Finishing Well

00:01 Amen. Let's do the confessions together. I believe in the Almighty God, Father and Creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God and my Savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Word. He suffered, died, and rose again. He ascended into heaven. He shall soon come again. I believe in God, the Holy Spirit, whose worship and my guide. I believe in holy people for giving in service to God in this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I am and I can do what it says I can do. Today as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I'm 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 uh studying from God's word on enduring. This morning we are in

01:06 church because we endure the weather. What a cold morning, huh? Sometimes it feels good, no to get a little drizzle on you in the morning. Enduring is not easy. We all like comfort and [snorts] perseverance. Endurance comes outside the comfort zone. Endurance is basically to keep on keeping on uh knowing what you're called to do doing what you have to do when it is uncomfortable, when it doesn't feel rewarding, when it doesn't feel nice at all. Why is it people like to get out of Bangalore for a vacation? because uh you are in comfort zone. Why is it Monday morning people are a little tired to go to work? Because it is outside comfort zone. Anything in the comfort zone, we like it. Even if it's not rewarding.

02:09 Anything outside the comfort of our lives, even if it is rewarding, it requires endurance. And a lot of times the endurance zone is outside the comfort zone. And comfortable life is not a bad thing. It's a good thing. But a lot of character formation quite often happens in the endurance zone. Spiritual battles are in the endurance zone. It's not in the comfort zone. You know when they prepare uh city maps. Uh I was uh quite intrigued when um I looked at the comprehensive development plan of Bangalore. Plans are great, huh? I tell you uh plan plans are great. At least on the paper it looks nice and and they plan everything. But planning is a good thing. But a lot of times plannings don't happen because

03:14 enforcement of plan comes in the endurance zone. Planning comes in the comfort zone. We plan to study. Wake up in the morning, start studying, whole night study. The planning is fun. We'll go for a vacation here, there, we'll get married. Planning is fun, but staying married is endurance. A lot of times it's comfort. And and and a lot of times when we put plans into process, the process actually happens in the endurance zone. And therefore the scripture tells us don't think that endurance is just about a life on the earth which is physical material what we can see what we can touch what we can feel what is empirical but God's word is saying there is a level of discomfort in the spirit world where you may have to

04:17 endure spiritual battles. Now, I want you to look at that scripture with me. Ephesians chapter 6, let's do verse 13. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God. >> Uh-huh. >> You may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything. >> The problem is many times after we've done everything, we are sad. After we've done everything, we are angry. After we've served the Lord, we are irritated. After we've done everything, we are unhappy. God is saying, "No, after you've done everything, you need to be in a stand which is so beautiful that you're enjoying what you fought for." >> Amen. >> God don't like people going out depressed. He want people to stand happy. Church ought to be a joyful place. Christian life may be a war zone, but it is a joy zone. Why? Why this whole spiritual warfare? I

05:21 mean honestly sometimes uh this whole concept of warfare is so irritating because we want peace, love, but God says no, there is a spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is a reality because there is a warfare where demonic powers are fighting against the kingdom of God. There is a demonic world. Now, those of you who don't believe in demons, that is the proof there are demons because demons keep you from believing the truth. The scriptures talks about demonic spirits. And um well, if you're saying I don't believe in demons in the sense of saying I believe in Christ and not in demons, well, that's understood. But the existence of the evil is a reality. and and the scripture talks about how they attack the kingdom of God. You know there is wars going on in the world. I remember this year when we began I mentioned that number of wars are only going to increase. Uh and that is not

06:24 because we want it that way. Of course no we want petrol prices to go down. You know the other day I was just joking. If anybody gets such an anointing that you can touch the water and it turns into non-alcoholic wine please we don't need more wine. Somebody do something with petroleia, turn water into petrol or diesel. Anointing will be so useful at that level. But the point here is with all the wars going on, many countries that are not able to hit another country are hitting the bases of the other country around them. It's the same thing with the kingdom of God because the demonic powers can't hit Christ, can't hit God because they are almighty and these things you know in physics they say every action has a equivalent opposite reaction. Is that true? Okay. And many people think that God and Satan are action and reaction. You are so wrong. There is no equivalent opposite of God. >> God is another class. [applause]

07:29 You know in school days they would say explain and give three examples. You can't do that for God. Neither can you explain him nor give examples. >> He is unique. He's almighty. He's beyond description. He's too marvelous for words. When God squeezed himself into time, space and matter, that condition was called Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> There is no equivalent to God. There's nothing that can attack God. And therefore, Satan attacks his authorized service centers. Satan attacks God's authorized representatives on the planet earth. That's why when you become a believer, there is attack against you. And you think why only I'm getting attacked? Because you've become official, baby. You've come into the kingdom of God. And yes, there is a kingdom of darkness that's fighting you. But don't worry, he who called you is faithful. He who began a good work in you is able to complete and perfect it until the day of his

08:31 coming. Go ahead, give God a mighty hand. That is so true. [applause] And therefore, we don't fight alone. >> We fight in Christ Jesus. >> We fight by the Holy Spirit. Amen. And and we are fighting a war which we already won. You know 11. How many players in soccer game on one side? >> 11 in cricket. >> 11. It's a game of 11. >> All right. I always say that you know in the church there will be no Judas's career. Do you know why? Be- because 12 is the number for that fellow to be there. But before Jesus died he was removed. In the [snorts] New Testament church there is no Judas. >> I'm saying you are faithful. At least have an amen for that one. That's a good one. There is no Judas here >> because before the New Testament began, Judas was out. Expeation happened. >> He was extracted out and removed out.

09:34 And there is no Judas spirit in the New Testament church. >> Amen. >> I just It's not in my syllabus. It just came. In case anyone is thinking I'm a betrayer of Christ, you're not. It's Satan making you feel like that, but you're not. You're a child of God. >> And your behavior will become what God wants it to be. >> There is a battle. Yes. But you will win. You will win. [applause] On the cross of Calvary, Jesus already took the victory. 11 players in cricket, 11 players in football on one side. Now to win the game all don't have to hit the ball into the goal or hit the make runs or goals. Am I communicating? Yes. Runs in cricket and goals [snorts] in soccer, football. I'm really not a games guy, you know. That's not my life. I'm into the Bible and people. So yeah, I'm I'm not I'm not. So somebody asked

10:37 me the other day, pastor, you don't know about sports. I said, "Do you know about Bible?" I went to a youth meeting and I said, "Who are the cricketers today?" And fellows were screaming names and this is a assemblies of God youth meeting. All want to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And they asked me to preach for them. I said, "Sure." And I went all the way to wherever I think it was Puna. And uh I said, "Who are the cricketers?" And they gave the names of present cricketers, previous cricket. I didn't ask all that. Previous cricketers, cricketers who held record. Each one started giving out their GK. And uh then I said, "What are the names of the disciples?" And and you could hear groaning and murmuring. And it's interesting that we want to go to heaven, but we know very less about anything heavenly. And we want to avoid hell, but we have more details about that. You know, it's it you can't go forward looking at the rear view mirror of the

11:40 car. If you want to go forward, last Sunday we closed with that scripture, looking unto Jesus, >> the author and finisher of our faith. >> That's how we move forward. And so when when scores have to be won, when uh goals have to be won, when runs have to be done, it's not like everybody, you know, the one guy who makes the team win, everybody won. The one guy who makes the team, but in that one, everybody is a winner. You know when America and Japan had the war and uh America won the war and the sad stories of Hiroshima, Nagasaki are imprinted on human minds and the devastation of technology and how terrible things can happen. the escalation of the Pearl Harbor, all of those stories. And and the crazy thing is one of the Japanese army bases was holding some of the American soldiers and captains as

12:46 prisoners of war. So the Japanese camp that held the American prisoners of war. And these American guys who are prisoners were not given food. They were very badly tortured. They are put through all kind of mental stress so that the Japanese can extract information from them. And now the Americans won and the American representative came to this camp to deliver the American prisoners of war. He saw the American captain and the American representative as a winner walked up to the American prisoners of war. met the captain and said, "Captain, you've won." And this is in the military records. And the captain put his head down with total shame and said, "No, I lost. I lost and I'm ashamed. I lost." And the man says to him, "I am here to tell you on behalf of the general of the

13:48 American, I'm here on behalf of the commander of the American that we won the war. And when we won, you won the war. You can't be defeated when we won. [applause] So put on your stride, put on your clothes, let's go. You are no longer defeated. You are the winner." And when these American prisoners of war walked out of the camp, every Japanese soldier was saluting these guys. Why? Because when your captain has won, you are a winner. You belong to that team. You belong to that clan. Oh, somebody if you get this spiritual message, you may have done a sin. You may have done wrong. But because Christ is the winner, you are in the winning camp. You can repent. You can change. You can grow. There is a Holy Spirit in you that transforms you. You are not defeated in the past. You have a victory by the grace of God. That's why when we clap, it's emotional because WE KNOW THROUGH HIM I CAN DO ALL THINGS

14:51 for he strengthens us. [applause] >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. Your captain won >> and therefore you are a winner. Amen. >> And we have a responsibility to live up to that victory. So our part in this warfare is really not winning the war, but it is to stand in the victory and maintain that victory and make it personal. And a lot of times evil cannot defeat you by attacking you. And so he defeats you through manipulation, through lies, through deception. And therefore we have victory through truth, holiness, by practicing faith, prayer, practicing God's word in obedience, through witnessing Christ. That's why the Bible says, look at verse 6, number 10, chapter 6, verse 10. Finally, uh-huh, don't don't find your strength in your money. Don't find your strength

15:53 in your technology. Don't find your strength in your friends. All of those are good things to have. Please have money. Please have friends. Please be technologically sharp. Please upgrade your education. Now, those are good things. But finally, the bottom line, while you have those things as your resources, your strength, your foundation should be in the strength that God offers us. >> Hallelujah. The first act in spiritual conflict is reception. to receive what God gives before you can make efforts out of it. Take that position God has given you because re really our battle is not against when you talk of enduring our battle is not against flesh and blood. Yes, it's irritating when people misbehave, you know. I mean, all of us go through that. Yeah. If if people don't misbehave with you and you want to feel what it is, just take a vehicle and drive on the road.

16:56 Everywhere people break cues, jump signals, misbehave, are insensitive. This is a reality. Pastor, I never found one of them. You could be one of them. Look into the mirror. We are all people who are either troubling somebody or are troubled by someone else. This is a reality unfortunate reality of life. [clears throat] Back in the days when we used to have a uh what's that lockdown uh in the country and uh we had uh uh what's it called? Online services, right? Um [clears throat] so somebody came and gave me a few gifts and all that but this is after the lockdown became partial where people could meet each other and and and this person comes and gives me some gifts and and I said for what? And the person says pastor thank you for your online services. I said all these gifts are for that. Said yeah. Then says actually no. I said okay tell me for what is this?

17:59 And says thank you for stopping on time. And I asked what's that said pastor you know we all got a life to live and and sometimes you know our children are sitting with us families there with us and the one thing we are praying when people are preaching is God stop them stop them we've got other things to do now we can't be disrespectful and get up when preaching is going on though it's online you know we don't want our children and others to catch bad behavior so we just sit there and we pray and after we found your channel. We are so happy because one thing we know you'll stop on time. I felt miserable that day. I took the gifts because I didn't want to be disrespectful. I took the gifts. I felt miserable. I said, "Man, the fact is this that sometimes people are blessed because you preach long enough. Some are blessed because you stopped on time." We all have situations that come to us as a blessing in disguise. We all go

19:02 through interesting situations where we feel happy or sad. But God is saying do not take it personal against that person. Do not go to attack individuals. Why? Because your battle is not against people. Look at look at that one more time. Shall we go to 6:12? For our struggle is not >> Uh-huh. There's a whole spectrum of spiritual process there that is fighting us. The powers of the demonic are personal. They are organized and they are hostile. And your problems cannot be fully explained through psychology, circumstances or other people because primarily your difficult colleague, your difficult colleague that you'll meet on Monday is not your actual target, but the forces that manipulate and misuse these things to bring you down. Because if you name a wrong adversary,

20:06 in other words, if you're wrong in figuring out who is your enemy, then you will make wrong use of weapons. And instead of using the weapons of victory, you begin to use the weapons of your enemy, which are contempt, retaliation, etc. Look at Nehemiah. He's going to build the wall. He's going to rebuild what was broken down. [clears throat] And it's a fantastic thing. And God is with him. He's standing up to build and all the oppositions come against him. And they're telling him, "Come down from the wall. Let's talk together." And I like the way Nehemiah answered in chapter 6:3. He says, "I'm carrying on a great project, and I cannot stop now. >> I like to talk to you, but this is not the time to talk. This is a time to stay focused and do what God has called me to do." In fact, one scripture says with one hand they held the sword and with the other hand they held the brick in their hand and they kept building. Sometimes a good amount a good percentage of your

21:09 energy goes into making sure you are protected while with the other you're working your future. Sometimes you have to fight through your duties and responsibilities >> and it's not easy. And they said, "Nahmiah, come down from your construction. Let's sit down and talk. We don't like what you're building. Let's discuss. It sounds very scientific. It sounds very reasonable." But he said, "No discussions later." Look at Look at Apostle Paul. I mean, people began to criticize him so badly. Criticism is another weapon of the devil. Amen. Criticism is another >> weapon of the devil. Please don't become a weapon in the devil's hand against anybody. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> I counted about eight and a half amens. Mhm. Don't I mean we all want God to protect us from others criticizing us. But are we praying God protect me from criticizing others? Oh yeah, there's a prayer you can do

22:13 like that. Game against Apostle Paul. criticisms of all kinds because criticism has a a unique behavior. It arrives when you need it least from a person who does not qualify to say it and it is often what you least deserve and it's never in a helpful form. It's worth watching the video to just go through what I said. Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 4, "It is the Lord who judges me." You know, sometimes when people criticize you, you got to just pat your back and say, "It's all right. I may be right. I may be wrong. But I have a heavenly father who will guide me, judge me, take care of me. Let me do what God's called me to do." Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. >> Somebody the other day was criticizing me. Other demon means many years ago, okay? Criticizing me and said, "Uh, big church is not good. small church is

23:17 better. And I I just giggled. I said, "That's so true. Small church is better." Anyway, our church is small. In 1.4 billion people, what is a few 10 20,000? It's nothing. You know, you see, you should not calculate how many fish you have based on your neighbor's aquarium. Calculate based on the ocean. [applause] Yeah. So, the funny thing is now those people who criticize me are all volunteers in the church. So many of these things and and I share this with them sometimes. I tell them you people are only making the church grow. They say pastor don't rub it. [clears throat] But [laughter] you know a lot of times a lot of times if we can just learn to smile at critiques and be peaceful and keep moving on [clears throat] they'll become blessing in our life. Don't hope that always but just just keep moving forward. Amen. ignore a lot of these things. You know the Bible is saying apostle Paul says he

24:19 didn't bother too much about he didn't say let I've written to Titus I've written to Timothy I've written to Phileon let me write one epistle to the critics. You will not find one letter to the critics in the Bible. >> The Bible just says love them >> and maintain social distance. Evil cannot dislodge you. He can only persuade you to move. And his cleverest weapon is not to attack you, but to call you into a discussion, into a negotiation so that he can put confusion, fear inside you and somehow slow you down from what you're already doing. And under pressure, endurance becomes important. Why? Because under pressure, the first casualities are self-control and speech. It's later that we lose perception and time. Initially, we lose self-control. we react in a wrong way. We forget how we are talking. Those are the first casualties or collaterals. It's interesting. They did a brain study and they found that when

25:22 when when something happens based on a stimuli, based on an event, you know, signals reach the emotional brain center before it can reach the reasoning center. And that's why many times we react emotionally first and think later. Were there people like this in the Bible? Oh yes, one we have. Brother Peter, he first reacted and then thought, what was that? [clears throat] Jesus walking on the water. That's a Satan. That's devil, bro. My grandmother has told me about Satan. Peter is preaching in the boat. Jesus is walking on the water. Whenever God does something unexpected, Christians are the first ones to start a new denomination saying that's not Jesus. We don't like it. Peter says that's the devil looking at Jesus. Then the Lord Jesus said he's Jesus is walking on the water. Jesus said Peter it is me. Jesus it's you. Fellow switched.

26:28 He forgot what he just said. Some of us are are panicking when we look at people switching parties in politics. But this happened back in the Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Peter switched like that. And he says, "It is you, JESUS. OF COURSE, I want to walk on the water." Peter, do you know what you're talking? Of course. No. Jesus says, "Come." Fellow jumps in the water and then he's thinking, "What am I doing? Many of us are in that isn't it? Sometimes our emotions come out first and then our reason. By the time reason catchups, emotion has already murdered the relationship and then reason prays for a resurrection of relationships. This morning God is saying don't allow yourself to be manipulated by forces. You got to learn to endure. Allow your wisdom to work with your feelings. It's a fact. It's a fact that past a certain

27:30 point many people cannot hear without distortion. And that's why we speak more sharply and listen less accurately. And sometimes I'm telling you God's servants. When I say gods servant, you're a godservant in the IT sector. You're a godservant in the medical fraternity. You're God's servant in judiciary. No pastor, I'm advocate. Who told you advocate? Advocate is the work you do. Your identity is you are an agent of God in that society. That's who you are. Amen. Hallelujah. And and having said that, a lot of times we get tired and we think, "Oh no, I'm getting distracted. I'm getting tempted. I'm too excited. I I I'm having lustful thoughts. I'm having too much anger in my head." Hey, guess what? Fatigue hits all of us. And that's a moment Satan is waiting for. Get rest. Eat something nice. Go to sleep. reflect on God's word. No, no, no. I'll not sleep. I'll pray more. Look, prayer is a holy thing. But please, you you

28:34 also got to take rest. Amen. Those who are never praying and always sleeping for you, another message is coming one Sunday. Now, don't don't misuse this message. But rest is important. The Lord Jesus told his disciples, come let's rest for some time. Oh, I have to pray. One pastor told me, you know, he's a good friend of mine. He told me, I prayed continuously for 30 hours without sleeping. So I told him, you violated the word of God. He got angry. He didn't talk to me for a few weeks. He was very angry with me. My point was, okay, if if if the Lord inspires you to pray like that, that's fine. But that shouldn't become a practice. It shouldn't become something everybody should practice because in every 24 hours take rest for 7 8 hours. What about the other amens? When am I going to hear 3,000 amens? It is so important that we don't blame everything on Satan because many times

29:38 Satan doesn't even have that much idea. It is the holy children of God who create many problem for themselves. I heard this funny story. It was raining because it's raining today. The story comes to my mind. It seems it was raining in one place. Once this is not theological, this is a joke. So it seems when Satan was walking and he was getting wet and he decided to run and stand in front of another house. So he ran there and stood on the viranda Satan because it's raining and he heard shouting and fighting inside the house and he was curious. He looked inside. It's a Pentecostal Christian house. Total fight is going on inside. Satan decided don't stand here. And Satan is walking in the rain. [laughter] Another Satan was coming with umbrella and asked Satan number one, "Hey, you could have been waiting there, standing

30:39 there. Why are you walking in the rain?" Satan one told Satan to bos thanks for coming with the umbrella. Let's go. That's a Pentecostal house. I stand there. Next Sunday, the whole church will blame me. I did nothing. But you know I have to remember this joke for all the remaining services. You know a lot of times the devil is not always involved in many problems we have. Mhm. Mhm. And and therefore wise endurance is different from foolish endurance. Some suffering is only destroying us. Other sufferings build us. And we have to identify the difference. The scripture tells us bear what comes from being faithful. Sometimes when you're faithful to God, there are some sufferings that you have to accept. Accept that with the limitations that you have. Accepting your limitations is maturity. It's not weakness. But flexibility is what

31:43 separates endurance from stubbornness. the willingness to allow the wisdom of God to help you move forward in peace. Change what can be changed. And if nothing can be done about something, ask for God's grace to accept it in peace and move forward in life. Endless anguish over things that you can't change is unnecessary and not good. where there is a serious wrong, refuse to accept that wrong as a reality and pray that God will give you victory. You know, many people don't finish well though they start well. Many people don't finish well. Look at King Saul. God anointed him. He started off so well, but he ends up in the hands of a woman who is possessed and speaking divination and is guiding him by the zodiac and by the evil spirits. and he dies on the mountains of Gilboa. Look at Solomon. The guy started as someone who is wise,

32:46 someone who was so full of wisdom. He received that wisdom from God directly. But in the hands of over a thousand foreign women [clears throat] that took him away with lust and greed and pride and wisdom itself became useless in his life. Didn't finish well. Look at David. David's biggest shipwreck didn't happen on a Titanic in the ocean. His biggest shipwreck happened on a sunny day on top of the terrace while he was peeping into places he shouldn't be. Compromise works in inches but takes you poles away from God. A statistical record of start startups in the world tells us that in one year out of the 100 startups that start only 80% survive. 20% are gone in the very first year. In 5 years that number increases to about 55% are gone. [clears throat] About 55%.

33:50 Why? Why is it that why is it that endurance is is a problem across the world across the automotive industry the software industry politics it's it endurance holding on is difficult why because leadership research consistently finds that executives who derail are really not done because of lack of ability but because of poor attitudes. It's often a problem with relationships, failure to adapt in transitions, the inability to learn on how to lead teams, the failure to deliver on promises. Now in India, that'll make you a great politician. Now you know that was a joke. And this happens to roughly half of all managers interviewed. And this is the sad reality. They are promoted for their competence but they are later punished for lack of character. The collapse usually happens because they adopt a lifestyle that they cannot

34:53 maintain and therefore they become dishonest to maintain a lifestyle that they don't require and everything collapses in the process. That's why Ephesians 6:14 is so important. Let's close with that. Let's do stand firm with a belt of truth buckled around your >> and the uh-huh righteousness in place and your >> fitted with the readiness that comes from >> this is a gospel of peace not a gospel of argument. Let's go on. In addition to all this, take up your >> with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the hallelujah. Yep. Absolutely. Absolutely. You know, you know, you know this theology or the logic of the armor of God. We assume Apostle Paul got it while he was sitting and writing this

35:55 from the prisons of uh wherever writing to the Ephesian church. Uh so he was sitting in the prison because he preached the gospel. He was arrested and and and sitting there he was writing looking at the Roman soldier. Well that could be accurate but it is incomplete. But when you read the book of Isaiah you find God himself wearing this armor. God himself says, "I have this breastplate of righteousness that I have the shoes of peace." So this is actually what God wears. This is what God wears. And Apostle Paul puts it in more clear pragmatic terms. And he's talking about six things and we'll run through that. Belt of truth. It makes sure everything else is held properly. Belt of truth. One version of yourself in the church and another version of yourself in the coffee shop and another version of yourself in the college canteen and another version of yourself when she's alone with you. Is lack of the belt. It's not multiple

36:59 belts. There's only one belt. Look at someone beside you and say looks like he's talking to us. Come on. The [laughter] the belt of truth. Second, the breastplate of righteousness. Breastplate means it covers from the neck below all the way to the waist. It's the breastplate. It protects all your vitals. It is protected not by your righteousness, but trusting in the righteousness of Christ, which causes us to walk in the righteousness of God. >> Hallelujah. Amen. That my sin was taken on him and his righteousness was placed on me. Trusting in that righteousness of God. Amen. and allowing his righteousness to become our behavior. Third, the gospel of peace on the feet. you know, the Roman um shoes [clears throat] that Apostle Paul probably was looking at are hobnailed not not just for speed but for firmness because many times in the back in those days they had to go and fight in

38:01 terrains that are slippery and difficult and so they used to have you know these shoes that are very firm that that don't that don't let you slip and the Bible is saying when you go with the gospel of peace there are many times you get into arguments you get into irritations you get into fights with people many times when you when you go in peace but you come out with like a you know God is saying don't wear slippery shoes have the gospel of peace on your feet >> hallelujah number four shield of faith shield of faith shield of faith which quenches even the fiery darts of the enemy many arrows that the devil will send on you is fiery you know why because the devil knows the arrow can't hit you directly so at least where the arrow falls, it'll cause fire. So he puts fire on the arrow and sends it. God says, "Don't worry." Faith is so strong, it will not only stop the arrow, but it will put off >> the fire. >> Hallelujah. You heard of fire

39:04 extinguisher. There is electrical fire extinguisher. There is chemical fire extinguisher. There is uh um different I was going to say relationship fire extinguishers. There are different fire extinguishers in the spirit world. Faith is a fire extinguisher. [applause] It puts off. And number six, sword of the spirit. No. Number five, helmet of salvation. Helmet of salvation. Guarding the mind in the assurance that you are a child of God. In the assurance that Christ has saved you. Hallelujah. In the assurance that the work of the gospel is accurate and perfect. Amen. that helmet of salvation. Don't you don't you change it for anything. Please don't take off the helmet of salvation and put on the helmet of the because these are all human. H human governance always has human weakness. I want to go to a perfect church. Please

40:10 don't. If you find one, stay away. Let it stay perfect. Every every human institution has its weakness, imperfections. Therefore, put on the helmet of salvation. [clears throat] Amen. >> Amen. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. >> And number six, the sword of the spirit. You know, the first five are all defensive, but this one is offensive. It hits the enemy and it is the word of God led by the spirit of God. It's the word of God led by the >> You know what scriptures you you what scriptures you put into your clock room called the memory the Holy Spirit uses at the right time through your lips to declare prophetically. >> And I want to close man. Let's Okay. And the Bible says pray with all prayer. Somebody shout pray. You know, the enemy is looking for gaps between the breastplate and the helmet.

41:12 Looking for gaps between the belt belt and the shoes. Looking for gaps because that's where he wants to aim. God says, "Hold everything together through prayer." Prayer makes everything effective. Hallelujah. Amen. Prayer makes everything effective. Why do we pray? Because prayer will bless your future. If I study, I will get good marks even without prayer. That is true. If you study you will get good marks even without prayer but with prayer God will bless your whole career. Not only one marks card your whole prayer makes life effective. Hallelujah. Pray with all prayers which means there are many kinds of prayers. Prayers is the seventh prayer is not just the seventh piece of the armory. Prayer is how everything else is made to work beautifully. Hallelujah. Endurance really is the gap between what God promised and you obeyed him and the results God will give you when he fulfills his promise. That gap is called endurance. And that's why

42:16 endurance is really staying faithful and fruitful. I have to close with this. Revelation 2 verse number 10. Let's read together. Be faithful >> unto death >> and I'll give you the >> Isn't it so funny that death and life are in the same sentence? It can't happen in any other faith, but it happens when you follow Christ. That death doesn't lead to a permanent memory. It leads to a presence of resurrection. Death and life come together in the hands of God Almighty. There may be a death FIRST, BUT IF YOU ENDURE, YOU'RE COMING OUT WITH LIFE in Jesus' name. Your marriage will catch life. Your career will catch life. Your education will catch life. Your finances will catch life. Your body will catch life. YOUR PROBLEMS, HEY, you may go through a season of death, but God says death is not the end. There is a crown of life that I'm bringing as a reward because you envy. Go ahead, give God a big hand. I feel it in my bones.

43:21 Hallelujah. Give him a big hand of praise. Hallelujah. He that endures unto death, I will give him the crown of life. Close your eyes and say, "Father, we'll take every other crown that comes, but we will never give up on that one crown." Every other crown is good, and we are thankful for it, but the crown of life is something we don't want to miss. So help us Lord to be faithful not just on a Sunday but all the way until the end of life. Help us to be faithful Jesus and to be fruitful to you Lord. To be faithful and fruitful to put on the whole armor as a lifestyle and not just an occasion but as a habit, as an attitude, as a behavior. to put on the whole armor with your wisdom and love protruding with your wisdom and love shining bright with your wisdom and love flowing

44:24 through our lives. Thank you that there is healing in prayer. Thank you that there are miracles in prayer. Thank you Lord that we are not fighting for victory but we are fighting from the victory you already gave us. Help us to make it personal. And some of us who are feeling like defeated, we are feeling like we've lost it. Help us, Lord, to remember that when you won the victory on the cross, the victory became ours. Thank you that the whole team has won. Thank you that when we know the truth, it sets us [music] free. Hallelujah. Thank you that in the persecutions of life, it's not over. You are with us. Help us, Lord, to move on with courage, to move on with joy. After having done all, [music] to stand not in bitterness, but in joy, after having done all, to stand not in a bad attitude, [music]

45:26 but being full of gratitude, being full of thankfulness. Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, today [music] as a servant over your house, as a priest, I speak your blessings on each one of us. Those that are [music] seated standing, everyone be blessed by you, Father, that we will walk in your success, we will walk in your favor. [music] May your grace be upon us. Help us, oh Lord, that during our seasons of endurance, [music] when we go through pain, when we go through hurt, when we go through seasons of fear, [music] that we learn to get back to joy and faith. We'll remember to get back to your providence [music] and to love you with all our hearts. To you be all the glory and honor in Jesus' name we pray. And the people said, "Amen." And shall we stand? We'll sing an old familiar hymn before [music] we pray and close. Oh Lord my God, when I in awome wonder [singing]

46:33 consider all the works thy hands have [singing] made. [music] I see the star. I hear the rolling [music] >> thy path through the [music] universe display. and [music] sings my soul. >> My Jesus, how great. [music and singing] How great thou are. And saints my soul, my [singing] toe. How great thou are. [music] How great thou [music]

47:41 when through the woods and forest [music] place. I wonder and hear [music] the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look [music] down from lofty [singing] mountains, grandure and [music] you're the broom and feel the [music] gentle breeze. Then sings my soul, my savior [music] God to me. How great thou are. How great thou are. Then [music and singing] sings my soul, my savior God to thee. [music]

48:49 How great. [singing] [music] How great thou are. [singing] And when I think [music] that God is son of sparing, [singing] send him to die. I scarce can take it in that on the cross [music] my burden gladly bearing [singing] he [music] bled he died. Thank you Lord my s then sings my soul [music] my savior God to thee [music] how great [singing] thou are how great thou are

49:58 sings [singing] my soul Oh my [music] to thee. How great thou are. How great thou. Oh yes. [music] When Christ shall Jesus will come soon [music] our Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you for this [music] reality. What joy shall fill my heart. Then I [singing] shall bow in humble adoration and then [music] proclaim. My God, how great thou are. and sings [singing] my soul. Come on church, worship him the name

51:05 [music] above every other name. Oh yes. Shall we all lift our hands wherever we are standing? [music] Sing it together as we worship him. Jesus, soul [singing] my savior [music] God to thee. How great [music] thou are. [singing] How great th Go ahead everybody [music] take a few minutes everyone praise himash. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Let the Holy Spirit anoint your prayer. Thank [music] you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Victory. Victory. Victory. Victory in your private life. Victory in your public life. [music] Victory in the mighty name of Jesus. Hallelujah. Victory that God [music] has

52:07 given us. Victory. Yes, it's [music] possible in the mighty name of Jes. Come on, go ahead. Praise him. Hallelujah. Give it up to Jesus, our Lord. Give it up to the Lord. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Holy [music] Spirit. Thank you Jesus. >> Hallelujah. Lord, we thank you for [music] ministering unto us this whole month, oh God, our endurance. Thank you for your precious word. Father, we pray like we heard today. Help us to stand firm after after having done everything. Help us stand firm. Help us to, oh God, Lord, wear the armor of God, oh God. Father, Lord, thank you once again for you will Lord give victory to each one of us as we Lord continue to endure. And Lord, we thank you for your blessing over our lives. We pray for everyone who has come here for the very first time. We pray oh God as a church. We pray for them. We pray you will bless them oh God father with your goodness and they will experience your presence in a beautiful way. Oh God lord we also pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays or the wedding anniversary this week.

53:08 [music] We pray oh God lord for your favor upon them and upon the years ahead. We pray oh God Lord for those who are oh God traveling this week that the journey mercy shall be with them. Lord we also remember if there's anyone amongst us who has lo lost their beloved ones this week. Oh God, Father, we pray, oh God, Lord, that you will comfort them and strengthen them at this moment. Oh God, Lord, we also pray over the tithes and the offerings. Oh God, Lord, thank you, Father, [music] for the privilege to sew into your kingdom from what you have given to us, oh God. Lord, we pray that Lord, you will continue to multiply your blessing upon every child of yours, oh God, Lord. And if anyone amongst us is lacking, that Lord, your heavens will open about them that Lord, you are going to provide the needs of your children, oh God, or none of us will lack because you are our heavenly father. Thank you once again for your beautiful presence with us send us back with your blessings in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. >> Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of our heavenly father and the sweet and abiding fellowship of the holy spirit. May it rest and abide with each one of us now and forever more. [music] Amen. Amen. Amen. God bless your church. As a church we would like to welcome those of you who

54:10 [snorts] are here for the very first time. Shall we put our hands together and welcome them into the house of God. And even as you walk out, there's a guest launch out there. There's a team waiting to meet with you and pray with you. Please do visit that place and if you need prayers, pastors are here in the front and in the overflow. You can come forward and get prayed. God bless you all. Have a blessed week. Thank you. >> [music]

55:13 >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.