¤¤ ¤¤
00:00:00.43\00:00:14.34
¤¤ >> Welcome, and thank you
00:00:14.34\00:00:22.08
for joining us on
"It Is Written Canada."
00:00:22.08\00:00:24.45
It was a glorious
morning. The rays were shining
00:00:24.45\00:00:27.96
into our SUV, and
my daughter and I were
00:00:27.96\00:00:30.09
on our way to an appointment.
00:00:30.09\00:00:31.53
I was driving her, and we were
just chatting away. And it was
00:00:31.56\00:00:36.83
all too soon. We got her to her
appointment. And she had to get
out of the vehicle.
00:00:36.83\00:00:40.64
And as I let her out of the
vehicle, I just felt so lonely.
I don't know what it is,
00:00:40.64\00:00:47.24
but I just hate being alone. And
so I just wanted to get rid of
00:00:47.24\00:00:53.21
the silence. And so I went to
reach for the radio to turn it
on, and I was like, "Ah.
00:00:53.21\00:00:58.19
I can't be tempted to do that.
I'm going to do something else.
I'm going to pray."
00:00:58.19\00:01:01.96
So I decided I was going to
pray out loud. And so I started
00:01:01.96\00:01:06.09
praying out loud to the Lord,
and there I was driving down the
freeway, just looked like
00:01:06.09\00:01:09.60
I was talking to myself,
probably, to other people. And I
was praying to God.
00:01:09.60\00:01:14.77
But as I was listening to
myself, I started to realize
00:01:14.77\00:01:18.94
there was something different.
When I was talking to my
daughter, I had no problem
00:01:18.94\00:01:22.84
with my communication, but
talking to God, it sounded more
00:01:22.84\00:01:27.58
like a to-do list. And as I was
going through my to-do list with
the Lord, I just stopped, and I
00:01:27.58\00:01:33.15
said, "God, what's wrong with
me? How come I can't talk to You
like I talk to my daughter,
00:01:33.15\00:01:39.26
like I talk to my wife, like I
talk to my friends?" And I just
00:01:39.26\00:01:45.43
had a very, very distinct
thought in my head -- "It's
because you have a problem with
00:01:45.43\00:01:51.57
friendship." And I was like,
"Lord, what do You mean I have a
problem with friendship?"
00:01:51.57\00:01:54.68
And it wasn't a
condemning voice. It was more
00:01:54.68\00:01:56.95
of an inviting voice. So I said,
"Lord, show me. Show me how to
00:01:56.95\00:02:02.02
open up. What's wrong?" And the
Lord just gave me this
impression that it's
00:02:02.02\00:02:06.82
because I have been hurt by
other people, that I have -- I
keep people at arm's length,
00:02:06.82\00:02:11.79
and that I was keeping God
at arm's length. And so I said,
00:02:11.79\00:02:15.30
"Lord, I don't want to do that
anymore. Show me how to open up
to You." And He said,
00:02:15.30\00:02:19.37
"You're doing it right now. Now
you're opening up to me." And so
I started to just talk
00:02:19.37\00:02:23.44
to God and share with Him. And
it was so exciting because after
00:02:23.44\00:02:29.58
that I wanted to go home and
read my Bible. I wanted to talk
to God further. I wanted to
00:02:29.58\00:02:35.82
spend time alone with Him and
really open up my heart to Him.
And so we've been talking
00:02:35.82\00:02:40.49
to Gem Castor, and he's here
with us again. And he's been
00:02:40.49\00:02:44.69
talking to us about prayer and
how prayer is a relationship.
It's like the breath
00:02:44.69\00:02:50.27
of the soul. >> That's right,
Michael. It's like a two-way
00:02:50.27\00:02:54.57
conversation, like a dialogue.
As talking to God and Him
talking to us through His Word.
00:02:54.57\00:03:01.88
>> Amen. >> It's not a
monologue, and so many times we
00:03:01.88\00:03:05.95
do it like that, like Mike was
saying with the to-do list, or
we pray when there's
00:03:05.95\00:03:11.49
an emergency or we urgently
need Him. But that's not
00:03:11.49\00:03:15.96
what prayer is about. Prayer
is about having that friendship
00:03:15.96\00:03:19.46
and that relationship with God.
So, Gem, why don't you tell us
about your prayer-room
00:03:19.46\00:03:25.37
experience? >> So, like what
you've said, that's how I prayed
00:03:25.37\00:03:29.84
before. I gave God not just my
to-do -- my shopping list and my
00:03:29.84\00:03:33.41
laundry list. [ Laughter ]
00:03:33.41\00:03:34.78
All the time that we are having
a good time, a blessed time,
00:03:34.81\00:03:39.55
we forget about Him. But
when it's a difficult time,
00:03:39.55\00:03:42.98
we remember Him.
00:03:42.98\00:03:45.05
But for me, it happened quite
an unusual way because in my
00:03:45.09\00:03:50.83
downtime, in my depressing time,
I kind of shut God off. So, I
was -- I turned away
00:03:50.83\00:03:56.83
from God. I even pointed my
finger to God. I said to Him,
00:03:56.83\00:04:01.07
"Is this what You do with people
who give their heart to you?" So
00:04:01.07\00:04:07.08
I kind of have a cooling-off
moment with God until one person
somehow invited me to attend
00:04:07.08\00:04:13.85
this faith camp. And my friend
from Jesus for Asia is the one
who's organizing this.
00:04:13.85\00:04:19.72
And this person, who is a very
nice lady, asked me to read out
in the prayer room.
00:04:19.72\00:04:24.83
And I'm thinking, "I don't want
to be in the prayer room right
00:04:24.83\00:04:27.96
now. I don't even want to
talk to God." And then she gave
00:04:27.96\00:04:31.53
testimony of how people were
moved by hearing the testimony
in the prayer room.
00:04:31.53\00:04:35.64
Instead of spending only 5
minutes, they spent 3 hours. And
then there's another girl
00:04:35.64\00:04:40.18
who's 16 years old who spent 8
hours in the prayer room. I'm
thinking, "This is horror
00:04:40.18\00:04:44.61
for me. And I don't want to
be in the prayer room for, like,
00:04:44.61\00:04:49.02
even an hour, even 30 minutes,"
because, before, my prayer life
was just like 5 minutes
00:04:49.02\00:04:55.22
for the whole day, total. The
moment I got up, the moment I
00:04:55.22\00:05:00.70
eat my breakfast, lunch and
dinner, and the moment I sleep,
that's 5 minutes total. And for
00:05:00.70\00:05:08.17
me, to be in the prayer room was
like a torture. But one thing
00:05:08.17\00:05:14.24
happened. While I was there,
kneeling down with my niece and
that lady and me --
00:05:14.24\00:05:19.25
And I praised God that there's
just the three of us. The moment
00:05:19.25\00:05:23.95
I began praying -- And I did not
even want to pray. I was just
praying for the sake of praying.
00:05:23.95\00:05:28.62
And we have a very short --
what's this? -- conversational
prayer, like one-sentence
00:05:28.62\00:05:36.87
or two-sentence prayer. It's not
a long prayer. It's not a long
00:05:36.87\00:05:40.37
list of prayer. And we started
out with praise, thanking God or
praising God for what He has
00:05:40.37\00:05:45.31
done. And I did not realize, the
moment I prayed a second prayer,
00:05:45.31\00:05:48.71
that I have not really
acknowledged Him in my life. I
did not really thanked Him
00:05:48.71\00:05:54.02
in my life. All the things
that I'm giving him are just
00:05:54.02\00:05:57.65
problems, but I've never
acknowledge Him. The first two
prayers that I prayed broke my
00:05:57.65\00:06:04.43
heart. I was sobbing. I was
sobbing like a little child.
00:06:04.43\00:06:09.16
And then I realized, "Wow. I
have built that wall between me
00:06:09.16\00:06:14.00
and God." And I thought right
now that all of us have built
this wall, and I think all of us
00:06:14.00\00:06:22.51
need this. And the Holy Spirit
could not work in our hearts if
we still have these walls.
00:06:22.51\00:06:27.65
So after that experience,
I could not wait. I went one
00:06:27.65\00:06:33.32
person to another. I mean, you
know me. I'm not a shy person.
I'm quite shameless.
00:06:33.32\00:06:38.99
So I went from one person to
another, and I asked them, "Hey,
00:06:38.99\00:06:42.13
have you been to the prayer
room? Have you been to the
00:06:42.13\00:06:44.77
prayer room?" And I did not want
my experience to be, like,
exclusive to mine. I want them
00:06:44.77\00:06:50.47
to experience, and this is one
thing with God. The moment we
taste Him... >> Yeah.
00:06:50.47\00:06:54.81
>> ...the moment we experience
how good He is... >> Yeah.
00:06:54.81\00:06:56.91
>> ...we cannot keep
it to ourself. >> Yeah.
00:06:56.91\00:06:58.75
I always think of it as a
restaurant. You go to a good
00:06:58.75\00:07:02.18
restaurant, and you eat the
food, and you say, "Hey, I have
no problem sharing that with
00:07:02.18\00:07:06.32
someone else." I can easily tell
them, "Hey, this was a great
place. Go and eat right over
00:07:06.32\00:07:10.96
there." And so now you're
sharing because you have tasted
and seen, as the Bible said,
00:07:10.96\00:07:15.60
that the Lord is good. And
now you're saying, "Hey, go over
00:07:15.60\00:07:19.03
there. Eat a good meal." Right?
Yeah. >> And it's not a duty.
00:07:19.03\00:07:22.54
>> No. >> It's a
privilege. >> It's a privilege.
00:07:22.54\00:07:24.51
>> It's something that you're
excited for because you've
00:07:24.51\00:07:27.68
experienced something that's
delicious. I don't know if it's
just a Filipino thing.
00:07:27.68\00:07:31.28
It should be our thing. Like,
the moment you taste something,
00:07:31.28\00:07:35.58
you cannot keep it to yourself.
>> Of course. >> And this is the
00:07:35.58\00:07:37.82
reason why this is the
thing that fires me up, that
00:07:37.82\00:07:41.32
encourages me, that inspires me
to do this prayer ministry
because I know the Lord did not
00:07:41.32\00:07:47.23
just heal me. The Lord restored
me. >> Yeah. >> The Lord somehow
00:07:47.23\00:07:50.70
inspired me. The Lord somehow
put me back together again... >>
00:07:50.70\00:07:54.27
Yeah. >> ...in His presence. And
that's why, right now,
everywhere I go, I'm just
00:07:54.27\00:07:58.57
so excited to share to people.
>> Yes. >> And seeing people see
00:07:58.57\00:08:02.84
it, it's just mind-blowing.
It gives you that desire to seek
00:08:02.84\00:08:07.92
more of Jesus. >> Yes. >>
And now I could see it in places
00:08:07.92\00:08:11.12
where I go, in Australia, in
Malaysia, in Indonesia, in
India. At GYC, a generation of
00:08:11.12\00:08:19.29
-- Just imagine young people,
young people at the age of,
like, 15 or even 14 or even
00:08:19.29\00:08:24.40
younger than that, to even
adults coming together, praying
together at 6:00 a.m., more than
00:08:24.40\00:08:30.51
1,000 people gathering together.
And some people will tell me,
00:08:30.51\00:08:35.81
"Brother Gem, I only signed up
for this just for the prayer
room." Just imagine that.
00:08:35.81\00:08:39.88
>> Wow. Yeah. >> Seeing
the joy in their faces, like,
00:08:39.88\00:08:43.35
every prayer session, every day.
And we even have, like, an all--
not an all-night prayer,
00:08:43.35\00:08:49.59
but a midnight prayer this last
GYC starting from 10:30 to 12:30
00:08:49.59\00:08:56.80
in the morning. >> Wow. >>
And we ended not 12:30. We ended
00:08:56.80\00:09:00.67
like 10 minutes before 1:00. And
when I ended, the young people
00:09:00.67\00:09:04.61
were telling me, "Why did you
have to end it?" And there's one
person who I met, like, a week
00:09:04.61\00:09:09.74
after, like two weeks after, he
said, "Gem, I'm sorry, but I
hated you during that time when
00:09:09.74\00:09:14.48
you ended the prayer room
experience." I said, "Why?" He
said, "Because that
00:09:14.48\00:09:17.99
was the most amazing, powerful
experience I've had, and you
00:09:17.99\00:09:21.96
have to end it." >> Wow. >> And
I told that person, "I have to
lead another prayer
00:09:21.96\00:09:24.93
session at 5:45 in the morning."
>> Yes. >> Seeing this just
00:09:24.93\00:09:29.83
brings so much joy in your
heart. >> Mm-hmm. >> And back
00:09:29.83\00:09:33.47
home, Philippines, they start at
5:00 in the morning, 5:00 in the
morning, coming together,
00:09:33.47\00:09:38.91
600-plus young people coming
together and praying together.
And one person asked me,
00:09:38.91\00:09:43.51
"So, Gem, why do you have to do
it every day? Why do you have to
00:09:43.51\00:09:47.68
do it every day? Isn't that
enough that you have prayed and
00:09:47.68\00:09:52.35
the Lord has heard and answered
your prayer?" And then this
beautiful thought came to me,
00:09:52.35\00:09:56.69
and there's this beautiful quote
that says, "Prayer is the breath
00:09:56.69\00:10:00.56
of the soul." >> Yes.
>> It's like air. >> Yeah.
00:10:00.56\00:10:02.83
>> It did not say, "Prayer
is the bread of the soul." You
00:10:02.83\00:10:06.94
could live, like, how many weeks
or even a month without eating?
00:10:06.94\00:10:11.04
>> Yeah. >> You could live
without water for how many
weeks? But you could not live
00:10:11.04\00:10:15.44
without air... >>
Yeah. >> ...for just minutes.
00:10:15.44\00:10:18.35
>> Yes. Yes. >> And then I
remember, if we live by faith,
00:10:18.35\00:10:21.92
it's like living by prayer,
living by air. >> Yes. You have
00:10:21.92\00:10:26.82
to do -- >> And the breath that
you breathe yesterday will not
be useful for the air
00:10:26.82\00:10:32.96
that you breathe
today. >> No. >> Yeah. Yeah.
00:10:32.96\00:10:36.26
>> Every day, we have to get a
new baptism of the Holy Spirit,
be filled by the Holy Spirit,
00:10:36.26\00:10:42.97
like a fresh breath
every single morning. >> Yes.
00:10:42.97\00:10:48.08
>> Amen. >> We're going
to take a little break now.
00:10:48.08\00:10:50.18
We're going to talk further
about this topic after this.
00:10:50.18\00:10:56.52
[ "Satisfied" plays ] ¤¤
00:10:56.55\00:11:06.66
¤¤ >> ¤ All my life long,
I have panted for a drink ¤
00:11:06.70\00:11:19.17
¤ From some clear spring ¤ That
I hoped would quench the burning
00:11:19.17\00:11:29.48
of this thirst ¤ ¤ I felt within
>> ¤ Hallelujah ¤ I have found
00:11:29.48\00:11:38.39
him ¤ Who my soul so long has
craved ¤ ¤ Jesus satisfies my
00:11:38.39\00:11:49.00
longings ¤ Through His blood, I
now am saved ¤ ¤ Feeding on the
00:11:49.00\00:12:00.55
husks around me ¤ ¤ Till
my strength was almost gone ¤
00:12:00.55\00:12:07.89
¤ Longed my soul for something
better ¤ ¤ Only still to hunger
00:12:07.89\00:12:19.23
on ¤ Hallelujah ¤ I have found
Him ¤ Who my soul so long has
00:12:19.23\00:12:28.28
craved ¤ ¤ Jesus satisfies
my longings ¤ Through His blood,
00:12:28.28\00:12:37.12
I now am saved ¤ [
Instrumental break ] ¤¤
00:12:37.12\00:12:57.44
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:12:57.44\00:13:25.63
¤¤ >> ¤ Well of
water ¤ Ever springing
00:13:25.63\00:13:41.65
¤ Bread of life, so rich
and free ¤ ¤ Untold wealth that
00:13:41.65\00:13:52.96
never faileth ¤ ¤ My redeemer
is to me >> ¤ Oh, hallelujah
00:13:52.96\00:14:05.51
¤ I have found Him ¤ Who
my soul so long has craved ¤
00:14:05.51\00:14:15.25
¤ Jesus satisfies my longings
¤ Through His blood, I now am
00:14:15.25\00:14:29.10
saved ¤ ¤ Through His
blood, I now am saved ¤
00:14:29.10\00:14:36.34
¤ Through His
blood, I now am saved ¤
00:14:36.37\00:14:46.48
>> "Satisfied" was the name
of that song. Jesus satisfies my
00:14:51.25\00:14:56.73
longings. Through His life,
I now am saved. So, Gem, you've
00:14:56.73\00:15:01.56
been talking about how God has
been there for you and how he
00:15:01.56\00:15:07.70
has satisfied your longings for
food, for travels, for enjoyment
through sharing the message
00:15:07.70\00:15:14.71
with people around the world.
And you're sharing it right now
00:15:14.71\00:15:18.31
with us, and I thank you for
that. But God hasn't only taken
care of your needs.
00:15:18.31\00:15:23.25
He has also used you to take
care of the needs of others. So,
you want to talk about that?
00:15:23.25\00:15:29.09
>> Well, God has been so good.
Like, seeing what the Lord is
doing in our lives --
00:15:29.09\00:15:33.70
>> Yeah. >> Although I was
thinking before the missionary
00:15:33.70\00:15:38.00
work, like, "How am I gonna
survive?" And then the Lord is
somehow taking me out of that
00:15:38.00\00:15:46.61
thought, that he's not just
capable of providing for you. >>
00:15:46.61\00:15:50.68
Yes. >> There's a lot of things
more that you can do with God.
00:15:50.68\00:15:53.78
>> Mm-hmm. >> The Lord is
expanding our thoughts, that the
more we focus on ourselves,
00:15:53.78\00:15:57.52
the sadder we get. >>
Ah. >> It's -- We were born,
00:15:57.52\00:16:02.32
we were made, we were
created to share... >> Yeah.
00:16:02.32\00:16:05.19
>> ...to share what the Lord has
given in our lives. And I
believe that beautiful
00:16:05.19\00:16:10.23
quote or that verse that says,
"The more you give, the more
00:16:10.23\00:16:13.23
you'll receive"... >> Yes. >>
...which is so true because the
principle of heaven is give,
00:16:13.23\00:16:16.74
give, give. >> Give,
yeah. So, you live to give.
00:16:16.74\00:16:19.81
>> You live to give. >> And
by giving, you're living. Yeah.
00:16:19.81\00:16:22.54
Truly living. >> Yeah, and
that's the only way to live...
00:16:22.54\00:16:25.28
>> Yeah. >> ...by following what
heaven has been asking us to do.
00:16:25.28\00:16:28.32
>> Yes. >> So, seeing what is
happening in the Philippines --
There is this group.
00:16:28.32\00:16:32.69
It's like the GYC... >> Mm-hmm.
>> ...the Generation of Youth
00:16:32.69\00:16:35.36
for Christ, but in the
Philippines it's called the
Philippine Youth for Christ.
00:16:35.36\00:16:38.39
>> Okay. >> And back in the
Philippines, it's even quite
00:16:38.39\00:16:42.63
challenging because, you know,
Philippines is a third-world
country, so not much young
00:16:42.63\00:16:48.97
people could afford to go to
conferences like this,
especially if you're --
00:16:48.97\00:16:54.44
like, registration fee is not
the usual thing that they could
00:16:54.44\00:16:59.35
afford. You've been to the
Philippines. >> Yes. It's very
expensive. I mean, for them.
00:16:59.35\00:17:04.89
>> For them, it's expensive. >>
I mean, the average professional
00:17:04.89\00:17:07.66
person over there is making like
$300 a month. >> Mm-hmm. >>
Right? That's not very much.
00:17:07.66\00:17:11.73
You can't really go to a
conference on that. And then if
00:17:11.73\00:17:15.86
you're not earning a
professional salary, then you
really can't afford anything. >>
00:17:15.86\00:17:20.20
But these young people are
wanting to go. >> Yes. >> Like,
00:17:20.20\00:17:23.10
the regular registration fee for
youth conferences, even if it's
00:17:23.10\00:17:26.74
like $3, that's too much. And
our conference fee is $35. >>
00:17:26.74\00:17:33.15
Wow. Okay. >> That's... >>
That's over their head. >>
...over their head.
00:17:33.15\00:17:35.92
>> Yeah. >> And seeing how
these young people sacrifice.
00:17:35.92\00:17:39.32
>> Yes. >> They will go do extra
jobs, like, even do caroling or
00:17:39.32\00:17:45.23
serenading -- you were in the
Philippines -- serenading just
to earn extra for them to go.
00:17:45.23\00:17:50.20
They will gather up empty water
bottle, plastic stuff. They'll
00:17:50.20\00:17:57.74
go to -- waste and gather scrap
metals... >> Yes. >> ...just to
00:17:57.74\00:18:05.05
be in the conference. And some
of them do not even have, like,
a round-trip ticket.
00:18:05.05\00:18:10.19
The only have one-way ticket,
and they go there... >> Wow.
00:18:10.19\00:18:13.32
>> ...hoping that the Lord
will provide. And the Lord just
00:18:13.32\00:18:16.39
honors the faith of these young
people. And seeing this
dedication, your heart is moved.
00:18:16.39\00:18:22.33
And I bet that God's
heart is moved as well. >> Yes.
00:18:22.33\00:18:26.74
>> I know for a fact that the
moment we put in such effort to
00:18:26.74\00:18:31.07
know the Lord, to give our all
to the Lord, the Lord is moved
by it. And the Lord is blessing
00:18:31.07\00:18:35.24
them. >> Yes. >> Like,
testimony after testimony.
00:18:35.24\00:18:37.95
Like, young people will tell me,
"Guro Gem, do you know that I
came here with nothing?
00:18:37.95\00:18:44.72
And the Lord now has provided a
fare for me going back home." >>
00:18:44.72\00:18:49.72
Wow. >> Wow. Yeah. >> And seeing
my experiences being duplicated
00:18:49.72\00:18:54.20
in the lives of these young
people. And now I could see that
God, who provided for this
00:18:54.20\00:18:59.70
little missionary, is capable
of providing for the whole young
00:18:59.70\00:19:03.67
people, for everyone. >>
Yes. >> And God has been doing
00:19:03.67\00:19:07.08
a lot of powerful things through
this youth conference. And
imagine -- coming up with
00:19:07.08\00:19:15.05
funding for this youth
conference is not easy for
00:19:15.05\00:19:20.82
Filipinos. And we've been trying
to do it our way... >> Mm-hmm.
00:19:20.82\00:19:26.13
>> ...the other person's
way or man's way, and we've been
00:19:26.13\00:19:31.93
stressed out. Three years in a
row, we've been stressed out.
And it's funny because every
00:19:31.93\00:19:35.10
time we do conference like this,
our VP for finance will not be
00:19:35.10\00:19:41.48
able to smile for the next 2
months. [ Laughter ] I'll tell
her, "You know what?
00:19:41.48\00:19:46.51
God will take care of this." And
one time he told me, "You're
always saying that God
00:19:46.51\00:19:50.82
will take care, but I'm the one
who's facing all the problems."
00:19:50.82\00:19:55.19
[ Laughter ] >> Because you
were in a deficit. Like, you --
00:19:55.19\00:19:59.43
because of -- >> We were -- It
will take us like 2 months to
pay off after the event is done.
00:19:59.43\00:20:04.77
And then three conferences
ago, we were up to here. I'm
00:20:04.77\00:20:11.47
thinking, "What shall we do?" So
we gathered together. What's the
00:20:11.47\00:20:14.51
best thing that you can do when
you don't know what to do? Kneel
00:20:14.51\00:20:17.78
down and pray. >> Yeah. >>
And coming together and praying
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.78
together really brings so much
peace and so much blessing.
There's this beautiful quote
00:20:20.78\00:20:25.72
that says, "The power given will
be proportionate to the unity of
00:20:25.72\00:20:29.89
the members and their love for
God and their love for one
another." And the Lord somehow
00:20:29.89\00:20:34.00
taught us, "Then follow my
instruction." And we sought the
Lord's leading us, the Lord's
00:20:34.00\00:20:41.44
guidance, and the Lord had us
sacrifice our own little amount
of money. I'm thinking, "Lord,
00:20:41.44\00:20:47.84
even if You squeeze us dry, we
could not even pay one-tenth of
this whole conference fee."
00:20:47.84\00:20:52.85
And you know what the Lord did?
The Lord blessed the little
sacrifices, the little surrender
00:20:52.85\00:20:57.32
that we had. It's like five
loaves of bread and two fish.
00:20:57.32\00:21:00.92
But the first conference that we
relied on God, absolute reliance
00:21:00.92\00:21:06.33
on God, we were able to pay the
whole amount of the conference a
00:21:06.33\00:21:10.80
week before. >> Wow. >> Wow.
>> And before, it was two or
00:21:10.80\00:21:13.20
three months after.
>> Two months. >> Yeah.
00:21:13.20\00:21:15.00
>> That you were still paying,
yeah. >> By the way, we moved
00:21:15.00\00:21:18.04
to a location away from Manila,
and this will cost us like 3, 5
times, or 10 times more.
00:21:18.04\00:21:23.48
>> Okay. >> But this time we
were able to pay a week before.
00:21:23.48\00:21:27.88
The next year, it was even
more expensive because the young
00:21:27.88\00:21:31.95
people requested, "Can we start
Monday, not Wednesday?" So when
you have longer days,
00:21:31.95\00:21:36.02
the accommodation and all will
be more expensive. And we pay
00:21:36.02\00:21:41.10
our main venue $100 per hour.
For us, for Philippines -- Here,
it's not expensive.
00:21:41.10\00:21:46.37
Back home, it is expensive.
It is a total of, like, $30,000
00:21:46.37\00:21:51.31
event. >> That's a lot. >>
Whoa. >> That's a lot for us,
00:21:51.31\00:21:53.51
and we're not soliciting. We're
not asking for donation because
the Lord compelled us --
00:21:53.51\00:21:57.95
"I can provide" -- so that next
year -- My knees were shaking.
00:21:57.95\00:22:02.35
I'm thinking, "Lord, this is
more expensive compared to last
year." But guess what the Lord
00:22:02.35\00:22:07.62
did. The Lord had us the amount
that's needed 3 months before.
00:22:07.62\00:22:15.00
>> Wow. Yeah. >> Three months
before. And this year was the
most interesting because last
00:22:15.00\00:22:19.90
year I was afraid, been
thinking, "Lord, we don't seem
to need You because You already
00:22:19.90\00:22:24.34
provided the amount 3 months
before the event," and the Lord
00:22:24.34\00:22:27.84
gave us a new challenge this
year. We were short. We were
00:22:27.84\00:22:34.82
short $4,000 before the event.
We prayed and prayed and asked,
"Lord, this your work."
00:22:34.82\00:22:39.89
>> Mm-hmm. >> "You have to
do this." And you know what?
00:22:39.89\00:22:42.59
Our monies began to multiply
in the envelope. >> Wow.
00:22:42.59\00:22:47.30
>> Like, $40,000 became $75,000.
And we could not understand
where it's coming from.
00:22:47.30\00:22:51.83
And there is so much needs that
we would -- And I'm thinking,
00:22:51.83\00:22:55.74
"Lord, how are we going to
do this?" And the Lord kept on
00:22:55.74\00:22:58.24
reminding us, "Absolute
reliance. Take my word for it."
And we kept on praying,
00:22:58.24\00:23:02.38
kept moving forward. Even --
There's a lot of missionaries
that wants to come.
00:23:02.38\00:23:06.72
>> Mm-hmm. >> And we have to
sponsor them. And I told them,
00:23:06.72\00:23:09.85
"This is the Lord's money, and I
don't know where He'll get it,
but He will provide."
00:23:09.85\00:23:13.62
And we kept on praying. At the
end of the event, everything was
00:23:13.62\00:23:18.26
paid off. >> Wow. >> And you
know what's amazing? We have an
00:23:18.26\00:23:22.40
overflow. We have excess. And
then I called the VP for finance
00:23:22.40\00:23:30.01
a month ago, and I asked her,
"Hey, how much is the excess
that we have?" And then she
00:23:30.01\00:23:35.61
said, "Brother Gem, you would
not believe it. We have an
excess of more than $4,500 U.S."
00:23:35.61\00:23:39.98
>> Whoa. >> We were short of
that amount, and now we have an
00:23:39.98\00:23:45.15
excess. And she said -- By the
way, she is employed in one of
the top accounting firms
00:23:45.15\00:23:50.13
back in the Philippines, and
she could not balance the whole
00:23:50.13\00:23:54.36
thing. So there's, like, a
$3,500 that I could not account.
What is the explanation
00:23:54.36\00:24:01.70
for that?
Nothing. >> God gave you
00:24:01.70\00:24:04.31
12 baskets of leftovers.
>> Yeah. >> It's 12-baskets
00:24:04.31\00:24:09.28
overflow. And this is one thing
that I realized. Like, if
there's no overflow,
00:24:09.28\00:24:14.02
that's not what God's promised.
That's not what -- God's way.
It's not God's way.
00:24:14.02\00:24:20.72
If it's God's way, there's
always going to be a 12-baskets
00:24:20.72\00:24:24.29
overflow. And I was reminded of
this beautiful verse to close.
00:24:24.29\00:24:28.06
>> Mm-hmm. >> It says, "To
everyone who offers himself to
the Lord for service,
00:24:28.06\00:24:31.30
withholding nothing, is given
the power for the attainment of
measureless results."
00:24:31.30\00:24:36.30
>> Yes. >> Whoa. >> Yes.
00:24:36.30\00:24:37.91
>> Measureless. >> Yeah.
>> So if you could measure it,
00:24:37.91\00:24:40.51
that's not God's way
yet. >> Yeah. Well, thank you
00:24:40.51\00:24:43.45
for sharing that with us. And we
have come to the end, but we do
have an offer for our
00:24:43.45\00:24:47.85
viewers, and if you would
like this book, it's called
00:24:47.85\00:24:52.02
"Satisfied." And it's really
what we've been talking about,
00:24:52.05\00:24:54.09
how God satisfies
our needs. >> Amen.
00:24:54.09\00:24:56.99
>> And if you would like
to receive this little book,
00:24:56.99\00:24:59.23
you can just write
to us or contact us
00:24:59.23\00:25:02.86
through the information
that's on the screen,
00:25:02.86\00:25:05.17
and we'll send this
to you absolutely free.
00:25:05.17\00:25:08.90
And we will also pray for you.
If you have any prayer requests,
00:25:08.90\00:25:11.87
call us and let
us know about those.
00:25:11.87\00:25:15.04
So, Gem, thank
you very, very much.
00:25:15.04\00:25:17.41
Would you like to have a
prayer for us as we are closing
00:25:17.45\00:25:22.02
together? >> Let us pray. Oh,
dear God, loving heavenly
Father, you are an awesome
00:25:22.02\00:25:26.62
God, a powerful God, a loving
and a faithful God. Lord, I pray
00:25:26.62\00:25:32.73
that may you remind each one of
us, may You remind our viewers,
our listeners, that You are this
00:25:32.73\00:25:38.50
God that we serve. And, Lord, I
ask that You please take us out
00:25:38.50\00:25:43.81
of our dependence upon ourselves
and help us to absolutely rely
upon You. You gave us so many
00:25:43.81\00:25:49.11
reasons to trust You. So, Lord,
please help us to trust You.
00:25:49.11\00:25:52.75
Please pour upon us the full
measure of Your spirit, for we
ask this in the loving
00:25:52.75\00:25:56.38
name of Your son,
Jesus. Amen. >> Amen.
00:25:56.38\00:25:59.02
>> Amen. Gem, thank you once
again for coming and sharing
00:25:59.02\00:26:03.22
with us how you absolutely rely
on God, and He's such a powerful
God in what He has done for you
00:26:03.22\00:26:10.73
and what He can do
for everyone... >> Amen.
00:26:10.73\00:26:13.64
>> ...for all of us, even
for our viewers. We serve an
00:26:13.64\00:26:17.17
awesome, powerful God, and we
just need to absolutely rely on
00:26:17.17\00:26:22.71
him. >> Amen. >> What I have
learned from this series of
three episodes with you
00:26:22.71\00:26:26.45
that we've spent together
is that God wants us to receive
00:26:26.45\00:26:31.55
much in order that we might
impart much. >> Amen. >> And so
thank you very much
00:26:31.55\00:26:35.66
for sharing that with us, Gem.
Friends, as we close off, I just
want to remind you again
00:26:35.66\00:26:41.13
of the words of Jesus, where He
says, "It is written: 'Man shall
00:26:41.13\00:26:46.43
not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds out of
the mouth of God.'"
00:26:46.43\00:26:53.41
>> Canada, all across this vast
and diverse nation, people are
00:26:53.41\00:26:58.41
searching for meaning,
acceptance, and hope. But in an
increasingly secular nation
00:26:58.41\00:27:04.09
where nearly one in four
Canadians have no religious
affiliation, many people simply
00:27:04.09\00:27:09.16
don't know how to find happiness
and peace for their lives. That
is why we are here.
00:27:09.16\00:27:14.56
As the premier media ministry
for the Seventh-day Adventist
00:27:14.56\00:27:18.87
Church in Canada, "It Is
Written" seeks to offer people
more than this world can offer
00:27:18.87\00:27:22.74
-- the good
news of Jesus Christ.
00:27:22.74\00:27:25.14
Each week, we invite
countless people to enter into
00:27:25.17\00:27:28.11
a closer relationship with Jesus
through our television program,
00:27:28.11\00:27:31.78
aired across the nation
on CTV, 3ABN, Hope Channel,
00:27:31.78\00:27:35.62
and many more. In this
way, we're able to reach
00:27:35.62\00:27:38.75
into people's homes and
meet them right where they are.
00:27:38.75\00:27:41.79
Buying this much air
time is no small thing,
00:27:41.79\00:27:44.49
but the continued commitment
of donors just like you keeps
00:27:44.49\00:27:47.86
the Gospel on the air in Canada.
00:27:47.86\00:27:50.57
Our commitment to spreading
the Gospel means that we do
00:27:50.60\00:27:54.87
everything we can to maximize
the impact of your financial
gift. A gift of $5 is enough to
00:27:54.87\00:28:00.48
get an episode of our show into
50 households across the nation.
Ten dollars is enough to provide
00:28:00.48\00:28:06.01
a personal, heart-changing Bible
lesson to five individuals. Your
00:28:06.01\00:28:11.15
generosity, amplified by the
Holy Spirit, has the power to
change lives. Canadians
00:28:11.15\00:28:17.23
everywhere are searching for
something more. By partnering
with "It Is Written," together,
00:28:17.23\00:28:22.40
we can help them find it.
00:28:22.40\00:28:25.37
Or you can call us at...
You can also visit us online at
00:28:34.84\00:28:41.42
www.ItIsWrittenCanada.ca
and click on the donate button.
00:28:41.42\00:28:47.56
¤¤ ¤¤
00:28:47.56\00:28:58.80