23rd November Sunday 2nd Service: Impact of Spirit-led Investment. By PBC Senior Pastor, Rev. Ambrose Nyangao, EBS

What if the room literally shook after you prayed? We lean into a bold claim: when God invests in us, our response through prayer, faith, and the word can turn ordinary moments into “suddenly” breakthroughs. Starting with Acts 4, we trace how threatened disciples asked for courage instead of escape and walked out empowered, generous, and united. That choice sets a template for praying like champions, not victims—naming God’s sovereignty, aligning motives, forgiving quickly, and releasing anxiety with thanksgiving.

From there, we get practical and expectant. Jesus’ long night of prayer precedes a dawn of the supernatural, reminding us that intimacy fuels authority. We talk about speaking to mountains with propelling faith and walk through vivid scenes in Acts: a lame man rises at the Beautiful Gate, Peter’s chains fall and an iron gate opens by itself, and a midnight song sparks an earthquake that frees prisoners and baptises a household. These are not museum stories; they are patterns for our week when Scripture moves from page to practice and a single verse becomes the hinge for a healed life or a restored future.

Finally, we sit with the quiet power of persistent proclamation. In Ephesus, public faith dethrones old habits as the word spreads and grows in power. Saul meets a blinding light and emerges preaching Christ, proof that one encounter with truth can redirect a life. We share simple rhythms to keep the Bible close—read, meditate, speak—and we make room for generosity, community courage, and declarations that reshape Monday to Saturday. If you’re standing at a closed gate—financial, health, work, or family—this conversation is your invitation to pray, believe, and speak until it opens.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a “suddenly,” and leave a review to help more people find these stories of faith in action.

Chapters

• 0:00 Scripture Reading And Theme Setup
• 2:40 Spirit-Led Investment Explained
• 6:20 Community Update And Generosity Story
• 8:40 Ruth’s Choice And Our Part
• 12:30 Three Investments: Prayer, Faith, Proclamation
• 15:30 Prevailing Prayer In Acts 4
• 21:40 Why Some Prayers Don’t Prevail
• 26:20 Jesus, Prayer, And The Supernatural
• 33:20 Pray Like A Champion Not A Victim
• 38:00 Forgiveness As A Prayer Key
• 41:00 Propelling Faith And Moving Mountains
• 48:20 Gates Opened By Faith In Acts
• 57:20 Persistent Proclamation Transforms Cities
• 1:02:20 Saul’s Encounter And Calling

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

We want to read the scriptures, so we are going to stand as we read the scriptures for today. This month we've been talking about positioning and common positioning. And today I want to talk about the impact of spirit-led investment. Because in that positioning, God invests in us, but also we have to put an investment. And we are reading about this story of the disciples who were threatened by the religious leaders. And then they came together and they prayed. And this is what they prayed. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, after they prayed, after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possession was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all. This is the word of God, and God's people said, Amen. Please be seated as we pray. Father, even as we invite this congregation to hear your word. We're also inviting those who are online, those who are in the various spaces in Parking, in the pavilion, in the parents' room, and even later when this message will be recorded and listened to, we want to pray that, Father, that this word will be minister into their spirits, into their hearts. We especially want to thank you because the Bible says, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Father, I'm your servant, and even as I open this word, may the Holy Spirit then take it and minister to each one of us. Regardless of the situations and the circumstances we are facing, the Lord, this word will become food to us, will inspire us, will encourage us, will set us up for greater days in this coming week. And Father, we thank you. You're a good God, you're an awesome God, and we submit ourselves to the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the word. This we have prayed in Jesus' name. And God's people said, Amen. Amen. Just to bring a report to you also. Last week we were talking about passports. Tell your neighbor passports. Now, I said, how many people must get passports? The first what? First ten. And it was important that it was the first ten. We got an overflow and we had 11. Tell your neighbor, 11. Now, there are others who came with all kinds of reasons. Others had already gotten their passports, had paid for their post passports the last week, and they wanted a refund. Tell your neighbor, these are parky people. But with Angola, they tried and they did their best. And we want you to get passports so that you can experience what God has in store for us across the world. Passports will not take you to heaven. Just tell your neighbor, passports will not take you to heaven. But we'll take you to Kigali. Amen. We were able to get to the first ten, and then there was one more. And I really want to appreciate the members of this church who engaged exactly that day. And they said they were going to be part of that refund. And all the eleven have been refunded. The first nine were already refunded last this past this past week. The other two, somebody sent money today, and they'll be sorted. And we we just thank God for these members. So let's appreciate all these members who have engaged in a powerful way. So we thank God. We thank God for the way you just connect and come through. Look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor, this is an investment. Amen. And I'm talking about spirit-led investment. As we've been talking about positioning, and even last week, when Dekon Timo was talking about how God was able to maneuver his will and purpose and take a girl who was a Moabite and bring her into Israel, that was an investment. But in that story, in the book of Ruth, Ruth had to make a decision to be part of that investment. And that is when she was able to tell Naomi, where you go, I will go. Then she said something key because she was a Moabite. She said, Your people shall be my people. That was a big jump. And then she said, Your God shall be my God. And in the investments that God makes in our lives, there's a part we need to play. It's making a decision, making a choice, and that we're allowing him to move in our lives. Because God is not just moving. When God is moving, he wants you to move with him. When God has made a decision, he wants you to agree with him in that decision. And that is why the Bible says, For God so loved the world. He was the one loving the world. For God so loved the world. Then he did something. He gave his only begotten son. That was an investment. Then he says there was a part for us to do. That whosoever, that is us, whosoever believes. His part was to give his son. Our part was to believe in that son. Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. The verse 17 of that chapter says this for God did not send his son into the world to do what? To go condemn the world. Jesus did not just come to see the wrong things we have done and kill us. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Verse 18 says, Whoever believes, that is anybody, whoever believes in him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. So God made an investment. But in making an investment, he also wanted us to make an investment by believing him, by trusting him, by walking with him in this life. The disciples in the Bible, God made a great investment in them. He called them one by one and he said, Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men. And they followed him. And then there is something that they began to do. There are things that they invested in so that the church would grow and the church would multiply and the church would have an effect in the world today. They made an investment. That is why we are here today. If these disciples had not invested, some of them, most of them, were killed and died for their faith. But we are alive today because they did something. But during their time, they made investments in three ways. And I want to talk about those three things this afternoon. Number one, they made an investment through prevailing prayer. Number two, they made an investment through propelling faith. And they made an investment through persistent proclamation. And because they did this, our lives have been changed. I want to talk about the first one, prevailing prayer. These men prayed and prayed. And and because they prayed, God did amazing things. In the book of Acts, the one that we read, I want to read it from verse 23. Because they had been threatened for preaching the gospel, somebody had been healed, and now they were being threatened that if they continue preaching like this, their lives are going to be curtailed, they're going to be stopped. The Bible says on their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. You know, sometimes when there's a crisis in your life and a situation is coming that you're being threatened, and your life is just about to be brought to an end, instead of coming and doing what they did, you call, you call people, you get scared, you get a committee together and all kinds of things. But these guys got together and did what? Prayed. Tell your neighbor, prayer is key. And they prayed, and the prayer was a prevailing prayer. Because sometimes people pray and pray for a long time and they don't prevail. And you wonder, I've been praying for this thing for a long time and I'm not prevailing. But these guys prevailed. Now see what they said. It says when they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. And listen to how they said it. They said, Sovereign Lord. They knew who they were talking to. They were not talking to a person who was defeated, they were talking about to a person who was already victorious. Sovereign Lord. They said, You made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our Father David. Why do the nations rage and the people splot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, now listen to how they're praying. Consider their threats and enable your servants to speak. Ah, he didn't, he doesn't say, consider their threats, and God help us to escape from this city. They said, Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And the Bible says in that short prayer, after they prayed, God answered immediately. Let me tell you this: when you prevail in prayer, God answers immediately. God doesn't wait for you. God knows you have come through for Him. God wants to answer your prayer immediately. The place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. They prevailed in prayer. But you know, sometimes you ask yourself, why don't I prevail in prayer? Why don't I prevail? Because the way you are you are you are you approach prayer is not the right way. Let me talk about this widow. The Bible talks about prayer and a widow and a judge. A widow is very weak, the judge is very strong, but she prevailed. Look at this scripture in Luke chapter 18 of a widow who was in a disadvantaged state, but was able to prevail with this judge. The Bible says in verse 1, then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them them they to show them that they should always pray, always pray, always pray, always pray, always complain, always pray, always cry, always pray and not give up. And then the Bible says, he said, in a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow, a weak lady in that town, who kept coming to him with a plea, grant me justice against my adversary. For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me. She got he got scared. And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. And the Bible says, And will not God, you see, now God is not comparing himself to that judge. God is a God who hears you. God is quick quick to give you justice. And God is saying, Hey, I'm not that bad judge, I am the good judge. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night. Will he keep putting them off? No, I tell you, he will see that they get justice and quickly. Somebody is going to get justice quickly. I'm saying somebody is going to get justice quickly. The Bible says, however, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? And God is looking for men and women who will prevail with him in prayer. And you know, prevailing prayer brings about supernatural encounters. Sometimes our the churches have been so organized until we don't need the supernatural. Hello? Let me tell you this God Himself is supernatural. God Himself is very different. He's not in the natural realm. God is in the supernatural realm. And I want to tell you this when we begin to pray, the moment you just say, Our Father, you enter into a supernatural realm. When you say in the name of Jesus, I come to you today, Lord, you enter into the supernatural realm. And only the supernatural realm answers to people like that. And I'm telling you, there are situations that you go through, even today, that require a supernatural engagement, a supernatural encounter. Hallelujah. I'm telling you, some of those things are landlord issues. Hallelujah. The landlord is after you and you're in arrears. And one day you're just finished, then you go to God and say, Oh, Jehovah God, you are a God of abundance. You're a God who does amazing things. Today I'm going to see the landlord. And as I go to see the landlord go before me in the name of Jesus. And then you go to see the landlord. By the time you reach there, trying to plead and say, But I give me, give me 15 more days. The landlord tells you, Hey, listen, I don't know who sent the money, but somebody has sent your money for the night for the next three months. Come on, somebody better give God a big hand. You know, that is a supernatural encounter. God has moved on your behalf before you could even finish the prayer. God has come through for you. Because let me tell you this prayer is about God coming through for you. In Jesus' name. Buonassifi. Peter was one guy who saw the supernatural and he began to engage the supernatural. But he saw that in the life of Jesus. Because Jesus, even though he was the Son of God, he was also the Son of Man and He depended on the supernatural. And the only way he could engage the supernatural was to spend time with God in prayer. Let me take you to Matthew chapter 14. The Bible says this. Chapter 14, around verse 22, Jesus had just fed the 5,000 and now he needed a break. The Bible says in verse 22. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountain by himself to do what? To pray. And he was going there around in around evening time when guys were leaving. The Bible says, later that night he was there alone. And the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffeted by the waves, because the wind was against it. The Bible says, shortly before dawn. Now think of the time Jesus has spent time praying. He had just started going to the mountain around six in the evening. He was going to the boat around dawn, around four, five in the morning. So he had been praying the whole time and praying for the disciples. Of course, he knew there were in problems, but was praying. But you see, the time he spent in prayer prepared him for the supernatural. Hallelujah. And and let me tell you this: if you're going to we are going to see the supernatural in Parkheim, we're going to spend time in prayer a lot. If you're going to see the supernatural in your family, in your homes, in your workplace, prevail with God in prayer. The Bible says, shortly before dawn, Jesus went to them walking on the lake. Walking on the lake. Who walks on the lake? It's not a normal thing. You just try walking on the lake. And you're going to sink. The laws of physics do not do not will not help you. Hello? Because the laws of physics say this when a body is totally or partially immersed in a fluid, it experiences an upthrust which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. That's the law of physics. Thank you, Jesus. For some of you, kujaika pita. Those are the laws of physics. But Jesus suspended the laws of physics by spending time in what? In prayer. You can suspend certain laws in amazing ways because you spent time in prayer. But listen to this: not only did he was he able to walk on water, he said this when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It's a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them, Hey guys, take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid. Lord, and this is now Peter. Now Peter was a guy who was forward forward. You know what that means? Forward forward means what? Kim Bell and Belea. Okay. Anything happened. You know, he just moved. He never thought twice. This is what he said, Lord. Now remember, they have been very terrified. Then he says, Lord, if it is you, Peter replied, Tell me to come to you on the water. Jesus said only one statement. Come. Then Peter got down out of the boat. He made a choice. He made a decision. Tell your neighbor better make a decision. Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water. He walked. That is a testimony. Nobody else has that testimony. He walked on the water towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he changed his focus. He was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, Why did you doubt? And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Let me tell you this: the supernatural is still happening today. I'm talking to somebody here and I'm saying the supernatural is still happening today. And you can walk on the waters of your life because you prevailed in prayer. God can take you through a situation, and you by the time you go through, you wonder, hey, how did I pass there? What just happened? Sometimes God snatches you out of accidents. Like I was told the other day, one of the ladies in Paki got got in an accident on the bypass, the southern bypass. And there was a lorry that were just following her. And you see, remember they're on the bypass where there's a wall on this side. So they're on the bypass, and suddenly when she was trying to avoid this lorry which is behind her, the lorry hit her kidogo and she flipped. Flipped over the wall to the other side. To the grass, but the car went back on its four legs. Now, how she didn't know how she came out, she does not know. Because later, when now she's looking at the car, she's wondering, how did I come out? That's a supernatural encounter. Now, maybe she was not praying, but somebody somewhere, maybe a mother or an aunt, or a friend. God just tired them and said, Pray for so and so. And maybe they were not praying at that time. Maybe they prayed even when the lady left the house. That's when they started praying because God went ahead of her and the angels of the Lord covered her while she was rolling in that car and she came out. That's supernatural. Take your tell your neighbor prevailing prayer. Tell your other neighbor prevailing prayer. You see, one of the ways to pray prevailing prayer is to pray like a champion, not like a victim. When you pray like a victim, God never answers your prayer. When you pray like a victim, you're saying, Oh God, why? Why? God, this and that, God, you should have come to me. And you're all you're doing is complaining. But champions don't complain. Champions say, Sovereign Lord. The moment you say sovereign Lord, God comes through for you. God connects. And prayer is important. And so prevail in prayer in the name of Jesus. I'm talking to somebody and say, prevail in prayer in Jesus' name. Now, of course, some people when they pray, they pray because of things that don't matter. Now, let me read you this verse in the book of James. Because sometimes we we pray wrongly. And so, even though we pray, God doesn't answer. Look at James chapter 4, verse 1. The Bible says this about prayer. And prayer is an art. This is something that you have to learn and grow into. It says, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? The Bible says it says you desire, but you do not have. So what do you do? You kill, you covet, but you cannot get what you want. So you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. So sometimes you just don't have because you never asked. But then look at the next verse. But when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. So you know there's a way you can pray, and God will not answer. You'll not prevail at all. Sometimes when we pray, we pray with fear, we are scared, we are anxious. Look at Philippians chapter 4, verse 6. The Bible says, When you pray, don't pray with worry in your sister. It says, Do not be anxious. So when you're praying, don't come with anxiety, uh, but bring your anxiety to God. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guide your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And then remember to think about the right things. Look at the next verse. The next verse says, After you have prayed, please, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. So don't pray with anxiety and worry. Because some of us pray with worry, worry, worry. Then after we have prayed, we say, Lord, thank you for answering my prayer. But the moment you walk out of the door, you worry. You're like that person who carried their burden, carried their burden. It was such a burden that comes to Jesus. Oh Jehovah God, I'm coming to bring you my burden. Oh, it is a heavy burden, it's a heavy burden. But your God, your God who takes burdens from us, cast your burdens unto Jesus. And so, Jehovah, I'm casting my burden unto you. So you cast the burden and you feel such relief. You say, Oh God, thank you. I'm so happy. Oh, I bless you. Thank you, Jesus. So, Father, before I go, let me carry my burden and go with it. And so you take off and you walk around with the burden and you do not leave there. Look at your neighbor, tell your neighbor, leave it there. Tell your neighbor, God will take care of it. Prevailing prayer is when you release that prayer and you say, I have released it. Let it go. Let it go, let it go. Amen. But so for some people, the problem with not having answered prayer is very simple. Let me read it in Mark chapter 11, verse 25. These are just things that make you not prevail in prayer. But this verse says this, and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, do what? Forgive them. So that your father in heaven may forgive your sins. Alright? Now, of course, you know you look at this. Are you seeing this verse? Look at it. From verse 25, it jumped to 27. So, where is verse 26? So it omitted verse 26. So now let me read this in the New King James version because 26 is in there. Tell your neighbor, Amen. In the New King James Version, it says this, and whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them, that your father in heaven may also forgive your trespassers. Now, in verse 26, it says, But if you do not forgive, neither will your father in heaven forgive your trespassers. Do you see that? So you won't prevail in prayer because you're holding a grudge, you have refused to pray, uh, you've refused to forgive, and so God is saying, Fine, we will wait for you until you forgive. So I'm telling you, if you're going to prevail, please forgive your friend, forgive your mom, forgive your dad, forgive, forgive, forgive. Hallelujah. Forgive your pastor. Hallelujah. And even when I pray, I forgive my congregants. Because we offend one another in many different ways. Just forgive, forgive. You will prevail in prayer. But I wanted to go to the next one: propelling faith. That as you pray and prevail in prayer, you also have to release your faith. And faith is mountain-moving engagements. Look at Mark chapter 11, because there a mountain got moved. Chapter 11, verse 20. We'll begin it around verse 20. I'll pick it from there. The Bible says this. In the morning, because Jesus had just cast a fig tree, he says, the next morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, look, the fig tree you cast has withered. And Jesus said, Hey, have faith in God. Jesus answered, Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart, but believes that what but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Now it is important that in this verse, Pastor Felista, it says, Don't tell God about your mountain. Tell your mountain about your God. Hallelujah. Because many times we tell God about the mountain. That's the first thing. Because the mountain is so big, it's it's it is so intimidating. But when the psalmist is praying, he says, I look up to the mountain. Where does my help come from? And then he said, My help does not come from this mountain, my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. And let me tell you this: your mountain can be moved. I'm saying your mountain can be moved. In that chapter, it says this the sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. Then in the King James it says, Your foot shall not sleep. Some Bible says your foot shall not be removed. And you have had me give you the story of this missionary who was in Kenya one time and he had a big problem with his foot. And when he went to Narobi hospital, they told him, By the way, this foot has to be removed. And so he went to the hospital. He was so he was so devastated. You know, a pastor needs his two feet. Tell your neighbor, Amen. I was so devastated. Nobody could encourage him. And you know, sometimes it's very difficult to encourage pastors because they know everything. Hello. So people could encourage this man. And encourage him. He says, Don't worry, God will come through for you. God will come through for you. Ah, you will not be encouraged. He's in hospital. He's going to be operated the next day. So in the next day, as they're waiting, this lady, the old lady, comes to the pastors at the bed and he says, Pastor, I want to read your verse. So the lady reads that verse. I look up to the mountains. Where does my help come from? And the pastor already has decided, I know that verse. I have preached from that verse. I know every area of that verse. So the pastor is not listening, but the lady is reading. I look up to the mountain. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. And the pastor says, I know that. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will watch over you. And then she read this part where it woke the pastor up. He says, Your foot shall not be moved. She said, Read, read, read, read that again. What did you just read? Now the lady doesn't know that is that sentence is making a lot of difference. She says, Your foot shall not be moved. You know, the pastor grabbed that verse like it was his last hope. And he got so excited because suddenly what God was telling him was this this foot you're planning to get moved tomorrow, it will not be moved. And he believed God. And suddenly he became very joyful. He told that lady, Thank you for coming. I'm so glad you read this verse for me. I've never seen this verse like this. When the doctors came just to prepare him for the next day, he was so happy. They said, Pastor, you're so happy today. He says, Yeah, I'm so happy. Why? Because there's another doctor who just came here and he told me that my foot will not be moved. So they're asking, which doctor is that? Does he work here at Narobi Hospital? He says, No. You know, but he visited. What is his name? He's called Dr. Jesus. What did he say? My foot will not be moved. And the doctor thought this guy was becoming hysterical. He needed some more injections just to make sure he calms down, things like that. But do you know, through that night, God worked on that foot. The next day, when they just came and did an x-ray or two just to get him ready, there was nothing wrong with that foot. Nothing wrong with that foot. He walked out of Narobi hospital and his foot was not moved. That's the God we serve. That's the God you serve. But it took faith, and faith comes by what? By hearing. So the pastor got to hear a word, he preaches all the time. But he had it differently. Because, ladies and gentlemen, faith does not come by praying, faith does not come by singing, faith does not come by clapping, faith does not come by crying. You can cry all the day, but when faith comes, it comes by hearing. And what must you hear? The word of God. And when you hear that word, you know it shall be well. And I'm speaking to somebody here and saying this as this word is coming to you, believe God. Believe God. Because this word is a very powerful word, it's a mountain-moving word. And I'm telling you, God will change your life. I'm saying God will change your life. In the book of Acts, there are different gates that were moved because of faith. The first gate was in Acts chapter 3. So let me go just through that quickly as we summarize this word today. Those are gate, and some of you may be in some gates that need to be shaken and changed. The Bible says in chapter 1, one day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer at 3 in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple where? To the temple gate. And some of us may have come to through the gates of the church, and you are in the temple gates. And the Bible says that gate was called beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Because sometimes we think that money will solve our situation. But let me tell you this: money is important, but there are things money cannot do. Peter looked straight at him, and so did John. Then Peter said, Look at us. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, Silver or gold, I do not have. But what I do have, I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Walk, taking him by the right hand. He helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into their temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. Much later, some people asked, How did you do this? Now go to verse 16. This is what Peter said. He said this. Verse 16, being questioned, Why did you do this to this man? Peter said, By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name. And the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you all can see. Tell your neighbor, prevailing prayer. Tell your neighbor, propelling faith. That was one of the gates. Let me take you to another gate. Acts chapter 12. The Bible says this it was a miracle out of a gate. And it says this in chapter 12, verse 1. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with a sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter. Also, this happened during the festival of the unliven bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring them out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison. But guess what the church was doing? What was the church doing? They were honestly praying. You know, when James was killed, nobody was praying. James was caught, killed. When they caught Peter, they began to pray. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was honestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sent to the guard at the entrance. Tell your neighbor, suddenly. Now that's what is going to happen to some of you this week. Because of your faith, suddenly something is going to happen. Your gates are going to open like this. The Bible says, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. Quick, get up, he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said to him, Put on your clothes. The guy had been sleeping so hard. I mean he was so much at peace. And he was singing this song at night. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting. He had knocked out, though in prison. Then the angel said to him, Put on your clothes and sandals. And Peter said, Did so. Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. The angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. You know, Peter thought that AI was happening. I'm telling you, this was reality. There was no AI. It was serious. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate. And I'm talking to somebody today. It doesn't matter what iron gate that is, you're about to go through. And you are about to go through. Leading to the city, it opened for them by itself. And they went through. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping to happen to me. Somebody is escaping from the jails of the enemy. I'm talking to somebody here that your gates are open. I'm talking to somebody that your gates are open in Jesus' name. Your financial gates are open in Jesus' name. Your health gates are open in Jesus' name. God can do that by faith. But there was one more guy in Acts chapter 16, and I want to read that story of another guy. The gates were open inside. There were gates inside. The Bible says this in verse, that was around verse 25. Chapter 16, verse 25. The Bible says this. About midnight, Paul and Silas were doing what? Praying. And then they were singing hymns to God. And the other prisoners were listening to them. Then another suddenly happened. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer woke up. This jailer also had been sleeping so seriously. How many of you have come home at a gate and the security guy had knocked out? Knocked out. I had an experience like that when I was a bachelor, when I was staying in Parkland, and I reached this gate. I had come from Parkhi as a pastor. I reached the gate. And I'm banging that gate. And I'm banging that gate. Naget C Hapa. Gate ni hapa. Now, what do you think I did? I'm in a suit. What do you think I did? I climbed over and landed on the other side. The guy still did not wake up. I left him there and I went to the house. I didn't wake him up. Maybe he he was leaning on the everlasting arms. But this jailer was also asleep, and suddenly he wakes up. When he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword, was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, Don't harm yourself, we are here. The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you'll be saved, you and your household. There was such a transformation. The Bible says, then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in the household. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Then immediately he and all his household were what? Were baptized. That is a transformation. Let me tell you this when God touches your life because of your faith, other people will be affected. I'm saying other people will be affected. So you may be the only one who is born again in your house. You may be the only one who goes to church from your house. But I'm telling you, because of you, the rest will follow. Because of you, God will do such miraculous things through you that the others will see and they will follow Jesus Christ. And some of you have those testimonies. Some of you, none of your family members used to come to church. But one day you came. And now your entire family comes here because that's the kind of God we serve. Tell your neighbor, have faith in God. Tell the other neighbor who is ignoring you, have faith in God. Hallelujah. Your business is going to explode, it's going to flourish. In the name of Jesus. That sickness is going to be healed. You're going to come through in Jesus' name. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. So if you want to be healed, read scriptures about healing. If you want financial breakthrough, read scriptures about finances. If you want peace of mind, read scriptures about peace. Because faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Amen. And sometimes God will just surprise you. He will use a verse or a scripture that you never even thought about because God's word will come in a way that you do not know. The Bible says, God sent his word, and his word did what? Healed them. It will happen to you. It will happen to you. I'm saying it will happen to you. But finally, I want to talk about persistent proclamation, where you proclaim the word of God over and over and over again. Persistent proclamation. I want to read this verse in Acts 19, verse 20. The Bible talks about God's word touching lives of these people from Ephesus. They were able to bring their magical books, and all those things were burnt. Let me read this from verse 17 and then I'll pick it up up to verse 20. Verse 17, if you can get it from verse 10, it says, when this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and bade them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to 50,000 drachmas. In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. What I'm saying is this this word of God, when constantly spoken, when constantly proclaimed, it brings results. Tell your neighbor, the word brings results. It is this word that brings life-changing situations. For example, Saul going to kill the disciples in Damascus. Look at this. Let me read it very quickly. It says this in Acts chapter 9. God's word will bring anyone to their knees. So let me read that story of Acts, even as we wind up this. Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the lost disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, another suddenly happened. Suddenly, a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground. And then he had a voice say to him, So, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. He replied, Now get up and go into the city, and you'll be told what you must do. The man traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the sound, but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias, yes, Lord, he answered. The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on straight street, and ask for a man from Tassar's name, Saul, for he is praying. In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priest to arrest all who call on your name. But the Lord said to Ananias, and I like this, go. This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. The Bible says at once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is a Son of God. Can you imagine? Somebody better give God a big hand. In one single encounter, a man got to hear God's voice. He got to hear God's word. And three days later, the man is preaching that gospel. The power of the word is amazing. And that's why, even as I close, I'm saying this. Please don't just let this word remain in your shelf. Read it. The Bible says, but his delight is in the law of the Lord. On his law he meditates day and night. He's like a tree planted by streams of water. Sending roots, its roots in the deep, its leaf does not wither, it bears fruit in season. Whatever he does prospers. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. Meditate on it day and night. Many of us, the reason why sometimes we don't prevail in prayer, we don't have faith, is because we read the Bible once a month. Tell your neighbor, don't read the Bible once a month. Some of you have Bibles on your phone. So while you're scrolling on WhatsApp, just remember to go to your Bible app and read the Bible. Hallelujah. There's an app that has been downloaded. It's called the U Version Bible. And just the other day, the U Version Bible celebrated a download of the app. One the first one billion. Can you imagine? They hit 1,000, they hit 1 million. Downloads, they hit 1 billion. And that day when they went the celebrating just a few days ago, during that meeting, three million, 3 million downloads were engaged through the U version. And I want to just thank God for the opportunities this world has now that they can actually connect to the Word of God. Because let me tell you this the best seller, the best-selling book in the world is what? The Bible. So read this word. I read this Bible every day, not to prepare sermons, but just to read it for me. I've read this Bible and read this Bible and read this Bible. And I will still read this Bible. I will listen to it, my friends. I have memorized this Bible and it still is new every time I read it. So if you're going to experience the encounters of God, invest yourself in reading the scriptures. Read the word, read the word. It never grows old. You read it again, it is still alive. It never grows old. And I really want to thank God that in Parkhee, that's what we preach about. Nothing but the word of God. So as you stand on your feet, just stand to your neighbor and tell your neighbor, you look like a champion. Hallelujah. Tell your neighbor you're not a victim. You're a champion. Tell your neighbor I will pray like a champion. I will have faith like a champion. I will proclaim the word of God like a champion. And this year, I will finish strong. In Jesus' name. Tell your neighbor, my gates are opening. My sudden leaves are coming my way. Next week you may not recognize me. I will be changed. Renewed. Rebuilt. Because of the word of God. If you don't follow me, I'm following Jesus. All the way. Somebody better give God a big hand. Amen. Many years ago, many years ago when I was at Kenya Science. I used to work from Kenya Sands. And I started a Bible study at Narobi Hospital with the nurses. Hallelujah. I invested in that Bible study. I'll be there every week at Narobi Hospital. And quite a number of those nurses got saved. Just had a small Bible study and just investing my time there. Not knowing that one day, one day, when I had even left the Bible study, I would get married to a lady who was working at Narobe Hospital. Tell your neighbor, your investments are not in vain. Hallelujah. God is a good God. So keep investing in prayer. Invest in faith. Invest in proclaiming the word of God. And I'm telling you, it will accrue interest. And God will come back to you pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Receive that in Jesus' name. Receive that in Jesus' name. Did you learn something today?

unknown: 53:30

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 53:31

So at least take some time and smile at your neighbor. Just smile. Give them, uh, invest a smile into their lives. Just invest, invest, invest. Invest. One as if you were. You know, one time, and I'm about to pray because this is serious. One time there's a there's a couple I met, and I was talking to them and I asked them, How did you meet? Uh, and because I like hearing those stories, how did you meet? So one of them says, one of them says, By the way, we you we used to come to Parklands. We're still coming to Parklands, and there's one time, Ambrose, you said, look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor you're looking good. And so this these two people don't know each other. So this guy is telling this lady, you're looking good better than yesterday. And she's telling the other guy, You're looking good better than yesterday. And they don't know each other, but they later met outside and shared their phone numbers, and they got married. So you never know. Tell your neighbor, you never know. Bonas fiwe. So when Pastor Ambro says, Thank your neighbor, your miracle is just about to happen. In Jesus' name. Amen. One more big hand to the Lord. Shall we pray? Father, you're a lovely God. Thank you, even for those who are in the pavilion, who are listening to us in parents' room, who are in this sanctuary and online. And God, there are some people out there who desperately need a supernatural encounter. And in the name of Jesus, because of the power of God in our lives, Father, we want to send the supernatural to them. As I'm praying, Lord, I'm praying for a supernatural to somebody this afternoon. Somebody who is just reached at the edge of their life, somebody who needs an encounter. And dear Lord, this pastor is standing up to say, Lord, I am standing as a champion to say, Lord, let there be a breakthrough. Let that that answer come. Let your suddenly happen to God's people. I'm saying, let that suddenly happen to God's people. Let that breakthrough come so suddenly that they will realize it is not man who made it happen, it is God who just made it happen. Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for that financial suddenly, for that health, suddenly, for that employment, suddenly. My God, that business, suddenly. A contract that comes through, suddenly. Resources that just show up suddenly. My God, I decree, as suddenly, your angels are moving in our midst this afternoon. And those angels are like lightning. They pass suddenly, carrying the messages of God. And I pray for somebody today. They may have come in so discouraged, not knowing which way to turn, but Lord, their suddenly has come. And they're walking out of here as champions and not victims. And so, Lord, I say thank you. Because I, as I decree these words, I'm asking somebody to say I receive it. I'm asking somebody to say it is my portion. I'm telling somebody to say, My suddenly has come. And there's nothing the devil can do about it. Today I arise in the name of the Master, in the name of Jesus. Regardless of my circumstances, my gates are open. The angels of the Lord have come, and the gates will open by themselves. My breakthrough is here, my savior is here, and there's nothing the devil can do about it. Somebody better give God a big hand and say thank you. Thank you. Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Spirit-led investment. Invest in prayer, invest in faith, invest in the word. You will never be disappointed in Jesus' name. One more hand to the Lord as we thank God in Jesus' name. Amen. Pastor Masina was part of the team that went to Chesangotch, and some of them are still on the highway, still coming. But Pastor Mashina, come and just lead us in the benediction and release us as we go out as champions. Uh, do you feel like a champion? Do you realize you're a champion? I'm saying, I'm declaring to you. If you don't realize, now I'm telling you, you are a champion. Receive that word, not just from me, but from the word of God. We are more than conquerors in Jesus' name. And next Sunday, you're coming back with a testimony. Come on, somebody better give God a big hand. Amen. Amen. It was such a joy when I went to Kigali and we were speaking to 1,200 young people. We gave them this cross. 1,200 of them gave them this cross. And we know that their lives will not be the same. If you have not gotten this cross, it's in our bookshop. Please get it. Give it to somebody. You never know. Your investment will not be in vain. Amen. Pastor Mashina. Karibu.

SPEAKER_00: 59:15

Thank you. Let's celebrate the King of King. Let's do it like we mean it. Also, let's celebrate. Let's celebrate our senior pastor, Reverend Ambrose. Wonderful, wonderful. He has done so much for us that we cannot tell it all. Indeed, we are a champion. Tell your neighbor, look at the champion. This is how our champion looks like. Many a times we want to be associated with champions, but we don't see ourselves like champions. We are champions of prayer, we are champions of reading the word of God and meditating on. We shall proclaim the word of God day by day in our family in our family settings, in our dining table. When we are driving out, we shall proclaim the word of God because we are champion. Let's celebrate the King of Kings. And even as I declare our benedictions, that we declare it from the book of Ephesians, chapter 3. May you know. As we walk out here, you're not the same person who walked in. And your Monday will be a different day. Your Tuesday will be a different Tuesday. Your Wednesday will not be another Wednesday. Your Thursday will be a different Thursday. Your Friday, your Saturday will be a different Saturday. And on Sunday, you shall come with a testimony. Uncommon testimony. Because the Lord shall elevate you into an uncommon position. You shall make impact that is led by the Spirit of the Lord in the investment of the kingdom. Please Jesus. And as Paul did it in the book of Acts, as we have gone, may we also leave a legacy of impact. And therefore, our benedictions come from the book of Ephesians chapter 3. A prayer that Paul prayed to the church of Ephesians. And he said, For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches, may he strengthen you with the power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And may I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may you also have that power to gather with all the Lord's holy people to grasp how wide and how long and how high and how deep is the love of Christ. And to know that this love that has surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. And therefore, now to him who is able to do, he may shall abroad more than all we ask or imagine. According to his power that is at work within us. To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Let's celebrate the goodness of God. That's your portion. That's your portion and your family. That's your portion and your business. That's your portion and all that you do in the kingdom of God. I'm looking and seeing champions of the kingdom. May you impact. Whether you're in the governance, whether in the marketplace, whether in the education sector, you are a champion. I was celebrating with the children of Mugohiri girls. The girls who just finished form four. And I know quite a number maybe they're in our midst today. Who just created form four and they said, Pastor Andrew, can we have celebration? Just with ungod. We have just finished our four years in high school. And we are praying a prayer of champions. I told them, You are champion of education. And they should come, we shall come back to celebrate what the Lord has done. And that is for each and every one of us, even parents. And now, let's hear the words of grace to one another. 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. Amen. Amen. You are blessed to be a blessing. Shalom.