t want to go on a tourist visa and have to leave every 3 months…and the Lord said apply for a lifetime visa….

Now, my aunt was denied this visa and my mom couldn’t get this visa cause she lost her old Indian passport…

And I was born in Bahrain, a muslim country in the Middle-East, close to Saudi Arabia…and I didn’t know if I would get this visa…

But I applied for this visa in February…and two months later…I received a lifetime visa to India

There is going to be a time that will come…when I can say….Give Me This Mountain of Which the Lord Spoke to Me in That Day

Folks, if God calls you, He will provide for you

He will open doors that you’ve never expected

He will take you places you’ve never imagined

There is no obstacle that He cannot bring you through

Nothing is impossible for our God….

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One thing I’ve learned on this journey as a Christian…is that Anything is possible when you know the God of the Impossible…

And if you have been on this journey long enough…..you have a testimony to share… a story to tell

I’m an Associate Missionary to Mexico… but I wasn’t always a follower of Jesus

I used to be a Hindu,... and was raised in the Hindu religion…

Now, if you have ever studied World Religions…you would have came across Hinduism…a major religion that originates from India

A belief system known for its worship of 1000s of idols and deities… which can include plants and animals, rivers and mountains, stars and planets.

and as someone who grew up in this religion, I would seek after and pray to various idols and deities depending on the situation or circumstance that I would face

For example, when I needed strength in my life,... I would seek after the Hindu idol - Hanuman

Or when I needed a financial blessing,... I would pray to the Hindu idol - Laxmi

Or when I needed wisdom and knowledge,... I would pray to the Hindu idol - Ganesh

I remember during my childhood in India,... I would visit the Hindu temple… and give a food offering to these idols.

And if my family was invited to a religious service… I would participate in the Hindu ritual known as “Havan”,... where I would offer various ingredients in the fire…as a way of seeking after these idols.

I can still remember the day…when I had attended a temple service in India… that was organized by my family… and I saw my aunt cry uncontrollably…. and when I had asked what was going on…I was told that she had received… the spirit of a Hindu goddess.

And since I didn’t know any better… I believed what I was told.

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Once my parents moved to Canada,... they recognized that the Indian community was growing… and they started a Hindu idol business.

During the early days of their business, they would import many idols and religious products from India.

But after their business grew,... they went to China and Malaysia… and started developing idols at a lower cost.

They are one of the largest importers of Hindu idols in Canada.

and I used to help them in their business.

That was my job after school….

I would go to my dad’s store… and help him sell idols, temples and other religious products… that one would need to worship in Hinduism…

Hinduism was my religion

And it was also my business

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And during those teenage years growing up in our society….I would spend many hours of the day…listening to all sorts of ungodly music… and watching all kinds of Hollywood movies.

The movies that I would watch…would expose me to violence and crime,... sexual immorality,... and all the evils of the world.

It corrupted my mind…. and my life was not at peace.

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While I was a student… at University of Toronto… in my second year…a friend of mine started to talk to me about Jesus,... how He is the One true God and that the fullness of the Godhead is all in Him (Colossians 2:9).

I learned that God manifested himself in the flesh,... lived a sinless life,... and shed innocent blood on the cross,... so that my sins could be forgiven.

Though it should be me on the cross,... Jesus took my place… and died for my sins

He was buried and rose again on the third day… to win victory over sin and death.

and all those who believe in Him will not perish… but receive eternal life.

and while I was studying the Scriptures …I read what Jesus said in John 3:5 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

And I read Acts 2:38 (NKJV) - “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I learned that if I’m fully immersed in water,... calling on the name of Jesus, I die to my old sinful life and live a new life for God

And if I receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit,... it is by the evidence of speaking in another language.

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Now it was up to me if I wanted to be “Born Again”

No one could make that decision for me

It was my choice to make

And while I knew I wanted something more in life… It was hard for me to leave behind my family religion.

I didn't want to disappoint my parents and dishonor my family

But the idols that I worshiped didn’t answer my prayers

I would pray to different idols,... hoping I could hear from at least one of them,... but none of them would answer

They couldn’t rescue me in times of trouble

So, I said to myself one day,... I’ve given all these idols a chance,... let me give Jesus a chance…

…What do I have to lose?

Folks, the day I said Jesus,... I will follow you,... I felt a huge weight lifted off my life.

I felt this peace that I had never felt before,... and my entire life changed forever…

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Now, I wanted to be Baptized in Jesus name… so I started to look for a church

I went to at least 20 churches but none of them would baptise me in Jesus name.

They wanted to baptise me in the Trinity.

But I wasn’t going to compromise on the truth

The Word of God is clear - ”Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one’ (Deuteronomy 6:4)

And I wanted to worship the One True God

So I kept looking for a church

And one evening, I found a Pentecostal Church in Toronto… that agreed to Baptize me in Jesus name.

So I was baptised in the name of Jesus… for the forgiveness of my sins.

I held on to the Truth… and I found what I was looking for

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After that, I wanted to receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

I prayed for many days but God didn’t fill me with His Spirit.

But one day, I decided… that I’m going to fully surrender my life to God.

I’m not going to worry about who’s watching at church

I'm not going to worry about what people think

And I quickly went to the front during the altar call.

And God filled me with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

I was Born Again

And it was the best day of my life.

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Once I experienced the presence of the Living God, I finally had a purpose.

I realized that God created us to have a relationship with Him.

We were born to have a relationship with God

We’re not here to live an ordinary life

But an extraordinary one through Jesus Christ

Nothing is impossible for our God

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Most people in this world will not understand the plans that God has for your life

You will face opposition when you follow Jesus

My parents were upset that I had given my life to Him

They felt that I betrayed the religion that I was born into

My friends didn’t understand me anymore.

But Jesus said to His disciples: (Matthew 19:29)

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Even though I left many people behind to follow Jesus, I received a church family that is 100 times bigger.

A church family that is all over the world

When you follow Jesus and become part of His church,... you have a family.

I’m not here to keep you away from what God has planned for you

I want you to receive everything that God has in-store for you

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But there has to be something inside of you that says….there has to be a determination... that regardless of the challenges you face,... you will not turn back.

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In my mid-20s, I was searching for God’s plan in my life

I wanted to go to flight school and become a pilot

That was my dream job

I just wanted to fly planes

So I went to visit a flight school in Ontario…I checked it out and I was ready to sign up… but I wanted to pray first… and make sure it’s the will of God for my life.

So, I prayed… and the Lord spoke to me that day

And said “No”

Though He said “No” to one of my dreams,... I was glad that I heard from the Lord.

It was better for me to hear a “No” from God… than to hear nothing at all

So I continued to pray for direction, and He answered

I decided to attend Urshan Graduate School of Theology… after finishing my secular education

And when the time finally came, I took my savings, sold my car and my motorcycle…but I still didn’t have enough money to cover my expenses.

I prayed and said, Lord, for once, I don’t want to worry about finances

I just want to focus on what you are calling me to do

A short while later,.. I looked at my bank account,... and there was some extra money in there…

Now, I didn’t want to take something that wasn’t mine … which is basically stealing…and I wasn’t trying to go back to the old life

So I looked at the transaction history…

…And I called the sender to let them know of the mistake…

…but they said they have no record of the transaction

With the extra $1,000 in my account, I had all the money I needed to go to Bible School for one year.

Folks, if God calls you, He will provide for you

David said “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25 ESV)

If you are willing to trust God and follow Him…He will take care of your needs…

He will open doors that you’ve never expected

He will take you places you’ve never imagined

There is no obstacle that He cannot bring you through

There is no power on earth… that can take away what God has in-store for you

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In 2018, when I returned to Canada after a year, My bank account was at 0.

But God provided me with a better job than the one I left behind.

He even provided me with a better car and motorcycle than the ones I had before.

God restored everything that I had sacrificed to follow Him.

Folks, following God will not be easy

There will be times when you are frustrated

But God will not leave you or forget you

He will provide for your needs if you put Him first.

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When the Covid-19 lockdown came in-effect in 2020, many people started losing their jobs.

I was working on commision… and I lost over 50% of my income…

Being financially stressed, I wanted to search for a new job… but many offices were starting to close

I had a hard time finding full-time employment during the best of times

and I couldn’t see how someone would hire me during a pandemic

But having no choice, I started to apply for work.

and prayed for a miracle.

And a few weeks later, God blessed me with a job with the Government of Ontario.

The job I couldn’t get… during the best of times, I received during the lockdown.

David said “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25 ESV)

Folks, there is no famine or pandemic that our God cannot bring us through

Nothing is impossible for our God.

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In October 2021, I decided to take a trip down to Texas for my vacation.

I was tired of the mask mandates in Toronto and I wanted that Texas freedom.

I remember praying one night in San Antonio… and the Lord said to me,... you’re going to be a Missionary.

You're going to reach more people than the number of idols you sold

and you will never return to secular employment again.

Now I had a good paying job and some nice benefits so I’m like Lord, are you sure?

and He said, “Yes”

So I resigned as a Real Estate Analyst … to become a Missionary.

I left my career behind to answer the Call of God.

When I let my family know what I was doing….they thought I was crazy

I became a fool to this world… so that I could become wise for the Kingdom of God

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ALTAR CALL

And as a result of these actions or attitudes…obstacles may have been placed in your way….Circumstances may have held you back...from reaching your potential…from reaching the place that God wants you to be… but I’m here to tell someone today…that it’s Time to Move Mountains

Others may have hurt your walk… on this journey called “Life” …but you’re still here…

You woke up this morning and said, I’m going to the house of the Lord

I’m going to worship my God

I’m not going to allow the problems of this world…. keep me away from the promises of God

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If you need a touch from God today, I’d like to invite you to the front.

If you need healing in your mind or body, God can heal you right now

He can give you His peace and strengthen you at this moment

If you need direction in your life, God can provide it today

If you would like to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or if you haven’t spoken in tongues in a while and you would like a touch from God, you can receive it today.

First, I want us to take some time and repent

When we repent, we acknowledge that we are sinners.

We repent for Lying, Cheating, Sexual Immorality, Bitterness and everything else that the Lord hates

We are asking God to forgive us of our sins.

And we are making a commitment to live for God.

So let’s go ahead and repent