Welcome to Faith Chapel, my name 00:00:31.82\00:00:34.12 is Pastor Rowland C. Nwosu, 00:00:34.15\00:00:36.18 the pastor of the All Nations African 00:00:36.21\00:00:38.27 Seventh-Day Adventist Church in San 00:00:38.30\00:00:40.24 Bernardino, California and also the 00:00:40.27\00:00:42.36 President of the Adventist Our 00:00:42.39\00:00:44.39 International Ministries in Loma 00:00:44.42\00:00:45.97 Linda, California. Our Post, Postmodern 00:00:46.00\00:00:51.91 world today is filled with issues, 00:00:51.94\00:00:54.95 ideologies and philosophies, 00:00:54.98\00:00:58.42 rationalism, relativism and other isms 00:00:58.45\00:01:02.72 that I called Faith Busters. 00:01:02.75\00:01:05.58 They challenge our faith and our 00:01:07.05\00:01:10.11 beliefs in Christ Jesus and the 00:01:10.14\00:01:14.66 practice of our faith in our society today. 00:01:14.69\00:01:17.55 So, today I want to share with you, 00:01:17.58\00:01:19.75 if you please about 12 foundational 00:01:19.78\00:01:23.07 suggestions as to how we can build 00:01:23.10\00:01:26.44 our faith in this situation, in this 00:01:26.47\00:01:29.12 society. Let us pray, Father, thank you 00:01:29.15\00:01:33.65 for the opportunity to hear your 00:01:33.68\00:01:35.80 word and to speak your word, help us 00:01:35.83\00:01:39.04 to be faithful in times when life and 00:01:39.07\00:01:43.87 ideas and thoughts and discussions 00:01:43.90\00:01:48.57 around us tend to challenge our faith, 00:01:48.60\00:01:51.09 help us dear Lord in the name 00:01:51.12\00:01:53.27 of Jesus we pray, amen. 00:01:53.30\00:01:56.22 Twelve foundational suggestions for 00:01:58.06\00:02:01.39 building up your faith in our 00:02:01.42\00:02:04.08 Modern Society, in today's world. 00:02:04.11\00:02:07.04 With the philosophies and ideas, ideologies 00:02:08.08\00:02:11.12 and rationalism of our times, 00:02:11.15\00:02:13.87 it becomes, becomes something 00:02:13.90\00:02:17.61 that challenges our faith when 00:02:17.64\00:02:19.53 on the right and on the left, 00:02:19.56\00:02:21.44 on the televisions we are faced 00:02:21.47\00:02:25.29 with ideas that make us feel 00:02:25.32\00:02:29.42 that our faith are wrong or what 00:02:29.45\00:02:32.43 we believe about God are wrong. 00:02:32.46\00:02:36.83 And I want to suggest you that 00:02:37.72\00:02:39.84 the first thing that I would encourage 00:02:39.87\00:02:45.42 us to do is to recognize, to remember. 00:02:45.45\00:02:47.93 To recognize that God loves us, 00:02:47.96\00:02:51.68 God loves me; God loves you more 00:02:51.71\00:02:55.67 than you love yourself. Let me explain, 00:02:55.70\00:02:58.41 you see, yes this body that I have maybe mine, 00:02:58.44\00:03:03.31 I may eat and nourish it and take care of it, 00:03:03.34\00:03:06.75 but God cares about me more than 00:03:06.78\00:03:11.66 I care about myself. He protects me 00:03:11.69\00:03:13.96 more than any armies in the world can protect. 00:03:13.99\00:03:16.93 He cares and loves me more than 00:03:16.96\00:03:19.40 my parents would ever love me. 00:03:19.43\00:03:20.99 He, He guides me, He heals me, 00:03:21.02\00:03:24.53 provides for me more than anybody 00:03:24.56\00:03:27.95 else can and would. So, if we recognize 00:03:27.98\00:03:31.89 that then our role will be one to cooperate 00:03:31.92\00:03:35.37 with Him, want to find out what God 00:03:35.40\00:03:38.64 is actually working out for us. 00:03:38.67\00:03:42.90 It is to plan out to, workout to, 00:03:42.93\00:03:46.57 find out God's will for us. 00:03:46.60\00:03:49.82 It is important that we believe. 00:03:51.37\00:03:53.82 We recognize that God loves us 00:03:53.85\00:03:57.53 more than we love ourselves. 00:03:57.56\00:03:59.17 The Bible says that God's promises 00:04:00.35\00:04:05.21 are true all the times. In Isaiah chapter 00:04:05.24\00:04:08.83 41 verse 10, and this one of my 00:04:08.86\00:04:11.04 favorite verses and many of you 00:04:11.07\00:04:13.08 watching, this maybe your favorite 00:04:13.11\00:04:14.89 verse also. It says, Isaiah chapter 4, 00:04:14.92\00:04:18.31 41 verse 10 it says, fear not, 00:04:18.34\00:04:20.99 for I am with you; be not dismayed, 00:04:21.97\00:04:26.37 for I am your God; I will strengthen you, 00:04:26.40\00:04:31.16 yes I will help you, I will uphold you 00:04:31.19\00:04:34.61 with my righteous right hand. 00:04:34.64\00:04:37.74 This is a text that has meant so 00:04:39.24\00:04:40.75 much to me, it lifts me up when 00:04:40.78\00:04:42.98 I am down, and when I feel that all 00:04:43.01\00:04:45.67 the world is collapsing against me, 00:04:45.70\00:04:47.61 this verse tells me, Rowland, 00:04:47.64\00:04:51.24 do not fear for the maker and the 00:04:51.27\00:04:54.32 creator of the universe is with you. 00:04:54.35\00:04:56.71 And if you turn to the page to Isaiah 00:04:56.74\00:04:59.31 43 verses 1 and 2 it says, But now, 00:04:59.34\00:05:06.21 Isaiah chapter 43 verses 1 and 2 00:05:07.69\00:05:10.19 it says, "But now, thus saith the Lord, 00:05:10.22\00:05:13.67 who created you O Jacob, 00:05:14.63\00:05:16.34 And He who formed you, O Israel: 00:05:17.65\00:05:20.21 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 00:05:20.24\00:05:23.65 I have called you by your name; 00:05:23.68\00:05:27.41 you are mine. When you pass 00:05:27.44\00:05:30.85 through the waters, I will be with you; 00:05:30.88\00:05:32.94 And through the rivers, they shall not 00:05:32.97\00:05:34.84 overflow you. When you walk 00:05:34.87\00:05:36.38 through the fire, you shall not be burned, 00:05:36.41\00:05:39.62 nor shall the flame scorch you." 00:05:39.65\00:05:43.11 This is a, this is a covenant promise, 00:05:45.66\00:05:47.92 this is a promise that was made to 00:05:47.95\00:05:49.48 Jacob on the basis that he accepted 00:05:49.51\00:05:52.03 God as his savior. And this promise 00:05:52.06\00:05:54.50 is also available to all those, 00:05:54.53\00:05:57.10 to anyone who accepts God 00:05:57.13\00:05:59.76 as his God, who accept Jesus Christ 00:05:59.79\00:06:03.66 as their personal savior. 00:06:03.69\00:06:04.98 This same promise, this covenant 00:06:05.01\00:06:07.26 promise is available to anyone and 00:06:07.29\00:06:10.82 you are watching. Have you accepted 00:06:12.78\00:06:16.82 Jesus Christ as your personal savior? 00:06:16.85\00:06:18.69 In your growth as a Christian person, 00:06:18.72\00:06:21.61 as one who believes the Lord, 00:06:21.64\00:06:23.12 do you accept this covenant relationship? 00:06:23.15\00:06:25.39 If you do this promise is for you. 00:06:25.42\00:06:27.83 Fear not, but believe that God loves 00:06:28.23\00:06:32.39 you more than you love yourself. 00:06:32.42\00:06:33.89 So, do not worry and nothing will happen 00:06:33.92\00:06:37.97 to you without God knowing it and 00:06:38.00\00:06:42.06 allowing it to happen. Suggestion number 00:06:42.09\00:06:44.57 two, if we must grow our faith and 00:06:44.60\00:06:47.20 build our trust, our faith in the Lord 00:06:47.23\00:06:49.39 we must, we cannot, we must recognize. 00:06:49.42\00:06:52.14 Number two, is that we must recognize 00:06:52.17\00:06:54.69 that we cannot do anything to 00:06:54.72\00:06:57.02 make God love us more than He has. 00:06:57.05\00:07:00.10 We cannot improve upon God's love for us. 00:07:00.13\00:07:04.69 You see, the Bible says that God loves us, 00:07:05.43\00:07:09.02 God loved us, even while we were 00:07:09.05\00:07:12.66 dirty, ugly, stinking and deeply 00:07:12.69\00:07:17.76 immersed in sin. Romans chapter 00:07:17.79\00:07:20.90 5 verses 6 through 8, Romans 5 verses 00:07:20.93\00:07:26.66 6 through 8. Now, we read the Bible 00:07:26.69\00:07:29.83 says, "For when we were still 00:07:29.86\00:07:32.44 without strength, in due time Christ 00:07:32.47\00:07:36.14 died for the ungodly. For scarcely 00:07:36.17\00:07:40.19 for a righteous man will one die: 00:07:40.22\00:07:42.25 yet perhaps for a good man someone 00:07:43.06\00:07:45.41 would even dare to die. But God 00:07:45.44\00:07:49.18 demonstrates His love toward us, 00:07:49.21\00:07:52.20 in that while we were yet sinners, 00:07:52.23\00:07:54.98 Christ died for us." Well, this is no 00:07:55.01\00:08:00.25 wonder why Jesus speaking to 00:08:00.28\00:08:03.22 Nicodemus that one night in 00:08:03.25\00:08:04.93 John chapter 3 verse 16, a text that 00:08:04.96\00:08:08.83 most of us, you will know that you 00:08:08.86\00:08:11.41 would know, yeah that some of us 00:08:11.44\00:08:13.51 have committed to memory John chapter 3 00:08:13.54\00:08:15.30 verse 16. The Bible says, 00:08:15.33\00:08:17.40 "For God so loved the world that 00:08:17.43\00:08:20.23 He gave His only begotten Son, 00:08:20.26\00:08:23.55 that whoever believes in Him will not 00:08:23.58\00:08:27.56 perish but have everlasting life." 00:08:27.59\00:08:32.05 So, my friends you see, you cannot 00:08:33.65\00:08:35.57 improve upon God's love, 00:08:35.60\00:08:36.96 accept that God loves you more 00:08:37.88\00:08:40.69 than He loves, more than you love yourself. 00:08:40.72\00:08:43.60 Believe that He will take care of you. 00:08:43.63\00:08:49.96 Suggestion number three, let us 00:08:49.99\00:08:52.93 humble ourselves before the Lord 00:08:52.96\00:08:55.25 and obey Him. Let us be humbled 00:08:55.28\00:08:59.22 and obedient. Suggestion number three, 00:08:59.77\00:09:02.02 you see the human race suffers 00:09:02.05\00:09:03.74 from what I call the peacock syndrome, 00:09:03.77\00:09:06.49 that is the condition where people 00:09:06.52\00:09:08.42 tend to inflate themselves much higher 00:09:08.45\00:09:11.67 and larger than they really are. 00:09:11.70\00:09:14.00 You see, we live in a world where 00:09:14.03\00:09:16.90 someone's status is determined 00:09:16.93\00:09:19.57 by the type of car they drive and 00:09:19.60\00:09:23.41 the kind of house they live in, 00:09:23.44\00:09:25.30 the, their big homes, fat big bank accounts, 00:09:25.33\00:09:29.69 their facts and fashions and their 00:09:29.72\00:09:32.33 positions and these have become signs 00:09:32.36\00:09:35.71 or symbols of status. 00:09:35.74\00:09:37.61 Everyone wants to get this things 00:09:39.84\00:09:41.29 and get ahead. And no one wants 00:09:41.32\00:09:43.93 to submit, no one, but few people 00:09:43.96\00:09:46.36 want to submit if you please. 00:09:46.39\00:09:48.19 May I suggest, be obedient and humble. 00:09:50.59\00:09:54.68 You see, God is no respecter of persons 00:09:54.71\00:09:58.05 and these things, these symbols of status 00:09:58.08\00:10:02.60 that we have on earth today cannot 00:10:02.63\00:10:05.64 get us where God wants us to be. 00:10:05.67\00:10:08.45 The Bible says that everyone is equal 00:10:10.03\00:10:12.69 before God. The Bible says that God 00:10:12.72\00:10:15.91 is no respecter of person. So, our 00:10:15.94\00:10:18.45 nationalities don't mean anything, 00:10:18.48\00:10:21.53 do not matter, our ethnic affiliations 00:10:21.56\00:10:25.00 do not matter, our degrees do not 00:10:25.03\00:10:27.54 matter, our bank accounts do not matter, 00:10:27.57\00:10:30.03 our wealth do not matter, our 00:10:30.06\00:10:32.58 professions do not matter. 00:10:32.61\00:10:34.57 In fact, let me be clear. 00:10:34.60\00:10:36.03 Your beauty does not matter also. 00:10:37.10\00:10:39.21 What matters is the content of the heart. 00:10:40.59\00:10:42.47 Let no man think of himself more 00:10:42.50\00:10:44.99 highly than he ought to think. 00:10:45.02\00:10:46.73 In fact, the Bible says, as followers of 00:10:46.76\00:10:48.75 Christ we admonish to have the 00:10:48.78\00:10:50.48 mind of Christ. In Philippines chapter 00:10:50.51\00:10:54.86 2 verses 5 through 8, the Bible makes 00:10:54.89\00:10:57.45 it clear that we ought to have the mind 00:10:57.48\00:11:00.05 of Christ, and he goes on to tell us 00:11:00.08\00:11:02.33 what the mind of Christ is. 00:11:02.36\00:11:03.67 Philippines chapter 2 verses 5 00:11:04.29\00:11:06.65 through 8 it says, "Let this mind be in you, 00:11:06.68\00:11:11.48 which was also in Christ Jesus, 00:11:11.51\00:11:13.66 who being in the form of God 00:11:13.69\00:11:15.91 did not consider it robbery to be 00:11:15.94\00:11:18.02 equal with God, but made Himself 00:11:18.05\00:11:20.69 of no reputation, taking the form 00:11:20.72\00:11:23.23 of a bondservant and coming in the 00:11:23.26\00:11:25.80 likeness of men. And being found in 00:11:25.83\00:11:28.36 appearance as a man, He humbled 00:11:28.39\00:11:31.24 Himself and became obedient to the 00:11:31.27\00:11:33.23 point of death, even the death of the cross." 00:11:33.26\00:11:37.22 You see, humility is not, is not 00:11:38.05\00:11:40.19 quietness, it's not soft speaking, 00:11:40.22\00:11:43.74 it's not positiveness on issues, 00:11:43.77\00:11:46.91 it's not trying to stand in middle. 00:11:46.94\00:11:48.37 Humility has to do with God, our 00:11:48.40\00:11:51.13 relationship with God that finds itself 00:11:51.16\00:11:53.75 filtered in the way we relate to one another. 00:11:53.78\00:11:56.17 You see, but humility is a divine gift, 00:11:57.34\00:11:59.59 You see grace in the mind and in the heart 00:12:00.27\00:12:03.04 of the believer which allows him or 00:12:03.07\00:12:05.94 her to think of Himself not so highly, 00:12:05.97\00:12:09.25 not, not, not higher than the other 00:12:09.28\00:12:13.26 creation of God. So, true humility than 00:12:13.29\00:12:16.91 requires us to feel that God, 00:12:16.94\00:12:19.24 that God and that in God's sight we are, 00:12:19.27\00:12:24.12 we have no merit on ourselves, by ourselves. 00:12:24.15\00:12:27.30 True humility requires us to honor 00:12:27.33\00:12:31.01 and prefer others to ourselves. 00:12:31.04\00:12:34.30 However, humility does not mean that 00:12:35.28\00:12:38.11 you should be somebody's doormat. 00:12:38.70\00:12:40.97 It does not require us to on duly self 00:12:41.00\00:12:45.97 depreciate ourselves, but rather 00:12:46.00\00:12:48.52 the loneliness of, of self estimation 00:12:48.55\00:12:52.72 and freedom from vanity. 00:12:53.06\00:12:54.47 If we must build our faith, if we must 00:12:57.63\00:13:01.35 build our faith and increase and grow 00:13:01.38\00:13:04.68 in our faith relationship with God, 00:13:04.71\00:13:06.58 my first, the fourth suggestion 00:13:07.07\00:13:09.62 I want to suggest was is that we 00:13:09.65\00:13:11.75 must accept the will of God. 00:13:11.78\00:13:14.22 Many of us including yours faithfully, 00:13:14.25\00:13:16.88 one of my problems have been to 00:13:16.91\00:13:20.20 accept God's will. You know, 00:13:21.59\00:13:23.55 I have this plan, I have my plans. 00:13:23.58\00:13:25.70 You have your plans; we want to work 00:13:26.92\00:13:28.95 our plans the way we want it, 00:13:28.98\00:13:30.74 but God has His plans. 00:13:30.77\00:13:33.82 And often times and in most, 00:13:33.85\00:13:36.19 in most times our plans are different 00:13:36.22\00:13:39.83 from God's plans. You see in Isaiah 00:13:39.86\00:13:44.33 chapter 55 verses 8 and 9, God reminds 00:13:44.36\00:13:51.06 us that, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 00:13:51.09\00:13:54.71 Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 00:13:55.30\00:13:58.16 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 00:13:58.19\00:14:01.79 So are My ways higher than your ways, 00:14:01.82\00:14:05.75 And My thoughts than your thoughts. 00:14:05.78\00:14:07.75 So, God says, God says, I know better, 00:14:08.47\00:14:13.82 just give me your will, give me your thoughts. 00:14:14.96\00:14:17.91 Let accept what I say, find out where 00:14:17.94\00:14:22.81 I'm going and then follow me. 00:14:22.84\00:14:24.31 You see, God says, His ways are not 00:14:24.34\00:14:28.14 my ways; His thoughts are not my 00:14:28.17\00:14:33.12 thoughts. I don't think the way God 00:14:33.15\00:14:34.73 thoughts; you don't think the way 00:14:34.76\00:14:36.03 God thinks. The only way we can 00:14:36.06\00:14:38.67 accept God's will, the only way we 00:14:38.70\00:14:40.60 can harmonize our will with God is 00:14:41.60\00:14:44.07 for us to be in constant conversation 00:14:44.12\00:14:47.74 with Him. So, that we can see, 00:14:47.77\00:14:51.05 we can feel, we can hear Him speak to us. 00:14:51.08\00:14:54.77 And when He speaks to us, 00:14:54.80\00:14:56.36 when we hear Him then what we want 00:14:56.39\00:14:59.17 to do will be in harmony with what His 00:14:59.20\00:15:01.78 plan is for us, it is never, it has never 00:15:01.81\00:15:06.29 worked out for anyone who wants to 00:15:06.32\00:15:08.22 kick against God's will. It certainly 00:15:08.25\00:15:10.98 did not work for Balaam. 00:15:11.01\00:15:13.09 Balaam tried it when he wanted to 00:15:13.12\00:15:15.59 curse God's people; he ended up blessing 00:15:15.62\00:15:18.00 God's people. Haman also tried to kick 00:15:18.03\00:15:26.64 against God's plan, God's people in, 00:15:26.67\00:15:29.42 in Persia, Haman also tried to kick 00:15:29.45\00:15:37.15 against God's plan for Mordecai and, 00:15:37.18\00:15:39.41 and the Hebrew people, but he ended 00:15:39.44\00:15:42.72 up being hanged by the same, 00:15:44.51\00:15:46.23 the same gallows that he had prepared 00:15:46.26\00:15:48.19 for God's people. Apostle Paul did not 00:15:48.22\00:15:52.74 succeed either, I see he tried to kick 00:15:52.77\00:15:56.67 against God's people and against God's plan. 00:15:56.70\00:15:59.90 Apostle Paul got converted doing so. 00:16:01.26\00:16:04.43 Alexander the Great did not succeed, 00:16:06.31\00:16:09.42 in fact he ended up as he fought against 00:16:10.00\00:16:13.07 the will of God. He exclaimed at the end 00:16:13.10\00:16:15.28 God is too much for me. You cannot 00:16:15.31\00:16:20.58 my friends, you cannot kick against God's will, 00:16:20.61\00:16:23.31 submit. I have learned through all 00:16:23.34\00:16:26.87 the years that God's will will happen, 00:16:26.90\00:16:31.89 it may take long, we may wrestle with it, 00:16:31.92\00:16:34.24 but God will be victorious at the end. 00:16:34.27\00:16:39.09 Suggestion number five, if we must grow 00:16:39.12\00:16:41.74 our faith relationship with God, 00:16:41.77\00:16:43.86 we must guard against, we must jealously, 00:16:43.89\00:16:47.06 we must guard jealously the avenues to our soul. 00:16:47.09\00:16:53.98 Guarding the pathway, the avenues, 00:16:54.01\00:16:57.20 the doors that lead into our soul, 00:16:57.23\00:16:59.32 what do I mean by that? We need 00:16:59.35\00:17:01.10 to protect things that get into our minds. 00:17:01.13\00:17:03.34 We need to secure and jealously guard 00:17:03.37\00:17:06.33 the pathways to our minds. 00:17:06.36\00:17:08.29 What do we feed our minds? 00:17:08.32\00:17:10.55 What we watch our minds. 00:17:10.58\00:17:12.87 Jesus Christ emphasized that the importance 00:17:12.90\00:17:15.38 of how what enters our mind because 00:17:15.41\00:17:17.61 it comes out. In Matthew chapter 12 verses 00:17:17.64\00:17:21.55 33 through 37, Matthew chapter 12 00:17:22.07\00:17:27.29 verses 33 through 37. It says, 00:17:27.32\00:17:30.59 "Either make the tree good, 00:17:30.62\00:17:33.18 and it's fruit good; or else make the tree 00:17:33.21\00:17:36.03 bad and it's fruit bad; for a tree is known 00:17:36.06\00:17:39.00 by the, by it's fruits. Brood of vipers! 00:17:39.03\00:17:42.56 How can you being evil speak good things? 00:17:43.94\00:17:46.44 For out of the abundance of the heart 00:17:46.47\00:17:48.74 the mouth speaks. A good man out of the 00:17:48.77\00:17:51.94 good treasure of his heart brings forth 00:17:51.97\00:17:54.69 good things, and an evil man out of the 00:17:54.72\00:17:56.77 evil treasure brings forth evil things." 00:17:56.80\00:18:00.73 Verse 36, "But I say to you that for 00:18:00.76\00:18:04.16 every idle word that men may speak, 00:18:04.19\00:18:07.49 they will give account of it in the Day 00:18:07.52\00:18:10.32 of Judgment. For by your words you 00:18:10.35\00:18:14.23 will be justified, and by your words 00:18:14.26\00:18:17.17 you will be condemned. Garbage in, 00:18:17.20\00:18:23.06 garbage out, what we feed our minds 00:18:24.32\00:18:27.86 somehow it will come out through our lips. 00:18:27.89\00:18:32.41 Let us guard jealously things that get 00:18:32.44\00:18:36.65 into our minds, either through what we see, 00:18:36.68\00:18:40.26 through what we read, through 00:18:40.29\00:18:41.92 what we touch, through what we hear, 00:18:41.95\00:18:43.62 through what we taste. Suggestion number six, 00:18:43.65\00:18:48.44 carefully tame your tongue, careful. 00:18:50.26\00:18:54.38 Let us carefully take, tame our tongue. 00:18:54.41\00:18:57.14 Let us refuse to be the devil's agent. 00:18:57.17\00:19:01.24 The one purpose of gossip is to destroy 00:19:02.59\00:19:06.02 God's image in us. And that is why 00:19:06.05\00:19:10.58 the devil uses it to tear people down. 00:19:10.61\00:19:13.41 Oh how many churches? How many 00:19:13.44\00:19:16.49 groups have ended up destroyed, 00:19:16.52\00:19:20.76 turn apart as a result of gossip between 00:19:20.79\00:19:25.08 people, between members, here say. 00:19:25.11\00:19:29.07 First Timothy chapter 5 verse 13, 00:19:31.01\00:19:34.36 Apostle Paul speaks to Timothy about, 00:19:34.39\00:19:37.47 about some saints trying to do this. 00:19:37.50\00:19:39.66 He says, And besides these people, 00:19:39.69\00:19:42.38 they learn to be idle, wandering from 00:19:42.41\00:19:46.75 house to house, and not only idle 00:19:46.78\00:19:49.91 but also gossips and busybodies, 00:19:49.94\00:19:52.21 saying things which they ought not say. 00:19:52.24\00:19:56.13 Question, question, when you say things, 00:19:59.32\00:20:03.41 do you know for sure that they are true? 00:20:05.25\00:20:06.87 Did you verify your source? Is it true? 00:20:09.06\00:20:13.56 Would it help? Would it hinder? 00:20:14.50\00:20:16.40 Would it destroy? Would you build up? 00:20:16.43\00:20:18.75 Those are questions, those are rule of 00:20:19.60\00:20:22.20 thumb questions that we can ask 00:20:22.23\00:20:25.05 ourselves before we repeat something, 00:20:25.08\00:20:27.90 if it is not going to build somebody up, 00:20:27.93\00:20:29.84 please don't repeat it. Suggestion number 00:20:31.33\00:20:39.40 seven, let us talk less and do more, 00:20:41.92\00:20:47.60 let us talk less and just do it. 00:20:47.63\00:20:50.92 Let us talk less us about praying more 00:20:52.14\00:20:54.54 and just do it. Let us talk less about 00:20:54.57\00:20:58.00 doing God's work and just do it. 00:20:58.03\00:20:59.88 Let us talk less about having more 00:20:59.91\00:21:02.30 devotions in the family and just do it. 00:21:02.33\00:21:05.28 Let us talk more, let us talk less about going 00:21:05.31\00:21:08.75 to church early and just do it. 00:21:08.78\00:21:11.24 Let us talk less about reading the Bible. 00:21:11.27\00:21:14.36 We want to read the Bible; we plan 00:21:14.39\00:21:15.80 to read a Bible. Let's just do it. 00:21:15.83\00:21:17.51 We talk too much, we talk so much. 00:21:19.31\00:21:21.50 Let's talk less now and do it. 00:21:21.53\00:21:24.87 There are so much plans, there are so much 00:21:25.82\00:21:27.67 things, so many things that we need to 00:21:27.70\00:21:30.04 talk less about and do the right things. 00:21:30.77\00:21:33.31 Let's talk less about other people and 00:21:33.34\00:21:36.10 talk more about Jesus, what do you say? 00:21:36.13\00:21:39.11 Suggestion number eight, let us practice 00:21:42.13\00:21:44.60 the agape love of Jesus, the self 00:21:44.63\00:21:47.06 sacrificing love of Jesus, that love that 00:21:47.09\00:21:49.60 cause Him to sacrifice His glory, 00:21:49.63\00:21:52.33 that love that that cause Him to give up 00:21:52.36\00:21:56.11 His glory and all the honor and adoration 00:21:56.14\00:22:00.59 and praises that He had. Let's have that 00:22:00.62\00:22:04.52 mind and have that love of Jesus and 00:22:04.55\00:22:08.75 that love when we accept because 00:22:08.78\00:22:12.69 God is love, we accept God, we accept 00:22:12.72\00:22:15.46 Jesus Christ then that love is filtered 00:22:15.49\00:22:19.16 into our hearts and our minds. 00:22:19.19\00:22:22.75 The Bible says in Matthew chapter 00:22:24.24\00:22:25.31 2 verse 12. Now, this is a very good 00:22:25.34\00:22:28.84 text that you know, it says Matthew chapter 00:22:28.87\00:22:31.46 7 verse 12, "Therefore, whatever 00:22:31.49\00:22:37.37 you want men to do to you, do also to them, 00:22:37.40\00:22:42.20 for this is the Law and the Prophets." 00:22:42.23\00:22:47.05 If you don't want someone to talk 00:22:51.30\00:22:53.11 about you, don't talk about them. 00:22:53.14\00:22:54.58 That's what that text tells me, 00:22:54.61\00:22:56.47 if you want somebody to attend 00:22:56.50\00:22:59.25 your function, attend somebody else's 00:22:59.28\00:23:01.44 function, if you want someone to say 00:23:01.47\00:23:03.69 hello to you. Please say hello to somebody, 00:23:03.72\00:23:05.71 if you want someone to be nice to you, 00:23:05.74\00:23:07.79 be nice to somebody. Let us be kind 00:23:07.82\00:23:14.35 and gracious to one another. 00:23:14.38\00:23:16.14 Help somebody, seek somebody out and help, 00:23:17.96\00:23:21.04 if you want someone to stop by your 00:23:21.07\00:23:23.11 house and say hello, stop at the neighbor's 00:23:23.14\00:23:25.28 house and say hello. First John chapter 00:23:25.31\00:23:29.52 4 verses 20 and 21. The Bible says, 00:23:29.55\00:23:34.16 "If someone says, I love God and hates 00:23:35.40\00:23:39.23 his brother, he is a liar; for he who 00:23:39.26\00:23:41.99 does not love his brother whom he 00:23:42.02\00:23:44.02 he has seen, how can he love God 00:23:44.05\00:23:46.00 whom he has not seen? And this 00:23:46.03\00:23:48.71 commandment we have from Him; 00:23:48.74\00:23:51.11 that he who loves God must love his 00:23:51.14\00:23:55.99 brother also." Suggestion number nine, 00:23:56.02\00:24:03.55 serve, let us use our gifts, talents and, 00:24:03.58\00:24:10.15 and the means that God has given 00:24:10.18\00:24:12.29 us our influences to serve His church 00:24:12.32\00:24:14.81 to the glory of God. God has given each member, 00:24:14.84\00:24:21.61 each one who believes in Him. 00:24:21.64\00:24:23.80 When we accept Jesus as a personal 00:24:23.83\00:24:25.78 savior and are baptized into the 00:24:25.81\00:24:28.94 kingdom of God, when we are baptized 00:24:28.97\00:24:30.67 in the church and I'm accepted into 00:24:30.70\00:24:31.98 the fellowship of the saints, 00:24:32.01\00:24:33.04 God gives us gifts. Each person sitting 00:24:33.07\00:24:38.16 onto pew has a gift that God has 00:24:38.19\00:24:41.15 given them for the identification of the 00:24:41.18\00:24:43.12 saints and for the building up of 00:24:43.15\00:24:44.77 His church. Let us find what our gifts 00:24:44.80\00:24:47.98 are and use them to the glory of God. 00:24:48.01\00:24:50.56 In First Corinthians chapter 12 verses 00:24:50.59\00:24:54.20 4 through 11, First Corinthians chapter 00:24:54.23\00:24:57.85 12 verses 4 through 11 it says, 00:24:57.88\00:25:00.26 "There are diversities of gifts, 00:25:00.29\00:25:03.49 but the same Spirit. There are 00:25:03.52\00:25:05.85 differences of ministries, but the 00:25:05.88\00:25:07.44 same Lord. And there are diversities 00:25:07.47\00:25:09.91 of activities, but it is the same God 00:25:09.94\00:25:13.85 who works all in all. But the 00:25:13.88\00:25:16.60 manifestation of the Spirit is given 00:25:16.63\00:25:18.59 to each of the, each, for each one, 00:25:18.62\00:25:21.57 for the profit of all. For to one is given 00:25:21.60\00:25:25.99 the word of wisdom through the Spirit, 00:25:26.02\00:25:28.26 to another the word of knowledge 00:25:28.29\00:25:30.44 through the same spirit. To another, 00:25:30.47\00:25:33.26 to another faith by the same Spirit; 00:25:33.29\00:25:35.56 to another the gifts of healing by the 00:25:35.59\00:25:37.83 same spirit. To another the working of miracles; 00:25:37.86\00:25:40.74 to another prophecy; to another discerning 00:25:40.77\00:25:44.42 of spirits; to another different kinds 00:25:44.45\00:25:46.52 of tongues; or to another the 00:25:46.55\00:25:48.92 interpretation of tongues." 00:25:48.95\00:25:50.28 Verse 11 says that, "But one and 00:25:50.31\00:25:53.87 the same spirit works all these things, 00:25:53.90\00:25:57.87 distributing to each one individually as He wills. 00:25:57.90\00:26:01.91 Suggestions number ten, make God first 00:26:04.01\00:26:06.83 and exercise your faith. You see, 00:26:06.86\00:26:09.23 faith is like the muscle it will not be 00:26:09.26\00:26:12.07 strong without exercise. Everyone knows 00:26:12.10\00:26:14.66 the value of exercise, so without 00:26:14.69\00:26:17.28 exercise the muscle suffer from atrophy. 00:26:17.31\00:26:20.62 Faith is exercised on development, 00:26:20.65\00:26:23.90 it is encountered with some difficulty. 00:26:23.93\00:26:26.15 So, exercise your faith, when it's 00:26:27.27\00:26:30.56 confronted when you don't have, 00:26:30.59\00:26:32.19 when you need to return your turn, 00:26:32.22\00:26:34.43 when you have to give God's your, 00:26:34.46\00:26:35.73 your gift or your money and you don't 00:26:35.76\00:26:37.92 have enough the, the faith is exercised. 00:26:37.95\00:26:41.91 Obey God and then watch Him work for you. 00:26:41.94\00:26:46.42 Suggestion number eleven, let us study 00:26:46.45\00:26:50.09 the Bible more and pray more in the same 00:26:50.12\00:26:52.94 way we eat and drink. You see, 00:26:52.97\00:26:55.45 we'll have food, food is our food sustains 00:26:56.33\00:27:01.81 us physically. So, what the food, 00:27:01.84\00:27:04.32 our physical food is to our physical body 00:27:04.35\00:27:07.49 is what the word of God is to our 00:27:07.52\00:27:10.06 spiritual self. Let us study the word 00:27:10.09\00:27:12.13 of God as much as we eat. 00:27:12.16\00:27:15.42 The last point is, focus on Jesus. 00:27:16.43\00:27:20.07 Jesus is our example, He is the author, 00:27:20.10\00:27:24.68 He is the one who started our faith, 00:27:24.71\00:27:26.69 He is the one who will carry us through, 00:27:26.72\00:27:28.79 He is faithful and just, He is the finisher 00:27:28.82\00:27:33.36 and the, the author and the finisher of our faith. 00:27:33.39\00:27:36.13 Focus on him, do not focus on someone else, 00:27:36.16\00:27:39.68 do not focus on the leaders of the church, 00:27:39.71\00:27:41.78 do not focus on your parents, but make 00:27:41.81\00:27:44.24 Jesus your focus for He Himself is our guide, 00:27:44.27\00:27:47.95 He Himself is our protector, He is, He 00:27:47.98\00:27:51.16 Himself is the one who is the author 00:27:51.19\00:27:54.26 of our faith and the builder of our faith. 00:27:54.29\00:27:57.29