Trust the God of Process for the Extraordinary

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Transcript

Framing Extraordinary Possibilities

SPEAKER_00 1:09

God has continued to be good to us, and uh called it a real privilege to be able to um be here and to lead the service today. Plans that just open our hearts and just allow the Lord to speak to us uh this morning. Uh, we've been looking at the theme of extraordinary uh possibilities, and as I just go and introduce what I'm going to share today, just uh refer ourselves and to the scripture that we have been using as our anchor in Acts chapter 19. Acts chapter 19, uh verses 11, you go and make reference to it today, amongst other scriptures, and says God did extraordinary miracles uh through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that are touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them. Uh, as we build on this, um, I just want to um encourage us uh this morning um as we believe God for the extraordinary in our lives, um as we focus on seeing God doing doing extraordinary things in our lives, uh there are several things that I believe we should have an understanding of. And one of those is partnering uh with the God of process, partnering with the God of process, and that's what I want to speak to us this morning. Uh, because for us to experience the extraordinary in our lives, we need to understand that our God is many times a God of process, it's many times a God of process. Um, most of the most of the church today, most of the church speaking

Events Mindset Versus God’s Process

SPEAKER_00 3:10

is focused on events. Um, it's focused on um you know, one time events happening. People want to go somewhere and they are touched and their life is transformed. Um, people want um to receive, they they want to go to a man of God or a prophet and they receive one dose, and that one dose completely transforms their lives and brings extraordinary results. People want to give an offering, a one-time you know, offering that completely transforms their lives. Um they they want to sacrifice once and then their life gets transformed. So we we have this event type of um mindset that has been created. Um, and uh while our God is um uh does a lot of events, um our while our God does events, but many times when I look at the Bible, we see the God that we serve is a God of process. And if we partner with Him, we'll see extraordinary results. Later on, I'll come to that scripture where we have read, where God did extraordinary things, miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs uh and upris that attached the sick, we are taken to him and um these evil spirits we are living. But when you look at that event um in Acts chapter 19, what was happening in Acts chapter 19, um in this church here in Ephesus, um, when you look at that powerful event, it did not just happen one day. Um, it was a series of things that had gone on in Paul's ministry to the Ephesian church uh that eventually led to this revival that was happening. And I'll talk later on about that. It did not just happen one day, and then all of a sudden, you know, this miracles are happening. There was a whole process um that went on in this city and in Paul's missionary journeys before this time came in when um this revival broke out in Ephesus. And so we see in the Bible the God being a God of process. And if we don't understand that, uh we can fail um to get um see the extraordinary resource because we don't understand how God works. How God is you know does events, you know, he comes in, intervenes, does miracles, touches us, brings us, gives us revelation. But when you look at the results um of um the the the big results, you find actually our God works through process. Right now we are preparing for um the World Cup. I think there are several teams that have qualified for the World Cup. Uh, that's going to be held in America. And soon uh nations will be converging there and then they'll be competing. And between now and that time, there's a lot of teams are preparing. Nations are appointed coaches. They are preparing themselves every single day. By the time they show up in the World

Ephesus Revival Didn’t Happen Overnight

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Cup events in the US, in next year, whatever time it is, um, when they go to the field, you can think that they just came out on a plane and just landed there to participate in the World Cup. But what you don't realize is between the day they qualified and that World Cup, a lot of training is going on. They are in the camp, they have camped in different places, they are playing build-up matches, they are training, they're exercising, they are watching their diet, they are eating in a particular way. Why? Because they are preparing for the world cup. Many times we see tournaments, I think um, you know, whether it's golf tournaments, where you know, they go in for one-day tournament and the winner gets 10, 5 million dollars. And what you don't realize is you see the one-day tournament, but before that person comes to play in that tournament, it's a lot of a lot of process, training, um, a lot of you know things that have gone in before these people can come into um you know to compete. And there's a lot of build-up to it. But many times we see the event where the person is winning the $10 million, and we say, oh man, I wish I could also win that. We will forget the process that these people have gone through for them to be able to win uh events. You see big companies um that are big in our nation. Um, you know, Safaricom, MPESA, these are now big, big, big companies. But a few years ago, they were nothing, they were just an idea. Um, you know, Safaricom was a small company before they bought uh into telco. They are not even the biggest company in Kenya. We used to have Airtel that, you know, used to be called Celltel was the biggest company. SafariComa was nowhere. But over the years, they have gone through a process, done things, and they have now become the big company that you see. And it's not just Safari Commerce, any big company that you see all over the world. Um, they were all started up as small entities, and then through deliberate decisions and pain, whatever they've now grown to be big. Um, and and and so a lot of people, and especially in the church, people want a key. They want, they want, you know, brother, tell me what is the key to success? What what is the key? Well, give me that one thing um that I can use to get a breakthrough and to be um you know, to succeed in life. People want a key. Um, but is this no

Training And Tournaments As Process

SPEAKER_00 9:30

key? Success and breakthrough and extraordinary results coming um through um a process, a daily decision making, waking up every day, making decisions, um, uh, you know, learning, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes and growing, and eventually something becomes extraordinary. And so I want to introduce us this morning to the God of process as we trust him for the extraordinary. Um, because if we are, you know, this is true for our individual Christian lives, that if we don't trust God, the God of process, we can keep chasing, uh moving from conference to conference. Um, you know, one time giving, seed giving, seed offering, good crusade to crusade, you know, preach feasting, preacher to another one, long-lasting periods of fasting, new styles of preaching, new styles of worship and songs and all these things that we do, and we miss the blessings of God because we are looking for a key, we are looking for an event, and that's not our God works. Our God is a God of process. Uh, in Proverbs chapter 4, verses 18. In Proverbs chapter 4, verses 18, the Bible says, But the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The path, um, the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Um, and you see, this is it is so um I think important for us because sometimes um it is uh success is uh is uh is a function of of continuous things. For example, you cannot just become a nice person for one week. You know, you can this week I'm gonna be very nice, I'm gonna be humble, I'm going to be um respectful to everyone, I'm going to show up, and then after two weeks, you are back again to your normal, you know, to your normal self. You're up and down. You can never build something that is sustainable, that is consistent. And success can evade you because you are not going through that process of producing that's consistent. And so this morning, I hope we shall be encouraged as we just look at the importance of you know and uh understanding the God of process in our growth, uh, and for us to really experience the extraordinary in our lives. And the the first thing that I want to show up for us that comes through process is spiritual maturity, spiritual maturity. Um, you can never receive from God if you're not mature. There are some things that God will only release to you if you are if you are mature. In 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 1 to 3, um, 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 1 to 3, the Bible says, Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind, like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. In another version, they say that you may become spiritually mature. And I like the way Peter is right, right? It says, read yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy. It's not saying um pray so that the supernaturally malice and deceit disappear from you, saying, read of all of it, read yourself. That means it's us who make a decision and we tear it out. And what I like is first two way says, like newborn babies is babies say, crave pure spiritual milk so that you may mature.

Companies Grow Through Painful Steps

SPEAKER_00 13:35

Uh, you may mature now that you have tested that the Lord is good. Spiritual maturity, brethren, that is so critical to us receiving from God is a process. In Romans chapter 12, verses 1 to 2, the Bible says, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, for this is your spiritual act of worship. Then it says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's will is good, pleasing, and perfect will. Uh brethren, if you look at this, and what the scripture is saying here, it's saying uh we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is something that we have to do daily. It's an ongoing, it's a process. Spiritual maturity does not come in one day, it is a process. We have to grow to become spiritually mature, and yet we know without being spiritually mature, there are some things that God will not release to us because we are not ready. Um, you know, when you talk about renewing of your mind, renewal of the mind is a process that happens daily through the word of God. We can only get renewed in our mind when new information is put in our mind, when new understanding, new revelation is put through us. And so we have to commit to that process where God's word is input in us every single day. That's when we get renewed and we become spiritually uh mature. Then it talks about, then um, it talks about transformation. Now, transformation is also a process. Uh it's a it's a process, it doesn't happen in in one go. If you do not take time to read the word of God after you are born again, after you have become a Christian, if you don't get time to read the word of God, you'll not be able to overcome your body and the mind. Remember, it is the spirit, the spirit gets born again, but the flesh does not get born again. And there's a war between the spirit and the flesh, with the mind caught in between. And if you are if if your mind does not get renewed, when you get born again, if you don't get commit yourself to the transformation process,

No Magic Key, Only Daily Decisions

SPEAKER_00 16:10

um then the if the mind remains unrenewed, the unrenewed mind will gang up with your body and you will soon backslide. You go back to doing the things you once did. And that's why when someone gets born again, um, that's an event, it's a revelation. You come before God and then we pray for you. The only way you can become a Christian is when you commit yourself to a process that grows you, where your mind gets renewed, where you are transformed, and then you can begin to grow and mature, then you begin to receive the things of God. And that's why the idea that you can be born again and you don't commit yourself to the process of growth, um, you know, you know, is this has made a lot of very, very shallow Christians. We have people show up on Sunday, but they have no depth. They have completely, they are not deep, they cannot withstand any trial, and when things come, they disappear. They they get swallowed again, they go back, or they get they they get born again. But the only thing that changes is the title, is the language. They now can say, praise the Lord. They can you know use Christian language, but actually nothing has changed. They are still the same, same people that they were. They are still attracted to the same things they were attracted before, they are still doing the things that they used to do. Why? Because they have not committed themselves to that process of transformation. So the ingredients of spiritual growth is intake of the word of God, is intake of the word of God, it's meditation through prayer. These are the things that bring spiritual growth. And when you grow, then God begins to release the things that are due to you because you are now mature to be able to handle them. So for you to be able to grow, you are you must commit yourself to the daily intake of God's word, meditation through prayer. That's why this forum that we have here every morning is such a great platform, has been a blessing to me. Um, you know, every single morning, uh being able to receive God's word, to worship, to pray together, and we can attest all of us. You can never be committed to this program and you remain the same. We have seen what God has been able to do to us when you reflect on where we've come from. Um, six years ago, when we committed ourselves to daily prayer and this, you know, being here every morning, we can all testify that we are not the same anymore. I'm not the same anymore. I've changed, I've got a new, um, I'm not the same anymore. You know, my life has been transformed. Why? Because the commitment uh to being here every single morning and receiving God's intake of the word and prayer, uh

Spiritual Maturity Requires Ongoing Renewal

SPEAKER_00 19:05

meditation through prayer and fellowship and allowing the Spirit of God to flow in our lives. Um, the conditions under which the um growth will happen is in the local church. The church is God's chosen vehicle for spiritual growth. And that's why when you get born again, you become a part of God's family. And God's family is a church as imperfect as it may look, uh, but it's the environment that God has created for us to grow, to, to flourish. And so we must commit ourselves to a local church. Um, you know, and that's why today is a Sunday. We all go to be going to our local churches. Krem believes that everyone must belong to a local church. That's a core condition of this ministry. Um, you must belong to a local congregation, and then you must be actively involved in ministry. Um you must be involved in what God is doing. Um, those are the conditions in which you can be able to grow. So you need to have a church, you need to have a pastor, you need to have a ministry, you need to have a um a fellowship that you that you gather in small groups. And then when you are in that environment, you can begin to grow spiritually. And as you grow spiritually, there are things that God will release unto you, and all of you begin to see the extraordinary things happening in your life. Brethren, spiritual maturity is a process, and if we are not mature, uh there are things that we can never be able to receive from God, extraordinary things that will never be able to happen. And we have to commit ourselves to growing, to being spiritually mature. That's why you know sometimes we look at um because we can be so busy and caught up in the daily activities of the week, and you find, you know, in the week we have no time for fellowships, we have no time for um, you know, you know, um running to the you know, to the fellowship with the small groups, uh, because we are so caught up, we are so caught up in the ectic things of work and all that, that we ignore the very things that are supposed to be able to bring us spiritual maturity. Remember, in a church environment, the churches are big, we are there today, you know, churches we are there, hundreds of people, you know, thousands of people. So you go there, you listen. But it is when you go to a smaller group where you begin to participate, you begin to lead a service, you begin to lead a fellowship, you begin to read scripture, you begin to, that's when you begin to grow. And we must commit ourselves to not only the Sunday service, but also to our weekly fellowships. Um, where is a small group where you can be able to minister to one another and you also get ministered to. It's in small groups where you can be vulnerable, where we can be able to know um what's going on in your life. Our prayers can be specific. In the church, we we pray general prayers. It's not always possible that we'll call everyone. Everybody to the front to pray for them. But in a small environment, when we meet in a smaller group, we're able to know what's happening in your life. We're able to know what's happening in my life. We're able to know the things I'm struggling with. We're able to know what has happened in the week, the challenges I'm going through in the office, the challenges I'm going to going with in my family, the challenges I'm going through with my children, the family challenges I'm going through with my in-laws, the challenges I'm going through with my brothers and sisters, the health challenges that maybe people are going through, the conflicts that you're dealing with in the office, the cases that you are dealing with, and all these things. In a small fellowship environment, people are able to know what is happening there. Then we're able to hold our hands, stand with you, and pray. And then through that, we're able to grow. Many times we ignore the small fellowships. Um, we ignore the small fellowships, you know, we get lost in the big crowd on Sunday. But these small fellowships are powerful, and we need to commit ourselves to them. Where you are deliberate, you're deliberate about them, you're deliberate about saying, I must be in the in the in the in the weekly fellowship, I must be in the choir, I must, because in those small groups where we can be vulnerable and we can be able to support one another, actually grow. And then as we do that every week, you find yourselves growing together. We find yourself growing bonds and strong bonds of fellowship. Love is built in those moments. That's when you're able to know who can stand, you know, able to stand with you. It's when you get to know each other properly. Because when we are in a bigger group, we cannot be able to know each one in detail. So it comes through a commitment to this process, spiritual maturity and these things that are done every single day. And eventually you see the extraordinary happening, and but it's a commitment to the process. So, brethren, let's commit ourselves here every morning. Let's never get tired of meeting here and you know, fellowshipping, sharing, uh, listening, uh listening in through meditating through prayer. Let's get planted in the local church. Um, and let us be involved in uh weekly uh fellowships in your church or whatever God has blessed you, and be committed to the weekly fellowship. And if you meet two, three of you, it's okay. Meet the three, four of you, all you know, share together. This is what's been happening in my life. Hold your hands, pray for one another, encourage one another. It is bond. Um, that's how we grow. That's how we God uses those small moments to create the big event that you finally see. And bang, you see extraordinary things happening. So do not despise small beginnings. Let us commit

Local Church And Small Groups Matter

SPEAKER_00 24:40

ourselves to the process, and we will see the extraordinary happening in our life. So, brethren, spiritual maturity um is a process and is a key ingredient for us um uh to receive it from God. Two is physical healing, physical healing. You know, the Bible talks about uh, you know, because of time I won't read, but we know who the ten lepers, the ten lepers, physical healing. The ten lepers that came before Jesus, he they they cried unto him, he prayed for them and he told them, Um, go and um you know you'll be healed. They got they were healed as they went. They don't get healed instantly. As they went, they get healed, they got healed. And I want us to understand that sometimes we lay hands on the sick. The Bible says, lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Now, lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Recovery is a process. You don't recover in one day, recovery is a process, and so many times we come to prayer lines and we expect instant healing. And God can do instant healing. We know the the lady that had the issue of blood, when she touched the garment of Jesus, instantly the blood issue stops. So God does do instant um healing, but the Bible also tells us lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So many times we can come to prayer lines, we expect instant healing. That's something God wants to heal you through a process. And many times when it is a process, when when God wants to heal you through a process, there's a lot of internal healing, there's a lot of soul searching that is important for spiritual growth. And all of them are important, all of them are tools that God uses. Um so God will heal us. Um, and and and sometimes we need to heal internally. There's a lot of internal healing that we need. There's a times when we need to do a little soul searching. We spend time um really uh you know searching things. There are things that happen that we we you know, we we go into a state where we are searching our souls and wondering how did I end up here? How did I get this? How did I land here? How did this hit me? You are soul searching, and in the process of soul searching, God speaks to you, you get um you begin to heal internally, eventually you recover uh completely. So also physical healing, uh sometimes it's a process. Um, and and when God chooses to heal us uh through a process, we need to cooperate with him and trust his word. When these lepers, as they left, the Bible says they went in and they got healed as they went, they went. That's why they came back. That means when they left, they are not healed. But as they went, they got healed. Then one of them ran back. He came back, you know, to Jesus and was kneeling on his feet. And he says, Um, you know, where are the others? You know, all these Samitans come back to come and give thanks. And because they got healed as they went. Brethren, let us allow the Lord to heal us, let us allow the Lord to touch us and understand that sometimes physical healing is a process that we go through and it will also be complete. And the Bible says when this one came, he gave thanks. Uh, he you know the the Lord Jesus um uh made his healing complete. Um there was something different that this one who can give thanks uh received from Jesus, that the others did not uh receive. So physical healing, brethren, can also be a process, and we need to just understand that as we serve God. Number three, which I also believe is important, is prosperity. Prosperity. As we believe God for the extraordinary things to happen in our life, we also need to understand that prosperity is a process. Prosperity is a process. I know people we know it's been there's been a lot of you know preaching and come and do this and receive, you know, all these things, and this there's space for that. I don't want to be critical of of that. Uh, but when we look at the Bible, look at Genesis chapter 26, Genesis chapter 26, verses 12 to 14. The Bible says, talks of Isaac here. He says, Isaac planted crops in that land, and the same year he reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him. And the first 13 says, the man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and hearts and servants that the Philistines envied him.

Commit To Weekly Fellowship For Growth

SPEAKER_00 29:30

Now we introduced here to um to Isaac, um, you know, it's a time of the Lord um guides him and he plans and uh he habits a hundredfold uh because the Lord had blessed him, and then it talks about what began what started happening in his life. The Bible says that the man became rich, then his wealth continued to grow until he became very, very wealthy. Now, so he became rich and his wealth continued to grow. And if you look at this, it's denotes a process through which God worked on him until he became very wealthy. Um, it was a process, it's not an event, you know. Isaac didn't just wake up one morning, dang, like that, and he's a wealthy man, you know, everything. No, no, he says he became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. And then it tells us now what he had. He had so many flocks and hearts and servants that the Philistines envied him. So we also see here talking about prosperity, talking about wealth, that it did not just happen in one day, it was a process that he went through until the Bible records it became very, very wealthy. So there's a lot of work, brethren. I know, as I said, there's there's some space for events, there's a space where God intervenes and he does the miraculous, he intervenes in our lives. Um, but there's a lot of work that is behind every prosperity that you ever see around. Um, the Bible says, one, he sought. The starting point was he sowed. He sought and was blessed. So, what does that not tell us? He's is the beginning of his wealth was sowing. I know as in in the this whole subject of extraordinary, we uh we've shared several topics. We talked about stepping out, we've talked about um you know extraordinary possibilities, um, risking, um, you know, getting out of the boat. There are so many things we've shared since we picked up on this theme, but it all speaks about sowing. Sowing is an action, it's an it's a it's an it's a positive thing. You rise up and you go and sow. It is hard work. Sowing is not easy, stealing the land, removing the weed, getting the place ready for the crop. It is a lot of hard work. But the Bible says when he sowed, he was blessed. Brethren, if we want to be blessed of God, and I know we know there's been talking of you know the come, you know, receive blessings and all that. If you want to receive blessings, you must show God the sowing. You must sow, you must rise up and begin to do something. You must sow, you must get your hands dirty. Um, the Bible says Isaac planted crops. And then when he planted the crops, then there was something available for God to bless. So if you if you bring nothing, if there's nothing before that you give to God, um, you know, there's nothing to bless. So we must rise up every day and we must plant, we must sow in every area, any area that God has called, we sometimes we sow our talents. You saw our time. When you wake up to go and work on a daily basis, we are sowing our time, we are sowing our talents, our gifts, the experiences that we have. We're sowing every day, then God is able to bless you. So you must always, always, you must always look. Even you wake up to go and work, don't look at it, oh, I'm just another day, I'm going to tick here, tick the box. No, no, no. You wake up every morning and say, Oh my God, I'm going to sow my time. I want to sow

Healing Often Comes Through Recovery

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to the very best of my ability because God blesses what we sow. So whether you are um, you know, in the in the farm planting crops, whether you are working in the office or you are cutting grass or you are in the office cleaning, you are sowing time. And when you look at it as sowing, then you are giving God something to bless. So he saw it and it was blessed. And there are many Christians waiting for one event that will bail them out. Um, but there's no bailing out, brethren. Everything requires a process, everything requires a process. And we've seen many rosters, you know. I've you've seen these people who win lottery, they win the lottery, they win the lotto, and they get you know 5 million, 10 million. And we have seen them, a lot of them, if you go read the stories of all the people that have won lottery, this uh betting and whatever, go look at them, they become more broke after winning the lottery. They they have they become even worse than they were before. Because any measure of prosperity you see with people is a result of working hard. It's a result of working hard, being faithful over time, it did not happen in one day. Any prosperity, any measure of prosperity that you see, it is because people worked hard. They saw God was able to bless the work of their hands, and now it's what you see. Because today, and especially in the current generation, um, you know, I see people, you know, people see you driving a car, or they see you, you know, living in a particular place or doing something, and they think, oh, you just um you just woke up and it just happened like that. No, it did not happen like that. It's been a period of consistent sowing and working hard and being faithful. And over time, then God blesses. He blesses you. And we need to understand this is this is how God you know works. God will use an event to give you a revelation. He can come into a meeting like this, he can give you a revelation, um, which is the blessing, but it is being faithful thereafter that you're able to see results. Um, and you know, and it's it just meant like that. Even those who have built careers, we have got people here who have you know, businessmen, people who have built practices that have built you know, businesses that have built strong careers, and you sit down with them and ask them, hey, how did you end up with a practice, uh law practice, or business practice, or um a medical practice? You've got people here who are running hospitals and and and and and and running businesses, you know, successful. And you sit down with them and you ask them, how did it happen? And you realize because of you studied small, you woke up there, they started small, like working hard, working hard, making mistakes, sometimes almost going bankrupt, coming back again, fighting over again, you know, getting you know stuff, hurting

Prosperity As Sowing And Stewardship

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people, and over time the God has been able to bless them. It's not just happen in one day. Spend big churches. When you see people with churches of 5,000, 10,000, 1,000, whatever, did not just wake up one morning and people are flocking in the church. It has been paid for being members, starting with a congregation with five people. Um, you know, five people. And they those congregations they saw they were faithful, they were doing everything. You are in the choir, you are this, you are that, you are that. Then more people came in, they were there, you know, welcoming people, creating a nice family environment, receiving guests, people coming, they feel welcome, uh, they feel this is family, then they continue to grow, and many more people came in, came in, and then bang, the thing exploded. Why? It has been because of um, you know, planning. It is big, you know, it's not just happened, it's been faithful um sacrifice over the years. And go and look at all the big churches. When you look at, you know, sometimes you go to those of us who are in Mombasa and we look at JCC and that big, big building um that they have put up there. Um, but someone can think, oh, it just happened. No, there was a time they were in Chandaria Hall. And you know, those of you who ever went to Chandaria Hall, you'll go and see and you'll find, you'll see Bishop and uh Pastor Lython, as we as we call him, preaching with a shirt that is torn in Chandaria Hall. And nobody knew him. They are hiring chairs and putting them there, um, you know, in Chandaria Hall. That was like 40, you know, 40 years ago. So when you now see the big building that is there and think, oh, it just happened, it didn't happen. They were in a hall one day, and then through faith, faithfulness, giving, standing in there, being faithful, they moved in from there to another place, into a tent, another tent, another tent. Then, and finally, now you are in that big, big place. Every big, big uh big minute. Look at Sitam now. You know, they were in Valley Road, and that's why it was not even the first one. But they were there as a small uh you know church, and then they started growing. Now today, people have got sitam everywhere. But one day they were in Valley Road, nobody knew them. Um, Dennis White was there, intertent, and um, look at what God has been able to do. It did not just happen one day, it is taken painful moments, decisions, daily decisions, and it just exploded. So even you, don't despise where you are, don't despise where you are, wherever you are, however small it is, if you are faithful, God is able to bless that. Because prosperity is never an event, it is a process, and you need to honor where you where you are. Even successful families, when you see big families around, it's because of painful decisions and sacrifices that people are making to grow families, to be concerned about one another. Then bang, you'll see the families growing and and being well is it's because of um being faithful, you know, faithful. So there will be many events along the way, but it is mainly process. There are many events that you know, miracles here and there, God intervenes, does something, sends somebody along your way, uplifts you when you're in a deep hole. You know, God sends somebody, a miracle happens, Vicks are but friend, bad and light. It's mainly been process. Our God is a God of process, and He honors uh He honors process. So let us uh pass along a process-based Christianity so that when the event comes, it is a boost. Um that comes in. And when you are when you understand that, you can be able to go far uh with the Lord. In Deuteronomy chapter 7, verses 18 to 23. So that we get in the interest of time, it says, Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God who is among you is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little. You'll not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, all the wild animals will must be around you. But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into a great confusion until they are destroyed. This God speaks the children of Israel and He's assuring them and fight for you. That land is yours. He says that land is yours, but he said to them, I'm not going to give it all to you. Uh, because if I, you know, if I drive them all over you, you'll not be able to manage. He said, I'll give you little by little, effort by effort, until you're able to take over the entire land. God will give you victory, and he wants to give us victory. Brethren, God loves us, he loves us so much, he'll give us victory, and it's going to be a process, and we need to commit ourselves to that process and see the victory of God, little by little. In Exodus chapter 23, 28 to 30 says, I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. And you can think about all the obstacles that are in front of you, the challenges, the you know, the lack, the you know, all challenges you have, the Canaanites, hephites, Hittites, and the many, many times. But he says, I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. He says, Little by little, I drive them out before you until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. God says he'll fight for you little by little as he grows you, as you grow in faith, as you grow in stature, as you grow in love, in depth, and you know, he'll grow you until you are strong enough to take possession of the land. The land is yours, and God is on our side. He wants to grow us and it's a process. So if we are not committed to God's process,

Little By Little: God’s Victory Pattern

SPEAKER_00 42:00

then we can never be able to sustain the victory that comes from an event. That's why you see many people getting saved. Um, you know, you get saved and then they backslide. Why? Because they are not strong enough to sustain the miracle that God has prepared for them. So God's process builds you and prepares the capacity to handle God's blessings and miracles and anointing. So when you're going through that process, it builds capacity, makes you strong. So when the blessings of God come, they don't consume you. That's what we have seen, brethren coming, we pray for them. A miracle happens, they get blessed, they get good jobs, but they disappear. You never see them again. And when you meet them, their backslid then. You know, brother, what happened? We God did such a big miracle for you. You got a good job, you got a good money. What happened? I thought that would make you committed. They were not prepared. You know, they were not prepared, they could not sustain the blessings. And the wild animals came and choked them and they are gone. You know, and we've seen that happen even in this ministry. People come in, they when they are, you know, they're in need, they are desperate, they are here in the prayer meeting, they're here in the morning, pray for me, pray for me until God does a miracle for them. And once they get the breakthrough, they get a good job, they go and they are gone, and you never see them again. Why? They were not strong to sustain uh the you know, to sustain the blessings. Uh, so you cannot keep the territory that God gives you by an event. If you are not engaged and committed to the process, the wild animals will kill you. And we've seen it, even then, it's not just money, it's not just jobs. People come here, the others wives, they desperate for a wife. We you know, where we do a wedding for them, bang, they are gone. You never see them again. Later on, you wonder what happened to you. Oh, okay, yeah, yeah. So it was just a marriage that you you want all when you are in need, you are desperate, and you know, we are there, you are you you're everywhere, you're in every meeting until you get a miracle. Uh, ghost does an event for you and you're gone. We never see you again. Why? You are not committed to the process, and you never go very far. You never go very far. Um, you know, you know, you never go far. So um and we have seen it. Um, when you're not strong enough to sustain, to sustain the the um the you know the process. So God uses the process to build you, prepare capacity so that when the blessings come, you are strong enough uh to be able to be able to stand. You get over you don't get overwhelmed by money, get overwhelmed by a wife, get overwhelmed by a husband, get overwhelmed by children, get overwhelmed by a business, get overwhelmed by career, promotion, um, you know, seniority, you know, when you are junior, you are there, now you become a senior person, you don't want to be associated with us, you feel embarrassed, uh, you know, to associate with the church, you don't want to go to church because now you are a big boss, um, you know, you you you are not strong enough, you are not mature, um, you know, to be able to handle the blessings of God. So uh as I've seen God deliver so miraculous only for them to go back and live worse lives than before. Because the event is nice, and without the process, it will live you worse. And so when we talk about living an extraordinary life, God wants us to be ready, He wants us to be ready to handle the extraordinary uh that comes into our lives. Let me finish um by um you know, just touching back on the subject of revival, on the subject of revival that we talked about here. We are in the reading how we said Paul in uh in Ephesians uh chapter in Acts, Acts chapter 19, what was happening in Ephesus, you know, there was a big revival there. Um, you know, if you read there, you see some in 19 say some Jews went around driving out evil spirits, uh, try to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus about those who were demon processed. He would say, In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. And it talks about the seven sons of Skeva who are doing this, and then you know, one day the spirit of power there was such a mighty revival in Ephesus that even non-believers were performing miracles, you know, they were going around casting devils, you know, not believers, but there was such revival in the name of Jesus. Who Paul preaches, you know, come out and the demons were coming out, they were they were coming out, they were paying. There was such a mighty revival. Handkerchiefs are healing, people, and you know, God is glorified. There was such a mighty revival. But when you look back, you realize, and when you look back, you realize that that revival came because there was a lot of background work that Paul and others did before that revival showed up. And if you go to Acts chapter 18, uh, verses 18 to 20, it says Paul stayed in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Caesarea because of the vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went himself into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time, he declined. That was one round. Then again in Acts, he says, Meanwhile,

Capacity To Sustain Blessings

SPEAKER_00 47:10

a Jew named Apollos, um, you know, a native of Alexandra, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the scriptures, he had been instructed in the way of the Lord and he spoke with great favor and taught about Jesus accurately. So he knew only the baptism of John, he began to speak boldly in the synagogues. With when Priscilla and Aquila had him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the God more adequately. Now that is, you see, um Paul going there, then Apollos goes there, same Ephesus, nothing is happening, we're not hearing of miracles, we're not hearing of anything happening, but they're laying the groundwork for a mighty, mighty move of God. Then you go to Acts chapter chapter 19. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? They answered, No, we have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit. So Paul asked them, then what baptism did you receive? Um, you know, they replied, now if that's again, you know, another another another effort going on into Ephesus. Then now you go into Acts chapter 19, verse 4, where Paul said, John's baptism was a battle of repentance. He told the people believe in the one coming. On hearing on this, they were baptized, and then it goes on and it says, You go to verse 10, is what I want to show you. He says, Um, but this went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia had the word of God. Then now God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and approaches that are touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left. Brethren, the faithful ministry of Paul, you know, they are there, nothing is happening. They are digging, they are praying, they are preparing, they are and you know, they are they are just serving God. Priscilla is there, Aquila is there, and many other brethren. It is that work that eventually exploded the revival in Ephesus, where handkerchiefs are now healing people, non-believers are casting out demons. Why? Because revival had broken, brothers and sisters. You know, the the the there was just a sudden awareness, the fear of God in the region, real true revival. And uh and and you can figure out there. Um in Acts chapter 20, Paul is now beating fellow with the Ephesian elders. He says, uh, when uh Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church, when they arrived, he said to them, You know, I lived among um the whole time I was here with you from the first day I came here. I served the Lord with great humility. Now he's giving a testimony of his his ministry in Ephesus. He says, Since I came here, I served you with great humility and tears. I was severe tested. Um, you know, I do not hesitate to preach anything that would be helpful to you. I've taught you publicly from house to house, I've declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn from God and repentance. Paul is giving a testimony of the ministry he undertook in Ephesus that led to this revival. There was humility, there were tears, there were trials, there were plots, but he did not hesitate to teach anything he considered helpful to the Ephesian church. And bang, we now see revival blowing up. Things are happening. Brethren, if we are faithful and we we don't we commit ourselves to the process, as we prepare for this mission that are coming, let's pray. You hear us every morning here praying, getting ourselves ready, in you know, investing in ourselves, running, preparing for your classes, investing, praying, believing God for the spirit of God to fill us and are fresh, preference. Um, God is going to do amazing things because God is a God of process. You know, when we go for the mission, it's not just what happened in the mission, it is what happens before the mission, it is the preparation, it's what we are doing now that's going to cause great things to happen, to explode in our lives, because the God is our God, is a God of process. And if you remove the process, there is no event.

Preparing For Mission Through Process

SPEAKER_00 51:20

So, brethren, as we prepare ourselves for the missions for the ministries, and as we prepare God for extraordinary things, let's commit ourselves to the process, and we're going to see amazing things that God is going to do. Remember, celebration was an event. I'll never forget the day that I got saved. I was second year, I was 21 years old, um, in the university, and you know, I you know, just went in there, surrendered my life. I knew something had shifted, I knew I had been changed, I knew I'd been transformed. But, brethren, it was an event that is the commitment to the daily commitment to working with God over those years that has sustained me. And I believe the same thing with you. It is that process that has prepared and made us who we are today. And God is not done with us, He's still changing us, still transforming us. I know, brethren, if we trust the God of process, He's gonna do amazing things. This is just the beginning of what God is going to do in our lives.

SPEAKER_01 52:12

What we have seen God do through cream is just a tiny drop in the house.