WEBVTT 00:00:00.821 --> 00:00:04.070 And we're reading from the book of Psalms, chapter 46. 00:00:04.070 --> 00:00:11.053 And we'll read from verse 1 all the way to verse 11. 00:00:11.053 --> 00:00:14.688 And if you're there, we can now go ahead. 00:00:14.688 --> 00:00:20.051 God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble. 00:00:20.051 --> 00:00:35.872 Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 00:00:35.872 --> 00:00:41.310 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. 00:00:41.310 --> 00:00:44.271 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. 00:00:44.271 --> 00:00:47.847 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. 00:00:47.847 --> 00:00:54.408 The holiest place let's go back to that the holy place where the Most High dwells. 00:00:54.408 --> 00:00:57.185 God is within her. 00:00:57.185 --> 00:01:01.268 She will not fail or she will not fall. 00:01:01.268 --> 00:01:02.665 God will help her. 00:01:03.301 --> 00:01:04.367 At break of day. 00:01:04.367 --> 00:01:07.605 Nations are in a prayer. 00:01:07.605 --> 00:01:09.364 Kingdoms fall. 00:01:09.364 --> 00:01:12.006 He lifts his voice. 00:01:12.006 --> 00:01:15.828 The earth melts Verse 7. 00:01:15.828 --> 00:01:18.807 The Lord Almighty is with us. 00:01:18.807 --> 00:01:22.408 The God of Jacob is our fortress. 00:01:22.408 --> 00:01:24.697 Come and see what the Lord has done us. 00:01:24.697 --> 00:01:25.400 The God of Jacob is our fortress. 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:27.484 Come and see what the Lord has done. 00:01:27.484 --> 00:01:33.489 There is the dissolution he has brought on the earth. 00:01:33.489 --> 00:01:39.807 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth Verse 10. 00:01:39.807 --> 00:01:42.983 He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. 00:01:42.983 --> 00:01:45.403 He burns the shields with fire. 00:01:45.403 --> 00:01:47.730 This is now verse 10. 00:01:47.730 --> 00:01:51.129 He says be still and know that I am God. 00:01:51.129 --> 00:01:54.489 I will be exalted among the nations. 00:01:54.489 --> 00:01:57.748 I will be exalted in the earth. 00:01:57.748 --> 00:01:59.945 And finally, verse 11. 00:01:59.945 --> 00:02:02.588 The Lord Almighty is with us. 00:02:02.588 --> 00:02:05.051 The God of Jacob is our fortress, and that is the word of the Lord is with us. 00:02:05.051 --> 00:02:08.725 The God of Jacob is our fortress, and that is the word of the Lord. 00:02:08.825 --> 00:02:12.004 Let us pray Our loving Heavenly Father. 00:02:12.004 --> 00:02:15.628 We bless your name for your goodness and for your mercies. 00:02:15.628 --> 00:02:22.981 We are so grateful even to see that you are working in the life and body of our senior pastor and the Lord. 00:02:22.981 --> 00:02:25.103 Just to hear him speak to us is a blessing. 00:02:25.103 --> 00:02:29.847 We thank you for Pastor Simon, who's taken your message to South Africa. 00:02:29.847 --> 00:02:31.329 We pray the Lord. 00:02:31.329 --> 00:02:33.143 Your anointing and blessings be upon him. 00:02:33.143 --> 00:02:36.407 We thank you for the word that you have for us this morning. 00:02:36.407 --> 00:02:42.307 We pray that, lord, you minister to us by your grace and we pray that may your presence come upon us. 00:02:42.307 --> 00:02:43.864 In Jesus name. 00:02:43.864 --> 00:02:45.389 We pray, amen. 00:02:45.389 --> 00:02:52.225 You may have your seats in the presence of the Lord and thank you very much. 00:02:52.225 --> 00:03:01.329 It's nice to see all of you once again and we thank God for his favor upon us and welcome to the month of November. 00:03:01.329 --> 00:03:07.003 And I am honored and blessed to be the one to introduce the theme of November to us. 00:03:07.003 --> 00:03:19.768 And the theme of November is open door renewal, uplifted Kingdom refreshment, and that happens also to be the title of our sermon today. 00:03:19.768 --> 00:03:31.344 Today, open door renewal, uplifted kingdom Refreshment, and we have read From Psalms 46. 00:03:32.247 --> 00:03:42.145 As I lay a basis To this sermon, that God is our refuge, an ever present help In trouble. 00:03:42.145 --> 00:03:49.026 Meaning, first and foremost, is to know that trouble is expected. 00:03:49.026 --> 00:03:50.991 Are we together? 00:03:50.991 --> 00:03:56.731 Because some people, when trouble comes, it's like they did not expect it. 00:03:56.731 --> 00:04:17.889 You know, they behave like when we were in college, full of fire, full of the Holy Ghost, preaching the kingdom, and some brethren told us then that, you know, we have been redeemed, we have been packaged, sealed and posted to heaven. 00:04:17.889 --> 00:04:27.464 You know, therefore, we are like a package that has been put through the post office services and that means, therefore, the troubles of this world are not part of us. 00:04:27.464 --> 00:04:30.048 I remind us it is. 00:04:30.048 --> 00:04:45.351 That is why God is our refuge and an ever-present help in times of trouble, and because he is there, we will be able to go through them, and I can tell you, currently there are so many. 00:04:45.351 --> 00:04:46.860 I can tell you, currently there are so many troubles. 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:57.533 Yes, currently there are very many troubles Political troubles, economic troubles, natural Catastrophes. 00:04:57.533 --> 00:05:06.810 Yes, they are happening, but with all this, god is our ever present Help in trouble. 00:05:06.810 --> 00:05:14.620 But when all this God is our ever-present help in trouble, but when all that is happening, then we are told that there is a river. 00:05:14.620 --> 00:05:16.961 Amen, that there is a river. 00:05:16.961 --> 00:05:20.302 That is what the Bible says in verse 4. 00:05:20.302 --> 00:05:35.949 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells, and you know the city is you, because that is what the scripture says. 00:05:35.949 --> 00:05:41.190 Don't you know that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you? 00:05:41.190 --> 00:06:04.112 You are the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore there is a river that is flowing in this month of November To make glad the city of God, and you are the city of God Because God dwells in you and therefore, in this month of November, the river has been released. 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:08.730 You know, in Kenya we do not have huge rivers. 00:06:08.730 --> 00:06:16.588 We have some, but you need to visit some rivers in this world Like, for example, river Congo. 00:06:16.588 --> 00:06:20.649 River Congo is such a huge river. 00:06:20.649 --> 00:06:25.213 Some of the places is three and a half kilometers wide. 00:06:25.213 --> 00:06:37.223 Now, if you are here in Westlands, three and a half kilometers going towards Nakuru is up to where those people who live those sides you are. 00:06:37.223 --> 00:06:38.850 You are beyond Kangemi, isn't it? 00:06:38.850 --> 00:06:44.887 You are beyond Kangemi, a mountain view that way, I think, almost Kabete station up there. 00:06:44.887 --> 00:06:47.612 That's how wide the river would be. 00:06:47.612 --> 00:07:02.360 If that's the way you are in town Now, you can imagine such a huge river flowing your way this month to come and bring you gladness, praise the name of the Lord. 00:07:03.024 --> 00:07:13.011 That is how generous God is prepared in this month of November To release his gladness to you so that there can be joy. 00:07:13.011 --> 00:07:33.831 Therefore there is a river and it's coming from the kingdom and therefore we will be refreshed in this month because God is with us and therefore in our sermon, as that refreshment comes, it is going to come through three things that we're going to emphasize this morning. 00:07:33.831 --> 00:07:37.971 And number one, it will come through renewal. 00:07:37.971 --> 00:07:42.850 And number two, it will come through repentance. 00:07:42.850 --> 00:07:46.314 And number three, it will come through repentance. 00:07:46.314 --> 00:07:47.240 And number three, it will come through prayer. 00:07:47.240 --> 00:08:23.608 So if we want to experience that flow from the river of God, then we need to exercise or go through these three things and when we look at number one, which is through renewal, and when we look at number one, which is through renewal, renewal implies a situation that is in need of restoration Because, really, wherever it comes, if you say remember, okay, remember, is that something you had forgotten? 00:08:23.629 --> 00:08:28.766 And then you remember it, you join it to your brain or your memory, then you remember. 00:08:28.766 --> 00:08:49.408 When you say recall it's something that was somewhere and you are bringing it back, meaning then when we talk about renewal, it is that you are already new, but something has happened To your newness and it needs to be reestablished. 00:08:49.408 --> 00:08:51.725 How are you new? 00:08:51.725 --> 00:08:59.998 The Bible says that those who are In Christ Jesus, they are a new creation. 00:08:59.998 --> 00:09:04.186 The old has gone and, behold, the new has. 00:09:04.186 --> 00:09:15.910 But then, after we received the, the Lord, and we became new, there are things that have come along our ways and they have covered or diminished our newness. 00:09:15.910 --> 00:09:20.791 This is the renewal that we are looking for this morning. 00:09:20.791 --> 00:09:23.899 Amen, amen. 00:09:24.481 --> 00:09:32.842 A very good car runs very well, but it needs service, and to service a car is not to replace it. 00:09:32.842 --> 00:09:34.480 It is the same car. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:46.346 You put new oil, you put a new air cleaner, you put a new fuel filter, so that the normal, normal car that maybe was smoking and not going very fast. 00:09:46.346 --> 00:09:47.850 It has new energy. 00:09:47.850 --> 00:09:57.932 This is what we mean by renew that God is going to be resurfacing us and therefore he's going to be renewing us. 00:09:59.801 --> 00:10:09.124 Therefore, to be renewed is like when you get a cold drink, when you are thirsty on a hot day and you become refreshed. 00:10:09.124 --> 00:10:12.984 You know you drink and you don't know where and nobody tells you to talk. 00:10:12.984 --> 00:10:17.865 You just finish that glass of water and say ah, and sometimes you are alone. 00:10:17.865 --> 00:10:23.019 There is nobody even listening to that, but because of the good that you feel, you just say ah and you are alone. 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.100 It is because of the goodness flowing you feel. 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:25.261 You just say ah and you are alone. 00:10:25.261 --> 00:10:27.683 It is because of the goodness flowing within you. 00:10:27.683 --> 00:10:35.950 This is the experience that we're going to get when the Lord refreshes us, when, in our situation, god comes through. 00:10:36.490 --> 00:10:41.354 It's like when you have had a hot day and tired and then you get a good shower. 00:10:41.354 --> 00:10:51.220 There are some who enjoy cold showers, there are others who like hot showers, whichever ones you like, but you can imagine, when you get a good shower, there are some who enjoy cold showers, there are others who like hot showers, whichever ones you like, but you can imagine when you get in there and the way you feel. 00:10:51.220 --> 00:11:00.105 And even those who don't sing, sometimes, when that happens, they become musicians immediately, and now those who are out there can hear the songs. 00:11:00.105 --> 00:11:16.355 Of course, there are others who sing because they are afraid of bathing, so, whichever the case, but I am talking about those who get the other others to encourage themselves because they have fallen under the water, they keep singing. 00:11:16.355 --> 00:11:41.226 So it can be either way Either because you are being refreshed but my emphasis is on those who do that because they are being refreshed All right, that is what we mean by being refreshed or even when you have had a long day, you are tired and you get a fresh bed, you know, with clean sheets, well done, you may wake one of the angles so that you just sleep inside. 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:43.626 When you get in, you close your eyes. 00:11:43.626 --> 00:11:50.330 Sleep takes you even before you can turn and therefore you need to pray before you get into that bed because you'll just sleep. 00:11:50.330 --> 00:11:52.527 That is what it means to be refreshed. 00:11:52.527 --> 00:11:53.288 Are we together? 00:11:53.288 --> 00:11:58.610 So the Lord makes you lie down in green pastures? 00:11:58.610 --> 00:12:00.634 Amen, amen. 00:12:00.634 --> 00:12:07.571 This is what we are looking for in this month To be renewed. 00:12:07.571 --> 00:12:16.649 Okay, you can imagine if you live in a place where there is no grass, live in a flat somewhere there is no grass somewhere. 00:12:16.649 --> 00:12:19.845 Then one day you find yourself we are going to holiday time. 00:12:19.845 --> 00:12:23.107 You find yourself you are taking a holiday in a place that has loans. 00:12:23.107 --> 00:12:28.163 You wake up in the morning and take a lesson and go and lie there and you are lying there. 00:12:28.163 --> 00:12:29.609 You will feel refreshed. 00:12:29.609 --> 00:12:35.932 You can work for the rest of the year because newness has come into your life, amen. 00:12:35.932 --> 00:12:39.589 So this is what we mean by renewal. 00:12:40.542 --> 00:13:07.620 In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 31 and verse 25, the Bible says no-transcript. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:10.288 He does not require to be probed. 00:13:10.288 --> 00:13:23.719 It is his commitment to do that for us, that he's prepared to be able to refresh those who are weary and those who are faint. 00:13:23.719 --> 00:13:37.466 All you need to know is to admit you're weary, so that when you know you're weary, then you call on his name and he says call unto me and I will answer. 00:13:37.466 --> 00:13:47.322 The trouble is, some of us are so proud and arrogant we never admit we are weary, even to God. 00:13:47.322 --> 00:13:55.129 We are not afraid and God is willing to assist. 00:13:55.129 --> 00:13:59.768 God is willing to support us so we can lift up our situations to him. 00:13:59.768 --> 00:14:07.514 God is ready and willing to refresh those who are weary by renewing them. 00:14:07.514 --> 00:14:14.311 And in Romans 12, verse 1 and 2, which he had already put up. 00:14:14.311 --> 00:14:15.594 Now we can go back to it. 00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:21.991 The Bible says Romans 12 and verse 1 and 2,. 00:14:21.991 --> 00:14:35.734 The Bible says 12 and verse 1 and 2, the Bible says Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 00:14:35.734 --> 00:14:39.990 This is your true and proper worship. 00:14:39.990 --> 00:14:42.184 Then verse 2, how does that worship come about? 00:14:42.184 --> 00:14:43.350 Do not conform to the patterns of this world. 00:14:43.350 --> 00:14:44.999 Then verse 2 how does that worship come about? 00:14:44.999 --> 00:14:53.229 Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:14:53.229 --> 00:15:04.001 Then you will be able to test and approve what is God's will, is his good, pleasing and perfect will. 00:15:04.001 --> 00:15:07.951 So, the renewal of our minds. 00:15:10.520 --> 00:15:16.092 When we are renewed in our minds, that is when we are able to worship God. 00:15:16.092 --> 00:15:32.591 Because in our traditional sense, in our traditional sense, it is not possible to pursue what is good, because even as David would say in Psalms, I was born in sin, right. 00:15:32.591 --> 00:15:39.734 But the thing is, when we have been transformed and born again, our situation might change. 00:15:39.734 --> 00:15:47.053 And when it changes, then we get what is in Philippians, chapter 4 and verse 8. 00:15:47.053 --> 00:15:51.692 If we can read now, philippians, chapter 4 and verse 8. 00:15:51.692 --> 00:15:59.071 And the Bible says finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is, whatever is. 00:15:59.071 --> 00:16:01.394 Be shouting that for me. 00:16:01.394 --> 00:16:02.423 Let's go at it again. 00:16:02.423 --> 00:16:15.225 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is, whatever is, whatever is, whatever is, whatever is, whatever is. 00:16:15.225 --> 00:16:22.666 If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such. 00:16:22.666 --> 00:16:27.746 This is what happens when you have a renewal of mind. 00:16:27.746 --> 00:16:44.801 Your mind now works on the things that are true, the things that are honorable, the things that are just, the things that are lovely and things that are commendable. 00:16:45.301 --> 00:17:04.971 Right, and therefore I want to say today, one of the challenges we have in this country, in the church and the world over, is the deficit of the things we have talked about, so that today we are praying for people to get jobs, people to get employment. 00:17:04.971 --> 00:17:11.366 But you know why we don't have employment and jobs is because we are not trustworthy. 00:17:11.366 --> 00:17:15.866 Somebody invests in their business because they are employed. 00:17:15.866 --> 00:17:25.404 They put up a shop in town and they employ two young men or two young women or three, but then the people they leave in the shop. 00:17:25.404 --> 00:17:27.987 Their business is to loot that shop. 00:17:27.987 --> 00:17:29.964 They make a loss. 00:17:29.964 --> 00:17:34.561 They close the shop, they eat their money and they continue working. 00:17:34.561 --> 00:17:39.386 Now, is it that there were no jobs or we squandered the jobs? 00:17:39.386 --> 00:17:43.866 Then somebody says no, no, no, no. 00:17:44.021 --> 00:18:05.450 I want to work with Christians because you know, when brothers who are born again, who are of the Holy Spirit and I can see some of you already are smiling, looking as I say, that's a place not to go, that's a place not to you, give opportunity to people because they are brethren, because they are born again, then those are the ones who call you in the morning. 00:18:05.450 --> 00:18:11.326 They will come humbly. 00:18:11.326 --> 00:18:14.381 My brother, you know I have this need and I have this. 00:18:14.381 --> 00:18:25.646 If you just give me 10,000 Saturday, saturday I will bring it to you, my friend, that Saturday they will not appear. 00:18:25.646 --> 00:18:27.807 You come to Sunday service. 00:18:27.807 --> 00:18:28.883 You are looking around. 00:18:28.883 --> 00:18:30.670 They will not come to church. 00:18:33.082 --> 00:18:41.023 When there is renewal, your word becomes bankable Because you can be trusted upon. 00:18:41.023 --> 00:18:47.219 When there is renewal, you can be trusted upon. 00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:56.609 When there is renewal, there can be genuine love within families, because people can honestly forgive. 00:18:56.609 --> 00:19:01.720 Because you know it is very difficult to forgive. 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:05.086 By the way, it is not easy when somebody has hurt you, and you know some hurtings are to forgive. 00:19:05.086 --> 00:19:06.883 By the way, it is not easy when somebody has hurt you and you know some hurtings are deep. 00:19:06.883 --> 00:19:11.506 But because they are your brothers and your sisters, they have failed you. 00:19:11.506 --> 00:19:16.529 But without renewal it is not possible to give genuine forgiveness. 00:19:16.529 --> 00:19:33.607 So for renewal to come, we will need to go for what is genuine, what is true, what is lovely and lovely is setting others free, because the Bible says forgive others, just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you. 00:19:33.607 --> 00:19:40.567 But you get to know how difficult it is to forgive. 00:19:40.567 --> 00:19:43.083 Ask little children to tell one another sorry. 00:19:43.083 --> 00:19:48.583 After they say sorry, they cry Because they feel they have lost a lot. 00:19:54.736 --> 00:20:07.767 Now renewal, so that whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, even in this country. 00:20:07.767 --> 00:20:19.228 It is not that we cannot be able to meet our needs, it's only that people are not honorable, that's true. 00:20:19.228 --> 00:20:21.121 Why do we have corruption? 00:20:21.121 --> 00:20:26.461 I am not prophesying, neither am I giving news about corruption in this country, isn't it? 00:20:26.461 --> 00:20:41.145 But and we are 80% believers in this country it's until when we become renewed that then there shall be refreshment. 00:20:41.145 --> 00:20:45.362 We are crying about economy, we are crying about everything. 00:20:45.362 --> 00:20:47.060 We are crying about these things. 00:20:47.060 --> 00:20:54.602 We need renewal of mind so that we can think about the things that we have mentioned about. 00:20:55.836 --> 00:21:18.221 Times fails me to be able to emphasize on this, but finally, I want to say on this one that if you want good relationships, be renewed in your heart so that when we are renewed, we will do things not because of who we are, not because of where we come from, but because of where we have been taken to. 00:21:18.221 --> 00:21:25.797 We have been taken to the kingdom of God, so that I will apologize and I will not feel small. 00:21:25.797 --> 00:21:33.998 Right, yes, to be renewed, to be renewed. 00:21:33.998 --> 00:21:44.564 You know, can you imagine a husband Full of the Holy Spirit but spending the day watching TV because he has not yet found a job? 00:21:44.564 --> 00:21:49.116 My friend, you better walk greeting people until evening so that you are tired. 00:21:49.116 --> 00:22:07.825 That way, you help even your wife, who is sent for shopping and eats all the money and comes with half of the shopping. 00:22:07.825 --> 00:22:13.321 After that, they speak in tongues and they quote scripture. 00:22:13.321 --> 00:22:17.025 We need to be renewed, amen. 00:22:17.025 --> 00:22:22.464 You know, we spiritualize things until we fail to work on this earth, where we are working. 00:22:22.464 --> 00:22:24.321 We need to be renewed. 00:22:24.321 --> 00:22:33.542 Some of us we need to be renewed. 00:22:33.542 --> 00:22:38.506 We are working in debt, not because we don't have money, but whatever money we have, we misuse it. 00:22:38.506 --> 00:22:43.844 Let's leave that and then go to repentance. 00:22:43.844 --> 00:22:51.383 Because I'm already starting to talk about repentance, because that is where the Praise the Lord. 00:22:51.383 --> 00:23:00.849 Praise the Lord. 00:23:00.849 --> 00:23:09.926 Now number two, let's talk about repentance and I want to beg this story from the book of Luke, chapter 15. 00:23:09.926 --> 00:23:15.321 And we're going to read a few verses from there, the book of Luke, chapter 15. 00:23:15.321 --> 00:23:21.685 Let's read from verse 11. 00:23:21.685 --> 00:23:26.662 Yes, jesus continued. 00:23:27.255 --> 00:23:28.981 There was a man who had two sons. 00:23:28.981 --> 00:23:35.298 The younger one said to his father Father, give me my share of estate. 00:23:35.298 --> 00:23:37.137 So he provided. 00:23:37.137 --> 00:23:41.059 He divided his property between them. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:55.207 Not long after that, the young son got together all he had set off to a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 00:23:55.207 --> 00:24:05.069 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. 00:24:05.069 --> 00:24:16.349 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country who sent him to his field to feed pigs. 00:24:16.349 --> 00:24:24.788 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 00:24:24.788 --> 00:24:39.828 When he came to his senses repeat that after me when he came to his senses he said how many of my father's hired servants have food to spare? 00:24:39.828 --> 00:24:43.565 And here I am starving to death. 00:24:43.565 --> 00:24:52.865 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 00:24:52.865 --> 00:24:56.825 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:24:56.825 --> 00:25:00.365 Make me like one of your hired servants. 00:25:00.365 --> 00:25:06.656 So he got up and went to his father. 00:25:06.656 --> 00:25:12.487 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. 00:25:12.487 --> 00:25:17.400 He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:24.269 The son said to him Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 00:25:24.269 --> 00:25:27.845 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:25:27.845 --> 00:25:41.358 But the father said to his servants Quick, bring the best rope and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and saddles on his feet. 00:25:41.358 --> 00:25:43.105 We'll stop there for today. 00:25:43.105 --> 00:25:47.925 Now let's do this About this son. 00:25:47.925 --> 00:25:55.200 I'm talking about repentance Because many people, when we talk about repentance, they think about repenting sins. 00:25:55.988 --> 00:26:01.183 So when you tell people to repent, they always imagine I have sinned and I need to repent. 00:26:01.183 --> 00:26:01.828 But always imagine I have sinned and I need to repent. 00:26:01.828 --> 00:26:14.344 But the understanding of repentance Is I have been going this way and I have discovered this is the wrong direction and I change and when I go the other good direction. 00:26:14.344 --> 00:26:15.798 I have repented. 00:26:15.798 --> 00:26:19.760 It is also when you change your mind. 00:26:19.760 --> 00:26:30.124 I have been so harsh to this man, I no longer need to quarrel with him as much and therefore I will talk to him, because being quarrelsome to him does not change anything. 00:26:30.124 --> 00:26:32.303 I will speak to him, therefore, fairly. 00:26:32.303 --> 00:26:34.442 That is repentance. 00:26:34.442 --> 00:26:36.820 You have changed your ways. 00:26:36.820 --> 00:26:40.663 But many times when we talk about repentance, it's sin. 00:26:40.663 --> 00:26:46.576 You have committed adultery, you have stolen, you have done what, and therefore repentance is not a welcome term. 00:26:46.576 --> 00:26:49.461 When you tell people to repent, they say umenio na wapi? 00:26:49.461 --> 00:26:54.329 Isn't that our perception? 00:26:54.329 --> 00:26:59.903 But repentance is changing from the wrong direction and going to the right. 00:26:59.903 --> 00:27:16.896 Now, for us to receive renewal and refreshment in this month of November, we need to repent this prodigal son. 00:27:18.101 --> 00:27:21.942 There was nothing wrong with him asking for his inheritance and the father was willing. 00:27:21.942 --> 00:27:26.990 And I don't know why, son, there was nothing wrong with him asking for his inheritance and the father was willing. 00:27:26.990 --> 00:27:30.009 And I don't know why, because I don't think that is normal. 00:27:30.009 --> 00:27:34.522 Many people tell him your inheritance, yours, from whose? 00:27:34.522 --> 00:27:40.181 You are in here, you can go and look for it, but for the father, I don't know. 00:27:40.181 --> 00:27:42.661 For whatever reason, the father was willing. 00:27:42.661 --> 00:27:48.721 You ask an African father when he's still around give me my inheritance. 00:27:48.721 --> 00:27:49.463 He'll ask you are what? 00:27:49.463 --> 00:27:51.736 I don't know. 00:27:51.736 --> 00:27:58.547 Do you think that's a discussion you can have this Christmas with your parents, that we have now come for Christmas, give me my. 00:27:58.547 --> 00:28:00.509 You are what? 00:28:00.509 --> 00:28:03.436 Where has it to be? 00:28:03.436 --> 00:28:11.124 But for some reason, but for some reason and there are some fathers If you say that over Christmas, christmas will be over. 00:28:11.124 --> 00:28:15.500 But for some reason, this father was willing. 00:28:15.954 --> 00:28:18.042 This is how God is generous to us. 00:28:18.042 --> 00:28:20.846 Even when we do some weird things, our God is full of grace. 00:28:20.846 --> 00:28:21.229 He generous to us. 00:28:21.229 --> 00:28:23.540 Even when we do some weird things, our God is full of grace. 00:28:23.540 --> 00:28:31.204 He still gives us, and when we misuse even what he has given us, he's waiting for us to change our ways. 00:28:31.204 --> 00:28:38.946 You know the son had revised what he was going to say to the father. 00:28:38.946 --> 00:28:47.568 Okay, because we have read when he came to his senses. 00:28:47.568 --> 00:28:50.417 That is when the Holy Spirit spoke to him. 00:28:50.417 --> 00:28:51.862 That's why we need the Holy Spirit. 00:28:51.862 --> 00:29:01.532 The Holy Spirit can tell you when you're in the wrong direction and you come to your senses. 00:29:04.394 --> 00:29:08.122 Some of us, we are struggling in our relationships, in our businesses, but we need to come to our senses. 00:29:08.122 --> 00:29:15.714 So watch a kiburi, watch a maringo, watch a kingereza minki, watch a maneno minki. 00:29:15.714 --> 00:29:20.205 Just sit down and sort what the matter Are we together? 00:29:20.205 --> 00:29:22.501 That's when we come to our senses. 00:29:22.501 --> 00:29:25.622 When he came to his senses, that is what the Bible has said. 00:29:25.622 --> 00:29:29.710 That is when he made up his. 00:29:29.710 --> 00:29:39.000 He remembered I have a father and in my father's compound there are servants, and they eat better than I do. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:46.758 Therefore, he made a decision. 00:29:46.758 --> 00:29:49.901 So many of us are still stuck in our senses. 00:29:49.901 --> 00:29:54.807 There are some who have not reached making their senses, but others are now in that senses. 00:29:54.807 --> 00:29:58.530 I think it might be good, but they will not do it. 00:29:58.530 --> 00:30:02.440 I think it is good. 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.743 It is time to action. 00:30:03.743 --> 00:30:07.178 You are coming into senses and when you do. 00:30:07.881 --> 00:30:12.923 When the son started walking home, that is when repentance began. 00:30:12.923 --> 00:30:20.082 So by the time he was meeting his father, he had even reversed his communication. 00:30:20.082 --> 00:30:27.632 A statement was read Father, I don't deserve to be yours, but you think the father had that story. 00:30:27.632 --> 00:30:40.586 When he was talking, the father was already speaking to the servants Get a calf, dress it, let us celebrate, because this son of mine, he was dead and now he's alive. 00:30:46.808 --> 00:30:53.011 We need to repent If you are a borrower who doesn't pay debts. 00:30:53.011 --> 00:30:53.272 Repent. 00:30:53.272 --> 00:30:59.914 If you are a person who receives good things and you cannot say thank you, repent. 00:30:59.914 --> 00:31:07.048 If you are a person who gives false promises, repent. 00:31:07.048 --> 00:31:10.494 If you are a father who has abandoned his responsibility, repent. 00:31:10.494 --> 00:31:18.684 If you are a mother who has abandoned his children, repent. 00:31:18.684 --> 00:31:26.143 The family is waiting for you, repent. 00:31:26.143 --> 00:31:34.019 Repent If you are a worker and you do mediocre job, repent and do a good job. 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:39.329 Yes, why not? 00:31:39.329 --> 00:31:52.689 Because this is the way we give a testimony, this is the way we become refreshed and this is the way we refresh others. 00:31:52.689 --> 00:31:55.019 Hallelujah, we need to repent. 00:31:55.701 --> 00:32:00.065 Amen, because we repent when we know we have a problem. 00:32:00.065 --> 00:32:19.632 Because the Bible says in Matthew 11, 28, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:32:19.632 --> 00:32:26.315 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:32:26.315 --> 00:32:40.564 The first thing is that we must accept we have a problem, right, because the Bible is saying come to me, not those who think, not those who imagine, it is those who know they are heavy laden. 00:32:40.564 --> 00:32:46.175 So you need to come to a position where you realize whether you're walking right with God or not. 00:32:46.175 --> 00:32:56.917 For you to be refreshed, so that for us to be able to enjoy our relationship with God, we must be willing to be transformed, amen. 00:32:56.917 --> 00:32:58.621 We must be willing. 00:32:58.621 --> 00:33:14.019 His plan, god's plan, is to give us rest, but we must also have the conviction that we have a problem that needs to be sorted out, amen. 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:18.056 And when we go, then God will change our situations. 00:33:18.056 --> 00:33:26.013 Finally, let's go to prayer, because we don't have all the time, but I hope you have captured something about repentance. 00:33:26.013 --> 00:33:27.428 Are we together? 00:33:27.428 --> 00:33:33.798 It is not just kneeling down and praying to God, because many people think that is what repentance is all about. 00:33:33.798 --> 00:33:37.107 It is changing your ways. 00:33:38.251 --> 00:33:39.838 If you are a Christian, be a Christian. 00:33:39.838 --> 00:33:42.171 If you are a man, be a Christian. 00:33:42.171 --> 00:33:44.431 If you are a woman, be a. 00:33:44.431 --> 00:33:44.672 What. 00:33:44.672 --> 00:33:45.757 If you are a wife, be a. 00:33:45.757 --> 00:33:45.843 What. 00:33:45.843 --> 00:33:46.238 If you are a man, be he. 00:33:46.238 --> 00:33:46.554 If you are a woman, be a. 00:33:46.554 --> 00:33:46.638 What. 00:33:46.638 --> 00:33:46.934 If you are a wife, be a. 00:33:46.934 --> 00:33:47.039 What? 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:51.432 If you are a husband, be a and do what husbands are supposed to do. 00:33:51.432 --> 00:33:53.088 If you are a father, be a. 00:33:53.088 --> 00:33:57.594 Yes, you cannot be a mother and you beat your wife. 00:33:57.594 --> 00:34:01.266 You don't. 00:34:01.266 --> 00:34:04.508 When your children sleep Repent. 00:34:04.508 --> 00:34:06.589 Are we together? 00:34:06.589 --> 00:34:07.971 Are we together? 00:34:07.971 --> 00:34:09.512 Do you know what your children sleep? 00:34:09.512 --> 00:34:09.793 Repent? 00:34:09.793 --> 00:34:10.233 Are we together? 00:34:10.233 --> 00:34:15.077 Repent, repent? 00:34:15.077 --> 00:34:23.610 Yes, you are a father. 00:34:23.610 --> 00:34:28.925 You don't know how your children are doing Because you are busy, busy looking for wealth. 00:34:28.925 --> 00:34:32.795 Are we together? 00:34:32.795 --> 00:34:37.355 Yes, repent, repent. 00:34:37.355 --> 00:34:49.677 So that, whatever you know, some things in this world are very interesting. 00:34:50.945 --> 00:35:04.876 One person was working in the discipline forces and so he retired and he went back home to his home where his wife was, and now the wife has established an order of how she does her things. 00:35:04.876 --> 00:35:26.873 So when he comes in the morning, because he was senior, he was giving orders, so he would also want now to give orders to his wife, until one day, after about five months, the wife woke up and said my friend, this is not where you used to be, this is our home, and here we don't work with orders, we work with negotiations. 00:35:26.873 --> 00:35:40.891 Today I am going for a ladies meeting and the man said I could not survive in that place Because we are disconnected. 00:35:40.891 --> 00:35:51.429 So reconnect, isn't it so that if you are a lawyer, don't be using law at home, use the law in the office, but when you come, use other things? 00:35:51.429 --> 00:35:58.451 Even if you are a pastor, don't be telling your children Amen when they want chips. 00:35:58.451 --> 00:36:01.813 It is not Amen that works, it is chips. 00:36:02.896 --> 00:36:03.538 Are we together? 00:36:03.538 --> 00:36:10.251 Yes, if you are a systems operator, don't say systems, they don't care. 00:36:10.251 --> 00:36:13.170 It is wakatiwa chips nasoda. 00:36:13.170 --> 00:36:25.112 Even if it is not healthy, praise the name of the Lord. 00:36:25.112 --> 00:36:29.295 For us to enjoy renewal, we must repent. 00:36:29.295 --> 00:36:31.771 We need to change. 00:36:31.771 --> 00:36:38.105 Finally, if you repent and you don't pray, then there will be nothing that's going to change. 00:36:38.105 --> 00:36:43.818 So let's read from the book of Chronicles 2, chronicles 7, verse 14. 00:36:43.818 --> 00:36:51.954 I'll try to run quickly through this, but bear with me a little, because I think we need to know, we need to pray. 00:36:51.954 --> 00:36:52.556 Are we together? 00:36:52.556 --> 00:36:54.108 So let's do this. 00:36:54.972 --> 00:37:16.231 The Bible says If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and I will heal their land. 00:37:16.231 --> 00:37:18.391 Now look at that sequence. 00:37:18.391 --> 00:37:30.351 It is if my people meaning the starting point is the people, isn't it they will humble themselves and then do what Pray? 00:37:30.351 --> 00:37:36.110 Prayer is communion with God. 00:37:36.110 --> 00:37:39.012 It is communication to God. 00:37:39.012 --> 00:37:47.148 Bring your situations to God, who can be able to change things, the way we said at the beginning In Psalms 46. 00:37:47.148 --> 00:37:52.056 The Lord is our refuge and ever present help. 00:37:52.056 --> 00:37:54.641 In times of trouble. 00:37:54.641 --> 00:37:59.273 He is the one who will release the river Of refreshment, amen. 00:37:59.273 --> 00:38:00.619 So turn to him. 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:11.144 He will heal their land and he will forgive their sins, meaning you don't even need to spend so much time looking for solutions. 00:38:11.144 --> 00:38:13.072 You just need to turn to God. 00:38:13.072 --> 00:38:22.355 He will forgive you, he will heal one, he will fulfill our country, but also he will heal your family. 00:38:22.355 --> 00:38:25.313 He will heal your children. 00:38:25.313 --> 00:38:26.195 He will heal your family. 00:38:26.195 --> 00:38:29.344 He will heal your children, he will heal your career. 00:38:29.344 --> 00:38:41.793 If you repent and you go to him in prayer, he will bring that healing, because when we pray, god protects what belongs to us. 00:38:41.835 --> 00:38:48.514 You know Some people, you know you know some people want to do this thing called mikosi and vitunusi. 00:38:48.514 --> 00:38:51.541 You know, you know Swahili here. 00:38:51.541 --> 00:38:54.954 Mikosi, everything you do goes wrong. 00:38:54.954 --> 00:38:58.570 Now vitunusi is those things that happen. 00:38:58.570 --> 00:39:05.914 You have made things just look like they are going to work, but from somewhere, you know, the whirlwind comes and distorts the things out. 00:39:05.914 --> 00:39:10.550 You plant your things Today, the market is very good. 00:39:10.550 --> 00:39:16.431 Tomorrow, when you are arriving with your things in the market, the prices have plummeted. 00:39:16.431 --> 00:39:17.307 They go down. 00:39:17.307 --> 00:39:19.871 You could not find it yesterday, when it was good. 00:39:19.871 --> 00:39:31.568 You only come the last minute you know things that you get an appointment in a company it's doing well. 00:39:31.568 --> 00:39:34.172 Two years down the line that company is closing. 00:39:35.567 --> 00:39:48.253 I want to declare to you that that will not continue, because today we are turning to God in the name of Jesus, so that whatever you put on your hands, it will work. 00:39:48.253 --> 00:39:55.106 Every other time you are dealing with con men and con women, they are always taking away your things. 00:39:55.106 --> 00:40:03.226 You are just getting in a relationship with wrong characters whose background you do not know, so that every other time they are leaving you crying. 00:40:03.226 --> 00:40:06.090 But also the issue is this Do you do due diligence? 00:40:06.090 --> 00:40:17.952 Because to be a Christian is not to be unreasonable, it is to actually be very sharp minded, because the spirit of God is in you. 00:40:17.952 --> 00:40:24.936 Praise the name of the Lord, but you cannot be every other con thing that comes around. 00:40:24.936 --> 00:40:27.710 You are the first one to be con Banak wakoi. 00:40:27.710 --> 00:40:37.036 So for you you need the prayer of Jabez In 1 Chronicles, chapter 4 and verse 9. 00:40:38.021 --> 00:40:42.233 Because the Bible says, without giving any detail I find this scripture very interesting. 00:40:42.233 --> 00:40:44.411 It is actually fixed somewhere. 00:40:44.411 --> 00:40:46.050 Other people are being explained. 00:40:46.050 --> 00:40:47.815 They were sons of so and so and so and so. 00:40:47.815 --> 00:40:53.469 Then it just comes and introduces Jabez and the Bible says Jabez. 00:40:53.469 --> 00:40:55.871 It is not told whose son he was. 00:40:55.871 --> 00:41:01.407 And the other verses, if you read up there and even down after that, they say who was son of who and who. 00:41:01.407 --> 00:41:04.693 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. 00:41:04.693 --> 00:41:06.054