Through the Eyes of Faith
Notes
Transcript
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HOOK
HOOK
When you come to an unchartered territory, you can’t help not to wonder what to expect
Uncertainty creeps in, doubts develops, anxiety arises— it could result to being fearful rather than faithful
When the Israelites came close to the land promise to them by God— The Lord said to Moses to send some men to explore the land of Canaan
So at the Lord’s command, Moses sent chosen leaders— one for each 12 tribes
He sent them to explore Canaan— see what the land is like— see what the people are like
How is the soil— is it fertile or poor?— are there trees or not?— So they went up and explored Canaan
So they went up and explored Canaan
At the end of forty days, they returned and reported back to Moses and Aaron in the presence of the whole assembly— showed them the fruit of the land
They said, “the land flow with milk and honey, but the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large
With all these negativity surrounding their conversation, Caleb [tribe of Judah, son of Jephunneh] silenced them and he said..
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Numbers
We are currently in a similar situation— the circumstances are different, but the principles are the same— like we are now, they also found themselves in an unchartered territory
But Caleb stood strong in grace of God and said— they should go up and take possession of the land
The people grumbled against Moses and Aaron— they even blamed God from taking them our of their slavery in Egypt only to be devoured
Moses and Aaron fell facedown [prayer]— Joshua and Caleb, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes [fasting]— Prayer and Fasting
8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
Numbers
They said, do not rebel agains the Lord— do not be afraid of the people of the land— the Lord was with them
Despite all these— the whole assembly talked about stoning them— but then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites and said..
11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?
Numbers 14:
All those who grumbled and rebelled against God never saw the promise land— only Joshua [son of Nun] and Caleb [son of Jephunneh] survived
38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.
Numbers 14:38
God gave us two ears— so we may listen to both sides of the story [fake news or good news]— We will resume the series, “Why do we believe in the Bible” in the weeks to come
God made two holes— air passages through our nose, so we may sniff from both sides
God also gave us two eyes— that we may have a greater vision to see both sides of the aisles
But God gave us only one mouth— and why is that? — so we may speak our one united stand— your decision are influenced by your opinion— let your opinion be guided by using both of your ears, your nose and both of your eyes
In other words— be like Joshua and Caleb— they look at things differently— their perspective was guided by their faith in God
In this unprecedented crisis that challenges the church, people have different opinions, they have opposing views— and what can only unify them is their faith in God
10 of the 12 spies made a stand against the will of God— in principle, the majority is not always right— the majority is not always on the side of God— what about you?
What do you see out of this situation that we are all in?
A situation that have never happened before— it did, but not this magnitude
A situation that shakes not just the whole world— but even the church— a time when you will determine those who are Committed and those who are Not Committed
Committed and Not Committed
Shaking the church
A situation that separates the fearful and the faithful— which are you?
This to me is a season of spiritual awakening
You will hear people claiming prophecy of what’s happening— history blended with prophecy will lead us to our destiny
Once again, God is showing to mankind that He is, and will always be the God Almighty
That we cannot rely, depend or count on things that doesn’t last— Only the Word of God will last— even the earth and the heavens will pass away
We cannot rely on the economy— look at how the stocks plunged in just a matter of days
We cannot completely depend on the government, we must obey them because God said, “there is not authority except that which God has established.”— Where is the Roman empire? — Gone!
Surely we cannot count on sports superstars— God showed that He can suspend game season!
The good thing for those who are faithful and not fearful— to those who believe and follow Christ— we already know the “end game”— we already know the end result, and we have to focus on that— we must fixed our eyes to what Jesus has done, to the many and great promises that he had fulfilled— and to the assurance of everlasting life
Whenever you’re focus on the here and now— that is when you worry— worrying is not
worshipping— worry and worship cannot come together— they get along with each other—
Only two [Joshua and Caleb] of the twelve spies kept their worship while the rest held on to their worries
The majority of people now are worried— how can I say that?— well, just look at the empty shelfs at your grocery stores!— What about you?
What do you see out of this situation that we are all in?
If the Word is the only thing that will last, then in times like this, all the more that we must preach it— listen to it, read it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it— and apply it!
Most of us, if not all, are all hunkered down in our homes because we obey the authorities established by God— but will that be a reason to silence the Word of God?— Absolutely NOT!
During the time of King Nero— the most oppressive emperor that persecuted Christians in his time— slaughtered them
Not because of their fear, but because of their faith— our early brothers and sisters in Christ also hunkered down in their homes— locking themselves up to protect themselves from the external threat
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,
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 5:46
If you will just open your eyes— you will see what God is trying to tell His church— He is telling us to reach beyond the walls of our local churches— God gave us the means the means to do just that— we have the technology to preach and not silence the Word
Spiritual awakening
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God gave us the means
We are barred from fellowshipping physically— but we can do that spiritually with the aid of technology— Online and Life Groups— Online Sunday Services
Every time there’s a crisis there’s a revival! [pandemic revival] God is rebooting His church! God is stepping up our game! Question is, are you ready for it?
God is using financial challenge
When Jesus taught the “Parable of the Persistent Widow”, he said…
King Nero — Corona virusBoth financial and spiritual
8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
6 years ago, God gave our church in Agape a big vision— and today, we see his confirmation unfold before our very eyes— that the way to proceed is through “house churches” [small groups-Life Groups]
When I do come can I find faith—
At the beginning of this year 2020 — I share to all of you God’s messages entitled Vision 20:20— in the Bible says...
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Every time there’s a crisis there’s a revival
Pandemic Revival
Mandated to obey the authority
The building is not the church— get over it already!
The challenge is how to get this perspective across— that we don’t need buildings to be the church of Jesus Christ— we need to build our people not our steeple!
– Drawing strength from God and brothers
Prophetic— Pastor Jon
The anti-Christ is also prepared for this
Bill Gates stepped down— vaccines to come along with ID’s
The good thing is we already know the end result
Separating — unifying
Not to bring in people, but to go out seek the people
You know my wife’s favorite prayer?— is the Serenity prayer, and it goes like this...
The most spiritual to take care of yourself
“God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change— COURAGE to change the things I can— and the WISDOM to know the difference” — we have that in our wall
Now what are the things that we can change?
What are the things that we cannot change?
And what wisdom can we learn from them?
Well, here are the facts:
We cannot change our current situation— only God can!
But we can change the way how we worship, how we fellowship, how we evangelize, how we disciple and how we do ministry— those we can change
We will do things differently as a church— maybe temporarily— or maybe permanently! We don’t know! Only God knows— We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future!
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of preaching, teaching and sharing the Word of God— God’s Word is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that we, the servants of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Word of God we draw our strength— from it we find our guidance— it is filled with inspiration— and tons of motivation— let me give you three things of what the Bible says about our current situation...
Accept the things we cannot change— serenity prayers
Intimacy with wife and family— Starts with the family
Work in the context of what you have
We are all different but we share the same message, the same purpose
History blended with prophecy leads to destiny
Idolizing sports hero, all of a sudden look who’s in the front rows— health providers, first responders, nurses
BOOK
BOOK
LOO
LOO
TOOK
TOOK
KEEP IN MIND OF WHAT IS UNCHANGING
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD IS WITH ME THROUGH THIS
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
REMEMBER THAT IT IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD WANTS TO USE ME TO HELP OTHERS
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.