21/2/16- Ps Lian (U can possess every good thing because Jesus delights in you)

Someone asked at a retreat, “Can I know what is that one thing if we were to possess it, we would possess everything?”

What about me LORD? What is it I have to focus on? 

Like Mary- her one thing was sitting at Jesus’ feet. She chose the good part.

Numbers 13:27-31
What is that you’re believing God to possess this year?

Some say joy, protection, health, financial breakthrough, marriage restoration…

These spies saw the land was good but their big BUTs hindered them.

Numbers 14:6-9

V7- exceedingly good land 

As you thought about what u want for 2016, did u also think about the Giants? 

“Lian, if u see the Giants, you are in the promise land. Soon and very soon u shall possess it.”

“Lian this year u shall not only feel like u are 20 and look 16, I want to give u what is EXCEEDINGLY GOOD.” 

Not just good leh. 

See His heart today. 

V8 – secret 1: IF is the old covenant. After Jesus, “I delight in you and because I delight in you, I WILL give you the land, I WILL bring you into the land”

Delight – when u say it, can’t help but smile. 

The LORD delights in me. 

V9- secret 2: THE LORD IS WITH US

Just like Joseph and King David.

King David was purported to be 17 when he faced Goliath. 

1 Sam 17:33-37

When we know David’s secret, we will be like David this year. When u see a lion or a bear, there will be an audacious and supernatural faith that arises in you. You won’t roll over and play dead. You shall possess your possessions. 

Look at David, in the desert he would deliver the lamb from the lion’s mouth. Boldness. 

This year, this boldness shall be for us. 

Rock Kids testimony- 

12yo girl got her PSLE results, it was average and she wanted to go SOTA. It’s limited and competitive to get in. To get in you have to be good in art. She never took courses or majored in art. She found out before her PSLE she likes doodling and wanted to go SOTA. She applied and they asked to see her portfolio. She didn’t have one. Her Mum told her to start drawing. She saw the other kids bring their portfolio in professional cases. They were using katana case like cases. Hers is like a butter knife. So she told her Mum- “Well, it’s just Jesus, her and a butter knife. We’ll get through.” The school asked her why her portfolio was so skimpy. She explained she just got interested in art and that she wanted to get into SOTA so they could teach her to be good in what she likes to do. Impressed by her audaciousness, they gave her a place in the school. 

Deuteronomy is about remembering Him. It is GOD who gives u the power to do things. 

1990- pastor became senior pastor and shared that the growth seminars didn’t grow the church. The Lord spoke to him and asked him to retreat into His presence. Forget about everything else and just enjoy His presence. So pastor practiced the presence of God. He preached at the service and two seats away from Ps Lian, was a wheelchair bound paralysed lady, Pastor Prince took her by by her hand and she got up and walked and has never stopped walking. 

When ur focus is on Jesus, the power, provision and protection comes. 

Now as the Word is spoken u shall experience and possess your possessions. 

The lady shared she wasn’t a believer then and just one day lost all strength and couldn’t get out of bed. The Doctors were baffled. Couldn’t discover what was wrong. Her colleague asked her why don’t come to her church? She was desperate, she decided to come. The moment worship began, she started crying- a non-believer. She couldn’t stop crying because of the HS presence. When pastor preached, her heart was touched by the sermon and knew that there is a God and His name is JESUS. Pastor laid hands on her and for the first time in months she could get up and take a bath all by herself & it felt so good to be able to wash her own hair. There is power in the presence of the LORD. This year u will possess your possessions as you practice His presence. 

Sometimes u are a believer but people suddenly start criticising you and you start feeling bad and wonder if the Lord still delights in u. 

30 was the average size of a church a man came from. In his church, he was like a megachurch pastor because he had (??) people in it. One day his Wife up and left. He was so angry and church people started gossiping. Lies started spreading. He was angry and secretly ashamed- felt maybe he should have worked on his marriage. In times like that, u can’t help but wonder if His presence is still with u. 

You know He will never leave nor forsake u but that’s up here in your mind. How would u feel in your heart? This man felt anger and shame. 

Opening a gospel seminar, the hall was not packed and only 1/3 filled. Felt small and upset. Had remarried and went home angry and disappointed. Felt shaken. His new Wife asked him who is preaching tomorrow. He said me. She said then I hope no one turns up. He was Super angry. As he got into the presence of God, he realised- all those years when his church prospered, that he thought it was him behind it . 

1 Sam 17:33-37

David knew it was the LORD but sometimes we forget it is the LORD and we think it is us. 

When we think it is us, we think we need to fight to get people to regard is highly. When things go wrong, we start blaming others around us. 

When u really know it is the LORD, the LORD who delivered u from the lion and bear, it won’t matter what people said because your eyes will be on the LORD. The LORD will deliver me again. He will cause me again to repossess my possessions. 

Then u won’t feel the need to be bitter, angry and to blame. 

If you know it is the LORD, u won’t need to fight or worry. 

The next morning, he went to preach and it was less than a third. This time he didn’t focus on numbers but was grateful the LORD was present with him. A few years later, the LORD restored his ministry and he now has an international ministry.

When David failed – killed Uriah and committed adultery with Bathsheba and was confronted by Nathan. What was David’s response?

Ps 51:4

Against you, you only have I sinned… 

Ps 51:12
Restore to me the JOY OF YOUR SALVATION 

David wasn’t pursuing position or to hold on to his power BUT pursued restoration of God’s presence in his life. 

When David had nothing, he smelled of sheep and didn’t have the latest hairdo Nor was he a hot shot King. He was a nobody. A nobody at the back side of the desert. He had nothing but he was the richest man in Israel because it was there and then that he fellowshipped with the LORD. That is what He coveted. 

Prioritise again the LORD’s presence. Doesn’t matter what people say, don’t worry about provision. Just prioritise His presence. When we have His presence we have every exceedingly good thing. 

Isaiah 53:10
The LORD was pleased to bruise Jesus. 

2 Sam 22:1

On the day David conquered the enemies, David sang 

V20- He delivered me because He delighted in me. 

Every good thing we have today is because the LORD delights (chaphets) in us. 

Why?

Isaiah 53:10 – yet it PLEASED (chaphets) the LORD to bruise Jesus. 

The only reason the LORD is delighted in us today is because He took delight in bruising His only Son. 

He knew that with every stroke and lash, when Jesus bore that stroke, your healing was purchased. Today if u are believing to be healed, by His strikes we are healed. He qualified us to received healing. It delighted Him to bruise His Son. Another stroke, Jesus paid of lack to be removed from your life. With each stroke, He overpaid for every curse. Jesus has paid for every blessing. Every stroke there is wisdom for us, shalom peace purchased for us, family restorations for us… 

Possess our possessions by knowing He delights in us. Not focusing on what’s happening but on Him. In His presence there is fullness of joy. Tell Him about the problems u are facing. Tell Hik about those Giants and He will put His strength in u and u will walk out and see the Giants fall. Amen.