WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:00.801 Amen. 00:00:00.801 --> 00:00:02.323 Let's turn to the Word of God. 00:00:02.323 --> 00:00:08.073 I will try to preach because I am also excited, I am also happy. 00:00:08.073 --> 00:00:15.013 So I will try to preach and I know that the Lord is going to help us to hear His Word today. 00:00:15.013 --> 00:00:17.564 Luke, chapter 17, verse 11. 00:00:17.564 --> 00:00:19.989 Luke, chapter 17, verse 11. 00:00:19.989 --> 00:00:23.795 This is what the Bible says now. 00:00:24.056 --> 00:00:31.440 On his way to Jerusalem, jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:39.207 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met with him, or rather met him. 00:00:39.207 --> 00:00:44.447 They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice Jesus, master. 00:00:44.447 --> 00:00:51.593 They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice Jesus Master, have pity on us. 00:00:51.593 --> 00:00:59.409 When he saw them, he said Go, show yourselves to the priests. 00:00:59.409 --> 00:01:03.610 And as they went, they were cleansed. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:12.174 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back praising God in a loud voice. 00:01:12.174 --> 00:01:20.468 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan. 00:01:20.468 --> 00:01:25.365 Jesus asked were not all ten cleansed? 00:01:25.365 --> 00:01:28.771 Where are the other nine? 00:01:28.771 --> 00:01:35.245 Was no one found to return and give praise to God, except this foreigner? 00:01:35.245 --> 00:01:39.689 Then he said to well, rise and go. 00:01:39.689 --> 00:01:49.188 Your faith has made you well. 00:01:49.188 --> 00:01:52.730 I declare wellness in our lives, in Jesus' name. 00:01:52.730 --> 00:02:06.370 And so, lord, even as we listen to your word this afternoon, our hearts are full of gratitude, they are full of joy, they are full of thanksgiving, because we have seen with our own eyes what you have done. 00:02:06.370 --> 00:02:13.993 We are a testimony of your loving kindness and of your faithfulness. 00:02:13.993 --> 00:02:25.675 We thank you especially that in this service, our senior pastor is in our midst, as a sign of what you have done for us as a church. 00:02:25.675 --> 00:02:35.152 That, lord, you have stretched your hand over him and today he has come to give praise and glory and honor. 00:02:35.152 --> 00:02:39.570 Father, may you receive this and we join him as a congregation. 00:02:39.570 --> 00:02:40.723 What a day. 00:02:40.723 --> 00:02:49.753 It is Such a significant day that we could come and be in your presence to give you thanks and to give you praise. 00:02:49.753 --> 00:02:53.705 In the time that we have, we pray, minister, your word to us. 00:02:53.705 --> 00:02:57.448 In Jesus' name, we pray and God's people say amen. 00:02:57.448 --> 00:03:02.159 Let me invite us to have our seats and I will be sharing the word of God briefly. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:07.151 I know time is much spent, but it has been spent in the right way. 00:03:07.151 --> 00:03:14.954 There was no better way to spend today's time than the way we have in the presence of the Lord. 00:03:14.954 --> 00:03:19.670 Greetings from my wife, who is not here with us. 00:03:19.670 --> 00:03:24.512 She was in the first service together with my family, and they have sent greetings. 00:03:24.512 --> 00:03:41.002 I know they are also online following this service and I'm glad that Kate is really a blessing as well to my life, and may the Lord continue to receive glory as these ladies serve us. 00:03:41.002 --> 00:03:56.432 We are able to stand here and serve with undivided attention because of their ministry in our lives and I'm glad they are also our friends, that we are able to count on them in many ways. 00:03:56.432 --> 00:04:04.893 The sermon title today is the Testimony of Thanksgiving. 00:04:04.893 --> 00:04:07.072 The Testimony of Thanksgiving. 00:04:07.072 --> 00:04:08.079 The Testimony of Thanksgiving. 00:04:08.079 --> 00:04:20.144 The Bible tells us from the passage that we just read, that one of them, when he saw he was healed, he came back praising God In a loud voice. 00:04:20.144 --> 00:04:27.666 He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan. 00:04:27.666 --> 00:04:38.853 And verse 19 tells us then Jesus said to him rise and go, for your faith has made you well. 00:04:39.415 --> 00:04:40.375 What is a testimony? 00:04:40.375 --> 00:04:45.973 A testimony is evidence or proof of something. 00:04:45.973 --> 00:05:04.245 In legal terms, it is a formal statement from a witness, one who has seen or heard or knows something concerning the subject matter at hand, and it must be truthful. 00:05:04.245 --> 00:05:11.548 And I know recently we have been treated to testimonies that have been presented and we remember. 00:05:11.548 --> 00:05:12.829 Are you with us? 00:05:12.829 --> 00:05:14.653 Yes, I am with us. 00:05:14.653 --> 00:05:17.083 It was part of a testimony. 00:05:17.723 --> 00:05:24.432 However, for a believer, a testimony is not only just Testimony, is not only just you know a proof. 00:05:24.432 --> 00:05:28.240 It is a proclamation, it is a message. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:37.314 It is a trustworthy message concerning God's unique person, god's position and God's work. 00:05:37.314 --> 00:05:46.035 And I will not belabor on this because in our midst today, we have already received a testimony. 00:05:46.035 --> 00:05:49.519 And this is what John says concerning a testimony. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:06:08.701 In 1 John 1, verse 1 to 3, he says that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched, this we testify, this. 00:06:08.701 --> 00:06:15.326 We proclaim concerning the word of life, the life appeared. 00:06:15.326 --> 00:06:19.149 We have seen it and testify to it. 00:06:19.149 --> 00:06:25.572 And we proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 00:06:25.572 --> 00:06:37.615 And then verse 3 says we proclaim to you what we have seen, what we have heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. 00:06:37.615 --> 00:06:39.607 What kind of fellowship is this? 00:06:39.607 --> 00:06:45.853 And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, jesus Christ. 00:06:46.360 --> 00:07:06.819 Brothers and sisters, I want to submit to us this afternoon that thanksgiving is one of the many ways that a believer testifies, proclaims what they have seen, what they have heard, what they have known, what they have believed. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:11.452 I don't know whether in the house today, we have people who have seen. 00:07:11.452 --> 00:07:15.625 I don't know whether in the house today, we have people who have known. 00:07:15.625 --> 00:07:28.355 I don't know whether we have people who have tested, who have believed, and they have come into the house of the Lord to proclaim and to testify through thanksgiving. 00:07:28.355 --> 00:07:51.846 Brothers and sisters, even if we don't have any, we have one who is in our midst and he has spoken about what he saw, what he has touched, what he has encountered, what he has seen God do, and indeed we join him, our senior pastor, to proclaim that there is a God who lives, a God who lives forevermore. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:08:04.812 Thanksgiving is more than just acknowledging with gratitude the things that God has done in our lives, some that we approve as good or positive. 00:08:04.812 --> 00:08:06.425 It is more than that. 00:08:06.425 --> 00:08:32.871 It is the default setting of a believer, in response to God's will concerning everything and at all times, regardless of what we think, regardless of what we feel, regardless of our expectations, even regardless of our logical explanations, a believer's default setting is one of thanksgiving. 00:08:32.871 --> 00:08:36.259 Paul underscores this in 1 Thessalonians. 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:40.288 He says that in 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 16,. 00:08:40.288 --> 00:08:41.773 This is what Paul reminds us. 00:08:41.773 --> 00:08:56.913 He says rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. 00:08:56.913 --> 00:09:04.981 For a believer, thanksgiving is for all circumstances, and he says why? 00:09:04.981 --> 00:09:32.306 Because this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, our Lord, brothers and sisters, while it is important and even exciting to acknowledge the good things that God has done for us and God continues to do for us, that God is in us and in our midst, god raises a standard higher than that when it comes to thanksgiving. 00:09:32.306 --> 00:09:35.250 It is not limited to what he has done. 00:09:35.250 --> 00:09:37.780 It is not limited to what he will do. 00:09:37.780 --> 00:09:40.725 It is not limited to what he can do. 00:09:40.725 --> 00:09:47.774 It is about his good and perfect will concerning our lives. 00:09:47.774 --> 00:10:04.264 That every time, then, as a believer, when we stand up, we say thank you, god, that we are walking in your will, thank you, god, that we are walking in your grace, thank you, god, that you are in our midst and you are doing great things. 00:10:06.186 --> 00:10:17.672 The passage that we just read opens up to us with Jesus walking around the border of Samaria and Galilee, and he was heading to Jerusalem. 00:10:17.672 --> 00:10:20.333 Jesus is walking at the border. 00:10:20.333 --> 00:10:26.977 He's not in Samaria, he's not in Galilee and while he's walking, he's going into a village. 00:10:26.977 --> 00:10:48.174 Behold, the Bible tells us that 10 lepers met him, and from a distance, in fulfilling the requirements of the law that anybody who had a disease, they could not mingle freely among people. 00:10:48.174 --> 00:10:52.870 They stood from a distance and they called on him. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.188 The Bible tells us that they had leprosy. 00:10:56.188 --> 00:11:00.009 Leviticus, chapter 13, verse 45. 00:11:00.009 --> 00:11:06.614 This is what the Bible tells us about people who had leprosy and other such diseases. 00:11:06.614 --> 00:11:13.051 It says that anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes. 00:11:13.051 --> 00:11:14.815 It was a requirement. 00:11:14.815 --> 00:11:16.686 They could not wear suits. 00:11:16.686 --> 00:11:33.946 They must let their hair be unkempt, they must cover the lower part of their face and they must cry out in a loud voice unclean, unclean, unclean. 00:11:33.946 --> 00:11:42.102 This was to give warning to anybody around them so that they do not come into contact with them. 00:11:42.102 --> 00:11:49.287 Verse 46 tells us as long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. 00:11:49.287 --> 00:11:50.722 And listen to this. 00:11:50.722 --> 00:11:57.908 They must live alone, they must live outside the camp. 00:11:57.908 --> 00:12:06.399 No wonder these ten lepers are neither in Galilee, they are not in Samaria, they are somewhere in between. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:13.214 And as Jesus is entering that village, these men meet him. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:24.279 Remember that Jews and Samaritans had nothing in common, at least according to John, chapter 4, where the Samaritan woman argues says we have nothing in common. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.845 Chapter 4, where the Samaritan woman argues says we have nothing in common. 00:12:26.845 --> 00:12:36.931 But here we find 10 men and we have reason to believe that one was a Samaritan, according to the scripture, and the nine, we can make a safe conclusion that they were Jews. 00:12:36.931 --> 00:12:40.429 They had been united by pain. 00:12:40.429 --> 00:12:44.589 They had been united by isolation. 00:12:44.589 --> 00:12:46.393 They had been united by despair. 00:12:46.393 --> 00:12:47.200 They had been united by despair. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:54.480 They had put aside their religion, their culture, their status, their economic status, their positions. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:10.176 And these men were united outside the camp, outside the city, alone, walking together in this misery, and that's where Jesus meets them. 00:13:11.586 --> 00:13:52.856 And when I come to this point, I pause to wonder isn't this the situation of our world really, in as much as we like erecting barriers and dividing walls and looking at things that divide us, whether it is tribe, whether it is religion, whether it is skin color, whether it is race, whether it is economic status and positions in the society, but as long as we are in this world, we are united in pain and isolation and despair and degradation, because this world is covered by the leprosy of sin. 00:13:52.856 --> 00:14:04.056 We have that in common and, brothers and sisters, it is not our money, it is not our tribe, it is not our religion that makes a difference in our lives. 00:14:04.056 --> 00:14:06.995 It is an encounter with Jesus. 00:14:06.995 --> 00:14:23.909 It is when we meet Jesus, it is when we see Jesus and call unto him as Jesus, the savior, the master, and say have pity on us, that brings the difference in our lives, that we are cleansed. 00:14:23.909 --> 00:14:30.552 The Bible there is the hymn that reminds us what can wash away my sins? 00:14:30.552 --> 00:14:37.366 Nothing, nothing, nothing but an encounter with Jesus Christ. 00:14:37.366 --> 00:14:43.336 But we praise the Lord because Jesus has left his important city. 00:14:43.898 --> 00:14:50.113 Jesus has chosen to come into this village that is plagued with the leprosy of sin. 00:14:50.113 --> 00:14:54.539 The Bible tells us that he left his seat up there. 00:14:54.539 --> 00:15:03.895 He came into this world so that we can have an opportunity to have an encounter with him. 00:15:03.895 --> 00:15:07.335 That is what Philippians, chapter 2, verse 6 to 8, tells us. 00:15:07.335 --> 00:15:18.652 Tells us that he who was in the very nature of God, he did not consider equality with God something to be tells us, tells us that he who was in the very nature of God, he did not consider equality with God, something to be grasped, but he made himself nothing. 00:15:18.652 --> 00:15:25.630 He came to this village of the leprosy of sin, he took the nature of a servant. 00:15:25.630 --> 00:15:30.875 He became in the human likeness and even humbled himself. 00:15:30.875 --> 00:15:47.412 God humbled himself to die on the cross so that today, you and I, when we have an encounter with him, we are cleansed from the biggest leprosy, the leprosy of sin. 00:15:48.946 --> 00:15:51.375 You know, there are many things that we can sort ourselves. 00:15:51.375 --> 00:15:55.528 If you have a debt, somehow you can sort that debt. 00:15:55.528 --> 00:15:58.134 You can actually take another debt to pay that debt. 00:15:58.134 --> 00:16:03.110 If you have a sickness, you can try to find the best doctors in this world. 00:16:03.110 --> 00:16:06.057 You can have a friend who can bail you out. 00:16:06.057 --> 00:16:22.236 But when it comes to the leprosy of sin, it is only Christ and the blood of Jesus Christ that can make us whole again, not a friend, not a family, not anything else. 00:16:22.236 --> 00:16:31.500 But I praise the Lord once again that each one of us has an opportunity to have an encounter with this Jesus. 00:16:32.205 --> 00:16:52.076 John tells us in John, chapter 3, verse 14, that just as Moses was lifted up, just as Moses lifted up the snake in verse 14 in the desert, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of man must be lifted up. 00:16:52.076 --> 00:16:55.312 Why is he lifted up? 00:16:55.312 --> 00:17:17.593 So that everyone can see him, so that children can see him, so that men can see him, so that fathers can see him, so that our young people can see him, so that women can see him, so that pastors can see him, so that worship people can see him, so that women can see him, so that pastors can see him, so that worship leaders can see him, so that he is visible to everyone. 00:17:17.593 --> 00:17:23.336 Jesus is visible even to the invisible person in the congregation. 00:17:23.336 --> 00:17:26.594 You know, there are people who are not known in this congregation. 00:17:26.594 --> 00:17:30.255 They have managed to remain faceless. 00:17:30.255 --> 00:17:33.815 You never see them, you never get to know them, nobody knows them. 00:17:33.815 --> 00:17:45.700 They come in and go out, but I have good news for you Whether you are faceless, whether you are formless, jesus is placed at a place where you can see him and get identity in this Jesus. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:51.836 And so Jesus sends this man, tells them go and show yourselves. 00:17:51.836 --> 00:18:04.036 You know, I like the fact that when they shout out to him and say, hey, jesus, master, have mercy on us, you know Jesus does not make any demand on them. 00:18:04.036 --> 00:18:06.672 That, to me, is very powerful. 00:18:06.672 --> 00:18:10.335 He does not ask them which church do you worship. 00:18:10.335 --> 00:18:13.173 He does not ask them which church do you worship. 00:18:13.173 --> 00:18:14.416 He does not ask them what tribe are you. 00:18:14.416 --> 00:18:19.375 He does not ask them what offering do you have? 00:18:19.375 --> 00:18:24.036 He does not even ask them how long have you had leprosy? 00:18:24.036 --> 00:18:29.196 He just says go show yourself to the priests. 00:18:30.766 --> 00:18:43.576 I'm saying this because I know in this generation that we are living, there are people who have made demands of God's people that if you want to see God, you must bring a certain offering. 00:18:43.576 --> 00:18:48.757 If you want to be prayed for, you must bring a certain gift. 00:18:48.757 --> 00:18:53.851 I praise the Lord that in Parklands Baptist Church we do not do such. 00:18:53.851 --> 00:19:06.031 We have Jesus who is lifted up and our work is to say behold the lamb who takes the sin of the world and say come as you are, because that is his invitation. 00:19:06.031 --> 00:19:13.336 He says those who are heavy laden, come as you are and I will take off the burden from you. 00:19:13.336 --> 00:19:20.979 There are places if you give your 500 shillings as an offering, you will be prayed for by the ushers. 00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:34.747 Not to say the ushers are not important, because ours are very important, but in those churches 500, who do you pray with Usher? 00:19:34.747 --> 00:19:41.329 Then, if you give a thousand, pastor Riggs, I say Dahlia, you can meet a worship leader like Kasina. 00:19:41.329 --> 00:19:45.310 He can pray to my good friend Kasina. 00:19:45.310 --> 00:19:55.096 We operate that when you bring 5,000, we start praying to the deacon, deacon Mukusa, 5,000. 00:19:55.096 --> 00:19:56.659 We start praying to him. 00:19:56.659 --> 00:20:03.351 When you bring 100,000, the pastor's wife, she's the one who prays for you. 00:20:03.351 --> 00:20:11.376 Now, anything, 100,000, you can easily meet the man of God. 00:20:13.526 --> 00:20:19.326 Jesus does not make any demand on the lepers, and Jesus is not making a demand on you. 00:20:19.326 --> 00:20:21.876 He's making an open invitation. 00:20:21.876 --> 00:20:24.311 He's saying come as you are. 00:20:24.311 --> 00:20:26.893 He's saying come as you are. 00:20:26.893 --> 00:20:32.258 He's saying come with your burden and I am going to lift it up from you. 00:20:32.258 --> 00:20:37.333 Amen, and we are not going to place any burden on you. 00:20:37.333 --> 00:20:40.463 Your giving today was a free will offering. 00:20:40.463 --> 00:20:45.211 It was a giving out of the abundance of what the Lord has done for you. 00:20:45.211 --> 00:20:59.571 It had nothing to do with any of our demands or of our manipulation, and I pray that you give out of what you had decided to give because of what God has done for you. 00:20:59.571 --> 00:21:01.354 That's our standard. 00:21:02.876 --> 00:21:10.884 And so, as they are going, the Bible tells us that they all were cleansed, but only one came to give thanks. 00:21:10.884 --> 00:21:25.499 Let us look at what was the characteristic of his thanksgiving, and I'll quickly just run through this, because we've already, you know, seen it practically and we've already mentioned what I had prepared for us today Three things. 00:21:25.499 --> 00:21:29.652 First of all, thanksgiving is a testimony of our God. 00:21:29.652 --> 00:21:34.160 Number two, thanksgiving is a testimony of our worship. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:39.457 And number three, thanksgiving is a testimony of our faith. 00:21:39.457 --> 00:21:55.443 As a testimony of our God, the Bible tells us that one of them, when he saw that he was healed, he came back praising God in a loud voice, came back praising God in a loud voice. 00:21:59.991 --> 00:22:02.724 Before this time we knew nothing about the Samaritan and his God. 00:22:02.724 --> 00:22:15.931 Before this moment, we didn't know that there was a God that this Samaritan had in his heart, until he came proclaiming in thanksgiving oh, glory to God. 00:22:15.931 --> 00:22:18.237 Something has happened in my life. 00:22:18.237 --> 00:22:29.877 That's when we discover that his testimony ushers us and opens us to see that there was a God in a Samaritan. 00:22:29.877 --> 00:22:35.016 We don't know about the other nine. 00:22:35.016 --> 00:22:52.758 We don't know where they went, we don't know who they praised, we don't know who they acknowledged as their healer, but we know that the Samaritan acknowledged God as his healer. 00:22:53.424 --> 00:22:57.076 You will remember the blind man in the book of John, chapter 9. 00:22:57.076 --> 00:23:05.700 And when Jesus healed this man, all he could say was I was blind, but now I can see. 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:08.832 And it is because of this man. 00:23:08.832 --> 00:23:11.386 His name is Jesus and it is because of this man. 00:23:11.386 --> 00:23:11.767 His name is Jesus. 00:23:11.767 --> 00:23:20.555 Whether you believe in him, whatever you call him, I do not care, and I can see this as the testimony of the Samaritan. 00:23:20.555 --> 00:23:25.179 He comes back saying I had leprosy and I met a man. 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:27.942 He said go show yourself to the priests. 00:23:27.942 --> 00:23:35.211 And as I was going on my way, god performed a miracle in my life and I was cleansed. 00:23:35.211 --> 00:23:38.788 It was no longer important to go and show himself to the priests. 00:23:38.788 --> 00:23:40.888 He came back to glorify God. 00:23:41.936 --> 00:23:45.029 Our thanksgiving is because we have a God. 00:23:45.029 --> 00:23:49.087 Our thanksgiving says it is God who has done it. 00:23:49.087 --> 00:23:55.481 Our thanksgiving says it is God who is doing it. 00:23:55.481 --> 00:24:00.821 Our thanksgiving says it is God who will do it. 00:24:00.821 --> 00:24:04.058 It is a testimony of God. 00:24:04.058 --> 00:24:12.640 With thanksgiving, we are not only saying thank you, god, for the healing, but we are also saying thank you that you are the healer. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:15.162 We are not only saying thank you, god, for the protection, but we are saying thank you, you are the healer. 00:24:15.162 --> 00:24:18.636 We are not only saying thank you, god, for the protection, but we are saying thank you, you are the protector. 00:24:18.636 --> 00:24:22.336 We are not only saying thank you, lord, for the provision. 00:24:22.336 --> 00:24:25.137 We are saying thank you that you are the provider. 00:24:25.137 --> 00:24:34.818 He is not defined by the action or the act of what he has done to us, but he is who he is. 00:24:34.818 --> 00:24:43.660 We are not only saying thank you that I am alive today, we are saying thank you that you are the life giver. 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:47.097 We give him praise for who he is. 00:24:47.210 --> 00:24:50.976 But secondly, thanksgiving is a testimony of our worship. 00:24:50.976 --> 00:25:02.073 Verse 16 tells us 16, 17, and 18, that he threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him and that's where we are told. 00:25:02.073 --> 00:25:05.122 And he was a Samaritan, all right. 00:25:05.122 --> 00:25:11.063 Then verse 17 says Jesus asked him were not all ten cleansed? 00:25:11.063 --> 00:25:13.394 Where are the other nine? 00:25:13.394 --> 00:25:15.780 And then verse 18. 00:25:15.780 --> 00:25:28.138 Was no one found to return and give praise and glorify and exalt and worship the Lord, apart from this foreigner? 00:25:28.138 --> 00:25:49.878 You know we do not know where the nine men went, we do not know what they attributed their healing to, but we can see that the Samaritan came back to the feet of Jesus and worshipped. 00:25:51.355 --> 00:25:55.836 Our thanksgiving is a testimony of worship. 00:25:55.836 --> 00:26:20.000 You know that Samaritans and the Jews had this argument about worship and in John, chapter 4, verse 23, 24, Jesus says to the Samaritan woman Yet a time is coming, and has now come, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:27.723 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the spirit and in truth. 00:26:27.723 --> 00:26:35.523 Our thanksgiving, therefore, is an act, a testimony of our worship. 00:26:35.523 --> 00:26:40.131 Listen to what Habakkuk says as a way of testimony Again. 00:26:40.131 --> 00:26:41.875 He says in Habakkuk, chapter 3. 00:26:41.875 --> 00:26:43.038 Verse 17. 00:26:43.038 --> 00:27:02.143 He says Though the fig tree may not blossom Nor fruit be on the vines, though the labor of the olive may fail and the fields yield no food, though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls Verse 18. 00:27:02.143 --> 00:27:11.382 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 00:27:12.549 --> 00:27:21.832 Our thanksgiving is our worship, but, finally, our thanksgiving is a testimony of our faith. 00:27:21.832 --> 00:27:26.195 Our thanksgiving is a testimony of our faith. 00:27:26.195 --> 00:27:32.142 Verse 19 tells us then, he that is Rise and go. 00:27:32.142 --> 00:27:38.834 Your faith has made you well Up to this moment. 00:27:38.834 --> 00:27:45.609 We shall never have an opportunity to know the faith of the other nine. 00:27:45.609 --> 00:28:00.147 The only faith we know is the faith of this man who, through thanksgiving, testified to his faith in God. 00:28:01.108 --> 00:28:12.257 You know, maybe these guys chose to go and seek validation either from the priests or from the society where they went back to, or, most likely, they went there without a sense of gratitude. 00:28:12.257 --> 00:28:26.718 Remember that leprosy was seen as a sign of not being right with God, this kind of diseases and therefore maybe they went back to the village to say hey, you guys, you thought we will never come back. 00:28:26.718 --> 00:28:29.953 You guys, you thought that we will never be cleansed. 00:28:29.953 --> 00:28:38.457 You guys, you thought that I am the biggest sinner See, I am now healed by the Samaritan. 00:28:38.457 --> 00:28:42.150 You thought that I am the biggest sinner See, I am now healed, nimerudi. 00:28:42.150 --> 00:28:45.161 But the Samaritan, jesus, tells us that it is his faith. 00:28:45.161 --> 00:28:48.093 Jesus tells us about his faith. 00:28:48.674 --> 00:28:55.496 In fact, let me also submit to us most likely these guys were not healed because of their faith. 00:28:55.496 --> 00:28:56.547 They may have not healed because of their faith. 00:28:56.547 --> 00:29:03.038 They may have been healed because of their obedience, because God is faithful. 00:29:03.038 --> 00:29:06.538 Jesus had determined to heal them anyway. 00:29:06.538 --> 00:29:30.500 In fact, I even stretch it further Maybe they were healed because of the faith of this Samaritan, that there was a Samaritan among them that had already pleased God with his faith, and therefore, out of God's response to the faith of the Samaritan, waka angukiwa na uponyaji. 00:29:32.393 --> 00:29:38.294 You know there are people who have received what we call secondary blessings because you hanged around someone. 00:29:38.294 --> 00:29:45.762 You know there are people who have received what we call secondary blessings, because you hanged around someone who has put his faith in the Lord, you become a beneficiary. 00:29:45.762 --> 00:29:56.450 It has nothing to do with your faith and that's why such a person will not come to give thanks. 00:29:56.450 --> 00:30:03.359 They will ask others when people were making money, where were you when people were cutting good deals? 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:07.597 When people are not sleeping, what are you normally doing? 00:30:07.597 --> 00:30:13.355 But for these ones, they came back. 00:30:13.355 --> 00:30:28.780 Let me say this obedience is good, but it has to be an obedience that is in response to our faith, because the Bible tells us that faith is the substance. 00:30:28.780 --> 00:30:38.325 And then, in verse 6 of Hebrews, chapter 11, it also tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:30:38.325 --> 00:30:42.056 You may obey out of religion. 00:30:42.056 --> 00:30:47.571 You know, there are some people who can even be desperate, so desperate that they look like Christians. 00:30:47.571 --> 00:30:51.175 It has nothing to do with their faith. 00:30:52.637 --> 00:30:54.098 I want you to look at Naaman. 00:30:54.098 --> 00:30:56.862 Naaman comes before Elisha. 00:30:56.862 --> 00:30:59.384 He has no faith. 00:30:59.384 --> 00:31:02.353 He is even struggling with obedience. 00:31:02.353 --> 00:31:11.458 It is his servants who prevail over him and say oh man of God, naaman, if he had asked you to do such a big thing, would you not have done it? 00:31:11.458 --> 00:31:14.905 So this one is just dipping yourself seven times. 00:31:14.905 --> 00:31:21.680 I want you to imagine if Naaman had not been healed at the seventh time. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.723 Now let me tell you why Naaman was healed. 00:31:23.723 --> 00:31:26.676 Naaman was not healed because of his faith. 00:31:26.676 --> 00:31:38.878 Naaman was healed because Elisha had proclaimed that God is about to declare, even to Samaria and to Damascus, that there is a God in Israel. 00:31:38.878 --> 00:31:41.076 That's why he was healed. 00:31:41.076 --> 00:31:52.381 It had nothing to do with his faith, and there are things God does for us, for some of us, not because we have faith, but because he wants his name to be lifted. 00:31:52.381 --> 00:32:04.800 I pray that you will go to the realm of faith so that whatever God does in your life, it is in response to your faith, because your faith becomes pleasing to the Lord. 00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:16.403 And so Jesus tells us it is only this Samaritan whose faith has made him well. 00:32:16.403 --> 00:32:19.196 Why thanksgiving? 00:32:19.196 --> 00:32:24.601 Because it is a testimony of our God. 00:32:24.601 --> 00:32:26.150 I don't know why you gave today. 00:32:26.150 --> 00:32:44.011 I don't know why you came with a special offering today, but may it be a testimony that we have a God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly and Reverend Simon. 00:32:44.792 --> 00:32:54.097 I want to suggest that we open up the whole of this week in light of a God who is in our midst, that we can continue bringing. 00:32:54.097 --> 00:32:56.494 We continue bringing. 00:32:56.494 --> 00:32:57.137 We continue bringing. 00:32:57.137 --> 00:33:03.776 Tomorrow, monday, pastor Edith, I don't know what you will do, but tomorrow, monday, some people will continue bringing Because there is a God. 00:33:03.776 --> 00:33:08.234 And Tuesday, some people will continue bringing Because there is a God. 00:33:08.234 --> 00:33:12.816 And Wednesday, some people will continue bringing Because there is a God. 00:33:13.251 --> 00:33:19.136 And even if you come around and you don't find anybody, just come and place it here at the altar of the Lord. 00:33:19.136 --> 00:33:27.823 We have set up this altar to receive the gifts of God's people throughout the week and God himself will be here to receive. 00:33:27.823 --> 00:33:32.277 You can come because God has done it for you. 00:33:32.277 --> 00:33:42.441 But secondly, I pray that it is a worship and when you come, you can even kneel down here and just worship the Lord. 00:33:42.441 --> 00:33:43.844 Take time to worship. 00:33:43.844 --> 00:33:45.777 It is a thanksgiving altar. 00:33:45.777 --> 00:33:48.497 It has been opened for thanksgiving. 00:33:48.497 --> 00:33:54.278 Just worship him, just take time to worship him, but also come and express your faith. 00:33:54.278 --> 00:33:58.681 Tell him this has not happened, but I believe in you. 00:33:58.681 --> 00:34:03.040 There is no fruit in the vine, but I believe in you. 00:34:03.040 --> 00:34:06.319 There is no kettle in the stall, but I believe in you. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:09.500 There is no money in the bank, but I believe in you. 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:17.889 The things that I started listing in January have not been done, but I believe in you started listing in January have not been done, but I believe in you. 00:34:17.889 --> 00:34:22.313 Come and lay your faith at his feet because he is able. 00:34:22.313 --> 00:34:30.648 Let me invite us to stand up and thank you for your patience and for allowing me the opportunity to be able to bring the word of God. 00:34:31.076 --> 00:34:46.652 We continue to celebrate what the Lord is doing in the life of our senior pastor and indeed, that anointing, that grace, that blessing that is upon our senior pastor, may it be upon each one of us in every area of our lives, each one of us in every area of our lives. 00:34:46.652 --> 00:34:57.463 May we experience an acceleration of God's power, god's renewal, god's refreshment, even as we come into the month of December. 00:34:57.463 --> 00:35:09.242 I invite you, if you do not have dancing shoes yet, I invite you get yourself a pair, because the Lord is about to surprise you in the month of December. 00:35:09.242 --> 00:35:14.690 In Jesus' name, amen, amen, amen, amen. 00:35:14.690 --> 00:35:18.443 Maybe you are here and you are not born again. 00:35:18.443 --> 00:35:22.865 You have not had an encounter with this Jesus. 00:35:22.865 --> 00:35:30.099 You are still walking in pain of sin and isolation, even as I pray. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:32.963 I want to invite you just walk to the front. 00:35:32.963 --> 00:35:34.902 We will pray with you. 00:35:34.902 --> 00:35:40.860 We will pray with you so that you can have an encounter with Christ. 00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:44.974 That is the first and most important encounter. 00:35:44.974 --> 00:35:54.460 It is the only encounter that opens heaven for you, and so do not leave the sanctuary today, those who are at the pavilion we have our deacons there. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:56.418 Do not leave the sanctuary today. 00:35:56.418 --> 00:35:58.577 Those who are online, let us know. 00:35:58.577 --> 00:36:06.440 Do not let the sun set today before you have an encounter with Jesus. 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:15.043 He is inviting you, he is saying come as you are, and so if you want to give your life to Christ, even as I say a prayer, just come to the front. 00:36:15.043 --> 00:36:17.438 Our pastors are here, our deacons are here. 00:36:17.438 --> 00:36:18.831 They will minister to you. 00:36:18.831 --> 00:36:28.204 You want to have an encounter with the Lord, jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and even after we have finished the service, our pastors and deacons will still hang around. 00:36:28.204 --> 00:36:34.543 You can come if you want to agree with someone in prayer, because our God is able. 00:36:34.695 --> 00:36:37.423 Father, in Jesus' name, we thank you. 00:36:37.423 --> 00:36:50.246 Thank you for your word that reminds us that our thanksgiving is a testimony, a testimony that you are God and you are God in our midst. 00:36:50.246 --> 00:36:56.202 A testimony of our worship, that all our worship is to you. 00:36:56.202 --> 00:37:04.367 A testimony of our faith, the substance that connects us to you and pleases you. 00:37:04.367 --> 00:37:16.744 Father, we thank you and, especially today, we thank you that with our own eyes we have seen our senior pastor Coming into this sanctuary to be part of us. 00:37:16.744 --> 00:37:19.764 Come and see what the Lord has done. 00:37:19.764 --> 00:37:23.246 That is our proclamation of thanksgiving. 00:37:23.246 --> 00:37:24.842 Continue to strengthen him. 00:37:24.842 --> 00:37:28.965 May your grace and favor continually be upon him. 00:37:29.894 --> 00:37:39.702 And now, as I release your people, I declare upon them that Monday is blessed, tuesday is full of joy, wednesday is full of love. 00:37:39.702 --> 00:37:42.021 There is grace for Wednesday. 00:37:42.021 --> 00:37:44.503 There is victory for Thursday. 00:37:44.503 --> 00:37:46.280 There is a new song. 00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:48.641 For Friday, indeed, there is a praise song for Thursday. 00:37:48.641 --> 00:37:51.617 There is a new song for Friday, indeed, there is a praise song for Saturday and Sunday. 00:37:51.617 --> 00:38:01.583 There is a song of thanksgiving that you will come with into the house of the Lord, because God is with you both now and throughout the week. 00:38:01.583 --> 00:38:03.688 You are blessed as you go out. 00:38:03.688 --> 00:38:05.699 You are blessed as you come in. 00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:07.844 The work of your hands is blessed. 00:38:07.844 --> 00:38:16.547 Whatever you set your hands and your heart to do this week, it has God's blessings because our God is faithful. 00:38:16.547 --> 00:38:25.724 May you receive this blessing now, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and God's people say Amen. 00:38:25.724 --> 00:38:36.782 And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore. 00:38:36.782 --> 00:38:40.648 Amen, shalom, shalom, and God bless you.