WEBVTT 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:12.240 I couldn't believe my eyes. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.399 Even a few years later, the country looked dead. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:25.920 And the children? 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:28.640 The children had no hope. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.000 We needed God to intervene. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:45.119 What has come so far is that only the country itself. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:47.359 The economy is growing. 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:48.799 The people have hope. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.679 But many children still live in poverty. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.880 African life, we believe in transforming lives using two hands. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:00.320 The heart of the gospel and the heart of compassion. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:13.920 Transforming lives like we was really hard because I lived with only my single mother. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.920 So we were around seven kids. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:24.319 We didn't know we would wake up and go to school because we didn't know where the mother would come from. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.040 It was a few months later that Aunt Rebecca came back home. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:31.680 She was like, I need visitable women. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.439 You watch courses from USA. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:35.840 I'm going to be scorcing from today. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:48.480 So beginning next month, you're going to be using the first time. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.000 I didn't know after I made up the new life. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:22.879 I believe in God more than everything else. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.599 A child has an easy everybody. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:33.199 We believe when a child responds to good news of Jesus. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:40.240 When they receive a quality education, they help communities appropriate. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.039 Those videos always make me cry. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:20.639 It's it's it's the that holistic transformation of lives, these kids with no hope. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:25.840 And uh for a child like that to be in the university, I I lived in Africa ten years. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:28.479 I'm Michael Connor, admissions pastor, if you don't know me. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:33.039 But for a child like that to be in the university is just extraordinary. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.919 And uh you all are seeing it happen over and over. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:42.400 Uh we have uh loved being involved with uh African New Life Ministries since even before it started. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:46.000 Uh we've been connected with them and uh had many trips from there. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.240 I've been there at least a dozen times myself. 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:55.520 Uh 240 something, almost 250 people from this church have gone to Rwanda and ministered there. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:01.599 So um we always think we're going to go minister to Rwandans, but Rwanda ends up ministering uh to us. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.000 And we'll be doing so again this morning. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:06.479 Uh our guest, a speaker today, Dr. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:14.560 Charles McGeeche, is the founder, along with his wife Florence, of African New Life Ministries, and uh it's been delightful to see the growth of it. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.360 Uh you can talk to uh Pastor Charles afterwards. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.759 I'm going to get him to go out though as the service is getting closed, meet him at the table. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:38.560 There is a table that African New Life has, and there are a number of sponsored children profiles there in the town where Emmanuel helped purchase the land for a church that's now been planted, and they say since it started just a couple months ago, there are a hundred people that have come to Christ already in that place. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.800 Uh so you can um, yeah. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:51.600 You can talk to him, but if you happen to be talking to him here, just grab him by the elbow and take him to the table, and then he can talk to you more there. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:52.959 Pastor Charles. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.639 Uh it's a beautiful day to be here. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:09.839 Uh this for me feels like home. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:14.000 I've been in this place many, many times. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:25.279 Um first came here uh November of year 2000 on my way going to seminary in Portland, Oregon at Mount Noma University. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:35.120 And all that happened because I met Pastor Steve and Marie Granger in Uganda and shared the dream God had put on my heart. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:46.319 And as a result, Pastor Steve became one of my supporters to make the reality of getting education and training in America uh come true. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:59.600 The Lord called me and my wife, and he called us on a journey that looked impossible in the eyes of man, and it was the journey to go to Rwanda after the genocide. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:17.360 In 1994, we had a terrible genocide that claimed nearly a million people in 90 days, and the entire nation in that time after the genocide that claimed the lives of two sea people, it was the genocide against the two people of Rwanda. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:19.199 The country was dark. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:32.079 Everybody was in fear and traumatized for what could actually happen again or come before their way, or how can they get out of the trouble they were undergoing? 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.000 And God gave us a vision. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:42.639 And after our schooling here in America, we started on this journey to go serve the people of Rwanda. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.519 We started out in a small way. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:07:00.639 I'm here to celebrate with you 20 years of partnership with African New Life Ministries, where God has done immeasurably more than we could ever imagine or even ask. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:03.279 God has done amazing things. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:08.879 If you look at those slides, I will give you a snapshot of what God has done. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.680 We started out with a smaller school. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:14.639 You can see a picture there, I think, with my wife. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:20.079 Uh small school uh in Cayonza with the 29 children. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:25.759 That school now is one of the leading high schools in the nation of Rwanda. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.600 And I have, I think, one of the graduates here who came to America. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.360 She's now uh interning. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:32.480 Sifa was there. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.680 I can see Sifa over there. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.079 Sifa, it's nice to see you. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.959 Started out with the 29 children, now it's 11,000 children. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.519 The dream became a reality. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.560 In fact, as I talk, 12,000. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:47.120 Okay. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:53.279 Uh more than that, we've moved on to train pastors in the nation of Rwanda. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:08.240 Right now, as I speak, 316 pastors are being trained at Africa College of Theology, getting a fully accredited degree by the Higher Education Council, just like any other university. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:14.160 To me, that is unbelievable, immeasurably more than we could ever fathom. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:41.600 Uh, your doctors here and many of your friends, our friends here and mission teams encouraged us to start the Dream Medical Center, which is now a full hospital with a little bit of over 50 beds, three operating rooms, and ministry or the minister of health, the ministries of health and healing in Jesus' name, at the hands of the doctors are being done in that place. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:47.039 But you know, God is still amazing, immeasurably more than what we can ask. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:54.320 During COVID, we planted three churches, and you guys helped us with one of them. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:00.000 The first church was in Kalangazi, that is in the eastern party of Rwanda. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:05.600 The second church is in Nyamagabe, and these are really big churches. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:11.840 They sit 600 people, and they're already full of people celebrating Jesus. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:19.759 And then you helped us specifically in Nyamagabe, that's the church number three. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:27.679 And I understand the team that's coming in October is going to be serving in Nyamagabe. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.919 Nyamagabe is in the Southern Party of Rwanda. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:36.240 And Nyamagabe is a very special place for me and my family. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:44.399 Because both of my parents were raised up in the southern party of Rwanda, a place called Congolo. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:52.480 And that in that place, that's where the genocide of the two C people started in 1959. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:10:01.840 Most of us know 1994, but even in 1959, in the 70s and the 80s, people were being killed. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:12.000 My parents left that place because their families were being killed, their homes were being bounced, and they were refugees in Uganda for over 30 years. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.200 Finally, God is redemptive. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:22.000 In the same place where my family failed so much, so much failure and death. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:25.919 God has led African New Life to plant a church. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:36.559 Not only plant a church, help grandchildren of our enemies find a future, find an education that is called redemption. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.039 Only Jesus can do that. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:59.200 I remember going to Nyamagabe and standing on the village where my mom was raised, where her homes were burnt, and lost her family, lost her brother, lost his brother, my her brother lost, the wife was killed, children were killed. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:01.759 And I loved everybody. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:03.519 Only by the grace of God. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.559 Especially the children who are innocent. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:13.039 They never participated in the genocide and they are being haunted by the sins of their parents. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:18.320 Only Jesus can redeem them from that guilty and pain. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.120 And you guys are coming to Nyamagabe. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:25.279 That is a special place for me and my family. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:33.039 In fact, this morning your church sponsored 40 children from Nyamagave who were in outside here. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:35.679 I want to encourage you at the end of the service. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:41.679 Please walk with me in this redemption journey back to Nyamagave to support the children. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.200 We have more children there waiting to be sponsored. 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:53.440 So that is my celebration story of 20 years in a nutshell, a few minutes here at Emanuel. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:12:02.000 Thank you so much for your years of partnership and participation of what God is doing in Rwanda. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:12.720 I have a message today I want to preach, and the message is do not do you don't have to live with fear terrorizing you. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:16.720 You don't have to live with fear terrorizing you. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.519 Let's pray. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.720 God, I come before you this morning. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:26.320 I ask you that I'll get out of the way and that your spirit will speak to your children. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.919 Open my mind, my heart, and my spirit, and allow me to speak from you. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.279 Here I surrender in Jesus' name. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.240 Amen. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.600 Amen. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:39.600 I want to talk about this fear. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:42.639 The fear that terrorizes us. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:52.559 I mean, I lived this life of fear, surrounded by death, surrounded by threats, surrounded by enemies. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:13:04.639 So when you talk about the the talk about fear and the that emotion called fear, I understand what it means to be afraid. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:11.759 Fear is an emotional response to things that are actually sometimes real in our lives. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:13.519 They are real, they are coming our way. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.840 We live in a fallen world. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.480 Sometimes unreal. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.200 Sometimes unreal. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.679 Everyone has fears. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.799 Poor people are afraid. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:38.799 They have their own fears. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.080 They are afraid. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.240 They're uncertain of the future. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:59.200 They may have a comfortable life today, but they don't have confidence in what can happen tomorrow. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:05.279 To make it worse, educated people have more fear than all of us. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:11.039 Because their fears are scientifically proven. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.000 Okay? 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:17.519 And they are supported with data and science. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.639 Amen. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:27.200 Their fears are real and they carry more fear in their lives than most of us. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:35.120 During hard days, nothing makes things hard like having fears. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:50.480 In the book of Job, chapter 3, verses 25 to 36, uh to 26, we see a rich man whose life actually looked good, but he lived with fears in his life. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.720 In verse 25, Job chapter 3, verse 25. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.639 Listen to what he says. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:07.039 In other words, he was afraid even before what he was afraid of came to him. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:12.639 Successful, righteous man living in fear, prosperous. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:17.440 And he says, What I dread has happened to me. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:24.799 I have no peace, no quietness, no rest, but only time well. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:27.519 Fear takes away peace. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.720 Fear takes away quietness. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.759 Fear brings unrest. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:39.600 Much of the unrest we've seen in the last few years and months. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.799 All this unrest is a result of fear. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:47.840 People are afraid, therefore, they act in ways they shouldn't. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:58.399 Um, turmoil, trouble, all these reactions are reactions because someone is afraid something is going to happen. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:06.399 And at the back of their mind, they are living with some kind of trauma of what can potentially happen. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:12.480 Job had been dwelling in peace and prosperity in the land of woo's. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:21.679 His life for the outsiders looked to be living in a lap of luxury, and things were going on well for him. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:27.759 Everyone was saying, look, Job's life is going on very well. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:34.799 He has a wonderful life, wonderful children, wonderful home is successful. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:42.480 But for Job, at the very moment, same moment, he was living in fear. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:53.279 His peace, even in the days of prosperity, was disturbed by this one thing: the earnest certainty of life. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.799 The uncertainty of life. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.799 The earnest certainty of life. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.400 We are surrounded by so much. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:20.960 We are afraid that something terrible is going to happen, even when we don't know what's going to happen. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:30.559 Something is going to happen, but we don't even know what's going to happen, but something is going to happen, and therefore we are afraid of what might happen. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.759 We fear that our government is going to be corrupt here and destroy our investment. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:40.079 We are afraid that we're going to contract COVID-19. 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.559 Man, COVID is terrible. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:49.680 Husbands were afraid of their wives, wives were afraid of their husbands, children were afraid of their parents. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.720 We are afraid. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.400 We won't have enough money for the future. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:37.519 We are afraid of the inflation. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.200 It's terrible. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:44.079 We're afraid that gas will be$80,$7 before we know. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.759 We are afraid of the future. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.480 And the inflation is so real. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:53.599 I came to the US in nearly a month and a few days ago. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.799 And I went shopping with my daughter Sarah. 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:58.720 She must be around here. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:03.519 And after shopping, I looked at the receipt. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.200 It was much more than what I used to pay in the US. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:13.279 So I turned around and asked the person managing the counter. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:16.720 I said, did we swipe some things two times? 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.039 And I'm serious. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.720 My daughter can tell you. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:30.000 We had to look over every item and price to make sure I didn't swipe the items twice. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:34.160 Because it was much more than what I expected to pay. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:38.319 We are afraid of global warming and climate change. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:43.279 The listing of what we fear goes on and on and on. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.200 Why do we fear? 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:48.720 With all the promises of God around us. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.359 Why do we fear with all the promises of God around us? 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:59.759 Turn with me to the book of Ecclesiastics, chapter 12, verse 13. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:12.160 The Bible says, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:16.160 Fear God, keep his commandments. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:19.440 This is the whole duty of man. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:25.759 Fear God, keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:30.079 Now we have a number of military people in this place, see in this city. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.799 They understand what it means to be on duty. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:36.559 God has put us on duty. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:39.119 We have a duty in this world. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.119 We have a duty in this life. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:43.440 We have a duty on this journey. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.039 What's our duty? 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:49.759 Our duty is to fear God and keep his commandments. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:53.680 That's what God has called us to do. 00:20:53.920 --> 00:21:05.440 In other words, our duty is to reverence God, our duty is to worship God, our duty is to follow the word of God. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:14.079 The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is the understanding. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.880 We are called to fear God. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:20.799 Now, this is what happens in our lives. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:28.240 This is some kind of spiritual spiritual understanding we need to grasp. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:38.480 If you don't fear God, if you doubt God, you actually end up living in fear. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.759 Honoring God, following his commandments. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:05.599 somehow in God's solvent plan, He takes care of the rest of our lives. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:19.359 I really believe that much of the turmoil we have today and the fears today is because we are living in a world where again and again more and more people are not fearing God. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:26.799 They are living a way they wanna live, they wanna live into their freedoms without accountability. 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:43.359 They want freedom without responsibility, they wanna do what they wanna do, and the more we live a life without accountability, without fearing God, the more nations will be drowned in fear. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:47.920 Therefore, the solution to fear is to fear God. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:52.400 The solution to fear is to follow the commandments of God. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:23:10.079 The solution to fear is to worship God, is to reverence God, is to have a single mind, a non-divided mind towards God, is to live a life of freedom in Jesus Christ. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:20.559 Because if we live in fear, fear will affect our spiritual growth, and therefore you can't do what God is calling you to do. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:23.519 Fear affects our health. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:26.319 In fact, this is the problem. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:37.680 The problem is that we grab our security blanket instead of grabbing our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:50.160 Every time something happens, you're looking for a security blanket, you're looking for a way, room to be secure, a way to secure yourself, to take care of things. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:53.119 Life is not meant to be like that. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:56.960 You are not meant to live without Jesus. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.079 Jesus is our security blanket. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.240 Jesus is our savior. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.319 Jesus is our redeemer. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.240 Jesus is our protector. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:08.400 Jesus is our provision. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:10.160 Jesus is our God. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:12.319 Jesus is our future. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:14.400 Jesus is our eternity. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.720 Jesus is our security. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:21.119 Jesus secures our lives in every way. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:28.160 We ought to be using our Bibles instead of turning to other things. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:32.000 We need to rest on the promises of God. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.920 God has made so many promises. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:36.720 I love Isaiah 41, chapter 41. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.240 Beautiful promise. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:41.680 He says, Do not fear, for I am with you. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.359 I hope you guys get it. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:45.440 Do not fear, for I am with you. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:47.119 God says, I am with you. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:50.000 Yes, your mother may not be with you because you have coverty. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:52.640 Your father may not be with you because you have coverty. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:55.359 Your brother may not be with you because you have coverty. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:57.920 But even when you have coverty, Jesus is with you. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:04.160 Your doctor may be afraid of you because you have coverty, but Jesus is not afraid of you. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:10.799 And he says, In every circumstance, I am there. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.079 Don't be dismayed. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.200 I am your God. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:17.279 I'm not just your friend, I am also your God. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.200 I am powerful. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.440 I'm omnipresent, omnipower. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:23.759 I'm solving. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.039 I have power. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.640 And I want to help you. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.559 I am in charge. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.240 I will strengthen you. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.759 I will help you. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.440 Listen to this voice. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:35.200 I will help you. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.359 God says, I will help you. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:43.759 I will uphold you with my righteous hand, my hand of power, my hand of authority. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.160 All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgrace. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:51.119 Those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:54.079 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.079 Those who rage against you will be as nothing at all. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:06.319 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says, Do not be afraid. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.559 I will help you. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.400 God will help you. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.400 God promises to help us. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.079 So the choice is yours. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.160 You can choose fear and run and keep running. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:24.480 Or you can decide to face everything and arise to the occasion. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.480 The choice is yours. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:34.559 In the Bible, the phrase, do not be afraid, is written 365 times. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:40.880 That's a daily reminder from God to live every day fearless. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:45.119 Because God promises to have our back. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.160 Every need you have. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:57.440 Beyond your your security nest, beyond your retirement fund. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.799 He will take care of you. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:01.119 He will provide for you. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.799 He will take care of you. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:09.680 The Bible says in the book of Matthew, this is a beautiful one, chapter 6, verse 25 to 27. 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:18.400 And it says, Therefore, I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:23.839 Is life more is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.680 Look at the birds of the air. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:33.440 They don't sow, they don't reap, they don't save, they don't sow away in burns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.960 Are you not more valuable than they? 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.319 Are you not more valuable than the sparrows? 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:46.079 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to his life? 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:48.960 Friends, God promises to have your back. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:54.240 Nothing can harm you beyond God's gracious will. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.039 Nothing, nothing can harm you. 00:27:57.200 --> 00:28:03.279 Number two, nothing can harm us beyond God's gracious will for us. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:08.720 Because the Bible says he is with me, I will not be afraid. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.960 What can man do to me? 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:17.279 Because the Bible says, In God I trust, and I am not afraid. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.279 What can man do to me? 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.559 In God I trust. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:33.440 The trust in God, the faith in God, the fear of God, the worship of God, prayer, following the commandments of God gives us the strength to overcome fear. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:38.880 Nothing befalls us outside God's will and timing. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:42.799 Everything is timed by God to eternity. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:52.480 The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 40, verse 80 the grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of God endures forever. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.160 Our God is faithful. 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:57.440 Number four, He is faithful to redeem us. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:00.480 I call this redemption. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:07.599 God has a redemption plan for our lives, including our failures and mistakes. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:25.519 The book of Romans, the Bible says, chapter 80, verse 28, and we know that all things God works, and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.359 In every situation, God is gonna come through. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.480 God is powerful. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:45.920 Job, through the torments of sickness and loss, and fear and rejection by his friends, the trials of his faith, God finally restored him and blessed him. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:49.599 He doubled his life and his family. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:57.759 And when Job was going through his seasons of fear, he actually didn't know what God was about to do. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:03.440 He didn't know how God was about to redeem his circumstances. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:06.079 Let me tell you, God is amazing. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:09.839 It doesn't matter what you are going through right here now. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:15.119 God has a redemption plan for every problem we face. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:20.799 God has a redemption plan for every fear that comes our way. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:25.839 God has a redemption plan for every crisis in our way. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.440 What is our response? 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:32.640 God calls us to worship Him, to fear Him, to follow His word. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:37.200 And as we do that, God begins to do great things. 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:40.960 In the book of Job, chapter 42, verse 10. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.480 Listen to this. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:49.200 The Bible says, after Job had prayed for his friends, what did Job finally do? 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.680 He prayed, he worshipped God. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:59.680 The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had had before. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:07.440 Friends, God can do amazing things immeasurably more than what we can ever imagine. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:15.119 And as I finish, I want to talk about nine points which I want you to carry home with you. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:19.839 Because it's very important for you to guard your heart. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.000 Guard your heart. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:29.839 If there's anything I can ask you to do today, go hard guard your heart against fear. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:37.759 Number one, when you are afraid, like you are really, really afraid, because fear is real. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:41.279 When you're afraid, pray to God. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:44.079 Bring it to God in prayer. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:49.279 I really think that many people are afraid because they pray less. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.480 When you're afraid, pray to God. 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:56.640 Prayer has a way of actually taking away your fears. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:06.319 I have had situations whereby uh I went to God in prayer, the circumstances didn't change, but I had my peace because God was doing something. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:10.079 Number two, when you're afraid, worship God. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:13.039 Get your hymn book and worship God. 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:16.880 Find some piece of music and worship God. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:22.240 Number three, when you're afraid, do not reject God. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.920 Let me repeat that. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:26.160 Do not reject God. 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:29.039 Do not deconstruct your faith. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:34.079 Many people, when they are afraid and they're asking, where is God? 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:39.920 The temptation to doubt God and deny God becomes real. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:44.000 Please don't reject your way of salvation. 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:51.680 Number four, when you're afraid, maintain your hope in God and expect redemption. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.839 Maintain your hope in God. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.599 God is gonna come for me. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.599 God is going to deliver me. 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:00.960 I don't know how, but one thing I know. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.119 He said he is with me. 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:08.559 One thing I know, he promised me that his right hand will serve me. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:12.559 I don't know, but one thing I know I'll be delivered. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:21.680 Number five, when you are afraid, guard your heart and your mouth against non-faith talk. 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:25.759 And this is very important for us Christians. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:32.799 You know, I sometimes hear people pray and they say, God, we ask you to protect us. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:35.200 God, we ask you to provide for us. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.640 God, we ask you. 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:51.359 And then after they get out of the prayer service, then they start telling how they're gonna tell people how they are gonna die, how everybody is going to die, how everything is going to crash, how how everything is going to stop. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:53.440 It's like the earth is going to stop. 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:55.759 Who told you the earth is going to stop? 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.839 The earth is not about to stop. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:05.920 The earth will stop at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ because He promised to come back to transform everything. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:08.719 Life is going to continue even tomorrow. 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:12.400 So guard yourself against the non-faith talk. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:16.079 Guard yourself against that negative stuff. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.360 Number six. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:25.440 When you're afraid, maintain your integrity despite satanic attacks. 00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:29.039 Maintain your integrity in God. 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:35.840 That's what I call fearing God, pursuing and following the commandments of God. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:40.800 Do what is right and honorable before God. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:47.679 Don't allow the enemy to move your integrity to a position of compromise. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.599 Number seven. 00:34:52.320 --> 00:35:05.360 When you're afraid, do not allow your commitment to God and his eternity to be transcended by temporary physical security and material things. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.719 I'll repeat that. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:20.159 When you're afraid, don't allow your commitment to God and his eternity to be transcended by temporary physical security and material things. 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.920 Trust in God. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:29.039 Number eight, when you're afraid, submit to the wisdom and the sovereignty of God. 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:31.039 There are things we don't know. 00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:34.480 Sometimes we don't know what God is doing. 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:39.920 My responsibility is to submit to the sovereignty of God. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:46.800 In fact, the entire doctrine of the sovereignty of God needs to be taught much more than ever before. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:50.480 For us to know that our God is solving. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.639 What he wills will happen. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:55.920 And what he doesn't want to happen will not happen. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:36:06.880 You know, I remember before COVID, people would say, you know, we'll go to America, we'll go to India, we'll go to Japan, we'll go to China, we'll go, we'll go, we'll go, we'll go. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:12.719 We forgot to say that when God wills, we will go. 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:15.360 It's about the will of God. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:21.920 And in the last two years, people have learned to say, when God wills, I'll come to Rwanda. 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:24.800 When God wills, I'll get on the plane. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:28.320