Persona

00:04 Amen. Let's do the confessions together. I believe in the almighty 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 worshipped and my guide. I believe in holy fellowship, forgiveness I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can. 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. You must have received a special Advent devotional,

01:05 a Christmas Advent. There's basically a daily reading for the next 25-30 days until Christmas, starting next Sunday. So, uh please carry this with you. All of the online participants and worship, it's available in your description. Uh and then you will find it in the church website by the end of the day. And so, please take time to read maybe two devotionals this month. One your daily devotional from the church, and the other is the special devotional. This month we've been studying from God's word on the word leadership that God has called all of us to be leaders in the society. And God wants us to lead ourselves even as we have the impartation of grace from God to lead others. God doesn't make Christians have more muscles than others. God doesn't suddenly make Christians have more college degrees than others through some

02:09 miracle. No. God doesn't look forward to your leadership through beating down others physically or becoming champions through some kind of a shortcut and accomplishment. Why? Because the primary leadership Bible is talking about is not leading others, but it's talking about leading yourself in the will of God almighty. And therefore, he pours the wisdom in our heart. He pours the grace in our spirit and the strength in our soul that we will lead ourselves in the ways of God. We started with understanding that he's sending us out into the world which is full of wolves. Some are loving wolves. Some are not so dangerous wolves, but are wolves. And he's sending us not as a muscle wolf that will kill the other wolves. No, he's sending us as sheep. When a sheep sees a wolf, it's scared. It's afraid. How can a sheep lead a pack of wolves? The Lord gave a beautiful recipe and said, "This is the way you're

03:13 going to lead. You're going to be a sheep, but you will lead the wolf through the wisdom of the serpent and the purity of the dove." And we began to look at how it's important to cultivate uh mannerisms of friendships, relationship handling in marriage or family, and how socials are very important. We looked at the importance of skills, and we found that it is important to hone our skills that everybody who says, "Oh, I don't have any talent. I don't have a skill." is either saying it intentionally as a lie or is saying it accidentally as not so correct because it's possible someone didn't discover their skill, but it's impossible that you don't have one. God created us in his image, and therefore, we are all embedded. We have been imbibed with the goodness of God's talents and grace in some format or the other. As I was studying the scripture, one of the beautiful things I found out

04:16 is that God has also placed all of these things, our socials, our skills, our leadership, our success, our failure, everything is spread across on a motherboard. You know, they call it motherboard now in computers where they put all the chips and the ICs and the everything together is called the motherboard. In the scripture, character is the motherboard that carries everything. One word is persona, your personality, your character, your disciplines, the real timber of who you are. And thankfully, that character is a choice. Character is not something you can't change. In fact, your character is who you choose to be either intentionally or unintentionally. In fact, your persona is the very invisible architect that shapes your destiny and causes your real identity, which is so important because that's the one thing not only will it bring success on the earth, but

05:18 it's the one thing you're going to carry into eternity. It's not the only thing, but it's surely the one thing. And that's why God is interested not just in what we do, but in who we are becoming. In the process of doing, we are also becoming. People will admire your gifts. When they see your talents, they'll admire you. I heard this many times, and I'm thankful for this advice. I heard many times, especially in my younger days, in my childhood where I would go around preach as a young boy, and I I had elders telling me this statement which stood with me in different ways and different styles. They said, "Your charisma will attract people to you. It'll bring a crowd, but it's your character that will choose whether they'll stay or go away." It's quite possible that your talent will take you high, sometimes to a place where your character cannot keep you. And therefore, the scripture tells us as much as people may admire your gift,

06:21 it's your character which will bring long-term relationships. I I'll say it in the nasty way. Your talent may bring you a boyfriend or a girlfriend, but only your character can build a family. Ah. THAT WAS NICE. TALENT TALENT may open doors for you, but only character will keep it open. Persona is actually changing and is built over seasons of life. It's formed slowly through our own choices of life, experiences that we go through, pressures that we allow on us, environments that we are put into, and disciplines that we develop on our own choice. In fact, Apostle Paul, while he was giving an advice by the Holy Spirit to a young man called Timothy, was giving him an advice on character, and he says this in 1 Timothy chapter 4.

07:24 Let's read verse number 12. "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, five things about character which God is speaking and telling us if you get five aspects right, you've fairly got your character right." HE'S TALKING ABOUT FIVE THINGS. How do you speak? How do you conduct your life? How do you practice love? How do you walk in faith? And how do you maintain your purity? In fact, if you put it all together in one word, it's character. Apostle Paul, through the pen of that writing ability that God gave him, is telling us your words function as a megaphone of what's really happening inside of the real you. They reveal your thoughts. Your words reveal the motives hidden behind the

08:28 internal atmosphere of the heart and of the mind. Heart is to indicate emotions, and mind is to indicate thought patterns, logics. Circumstances don't create your world. It doesn't even create your words. Circumstances only reveal what is on the inside. Hallelujah. Have you heard felt bad word coming out? Maybe it's because it's on the inside. Instead of cleaning up your mouth, try cleaning up your heart. Yeah, the other amens need a lot of clean up. Circumstances don't create your words. They only expose what is already inside you. And that's why the scripture tells us, "Choose your words with wisdom, with love, with grace." Choose your words with wisdom, with grace. In fact, James chapter 3 is dedicated to the power of the tongue. Long before science could come up with the power of the tongue and how it

09:31 controls the central nervous system of the brain and how human life can be controlled through right words and right uh expressions through words because words have huge impact, not just the crystallization of water in the human body, not just the physiology of the brain being controlled in his nervous system through our words, but even the fact that words are prophetic, that words have an impact, is a scientific reality today and the medical science tells us if you want to get out of your depression, if you want to get out of many of the mental struggles, learn to choose your words wisely. Before all of these things could be told 2,000 years ago, God who created us wrote it through James the Apostle that if you can control your words, you can control your life. James chapter 3 says big ships have small rudders. Those huge ships don't get to decide where they go. It's the rudder that decides where the big ship will go. Your life may be big, but your

10:34 tongue's got the power of life and death. Is what Proverbs tells us. In fact, James goes on to say if you have a perfect tongue, you have a perfect life. Mhm. If you have a perfect tongue, you have a perfect life. What? Many of us are in trouble not because we did anything wrong, but because we didn't speak right. Speech. The Bible tells us sometimes you can behave yourself into a situation which you can't talk yourself out of. You can do things in short term, but in the long term, aha, now no one believes you. Because your emotional and logical climate of what is within you shapes really what comes out and how you handle your relationships. In the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. And therefore, if we want our words to really be good, we got to put our

11:37 thoughts in line with what you want to speak. Your thoughts. Your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, they are like seeds because the mind is like a garden. I would say mind is like social media. If you don't choose what you want to watch on Instagram and YouTube, it will throw everything under the sky. You have to before you open the social media, you have to decide I will watch Bethel AG Church. If you don't make that decision, EVERY OTHER CLOWN in town of multiple languages which are not even Bible based are going to come and and and you forget what you came for. Mind is like the social media. If you don't choose what you're going to think, mind will throw up a million things. And you even forget what you came to think about. Learn to choose our feelings. Make choices like, okay, this week I'm going

12:40 to make sure I'm happy 80% of the time. And I'm going to think about what to do next and how God has been good to me and I'm going to think about what I have, my responsibilities, how I can get better. You know what? Automatically unwanted thoughts don't come to your mind. Why? Because you've already chosen what to think. Get a control of what you choose. If you don't plant your seeds intentionally, weeds will grow up unintentionally. Because your mind is like a garden, it's fertile. And there is an unfortunate curse of sin and if you choose the seeds of your thoughts and feelings, then chances are there's no room for weeds to grow. You cannot allow seeds of bitterness and anger, seeds of fear, jealousy, seeds of impurity and disrespect, seeds of criticism against your parents, against the authorities God has put in your life. You can't allow those seeds to grow in your life and then when it harvests as

13:43 words, when it harvests as dishonor, when it gets harvested as some kind of a evil, you can't control it and hope that good things will come out. NO, YOU'VE GOT to change what you sow on the inside. Aha, instead of complaining and criticizing and competing, learn to walk in generosity and thanksgiving and honor and victory. Your environment won't change, but you will change. Your character will change. You're going to grow in the mighty name of Jesus. Sometimes you don't defeat the Goliath by throwing an external stone. Sometimes you defeat THE GOLIATH BY WALKING IN THE POWER of the Holy Spirit. That's why Ephesians chapter 6 SAYS, PUT ON THE BELT OF TRUTH AND THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE FEET SHOD WITH THE GOSPEL OF Jesus as your shoes and the beautiful sword of the spirit and the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness. Why? Because when you

14:44 WALK LIKE THAT, GOLIATHS KEEP FALLING AT YOUR VERY PRESENCE BECAUSE YOUR CHARACTER IS ANOINTED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. OH, I FEEL IT IN MY HEART. YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR THOUGHTS. YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR THOUGHTS and if you if you have a unhealthy mind that you are not able to choose your thoughts, our God is a miracle working healing God. Hallelujah. It starts with faith. You can choose your thoughts because that will affect your words. How do you know, Pastor? Did you read it in a psychology book? Yes, I have to admit. I read it in a psychiatry book. It's the book of Philippians chapter 4 and verse number 8, let's read. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there's any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about that list.

15:47 Unfortunately, you don't find it in comedy shows. You don't find it in most of the movie theaters. You don't find this in the news media. You don't find it in the newspaper too much. And of course, you need to know what's happening around the world, but don't have to think on those things. Awareness is different from meditation. Sometimes you got to be aware of what's happening around you, but you don't have to meditate on that. Meditate on good things. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Don't meditate on the garbage that you saw on the road. Meditate on the beautiful family where you're going to reach. Meditate on the destination, not on the pains of the journey. I feel in my spirit this morning there is a character deliverance coming by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah. This scripture is not some kind of a, you know, do-it-yourself self-improvement suggestion. It is a character architectural scripture. It's about your responsibility because

16:51 right thinking produces right speaking. In fact, speaking can happen even without thinking. When your energy gets scattered within you on multiple things, you don't have the impact on what God has called you to do. You got to synergize your internal energy. In other words, it's called focus. It becomes effective in personal dynamics and strength because what dominates your mind is where your energy is going to flow through your thoughts and through your words. Therefore, Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is telling Timothy, watch what you speak. Watch your words. And secondly, watch your habits. Watch your conduct. Get your conduct in shape. Get your habits because habits is before people can see your character, it's already being shaped on your inside through the choices of your habits, your

17:56 mental thought patterns, your spiritual disciplines. Character does not grow from occasional actions, but from consistent habits. Habits are actions we repeatedly do until they become muscle memory, until they become automated autopilot. It's It's It's beyond your own control. Why? Because you've chosen that pattern, now the brain knows that's what you want. And therefore, automatically you start thinking like that. Discipline is the commitment that says I will practice my right habits even when I don't have the motivation to do it. Even when I don't feel the energy, even when I don't feel good about it, I'll still do it. That's called discipline. That's called habit. Yes. Never forget this. The scripture tells us you usually don't rise to the level of your goals.

18:59 You usually fall down to the level of your systems and practices and habits. You want to reach your goal? Set habits that will keep you there. Because it's not your goals that take you there. It's your habits that take you there. I was surprised to see that serving, when you study the scripture, serving effects your conduct. Whom you serve, how you serve, where you serve, where you contribute, where you invest your time, talents, and your treasure, these things have a effect on who you are becoming. Yes. It's not just about what you take into you, it's also about where you give because your roots are going deep there. These become This is so important. These become so effective in our lives, but the scripture tells us that where you contribute has a immense ability to shape you. This is why

20:02 This is why you shouldn't have idols in life. Because idols will make you a fan that will invest into them. Many people say I'm a fan. Fair enough. But a child of God don't need idols. You don't need to be a fan that invests into somebody. You need mentors that will make the best version of who you are, that are called to walk in the grace of God. Remove every idol in the name of Jesus and pick up mentor. Your pastor is your mentor. Pick up mentors. They're not going to dazzle you and entertain you and make you feel happy. No. Huh. They pull you up and help you rise higher. The world is fascinated with idols. Everybody wants to be somebody's fan. God is looking for mentees that will follow mentors.

21:06 Hallelujah. Mentors will bring out the call of God in your life. It's It's interesting how pain and pleasure shapes our habits and conduct. Especially how we interpret them, of a perspective on pain and pleasure, how we describe them is very important. And often our purpose in life begins with personal needs and responsibilities, and it matures through experiences and calling. Many of us discover our purpose through the needs that come in our life that we are responsible over, and then we figure out our purpose is to overcome. A young man was telling me the other day, "Pastor, I came to church, didn't know what to do with my life, but today I've got a very successful business. You know what changed me?" And he said, "What changed me is when I came to church, you spoke about how Indian rupees will build the Indian church." It's time that God will bless our people and we will rise up and do things. And he said, "It hit me suddenly. The

22:09 purpose of my life is to build for God." And he said, "I built this beautiful company and we are so successful today because I know my call is to build the house of God." And I tell you, you find your purpose in life through learning to contribute your time, your talents. You learn through how you give yourself and where you give yourself. You find it through responsibilities. You find it through what makes you curious. What makes you pay attention? Huh. I'm thinking of Moses at the burning bush. What holds your attention? Many Christians don't grow in character. They pray. In fact, they pray. Some pray so much and it's such a blessing. The ability to pray is such a blessing, but some people pray pray pray, but there is no improvement in life. And And for me, that's one of the biggest mysteries in life.

23:13 People talk about the seven wonders. Eighth is this one. How can some people pray so much, worship so much, fast so much, but have no improvement in life? It's because improvement doesn't come only through prayer. Prayer gives you the opportunity to improve. Improvement comes when you put many things together. It is so important that we pray, but it's also important that we learn to grow in our character through meaningful contribution, which also means be careful that you don't get invested into groups and things that are not healthy for you. Because that will shape you. Let's go back. First Timothy chapter 4, let's read again, verse 12. Let no one despise you for your youth. Hold on. Hold on. When will they despise you for your youth? When you are grown older. In other words, time is a reality of human life. Timothy, you're going to grow older. And at that time, you don't want someone to disrespect your youth. Therefore, hold character.

24:18 Be a example in speech, in conduct, and the third one is how you practice love when you are young. Oh, it's so important. Baby, I love you. Watch it. Watch it. Love expresses itself with discernment and compassion. Thank you. In the scripture. One of the problems in human life is what we really love is sometimes we give our worst to. I'll say that again. What we really love, people that you really love are the ones sometimes we misbehave the most with. And we behave the best with people we hate and are scared of. It's really interesting. It's really interesting. There was a research done in Singapore that most people hate the police there. They hate the police, but they are most behaved when they see the police. It's not because they love the police. I would say that about politicians outside India. It's It's not that people love,

25:22 but people are scared. This fellow is a walking criminal voted by public. So, be careful. So, people respect out of fear. And then they come home and the ones they really love, they behave so rude, so impatient, no time to listen. They expect you to Hey, listen. Learn to express love to people you really love. I mean, love even Even the people you disrespect, you may have to show love. That's okay. But the people you really love, show them respect. Show them honor. Show them love. Practice it. Scripture tells us that. And You know, one day the Lord Jesus told a story. You remember the story of the Good Samaritan? Okay, I'll tell you. I'll tell you. Actually, should have been called the big uh good Bangalorean, but anyway. So, the Good Samaritan story is this. One fellow is lying almost dead on the

26:26 road because a highway gang of dacoits have stolen from him, left him for dead after harming him because they wanted to destroy the evidence. Because the victim becomes the prime witness, so they wanted to destroy him. But he didn't die. Through some miracle, he stayed alive. Two people, a priest and a Levite, went that way, didn't care for him. But a good Samaritan. Samaritan is someone the priest and the Levite will not even allow them to come close. But the Samaritan stopped there, picked up this man, took him to a infirmary, uh nursing home, treated him, and made him recover. And all the story, the Lord Jesus said in response to a question, "How do I know who is my neighbor? How do I love my neighbor? How do I love God?" And Jesus our Lord gave the story and said, "You love God through loving people God puts in your life." Amen. God helps you

27:28 to love him through loving people God puts in your life. Many of them are emotionally wounded. Now, by the way, by the way, if they can walk by themselves, you please don't carry them. Good Samaritan put this fellow on a donkey because donkey was the only vehicle. There was no more fast-moving vehicle there. And this fellow couldn't walk by himself. If you just need to give him a word of encouragement, don't stand there and give him a massage. I hope I'm communicating. Don't overdo things. Don't become a crutch in their life. Motivate them to walk in the grace of God. It is to love God through loving people. You cannot love God by hating people. You love God above loving people, and then as a part of loving God, you learn to love people. And And this is something I learned in the scripture. There are two ways of loving people. But even though you love people, you have to make relationships profitable. That's a part of life. When you When you

28:32 When you look for results with people, okay? Now, this is a big problem. Sometimes when you love people, you don't know how to extract success. You don't know how to make it a win-win situation. Because when you love them, they take you for granted. Nobody has experienced that, right? Results are very important. What you accomplish through people you love is very important because when you achieve impressive results with people, but if you leave them wounded, it is a leadership failure. In relationships, you must achieve success with people and bring success through people without destroying their feelings, without destroying relationships. To have results and relationships hand in hand is the good leadership, and the Bible is talking that's a practical way of handling human love. God wants us to love people not to a point where they become useless in life,

29:35 but to a point where they become useful in life. Learn to love in a meaningful way. Reposition yourself with people. Rework on your expressions. It's the It started with what? Words. With your conduct and with love. The fourth one, the scripture is saying Timothy, MANAGE YOUR FAITH. Timothy is a young pastor like a bishop of the region. Apostle Paul is saying, "Fellow, manage your faith because faith is not a feeling. You you may feel your faith, but faith is a spiritual substance. It's joyful dependence on God." Let's say that together. It is Oh, let's say that again. It is Because there is also something called unhappy dependence on God. That is not a proper faith. That is like a half moon. There is a full moon. There is a full faith and that is joyful dependence on God.

30:38 Yes, yes, yes. Unhappy dependence on God means that it is a little bit of a somewhere problem with that faith. That spelling is not complete. Because faith shapes your courage, your ability to handle things, your spiritual strength. In fact, for many people believe it comes through family, culture, the stories you have heard when you were young, through rituals. Yeah, it comes through many things. Believe for many people come through many sources. Even the way that you were brought up in your childhood has an impact on your faith. And so it becomes the basis of what you're expecting forward in life, what you're looking forward to in life. That becomes the basis of your expectations. Many people when they fall sick, I have seen this. They are not able to pray for a miracle. You know why? They feel I deserve the sickness. Deep in my heart I know I'm a sinner and I need this punishment. Because they have that inner feeling

31:43 they feel they deserve it. And we are praying for miracle they are praying for survival. Because deep inside their belief system is corrupt. Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit is telling Timothy, "Cleanse your faith every time. Purify your faith every time because your childhood, the way you grew up, the rituals you practiced, the ceremonies you participated in, the stories you heard, all of these things had a impact on your belief system. And it contradicts with the purity of God's word. Therefore, purify your faith by the word of God. You got to continue to grow in your faith because we all change through the seasons of life." In fact, God was angry with Israel. You remember the story of Israel? God took Today is a miracle. I'm preaching so much in such a short time. Many people get so used to miracles that they don't appreciate one. But anyway

32:45 familiarity can sometimes breed contempt. Israel Israel Israel God took Israel out of Egypt. They were slaves. Then God took them out. What all miracles happened? God opened up the Red Sea for them. Sent a cloud of fire by night to keep them warm and give them light. Sent a cloud by day to provide them shadow. Put bread from empty sky. Have you heard people saying God won't throw it from the sky? Actually, God did. He put manna from the sky and from the local area he provided quails. Bread comes from heaven, but pleasures comes from around. A beautiful message. Life comes from above but feelings, pleasures come from around. Anyway, all this is happening. Miracles are happening. These They are THEY ARE THEIR SHOES WERE NOT WORN OUT. HALLELUJAH.

33:49 40 YEARS THEIR SHOES DID NOT WEAR OUT after walking miles and miles every day. NONE OF THEM GREW EVEN TIRED. THINK ABOUT IT. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS, "NOT ONE OF THEM BECAME SICK." WHEN YOU GO BEHIND the glory of God, brother, there's a healing THAT FLOWS. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I love it. I love it. My God, HEY, HIS PRESENCE IS A MIRACLE WORKING PRESENCE. HALLELUJAH. AFTER EXPERIENCING ALL THIS God became angry with them. Why? Because they doubted God. God who did all this still they doubted. Any chance they got, first they doubted. Then Moses has to come and motivate them. That stick. They need stick. Read Psalm 78 verse 41. "Yea, they turned back and tempted God and limited Your faith

34:52 determines how much God can work in your life. You can limit God. Don't do that. God gets irritated with a group of Christians who limit them because our God says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has felt what I can do in the lives of those who trust me." Don't limit God. Our God is a limitless God. Hallelujah. The God you serve is bigger and can do mightier. Hallelujah. Oh, I love talking about my God. He is wonderful. But I have to finish. Growth happens in faith especially in obscure situations, in invisible places. Like how roots get strengthened underground before you can see fruits above the ground. The invisible is where you begin to grow before you have visible results. And sometimes there are seasons. Some

35:54 seasons you don't have fruits and you think nothing is happening. Those are the times where you got You must see You got to strengthen your roots. Let it keep growing. Struggles are not meant to destroy you. They are meant to refine you. Don't become bitter. Get better. That's what the scripture is saying. That will not destroy you. That sickness, that bondage, that trouble, that ditching in the relationship, that shame you went through, that loss of job, that financial crisis. God is saying, "Aha, that is not going to destroy you. I have planned your future great. You're going to be refined. You're going to get stronger. YOU'RE GOING TO GET HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET BETTER in the name of Jesus." GO AHEAD. GIVE GOD A MIGHTY HAND OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH. FAITH IS NOT ONLY THE ABILITY to control your expectations of tomorrow and believe God for big things. Faith is also the ability to surrender

36:57 your outcome to God, the results to God and say, "God, I expect this result, but whatever result you give, I trust you have a good plan for me." That comes through the fullness of faith. Faith is the ability to worship God even when you've lost everything. Hallelujah. Faith is the ability to align your heart in worship to God in submission to the will of God. You know, one of the reasons I feel as a pastor of this church, one of the reasons this church has been growing tremendously is because Jesus is building it. Brick by brick, people by people, person by person, family by family. God is building the church. And so many miracles are happening because God is building the church. And people are going talking about miracles to others and more people are coming getting blessed and then they are failing Sunday morning, this is the best place to be.

38:00 And they just come. No place to sit. It's okay, we'll stand. God is building the church. Why I'm saying this? You are in a place where God is building. If you go to a building place, even you will get built. Your life will get built. And I want to appreciate all members in the church. Thank you for being the foundation and continuing in the spirit of building. It is It is so beautiful. Hallelujah. I have to close. I have to close. When all this happens, the last thing Apostle Paul says is in your character, build purity. Build purity. Build your words, your conduct or your habits, the way you love your faith and your purity. Another word for purity is integrity. There's a guy called Job in the Bible. He was a piece of work. He was one of the wealthiest Many people think if you have to be holy, you have to be poor. Yeah. I don't have an English expression for

39:03 that. I mean, this is what I said. You know, your childhood has an impact on your belief system. Poverty is not a proof of holiness. If poverty is holiness, how can God be holy? Because God himself said, "All the gold is mine, silver is mine." South Indian Pentecostals, special attention. Wealth is not the proof of holiness or unholiness. Wealth is just the proof that you know how to make and keep money. But Job lost everything. Lost his health, lost his family, lost his family in the sense children died and wife became nuts. She thought he went nuts, you know. Nuts means mad. Lost all his livestock, lost his animals, lost his real estate, lost his houses, lost his property, lost divine

40:06 favor from God, lost his friends and lost his reputation. So much they started talking bad about his reputation. Oh, he's bad simply. That's the time you forget your character. Aha. And you feel I'll give it back. What they think, huh? But look at Job chapter 27 and verse number five. Till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. And God said, "If you've chosen to be pure, when I bless you, I won't just give back a little of what you lost. I'll give back three times more than what you lost." Yep. The triple blessing. Job said, "I don't have control on my health and wealth and what my friends think of me and what they talk against me and who leaves me and I don't even have control on my health. I don't have control on what my wife is going to think. I don't have control on the life of my children. I can't decide who will die when, but there's one thing I can

41:10 control, it's my integrity. It's my purity and that I will not give up. If there's one thing you and I can hold on to, it's integrity. What is integrity? What is purity? It's the union, it's the unity of thoughts, motives, actions, feeling, putting all See, many times we know what is good, but we like what is bad. It's something you have not experienced. I understand. We know what is good, but we like what is not good. That is not integrity. Integrity is the matching between image and the real who you are. Integrity is the union of everything inside. It's the harmony between what you believe and how you behave. It's the loyalty you have

42:13 and alignment with truth and justice. Job said, "I am not losing my character. I'm going to keep my character." And God said, "Good choice because every blessing I'm going to pour requires character to hold it up." Close your eyes and say, "Father, I thank you for the gift of character. Thank you for Holy Spirit that will help me in words, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity so that my whole life will be a character in progress. Construction in progress. Building in different facets of life. Even when bad things happen and things that I can't understand and explain happen. Help me, Lord, to build perspectives that are pure in faith. Help me to purify my faith. Help me to clean up my inner life, the way I feel and the way I think. Help me, oh Father, that my speech will

43:19 have the power of your blessing. Hallelujah. That I love with wisdom and grace. That I love in a meaningful way. That I love you above loving everything else. And then love the people you've put in my life even when it gets difficult. And that my love will not be useless waste, but my love will be productive. Bringing the best in every relationship. Help me to keep my integrity, oh God. That I don't lose my integrity neither in pleasure nor in pain. That I maintain my purity both in success and in failure. That I maintain my purity both in public and in private when no one is watching. That I maintain my purity both in the church and far away from the church. Cleanse me, Lord, that I'll be pure.

44:24 That I'll be holy to you. Because you've called me to be a leader with character. Hallelujah. Even if people around me don't have character and they insult me, it's okay. I'm going to hold on to the character you want me to have and I know I will rise as a leader. Those who insult me today will have to respect me tomorrow. I know you will increase my productivity. I know you will increase my wisdom. I know you will increase my stature. I trust you, Jesus. For those who may be struggling with limitations in life, this morning I believe God's deliverance is here. Just lift your hearts to the Lord and thank him saying, "God, you are my deliverer. I thank you. I thank you that you are my deliverer. It doesn't matter what my mind thinks, it's what I choose that matters and I choose to trust you. I don't choose confusions. I don't choose what others say as the reality of my life. I choose what you say as the reality of my life.

45:27 Hallelujah. Maybe I've gone through rejections. Maybe I've gone through disapprovals, but I thank you that you approve of me. That my failure is only a feedback. It's not the finality. Your promise is the final. Your word is my destiny. Help me to draw closer to you, Lord, and to build my character. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Heavenly Father, this beautiful day, thank you for speaking to us with such importance of tenacity to to stretch our character into receiving every blessing of yours. That our character will have the shape that requires that qualifies, that is up to the standards of holding your blessings. Thank you for your favor. In the name of Jesus as your servant, I bless your people. In your holy and matchless name we pray and the people said,

46:28 "Amen." Shall we give the Lord a big hand of praise? I am thine, oh Lord. I have heard thy voice and it told thy love to me. But I long to rise and be closer drawn to Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou has died. Draw me nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side. Consecrate

47:32 me now to thy service, Lord, by the power of Yes, my Jesus. Oh, let my soul look up with a steadfast hope and my will Oh, draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Come on, church. Everybody, let's do it. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side. Oh, the purity light of a single that before thy

48:35 throne I stand. When I kneel in prayer and with thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou has died. Oh, draw me nearer, nearer, Oh, my Jesus. to thy precious bleeding side. There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea. Oh, there are heights

49:38 of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with you. Shall we lift our hands as we sing? Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou has died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side. Go ahead, church. Give the Lord Take your time. Praise him for some time. Go ahead. Leadership anointing. Leadership anointing. Leadership anointing in the university, in the company, in the neighborhood, in personal life. Leadership anointing. Anointing of

50:41 character in the mighty name of Jesus. Oh, right now, oh, the Holy Spirit anointing fill every life in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. Go ahead. Lift up your voice. Praise him. Don't let the devil stop you from lifting up your voice in praises to God. If you don't know what to shout, shout hallelujahs. Shout praise you, Jesus. Shout thank you, Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit fill YOU WITH NEW TONGUES. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. A new anointing of character, character, character, godliness, character anointing in the mighty name of Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Your Goliaths are falling in the name of Jesus. Your mountains are moving in the name of Jesus. Your trees are getting uprooted in the name of Jesus.

51:51 Curses of GENERATIONS BREAKING RIGHT NOW IN JESUS' NAME. OH, the power, the power, the power of God flow upon every life, flow upon every individual, flow upon every person, upon every person right now in Jesus' name. Listen to me, Satan. I rebuke YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS. You're bound in Jesus' name. Every territorial power, I rebuke you in Jesus' name. By the blood, the blood of Jesus. By the blood, the blood of Jesus. By the blood, the blood of Jesus. By the blood, the blood of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, now let miracles flow upon your people, healings flow upon YOUR PEOPLE, BREAKTHROUGHS FLOW UPON YOUR PEOPLE. EVERY WALL OF JERICHO COME TUMBLING SOMEBODY MOVE it in the name of Jesus. HALLELUJAH. FROM FEAR into faith in Jesus' name. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' name.

52:55 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Wherever you are standing, just lift up your hands to him and tell him, "Lord, I belong to you. I belong to you. You purchased me by the blood, the holy blood of Jesus on the cross. I belong to you. Draw me nearer to you, Lord, in my workplace, in my family, among my friends, in my difficult situations, in the pleasures of life, in the success you give me. Oh, help me to enjoy every good thing you send in my life without guilt, without regret. Purify my faith." Lift up your hands and tell him, "Lord, draw me nearer to you, Jesus. Oh, draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou has died. Draw me nearer,

54:01 nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious bleeding side. Heavenly Father, we just want to thank you for speaking into each one of our life. Thank you that you have promised to build our character according to your word, that your hands will mold us, oh God, and we surrender to your word. Your spirit will fill us. Your light will keep shining in each one of our life, that we will walk the journey forward in victory to be more like you, Jesus. Thank you for your word this morning. Lord, at this time we especially pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays and marriage anniversaries this week. Thank you, Lord, for adding yet another year into their life. Bless them abundantly, oh God. This year be a blessed year compared to all the other years put together. Lord, we pray for those who are traveling this week. Your journey mercies will go with them. We

55:04 pray for those who have come to the church for the very first time. Their life will never be the same again, that they will experience your touch, your miracle. Your hand will mold their life, oh God. Father, we pray some of them have gone through the loss, the pain, the bereavement. Some of us have gone through, oh God, uh the loneliness. We ask, oh God, for your healing presence to flow, that they will walk in victory. Father, we thank you for the offering, the blessing of your blessing be upon each and every one, oh God, that you be the provider, that you be the Jehovah Jireh in each one of their lives. Lead us in victory. Send us with your peace. To you alone be all the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus' most holy name we pray. Now, may the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the heavenly Father, and the sweet abiding presence of the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of us from now and forevermore. And the people of God say, "Amen. Amen." We want to welcome all those who have come to the church for the very first time. Thank you for

56:05 joining us this Sunday morning. As you go out, please do step into the guest lounge. There's a team waiting to meet with you and talk to you. And all those who require prayers, the pastors are here in the front as well as in the overflow. Have a wonderful blessed week ahead and the balance of the day. God bless you. Thank you. And bye-bye.