Authentic

00:04 I believey God our father and creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God and my savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He suffered, died, and rose again. He ascended into heaven. He shall soon come again. I believe in God, the Holy Spirit, who is worshiped and my God. My belief in holy fellowship, faithful giving and service to God in this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says. I have what it says and I can do what it says I can do. Today, as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I am blessed, healed, and anointed for a holy and victorious living. I will never again be the same in Jesus name. Amen. The Lord bless us. Please be seated. We've been studying the importance this

01:07 month about joyful living. It's very important. Not just because we all like to be joyful, but because God commands that we live a blessed life. And in obedience to God's word, we must make an effort to live a blessed life. Joyful living is important because God wants us to live joyfully. He doesn't want us to live sad, disappointed, disturbed, upset, but rather he wants us to live joyful. And things in the world always happen in a way which disturbs us from being joyful. You know, it constantly irritates us something or the other that disrupts our peace, disrupts our joy. But God's word continuously tells us, make efforts that you live a joyful life. And so this month we are studying different factors in life that help us maintain our joy levels. Last

02:11 Sunday we looked at the importance of work and rest. That there should be harmony between work and rest. And whenever we lose that rhythm and that balance, it affects our peaceful living. God wants us to work hard but also rest well. And that should be a rhythm. It should be one after the other done well. Today I want to learn with you the importance of living an authentic life. We live in a plastic world. Nobody knows the reality. We live in a world where Instagram filters are more popular than what is truth. Today people don't want to marry based on the photo. They want a face wash and then look at the person. We we we living in a world where everything is so artificial and plastic and authenticity has lost its edge. And this is where the Bible commands us. You got to be truthful, honest, and you got to have integrity to have a life that is blessed. These are very important. Today in the world we live, authentic has

03:16 become a lost virtue. Many people think authentic means being perfect, you know, being right all the time. No, authentic doesn't mean being perfect. Authentic means being real, being a person of integrity, being a person of truthfulness. That's really what authentic is about. Honesty, what is honesty? Honesty is about uh truthfulness when it comes to facts and figures. What is integrity? Integrity is when different compartments of our life work together in unison. They work together in oneness and they don't conflict with one another. Different compartments of our life don't oppose one another. It's not like when there is a party in the house for a birthday or there's a housewarming where you call all your relatives. You are so loving and kind to your children. But when all are gone, you're so harsh and rude with your children. Now, that's not a life of integrity. That's a life of duplicity, a life of hypocrisy. You

04:19 know, when when crowds are around, you are so loving to your wife and gentle or you are so respectful to your husband. But when people are gone, reality comes out and it's not so respectful. It's not so loving. It's so much more abusive. It is so much more disrespectful. Well, all of these things simply are because of lack of an authentic life. God wants us to live an authentic life. He says you don't have to live a conflicting life. One kind of life in public, another kind of life in public. Uh private. Most of the scandals that you see today in the world, what are they? Because of lack of authenticity. Because they show one thing in public and then secret reels come out, hidden cameras record things and when they come out, oh, it's a big scandal. Why? Because what they claim to be in public is so different from who they really are in private. Authentic life is what God wants you and me to have. The same life you have on Sunday,

05:23 God expects us to have it through the week, Monday to Saturday. >> Amen. >> M this is so encouraging to hear that. Amens because really this is challenging you know this is really really challenging some the other day I was talking to a friend who said pastor I can't go to gym every day so I just keep my subscription at least my money is there that's the kind of life a lot of times we have become instead of really being there and authentic we kind of subscribe to those values and hope that somebody else will practice it but that doesn't lead to a joyful living. Joyful living requires us to be authentic in our life. Don't compartmentalize your life where there is friction between different compartments of our life. It's not just moral but it spills into all kinds of trouble. God wants us to maintain authenticity. You see, one of the things about Peter is he was so foolish. He would get into trouble for speaking out

06:26 loud and doing things that were incorrect. But God loved him and made him one of the leaders. Why? Because he was so different from Judas Iscariat who became the betrayer. What was it about Judas? He was too good with audit of his time, talents and treasure. He was smart that people knew if you handled if you gave him the money, you know, he could handle the finances of the team. He was the treasurer of the whole team. The Bible says he kept the money back of the entire disciples account. The guy was influential. But Jesus, our Lord, still chose Peter to be the leader even though he was not so smart. Why? Peter was authentic. He was real. But Jesus knew very well. Our Lord knew this fellow Judas. You know, he knows how to be friends with the Lord Jesus. And when no one's watching, he is friends with the enemies of the Lord Jesus. and he has so much closeness that he can strike a deal with them. We're living in the days of art of deal or

07:29 deal of art. And and and the whole problem here is authenticity is lost. God is calling you to be authentic. Let's read the scripture. Matthew 5:37. Let what you say be >> anything. Let's read that again. Let what you say be simply yes or no. Anything more than this comes from the >> God is saying be authentic. When you say mean yes. When you say no mean no. What you say is what you mean. >> Anything more, anything different does not come from godliness. It's not something God can bless. It's not something God can honor. We need to be authentic people. >> Hallelujah. >> Don't speak lies. Speak truth. >> Be honest. This is a scriptural commandment. God's word is saying, "Let your yes be yes and

08:33 let your no be no." When you say something, mean it with all your heart. Because integrity is not just a one-time event. Integrity is a lifetime attitude. It's not about once in a while. No. You know, when you live with integrity, one of the great things is you don't have the burden of pretending. The burden of pretending is too much. Acting like somebody when you are not that is too much. I'm going to say a joke because the message is really heavy. No. Honestly, when I was preparing this message, I was asking God, help me to be more authentic because this is a human problem God is dealing with. We all got space to grow and improve. Okay, the joke uh London, I've said this joke so many times it sounds boring. Just laugh at the end of it, please. Okay. Uh uh the joke is uh it seems in London there was a zoo

09:37 and uh on a national holiday which was happening that week a lot of school students were coming to watch the animals in the zoo and the zookeeper the national park manager ran out an advertisement in the newspaper that said wanted men to work in zoo. So people started calling up and asking what's the job and he would say we've run out of chimpanzees you know that big monkey and we run out of chimpanzees and we need somebody to impersonate one the last chimpanzeee that was alive dead now we need somebody to act like a chimpanzeee because school students are coming on that particular day a holiday and one fellow who was a gymnast a bodybuilder by training had all the features if he would put on the cape of a chimpanzeee he would look like one decided to take up the job because money was tight. So he got into the cage quite early in the morning and put on all of the stuff and as the students came in he started hanging between the trees and

10:40 with one hand catching the bananas and peeling them like a chimpanzeee because he was looking for the pay at the end of the day. And after almost 2 3 hours of pretending like a chimpanzeee, he slipped rather nauseated and fell into the lion's den next door. And the children were screaming with fear. But they were shocked to hear the chimpanzeee shouting, "Help! Help!" And to their utter shock they saw the lion running towards the chimpanzeee pouncing on the chimpanzeee and saying shut up or we both will lose our job. We are not living in a world which was like before. If there's one thing missing it's the authentic thing. When you live authentic, you don't have the struggle of pretending. Your joy is real. Your relationships are real. You

11:46 tend to dispel the wrong crowds and you attract the ones you really need. When you're authentic, you surround yourself with right crowds. Your purpose becomes more clear. Your joy is more sustained. An authentic life really is shaped by putting to use your spiritual gifts, your passion at heart, your ability, allowing your personality to serve and your experiences to grow you. You're allowing God to shape you in a meaningful way. Authentic life is about living with integrity and honesty. And this is so very important. Why? Because you and I are God's children. Let's say that together. We are >> and we should be like our heavenly father. What's his nature? Look at numbers 23 19 and the Bible says God is not a man that he should lie or a son of man that he should change his mind. Has he said and will he not do it? Or has he

12:51 spoken and will he not? That's the nature of God. He does not lie. He is a honest God. A God who speaks truth. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. >> Pastor, I made promises I couldn't keep because it was out of my control. Well, that happens. Now, that's not lying. That's not not being authentic. But when it is within your power to be honest, being honest is very, very important. God says you got to live a life which is authentic. Be honest with yourself. Know your strengths. Know your weaknesses. The Bible says in the book of Romans, when you know you have weakness in some area, avoid those areas so that you don't manifest your weakness. Bring it to God that God will strengthen you in those areas. Don't give room for your flesh to work. Grow in areas that you need strength, but put to mighty use areas where God

13:53 has already given you strength. function within the region of God's call in your life. Hallelujah. You know the other day I was uh talking to a pastor and to my utter surprise in Karnataka the largest Canada church is not in the city it's in a village with thousands and thousands of people coming and uh that that's that that village don't have big roads for people to come. that village don't have big buildings to accommodate people. And there was a video about him done by another organization. I was shocked. And uh when I was talking to him, I figured out the only thing he did is he stayed in the call of God. He knew God had called him for that place. And he decided not to move to a city where he can attract bigger crowd. No, nothing. He stayed where God called him and villages surrounding cities surrounding him began to come to the village. This is by you know Sunday early morning all the

14:54 village roads are jammed because people are just flocking in. They're coming in in thousands and thousands from different areas and towns. You know what? When you stay in your calling like uh in the river Jordan there was a John the Baptist. He could have changed his location to Jerusalem. Why? Because Jerusalem was the religious happening place. But he knew God had called him to the lonely wilderness of Jordan. He stayed there and people would walk barefoot hundreds of miles just to get dipped in the cold waters of Jordan under John. Why? When you function authentic, you will have God standing by your side and you will have things happening around you because God is faithful. Go ahead, give God a big hand. Amen. Amen. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with yourself. Take time to take yourself on a date. Take yourself somewhere. Sit down and look into the mirror of God's word. And take a good look at yourself through the

15:58 perspective of the scriptures. Be honest with yourself. Don't lie to yourself. Be honest with others. Speak truth wisely. You know, just because you know everything doesn't mean you have to speak everything. Look at the Lord Jesus. There are times people asked him questions and he said, "I won't answer you." There are times he wouldn't answer at all. He wouldn't even say, "I won't answer you." He would just keep quiet. Just because you know the truth, you don't have to speak it. Because authenticity must be coupled with wisdom. Just being honest and having integrity alone is not enough. Your integrity will be tested. And those are times where we have to work with love. We have to work with wisdom, pastor. I'm being honest. That's fantastic. But did you apply wisdom to your honesty? Was it the right place to speak? Was timing the right? Was strategically the right or was it best that you kept quiet? Don't lie, but

17:01 don't always have to speak the truth either. You can be quiet a lot of times. The Lord Jesus kept quiet many times simply because the place was not ready to hear the truth. One of those places was when the Lord was taken to be questioned and they asked him questions and he just kept quiet. He didn't answer. Lord Jesus, shouldn't you speak the truth? No, you should not speak the lie. Speak the truth only when it is necessary and it's the right place to speak. >> Amen. >> Otherwise, keep quiet. The Lord has given us a mouth which can open and also shut. Some people the only time they won't talk is when they are sleeping. Isn't it interesting that our ears don't work when our mouth does. The only way we can listen and learn is when our mouth is shut. And it's so important to balance this. Yes, we got to speak up and we have to speak up. But honesty and integrity and being authentic is no excuse for

18:06 speaking out of turn, for speaking carelessly. Honesty is no excuse, no reason to speaking out of timing, to be rude, to be impolite. That's not being authentic. That's just being plain foolish. Be honest with others. Be authentic with others. Why it matters? Because when you're authentic, you build a trust with others over a period of time. You know, as a young boy, when I started ministry preaching, uh somebody gave me this advice which I heard again and again from different people and today I keep echoing the same thing. Your charisma can attract people to you, but only your character will keep people with you. >> And this is so important. your skills, your abilities, your good looks, your your ability to interact will bring people around you. But end of the day, if they have to stay around you, you got to be authentic and real. >> Amen. >> Only true timber can stand the seasons of life. It's so important to be authentic. You will be tested. There's

19:10 just no other way. You will be challenged, but learn to live an authentic life. And it's not very difficult. It's actually pretty easy. God will give you the grace and help you with it. And when you're authentic, there is a lot of spiritual reward. Proverbs chapter 20 says, "The righteous who walk in integrity, even their generations will get blessed." >> Amen. Even gener what is the Bible saying? Not just your children and grandchildren, but things that you touch, things that you deal with gets blessed by the grace of God. Why? Because there is a God watching over it. There is a God who rewards. Amen. Righteous who walk in integrity get rewarded in a longterm manner. It gives you personal peace. Authentic people have peaceful peace. They they have a sense of quiet confidence because they're authentic. They're not worried. You don't have to live in fear of what did I say there? What did I say here?

20:13 You know somebody once said when you speak lie you al always have to remember it but if you're speaking truth you don't you can easily forget it because every time they ask you the same question you can repeat the truth don't have to remember what you spoke this is really important the Bible speaks about the quiet confidence let our motivations come from being a person of truthfulness and integrity >> otherwise what will happen is it gets replaced by anger, dishonesty, uh motivations of jealousy. No, walk in integrity, not in fear. Don't walk in fear. Walk in boldness. Many people want to be truthful, but they can't be truthful because fear and anxiety controls them and they want to please everybody. And because they want to please others, they speak lies just to make others happy. No, don't do that. Speak truth. But pastor others will be unhappy. Then don't talk. Just keep quiet. But don't lie. Be

21:17 authentic. Be real. >> Amen. >> The other day I I went for a funeral. It was challenging. This fellow was terrible. And only God can take him to heaven. His works won't take him to heaven. So they asked me they said pastor can you pray and specifically pray and speak a few words please tell everyone he was a good man and he is with Jesus I really wish he's with Jesus I mean most honestly heaven is much bigger than hell heaven can attract can contain more people than hell can hell is very dangerous hardly any space you don't like bangalow traffic go to hell man you will see what it is there's hardly because hell was built only for devil and the devil's people. Hell was not built for you and me. Hell was built for devil. Now some people don't want God. So the only other place is hell. Uh so that's different. Yeah. But uh what to tell in the funeral. So my problem is I

22:20 don't like to lie. So I said God knows where he is. God has decided his future. We have nothing to worry. That day I spoke only few minutes but only God knows how much of processing my brain did because I don't want to come home and say God I repent. I repent. I repent of lying. I didn't want to do that. Sometimes we are put in situations that are terrible. But you know what? We have to learn to speak the truth. And if you can't speak the truth just keep quiet, smile, cry, do whatever. But but life is tough, isn't it? Especially when you're pushed to the corner and you have to speak. What do you speak? Very hard. Science confirms that honesty reduces stress. Many people today do you know 90% of the reasons for human sickness

23:25 for human sickness 90% of the reason for ill health for diseases is stress. An authentic life reduces stress. Dishonest life increases stress. You decide you want to have a sick future or healthy future. Authentic life makes you more healthy. Amen. People who pray a lot sometimes lie a lot. Some people who preach a lot lie a lot. Sometimes while preaching lie a lot. In Assemblies of God, two big things are, you know, how much people are coming and how much money your church has. Oh, you a curse in the assemblies of God. They lie. 100 people are there say oh thousand came. I don't know what they're counting fingers or toes or I took a decision to get out of this.

24:27 Now I don't know if AG people are watching. You throw me out or keep me and I don't know where I am anyway. But truth is that was a joke. Okay. Truth is I decided I'll never talk numbers. I'll never talk money. So that headache is over. Every year I have to fill a form. How many members are there? One year I wrote I don't know. Be authentic. You know where you're forced to lie. Avoid those situations. Amen. >> So, pastor, if I'm angry, should I show my anger? No. Don't put on a bad behavior just to be authentic. I am honest, so I am angry. No, you're honest, but you're foolish. You You be honest, but behave like Jesus. Be honest but behave like the Lord. >> Become more like Christ. Bad behavior is

25:32 not an evidence of being authentic. Speak with love. Speak with gentleness. Speak truth. >> What are the challenges we have while we want to be people of authenticity? One is everyday temptations. My goodness, we are so so pressurized by our society to cut corners with time and money and this people pleasing attitudes and uh falsehood. People lie to get married after marriage one day come to know the truth then we'll see. No, you should speak the truth before getting married. your spouse should have a chance to know the truth before getting married and then they discover you are a liar and the quality of your marriage goes down. That's unfair. The big challenge to being authentic, you know, to keep jobs, to keep marriages, to keep social status. Some people borrow money to buy things which they don't use anyway to impress people

26:36 who they don't like. These are human equations which have no parallel in the animal world. Cultural pressures we are forced to exaggerate. Dishonesty in leadership and and that's another problem. Dishonesty in leadership. You know we get to see in our newspapers, in our uh media, nothing but falsehood. Technological leaders, religious guru G's, artistic leaders, political leaders creating false images, social media today. And it's natural to lie because everybody is lying. And so there's a tendency to become like them. God's word says no, you are not called to be that. You are a child of the living God. You live in the world, but you don't belong to the world. Oh, come on. Give God a big hand. You live in the world, but you don't belong to the world. You belong to the kingdom of God.

27:39 Hallelujah. You know Hitler of Germany 12 years he ruled. He was he was master of managing media. He had purchased the media. media kept talking about his greatness, how great he is, how good he is, how bad everyone else is. More than 6 million human beings were slaughtered in the Holocaust. But still the media kept talking about his greatness. After 12 years of deception, when finally everything broke loose and destruction happened, it was too late. You know whether you're the most powerful or you're the silliest only authentic life can give you a victorious life. Whoever you are being authentic is important for personal peace. >> Nobody could kill Hitler. He was surrounded by supporters but he killed himself. That no one could stop.

28:42 When you're not authentic, somewhere your decisions will turn selfdestructive. Avoid that. Avoid that because hypocrisy is short-lived. You know, one of the challenges you and I have is we are all dual citizens. We have dual citizenship. We are citizens of India and we are citizens of the kingdom of God. Hallelujah. We are already dual citizens. Amen. And because we are dual citizens, we have two constitutions. One is local constitution. Other is spiritual constitution. And we have to learn to live without violating both. That's why I said you can't be a follower of Christ until you have good intelligence. Foolish people, they don't believe in God. Wise people, it takes intelligence to believe in God and live as a child of God. Yeah. Yeah. It's very easy to be foolish. takes a lot of efforts to be a believer in Christ. It's uh that dual

29:45 citizenship concept. Now, here is where the challenge is. When you live authentic, God will bless you because you're following the principles of God's word. Okay? In the kingdom of God, you'll be blessed. But in the kingdom of men, if you want to be blessed, you not only got to be authentic. Authentic doesn't get blessed always. You've got to be clever, smart, strategic, etc. without violating being authentic and it's possible that's why the Lord Jesus said be harmless like dove dual citizenship heavenly but be clever like the serpent it's important you've got to balance both and it's possible and that's why we must be careful of how we make promises but we must keep the promises why not because others are watching but because you value yourself selfrespect Ecclesiastics let's read chapter 5 and verse number five. It is better >> not to make a war than to make one and not

30:47 >> fulfill it. God's word is saying guys don't make a promise. Think before you promise. This is the problem with people who like others to be happy. This is my problem also. I am also one little bit people pleaser. I have it's taken me a lot of years to learn to say no you know and my problem is some are spiritual invitations and when I say no they become my enemies many of my friends get angry with me how can you say no to us yes I can't say no so I'm saying yes I can't come yes yes I will not two weeks ago a friend of mine was literally scolding me he said pastor Johnson you you're the fellow who prophesied this 30 years ago in my life and today God has blessed me and I'm just asking you to come for one day and you can't come leave Bangalore and come for one day I'll pay that I'll pay this I said send it so you're coming yes I can't come it's it's difficult when when you want

31:55 to stay uh within God's call for your life and and and you have to say no to friends and still remain friends with him. Sometimes it's very difficult but but God will give us the grace. We have to practice walking in truth. Walking in love and being respectful even when we have to say no. Being kind even when we have to say no. Making arrangements even when we have to give an answer that they may not want to hear. But one thing when you make a promise make an effort to keep it. So think through before you make a promise. But keep your promise. Amen. People who don't uh give back money after taking and you don't even make an effort to give back money, you are going to hell. I hate to say it because Bible says thieves will not enter the kingdom of God and your personal name is there in God's ledger. So don't do such things but I'm speaking in tones. Yeah. Speaking in tones, you'll go to hell. There are a lot of people speaking in tonesues in hell. Heaven is not for people who speak in tonesues. Heaven is for people who like

32:58 to be Christlike, who want to be children of God in a world that is so sinful. So we must become more Christlike. It's very important to be authentic. It is important. Pastor, you know, I want to pay back. I want to keep my promise. I'm not able to. Well, that's different. See, the point is not how accurate life you live. The point is how sincere you are towards being authentic. That's the point. God knows your heart and it's important to make that effort. You know, when you sign up as a volunteer in the church or you become a member and say, "All right, I'm committed here." Or when you pick up a job and and tell, "All right, I'm taking the appointment letter." Or you're committed in marriage or in a partnership or in an investment. It's a promise you're making. Honor that promise. Be a person of selfrespect. Value yourself. This is very, very important. God wants you to live with financial and sexual integrity. With financial and sexual integrity.

34:05 Don't flirt around with people when you don't mean to be sincere. Don't do that. Sexual integrity is a very important part of being spiritually authentic. Don't violate that. Sexual purity is a commandment of the Holy Scripture. In your private life, be authentic. Even in your mind, make an effort to honor God's command for your personal life. In the place you work, in the church you worship, God's word in Colossians chapter 3 says, "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, not as unto men, but unto God Almighty." Make that sincere effort. You know, one of the things I did uh as a pastor is I decided whether there are three people or 3,000 people, I'll prepare like as if there are 30,000 people. I'll preach like as if there are 30,000 people. I'll minister like the whole world is listening. Why? Because I'm not preaching unto one or 100. I'm preaching for the audience of God who is watching

35:07 me. You know, whatever you do, do it with I'm doing it for God in the place I work, in the place I'm married, in the neighborhood I live. Make an effort. Now, all of us make mistakes. It's not like we're always perfect. But the desire to change, the desire to be in the direction of correcting ourselves is so very important. Being authentic is not about being perfect. It's about being in the direction of maintaining integrity, of being truthful, of willingness to learn. That's what God wants in our life. And you know, testing times will happen for everybody. Three stories I want to give you from the Bible because how authentic you are will get tested. Some people fail in success but succeed in failure. And I'll explain one character, his name is Solomon. When he was born, it was the most scandalous story around the world. It was not like a cheap Hollywood

36:08 Bollywood story. It was national news to a point where prophets got involved, worship leaders got involved, singers got involved, whole country got involved, neighboring countries got involved. Scandal of Batshiba. Batshiba is easy name to remember. Sheba who was having a bath. Biba. So bad boy. Okay. Now, so I tell you, if Jesus can save Johnson, he can save anybody. Amen. So what happened? David had a scandal with another man's wife. Killed off that fellow. So she became a widow then married uh uh in in some cases they call it very holy because she married a widow. God said I saw all the dance I don't like this God told him you're wrong. By the time uh he already married then he fell down he

37:10 apologized to God. God punished him lot of big story no time. Then uh for the whole thing to happen it took four five years. How can I say in 2 3 minutes? So then now finally uh their son was born. His name is uh Solomon Jediah Solomon. Now God loved Solomon. And uh Solomon you can imagine when he's growing up everybody looks at him like ah this fellow is the fruit of sin. He is the living story of David's sin. Anytime Solomon runs around, David's whole story passes by. Every time Solomon cries, David's story is crying. In the palace, doctor is rushing to treat a child. People are asking who is sick? David's that child. So, it's scandal. It's a scandal that lived on it. You know, some stories never die.

38:12 You know what I'm saying? See, today I'm preaching it. after 4,000 5,000 years David is in heaven forgot Batshiba forgot we are remembering some stories never die and look at the way you all are listening some stories have magnetic attention so Solomon is growing up imagine the tension he grew up in everybody looks at Solomon like you know your story you know I won't say when David is coming to play cricket all are talking hey what you all are talking no nothing David Solomon knows what they're talking Solomon goes to the evening club all are talking what you all are talking no nothing scandal cousin's birthday when Solomon walks in all cousins walk away why this fellow destroyed our life. He grew up in that. But you know what? When everything

39:17 around him was bad and he went through loneliness and disrespect and stress, God loved him. You know why? He became close to God. God became his best friend. But when success came, he became so successful. Like children collect stamps, some children collect marbles. Fellow started collecting wives. 1,000 boy, how do you manage, man? Thank God for Indian constitution. One and one only thousand wives and the kingdom was not divided. How did you manage? But don't try Solomon's God is my God. Hey success destroyed him. In failure he became successful. But in success he destroyed his authenticity. Sometimes people are destroyed when they become successful. Learn to surrender your success to God and be authentic

40:20 when God bless you financially. When God bless you with good looks, when God bless you with promotions, when God bless you with bigger car, bigger house, bigger influence, be submissive to God. >> Hallelujah. Another guy who became a big success during success but in failure became a total failure. The opposite of Solomon is the great prophet Elijah. When he went through success, man, he was so caught on with God. Three years in the Sherat, drinking from the pure waters of the tributaries of Jordan and eating what God sent him every day from the ravens on the mount of Carmel, calling down fire.

41:22 And in success he was too successful. But then one letter from Jezebel, one opposition the guy crumbles and says I want to die but you anointed me. I want to die. Kill me. Somebody kill me. God kill me. And he went and lie down saying I don't want to wake up. Some people can't handle stress. They can't handle trouble. When trouble comes they they become a double failure. But when success comes, they spread their wings and they soar. The others when trouble comes, they succeed. They learn, they pray, they become stronger. But when success comes, they don't know how to handle it and tumble. These are opposite characters. But there's one guy in the Bible I love. There are many. One, Daniel. I love this fellow. When trouble came, he was caught. His parents were killed in Jerusalem. His temple was burned down. He was caught by the Babylonians, dragged and sold as a slave. And he had nothing. But he became closer to God. As

42:26 a slave, he became closer to God. And now he begins to go up the political ladder. And God's blessings is on him. He becomes the prime minister of Babylon. The same country that brought him as a slave now appointed him as a prime minister. And guess what? The guy continued to be successful and was close to God. Even though the kings and empires were destroyed, he continued with the visions and the godly call. You can succeed in success. You can succeed in failure. You can be authentic in the grace of God Almighty. I want to close. Let's read Colossians chapter 3 and verse number N. Do not lie one to another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. You are becoming more Christlike. Close your eyes and say, "Father, you are the God of Daniel. You can build me in my success. You can build me in my failures. I want to be authentic. I want to be

43:31 real. And when I'm challenged and I'm put into places of poor integrity, help me, Lord, that my secret life will be as holy as my public life. That my public life will be as pure as my private life. I want it to grow in your grace. That good times or bad times, I'll be closer to you. I'll walk with you. That your blessedness will be abundant on my life. Hallelujah. To be authentic, to be real in a plastic world, to be made of a metal that pleases your heart. I commit my life, Jesus. The things in my life that stop me from a joyful living, I want to give up. Help me to replace those things with the goodness of your grace. Help me to be strategic, to be wise. Help me Lord to understand if my environment is authentic and if it's not help me to remain authentic and yet

44:35 clever. Help me to remain authentic yet strategic. Help me to remain authentic yet filled with wisdom so that I would not allow my being authentic to be used as a weapon against me. That I wouldn't go in the mode of being self-destructive but walk in the wisdom that you want me to walk. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. Heavenly Father, today as your servant, many of us who are discouraged because they were authentic and they were not rewarded by the world. They were honest and they were smashed down. They were really hurt in their office politics, in their college games. I pray for your blessing upon such people that your strength will come back in their life. Hallelujah. that we will learn to walk in integrity along with being smart in how we handle ourselves in honesty and truth. Help us, oh father, to be victorious. We love you

45:40 with all our hearts as your servant today over the house of God. I pronounce your blessing upon everybody that they'll continue to be victorious. They'll continue to be successful. They'll continue to live for your glory. that you will lift them up in their socioeconomic circumstances. Hallelujah. Thank you, Father, for your great love. In Jesus mighty name we pray. And the people said, "Amen." Give the Lord a mighty hand, shall we? Amen. I've seen the lighting flashing and heard the T roll. I've felt since breakers dashing trying to conquer my soul. I've heard the voice of Jesus telling me still to fight all.

46:46 He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me. Never. The worst fierce winds are blowing. Temptations

47:48 shall me. I feel a peace in knowing my savior stands between. He stands to shield me from danger. and earthly friends are gone. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone.

48:57 He promised never to leave me. never to leave me alone when it afflictions. Well, I'm threading the road of care. My savior helps me to carry my cross when heavy to bear. My feet entangled with briles, ready to cast me down. My savior whispered his cross. No, never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me. Never to

50:08 leave me alone. No, never alone. No. Yes, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for your promise. Oh yes. Never to leave me alone. Shall we lift our hands? He died for me on the mountain. For me they pierced the side. For me he opened and found him that crimson cleansing. Please put your hands down for me. He He waited in glory seated upon the throne. He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone.

51:17 No, never alone. Oh no, never alone. He promised never to leave me. Never to leave me alone. No, never alone. Yes, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. me. Never to leave me. Never to leave me up. Go ahead, give the Lord a mighty hand. Open your mouth. Praise him for some time. Go ahead and ruptures of praise. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The anointing of an authentic living, the anointing of integrity, the anointing of being honest in the mighty name of Jesus.

52:26 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh, the divine strength of God. Oh, the divine anointing of the Holy Spirit right now in the mighty name of Jesus, fill every life, fill every heart. Hallelujah. Come on everybody, worship him. Your God is a holy God. Your God is a real God. Your God is a faithful God. To be like your heavenly father. Hallelujah. to be Christlike. That anointing flow on every life in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, we just want to thank you Lord today for your beautiful presence in our midst through the time of worship. Thank you Lord for speaking to our hearts so clearly to your word

53:29 that you want us to live a real life honest life a life of integrity oh God an authentic life God give us the grace give us the strength oh God help our mind help our heart to be honorable to you even when people don't watch help us oh God to keep that love for you very genuine oh God thank you for your word that spoke to our life thank you for the miracles that are already happening happening in our midst. Thank you, Lord. Father, we pray for the newcomers today. We bless them. We thank you spoken to their hearts too. And we pray God that their life will be transformed. That your word will create wonders and miracles in their life. And we pray God that week after week when they come back, we thank you that they will see your goodness and favor on their lives. Bless them. We pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries. Oh God, this week we pray that the year ahead will be an authentic life, a life with greater purpose, with a greater vision, and with your great blessing on their life, they will see

54:31 greater things happen. Lord, bless the families, oh God, with love, joy, peace in their homes, unity in their homes, an authentic family life. Bless each and every one of them. Father, we pray for those who are traveling this week. Your journey mercies go with them, protect them, keep them safe. whatever work that they go for Lord we pray that you will give them blessed success oh God and let them come back with lovely testimonies of your goodness father Lord we pray oh father as your children with a heart of gratitude worship love for you give their tithes their offerings unto you God you bless the work of their hands make it fruitful and we pray for those who are struggling oh father in their finances in the name of Jesus we pray God let there be a divine breakthrough over their finances. Let blessed doors open, unusual miracles happen, oh God, when they come back next week, Lord, that they will be able to, Lord, joyfully worship you even with their offerings and tithes. Thank you once again, Father, as your people go back another week ahead. We pray, God, that

55:35 your blessed favor will be upon their life as they desire and commit their lives to an authentic way of living to be Christlike. Bless them. Thank you, Lord. May your peace be with them. We give you all glory, honor and praise in Jesus mighty name we pray and the church said amen. Amen. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of our heavenly father and the sweet abiding fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of us from now and forever more. Amen. Amen. God bless you. Have a blessed authentic week ahead. Amen. All the newcomers that are here today, we want to welcome you. Let's put our hands together for them. As you walk out, there's a guest launch. people waiting to meet, talk, and pray with you. For the rest of you, if you want prayers, the pastors are lining up in the front and in the overflow. Bye-bye. Heat. Heat.

57:16 Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.