17/1/2016 Sermon Notes – Ps Prince (first service)

Keep your eyes and gaze on Jesus. Place your absolute trust in Him. He gives power to the weak and those without might, He increases our strength. In times when we have no words or strength to pray, that’s when he is closest. His grace is always sufficient. – Ps Lawrence before Holy Comm

Ps Lawrence just came back from Manila. Went to observe the feeding programme they started in the slums. Ps Prince watched a docu & there was a kid suffering malnutrition in it. Felt strongly in his heart we had to help kids in such situations. Can’t help all but help whoever we can. 15m children go to bed hungry every night in the Philippines. Feed them in their soul not just their tummy. Christ in their hearts will take the slums out of them. 

New Life Christian Centre- Ps Herbie on he video thanks Pastor Prince for helping the poorest of the poor. He lives in the slums and grew up amidst the sins and violence. Preached legalistically. Then heard pastor prince sermons and changed the way he preached and many miracles- healing, salvations. Big transformation in the lives of the people. Their church has expanded greatly. The revolution is really touching hearts there. The revelation is overflowing even though he is listening to the message 3-4 times. He admitted he ‘stole’ contents of pastor’s sermons but lives are still being changed even as he repeats them to the congregation there. 

Ps Prince:

We can’t imagine what’s it like to go to bed hungry all the time. Most of them are sniffing glue just so not to feel the hunger. Little kids 5-7yo. Violent from a young age and always high. Ps Herbie was a gang leader and his whole gang was saved & serving. Highly respected in the community. Kids love next door to the rubbish. Jesus can transform Tondo. Adopt a few and build long term r/s in that place and affirm them and supply manpower, resources and finances & time to time go down to ensure there is accountability. 

2016 special year of possessing our possessions. Today is the day of salvation. One of the Sundays, he will touch on healing – new revelations. Pray for healing in a concentrated way. 

40000 attendance on Vision Sunday and our average is 33000. More new revelations to come not just on Vision Sunday. 

Oklahoma –
Guy, 24yo, bound to viewing porn from 14yo. 

(Don’t assume our kids aren’t having challenges in this area. People might criticise the gospel of grace. Show us the fruits of what you preach and we will show you ours. People write unashamed and unabashedly about how they overcome porn. Not everyone writes in but already so many testimonies flooding in. If this gospel is not from God, how are these people delivered?)

Guy heard a testimony in Nov2014 of a man freed of a smoking addiction because he declares repeatedly he is the righteousness of God in Christ. 

The New commandment in the gospels is not like the law of Moses. Imperatives. Before imperative is an indicative- who you are, what you are, whose you are- your position. You cannot preach the imperative without the indicative. Preach my sheep not my giraffe. Preach to the people and not over their heads. Pastor knows his theology too. People sometimes think he doesn’t know such stuff. Indicative is you are the righteousness of God in Christ, in Him all things are beautiful and lovely, all things good come together in Him, loves the sinner and evicts the demon, the more we look at Him, the more we become like Him. Holiness is Christ. Not your standard or mine. But His standard. Our right standing is based on His right standing. No longer what you are before God, what Jesus is before God. What Christ is to God. You cannot believe the right thing and not live the right way

Eph 4:25

Therefore put away lying- imperative 

But there is a ‘therefore’ so you need to walk according to an indicative first. 

Royalty forgives and gives and isn’t petty. We belong to a royalty because of who we are in Christ. Before we can live according to a higher calling, need to know who and whose we are. 

Sanctification is not just separation from but separation unto. Separated from Egypt but don’t stay in wilderness. 

Eph 3- Sit- we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Seat carries the weight. Rest. Jesus has taken care of your in-dwelling sin and the root and branch of your sin. Crucified and risen in Christ.  

Haters will hate. There are those who hate us no matter what. Big doesn’t mean something is wrong. Small doesn’t mean something is wrong too. Let’s not judge by size. Singapore has meagre resources but excellent leadership. 

Eph 4 and 5- walk
Eph 6- stand

We are in a war. God doesn’t make our kids sick. Don’t accept theologies that say we should accept their illness. Stand on His Word, speak against the illness. The battle is the LORD. 

Devil attacks people he knows is a threat. Must be able to sit before there is warfare. It is a warfare we win. Wrestle appears once in Eph 6, stand is mentioned 3 times. Stand on victory ground. We don’t try to get to victory ground. We don’t come to church to get close to God. We come because we ARE close to God.

Love your Neighbour as yourself- did anyone accomplish that in the law even in Jesus’ times? Apostle John knew he could only love God and men if he is conscious of God’s love for him in his writings. This is the ministry of the New Testament. 

The reason why we pray- to get close to God? No. Our pleading and meaning and begging can’t bring us closer- only His blood can. We pray today because we have influence with God. 

Who judges if a person is holy? Only God. 

Eph 4:22-24

How do we ‘put off’ our old man’s conduct? Old man is taken care of. Old man thinking here. -> Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 

Put on the new man – true righteousness and holiness we already have in Christ. 

You can’t create yourself in holiness but in Christ we are created as righteous and holy.

Don’t want to lie because lying in not his thing or my thing. God can give me favour. What can men give me? 

The walk precedes the wealth. 

No one can improve on God’s plan. 

If addicted, renew your mind. 

People like to add on a lie to the truth that Pastor says, claiming that he says we can do what we want because there is forgiveness. He never said that. 

Many kids have died looking at the swimming pool thinking it is shallow. They jump in and realise it isn’t. What we see is not reliable. 

One of the Kennedy brothers died in a plane crash. He usually flew in the day and never flew in the dark but this last time was an exception. His radio frequency not tuned in right as well. Felt he was going straight when he was going down. His instrument was saying he is going down but he felt he was going straight. Crashed. Experts say must trust the plane’s instrument. 

We also need to trust the Word. Do we trust infallible men or God who created all things? 

God says He is bringing us to the promised land that is fruitful and beautiful. Not one word on the Giants but the spies chose to focus on the Giants and problems. God prophecied the victory LONG before. See what God sees. Not what you see. 

When the desire came to look at porn, he didn’t try to stop himself. His own effort cannot. 

Some will cut off the testimony here and misquote pastor & then mix it with one of those universal forgiveness sermons which pastor doesn’t agree with. But pastor isn’t bothered by that. The battle belongs to the LORD. The testimonies speak for themselves. 

Guy would confess he has the righteousness of God in Christ & that he cannot but Christ can. He lost all desire to watch porn. Became better in his job as well. 

In the bible, Joseph could dream dreams but not interpret. But after he ran away from sexual temptations, was able to interpret. 

1Pe 1:13-15

Gird up the loins of your mind. 

Loin is reproductive system. Your mind can reproduce too. What you think today will reproduce. So tighten up what you see… 

Your kids need you to say no sometimes so they have the courage to tell their friends, their dad says no. These are your kids. Not hollywood’s. Don’t let them watch whatever they want. 

“Hope fully upon the grace”

As you listen more, knowledge of Jesus Christ  increases and Grace & peace is multiplied. Grace is brought to you in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. Then this leads to holiness and teaches people to say No to unholiness. Don’t teach people to be holy. Teach them His grace and grace will teach them to say no. 

Lack of preaching how forgiven people are is what causes them to sin. 

People were walking with God in Kadesh Barnea – Deut 2:14- note 38 years. 

Bethesda- House of Grace (Bet Hased)
– many are waiting for the move of God to be healed. In the past, had to wait for Seasons – feast days. Today, NOW is the time of salvation, NOW is the accepted time. 

Law demands- demands we must walk into the pool. 

John 5:5-9

Man with infirmity for 38y- represents Israel 

All the miracles are called SIGNS- not superficial but a lesson for us to learn. 

Do you want to be made well? Question to ask this year. 

When we are sick, people Molly coddle us. So decide- u want comfort or to be well? Be well- means u should help others. Be well- means you have to work. 

“I’ve got no (excuse here)” He isn’t asking you about your excuse. 

Jesus gets to the point – “RISE, take up your bed and walk.” Imperative of healing and goodness. 

V9- got well, walked and on Sabbath

The Pharisees more concerned about religious rules and regulations than someone getting well. It’s not knowing the letter but seeing Jesus in every part of the bible and seeing his heart. The LORD delights in us- conscious of his heart. Then comes deliverance. 

The man with infirmity – so close to his healing but not able to possess his possessions. 

It is Jesus who causes us to possess our possessions. Rise above your discouragement and depression. Take your rest and walk! Walk-  possess your possessions. True rest for this guy is walking. As he walks, he possesses. Was unable to walk for so many years. 

Jesus paid for all your sins and you are before God, in Christ. Not what you are but who Christ is. He is our standing before God. God sees Him as us. He is our true identity. 

Deut 11:24- God promised the land but required Israel to walk. Possessing their possessions. 

Walk walk walk in it. Healing is ours. Walk in it. 

Unless we learn to sit, we can’t walk. 

Matt 11:28-30

Rest for our conscience. 

God’s estimate and not my own, of how rich His grace is and how powerful His blood is. 

Many not hearing the truth. Serving without rest for their conscience. Sacrificing and living a holy life but not saved. Serve out of rest. 

Find rest for your souls. – rest that is found. Rest that is given. Rest for your conscience. 
Rest given. Rest found. 

V29- though He could have chosen to be born into wealthy position, He chose to be meek and holy. 

Very peaceful. Emotional and mental rest. Rest found. Proud people are insecure. Security and rest is found in Christ. 

For every step of humbling yourself, exalted a step. Seven steps down, seven steps exalted. God’s hand is bigger. If he raises u, no one can bring u down. 

Enoch pleased God. Walked with God. Abraham- walk before me (before my face, awareness of His favour). Knowing His favour, it has an effect

Gal 5:16- walk in the Spirit AND you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

No way you can fulfill the lust of the flesh if you walk in the Spirit. So not about avoiding lust first but walking in the Spirit first. 

Some think they walk in the Spirit without the church- no accountability. 

The first thing Solomon did upon receiving witness, surrounded himself with counsellors. 

A sign that you’ve received wisdom? You become teachable. 

Eph 5:15- walk circumspectly and be wise. 2016 not a year to make foolish decisions or indulge your lust. Walk in the spirit. 

Redeeming the time- when u are wise, u buy back time. If u don’t redeem time, u will be robbed of time. Technology is helpful but a two edged sword. 

Give me a wise and hearing heart (Shema) – what Solomon chose to receive from God

Solomon had a hearing heart. 

His choice pleased God and He was given riches too and peace. 

Wisdom is needed for 2016. 

Luke 2:52

Very first of the nine gifts- wisdom

Wisdom is the principal thing. Walk in wisdom. 

Smart is different from wisdom. Being self-focused is not wisdom from God. 

When God says something and u obey, the benefits are there. 

Tell the people that this year if they will walk more, the more they walk, the more they will possess in health and wholeness. 

Time of extended walking. At least twice a week. Every step, will get better. 

Deut 11:24- every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours 

Not just natural fat being lost but receiving supernatural health. Not brisk walk. Just walk. 

Joshua 1- every place the sole of your feet treads promise is repeated here

1 Kings 4:29-34

The world also has wisdom but God’s wisdom excels beyond those. 

Be wise. Redeem the time. Don’t let another year go by. Everyone has the same time. Some of us redeem the time. Be wise. Don’t walk as fools. 

1Kings 3:15

The moment Solomon received wisdom… He wasn’t in the place where the ark is… So he got up and went to stand in the presence of God. 

Knowing a lot doesn’t mean u have wisdom. When He gives u wisdom, u will start prioritising Jesus. 

Prayer: 
Heavenly Father give unto me a wise, discerning, and a hearing heart. I will use it for your glory that Jesus’ name will be made famous. In my life, wherever I have influence- in my family, in my workplace, in my school. 

Pastor shared – our disappointment is God’s appointment. A server’s spouse missed being at the venue of the recent Jakarta shooting because he was delayed.

(So sorry, many moments I couldn’t hear what Pastor was saying and missed out on noting what Pastor said, because there were two ladies chatting next to me. Grace grace. Please folks, resist the temptation to chat in service? Lol.)