Skill

00:03 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 Spirit, 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 am. I have what it says I 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. Lord bless us. Please be seated. We've been studying from God's word on

01:05 the topic of leadership. God wants and has created us to be leaders that lead ourselves in the will of God. And of course, have an influence on people around us. But primarily, leadership is about leading ourselves. God is a leader. God is the greatest leader. And he created us in his image. And therefore, leadership potential is a reality in every one of us. Your addictions cannot lead you. Your weaknesses cannot control you. You are given control above that. You can change anything you want because God has given you the gift of leadership. That's why God holds us responsible for our actions and our choices. That's why God holds us responsible not only for the consequences of what we've done, but also for the choices that we have motivated ourselves with, we have encouraged ourselves with. And today, I

02:08 want to continue on that topic of the scripture. We looked at different aspects of leadership. We started with looking at the fact that God has sent us out into a world full of wolves. But he didn't send us as master wolf. He sent us as sheep among the wolves. And gave us a winning formula. He said, "Don't be suicidal because you're sheep among the wolves, but rather be a champion because the wisdom of the serpent and the purity of the dove is the equation with which you are going to be a leader." Last Sunday, we we took some time to understand how it is important for us to develop our social environment. That we must be social. The The ability to deal with one another is something that we must not forget. And today, I want to learn with us from the scripture on the importance of improvising on our skill sets. There's nobody here who doesn't have abilities. There could be some of

03:10 us who have not understood our strength. We have probably not seen our strength. But there's nobody here who doesn't have a strength. Now, the minute you talk about ability or skill or competence, people often think we're talking about a boardroom, a secular topic, a professional career-related choice. Well, you have to understand this. In the kingdom of God, skill sets, the ability to sharpen yourself, to get better, is not a matter of secular life. In the Bible, it is so much a part of your spiritual life. It's about how you honor the God-given potential in your life and use it as a wise steward. We know that God has given us time in our hand and we use it responsibly. We know God has given us money in our hands and we use it as a believer. Similarly, the talents God has put in us, the strengths God has put in

04:14 us, we must realize we are stewards of that. We are supposed to honor God with what God has put in our life. And when we do that, our strengths, our abilities become a beautiful witness of the loving grace of God in our lives. And our strengths become a reason, a tool with which we worship God almighty. We live in a world where people talk too much and and do less. Especially in political campaigning season around the world. People talk more than what they can actually deliver. Same thing happens in interview boardrooms. People talk way more than what they actually can deliver. Interviews are actually sometimes not very realistic. Same thing happens during marriage proposal time. Sometimes when you read the CV, the bio of the person who is applying for marriage, and they explain who they are, there is a lot of you know, a sense of jittery feeling about am I worthy for such a beautiful

05:17 profile? Because profiles are created with artificial intelligence. Real intelligence is sometimes very different. In a world where there is so much difference between the expectations they create and the low levels of delivery, God is calling his people to a higher standard that reflects his character. Always remember, our God is a skillful God. Our God is a very skillful God. Our God is a very skillful God. Scientists are still trying to create a brain. They are not able to. They're trying to create a human kidney. A few years ago, I read a medical article that to make the exact replica of a human kidney, they need about 10 into 10 square feet, 10 ft by 10 ft room to get that much activity happening. And how God put it in 200, 300 g of flesh and

06:20 put two of those in our body. If somebody in the world was going to manufacture, you would be walking with two bedrooms beside you just to handle to Our God is a skillful God. Our God is meticulous. Our God is fantastic. Hallelujah. When God decided to create the planet Earth, he said, "I'll hang it on nothing." He used electromagnetic effects. He used gravity. He used time. He used the powers of physics and said, "I'll hang it on nothing." Our God is skillful. Our God is skillful. You are created in the image of God. Give him a mighty hand. Come on, shall we? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. God is a skillful God and therefore, his people must respect and value skill. Do not ignore skill. Pentecostal people, Christian people who try to replace skill with prayer, who try to replace good habits with a lot of Bible study, you are just foolish. That's not the way to do it. You are

07:24 supposed to use your prayer time and your Bible study and sharpen your skills and hone your abilities because they are not meant to replace each other. They are meant to build us together for the glory of God. And that's the reality. Hallelujah. Looks like you came prepared to clap your hands and praise God at every sentence I say. And I must tell you, I'm not disappointed. The Bible tells us there are different kinds of skill sets when you study the scripture. One is the kind of skills Now, let's be convinced about this. Our God is a skillful God and God cannot put everything about him in one person. So, he's put so much about him in different people. Different people have different skills that God has put. The moment you were born, a skill set was born. Yes. They only identified you as a boy or a girl. They only identify you as the child of somebody. But God looked at skill sets that were born that could become a blessing not only to your own

08:27 life, but also to the lives that God has put around you. Skill sets in the scripture include abilities include creative and problem-solving. Some turn it into problem-creating skills, but God meant it to be problem-solving skills, which means they are innovative. They have ideas. They have solutions. They They are artistic. Some people they they work hours and still can't learn music. But some others, they pick up music in no time. If 1 year is the prescribed time for learning an instrument, they finish it in a month. Some people are extremely good at maths. They can memorize, understand. Trigonometry is a cakewalk for them. I've heard about people who get bored and just to beat boredom, they solve quadratic equations. I know you suspect are they aliens or humans? But But there are people like that. I was going to baptize a young man and I asked him, "Where do you work?" He

09:30 said, "I'm still studying." I asked, "What do you study?" He said, "I'm doing my research. I'm PhD student." "Where?" "Indian Institute of Science." Aha. "So, what's your research on?" He said, "I'm I'm doing actually a research in trigonometry, maths trigonometry." I said, "That's enough. Let's go back to the gospel of Matthew." We were thankful we got out of maths after college. This fellow is doing PhD. I wanted to hold him underwater longer for a deeper salvation. But some people have different skill sets than what we have. Some are extremely good in areas that we like to sit in the gallery and comment. Some others have technical skills, ability which is specific to your profession. Two people get into the medical field. One touch anybody gets healed, the other touch anybody they're diagnosed with more diseases.

10:34 Abilities to perform your profession is very interesting. Some Some have technical skills about choices about money, understanding stock markets, ability to understand how money works and to put it to their own use. They have intellectual skills. They're quick. They're quick with things. This is such a funny story. In case you're watching online, bro, I love you. So, about 20 years ago, this boy was crying. Why was he crying? He was getting married to a girl from the United States. And I mean And I told him And those are the days of proposed marriages, you know, arranged marriages, right? Uh you you don't fall into marriage, you are climbed up into marriage. I mean, people work it out for you, okay? So, just before marriage, he's crying and I asked him, "Now, what's wrong? I mean, if you didn't like the girl, you should have told us before. I mean, everything is planned. They're flying down from the US and you know, we're going to have a wedding and I mean, it's just 48

11:35 I don't know, maybe 3 days into the marriage and you're crying." He said, "Pastor, I'm a software engineer and an MBA. And the one problem with me is I don't know software." "Are you not a software engineer?" "I am." "What did you study?" "I don't know." "You don't know coding?" "No." "Then what were you doing work in Bangalore?" "I was in marketing." "And my father-in-law is connected to a software company. He's on the board. And that man has already found a top job for me. Pray for me." I said, "Okay, I'll pray for you that you'll do well." "No, pray this will get canceled. Marriage should get canceled." You know, people have problems you have no idea. They have problems that we can't even imagine. I remember praying for him with anger.

12:38 But I didn't show him that. But I gave him an idea. I can't tell you what idea it was. I gave him an idea. You know, you have to solve a problem. We solved the problem. And he's doing well. He's not He's not coding anymore, but he's doing something else. Uh since I said so much, I'll tell you what I told him. I told that young man, "Tell your father-in-law and your mother-in-law that the Lord has a plan for you which is different from coding." And they're deeply spiritual people. They understand Pentecostal language. No guidance. No leading No leading inner leading, not there. I know ladies because their husband won't listen when they talk normally, they speak in tongues and prophesy and the husband obey, "Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord." Some people have interpersonal skills and I'm not saying those things are right, but I am saying you can handle your technical skills because all are

13:41 not equally talented in technicality. You may have done a particular course, but you may not be the best in that. That's That's nothing for you to worry. You just need to look for where you are most talented. Some have some intellectual capacities which is not common. Some others are gifted in leadership skills. They They have the ability to influence others. Whether they influence in a good way or a bad way is a secondary issue, but they have the primary gift of influencing the choices others make. They guide others with such ease. They don't take time to convince. They're able to convince people quickly. I had this funny experience in my life where one young lady in our church was working in SmithKline Beecham, I think that was the company. She told her office staff, "You come to my church. You're asking me questions. You come and listen." And so, one Sunday one the back row was filled with her company people. And you know, I

14:44 knew they were not Christians. I knew because they didn't know how to sit. Um You You know, they they are they are listening, they're learning, but their response is different. And um after the service, I was very curious to know what they felt. So, I asked this young lady. I said, "I'm waiting to know." She said, "Pastor, you'll have to give me time. I'll have to go to office, sit with these guys, figure out." By Tuesday or Wednesday, she came back to me saying, "My office staff have decided that they are going to come once in a while and they're going to attend." But I I could see that she was not very happy. And I said, "Why are you not excited? Because I'm happy about it." She said, "Pastor, they feel you're an excellent communicator and this is the place to come and learn how to communicate." And then, of course, even I didn't feel great about it. I wanted them to experience the gospel and experience God's touch. It's interesting how different people have different gifts. You know, today I get invited to speak in different places,

15:46 but people don't understand I used to get beaten up for speaking too much. That's how it all began, you know? Sometimes your talents can be a burden until you make it skillful. Mhm. It's in the Bible. I don't have time to go through scriptures, but it's all there in the scripture. You You find leadership skills. You Without your knowledge, you sometimes develop other people into better. And that's because there is a skill inside you. Some others have interpersonal skills. It's about how you're able to relate with others, how how easily you're able to understand what others go through or at least you make others feel that you understand what they go through. You're able to communicate with what people Some people take paragraphs to explain what you can say in a line. You You You can communicate with your eyes. You You can just look and and people realize what you're trying to say. You're able to work with difficult

16:47 people because you have interpersonal skills. Some people have terrific personal management skills. They're extremely good with self-discipline. They're able to manage and budget their times with extreme expertise. They have super self-control whether it's in traffic or when they're alone or whether they're with people, they're able to get a control of their own emotions. They're very good with personal life. They're very skillful in how they handle their own feelings and process how they handle themselves. They're very good with their personal diet and personal health care and their personal hygiene and how they carry them. People have different skill set. All of us are a baggage which is mixed with different skill sets. We have to learn new skill sets, but we have to sharpen what we already have. And that's why we must understand that every skill set you have is a gift God has given you. And it's something you should not

17:51 ignore because God has put it there so that God can bless you through it. God can give you success through that. That's why the Bible explains to us that every spark God has given in you must be made better. Look at Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse 10. If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill The Bible is saying skill will If God says something, it will happen. Skill will bring success. Amen. The The problem with many of us is where God has decided your skill will bring success, you're trying to pray and get success. You must pray. You must bathe your skill in prayer, but do not withdraw your skill. Put it into practice. And you will see success in the name of

18:56 Jesus. Amen. God has given everybody skills. And how does the axe become blunt? Axe is a tool. Is a iron tool. How does the carpenter's axe How does the professional's axe become blunt? Because of use. How does the knife in the kitchen become blunt? Because of use. When you keep using, it becomes blunt. It's the same with human talent. When you keep doing the same thing, you tend to become average in it. If you take time to sharpen yourself, you become excellent in it. If you keep repeating the same thing, you tend to become average. I did the same thing 5 years ago, my office appreciated me. Today I do the same thing, no one cares. Because you become average. It takes efforts to stop doing what you were doing and sharpen yourself and continue to do what you were doing

19:59 with a better effectiveness. Sharpening is what makes skill more effective. Continuous use does make anybody go blunt. You know, when I learned this principle, I decided to devote more time into studying the scripture and and and making efforts for me one of the most boring things is to listen to myself preaching because on a Sunday I preach four times minimum and before I come here I preach the same message in my house to myself at least one time. Five times after preaching hearing myself on the video is a traumatizing persecution I have chosen to go through and one of the things is almost every Sunday I find something I could have done better. And and I believe in fasting. I believe in praying. I I believe in preparing one year in advance. I believe in seeking God, God, what do you want me to preach? I believe in those things, but I don't

21:01 believe that you can be careless doing God's work and hope that God will fill everything and take care. Well, that faith is not a bad faith, but it's not my faith. For me I believe God wants us to be skillful in whatever you do, whatever you do. You can be skillful. Mhm, even in the way you clap, you can be skillful. Even in the way you appreciate others, you can be skillful. In the way you handle your family, you can be skillful. In the way you arrange your room, you can be skillful. In the way you wear your clothes, you can be skillful. You can be skillful. Jesus, I don't know if they are liking what I'm preaching, but God's word is making it clear all of us can be skillful in no matter what we do. But sharpening takes extra time. And sometimes we are so happy doing what we do, we don't like sharpening. Anyway,

22:04 it's working, nah? So what if you have to put little extra prayer, little extra fasting, little extra strength? No, the point is not that you're not willing to put extra strength. The point is effectiveness of the skill is in the regular sharpening. And that's the way you worship, you honor. Through a disciplined process you honor God. You look at what you're doing with a different approach. Your responsibility is to honor God by honoring the abilities God has put in your life because those abilities are God-given not only to serve yourself, but also to serve what others in your life require through your skill sets. Managing what you have is not enough. Developing what you have is what God requires. I'll say that again. Managing what you have is not enough. We got to develop. Develop means to make it better. Many never grow in their abilities not because they lack talent, but because they carry negative attitudes. They

23:08 don't love what they do. They don't like their own success. They're happy with the average. They're not interested in learning, correcting, or improving themselves. They believe no, this is enough. I am here TO PROPHESY OVER YOU. THUS SAITH THE LORD, GET BETTER. Fill it with tongues, hallelujahs, shake a little bit, make it Pentecostal, but this is what God is telling you. You go to your bedroom, fall down under the anointing. But this is what God is telling you. Get better. But pastor, I'm doing nothing. Don't get better in that. You must do something. Because skills originate from God and therefore how we handle it is our response to God. Sharpen your gifts. It's an act of your responsibility. When you grow, you tend to bless others in the process of your growth.

24:11 And it it creates for others to rise up. Three weeks ago I had this beautiful experience of a family traveling from another country. They came to India and they said, "Pastor, you won't understand. We have nobody in Bangalore. We have no one in Karnataka, but we came to India and we decided to meet you, so we've come to Bangalore." I said, "Okay, thank you. Now, uh you are in this church like what happened?" They said, "No, we are not from this church. When lockdown happened, we discovered you on the social media. We discovered this church. Pastor, our life is so blessed after that. We learned so much from the Bible and we felt we have to come and say thanks as a basic obligation to God. So we decided to attend one Sunday, get an appointment with you, say thank you for what you're doing. That's all. We You have no idea." Then I said, "Tell me what happened." And they told me about how both of them were jobless. They were losing their house. They were in a bad

25:14 state. They were almost filing for a divorce. They had so many problems. And they began to discover from the Bible as they learned the word of God that actually God has good plans for their life. They thought they were cursed and things were bad and nothing would improve, but they began to learn that no, God has a better plan for their life. And they said, "Pastor, today our life is so blessed." Then I realized coming to Bangalore was not a big deal. You know, it was easy for them because God had really You know what? Anybody who walks in the grace of God and who honors the word of God will get better in their life. Absolutely. You may go through Yeah, you clap. Okay. You you may go through seasons of failure. You may go through seasons of pain. Not saying that won't happen. Even the most faithful people go through seasons of oppression and difficulty and demonic attacks and personal failures. That happens to God's chosen people. Those things happen, but that's not your

26:16 destiny. That's not the only part of your life. You will come out of it. You will walk in miracles. You will walk in blessings. I I say this, it might sound arrogant, but I don't mean to be arrogant. As a child of God, if there is one job opportunity in the city, you are the first entitled one. But you you've got a responsibility to qualify for it through your skill development. Amen. And and that is so important. Use what you already have to reach where God wants you to reach. Amen. Because God will never tell Moses, "Go and look at what is in your father-in-law's hand." He'll always tell Moses, "What is in your hand?" Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. God will never tell the prophet Elijah, "GO AND TELL the widow to look in what is in their neighbor's house." No. "Widow, what is in your house? That little oil,

27:20 bring it. It's going to multiply." Your future is not in somebody's hand. It is in yours. Bring your five loaves and two fishes. HE WILL LIFT IT UP. He will break it. HE WILL MULTIPLY NOT ONLY YOU, BUT GENERATIONS, NEIGHBORHOODS. I FEEL LIKE PREACHING, BROTHER. You thought you didn't have skills, man. The God who created you did not put a null and nothing. HE PUT A SKILL SET IN YOUR LIFE. YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOU. YOUR PRAYER WILL ASSERT THAT SKILL SET. YOU'RE GOING TO BE VICTORIOUS. NO DEVIL IN HELL CAN BEAT YOU DOWN BECAUSE IF GOD BE FOR YOU, WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU? YEAH, I STARTED PREACHING NOW. MANY PEOPLE DISCOVER THEIR OWN SKILL set at different seasons. Some people discover their skills in their school days. Some people discover their skills it's after marriage.

28:23 Some discover their skills before marriage. Some discover their skills after joining work. Some discover their skills accidentally. They didn't know they had it in them. Some discover their skills under heavy pressure. That's when they realize, "Oh, I could do this." Different people have different seasons and occasions in life where they discover what they have. In other words, you still may not know fully all what God has put in you. Keep trying. You keep discovering. But competence needs skills need efforts. That's why the Bible says in Proverbs chapter 22 and verse 29, "Do you see a man diligent in his work?" Ah. What's the Bible saying? If you put efforts to your skill, you will not keep serving

29:28 people that insult you. You will start serving people that honor you and that have a grand standing in social life. Hallelujah. Many people can't develop their skills because they have bad attitudes. Many people don't develop their abilities because they have a very negative attitude overall in life. Why should I get better? What's the point? Who wants to work in this office anyway? I'm trying to get out. What's the point of being nice in this traffic? You are not nice because others deserve it. You're nice because you are good breed. Amen. And and that's something we must discover. A lot of times our greatest potentials are not flourishing not because demons are against us but because we have ignored our own development.

30:33 And that's not something God likes. God says, "See a man who is diligent." I was looking at the word diligent. What is the meaning of the word diligent? It means making efforts, consistency to improve. Making efforts to improve, trying to get better. Competence is not a flash of brilliance that comes suddenly. No, it is about growing. May not be in leaps and bounds, maybe in small baby steps but improvising. And and growing, especially growing when no one is appreciating or no one is watching or sometimes even when you are faithful and growing though people are criticizing your growth. Though people are against your growth. Because really leadership skill sets are developed not through events but through habits. Amen.

31:34 I'll say that again. Leadership skills or life skills are not developed through events which are like a momentary event. No, but through habits. Habits are recurring events, repetition of right choices. Good habits are repetition of right choices where it becomes your muscle memory and you do it even without thinking about it. And bad habits, called addictions, are the same. Only thing you make consistent choices, repeated choices in wrong things and you and you do it unknowingly. Good habits come by choice. Bad habits come in carelessness. Like you don't need to plant a jungle but you have to plant a garden. A jungle grows on its own and it's not very fruitful but a garden takes efforts but it's beautiful and fruitful. God, the Bible says in the book of Corinthians, you are a garden of God.

32:38 You're not a forest of God, you're a garden of God. Skill sets are very, very important because that's the way God uses to bless us. And don't ignore it. Respect it, value it. God-given skill has a divine impact when we allow our choices to be matched with intentional effort. Every time you learn, that's why I keep saying don't miss Sundays because Sunday you're bringing yourself back to the workshop of God's word. Hallelujah. And you get yourself polished again, cleansed again. And you're going out on a Monday not with blue but with the glue that's on you, the Holy Spirit anointing. You go with that grace. Amen. A thousand may fall at your side, 10,000 on your right hand but it will not come near you. Why? Because you've caught on the grace of God Almighty. You've bathed your skills in the goodness of God. Man, I feel like it in my spirit. Okay. Okay. Excellence is an attitude.

33:45 Perfection is the aim but excellence is the attitude. Perfection is the desire but excellence is the attitude. Don't compare how others do. I mean, look at what others do so you can study but be the best version of yourself. Don't improve looking at others. Of course you should learn from others. But instead of trying to run faster than them, run as fast as your body can. Because God is not comparing you with others. God is comparing at what you do with what you can do. Diligence is God's pathway to open doors for you, shape your character, position your leadership for influence and to elevate you. And please remember this, if you don't measure your progress, you will never achieve progress because what cannot be measured cannot be improved. Sometimes you grow through confronting yourself. I have to close. Colossians chapter 3,

34:50 let's read verse 23 and 24. Whatever, that whatever is so important. Pastor, I don't have a job. So you're preparing for one, that comes in whatever. Prepare your attitudes. Repair your attitudes. The difference between prepare and repair. Prepare means getting ready for tomorrow. Repair means correcting what you did yesterday. Whatever you do work at it with Ah, not with confusion, doubt. Should I? Should I not? No, do it with all your heart and don't do it as doing it for that cranky company. No, do it as working for the Lord. Hallelujah. Am I helping anybody here? Some of you didn't say the truth. Work as unto the Lord not for human masters. Because hey, there's something you're forgetting here. Your reward doesn't come as just a

35:52 paycheck from the company. Your reward doesn't just come as a marks card from the university. There's a God who will reward you in your lifetime because he's watching how you develop your faithfulness, how you develop your integrity. The Lord is the one you finally serve. Hallelujah. Your God is not just watching at what you are doing, he's looking at who you're becoming. Therefore, pursue excellence not for people to appreciate or promotion or reputation but because you want to hear God one day telling you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." A lazy Christian is a bad name for God's reputation. But a good one is a blessing for evangelism. Leaders, leaders as parents, leaders as friends, people don't listen to your

36:54 words as much as they follow your actions. If you want your child to stop playing on the mobile phone, start with yourself. If I hurt your feelings, it was not intentional. It was accidental. And please you must be knowing by now that many autistic children that fall in the autistic spectrum now doctors tell us do so because parents or crash child care hand over phone screen time to children and that hampers their brain. What I have understood is not only children's brain are hampered. Spectrum continues into old age. Proverbs 18:16 says, "Skills open the

37:59 ways that God wants for you." Proverbs 21:5 says, "The plans of the diligent lead to great profitability." Luke chapter 16 verse 10 says that your faithfulness and skillfulness breeds promotion. Learning the Bible is only halfway. Many people read the Bible. Done. That's halfway. Practicing the Bible is the full way. Reading the Bible is only half the job. LIVE IT OUT. THAT'S WHERE YOU SAY, "God bless me. I read your word today." God says, "For what?" Reading the book, even AI will read the Bible. Your mobile can read the Bible. Reading Bible is not a blessing. Oh, please read. Now don't stop reading saying it's not a blessing. Pastor said. No, read the Bible but reading is not the potential. Practice of what you read IS THE POTENTIAL. BIBLE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU honor by

39:04 keeping it under the pillow at night. I don't know what people think. Maybe Satan will come, read the Bible, get scared and go away. Repent, come to church next Sunday. I don't know what. Some keep it in the altar where only God can touch it. Bible is Y'all like these jokes. I've got more. You We got to study the word. We got to read the word, understand the word. In fact, in my preaching style, I stopped saying read the Bible. I always say study the Bible." So that you can practice it. Leaders must be learners. You have to keep learning. Learn, learn, learn, and make rhythms of learning because skills with ambitions, performance without manipulation, without morals is the child of God's character. I'm going to close. I'll tell you one

40:06 story and we'll pray. You all like God's word today? Yeah, it's beautiful, no? There's a guy called Daniel. And uh this fellow was excellent, super excellent. Now, actually, he should be a psychiatric case. He should have been a bipolar or a OCD for sure with anxiety disorders. Schizo, 100%. Depression, baseline. Because his father and mother were murdered in front of him when he was a small boy, and they dragged him, and he saw his temple of God, which Solomon had built, being burned. He saw it. He's a witness. And they dragged him as a slave. You know, at a young age, before you finish your teens, if all these things happen to you, probably he was just entering teenage. When all this happens to you, it hits you.

41:07 It affects you emotionally, intellectually, physically, everything. You're marching naked. Everything that you knew is gone. And the people around you are people like you who've lost everything. And you're looking at them. Many of them are fainting and falling. Many of them are getting murdered. But this boy, Daniel, finally is now standing in the slave market. He's sold as a slave. But this fellow decided, "I'll keep a good spirit. I'll be happy. I'll believe God. I'll pray every day three times." And that's called choices. People with him didn't make that choice. He made that choice. Everyone went through what he went through. But he said, "I'm going to pray every day. I'm going to pray three times. I don't know why God allowed this, but I choose to believe God is a good God. I choose to believe I'll have a good future." See, what happens to you is not in your control, but what happens in you and how you respond is surely in your control.

42:12 He decided to develop himself. And he finally comes into the palace from a slave boy. He comes into the palace to work under the king. And he's so good. Now, now this is where even even Christian theology begins to affect me. How can he come and serve in a palace which was the key reason that his temple of God got burnt? This is the difference between Bible believers and other beliefs. Other beliefs say, "Let's go bomb the palace." Bible belief says, "Let's go bless the place, preach righteousness, and change it internally by the grace of God." And I'm proud OF THIS BOOK. THE BIBLE SAY I'M 1 MINUTE LATE BECAUSE YOU clapped a lot today, and I appreciate that, but

43:14 we're in this together. This boy, Daniel, now this fellow gets so blessed. And he's come up to become the prime minister of the same country that destroyed his country. Wow. And he's not ashamed of his God. He's public about his God. Of course, people are asking, "If your God is so great, when we came and destroyed you, why your God didn't protect you?" All those questions were there then also. It's there now also. But Daniel decided, "Instead of answering them, let me rule OVER THEM." YOU see the difference? You see the difference? You don't win the argument. You win the people. This fellow, he becomes the prime minister. You think others were happy? Not a chance. Read Daniel chapter 6 verse 4.

44:17 At this time, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against in the in his conduct of government affairs. Okay, hold on. Hold on there. They decided They didn't say, "What a success. Let's learn from him." They said, "Something shortcut he's doing somewhere. Let's check his IT accounts. Let's check his social media profile. Let's check what he's doing when no one is watching. Let's see where he goes when we go for party. Let us check his life." They checked from his Aadhaar card, PAN card. They checked complete They did a complete IB run on him. They checked everything. And what did they find? Nothing. So were they like, "Wow, we finally have a good guy?" No. If Daniel was not appreciated, where you will be appreciated? Wake up. Don't think you are so nice that one day

45:20 all will say you are nice. If that happened, wake up. You were dreaming. Good preaching, John. They could not find any corruption in him because he was trustworthy. What? Two words there that Christians should not forget. Go back. Ah, yeah, correct. Yeah. Not only he was not corrupt, he was not negligent. He was not careless in his work. When somebody said, "Hey, can you just just I'll just little compromise little, no?" He didn't say, "Okay." He said, "Wait. I can't." Here everybody is corrupt. Not everybody. I'm not. Come on, man. So what if you go late to office? Everybody is like that here. I can't be negligent.

46:23 Mhm. Next verse. Finally, these corporate men said, "We will never find anything against this man, so let us give him that award." No. Bring religion. Bring prejudice. Make a law so that he becomes illegal. See, sometimes when you are skillful, this will happen. Now, I know many will say that's why I No, no, no. I'm coming to you. Wait. When God rises you, new challenge I always say this. At every new level, there is a new devil. If you're seeing the same old devil, it means you're in the same place. For God's sake, allow a new devil to fight you. At every new level, there is a new

47:25 challenge. Daniel, they passed a law against him in the name of his God. And he decided, "If God brought me till here, he knows to keep me here. In case if I have to die, I'll serve God dying. I'll not argue. I'll not play politics." He went and prayed as usual. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Daniel chapter 6 verse 10. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed against him, he went into his house as usual, knelt down before God, opened his windows towards Jerusalem, and prayed three times a day as he did aforetime. I love that scripture. I love that scripture. And they came, and they got him arrested. He was such a skillful guy, but he was such a prayerful guy. They threw him in the lions' den. You know what? When you follow God's will, you need God's grace. Don't follow God's will in your own strength.

48:28 And don't use God's grace for your own will. You need God's grace to do God's will. In the lions' den, lions no talking, nothing. Why? God had told the lions, "Zip up. My servant is coming." An angel of the Lord had come into the lions' den. Sometimes God will do God-sized miracles for you. Hallelujah. Amen. In the lions' den, Daniel slept peacefully. Wow. Morning, the king comes looking because king still likes him. That's the thing. Now, everywhere somebody likes you, but don't trust them. They will not save you from the lions' den. They will only be there to give you the award and speak flowery words about you. That's all. No one will come to the grave with you.

49:33 King comes early in the morning and says, "Oh, Daniel." He was genuinely sad, but he slept in the palace. That's life. Daniel said, "Live forever, O king. My God kept me safe." Really? King was so happy. That is how the world is. The world is like that. When you die, take care of yourself. When your successful come, we need you. Pulled him out. Then the king told all the fellows who made this rule against Daniel, "You are going into the lions den." You know what Daniel did? Yes, king. Give them. No. No. He told the king, "It's okay. Forgive them." King said, "You don't talk." You There is a part you have to do. You forgive, but don't go beyond that.

50:37 Daniel didn't say, "Okay, then throw me also." SEE, YOU UNDERSTOOD, NO? LEARN TO draw your lines and walk in the will of God. Many of you are in the lions den, not because you served God, but because of your unwanted commitments. That night angel of God went and told lions, "You ignored that skinny fasting prayer model-looking prophet. Therefore, fat ones, full condon is coming. Get ready. Get ready. And by the way, these are not these sweet three lions that you saw in the Sunday school drawing with some artist had drawn who never read the Bible or understood what it is. No, these are lions that are trained for warfare. Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian

51:40 army, according to world military records, his army was the first army in the world that developed lions as animals used in warfare. So, he had a huge den, according to some historic records, at the time of Daniel being in the lions den, there were over 1,000 trained lions. These were Africa's largest lions that were trained for warfare. To keep them alive, capital punishment people were thrown there, prisoners of war were thrown there, etc. These are not animals that you can contain and control. These are not only lion, these are lion to the power of lion, right? So, these are lion raised lions. So, these are aggressive ones. And all who turned against Daniel were in the den. How did it all start? Somebody decided, "World will not decide my future. God has put something in me. I will develop it for the glory of God." Close your eyes and say, "Father, I'm committed to developing myself as a

52:44 worship to you. I'll develop my life as an act of glory to you. I'll develop my life as an expression of my worship to you. Hallelujah. I commit myself, Lord, not to be negligent or to be corrupt, but to be glorious in the way I do it. It might look simple. It might look normal, but I believe you have put something in me that you can use for your glory. Thank you, Jesus. Most gracious and loving heavenly Father, though the paucity of time is such a constraint, we want to thank you for so much that you do in us within so little. Thank you that you are faithful. Many of us who sometimes are weakened because we do good, we develop ourselves, but we find critiques, we find unfairness, we find politics pushing us down. But thank you for the story of Daniel. Thank you for the reality that you are faithful even when human strengths fail,

53:49 even when friends fail, even when people we trust fail us. Thank you that you are the unfailing God. Thank you that you never give up on us. Thank you that you love us. Thank you that you are committed to our well-being. To you be all the glory and honor as believers in town, help us to be a good reflection of your grace and your character so that people will see our life and learn to honor you, learn to worship you as leaders in the society leading ourselves in your will. In Jesus name we pray and the people said, "Amen." Shall we stand? We'll sing a song and then we'll pray and close. Pass me not, O gentle savior. Hear my humble cry. While all others thou art calling,

54:55 do not pass me by. Savior, savior, hear my humble cry. While all others thou art calling, do not pass me by. Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief, kneeling there in deep contrition. Help my unbelief. Savior,

56:00 savior, hear my humble cry. While all others thou art calling, do not pass me by. Trusting only in thy mercy, who I seek thy face, heal my wounded, broken spirit. Oh, save me by thy grace. Savior, savior, hear my humble cry.

57:04 While all others thou art calling, do not pass me by. Thou the spring of all my comfort, you're more than life to me. Jesus, whom have I honored beside thee? Who Shall we lift our hands as we sing together? Savior, my savior, hear my humble cry. While all others thou art calling, do not pass me

58:11 Go ahead, church. Take a few minutes to clap your hands, open your mouth, just the God of Daniel anoint each one. The God of Daniel anoint each one. Hallelujah. In the mighty name of Jesus, as a leader, Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Go ahead. Open your mouth and praise him. Your victory, your miracle, your breakthrough, it's coming from within you. Yes, in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Visions of grace, visions of victory, visions of breakthrough, visions of success. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, we want to thank you

59:14 for this beautiful morning, Lord, for your beautiful presence over here, for the time of worship and for your lovely teaching from your word, O God. Thank you, Father God, that you teach us every week, O God, that you want us to prosper in every area of our life. Thank you, Lord, as your word is spoken today, we thank you for the miracles that are already in place. Thank you that you have set our life, oh God, according to your plan and purposes. Thank you, Lord Father God. Father, we pray, Father God, today for all the newcomers today. We bless them. We thank you that you have spoken to their hearts today. And Lord, we thank you that you are a God above every circumstance. And we thank you, Father God, that their lives will see your goodness and favor. Father, we pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays, marriage anniversaries this week. We thank you, Lord Father, for a skillful year ahead, a blessed year ahead. We pray, God, that the families will enjoy your blessed peace, prosperity, success, oh God. And we pray, Father God, that they will flourish under your divine plan and

1:00:16 grace. Father, we pray for those who are traveling this week. May your journey mercies go with them, protect them, keep them safe, bring them back safely. Whatever work that they go for, with diligence when they do their work, we pray you'll bring great results and rewards for them. Thank you, Father. Lord, I pray, Lord, as your children with a heart of gratitude, worship, honor, Lord, give their tithes, their offerings unto you, oh Father, because they love you. I pray that you'll bless the work of their hands. You make it fruitful, prosper them. And for those who are struggling today, we thank you that Lord, you've already set a breakthrough over their finances because you've given them the ability to make wealth and to grow, oh Father God. I pray you'll prosper them. I pray, Father. Thank you once again as your people go back another week ahead. I thank you that you have set great things for each one of them. May your presence, your peace go with them. We give you all the glory, honor, praise, worship to you. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus,

1:01:17 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 forevermore. Amen. Amen. God bless you. Have a blessed week ahead. All the newcomers that are here today, we want to welcome you today. Thank you. As you walk out, there's a guest lounge, people waiting to meet with you, talk and pray with you. For the rest of you, if you need prayers, the pastors are lined up in the front and in the overflow for prayer. Bye-bye.