The Doctrine of Humanity

00:01 Please remain standing as we take our Bibles in our hands. Thank you, Pastor Alan, for leading us in a time of worship. We're going to do the confessions together. Here we go. 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 whose worship and my guide. I believe in holy fellowship, faithful giving and service to God in this church. I believe the Holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have and I can do what it says I can do. Today, as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I am blessed, healed, and anointed for a holy and victorious living, I will never again be the same in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. You may be seated in God's presence.

01:06 And as you're seated, if you don't find a book on your chair, just lift your hands. The Bible study book. If you don't find it, just raise your hands. One of the volunteers will reach out to you. And for those who are watching online, you'll find the booklet in the description in the link that you're watching. You'll find it there. Amen. Today, we're going to learn about us, who we are, you know, the most priceless position of God, I would say. Amen. So, today we're going to learn about the doctrine of humanity. You know who we really are, where did we come from, what are we made up of, what went wrong after that [laughter] and can we be redeemed? Absolutely. The last question is actually the most beautiful answer that it has that God can change anything. There's nothing impossible for God to change. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. [clears throat] So, what does it mean to be human? It's

02:10 [snorts] the most profound and unavoidable questions that remarkably only humans ask. There's no other living creature that asks the question of what does it mean to be itself? No other creature reflects its own existence, questions the purpose or searches for meaning. This alone says that there's something unique about humanity. There's something different about you. You're not the same as an animal. So the doctrine of of humanity when we look at it to answer this question we're not looking from a philosophical or cultural or science scientific area to get an answer. We are looking from the authoritative foundation of what the holy bible said. Why are we looking at the holy bible? Because this did not have to have an upgrade update. It did not have to have a second version two version three part one part two. This was spoken once and for all. >> [applause] >> Philosophy had to keep changing. Culture had to keep changing. Science is still

03:13 trying to discover. But God discovered us >> in his mind. This is why we looking at the Holy Bible. Amen. So the Bible opens a very deliberate dignified account of human beings. You know today when I say there are some words that are going to be very deep theological words. Okay. It took me 7 minutes to actually understand what that line meant. Pastor Danny has put that so beautifully for those who like very deep words. Okay. So some words are little deep. So if you don't understand just understand that you have made a big God who is so deep still created you so simple and so unique. Okay. All right. So when we look at this God personally forming man and woman breathing life into them declaring them made in his own image. There's no other creature made in God's image. You are made in God's image. All right? So, [clears throat] humanity is not in the Bible. Humanity is not an accident. It's not a freak of nature. It's not some

04:15 sound that happened and something happened. It is not a part of evolution. Humanity was created as an intentional. I love love how it's written here. Humanity is intentional creation of a personal God. Amen. So this doctrine matters how we understand it from the holy bible because how we understand shapes everything that means how we view identity what is our thoughts on morality suffering relationship and also what is eternal destiny. All right if you have a distorted view then the vision is distorted. Okay. So the Bible presents a complete picture. Humans are both physical and spiritual. They are finite yet bearing a very eternal significance. You are fallen yet you are redeemable. Amen. All right. So studying this doctrine is an invitation to understand who we truly are. Why are we here? How are we meant to live? Amen. Page number two. So where do we come from? Where do humans come from? Do they come from

05:18 monkeys as Charles Darin said? Do they come from some freak science experiment? Do they come from some alien world? Something happens, some sound, some chemical reaction. The book of Genesis carefully structures two complimentary accounts on humans creation. Okay. The first accounts in Genesis 1 26- 27. Okay. Gives an overview of creation where God's intentional act of creating humanity. There are two key movements in the first account. What is that? God's decision to create human beings and the fulfillment of that decision. Okay. So the focus in the first account is distinctly theological centering on humanity's purpose and role. So the first account talks about humanity's purpose and role. What is it? To be fruitful, to multiply and to exercise responsible dominion over everything created. Okay. So you have a purpose. That is why a child of God's life is

06:20 started with a concept called purpose. You are in this world with a purpose. There is a purpose to your life. There's a reason to why you exist. There is a meaning to where you are placed. You want to search the answer. Search within through the Holy Bible. You will know it. Outside world is throwing a lot of things. Don't get just too much noise. Get quiet time with God. You will find who you really are. >> Don't keep scrolling. and then not finding at the end of it you're wondering what did I do for the last one ah just scroll through these pages every line speaks >> amen the problem with this is we somehow are more excited of what is attractive and we kind of lose our vision God is very attractive if you can just

07:22 Read through these lines. >> God is very personal. God is very true. He's real. As you go through the scriptures, he shapes and speaks to you what he created you for. He has the right view of who you are, what your purpose is in life. Okay. So the first account that you have a purpose, there's a role. Okay. The second account Genesis chapter 2 7 it shifts its tone and texture adapting very intimate record. Let's read that scripture. Genesis 2 7 the Lord God formed a man from the >> and breathed into his nostrils the >> and the man became a >> okay here the second account you know the emphasis transitions from a functional role to formation. Okay, that means God was very deliberate. He had a hands-on creative act. You are a hands-on creative act. You're not produced in a factory. I like one of the things that it says,

08:26 you know, we all say, right? God can call things into existence, but when it came to us, he never called us into existence. He created us with his experience of who he is. >> [applause] >> Amen. You're created by God. You are formed. God took personal time to create. That is why each one of you sitting here, you are a masterpiece. Our pastor says that always. Each one is a masterpiece. That means there's only one like you. >> Hallelujah. >> There's no copy like you. >> There's only one like you. Don't become a copy. Become who you are. Find out who you are by knowing who God created you to be. Amen. >> Hallelujah. So God created us. Okay? And you see how God created us with a purpose. He made us for relationship. Grounded us in a deep God-given identity. Now page number three. God created us in his image and likeness.

09:30 Humanity as the image of God. Okay. Genesis 1 26-28. You will find the entire aspect of it. So God created us in in his image. What does the word image mean? The term image in Hebrew okay gives us the meaning that we are functional representative of God on earth. You are an ambassador of God. In you know in the east when kings would conquer lands they would erect a statue to show that you know bearing the image of the king showing that this place belongs showing the authority the sovereignty of that king over that entire location. When God created you and me and he made us in his image you know he created us to bear the royal stamp of God. Each one of you Amen. >> It's not just only for the kings. Each one of you bear the royal stamp of God. >> Amen.

10:31 >> Amen. >> You on you is the fingerprint of God. Amen. That means you're not here by accident. You're deliberately placed on this earth. >> You might have been born in a not a planned moment by your parents, but you are here by plan of God. Hallelujah. >> Maybe your parents you know never thought that you are important but God thought you are important. Life came into you because you are important. Hallelujah. Now this image of God has nothing to do with our physical shape or size of human beings. That means you know we are not what God looks like. When we say the image of God we are talking about inherent worth and dignity. That's exactly what it means of being a human. Second page number four. We are created in the likeness of God. Now what does this mean? While image shows us our role and dignity, likeness means our nature and capacity. I love this. Our nature and capacity. That

11:34 means humans we as humans share certain qualities with God. Though it is expressed in a very finite way because our life on this earth is finite. That means we share a few qualities that God has put within us. Okay. Now let's read what sets humans being apart from the rest of creation. Number one, free will. What does that mean? Ability to make real meaningful choices. Second, you have creativity. The ability to imagine, design, and bring new things into existence. Moral awareness, the ability to distinguish right from wrong and to be held accountable for that decision that you made. intellectual and emotional that the ability to think critically, reflect profoundly and feel with genuine complexity. I just told you know there are complex words of like this. Okay. So these capacities that God's put with you, it didn't happen out of an incident. It was part of the personhood of how God created you. It was in the original design of God so that you are capable of entering into a relationship with God and a relationship

12:38 with people around you. You were made for relationships. Amen. Not only that, significantly, there's also another thing that is unique about humans. When God created animals, everything that he created, he never spoke to them. But when he created human beings, he directly spoke to them and blessed them. >> You're blessed from the time you were born. >> Amen. >> Don't let anybody say anything else different. You're not a curse. You are a blessing. >> Amen. >> When God sent you on this earth, he blessed and sent you. >> Amen. So that is very unique compared to any other creation. God never spoke to any other creation like how he spoke to you. Amen. He blessed. Okay. What did he do? He blessed you. So those that became the cultural mandate that carries implications of our identity, our vocation and responsibility. On page

13:40 number five, you see what was the command he spoke? He said be fruitful and multiply. What does that mean? That means procreation of life, expansion of human life. That means we are made for human relationships in the context and boundary of marriage to have that expansion because marriage is holy to God. Marriage is important to God. Marriage is the gift that God's given in that relationship of marriage in that boundary. When you experience the gift of having expansion, it becomes a morally blessing. When you take it out of the context into relationships of you know what the world talks about, let's just have fun. What's the you know there's nothing that's when it becomes immoral morality. I've never found a human you know a marriage you know because marriage is a sacred place and in that sacred place is where morality actually is the best you know gift that you experience in that place okay second one you're called to fill the earth

14:43 spread the image of God you're representative of God wherever you go spread the image of God okay every corner of the world mean to reflect God's presence through his people subdue it bring order cultivation devil development to creation. That means we called for human work. All the people who don't like to work, you have no chance. You have to work. Human work culture and civilization are acts of faithful stewardship rule over exercise delegated authority over living creatures. Humanity's dominion is a responsibility and not a license for exploitation. Now God gives man in the garden of Eden a specific assignment. Work it and take care of it. Okay? Work is not a punishment. We all think that work is a burden. Work is a punishment. No, no, no. Absolutely. Work did not start because of sin. Work was already in the original design of God even before sin. Work is a blessing. I know now wants to say an amen. I

15:46 understand. We get it. I understand. Tomorrow morning, Monday morning is the place where you really wonder what is the purpose of life when that manager comes with whatever he comes and he all the Sunday sermon goes out just because of him and you're just binding him Lord let him not say one word Lord please but work is a blessing why is it a blessing because you are made in the image of a working God >> okay so when God created ordered shaped and called it good. I like I want to tell you this also when God made you are good. If God has certified you are good that's the authority nothing else. So he made you in his image. He put some creative productive purposeful page number six purposeful instinct in you. That is why you have the drive to build something. You know how to fix something. and you know how to make

16:47 something better. That does not come from an ambition. It comes because you bear the image of a working God. God's given you raw materials. What are those? Your skills, your mind, your relationships, your city, your industry, and he's given you the assignment is the same. Work it, tend it, rule it. Not for your own glory, but as act of service, worship to God. See, that is exactly where work becomes a blessing. When you work, work with all your might as you're working unto God. That is when you enjoy the fruit of that work. That is when you enjoy the benefit of that work. Even when people are trying to put you down, trying to throw you out of the office, you're secure because you know there is a God who put this in me. >> If not here, I will flourish anywhere. Put me in the desert, I will still flourish. >> Hallelujah. >> Put me in the ocean, I'll make a boat. But I was still sailing. [applause] Hallelujah. All right. God also made humanity as

17:51 royal priests. When Adam and Eve were given the garden, garden was that temple. Okay. And this and they were called to tend it, take care of it as royal priests. Okay? Because that is exactly you see in the same the word to cultivate and keep comes from two Hebrew words called abad and samar that basically means to take care to you know you know it's it's more of a sacred calling than just work and this comes also in light where the priests coming into God's temple in Jerusalem where they were called to take care of the sacred place which was meant to have the order God had created. What happened to humanity? Humanity's role was the same. It was not just to tend a garden. It was for something greater and expand God's creation. But humanity failed. And that's when Jesus became the royal high priest. And through him, you know, we have a priestly calling back again. Amen. Second one, equality of all

18:54 humanity. Okay. Genesis 1 26 27 it says so God created mankind in his own image in the image of God he created them male and female he created them that means man and women are completely equal ground no one is superior or inferior both are equal and sacred in God's sight you're valued equally you're clothed with the same divine worth divine divine worth and dignity neither One is lesser in the reflection of God. You reveal a fuller picture of who God is. Now this truth extends not just gender but different races, ethnicity, tongue, tribe. You know the same image is in every human being on this earth. Whether you are from Africa, Asia, whether you are from the north, the south, the east or the west, you bear the same image and you have the same worth that God created. Okay? So racism is not a social evil. It is a problem of the wrong theology what

19:59 people have and now it's become a social evil. It is a contradiction that people go through. So the poor, the weak, the disabled are also having the image of God. Poverty does not erase God's image. Weakness does not diminish God's image. You know the scripture page number eight scripture consistently draws us in a place where God draws to those who are vulnerable who are weak who are tired. That means no matter what your economical background is. That's why in our church you know you hear our pastor says whether you come in Mercedes-Benz or Hawaii slippers you still have the same place in this church. >> Hallelujah. >> You don't have special reservations in this church. We don't respect you because you're financially good or you're financially weak. You are here because you are a child of God. >> Amen. Next, Christ is a true interpreter of

21:00 the image of God. Jesus Christ gave the right interpretation of why humans are the image of God in Mark 12 13. You see, Jesus was asked a question. should we pay taxes? Then Jesus said give me a coin and asked what is on the coin? They said the coin has the image of Caesar. Then Jesus said give to Caesar what is his and give to God what is his. That basically says that you are made in the image of God known by him and called to reflect him. That means you belong to God because you bear the image of God. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. You belong to him. >> Someone say, "I belong to God." >> I belong to God. >> Amen. >> So, what are we made up of? Three things. Okay, page number nine. Okay, I'll go faster now. We're not just physical beings. We're made with where God has breathed into our nostrils and given us a divine breath. Okay, we're made up of three things. Body, soul, and spirit. All the three are very distinct

22:03 but deeply connected. Okay, let's read that scripture. Apostle Paul says 1 Thessalonians 5:23 in page number 9, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." All the three are important. Your body is important, your soul is important, and your spirit is important. All right. Now, what is the body? The body is the physical visible self. The part that lives, moves, okay, acts in the world. Okay, God made you from the dust of the ground. But there's something unique about it. He made you both with unlike other creation, you know, they were made out of dust, but you were made out of dust and divine breath. >> He made you out of dust and then he breathed into you. Okay. All right. So body is not out of God's plan. It is central to God's design. Okay. The very

23:07 vessel that God has made, I know you're carrying and expressing in this physical. So most important thing is to understand your body is your sensebearing world conscious self. My God what words seriously Jesus help us. It is your sense bearing so you can be conscious about the world that you live in. God's given your body as the instrument to the soul to connect to the soul. You have five faculties. You see, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling. God's given you this so that you can connect to the world that you're living in. Okay? So, everything that you know on the physical world, every relationship, experience, moment of beauty or pain reaches you through the body, through the outside body. It is your point of contact and it's God designed. Now the truth about this lies that paragraph that you see there ah what you do with your body doesn't matter only your spirit is important. So

24:11 I can drink, I can have fun, you know, people have that mindset. Absolutely. So what happens is they separate the body from the spiritual. They separate, you know, from the physical part from the spiritual, elevating the spiritual and the body becomes a little dismissive. That's not how God created. When God fashioned you in the image of God, he made you a whole person. Body and soul together was not incidental. It was essential. Okay. So your body carries dignity. Do not dismiss that. So that basically means every choice you make with the body, every decisions you make will be held accountable. Don't get scared. It will be held accountable. Once saved, always saved. Do whatever you want. Doesn't work here. Once saved, you're always saved. So, learn how to align your body and your

25:16 soul to what the spirit wants. >> Amen. All right. And the story does not end that for your body are death. The bo Bible also says when you die and you're gone when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound you shall have a glorious body just like how Christ had that means the body is an important part of your design you know all right and also a greatest confirmation you see God who is so divine entered into a human body he became flesh telling you the importance that the body is worthy of honor. Take care of it. Amen. All right. Now, when you look at the Bible, you know the body for a child of God in page number 11, you see the body has even more greater significance. The scripture there 1 Corinthians 6:19 on top page number 11. Can we read that? Do

26:18 you not know that your It is asking you, it's checking, hey, don't you know that this body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? >> And the Holy Spirit dwells in you. >> So you are not your own. You belong to God. Second one, the soul. The soul is your inner world. The unseen part that thinks, feels, remembers, imagines, desires. It is a real self. Okay. The look at it as a room you know that's created a house that has different rooms where you know so the soul is a part that has different parts. Okay. So the mind is first where your thoughts beliefs live. You already know what it means. Okay. Emotions are the places where you experience grief, fear, love. Emotions are a gift. Emotions are not weaknesses. Maybe for a woman emotions are weakness. I heard the other day, you know, women do not say what they think, they say

27:23 what they feel. Men do not say what they feel, they say what they think. So husbands when women say I don't need your help, that basically mean they need all the help. Emotions are more stronger for women. Emotions are not weakness. But the problem is it can serve as good servants but it can be bad masters when you allow it to rule your decisions, rule your feelings. That's where the problem is. That's when bitterness when you left unchecked turns into something tragedy. Fear left unexamined becomes a anxiety that you struggle with. When you leave desire unrestrained, it becomes an appetite which is consuming you. Third one, page number 12. the desire, the will. This is where you crave for something, you desire for something, you pursue something, you know, you're drawn towards something. So desire is not inherently evil. But when sin is attached to desire and when you

28:28 left it, leave it unchecked, it bends away from God. And desire turns into something that destroys you, takes you away from God. So when the soul is healthy, life feels peaceful. When the soul is disordered then it becomes chaotic. Third one, spirit. Now this is the deepest part of you that connects you with God. Soul is the inner world. So if the soul is the inner world, then the spirit is the core of that inner world. Now the spirit is a place where you it is a capacity for you to connect with God. Your god oriented faculty part of you that responds to God, worships God and is born again. You're born again. You're renewed. So when you're born again, your spirit is what is renewed and made alive in Christ. That's why when we worship here, we're not worshiping by tradition. We worshiping by spirit and in truth. >> Amen. >> Because that is the kind of worship God likes. Amen. Page number 13. What went wrong with us? Simple thing. Removed God out of the equation and

29:30 said, I want what I want, when I want, how I want. That's it. That's a simple way of saying it. a deliberate shot what Adam and Eve made that turned into something that was very tragic. In page number 13, you see two uh Genesis 21:16 and 17. God gave Adam and Eve a simple instruction. You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat from it, you will certainly die. The garden was full of freedom with one boundary that God gave. And that boundary, it was not a restriction. It was more asking Adam and Eve to trust God that there's a reason. But the fall came not because of ignorance. It was not like they didn't know. Oh, we didn't know. I didn't know this just happened. No, it is a result of a deliberate choice that made. The serpent told you want to be like God eat

30:33 this fruit. And what the irony here is they were already like God because the way God created them but they went behind what they wanted. They disobeyed God. Instead of making God as a friend, God became a rival. So sin at its core is a life that is curved inward takes you away from God. And what was sinful? Page number 14. The effect of sin turned from what was personal into relation relational and from relational into a social problem today. The effects of sin. Page 14. in the last part of it. So what to truly understand what it means to be a human two directions are very important. Number one, come back to the original creation. What is the original

31:35 creation? Adam and Eve created in the image of God. You are genuinely free, morally whole and designed for unhindered communion with your God. This is the blueprint. This is the actual thing. This is how humans are always supposed to look like. Not striving, not grasping. You're called to be resting, relating in the identity God's made as imagebearers. Second, look forward to Christ himself, the second Adam, who's the perfect human that ever lived. In Jesus, you see perfect humanity, fully restored and fully alive. The truest human who ever lived. The living definition what image of God looks like. Unbroken, undistorted, uncorrupted. That is the Jesus. So, can we be redeemed? Is there a way back? Absolutely. There's a way back. How? The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is God's own answer to that question. That means God did not give a lecture.

32:36 He created an action plan where Jesus died, gave his life on the cross, and also there was an empty tomb to give us hope beyond the grave. >> Amen. I I love how our pastor says every relationship on this earth ends at the grave. But there's only one relationship that goes beyond the grave. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. All right. I'm going forward. Okay. Ah, let's go to page number 16. You know, now this image that was broken in Adam being restored in Christ gave us a gift called salvation. So salvation is not only about going to heaven. You know what salvation is about? It's about becoming fully human again according to the original design. >> Amen. >> Hallelujah.

33:38 >> Hallelujah. >> Yes. If we will go to heaven then God will send us back also I guess to rule the earth but it is to become the original design of how God wanted you to be. Amen. You you can see those scriptures it u you know you can go home and read page number 17. Why do we keep on sinning? Why why do we struggle with sin? Okay. Why do we have this problem with sin? Sin never likes the light. Sin always happens in darkness. It does not like to come to the light. It is not the problem of the physical body. It is the problem of the flesh. When we say it is disordered, desires, what the enemy whispers in your heads, the lies of who you are, what you need, everything that is told to you, sin manipulates it and makes you a slave to it. That is why you cannot straighten. You know you can correct a mistake in a answer paper. You can't correct sin. Sin needs payment.

34:43 That is why God had to come down pay the price for your and my sin. >> Hallelujah. >> Because he he didn't come to correct sin. Somehow he came to pay because sin needs payment. >> The only way that someone could rescue you and me is someone who didn't have sin. >> Who was spotless. There is no other human. There is no other person in this entire universe who could do that. And it is only Jesus. That is why Jesus is the only way is the only truth. He's the only life. Anyone who comes to God must come through him. That's why you need Jesus. >> Hallelujah. >> I was born into a Christian family but never knew Jesus. By the age of 13, I came to this church. I received Jesus. I became a child of God. >> You need to receive Christ. Tradition will not save you. A relationship with him will save you. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. Let's go to the next page. You're nearly there. Okay. So, the Holy Spirit is actively working within you. So, if

35:46 you want to look at this story of human nature, four stages. Creation, God created you free. The fall where we were bound and broken and captive. Third, redemption. God freed us and renewed us. And the fourth, glorified. That means when we finish our time on this earth, we are fully restored back without having a capability fall back again. That is how God is restoring us. Amen. I'm going to tell you a couple of stories, okay? Couple of testimonies that come to my mind and then we'll close. You know, one of one day, you know, as a church, we got a call. You want to hear a couple of testimonies, you know, because it goes with my message. One day we got a call from a mental hospital. When someone calls from the mental hospital, you should find out if that person is mental or who is calling. Okay. So I got a call from mental hospital. Can you come here for prayer? Okay. Call our church office. So we were thinking should we go or not because it's mental hospital. Okay. They thought okay fine let's just respond. We thought let's give it a try. If you get a beating come back we don't know what

36:48 it is. Let's just go. So we went to the hospital and there was this mother who was holding hands and saying my son is going to die. Can you help him? So then we go to see the son. He's got tubes on his hand and he's sitting depressed on that bed. We approached with caution. We standing at a distance. Then we said we told our names and we asked what is your name? He said I'm going to die. Okay. He said okay why are you going to die? Then he tells a story. He was studying well everything was going well. One day it was another face in his life and they had to take him to a spiritual expert who reads lines who reads different aspects architecture of spirituality to understand and told this young man you have done a lot of sin in your life. So in this life you have to pay for it so that in your next life maybe it might become better. That one thought derailed

37:52 his mind and he lost purpose and he became depressed and now he is dying. So we were trying to figure out why is he dying because he looks fine. And the doctor said just because of this thought in his mind I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. Every organ in his body is failing. there's no hope. He will die in couple of days. Then we told him, "The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:1, for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you a future and an expected end." His eyes popped up. He said, "This is our story. If you choose to believe that you can have this life, we prayed. He left. After 3 days, we get a call back from the mental hospital and they called and told he's getting discharged. Can you come? >> We went back. [applause] We went back. He's packing his bags,

38:58 putting everything together, and we saw a smile on his face for the first time. We asked him, "What happened? You know, what happened to you? I thought you were going to die." He said, "Yeah, I was going to die after you all told that God has a plan for me." I sat on the bed and said, "Jesus, if you really have a plan for me, for my life, I submit to you. Do something." That minute, God's presence filled his life. His spirit came alive. His soul changed. His body said, "Time to live again, buddy." Amen. >> Came back to the original. He came to church. He started hearing God's word in the church. His life transformed. When he went back from the city, he went back as a original design bearing the image of God. >> Hallelujah. >> He came to the city as a broken man. When he went back, I thank God there mental hospital can think of church as the final place that they can. Amen. One more last story. A young man

40:03 had walked into this church. He was there sitting in the crowd and worship was going on. After worship as a worship team, we all used to go out with the newcomers and sit with them, talk to them. So we went, a couple of them went and met this young man and we're sitting with him and talking to him. And then he told uh I am a newcomer. I liked your church service. It's nice the songs you were singing all you know you guys are good. I came because my one friend he keeps telling me come to church come to my roommate keeps telling come to church come to church come to church. So I decide to come to church because today morning I decided to end my life. So before I end my life I thought let me fulfill his last wish. So I came to church. Then he asked you all were singing that song you know praise. You were singing that praise song. Why did you repeat it second time? Now what do we tell him? We repeat it second time. Then he said nothing happened when you sang first time but second time when you sang someone spoke in my ear. You don't have to die. I died

41:07 for you. >> So I've decided not to die. I've [snorts] decided to live. That is what happens when God enters humanity. And today you're sitting in the presence of that living God. >> Amen. >> Anything is possible. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. You're created for great things. >> Amen. >> Believe God. Get back to the world. God can achieve. You might be a good for nothing to the world. But to God, you have a place because God has a beautiful way of turning good for nothings into something great. >> God has a way of taking the useless because he's matchless. Amen. >> And you are priceless. >> And his work on you is faultless. >> Amen. And to end with all your joy will be endless.

42:09 >> Amen. >> Let's pray. Father, thank you for this beautiful morning. We thank you for your word, Lord. Thank you. We bear your image. You created us in your image, in your likeness, God. We pray God that you'll help us Lord to walk in that understanding to come back to the original design through Christ Jesus to believe in you trust in you oh God and help us oh father god that every day when we look at life we will look at life from where you have actually created us for thank you father come and bless your people in Jesus mighty name we pray amen let's put our hands together welcome welcome our dear pastor >> thank Thank you pastor Jinny for that beautiful beautiful message. Shall we give the Lord and appreciate pastor Jinny for [applause] the beautiful message. I like that conclusion stories. Many people ask you know what is the trick you are doing for church to grow so fast. you know this question has increased after our palace ground

43:12 program because that's where our church people get to see uh the real numbers no like all coming together and I'll tell you another thing this Easter and December when we meet in palace ground more than 30% of our churches traveling they are gone back to Orisa uh Andra uh Kerala where are you I'm coming I'm coming next Sunday I'm coming pastor but still that is the situation you know so many people nowadays are asking how is church growing? Church is growing because Jesus is building the church. Amen. [applause] You know I think as pastor in charge I know why this church is growing more than anybody else. Right? And I'll tell you why it is growing. I don't know. Jesus is doing something and he is building. There is nothing else happening here. Lives are transformed. People are changed. God's glory is revealed. You know, people like to come

44:15 back. [applause] They like they like, you know, they like because their life is changed. You know, you you said story, pastor Jinny. So, so many stories went through my mind. Last week, one man emailed me. I know him from many years, [music] but I didn't know his story. So, he emailed me. He said, "Pastor, you should know my story. [music] You know me, but you don't know my story." Then, okay, this is my last story, then I'll do announcements and I'll close. He triggered my pastoral emotions. So, this man's written to me saying, "Pastor, when my father died, I don't have anybody. I don't know anybody in this church. We are from some other church something." So, we came to Bangalore city. We started attending this church and uh suddenly father died I don't know anyone. So somehow I got your number. I called you and said my father passed away. You don't know who I am. You don't know who my father is. And

45:18 my his father was not attending our church. He's not a part of our church. So he was so worried as a young boy. Don't know what to do. It seems I told him I don't remember all this. It seems I told him don't worry from now we'll take care. So he said after the funeral and I didn't go it seems another pastor went and it seems after the funeral after everything only they realized who paid for the whole thing. So then they started inquiring who paid then they realized church paid for everything and kept quiet about it. Then this fellow decided or family felt no let's be faithful here [music] and then he was talking about how healings happen, miracles happened you know all of you start writing emails to me now I want to know stories I love stories of how Jesus works in our lives how God changes lives you know [applause] I really felt so good me and my wife we were going on a walk in the morning I don't know if you are here okay this is the last story Second story if you are

46:20 here I'm sorry I'm saying your story without your permission but this young lady as I was walking I happened to walk beside her and she uh looked at me and she smiled and she says pastor so I said wow and and suddenly I was thinking this young beautiful girl uh and I said yes so I realized she's from church I said yes praise the [music] lord she said pastor from being a small girl I've been coming to your church. My mom was bringing me to your church when you were in Ganga days. That time my mother used to bring me to your church and God blessed us so much. Now I'm a Canada movie actress. My ads are running on the TV. God has blessed me so much. She started her story. I told her I want to hear more of your story. You come take an appointment and meet me in the church. Tell me your story. She said I'm scared to meet you. I said now you understood. Nothing to fear you know. come and meet me. Then I told her, I want to hear you. Then I said, our

47:24 walking speed is different, so I'm going to walk fast because actually I was scared because my wife is behind. Wait, let me finish. Some stupid fellow will see me talking to this girl, won't see my wife, he will start his own story. So I said let me walk fast you know. Anyway my walking speed was fast also. I am not scared of devil [music] but I'm scared of some Jesus children who walk around with mobile phones take photos and share their own stories and their own prophecies. God not only saves us from Satan, he also saves us from some Pentecostals. The power of God is great. Hallelujah. So you don't worry if you're going through office politics, you're going through danger. Our God created us to share his image, his glory. He will

48:26 protect you. He will bless you. Go ahead, give the Lord a big hand. 28th 28th of uh that is uh day after tomorrow, no 28th April, VBS is starting. VBS is vacation Bible school 4 years to 12 years all the kids thou shalt not sin therefore be here. Okay. [music] Uh parents take extra efforts to bring your children uh to the house of God. Let your children know that you value the house of God. Children usually value what parents value. Show value for the house. [music] Bring them make efforts so that five days starting 28 they'll be in the presence of God. 12th May the teenagers BBS is starting. Okay. The vacation Bible school for teenagers. All the teens go and register. Thou shall register on teens.com. [music] Okay. So go. That's the 11th commandment. So go and register. 12th onwards 5 days. It's going to be a time

49:30 of renewing in God's presence. [music] Amen. How many of you like to pray at midnight? Okay. Those who don't like, start liking. 30th April, we are going to have at 10:30 p.m. the midnight prayer. 30th April, we're going to meet together for prayer. All of you who have come to this church for the first time, you know, when Pastor Jenny was sharing all those stories, I had a feeling that it looks like all newcomers are suicidal. No, it's not like that. Whatever reason you have come here, somebody called you, you have come here because you're visiting Bangalore, you have come here because you are looking for a church. I want you to know we love you. Thank you for coming. We welcome you in the name of the Lord. Go ahead, give them a big big hand of welcome. There's a welcome for you. And it is true that [music] this church cannot change you because this church is filled with people like you. But there is Christ here who can change us. [music] and he changes all our lives. But before you leave, if you will please go into

50:31 the guest launch. We'll be so happy to meet with you, pray with you, greet you, treat you, and we do all this very quickly. So if you will just step in there and give us your details, we'll be able to keep in touch with you. But thank you so very much for coming. Our Lord will bless you abundantly. Pastor Alan Ga with Joel and Ben all the way from Hyderabad. Thank you so much for coming and leading worship today. We are so blessed with your presence here. Thank you so very much. Shall we all stand together? We'll sing a song before we pray and close. And like I sometimes say this booklet, thou shalt distribute with all who think and use it. Don't keep it like a military secret somewhere, [music] you know. Uh use it. It's a blessing for God's glory. Shall we sing together? Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider

51:36 all the works thy hands have [music] made. I see [singing] the star. I hear the rolling [music] thunder. Thy part throughout the universe. >> Come on church, let's sing it together. Then sings. Oh yes, my savior God to thee. [music] How great thou are. How great thou are. Then sings [singing] my soul. >> Thank you Jesus. How great thou art. [music]

52:41 How great. And through the wood and forest [music] laid I wonder and hear [singing] the birds sing [music] sweetly in the trees. And I [music and singing] look down from lofty mountain [singing] and hear the broom and feel [music] the gentle. Oh yes, Lord. Then sings my soul, my [music] savior [singing] God to thee. How great thou are. How great thou are. [music and singing]

53:45 Then sings my soul. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. How great thou are. How great. And when I think how [music] God his son not sparing sent [music] him to die, [singing] I scarce can take. [music] Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you master. Thank you that you went to the [music] cross, Jesus. >> Oh yes. [music] He bled and died to take away my [music] then sings my soul, my savior God to thee. [music]

54:54 How great thou are. How [music] great thou are. Then sings [music] my soul. How great thou are. How great thou. Shall we all lift our [music] hands and sing together? How great thou are. How great thou. [music] Go ahead, take a few minutes. Let's clap our hands. Everybody lift our voices. Worship him. Adore him in the mighty name [music] of Jesus. Every powers of the demonic, every powers of the evil [music] that have

56:01 disturbed the image of God. Weakened [music] the image of God in Jesus mighty name. In every life, Father, we declare your [music] restoration. We declare the power of your grace. We declare your miracle working [music] hand. Hallelujah. Come on, somebody. Go ahead and praise God. He did it. It works in [music] Jesus mighty name. A new level of anointing to walk in the authority of the image of God. To walk in the success [music] of the image of God. Hallelujah. >> [music] >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [music] Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. [music] Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, this beautiful day, how great the word. We sing it from our hearts. How great the

57:06 word. the truth that you went to the cross of Calvary out of your love for us and brought us to yourself, purchased us to yourself that we no longer belong to the powers of this world. We don't belong to the zodiac of this world. We don't belong [music] to the forces of this world, but that you have made us your very own. And you have adopted us as your children. And we thank you for that authority that we are the temples of your Holy Spirit. and that your spirit dwells in us and we thank you for [music] that grace of restoration. We believe what we study today from your word. We thank you for your work on the cross in our life. We thank you for healing in the emotional level. We thank you for healing in the physical realm. We thank you for healing in our relationship with you in the spiritual. [music] We thank you, Father, that when you set us free, there is no bondage. There is no bondage. There is no bondage

58:10 that can hold us back. We thank you for your leadership in each of our lives. Oh God, some of us who are seeking you for a change, for a transformation, for things to happen, we thank you that you are a God who goes before us and will make the crooked path straight and open up the doors that are made of brass and break down the iron hinges. You said that when there is no way, you will make a way. You are God who makes rivers and streams in the desert. [music] Hallelujah. Somebody go ahead and praise him for some time. Oh, we thank you Jesus. [music] We thank you Holy Spirit. We thank you master. Thank you for your miracle working power. Father God, now we want to thank you and we pray for those who are celebrating their birthdays and their marriage anniversaries this week. We pray for your blessing upon them, oh God, that years ahead they will be filled with the goodness of thine. The years ahead will be filled with the purposes of thine.

59:14 Master, we pray now for those who may be traveling that your journey mercies will go with them. Father, we pray for those that in [music] this season are writing exams, preparing for the future, looking forward for admissions and so many [music] things that are happening. Let your blessing be upon each one of them. Your success be upon their lives. Father, we pray for those who may be going through pain, who may be going through struggle, who may be going through the immense sorrow of [music] bereiement or losses. And last week was probably the most miserable and and they're not sure how to take it forward. And we pray for such and we pray that your presence will become real this week. We pray that your guidance will become strong. [music] We pray that their hope will not vex in vain. Father, we pray [music] that instead of running away, you will cause them to run closer to you. That they will draw strength from you

1:00:16 and they will move forward in your mighty power and love. Hallelujah. Father, we pray that your strength will be on them. [music] Comfort will be on them. Now Lord, we also pray over the tithes and the offerings [music] that we have brought to give you from our heart of love as an act of worship. Everything we have surely comes from you Jesus. Every blessing in our life is your [music] grace on us. And as we give back a portion as an act of worship, may your blessing be upon us today. Lord, so many testimonies [music] that Pastor Jinny spoke and I shared. We want to thank you that you have made the church a blessing in the lives of people. We want to thank you that you are here oh Jesus and you are transforming the lives of people. And we pray Bangalore will be touched and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. India will be washed by the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. We thank you for the real

1:01:19 power of your presence that brings grace and [music] transformation. As your people go, may your peace go with them. Let this week of VBS [music] and other activities be a blessing in Jesus mighty name we pray. And the people said, "Amen." The grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of our heavenly father and the sweet abiding presence of the Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of us from now and forever more. Amen. God bless you all. Those who need prayer, pastors will be in the front. You can come forward. Those who like to talk and discuss, come to the church office. Pastors will be available. Love you. God bless you. Bye-bye. Heat. Heat.

1:03:19 Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat.