WEBVTT 00:00.330 --> 00:02.610 - Heavenly greetings in Jesus' mighty name. 00:02.610 --> 00:04.230 Yes, thank you for joining us once again 00:04.230 --> 00:07.830 on this podcast here on the University of God. 00:07.830 --> 00:10.350 And today we want to discuss about something 00:10.350 --> 00:12.780 which is close to the heart of everyone. 00:12.780 --> 00:15.450 Yes, I believe at one point in our lives, 00:15.450 --> 00:18.390 the question has gone through our heart, 00:18.390 --> 00:21.030 is God aware of my situation? 00:21.030 --> 00:23.040 Many of us don't voice that question out, 00:23.040 --> 00:25.800 but the question can be very loud in our heart. 00:25.800 --> 00:29.130 And remember, it's our heart that God hears, 00:29.130 --> 00:32.640 yes, our thoughts are louder than our words in Heaven. 00:32.640 --> 00:34.800 So we want to talk about that today. 00:34.800 --> 00:36.703 Is God aware of our problem? 00:36.703 --> 00:40.320 And if God's aware, how then should we pray? 00:40.320 --> 00:44.520 What should we ask for when we pray? So let's get into it. 00:44.520 --> 00:46.140 Racine, what can you say about this? 00:46.140 --> 00:47.130 - Thank you. 00:47.130 --> 00:50.470 So this programme was inspired 00:51.510 --> 00:55.500 by what we read through the hundreds of hundreds of emails 00:55.500 --> 00:58.450 we received from partners, from viewers 00:59.520 --> 01:01.350 introducing their prayer request to us. 01:01.350 --> 01:03.900 So we pay attention to it before the presence of God. 01:03.900 --> 01:06.810 But we realize that many believers, 01:06.810 --> 01:09.390 many, many, so many, so many, 01:09.390 --> 01:13.500 by the terms of their requests, we can see clearly 01:13.500 --> 01:17.310 they are not conscious that God is aware of their problem. 01:17.310 --> 01:19.290 Many of them express themselves, 01:19.290 --> 01:23.643 they talk or are about to take decisions as if God is not aware. 01:24.873 --> 01:27.660 In their marriages, in their business and everything, 01:27.660 --> 01:30.510 we can see that people have no hope for an answer. 01:30.510 --> 01:33.390 As if God was silent to their prayers, 01:33.390 --> 01:35.790 as if God was blind and deaf and dumb. 01:35.790 --> 01:36.993 God is not. 01:38.747 --> 01:41.460 Our attitude towards God is very important 01:41.460 --> 01:43.110 in our prayer life. 01:43.110 --> 01:47.580 So we have been asking, what is the cause of all this? 01:47.580 --> 01:50.700 Why believers today, in the midst of circumstances, 01:50.700 --> 01:53.820 adverse situations, sometime the response of our heart, 01:53.820 --> 01:56.703 our attitude seem to contradict our belief. 01:57.900 --> 02:02.040 We need to understand that God honours faith 02:02.040 --> 02:03.063 more than anything. 02:03.990 --> 02:06.453 Of all the graces we have from God, 02:07.290 --> 02:09.813 only faith honours Jesus the most. 02:10.680 --> 02:13.830 What is faith? A heart that believe God in? 02:13.830 --> 02:15.210 - Every single circumstance. 02:15.210 --> 02:17.493 - How do we know that somebody has faith? 02:18.360 --> 02:21.630 If I say, "Okay, I trust you, I have faith in you," 02:21.630 --> 02:23.040 it can be my word of mouth. 02:23.040 --> 02:27.273 How will you know that really, I put my trust in you? How? 02:29.479 --> 02:32.970 - Your attitude during hard times. 02:32.970 --> 02:35.839 - If in your mind, you want to check the genuineness. 02:35.839 --> 02:39.480 Okay, somebody can say, "Oh, I love you, I love you." 02:39.480 --> 02:41.853 How can you check the genuineness of that love? 02:43.740 --> 02:48.170 When people come to God in Matthew chapter 15 verse 8, 02:48.170 --> 02:50.906 God said, they come to me with their lips- 02:50.906 --> 02:52.223 - But their hearts are far from me. 02:52.223 --> 02:54.660 - But their hearts are far from me. 02:54.660 --> 02:57.330 Why do you think God is saying that? 02:57.330 --> 02:59.475 Why? 02:59.475 --> 03:03.743 - Because He's looking at their heart. 03:03.743 --> 03:05.733 - Yes, good, but why? 03:06.660 --> 03:09.390 Why God does not listen to the words in my mouth, 03:09.390 --> 03:10.223 but in my heart? 03:11.460 --> 03:12.540 That's the question. 03:12.540 --> 03:16.380 When we come to God to worship, to pray, 03:16.380 --> 03:20.880 whatever way we come, God first looks at our heart. 03:20.880 --> 03:24.570 Why? You said it before that. 03:24.570 --> 03:28.290 Today thousands of prayers are offered, but perhaps- 03:28.290 --> 03:31.470 - With almost no faith. 03:31.470 --> 03:33.030 How can this be? 03:33.030 --> 03:35.670 We just believe the expression of faith is to pray. 03:35.670 --> 03:38.613 Everybody prays. Everybody knows how to send petitions. 03:39.480 --> 03:43.000 The question is, which petition goes above the ceiling 03:43.980 --> 03:47.280 or which petition will not go beyond my lips? 03:47.280 --> 03:51.630 - I think many times you see it in the attitude of people 03:51.630 --> 03:54.900 or the attitude of us let's say after prayer. 03:54.900 --> 03:59.160 Many times after praying, we continue to complain 03:59.160 --> 04:03.840 and be worried and anxious as if we've never prayed at all. 04:03.840 --> 04:06.990 It's as if maybe we've eaten a huge meal 04:06.990 --> 04:09.450 and we still complain that we're hungry. 04:09.450 --> 04:12.690 That means that that food did not actually go anywhere. 04:12.690 --> 04:17.690 That food did not reach where it needed to reach. 04:17.970 --> 04:22.890 So I think that's a picture of our faith life today. 04:22.890 --> 04:27.813 If we pray those prayers and we don't pray them in faith, 04:28.680 --> 04:30.788 it's as if we too, we know that the prayer, 04:30.788 --> 04:33.300 the words are only entertaining people, 04:33.300 --> 04:35.130 they're not reaching God. 04:35.130 --> 04:38.763 So the question is how do we pray then for God to hear? 04:39.660 --> 04:41.100 - We need to understand that faith 04:41.100 --> 04:45.300 is not a panic button to press, like 911. 04:45.300 --> 04:46.964 How do you call it, 911? 04:46.964 --> 04:50.520 Faith is a lifestyle of trusting in God, 04:50.520 --> 04:51.903 not a panic pattern. 04:52.980 --> 04:57.180 God looks at our heart to see where there is faith. 04:57.180 --> 05:00.720 What is faith? How do we know we trust God? 05:00.720 --> 05:02.610 How do we believe? That's the question. 05:02.610 --> 05:05.100 We don't believe God with our heads. 05:05.100 --> 05:08.050 We don't believe in God with our mouth, but with our heart. 05:09.360 --> 05:11.037 So when we come to God, 05:11.037 --> 05:15.773 God looks at our heart to see the genuineness. 05:15.773 --> 05:17.485 Why are we asking? 05:17.485 --> 05:22.485 Are we led by faith or we are led by our circumstances? 05:24.630 --> 05:28.770 Remember, faith is centred on God. 05:28.770 --> 05:33.420 Faith arises in my heart out of the trust 05:33.420 --> 05:36.513 that the other party is reliable. 05:38.730 --> 05:43.730 Do you believe God as reliable? Is God reliable? 05:43.980 --> 05:48.960 Is He dependable, trustworthy in the midst of circumstances? 05:48.960 --> 05:53.160 If I say I love you, well you say, "Huh, he loves me." 05:53.160 --> 05:55.923 But when adverse situation comes, 05:57.045 --> 05:58.838 the attitude of the person reveals the true person 05:58.838 --> 06:01.713 of love of faith in his heart, our attitude. 06:03.090 --> 06:06.090 That's why sometimes God allows adverse situations 06:06.090 --> 06:09.270 to come to test our heart, the condition of our heart. 06:09.270 --> 06:11.760 I want you to understand this biblical truth. 06:11.760 --> 06:16.560 When we pray, God hears and responds 06:16.560 --> 06:18.720 according to the condition of our heart. 06:18.720 --> 06:21.020 What is the condition of our heart before God? 06:23.970 --> 06:26.300 God looks at the condition of our heart. 06:26.300 --> 06:28.050 We're going to take an example. 06:28.050 --> 06:31.770 Before, I want to take the proof text of our message today, 06:31.770 --> 06:33.990 which Ruth is going to guide us today 06:33.990 --> 06:35.880 in the book of Matthew chapter 6. 06:35.880 --> 06:38.070 Let's listen to the very words of Jesus Christ, 06:38.070 --> 06:40.920 our Lord, our Saviour, and the foundation of our faith. 06:40.920 --> 06:41.920 Let's listen to Him. 06:43.560 --> 06:45.487 - Matthew 6 from verse 30. 06:45.487 --> 06:48.180 "Now if God so clothed the grass of the field, 06:48.180 --> 06:51.450 which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 06:51.450 --> 06:55.530 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 06:55.530 --> 06:57.990 Therefore do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' 06:57.990 --> 07:01.017 or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 07:01.860 --> 07:05.340 for after all these things the Gentiles seek, 07:05.340 --> 07:07.080 for your heavenly Father knows 07:07.080 --> 07:09.360 that you need all these things, 07:09.360 --> 07:13.410 but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness 07:13.410 --> 07:17.759 and all these things shall be added to you." 07:17.759 --> 07:19.109 - You hear what Jesus said? 07:20.310 --> 07:24.030 Jesus is warning us that we shouldn't worry 07:24.030 --> 07:29.013 about what to eat, what to wear, what tomorrow will be. 07:29.850 --> 07:31.080 Why did He say that? 07:31.080 --> 07:34.230 He says the Gentiles are the ones doing those things. 07:34.230 --> 07:36.783 Why? Because they don't know God. 07:37.740 --> 07:40.050 Because they don't know His ways. 07:40.050 --> 07:42.540 We are supposed to know a God in whom we believe, 07:42.540 --> 07:44.070 we are supposed to know His ways 07:44.070 --> 07:46.773 for His ways are not the ways of man. 07:48.240 --> 07:50.940 When God delivered His people in suffering 07:50.940 --> 07:55.260 in the land of Egypt, God took them out of the land. 07:55.260 --> 07:59.190 But God choose a way that no man will choose. 07:59.190 --> 08:01.190 God took them by the way of the Red Sea. 08:02.520 --> 08:06.030 God allowed circumstances to come against them, 08:06.030 --> 08:08.220 an army to come, threatening army, 08:08.220 --> 08:10.290 life-threatening situation 08:10.290 --> 08:13.503 and God took them to a way which was blocked by the sea. 08:14.700 --> 08:17.130 And we see the attitude of people. 08:17.130 --> 08:19.530 Let us just compare the attitude of Moses 08:19.530 --> 08:21.840 with the attitude of the people. 08:21.840 --> 08:24.810 The people, they began to cry, to lament 08:24.810 --> 08:26.790 and speak against God. 08:26.790 --> 08:30.150 They were ready to go back to Egypt. 08:30.150 --> 08:33.960 They began to compare God with the situation they faced. 08:33.960 --> 08:34.860 'You see, we were better off 08:34.860 --> 08:37.110 when we were in this bondage in Egypt.' 08:37.110 --> 08:38.210 That's what they said. 08:39.990 --> 08:41.940 They were overwhelmed by this situation. 08:41.940 --> 08:44.730 Overwhelmed. Fear. 08:44.730 --> 08:47.220 No, they forgot all the miracles God did 08:47.220 --> 08:48.750 to bring them out of Egypt. 08:48.750 --> 08:50.869 They forgot it all because of their circumstances, 08:50.869 --> 08:51.843 disfocused. 08:52.740 --> 08:55.082 But there was one man, Moses, 08:55.082 --> 08:57.510 who came to the presence of God. 08:57.510 --> 08:58.980 When they saw the situation, 08:58.980 --> 09:01.530 Moses turned his heart to God and God spoke to him. 09:03.621 --> 09:06.840 He said "Raise your staff and split the Red Sea." 09:09.150 --> 09:13.830 We want to tell you that God is aware of every situation, 09:13.830 --> 09:15.810 every condition we have on earth. 09:15.810 --> 09:18.603 Whether you are a believer or not, God is aware. 09:20.550 --> 09:23.280 When you are alone in your room in the dark, 09:23.280 --> 09:26.103 God Almighty is aware. 09:27.210 --> 09:28.293 He's not blind. 09:30.120 --> 09:33.480 He understand the language of your thoughts. 09:33.480 --> 09:36.090 You don't even got to utter any words, 09:36.090 --> 09:38.400 God is aware of your situation. 09:38.400 --> 09:43.400 The question is, why do we lose faith 09:43.590 --> 09:45.930 when circumstances become difficult? 09:45.930 --> 09:47.700 That's my question. 09:47.700 --> 09:49.290 What can you say Ruth about that? 09:49.290 --> 09:52.170 Why are we so overwhelmed 09:52.170 --> 09:53.732 when situations seem to be contrary 09:53.732 --> 09:57.450 to our expectation in Christ, we forget God? 09:57.450 --> 09:58.650 Why? 09:58.650 --> 09:59.791 - Because we're focused so much 09:59.791 --> 10:02.598 on the situation that we're in. 10:02.598 --> 10:07.598 We are looking at the temporary situation 10:07.680 --> 10:10.767 that we're passing through and our focus is on that 10:10.767 --> 10:13.110 more than God. 10:13.110 --> 10:16.440 - But we say we should focus on God not our problem. 10:16.440 --> 10:19.710 If you focus on God Almighty, 10:19.710 --> 10:21.180 He will give you the peace of heart. 10:21.180 --> 10:26.180 That's what God wants. Our situation is not like others. 10:26.190 --> 10:28.500 Your situation is an extraordinary situation. 10:28.500 --> 10:31.893 Whatever happens, whatever you might be going through today, 10:33.180 --> 10:36.990 run to God, don't stop praying. 10:36.990 --> 10:38.313 Move closer to God. 10:39.330 --> 10:43.893 Our situation brings us closer to God. 10:44.910 --> 10:47.490 For the man of faith, as I said, how do you put it? 10:47.490 --> 10:49.350 Nothing is lacking why? 10:49.350 --> 10:51.030 - Everything is necessary. 10:51.030 --> 10:53.325 - Now God purposely took them by the way of the Red Sea 10:53.325 --> 10:56.133 to show His grace is sufficient. 10:57.720 --> 11:00.120 God's grace is sufficient. 11:00.120 --> 11:02.850 He gives us the promise of enough grace 11:02.850 --> 11:05.790 for whatever we face in life, 11:05.790 --> 11:07.530 whatever we face on this earth, 11:07.530 --> 11:10.920 God has made enough provision to those who believe. 11:10.920 --> 11:12.240 That's what Jesus says. 11:12.240 --> 11:15.903 Blessed are those who believe and do not see. 11:16.920 --> 11:18.333 The question we have today, 11:19.500 --> 11:21.390 we are so overwhelmed by our situation 11:21.390 --> 11:25.260 because we fail to understand that God's standard of faith, 11:25.260 --> 11:28.263 Christ's standard of faith is not based on the blessings, 11:29.130 --> 11:31.620 it's not based on the healing we're seeking, 11:31.620 --> 11:33.630 it's not based on things in the natural. 11:33.630 --> 11:36.903 It is based on God Almighty. 11:37.740 --> 11:40.563 Have faith in God. 11:42.240 --> 11:47.240 Now, God, when we come to Him, God looks at our heart. 11:48.147 --> 11:50.070 Are you coming by faith? 11:50.070 --> 11:52.350 What motivates you to come before God? 11:52.350 --> 11:55.320 When we ask before God, 11:55.320 --> 11:57.450 what's the motivation behind our asking? 11:57.450 --> 11:58.500 That's what God said. 11:59.610 --> 12:03.870 Sometimes we ask things that Are contrary to His will. 12:03.870 --> 12:06.840 Sometimes God allows us to go through the dark 12:06.840 --> 12:09.180 for a purpose known to Him alone. 12:09.180 --> 12:10.830 So what should be our attitude? 12:10.830 --> 12:13.140 If for if we are believers, 12:13.140 --> 12:16.170 nothing out of God's control can happen to us. 12:16.170 --> 12:21.170 Nothing happens by chance, so why is it we behave 12:22.500 --> 12:25.263 as if God has forsaken us? 12:26.190 --> 12:28.710 We go desperate. We take alternatives. 12:28.710 --> 12:32.430 And some say, "I'm no longer in the faith." We read it. 12:32.430 --> 12:34.050 Some say, "I'm not Christian. 12:34.050 --> 12:39.050 Some say, "I'll go to other means other than God." 12:39.240 --> 12:42.210 They have exposed what is in their heart. 12:42.210 --> 12:45.273 That's why sometimes God allow us to go to the dark, 12:46.710 --> 12:49.530 to check the condition of our heart. 12:49.530 --> 12:54.183 He knows who believes, He knows who does not believe. 12:55.620 --> 12:58.300 We have so many cases today in the world of people 13:00.360 --> 13:01.630 who were closer to God 13:02.858 --> 13:07.350 and find themselves in sickness, in disease, in lack, in want. 13:07.350 --> 13:09.270 Ruth, what can you say about that? 13:09.270 --> 13:11.320 We have so many people in the whole world 13:12.810 --> 13:16.200 who today, like Job, who was rich before, 13:16.200 --> 13:18.900 but all of a sudden, circumstances came 13:18.900 --> 13:20.193 and they lost everything. 13:21.450 --> 13:24.690 Some people honoured God in their trouble. 13:24.690 --> 13:28.440 Some say, "God, why me this trouble? 13:28.440 --> 13:30.630 Why me all this trouble?" 13:30.630 --> 13:33.300 We begin to complain. We begin to murmur. 13:33.300 --> 13:36.033 We begin to lament as if God does not exist. 13:38.070 --> 13:40.770 In the wildness we saw how they were afraid 13:40.770 --> 13:43.983 and forgot God's presence was just on top of their head. 13:44.940 --> 13:47.190 So many of these prayer requests we received 13:47.190 --> 13:49.240 compelled us to have this programme with you, 13:50.100 --> 13:53.490 to know that God is aware. 13:53.490 --> 13:54.730 God has no problem. 13:54.730 --> 13:56.310 We are the ones that have a problem 13:56.310 --> 13:58.413 because our focus has been broken. 13:59.940 --> 14:01.380 If we are conscious of our faith, 14:01.380 --> 14:03.420 we'll know that God is aware. 14:03.420 --> 14:05.150 What can you say about that? 14:08.307 --> 14:09.450 - No, it's true. 14:09.450 --> 14:14.450 I think many people actually give up praying 14:16.590 --> 14:18.300 because they've lost hope for an answer. 14:18.300 --> 14:19.260 - Hmm. Why? 14:19.260 --> 14:23.940 - Because the answer they're expecting doesn't come. 14:23.940 --> 14:28.940 And I think many times we set ourselves up for disappointment 14:30.390 --> 14:33.090 because we don't actually understand the heart of God. 14:34.200 --> 14:39.200 That can be maybe through misunderstanding of the scripture, 14:39.240 --> 14:41.970 misunderstanding of different teachings. 14:41.970 --> 14:43.710 If we truly know the heart of Jesus, 14:43.710 --> 14:46.140 we will know what He wants for us 14:46.140 --> 14:49.143 and then we'll pray according to His will. 14:50.460 --> 14:54.270 I think many times we forget the purpose of life. 14:54.270 --> 14:57.603 The purpose of life is to glorify God in every situation. 14:58.800 --> 15:01.200 But if our focus is mostly on pleasing us, 15:01.200 --> 15:04.020 not on pleasing God, then when things happen 15:04.020 --> 15:07.747 that are difficult for us to go through, 15:07.747 --> 15:11.130 we find it difficult to praise God. 15:11.130 --> 15:14.100 And that's actually what pleases God, 15:14.100 --> 15:16.440 when we praise Him in the midst of that pain. 15:16.440 --> 15:18.660 So whatever pain we are going through, 15:18.660 --> 15:21.600 we should not stop that. 15:21.600 --> 15:23.970 We should not allow it to stop our worshiping God, 15:23.970 --> 15:25.053 our praising God. 15:27.256 --> 15:32.256 I think many times we can pretend to be different things, 15:34.320 --> 15:36.930 but in the hard times, that's when the truth 15:36.930 --> 15:39.933 of what's actually in our heart comes out. 15:42.180 --> 15:45.900 And that's why in this podcast we really want to discuss 15:45.900 --> 15:48.250 and address the real truth 15:49.590 --> 15:52.443 of why people feel like giving up praying. 15:53.400 --> 15:54.960 Because maybe they actually feel 15:54.960 --> 15:56.710 they're asking for the wrong thing. 15:58.350 --> 16:02.460 - And you mentioned one word, expectation, 16:02.460 --> 16:04.538 and you say it pleases God. 16:04.538 --> 16:07.023 And we know only faith pleases God. 16:08.010 --> 16:10.620 God allow us to go through difficult situations 16:10.620 --> 16:14.490 sometimes to check the genuineness of our faith 16:14.490 --> 16:17.460 because our faith should be on Him. 16:17.460 --> 16:19.623 If I recognise God as my source, 16:20.790 --> 16:22.953 if I believe in God's sufficiency, 16:24.150 --> 16:28.627 I will not be afraid to go through difficult circumstances 16:28.627 --> 16:31.230 when I know I'm going with God. 16:31.230 --> 16:33.900 Jesus spoke to the disciples three times 16:33.900 --> 16:35.400 that He was going to the cross. 16:36.540 --> 16:41.540 In Matthew chapter 16, in Matthew chapter 17 and 22, 16:43.710 --> 16:48.153 he said, "I'm going to Jerusalem. They will betray me. 16:49.020 --> 16:52.200 They will harass me, they will kill me." 16:52.200 --> 16:55.180 - They didn't want to hear it. They didn't understand. 16:55.180 --> 16:56.013 - They didn't understand. 16:56.013 --> 16:58.083 And they were the closest to Jesus. 16:59.190 --> 17:01.650 Peter, of all of them was closer to him. 17:01.650 --> 17:04.650 But he said, "No God, this will never happen to you." 17:04.650 --> 17:07.080 And Jesus said, "Get behind me satan 17:07.080 --> 17:09.690 because you think like man, not as God thinks." 17:09.690 --> 17:10.953 And that is the issue. 17:13.290 --> 17:14.943 That is the problem we have. 17:15.810 --> 17:17.550 The greatest problem our faith has, 17:17.550 --> 17:20.232 we are still ruled by our senses. 17:20.232 --> 17:23.190 We're actually ruled by our feelings. 17:23.190 --> 17:25.233 We are ruled by our emotions. 17:26.130 --> 17:29.520 So when satan takes advantage of that, 17:29.520 --> 17:32.160 that's what he tried to do in the life of Job. 17:32.160 --> 17:34.860 When situation happens, he says hey, 17:34.860 --> 17:37.500 he begins to bombard your mind 17:37.500 --> 17:40.110 with thoughts of negative thoughts 17:40.110 --> 17:42.936 that God is not reliable, 17:42.936 --> 17:47.220 to distrust in your God and he's happy. 17:47.220 --> 17:49.770 But when you're conscious of your faith, 17:49.770 --> 17:51.750 when you know that God is your source 17:51.750 --> 17:55.260 and your faith is based on God's ability 17:55.260 --> 17:58.530 and you recognise whatever you have comes from Him by grace, 17:58.530 --> 18:00.090 you'll never doubt His sufficiency. 18:00.090 --> 18:01.530 Jesus never doubted. 18:01.530 --> 18:05.640 He knew that in going to the cross, He will rise again. 18:05.640 --> 18:08.460 Jesus knew when He came to the tomb of Lazarus, 18:08.460 --> 18:11.220 By speaking the word of Faith, Lazarus would come back to life. 18:11.220 --> 18:14.253 He knew that. But God gives us a promise today. 18:15.150 --> 18:17.910 Jesus said, "We should not worry about tomorrow." 18:17.910 --> 18:19.203 So why are we worrying? 18:20.640 --> 18:23.580 Jesus said, "Don't worry about what to eat 18:23.580 --> 18:25.800 for your Father in heaven knows that you need them." 18:25.800 --> 18:28.083 So why are we worrying? This is the question. 18:29.010 --> 18:31.345 Is it because we have no faith? 18:31.345 --> 18:32.845 Or because our faith is weak. 18:34.710 --> 18:36.360 Why? 18:36.360 --> 18:39.420 We shouldn't worry if the Word of Jesus 18:39.420 --> 18:40.653 is true for our lives. 18:42.390 --> 18:45.273 The apostles all knew it and they never doubted. 18:46.200 --> 18:47.103 Now the question. 18:48.150 --> 18:50.940 You have helped so many people, 18:50.940 --> 18:53.173 so many people came to you when you were in SCOAN. 18:53.173 --> 18:56.430 You helped so many people who were desperate. 18:56.430 --> 18:58.680 Every day you see people coming, have sickness, 18:58.680 --> 19:00.480 have trouble, have issues. 19:00.480 --> 19:03.870 You spoke to the faith in their heart and they got revived. 19:03.870 --> 19:05.570 So when difficult situations happen 19:06.930 --> 19:08.343 And we tend to forget God, 19:09.570 --> 19:13.200 the only answer is to get our mind refreshed, 19:13.200 --> 19:15.690 renewed by what God says on the matter, 19:15.690 --> 19:17.850 not what your circumstance says. 19:17.850 --> 19:22.850 Because we are so much concentrated on what we are feeling, 19:23.580 --> 19:26.520 how we are doing, how we are treated. 19:26.520 --> 19:29.520 If you believe in God, if you trust in God, 19:29.520 --> 19:32.703 you live today and leave all your worry to God. 19:34.680 --> 19:36.423 - It just reminds me of the Israelites 19:36.423 --> 19:38.643 when they were going through the wilderness. 19:39.930 --> 19:41.970 They didn't realize the purpose 19:41.970 --> 19:43.980 of their going through the wilderness. 19:43.980 --> 19:47.550 You know, God actually took them through the desert 19:47.550 --> 19:50.250 in order to test their heart, 19:50.250 --> 19:51.360 to know what was in their heart, 19:51.360 --> 19:53.520 to know if they would actually observe 19:53.520 --> 19:56.190 the commandment that He'd given them. 19:56.190 --> 19:57.720 And we have to understand 19:57.720 --> 19:59.610 that we're on a journey through life 19:59.610 --> 20:04.320 and our destination is heaven, to be with Jesus forever. 20:04.320 --> 20:06.690 Many times I think that we live our life 20:06.690 --> 20:09.490 as if we don't know where our final destination will be. 20:10.440 --> 20:13.920 As a believer, we know that our final destination 20:13.920 --> 20:15.840 is to be with Jesus forever. 20:15.840 --> 20:17.940 So if we know that our final destination 20:17.940 --> 20:19.110 is to be with Him forever, 20:19.110 --> 20:22.500 why don't we spend time with Him now to get to know Him? 20:22.500 --> 20:25.110 And anything that happens in our journey of life, 20:25.110 --> 20:28.140 see it as an opportunity to glorify Him 20:28.140 --> 20:30.993 and to make His Word the standard for our life. 20:32.656 --> 20:36.540 That's why I was reminded about the Israelites. 20:36.540 --> 20:38.820 They spent so long in the wilderness 20:38.820 --> 20:41.220 and yet it seems that they didn't really understand 20:41.220 --> 20:45.720 the purpose of that wilderness experience. 20:45.720 --> 20:49.860 It was necessary for them in order to learn God's Word 20:49.860 --> 20:52.570 and obey God's Word and depend on God alone 20:53.640 --> 20:57.960 and unfortunately they didn't learn those lessons. 20:57.960 --> 20:59.220 So that's why we can see 20:59.220 --> 21:01.650 what happened in the Promised Land afterwards. 21:01.650 --> 21:04.290 And all these things are in the Bible for us to learn from. 21:04.290 --> 21:07.680 - Thank you for saying that. And that's what Paul said. 21:07.680 --> 21:11.040 All these happened to them in the wilderness 21:11.040 --> 21:14.010 so we can learn from them. 21:14.010 --> 21:16.590 It is true that when you read the Bible, 21:16.590 --> 21:19.080 everything is a lesson of life. 21:19.080 --> 21:21.960 So we have so many people that were desperate. 21:21.960 --> 21:26.403 The man at the Pool of Bethesda was desperate. 38 years. 21:27.300 --> 21:30.480 But Jesus walked directly towards that man one day 21:30.480 --> 21:31.780 and the man began to walk. 21:32.760 --> 21:33.870 Zacchaeus. 21:33.870 --> 21:35.583 Nobody knew what was in his heart, 21:36.630 --> 21:39.480 but he climbed a tree to look for Jesus. 21:39.480 --> 21:40.920 But Jesus came to Jericho 21:40.920 --> 21:44.370 just because of him, meaning God was aware. 21:44.370 --> 21:46.530 - Because he wanted salvation to come to his house, 21:46.530 --> 21:48.180 his heart. - Absolutely. 21:48.180 --> 21:51.300 In Genesis chapter 21, the case of Hagar. 21:51.300 --> 21:54.123 Hagar was in the wildness with her son Ishmael. 21:54.960 --> 21:58.740 And she didn't want to see her son die in front of her. 21:58.740 --> 22:02.277 She sat opposite, began to cry, but God located her 22:02.277 --> 22:05.250 and the angel came, opened her eyes to see a world 22:05.250 --> 22:08.700 and said, "Ah, atta El Roi, you are the God who sees me." 22:08.700 --> 22:11.010 Jesus cares because Jesus sees 22:11.010 --> 22:13.800 and because He sees, He cares for you. 22:13.800 --> 22:16.203 He's not blind. His hand is not short. 22:17.160 --> 22:19.560 So where you are now, Jesus said something to me, 22:19.560 --> 22:22.893 and you listen to all of us, when you pray, 22:23.850 --> 22:25.450 he say, "Go to the secret place. 22:26.460 --> 22:27.477 Lock your door." 22:29.010 --> 22:32.013 When you lock your door, no man will come and help you. 22:33.210 --> 22:34.350 Who will see you in the secret? 22:34.350 --> 22:36.723 Your father who sees in the secret. 22:37.740 --> 22:38.643 Will He watch you? 22:40.680 --> 22:43.530 God sees your pain. 22:43.530 --> 22:46.470 He knows the motivation of your actions indeed. 22:46.470 --> 22:48.570 He knows what you're going through. 22:48.570 --> 22:50.820 But God, if you remain faithful, 22:50.820 --> 22:53.790 God will reveal Himself to your life. 22:53.790 --> 22:57.120 All of us, Christians, all of us, 22:57.120 --> 22:59.700 we went through our wilderness at some time. 22:59.700 --> 23:00.993 Why are we alive today? 23:02.040 --> 23:05.229 The enemy of our soul wanted all of us to die. 23:05.229 --> 23:06.540 But we are alive today. 23:06.540 --> 23:09.450 Why satan did not manage to destroy our lives? Why? 23:09.450 --> 23:10.500 Because God is aware. 23:13.040 --> 23:17.123 The question is, we need to know that He's aware. 23:18.299 --> 23:19.132 We need to know. We need to be aware that God is aware. 23:21.300 --> 23:22.510 The only way to know that God is aware 23:22.510 --> 23:24.483 is to have consciousness of our faith. 23:25.920 --> 23:27.120 When we have consciousness of our faith, 23:27.120 --> 23:31.169 we remember that God is the author, 23:31.169 --> 23:33.390 the perfecter of our faith, 23:33.390 --> 23:35.670 that His promises never fall to the ground. 23:35.670 --> 23:37.853 Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13. 23:42.247 --> 23:45.090 "We are not speaking just words of encouragement, 23:45.090 --> 23:46.803 we are speaking words of faith. 23:47.850 --> 23:50.200 We know your belief when your belief is tested 23:51.210 --> 23:53.040 by opposite situations." 23:53.040 --> 23:53.873 Yes. 23:53.873 --> 23:55.920 - "No temptation has overtaken you 23:55.920 --> 23:58.770 except such as is common to man: 23:58.770 --> 24:02.160 But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted 24:02.160 --> 24:04.140 beyond what you are able, 24:04.140 --> 24:07.770 but with the temptation will also make the way of escape 24:07.770 --> 24:09.570 that you may be able to bear it." 24:09.570 --> 24:11.490 - You will make a way of- - Escape. 24:11.490 --> 24:14.497 - Just as he did at the Red Sea. 24:14.497 --> 24:17.526 Just as he did for the man at the brink of hopelessness 24:17.526 --> 24:19.070 at the Pool of Bethesda. 24:19.070 --> 24:21.990 Just as He did for me on my fateful day, 24:21.990 --> 24:23.943 He did for you, for every one of us. 24:25.020 --> 24:27.660 The Bible says God will make a way 24:27.660 --> 24:30.720 where there seems to be no way if you put your trust in Him. 24:30.720 --> 24:32.640 The lesson we learned today, 24:32.640 --> 24:36.273 God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. 24:39.011 --> 24:41.700 If you're faithful to the very end, 24:41.700 --> 24:43.280 you will see the faithfulness of God. 24:43.280 --> 24:46.680 He will never, never, never allow the situation 24:46.680 --> 24:48.030 to destroy your life. 24:48.030 --> 24:49.380 He will never allow you. 24:49.380 --> 24:51.900 You can be stressed physically, in lack, 24:51.900 --> 24:53.237 you can have depression, pain, 24:53.237 --> 24:54.960 but He will never allow your faith, 24:54.960 --> 24:56.040 your heart to be destroyed. 24:56.040 --> 24:57.570 He prayed for Simon Peter 24:57.570 --> 25:01.020 because he knew that Peter is going to face the situation. 25:01.020 --> 25:03.900 And Jesus told him, "I pray for you. 25:03.900 --> 25:05.910 The devil wants to sift you like wheat. 25:05.910 --> 25:09.000 I pray that your faith will not fail." 25:09.000 --> 25:11.250 - And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. 25:11.250 --> 25:13.650 - Thank you very much. That's what we're doing today. 25:13.650 --> 25:16.830 We know there are many people who are somewhere watching us. 25:16.830 --> 25:18.780 - So this shows we want to encourage you 25:18.780 --> 25:20.670 that we have turned back. 25:20.670 --> 25:22.710 That's why we want to strengthen you. 25:22.710 --> 25:25.770 Meaning that we have gone through difficulties, trials, 25:25.770 --> 25:27.450 and we know there are many more to come 25:27.450 --> 25:29.010 on this journey of life. 25:29.010 --> 25:31.920 But yes, that knowledge that God is aware 25:31.920 --> 25:33.840 makes all the difference. 25:33.840 --> 25:35.820 That's what happened to Apostle Paul 25:35.820 --> 25:37.320 when he had that thorn in his flesh. 25:37.320 --> 25:39.240 We don't know what the thorn was, 25:39.240 --> 25:41.700 yet he knew the reason for it, 25:41.700 --> 25:46.170 to stop him from becoming conceited, full of pride 25:46.170 --> 25:48.720 because pride separates us from God 25:48.720 --> 25:50.100 and God didn't want that to happen. 25:50.100 --> 25:53.100 So that's why He permitted Paul 25:53.100 --> 25:54.420 to have a thorn in his flesh. 25:54.420 --> 25:56.760 And that didn't stop him in the service of God, 25:56.760 --> 25:58.170 it drew him closer to God. 25:58.170 --> 26:00.840 And once he knew that, okay, God, 26:00.840 --> 26:04.200 You are aware of this, Your grace is sufficient for me, 26:04.200 --> 26:06.300 that was as good as an answer. 26:06.300 --> 26:10.230 So that's why, what prayers are we praying? 26:10.230 --> 26:13.503 What requests are we giving to God? 26:14.880 --> 26:16.950 Because many times we can pray amiss, 26:16.950 --> 26:18.420 but we can never praise amiss. 26:18.420 --> 26:19.253 What do I mean? 26:19.253 --> 26:23.130 We can say words that maybe are not in agreement 26:23.130 --> 26:25.590 or in alignment with God's plan for our life, 26:25.590 --> 26:29.253 but if you out of your heart, if you praise God, 26:30.120 --> 26:32.520 that will always go to the heart of God. 26:32.520 --> 26:33.952 You can never do that wrongly 26:33.952 --> 26:38.669 if it comes spontaneously, naturally from your heart. 26:38.669 --> 26:43.500 And remember, praise honours God most 26:43.500 --> 26:45.030 when you're in a difficult situation. 26:45.030 --> 26:47.670 Maybe you don't even have a word to say 26:47.670 --> 26:51.390 but your heart, you find room in your heart to bless God 26:51.390 --> 26:54.420 and that is what is pleasing to God. 26:54.420 --> 26:57.000 And that's when God will give you what you've not asked for. 26:57.000 --> 27:02.000 - That's why I said God will not give you what? 27:02.400 --> 27:04.170 - What you ask. 27:04.170 --> 27:05.550 - If you ask wrongly. 27:05.550 --> 27:07.110 - He'll give you what you have not asked. 27:07.110 --> 27:07.943 - Thank you. 27:07.943 --> 27:09.933 Now if you're conscious of your faith, 27:10.770 --> 27:13.140 if you honour God in your trial 27:13.140 --> 27:15.210 and you begin to praise Him, to worship Him 27:15.210 --> 27:16.983 instead of asking Him anything, 27:18.120 --> 27:21.183 then He will give you what you have not asked. 27:22.904 --> 27:24.660 Paul and Silas in the prison, 27:24.660 --> 27:27.003 in the life threatening situation, 27:27.870 --> 27:29.940 they never said, "God, send an earthquake 27:29.940 --> 27:32.640 to destroy these people and set us free, 27:32.640 --> 27:34.020 send an angel to kill everywhere." 27:34.020 --> 27:37.065 No, they were worshiping and praising God. 27:37.065 --> 27:39.180 They were praising God for whom He is, 27:39.180 --> 27:41.190 they were honouring God for His faithfulness. 27:41.190 --> 27:42.570 And the earthquake came, 27:42.570 --> 27:45.693 an angel came and the door was opened and they were out. 27:48.570 --> 27:50.160 So the question is, 27:50.160 --> 27:53.760 before we open our lips to begin to complain and pray, 27:53.760 --> 27:56.460 we need to find out what God says about our situation. 27:58.470 --> 28:02.730 God says, "Seek first my kingdom and his righteousness 28:02.730 --> 28:05.310 and everything else shall be given to you." 28:05.310 --> 28:07.770 Meaning we should believe for salvation's sake. 28:07.770 --> 28:10.230 We should put our faith in God, in Christ Jesus 28:10.230 --> 28:12.150 for what He has done for you, for me 28:12.150 --> 28:13.353 at the cross of Calvary. 28:14.430 --> 28:18.930 When he instructing his disciples, he said don't carry money, 28:18.930 --> 28:20.250 don't carry two bags. 28:20.250 --> 28:22.683 Go with the grace of God and they never lacked. 28:23.760 --> 28:27.390 Because God is aware. Where He guides, He provides. 28:27.390 --> 28:30.930 How do you pray to God? We say, 'Our Father', am I right? 28:30.930 --> 28:32.310 - Yes. 28:32.310 --> 28:34.953 - You know how a father takes care of his child? 28:36.270 --> 28:38.760 Look at Pearl. You give her food. 28:38.760 --> 28:40.230 If you are crying, you take her, 28:40.230 --> 28:41.730 you cuddle her, you feed her. 28:41.730 --> 28:44.370 You know what it means? Sacrificial love. 28:44.370 --> 28:45.840 That's God for you. 28:45.840 --> 28:47.580 That's why He gave His son to die for us 28:47.580 --> 28:48.810 at the cross of Calvary. 28:48.810 --> 28:52.050 If God has given us the best, 28:52.050 --> 28:54.120 the greatest posession He had in Heaven, 28:54.120 --> 28:56.820 why should He withhold from us anything of less value? 28:57.870 --> 29:00.210 Can you compare Jesus to the situation you're going through? 29:00.210 --> 29:02.340 God gave you Christ. He gave you the Holy Spirit, 29:02.340 --> 29:06.180 everlasting life and He give you the promise 29:06.180 --> 29:08.370 that nothing out of God's control can happen to you. 29:08.370 --> 29:11.553 He's aware of your situation. So what do we need to do now? 29:12.450 --> 29:14.703 I'm speaking to everybody. 29:16.020 --> 29:19.320 Some say, "My husband is this..., I'm going to separate. 29:19.320 --> 29:21.903 I'm going to divorce," because of what? Situation. 29:22.876 --> 29:25.773 We are ready to break relationship because of situation. 29:26.940 --> 29:30.690 We are ready to renounce our faith because of situation. 29:30.690 --> 29:34.800 The devil is happy. We should not make it easy for him. 29:34.800 --> 29:36.510 Anytime we lament, 29:36.510 --> 29:39.030 anytime we allow him to disfocus us from God, 29:39.030 --> 29:40.480 you make things easy for him. 29:41.370 --> 29:46.370 But anytime situation comes, anytime you face the Red Sea, 29:46.500 --> 29:49.260 Jesus says speak to that mountain. 29:49.260 --> 29:50.760 Begin to praise God. 29:50.760 --> 29:52.980 Begin to declare the faithfulness of God in your life. 29:52.980 --> 29:54.990 That I have God. God is my Father. 29:54.990 --> 29:56.340 He knows what I'm going through. 29:56.340 --> 29:59.220 God knows I trust in Him. All is well. 29:59.220 --> 30:01.560 That's what the Shunammite woman did. 30:01.560 --> 30:02.970 - Yeah, she said, "It is well." 30:02.970 --> 30:04.212 - It is well. 30:04.212 --> 30:06.450 the boy was dead, 30:06.450 --> 30:09.447 but she said to the husband, "It is well" 30:09.447 --> 30:11.553 and it was well indeed. 30:12.810 --> 30:16.833 Now today, we are here to pray for you. 30:17.730 --> 30:22.623 We are here to revive your faith, that God is faithful. 30:23.580 --> 30:27.033 Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. 30:28.530 --> 30:30.240 What we ask you to do, open your heart 30:30.240 --> 30:32.010 and begin to praise Him. 30:32.010 --> 30:33.900 If you don't see any reason to praise God 30:33.900 --> 30:34.733 and you praise Him, 30:34.733 --> 30:36.717 you will see the hand of God in your life. 30:37.950 --> 30:40.770 If you remember God's track record in your life before, 30:40.770 --> 30:43.770 you will see reason to say thank you Jesus, that He's aware. 30:45.593 --> 30:47.837 When you know that God is aware, you'll not be afraid. 30:47.837 --> 30:50.940 Joshua and Caleb - this was their attitude. 30:50.940 --> 30:54.423 They knew that God was aware of the situation. 30:55.590 --> 30:58.230 They never allowed fear or circumstances 30:58.230 --> 31:00.720 to cause them to doubt the goodness of God. 31:00.720 --> 31:02.520 All those who doubted and murmured, 31:02.520 --> 31:03.960 they fell in the wilderness. 31:03.960 --> 31:04.793 Why? 31:04.793 --> 31:08.463 God said, 'they saw my miracle and they have no trust in God.' 31:09.750 --> 31:12.180 Faith is a heart- 31:12.180 --> 31:14.850 - that believes God in every single circumstance. 31:14.850 --> 31:17.190 - Absolutely. You see, every single circumstance. 31:17.190 --> 31:18.150 What is circumstance? 31:18.150 --> 31:21.450 Trouble, sickness, 31:21.450 --> 31:26.450 disease, poverty, debt, adverse situation. 31:27.030 --> 31:29.190 But your heart still believe in the goodness of the Father. 31:29.190 --> 31:30.023 He's aware. 31:31.680 --> 31:34.290 Jesus never doubted the Father's grace 31:34.290 --> 31:35.220 to raise Him from the dead. 31:35.220 --> 31:37.173 He knew that absolute faith in God. 31:38.430 --> 31:41.523 Such should be our attitude towards God today. 31:42.480 --> 31:43.890 We should not allow our situation 31:43.890 --> 31:46.380 to dictate the direction of our prayers 31:46.380 --> 31:48.290 and allow us to be disfocused. 31:49.230 --> 31:51.033 So whatever you are facing today, 31:52.020 --> 31:54.333 what takes us to the brink of hopelessness, 31:55.710 --> 31:57.990 open your heart to God to pray 31:57.990 --> 31:59.310 and begin to give thanks to God. 31:59.310 --> 32:00.810 We are going to pray together. 32:01.710 --> 32:03.610 Our prayer is not, give them money, 32:04.500 --> 32:07.110 Lord heal them. My prayer - 32:07.110 --> 32:12.110 Lord, open their eyes. You can see Your glory. 32:12.360 --> 32:13.260 You remember? 32:13.260 --> 32:16.050 Maybe you should take us to Gehazi and Elisha, 32:16.050 --> 32:19.590 2 Kings chapter 6 verse 15. 32:19.590 --> 32:20.423 We are going to pray 32:20.423 --> 32:23.220 for God to open the eyes of your understanding 32:23.220 --> 32:24.870 so you can see that God is aware. 32:26.370 --> 32:28.800 Today you know God is aware, that He will give you strength 32:28.800 --> 32:30.500 to endure whatever comes your way. 32:31.562 --> 32:34.260 - "And when the servant to the man of God arose early 32:34.260 --> 32:36.930 and went out, there was an army surrounding the city 32:36.930 --> 32:39.090 with horses and chariots. 32:39.090 --> 32:41.370 And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master, 32:41.370 --> 32:42.840 what shall we do?' 32:42.840 --> 32:45.060 So he answered, 'Do not fear, 32:45.060 --> 32:48.000 for those who are with us are more 32:48.000 --> 32:49.560 than those who are with them.' 32:49.560 --> 32:52.590 - Hallelujah. - "And Elisha prayed 32:52.590 --> 32:57.590 and said, 'Lord, I pray. Open his eyes that he may see.' 32:58.200 --> 33:00.300 Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man 33:00.300 --> 33:04.080 and he saw and behold, the mountain was full of horses 33:04.080 --> 33:07.410 and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 33:07.410 --> 33:08.760 - This is our prayer today. 33:10.103 --> 33:12.220 Your eyes of faith to be opened 33:13.140 --> 33:16.090 so you can see clearly that God is aware of your situation. 33:17.070 --> 33:19.050 The opening of the eyes of our faith is- 33:19.050 --> 33:20.548 - The silencing of our fears. 33:20.548 --> 33:22.950 - Why? The clearer sight. 33:22.950 --> 33:25.110 - We have. - Of what? 33:25.110 --> 33:27.210 The sovereignty and power of God, 33:27.210 --> 33:29.810 the less we shall fear the calamities of this earth. 33:30.750 --> 33:34.710 What you need today, 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 18. 33:34.710 --> 33:38.220 We look, not at those things that are temporary. 33:38.220 --> 33:40.170 We look at what is eternal. 33:40.170 --> 33:42.960 - I think because many times we don't even know the battles 33:42.960 --> 33:46.083 that Jesus is fighting for us on a daily basis. 33:46.920 --> 33:49.500 I always remember there was one message, 33:49.500 --> 33:52.660 Where Prophet T.B. Joshua talked about our mediator 33:53.580 --> 33:56.610 and that was a message that really changed my life. 33:56.610 --> 33:57.810 If you haven't watched that message, 33:57.810 --> 33:59.160 I encourage you to do that. 34:00.030 --> 34:04.860 And he talked about how Jesus' ministry of intercession 34:04.860 --> 34:07.980 is little appreciated by believers. 34:07.980 --> 34:11.940 That the fact that Jesus is interceding for us 34:11.940 --> 34:15.390 in every moment, we don't know the battles 34:15.390 --> 34:18.450 that He's fighting in the Spirit for us 34:18.450 --> 34:20.430 and that is why we continue to complain. 34:20.430 --> 34:22.410 But if the eyes of our faith are opened 34:22.410 --> 34:25.740 and we can see what Jesus has done for us, 34:25.740 --> 34:27.540 what Jesus is doing for us, 34:27.540 --> 34:30.990 then we will appreciate Him so much more 34:30.990 --> 34:34.650 and we will see our need of Him so much more in our lives. 34:34.650 --> 34:37.590 Without a mediator, we cannot approach God. 34:37.590 --> 34:39.030 - You mentioned the mediator. 34:39.030 --> 34:40.650 What is the promise Jesus gives us? 34:40.650 --> 34:43.350 I want you to say because he's a mediator, true. 34:43.350 --> 34:45.150 He made one promise to us. 34:45.150 --> 34:46.170 - The Holy Spirit. 34:46.170 --> 34:48.957 - Yes, but about the world. What did he say? 34:48.957 --> 34:51.720 John chapter 16 verse 33. 34:51.720 --> 34:54.489 - He said take heart. - Take heart. 34:54.489 --> 34:56.357 - I have overcome. - I have overcome for you. 34:56.357 --> 34:58.080 - I have overcome the world for you. 34:58.080 --> 35:01.950 - This means the battle is the Lord. It's not your battle. 35:01.950 --> 35:04.710 The battle is a past tense victory. 35:04.710 --> 35:06.870 If you recognise the victory has been done, 35:06.870 --> 35:09.150 you will fear no more, you'll worry no more. 35:09.150 --> 35:10.530 If God opens the eyes of your faith 35:10.530 --> 35:11.790 to see where He's taking you, 35:11.790 --> 35:12.960 you will begin to give thanks to God. 35:12.960 --> 35:16.470 If He would open your eyes to see who is with you, 35:16.470 --> 35:21.470 the Bible says, "If God is for me, who is against us?" 35:23.190 --> 35:27.420 That's why faith brings peace of heart and mind, 35:27.420 --> 35:30.360 restfulness, when we know that God is truly aware 35:30.360 --> 35:31.290 and He is with us. 35:31.290 --> 35:33.049 - The knowledge that God is with us. 35:33.049 --> 35:34.137 - Absolutely. 35:34.137 --> 35:35.940 What we know today, we are going to pray for you. 35:35.940 --> 35:36.773 All of you. 35:37.650 --> 35:40.680 I can't give you faith, Jesus gives you faith. 35:40.680 --> 35:43.389 Our role is to pray for you as Elisha prayed for Gehazi 35:43.389 --> 35:45.330 and we trust the Holy Spirit. 35:45.330 --> 35:47.040 We are going to commit every one of you, 35:47.040 --> 35:50.910 every person who is blindfolded by situation. 35:50.910 --> 35:52.533 You can't see beyond your event. 35:53.490 --> 35:57.540 You are oppressed, you are depressed, you lost hope. 35:57.540 --> 36:00.450 Your faith is shaken, we are going to pray for you. 36:00.450 --> 36:03.163 - Because don't allow satan to have access to your soul. 36:03.163 --> 36:04.410 That's what he wants. 36:04.410 --> 36:07.080 He wants you to take your eyes off God 36:07.080 --> 36:08.880 and put it on your situation. 36:08.880 --> 36:11.340 And that is how you begin to be full of doubt 36:11.340 --> 36:14.880 and fear and worry and that is his access to you. 36:14.880 --> 36:18.630 Don't give him access to you. Continue to trust in Jesus. 36:18.630 --> 36:21.510 Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. 36:21.510 --> 36:24.330 And that is why we're going pray together right now. 36:24.330 --> 36:29.330 Because remember, Jesus cares because Jesus sees. 36:30.180 --> 36:32.040 Jesus sees you in your problem. 36:32.040 --> 36:35.940 He sees you in your loneliness. He sees you in your pain. 36:35.940 --> 36:38.910 He sees you in your worry. He sees you in your sickness. 36:38.910 --> 36:43.137 He sees you in your discomfort. Yes, He sees you. 36:43.137 --> 36:45.720 And because He sees you, He cares about you 36:45.720 --> 36:50.460 and He has sent His loving aid to strengthen you each day. 36:50.460 --> 36:53.880 Everything that you need to live for God here and now, 36:53.880 --> 36:55.950 Jesus has already given you. 36:55.950 --> 36:59.970 You just need to realise it and to see it. 36:59.970 --> 37:01.170 So let's pray together now. 37:01.170 --> 37:04.773 - So we are going to ask you something. 37:05.623 --> 37:08.223 When Job lost everything he had, 37:09.150 --> 37:11.150 he never lost consciousness of his faith 37:12.750 --> 37:15.990 because he knew that God was his source. 37:15.990 --> 37:20.640 Indeed, God rewarded his faith more than ever before. 37:20.640 --> 37:24.963 So today I stretch my hand and pray. 37:26.160 --> 37:28.863 Anywhere you are, whoever you are, 37:30.420 --> 37:33.690 I may not know the circumstances you're going through, 37:33.690 --> 37:35.103 but Jesus Christ is aware. 37:36.960 --> 37:40.830 Exodus chapter 3 verse 7 says, "Earth has no sorrow 37:40.830 --> 37:42.807 that heaven doesn't feel." 37:44.010 --> 37:46.360 I want you for a second, for a moment 37:48.000 --> 37:49.540 to put the eyes of your faith 37:51.150 --> 37:53.520 on the one who defeated satan for you 37:53.520 --> 37:54.720 at the cross of Calvary. 37:56.370 --> 38:00.330 I want you to put the eyes of your faith 38:00.330 --> 38:04.090 as the Bible says in book of Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1-2 38:04.950 --> 38:09.660 to focus, put the eyes of our faith in Christ as you pray. 38:09.660 --> 38:11.343 Lord Jesus, we thank You. 38:12.720 --> 38:14.580 Father, we thank You 38:14.580 --> 38:18.210 for all that You permit to happen to us. 38:18.210 --> 38:20.550 We know that You are aware 38:20.550 --> 38:22.413 of every circumstance of our life. 38:23.370 --> 38:24.600 First and foremost, 38:24.600 --> 38:28.650 we thank You for every moment of Your attention. 38:28.650 --> 38:32.730 We know today because You live, we live. 38:32.730 --> 38:34.950 Because of You, we live today. 38:34.950 --> 38:37.923 Lord, we commit every timid soul, 38:38.820 --> 38:40.060 every weary soul 38:41.520 --> 38:45.420 that is in bondage, overwhelmed by situation, 38:45.420 --> 38:48.690 where they're abandoned by people, where they're helpless. 38:48.690 --> 38:52.473 I pray, Lord, that You open the eyes of their faith. 38:53.670 --> 38:56.790 Open the eyes of their faith to see the light. 38:56.790 --> 39:00.213 There is light in darkness when Jesus is involved. 39:01.560 --> 39:04.770 Father, I pray, visit them in these circumstances, 39:04.770 --> 39:06.900 in the mighty name of Jesus. 39:06.900 --> 39:08.970 As Elisha prayed, we pray. 39:08.970 --> 39:11.100 Open the eyes of their faith. 39:11.100 --> 39:13.380 Open the eyes of their heart 39:13.380 --> 39:16.533 to see God's mighty hand in their lives. 39:17.430 --> 39:20.460 Open their heart to the word of faith, 39:20.460 --> 39:22.800 the response of a true believer. 39:22.800 --> 39:24.540 Open their heart to the spirit of truth, 39:24.540 --> 39:26.090 the Holy Spirit, the comforter. 39:27.060 --> 39:29.453 Open their heart to faith, Lord, and to Your Spirit. 39:29.453 --> 39:33.330 I pray, let the Spirit of Father descend, 39:33.330 --> 39:34.680 descend upon them 39:34.680 --> 39:37.770 and shift their eyes from the trouble to You 39:37.770 --> 39:39.960 to see the goodness of God in their life. 39:39.960 --> 39:43.200 Father, we pray, Jesus, you located Zacchaeus, 39:43.200 --> 39:45.990 you located the man at the Pool of Bethesda. 39:45.990 --> 39:48.690 You located Lydia, you located the Ethiopian eunuch. 39:48.690 --> 39:50.730 Father, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. 39:50.730 --> 39:55.534 I pray that every soul, every soul 39:55.534 --> 39:59.520 in bondage today receive Your resurrection power, 39:59.520 --> 40:02.910 receive the gift of eyes that can see, 40:02.910 --> 40:05.010 the gift of ears that can hear 40:05.010 --> 40:06.600 what Jesus, what the Lord is saying 40:06.600 --> 40:08.370 in these present circumstances. 40:08.370 --> 40:10.380 Lord, we bring them to you, Lord. 40:10.380 --> 40:13.397 I pray, let the peace of heart, 40:14.646 --> 40:17.100 enter them in the name of Jesus. 40:17.100 --> 40:20.910 Let the peace of Christ, which the world cannot give, 40:20.910 --> 40:23.190 enter their consciousness, enter their mind. 40:23.190 --> 40:27.510 Let their mind be renewed in the mighty name of Jesus. 40:27.510 --> 40:29.100 Let their mind be renewed 40:29.100 --> 40:31.080 to see Your goodness in their lives. 40:31.080 --> 40:32.250 There is light. 40:32.250 --> 40:34.560 There is light, there is hope, 40:34.560 --> 40:38.460 there is healing, there is faith in Your presence. 40:38.460 --> 40:41.550 Jesus, we pray, oh Lord, open their eyes. 40:41.550 --> 40:44.550 Open the eyes of their faith. Open the eyes of their faith. 40:44.550 --> 40:47.310 Manifest your strength to see, oh Lord, 40:47.310 --> 40:49.260 there is a blessing in that situation 40:49.260 --> 40:50.880 that the best is yet to come. 40:50.880 --> 40:54.000 Father, release them. Release them from all bondage. 40:54.000 --> 40:55.410 Let the veil upon their heart 40:55.410 --> 40:57.453 be taken away in the name of Jesus. 40:58.830 --> 41:01.920 Let the weight upon their soul be removed 41:01.920 --> 41:03.213 in the name of Jesus. 41:05.417 --> 41:07.200 Let the hardship... 41:07.200 --> 41:09.900 When Moses came in Exodus chapter 6 verse 9 41:09.900 --> 41:12.480 to proclaim Your deliverance to the people of Israel, 41:12.480 --> 41:14.100 the Bible says because of hardship, 41:14.100 --> 41:16.800 they were unable to attend to that word. 41:16.800 --> 41:19.950 Lord Jesus, let Your uncommon peace visit them, Lord, 41:19.950 --> 41:21.360 in the mighty name of Jesus. 41:21.360 --> 41:24.780 Before they open their mouth to speak, locate them. 41:24.780 --> 41:28.260 Locate them in Your mercy. Locate them in Your favor. 41:28.260 --> 41:31.233 Locate them by Your spirit in the name of Jesus. 41:33.840 --> 41:38.700 Let the veil be taken away in the mighty name of Jesus. 41:38.700 --> 41:42.360 Let them experience your presence, your uncommon peace. 41:42.360 --> 41:44.370 Oh Lord, we bring those souls to you 41:44.370 --> 41:46.800 by interceding for our people today, Lord. 41:46.800 --> 41:49.860 We put their problem, their burden into Your hand, Jesus. 41:49.860 --> 41:52.200 Let Your peace enter the heart, enter their home. 41:52.200 --> 41:54.579 Let them see the transformation of grace in their life, 41:54.579 --> 41:57.450 in the mighty name of Jesus, in the mighty kingdom of Jesus. 41:57.450 --> 41:59.580 Let there be light in their spirit. 41:59.580 --> 42:02.370 Let there be light in their heart. Let there be light. 42:02.370 --> 42:05.160 Let there be revival. Revival, revival, revival. 42:05.160 --> 42:06.393 In the name of Jesus. 42:07.770 --> 42:11.070 Lord, You intercede for us in Heaven. 42:11.070 --> 42:13.410 Hebrews chapter 7 and chapter 8. 42:13.410 --> 42:15.660 You are our mediator, Lord. 42:15.660 --> 42:17.592 Jesus, we pray. 42:17.592 --> 42:22.530 We bring every soul, every soul who is under bondage, 42:22.530 --> 42:26.070 every believer whose faith has been shaken. 42:26.070 --> 42:28.560 Oh Lord, I pray, let there be restoration, 42:28.560 --> 42:32.220 visitation from the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. 42:32.220 --> 42:34.560 In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus. 42:34.560 --> 42:37.140 Father, manifest your strength in their weaknesses we pray. 42:37.140 --> 42:39.180 Give them strength. Give them strength. 42:39.180 --> 42:41.040 Give them strength to endure 42:41.040 --> 42:42.690 whatever you want them to endure. 42:42.690 --> 42:45.090 Give them strength to go through the narrow way. 42:45.090 --> 42:46.890 That's the narrow way the leads to life. 42:46.890 --> 42:49.440 Lord Jesus, give the grace to be conscious of their faith. 42:49.440 --> 42:51.120 Strengthen their faith to believe. 42:51.120 --> 42:54.120 Give them joy to believe a man of faith can be happy 42:54.120 --> 42:56.880 whereas there is nothing to be happy about on the outside. 42:56.880 --> 42:59.250 A man can be poor and be a friend of God. 42:59.250 --> 43:01.770 Oh Lord, visit them as you visited Job. 43:01.770 --> 43:03.840 Visit them as you visited Job. 43:03.840 --> 43:05.403 When everybody abandons them, 43:06.300 --> 43:09.450 Lord, revive them in the name of Jesus. 43:09.450 --> 43:12.720 Revive them in the name of Jesus. Revive their faith. 43:12.720 --> 43:14.850 Revive their faith. Renew their faith. 43:14.850 --> 43:16.950 Strengthen their faith. Strengthen them Lord. 43:16.950 --> 43:19.623 Strengthen them Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus. 43:20.610 --> 43:22.620 Father, as Elisha prayed, we pray. 43:22.620 --> 43:26.370 Open the eyes of their heart to see the goodness of God. 43:26.370 --> 43:28.500 Open their ears to harken to the inner voice 43:28.500 --> 43:29.880 of the Holy Spirit. 43:29.880 --> 43:32.310 Father, give them the gift of dreams to see, 43:32.310 --> 43:34.350 oh Lord, beyond this situation, 43:34.350 --> 43:36.810 what God's saying in that situation. 43:36.810 --> 43:38.850 Strengthen their heart to come before You 43:38.850 --> 43:40.200 with praise and worship. 43:40.200 --> 43:42.930 Let the darkness disappear in the name of Jesus. 43:42.930 --> 43:45.810 Let satan be defeated in the name of Jesus. 43:45.810 --> 43:46.950 Every yoke of satan, 43:46.950 --> 43:49.830 every doubt of the enemy, be crushed, be removed 43:49.830 --> 43:50.910 in the name of Jesus. 43:50.910 --> 43:52.587 Let there be faith. Let there be hope. 43:52.587 --> 43:54.340 Let there be strength. Let there be revival. 43:54.340 --> 43:56.940 In your heart, I speak to your heart. 43:56.940 --> 43:59.220 Lift up to Jesus in the mighty name of Jesus. 43:59.220 --> 44:00.330 Begin to praise the Lord. 44:00.330 --> 44:02.040 Begin to worship God and see the mighty deliverance 44:02.040 --> 44:04.290 the Lord we give You today. 44:04.290 --> 44:05.370 Lift your voice to Him. 44:05.370 --> 44:07.590 Begin to praise Him. Begin to honour Him. 44:07.590 --> 44:08.610 Begin to worship Him. 44:08.610 --> 44:11.520 As Moses said, today you will see the mighty deliverance 44:11.520 --> 44:13.383 that God will give you today. 44:14.490 --> 44:15.600 The Lord will provide. 44:15.600 --> 44:17.613 Jehovah Jireh will provide for Himself. 44:18.450 --> 44:20.880 God is faithful for those who are faithful to Him. 44:20.880 --> 44:22.980 Lift up your voice. Ask Him. 44:22.980 --> 44:24.780 Ask Him to revive your faith. 44:24.780 --> 44:26.700 Begin to honour Him. Begin to praise Him. 44:26.700 --> 44:27.960 Begin to give thanks to God 44:27.960 --> 44:30.720 for the best which is yet to come in the name of Jesus, 44:30.720 --> 44:33.030 in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, 44:33.030 --> 44:35.400 in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 44:35.400 --> 44:36.233 Amen. 44:37.260 --> 44:40.020 Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. 44:40.020 --> 44:44.580 God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. 44:44.580 --> 44:47.202 Bring your heart to Him and begin to praise Him. 44:47.202 --> 44:48.390 Begin to worship Him. 44:48.390 --> 44:50.840 Begin to thank Him from the bottom of your heart. 44:51.840 --> 44:53.730 If your situation crushes you so much 44:53.730 --> 44:55.620 you cannot utter a word, 44:55.620 --> 44:58.263 even the groans of your heart God knows. 44:59.400 --> 45:04.350 Jesus is faithful and God is never late. 45:04.350 --> 45:07.080 It is never too late as far as it is the will of God. 45:07.080 --> 45:11.820 Someone is watching you. Someone is awaiting to you. 45:11.820 --> 45:14.193 Just believe. Thank you Jesus. 45:15.078 --> 45:16.050 - Amen. 45:16.050 --> 45:18.870 Thank you so much for joining us on this podcast 45:18.870 --> 45:22.770 all about, yes, God is aware of our situation 45:22.770 --> 45:26.264 and we want to hear how this has encouraged your faith 45:26.264 --> 45:29.100 and that's what the University of God is all about, 45:29.100 --> 45:31.650 getting the Word of God into our heart 45:31.650 --> 45:33.780 because there it becomes effective. 45:33.780 --> 45:35.400 So thank you so much. 45:35.400 --> 45:36.930 And if you've not downloaded our app, 45:36.930 --> 45:40.620 you can do that on the Apple store or on Google Play. 45:40.620 --> 45:43.890 And also, if you're new to the University of God, 45:43.890 --> 45:47.040 you can check out our website, www.theuog.org 45:47.040 --> 45:48.540 and also our YouTube channel, 45:48.540 --> 45:51.030 which is where I believe you're watching this. 45:51.030 --> 45:52.917 God bless you and remember, we love you, 45:52.917 --> 45:54.780 but Jesus loves you so much more. 45:54.780 --> 45:57.930 - Stay in faith and rejoice. Jesus is aware. 45:57.930 --> 45:58.763 Thank you.