WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.360 The Book of Mark. 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:05.280 We're reading chapter 5, verse 25 to 34. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:07.839 And this month we're talking about confession. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 And today I'm talking about the dynamic force of confession. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:19.600 This is the story you know very well of this woman who had an issue, and God came with a miracle for her. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:27.359 The Bible says in verse 25, and a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:36.560 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors, had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:01:02.320 When she heard about Jesus, when she heard about Jesus, when she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak because she thought, and this is the confession she was having in her mind, and she began to say it, if I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:03.679 Immediately. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.239 Tell your neighbor there is an immediately. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:14.239 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:18.640 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.840 He turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched me? 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:23.680 Who touched my clothes? 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:25.840 You see the people crowding against you? 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.200 His disciples answered, and yet you can ask, Who touched me? 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.640 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:40.799 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:48.560 He said to her, Daughter, your faith has healed you. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:53.439 Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:55.680 This is God's word, and God's for said. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:57.200 Amen. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:01.280 We may be seated as I pray and we give God a glory. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.840 Father, in the name of Jesus. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:14.159 This month we've been talking about confession, the liberating power of confession. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:23.919 And today, even as I talk about the dynamic force of confession, I pray that, Lord, we shall activate our confession. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.759 We shall hold fast to that confession. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.280 We are already confessing about Jubilee. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.560 We are declaring it, we are saying it. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:42.479 And dear Lord, sometimes we get tired and begin to confess other things. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:46.240 And we confuse the purposes of God. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:57.120 But this morning, somebody has come who needs rest, who needs a reset, who needs a restoration, who needs revival. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:06.639 And dear Lord, we pray that the presence of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday will minister to them in a very special way. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:13.520 Touch our hearts, touch our ears, touch our lives, and we give you the glory. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.719 This we have prayed in Jesus' name and gossip. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:18.719 Amen. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:32.080 As we celebrate Jubilee, I think for Arsenal fans, it's actually a Jubilee season. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:34.560 Hallelujah. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:44.000 Pastor Simon, I'm asking myself, when other teams win the championship, they don't come to church and celebrate like this. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.840 I don't know if whether the Arsenal fans are all Christians. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:58.639 The other day I saw they went to Ngong Hills, had a big celebration. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.479 Everybody's just having fun. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:07.199 But we want to thank God because that's the Jubilee celebration. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.719 22 years is a long time. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:19.120 When Liverpool was winning all the time. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.839 But I want you to know, we celebrate with all of you. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.839 Your victory is our victory. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:28.800 Amen. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.759 Confession is very powerful. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:36.160 And I'll be talking about that in a few minutes. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:37.519 It there's a dynamic force. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.399 Tell your neighbor, there's a dynamic force. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:46.000 And because there's a dynamic force, the devil knows that there's a dynamic force. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:51.839 So the devil will do everything he can do to cause you to confess the wrong things. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:57.680 And our confession is based on the word of God. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:03.920 And that is why the Bible says, This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:10.399 You shall meditate on it day and night, because that is where the fire of confession begins to burn. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:18.560 So that when you are faced with any situation, confession of God's word comes out. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:20.319 That's what God told Joshua. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.879 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.079 You shall keep it on your lips day and night. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:34.720 You shall confess it, confess it, confess it, because there is a dynamic force behind it, a powerful force. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:41.040 The Bible says, you know, the power, there's death and life are in the power of what? 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:42.399 Of the tongue. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:49.759 Pastor Simon was talking about prophecy last Sunday and just the prophetic speaking to dry bones. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.279 Because there's a force. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:56.879 And so when Ezekiel began to speak, the Bible says the bones began to rattle. 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:58.879 They began to move. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.800 And it was a for Ezekiel, it was a serious nightmare. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.199 It was bad. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:27.279 Just standing in the middle of bones and seeing a bone rushing, one skull going and connecting to the neck bone and the neck bone, connecting to the shoulder bone, and the shoulder bone, connecting to the bones going down, to the neck bone, to the spine, to the pelvic, to the femur, to the knees going down, down, down. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.399 And then the flesh. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.120 Now that is the bad one, flesh. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.240 And the blood veins and the capillaries and all those things. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.360 And the organs. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:05.279 And the Bible says in seconds, these men stood up. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.040 They were all soldiers. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:15.040 Not only standing up, but covered in uniform, ready for a great fight, great warfare. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:21.040 And that all happened because God just told Ezekiel one thing, prophesy. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.199 Because there is a force. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:29.040 There's something that is released, and things shift in your situations. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:35.439 So this lady, for 12 years, not knowing what to do, the Bible says, heard about Jesus. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.319 And I pray that you have heard about Jesus. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.319 Because it is only Jesus who can turn things around. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.839 And you see, Jesus was walking with a lot of power. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:47.439 There was power in him. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.600 But Jesus was not walking around zapping people with power. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.879 Can you imagine Jesus has all this power sizzling inside him? 00:07:58.079 --> 00:07:59.680 Then he sees a blind man. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.560 And the blind man sees, bang, then goes around, sees a guy who is deaf. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:14.240 A guy who was not even expecting to hear, suddenly is hearing, and it would have been chaotic. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:20.560 Imagining opening the eyes of a blind man, and then the blind man says, Who told I wanted to see? 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:23.519 Very comfortable like this. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:29.759 And that is why Jesus met them and said, What would you want me to do? 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:40.799 The God of the universe can humble himself enough, though he knows what you need, can humble himself and say, What do you want me to do? 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:47.039 Because God is waiting for your confession, the dynamic confession to come out. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:53.200 And so three areas I want to talk about today is about the force of confession. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.919 I want to talk about the force of favor. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.559 Tell your neighbor the force of favor. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:04.399 Secondly, the force of uplifting, and thirdly, the force of realignment. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:12.399 So let me say that again: the force of favor, the force of uplifting, and the force of realignment. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.039 Confession brings about favor. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.200 Let me read Matthew 10. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.639 Jesus said something interesting, and it's about our confession. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.440 It's what we say. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:38.480 He said this whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my father in heaven. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:45.919 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my father in heaven. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:48.240 Now let me read this in the Amplified Version. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.639 The Amplified says this because there's a word that is being used that is the same. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.639 And he says this in NIV. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.639 Therefore, the one who does what? 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:17.440 Who confesses and acknowledges me before men as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with me, that one I will also confess and acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:28.480 But the one who denies and rejects me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before my father who is in heaven. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:39.279 Now, Pastor Simon, the word acknowledge and the word confess in that scripture from the Greek version of the Bible is the word homo logio. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.519 So it's the same thing. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:52.000 Homo logio is made of two words, homo and logio, where we get the word logic or the word word. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:55.200 So it means homo means same. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.720 Logos or logio means to say. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:06.559 So when you say homologio, or when you say confess, it is saying the same thing. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.759 You're just saying the same thing. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.679 You are confessing. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:20.399 And usually in our minds, every time somebody tells you confess, the first thing you do is you start feeling sorry for your sins. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:24.799 Feeling sorry for your sins is not confessing. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:29.440 So tell your neighbor, when you are sorry for your sins, that is not confession. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.559 That's just being a crying baby. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.480 Just tell your neighbor that's that's there's no confession there. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.399 Hello. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:48.720 The Bible says in Romans, the Bible says, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:49.600 So that's what God says. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.759 God says, all have sinned. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:58.240 Confession then means you say the same thing and say, Lord, I have sinned. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.799 That's confession. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:05.440 Stop saying, Oh, Jehovah God, you know how bad I am. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.320 God already knows. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:09.039 So you don't tell him things that he knows. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:18.159 So when God says, All have sinned, you repeat and say, God, I have sinned. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:24.080 Don't try to argue, don't say I was tempted, don't say he's the one who started. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.840 No, just say, I have sinned. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.200 That's confession. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:46.320 And then when God says, if you confess your sins, he's faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, then you say, after you confess, you say, God has cleansed me from all unrighteousness. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.840 It's called confession. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:52.240 Saying the same thing God is saying, and where do you get those things? 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.679 In the word of God. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:13:01.120 When God says you are a champion, what do you say? 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:03.360 Hallelujah. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.639 You don't start saying, you know, I have not even started, this thing is not going. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:12.240 When God says you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, so what do you say? 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.080 So you don't contradict him. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.320 One of the guys who contradicted God and was not thrown into hell, and I really feel for him, was a guy called Gideon. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:28.320 God comes to Gideon, and Gideon starts a whole series of arguments. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.679 Judges chapter 6, verse 12. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.519 The Bible says this about this Gideon. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.440 I hope you're not in that in that clan of the Gideonites. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.720 Hello. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:49.120 Judges, when the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.000 What does Gideon say? 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.200 Pardon me. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.200 Who are you talking about? 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:02.320 Gideon replied, and then he says, God manner, you're not saying the right thing. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:09.679 If the Lord is with us, you're saying that the Lord is, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:17.039 Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:22.639 But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of the media. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.240 Now God did not change his mind. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:32.480 The Lord turned to him and said, Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:34.559 Am I not sending you? 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.639 See what he says. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.320 Pardon me. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:42.399 Look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor, stop pardoning. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:47.600 Pardon me, pardon me. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:50.080 When God says it, believe it. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.879 And say it. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.080 But let me stop dealing with Gideon because that's for another day. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.399 I want to talk about the force of favor. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:13.039 Because when you decree and confess Jesus before others, he then confesses you before his father. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:22.639 Now, when somebody confesses you about you in an office you have never entered, that is favor. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:33.039 If somebody is talking about you in a good way, in a high office, that is a lot of favor. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:36.240 Daniel was that kind of a person. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:45.039 The Bible says in Daniel chapter 2, let me read one or two verses there, because Daniel found favor, but it was because of his confession. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.799 It's because of what he said. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.360 Very interesting story there. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:54.320 In Daniel chapter 2, the Bible says, let me just start with chapter 2 there, verse 1. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.480 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.679 His mind was troubled, and he could not sleep. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.799 So the king summoned the magicians. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:15.360 Now these are the guys who surrounded him: magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.639 Ah, the one Pastor Saban was talking about the other day. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:22.080 He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.360 Can you imagine? 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:32.879 When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, I have had a dream that troubles me. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:35.679 And I want to know what it means. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.159 Then the astrologers answered the king, May the king live forever. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:44.240 Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:49.519 The king replied to the astrologers, This is what I have firmly decided. 00:16:49.679 --> 00:17:01.360 If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:07.279 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:10.559 So tell me the dream and interpret it for me. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:15.200 Once more they replied, Let the king tell his servants the dream. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.960 Now you see the problem. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.519 Now, who can do that? 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:41.279 In fact, this was so serious, and the king decided all the magicians are going to get killed, all of them. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.920 And even the guys, the wise men, were the ones who killed. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:51.119 Among them was Daniel and his friends. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:18:00.240 And so, when Daniel got to hear about it, he decided that he needed to find out what God was saying. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:04.240 So scroll that down to around verse 19. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.400 The Bible says this. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.920 Now, this is the vision. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:14.160 And Daniel finding out from God what God was talking about. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:22.720 The Bible says in verse 19, during the night, because Daniel had asked God, what did Daniel, the king, dream? 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:26.880 During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:32.960 You know, I like that because Pastor Simon the Bible says, Call unto me, and I will do what? 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.960 I'll answer you. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.240 So during the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:47.839 Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said, Now, this is his confession that releases favor. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:53.519 Praise be to the name of God forever and ever. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.880 Wisdom and power are whose? 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.400 Are his. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:02.559 He changes times and seasons. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:06.559 He deposits kings and raises up others. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:10.720 He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:14.160 He reveals deep and hidden things. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:18.400 He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with him. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:23.599 I thank and praise you, God, of my ancestors. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:28.079 You have given me wisdom and power. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.119 You have made me known to me. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.559 You have made known to me what we have asked of you. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:37.920 You have made known to us the dream of the king. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:48.720 Then Daniel went to Ariok, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:53.039 Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:57.359 Ariok took Daniel to the king at once and said, I have found a man. 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.480 May God find a man in us in Jesus' name. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:05.279 A man who can confess in a challenging situation. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:12.960 I found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:20.400 And so the king asked Daniel, also called Belshazzar, Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpreted? 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:22.079 Now listen to Daniel. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:32.160 Daniel replied, No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.799 But there is a God. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.279 Hallelujah. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.319 If you confess me before men, I'll confess you before my father. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:47.039 He said, There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:51.680 He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the days to come. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:57.440 Your dream and the visions that pass through your mind as you are lying in bed are these. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:03.119 Then he gave them him, gave him a detailed uh of all his all what he dreamt about. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:07.200 Now, let me fast forward this because that's a long chapter. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:12.319 Around verse 47, chapter 2, verse 47, he has interpreted this thing. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:15.680 Verse 47 to 49, the Bible says this. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:21.119 The king said to Daniel, now he has already told him what he dreamt and the meaning. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:28.960 The king said to Daniel, Surely your God is the God of God. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.559 Hallelujah. 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:35.440 And the Lord of kings. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.960 This is Nebuchadnezzar. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.799 He's he's a heathen, he he serves idols. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:47.759 But because of this amazing confession and interpretation of the vision, he's so overwhelmed. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:58.319 And he says, The king, surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries, for you are able to reveal this mystery. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:07.200 When the king speaks well for you, then good things happen. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:12.240 May the king speak for you in Jesus' name. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:17.039 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.960 That is called promotion. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:27.920 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished, lavished many gifts on him. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:40.559 He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men, including the magicians and the sorcerers and the enchanters. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:45.839 Moreover, at Daniel's request, I like that. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.440 This is one I like. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:56.000 When God blesses you and God gives you favor, remember your friends. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.440 Hallelujah. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.880 Remember your friends. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:19.119 The Bible says, moreover, at Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Mishak, and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.720 Hallelujah. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:32.079 It's called the dynamic force of confession, the force of favor, that when you confess God's word, favor will locate you. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:36.079 When you confess God's word, favor will locate you. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:44.240 And I'm saying this week in the name of Jesus that in the next three days, favor will locate you in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:51.359 I'm talking to somebody here in Jesus' name that you are completely giving up, but God is about to turn things around. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:53.039 He's about to lift you up. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:57.039 Count three days today, tomorrow is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday on. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.640 Where's the mark it on your calendar? 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:04.880 Because something good is coming your way in Jesus' name. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:15.119 Because the king is going to speak good things on your behalf. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:19.839 But very quickly, I want to talk about the force of uplifting. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.759 Tell your neighbor the force of uplifting. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:27.440 In Job 22, verse 28-29, the Bible says this. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:49.279 When people are brought low, and you say, Lift them up, then He will save the downcast. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:53.680 Now let me read this in the New King James Version 28 and 29. 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:56.000 This is where we get that word of decreeing. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:05.119 It says this, you will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.480 So light will shine on your ways. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:31.839 When they cast you down, when situations cast you down, when neighbors cast you down, when challenges cast you down, and you say, Exaltation will come, then he will save the humble person, he will lift you up. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:37.759 Tell your neighbor there's a lifting up, but it is waiting your decree. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.279 Are you getting what I'm saying? 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:44.880 Your lifting up is waiting for your decree, something you need to say, a decree that you need to say. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:55.680 You have heard me tell you this story about uh the amazing journey of my education when I when I was in Jamori High School and I was a seriously bright boy. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:59.440 I'm making a confession here. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.160 I'm saying this is a forceful confession. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.559 Confession. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:08.319 Bright from primary, uh passing with flying colors. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:13.279 Uh we did three subjects maths, physics, uh maths, English, and general paper. 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:17.680 I got an A in maths, A in English, A in general paper. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.160 You're looking at a smart guy. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.240 You better praise the Lord for that. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:30.400 Landed in Jamori High School, but when I landed in Form 1, I met other guys who had also got A. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.559 So we were all bright there. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:36.319 You know, I was thinking that I'm very bright. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.720 Ah, we got other guys who are bright. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.759 Form one. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.119 Form two. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.599 I woke up from a dream. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.839 I became number 38 out of 39. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.480 Hallelujah. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:04.079 And then I realized Nikubaya. 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.839 But I woke up and continued. 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:12.079 By the time I was hitting phone four, I passed with flying colors. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:16.240 Those days with the they used to have Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:21.119 If you got Division 4, it was just to tell you that it was good for you to have had you in secondary school. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.880 I got Division 1. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.599 I'm telling you. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:31.759 Landed in Form 6. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:37.279 My father being an engineer, I said I'm going to be an engineer also. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:44.000 Two engineering subjects: maths, physics, and chemistry. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.480 Hallelujah. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:51.039 But then I found another, I found giants in the land. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:54.319 Pastor Simon, I found giants in the land. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.640 I knew maths very well. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.480 Simultaneous equations, those things I knew them very well. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:08.160 Then in forms 5, I met something called calculus. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:12.079 Differentiation, it killed me. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:17.039 Then I met another giant in chemistry called organic chemistry. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:21.119 I suffered those two years badly. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:24.000 But I was the chair of the Christian Union. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:34.799 And I could say, I am the head, I'm not the tail, I'm above. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.559 I'm not below. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.119 I'm telling you, I was going through this. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:48.319 I had already decided I was going to do Bachelor of Education at Kenyatta University because I had suddenly decided I'm not going to be an engineer. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:52.400 Results show up. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:29:03.279 The Ministry of Education has studied my exams, they have looked into it, and they've decided to tell me that in maths you need an F. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:17.359 Those days, Pastor Simon, you remember they used to plaster your results in front of the school so that everybody could see how wise and foolish you are. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.759 Everybody, they could just see that. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:24.000 And I was I saw a big F in front of me, like F. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:30.319 In chemistry, I got the immediate neighbor of that F. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.240 And in physics, another neighbor. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:39.359 Just just my friend, my dreams for Kenyatta University disappeared. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:43.279 I was not going there, I was not going to the university, I was not going anywhere. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:48.160 The only way I was going to go to Kenyatta University was just to pass by as I go to Moranga. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:51.359 I'm telling you, I was I was done. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:57.359 It is those moments in time that your confession is to come to God. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.640 And I started confessing. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:01.920 As I was leaving school, I said, God, you cannot do this for me. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:04.160 I'm the chairman of the Christian Union. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.680 You cannot do this for me. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:07.440 I have served you diligently. 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.880 I'm a prefect. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:12.240 But see what you have done. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:16.079 And God spoke in that moment. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:20.960 Boom! He said, Ambrose, I know the plans I have for you. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.039 I know. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:28.160 I said, God, Banna, what do you know? 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.119 And I've gotten an F. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.400 What is this you know? 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:35.519 And God says, plans for welfare, not for evil, to give you a future and the hope. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:41.119 And as I was going home, I started rewinding those words. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.720 Then I found my dad. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:46.640 My dad comes and says, Ambrose, how did the exams go? 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.400 I said, Ah, they went very well. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.160 How did you do? 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:52.640 Ah, I did. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.279 And then he said, Tell me exactly what you what would you do? 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:09.200 So I told him I got an F, I got an E and another E, and then I got a subsidiary, so I paid school fees. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:12.640 For those six years, I've paid the fees. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:15.440 F E E S fees. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:21.519 I have paid the fees for the whole education. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:26.319 Some of you touch your casual. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:37.359 But you see, I was discouraged and I was I was remembering what God was saying, but I was not believing him. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:45.599 But then my father, out of nowhere, he was not a believer that time, he said, Ambrose, you know God knows the plans he has for you. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:48.400 It blew my mind. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:55.920 God used this person to remind me what he had said. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:04.319 For God is not a man that he should lie, he's not a son of man that he should change his mind. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:12.319 This God who knew me from the time I was born, no exam was going to change his plans for my life. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:15.119 Because he had the plans for my life. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:29.200 And I'm telling you, after that, I became an untrained teacher teaching maths, teaching maths. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.960 Do you think my students passed? 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.440 They passed. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:43.599 To know how God works because there's an uplifting. 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:49.920 When you're down there, God knows how to lift you when there's a casting down. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:54.000 Say that God will lift you up. 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:59.599 Not when you're up, when you're still down there, say God will lift me up. 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:02.640 Ten years exactly. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:16.079 I was on a plane going to Arkansas on a full scholarship to study theology. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:23.519 You see, this is ten years. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.519 This is ten years before. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.440 When I'm in the valley. 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:30.960 God already has seen on a flight. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.519 I'm in the valley. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:37.279 But God can see my flight. 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.319 But it needed a decree. 00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:43.359 I know the plans I have for you. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.119 So say the same thing. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:47.599 Yes, Lord, you know the plans you have for me. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.720 Plans for welfare. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.480 Yes, Lord, plans for welfare. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.759 To give you a future. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:53.359 Yes, Lord, to give me a future. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:56.960 And I hope, and I hope that hope was on the plan. 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:58.400 Ten years. 00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:00.480 And I'm going to work and so. 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:05.599