and a billion stars [Music] our [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] CRC TV broadcast missions ministry is reaching the world for Jesus we're broadcasting across 10 TV channels both nationally and internationally we invite you to partner with us in this mission together we can expand our reach even further bringing the transformative power of the gospel to every corner of the earth if you would like to contribute to the preaching of the gospel to the world visit our website at crcchurch.com or scan the QR code on the screen you made a way now I see all that you have for me wow all the silence is broken you made a way heat heat [Music] now I am free so death is your put your hands together this is a new beginning this is a new beginning conquer the grave defeated the enemy conquered the grave defeated the enemy this is a new beginning this is the new beginning now I am free so death where is your sin now I am free so death where is your [Music] new [Music] Heat heat heat [Music] [Applause] [Music] now I am free [Music] [Applause] did you know CRC is a home cellbased church that means every week across our community small groups called home cells meet to dive deeper into the word shared by pastor at on Sundays but it's more than just a gathering it's where we build strong godly relationships care for one another and grow together in disciplehip home cells are how we stay connected how we stay united and spiritually strong as a family so if you're not part of a home cell yet now's the perfect time to join in we'd love to walk this amazing journey with you for more information chat to a leader after the service or visit the info desk today [Music] are you a woman in business looking to grow connect and make a kingdom impact ecclesiastes 4:es 9 and 10 reminds us two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor if either of them falls down one can help the other up crc Women's Ministry invites you to be part of our business networking group a space created for women like you to build community share skills and support one another whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out this is your opportunity to connect learn and empower others in faith and in business get connected today let's grow together and multiply in purpose in business and in Christ visit crcchurch.com navigate to empowerment groups and select join a group to learn more please listen to me beautiful young people we I declare it as South Africa will not fail united we stand divided we fall we are not going to be divided by rhetoric from outside the borders of our country and we will not be divided by rhetoric in this country right we've come too far as a country south Africa is blessed and you are blessed you are part of the future young person in Jesus' name our children and our children's children will have a future in South Africa no matter how wild you are no matter what you have done no matter the pain that you've been through he is the way he's not part of the light he is the light we do not follow a Jesus plus salvation plan he is the savior he is the Lord he's the Messiah good morning family this is the day that the Lord has made i will rejoice and be glad in it our praise silences the enemy our praise releases the blessing are you ready to praise this morning are you ready praise let's go hallelujah come on let's see we are here to worship come bring your son god's done great things and he's the let the sound of heaven come and flood the earth let the saints rise up as your glory fills the church for the Lord is good and his love angels forever he is always good and he's angels forever with your hand lifted up let's praise him praise God from our praise praise him he is worthy praise God praise God he is worthy worthy praise God oh we praise your name this morning Jesus praise God he's worthy worthy for blind eyes oh for the lost ones we raise our hands we raise our hands as we drag for the Lord is good and he's forever he's always forever praise God praise him he's worthy praise God you know praise father son and holy he is worthy worthy praise God oh praise God he's worthy worthy praise God yeah praise God he's worthy worthy and on that day when the trump is sound when the trumpet is sound and every eye they will see every eye will see and every knee shall bow every will of you forever all creation praise God praise him for the earth he is worthy praise God praise God praise God are we going to bless him this morning we're going to get home by dancing hallelujah let's sing bless the Lord oh my soul sing his praise again and again come on and bless the Lord oh my soul sing his praise again and again oh be magnified be glorified lift it high over come on bless the Lord oh my soul sing his praise again why me so many reasons I got praise again i got joy joy of the Lord me over again i got joy joy of the Lord now I can see everything is me i got I can't stop and praise Jesus this morning on the count of three we're going to release our faith 1 2 3 let's praise him hallelujah [Music] hallelujah we magnify we glorify we lifted high over it oh come on praise the Lord oh my soul praise me you give me so many reasons i got praising i got joy joy of the Lord giving me over again i got joy of the Lord now I can see everything you got hey this is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it oh we're going to dance this morning we're not going to hold up because we need to silence the enemy come on let's sing this is the day that the Lord has made come on this is the day that the Lord has made i will rejoice and declare it i will rejoice and declare this is the day that the Lord has made i will rejoice i will rejoice everybody this is the day this is the day that the Lord i will i will rejoice everybody [Music] joy joy of the Lord giving me strength filling me over again i've got joy joy of the Lord now I can see everything you've done for me this is the day this is the day that the Lord has made this is the day that the Lord has made i will rejoice and be glad in it i will rejoice and be glad this is the day of the Lord ever this is the day of the Lord i will rejoice everybody i will rejoice everybody this is the day that the Lord has made i willj this is the day this is the day that the Lord has made i will rejoice one more time this is the day this is the day of the Lord i will I willj this is the day i willj for rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice come on give him praise he is worthy Lord yay father we thank you for who you are this morning we thank that you're a good God a faithful God an awesome God a powerful God so come on church as we sing this song raise your faith raise your hands in Jesus name yeah i search the world but it couldn't fill me man's empty praise treasures and faith are never enough and you came along and put me back together now every desire is now satisfied hearing your love oh see there is nothing for there's nothing better than you there's nothing better than you there's nothing nothing is better than you [Music] all I know is you i'm not afraid to show you my weakness my failures and flaws lord you see them all can you still call me free who's the God of the mountain oh he's the God of the valley of the valley [Music] there's not a place for mercy and grace won't find me again there's nothing [Music] you Nothing [Music] is nothing there's nothing [Music] better than you [Music] morning dancing morning dancing you give beauty for aes hey [Music] sis [Music] you turn Heat heat heat heat you're the only one who can [Applause] [Music] lord there's nothing better than you lord there's nothing there's nothing like better than you lord there's nothing nothing is better than you oh there's nothing nothing there's nothing better than you oh there's nothing better than you lord there's nothing nothing is better than you heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat yeah oh there's nothing better than you lord there's nothing better than you lord there's nothing nothing is better than you oh there's nothing lord there's nothing nothing Lord better than you Lord there's nothing there's nothing Lord better than you Lord there's nothing nothing is better than you you are here moving in our midst i worship you i worship you you are here rearranging destinies come on believe me this morning i worship you i worship you you are here turning lives around lord I worship you come on just worship him i worship you you are here come on you're working i'm working miracles i worship you [Music] i worship you come on you believe this morning we call and say we make a miracle work promise keep light in the darkness my God is knowing this morning we call him way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness that is who you are you are here you are touching every Come on just worship the king i worship you i worship you you are here you are healing every life you are healing every Oh I worship you i worship you you are here for your eyes hey I worship you you are here every heart yes my calling [Applause] in the darkness we call it miracle work in the darkness we make way for generation to generation jesus even when I don't see it you come on even when I don't feel it you working you never stop you never stop come on even when I don't see it even when I don't see it you come on even when I don't see your Even when I don't see it you're working you don't feel Heat heat my god heat yeah heat [Music] heat heat [Music] heat heat heat heat heat heat heat come on if you believe it you believe it you receive it come on he's our way maker he's the way the truth oh come on man i know it's cold out there but the fire of God is in this place give him a fiery praise today come on clap your hands all you people shout unto God with a voice of praise or a voice of triumph welcome this morning you beautiful people you are all beautiful you're all handsome you're all God's children that's why I can say it and uh I want to give a shout out to all the young families that come to church every Sunday the husbands wives and all the kids getting dressed uh showing up every Sunday and raising your children in the house of God come on let's recognize all these young people that are serving God passionately in Jesus' name welcome to TBNN TBNN year to one gospel praise TV we welcome Facebook live YouTube site radio stations correctional facilities people all over the world literally 7 million people we talk to every single Sunday that is a miracle um from Russia to Israel it's a and Iran by the way and whoever you may not like them god likes everybody because he's the God of all people and you know it takes politicians to mess up the world but God has come to bring new life to the world in Jesus' name and our world will be a better place and one day by the way Jesus will return and he will have the final say on this earth no government no king no businessman no black rock no matter who they do not have the say they think they're in control but they're not god is still in control and his promises are still yay and amen right and whatever God promised you will come to pass you can give God praise if you believe it this morning that good things are heading your way in the name of Jesus Christ this welcome to all the CRC churches look at somebody and pay them a compliment if you don't know what to say tell them you're looking better than last time I saw you tell them come on let's give a big hand clap to the musicians [Music] you may take your seat thank you my message this morning fed up and not fed up piano a little bit down thank you fed up and not living fed up are you fed up with life has life become too much with all that's happening in our world especially when you watch television I mean television there's not much that motivates you out there everything is designed to steal your hope to push you down to crush your future but we have a living hope and as believers we need to know how to stay fed up so we don't become fed up with this life and the battles and challenges we are facing in Jude 1:20 the Bible says "But ye beloved building yourself up in your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit." I know many of you are facing severe challenges difficulties battles well as long as you're alive there will be another battle another mountain to conquer another giant to slay because we are not in a grave we still have places to go and things to do in Daniel 11:32 the Bible says "But the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." We are not here to take it easy we are yet to be more than conquerors to be overcomers to do what God called us to do oh come on say amen in Jesus' name we're not going to live bland boring beige average lives that's why I'll never wear beige and by the way for many of you it's it's the right color for me it's the wrong color just don't get beige on the inside okay so when people are feeling vulnerable exhausted a little bit beat up mentally you need to know how to remain upbeat in a beat up world cuz I've learned that you cannot beat up on the devil or circumstances if you are beaten up on the inside you're not going to go far with a flat battery so you have to learn how to remain fed up you have to live in a fight cuz this whole world system is designed to rob you of your faith your courage and your strength i joke with young people all the time when they're on their phones in church and they don't want to clap their hands that's me i love you enough to tell you get your hands out of your pockets and get busy with God get off Tik Tok and get busy with God somebody say "Amen." Cuz Tik Tok will not build your face neither will Instagram and neither will Facebook and neither will the newspaper and neither will the news neither will news whatever almost I see the name nobody is going to build your faith i don't switch on television and see anything positive and a lot of it is clickbait to rob you of your faith so stop paying attention and spreading bad news and begin to focus on what God says in Jesus' name you're not going to fight the good fight of faith that's the winning fight if you are defeated on the inside you're not driving anywhere without a battery so when you feel flat and weary and discouraged which happens to people that's not the time to make decisions cuz tired eyes never see the vision that God has for them and when people go through tough times they tend to overexaggerate the negative so there are times the Bible says my brethren my sisters that you have to be slow to speak and quick to listen there are times that you have to learn just to shut up and to pray up and to praise up come on you did a good job just now give the Lord a praise in the house all over South Africa come on hallelujah no that was a flat praise give the Lord a praise like you are [Applause] [Music] so sometimes life wants to rob you listen of the joy of living life wants to rob you of what God has for you circumstances are designed to steal your faith and often times people make decisions in a low place and they think it's better out there no it's only going to be better out there when it becomes better in Yah you have to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might you have to learn how to remain fed up how to remain edified how to live built up on the inside with all that's happening out there in the world so one of the great prophets in the Old Testament Elijah one day he challenges 450 prophets of Bal and 400 prophets of Asher and he tells the people "How long will you hold to waiver between two opinions?" And some of you are like that if God is God then follow him if not then follow Paul listen either God is able or he's not either God is a miracle worker or he's not either God is your provider or he's not either God is your deliverer or he's not you have to make up your mind where your strength comes from and you have to make up your mind where you put your eyes on because what you look at the longest will become the strongest in your life and what you look at will determine what's happening in your mind and what's happening in your mind will determine what's happening in your heart and what is happening in your heart will determine what's happening in your mouth and what's happening in your mouth will determine what's happening in your life are you listening to me this morning you are snared by the words of your mouth life and death is in the power of the tongue that's why Satan tries to come and influence your thinking to distort your thinking to steal your vision to rob you of your courage to get you into a negative framework a negative mindset because when you think negativity your heart will become negative and when your hearts are negative you speak negative the Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks so you can always see where somebody is under pressure when they open their mouths you have to learn to be quiet sometimes you have to learn to to to shut your m to to to to to bite your tongue because when you the Bible says he that opens wide his mouth will have destruction i mean some people are like almost I said it I won't some people literally cannot control this be careful because this write your future psalm 45:1 the Bible says the tongue of man he says the hand of a ready writer that's why God says let the weak say I am strong that's why the Bible says call things that be not as though they were you need to be careful what comes out of your mouth but we have to backtrack a little bit we have to get to the place of getting you in a sound mind cuz God's not given you a spirit of fear confusion but of power love and a sound mind you cannot lose your mind listen to me because when you lose your mind you lose your life so Elijah has his greatest moment he he defeats the prophets he prays fire from heaven then Jezebel and it's not by the way a spirit it is a spirit it's not always in women it's a spirit of manipulation intimidation right something that wants to speak you out of your victory out of your miracle out of your destiny it's a spirit that tries to push you out using discouragement fear and intimidation so she sends a word to Elijah the great man of God that just defeated 850 men publicly and prayed fire down from heaven and she says "I'm going to do to you what you did to my prophets." And listen what Elijah does hey Pakis [Music] what does that say he just wanted to get away of it all he was overwhelmed overcome he thought this was it the end but it wasn't he fear so distorted the picture in his mind that he thought he was the only person that was alive god says "Uh-uh i've got 7,000 others that haven't bowed the knee to B." I tell you it's never as bad as you think in the name of Jesus are you listening to me but if you meditate on your negativity your negativity will become a stronghold and that stronghold will overwhelm you and control you so Elijah when he hears the word a threat he arose and ran for his life and went to Bershaba which belongs to Judah and left his servant there so he isolates himself listen when you go through hell don't isolate yourself when you go through a difficult time don't stay out of church get yourself in the presence of God so you can recover yourself say amen in Jesus name but he himself made a journey a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down so he was a runner he was a man of God he was a warrior and because of intimidation he loses his fight he sits down and he says to God "It is enough kill me." He has suicidal thoughts think about this from one day to the next day from the greatest triumph to the greatest defeat in his mind where was the battle the battle is in his mind where's the greatest battle that you will ever fight the battle that nobody sees the battle between your ears that's why the Bible says "By patience possess your soul." This is the greatest territory you can possess because Proverbs 27 23:7 says "As he thinks so is he." Whether you believe you can or can't you are right because belief is the ignition switch that will get you off the launching pad and he has reality you alone have control of your mind your mind is the garden that God has instructed you to guard and to protect your mind is where you choose to have life or death blessing and cursing people say "Pastor I couldn't help myself i just had to get up 2:00 in the morning that chocolate cake was speaking to me." Oh I know there's a lot of things talking to you but somewhere you made a decision you got out of bed while your wife was snoring i mean your wife was sleeping you climbed out you ran down you ate the chocolate cake you climbed back into bed you could not sleep you've made the decision everything starts and ends with a decision which follows what the dominating thoughts of your mind and those dominating thoughts in your mind will eventually manifest themselves into your life and set the course of your life listen to me you cannot allow anything into your mind your mind is the gate to your life your mind determines what's happening in your heart so yeah Elijah a spiritual man who prays elijah who breaks a drought after 3 and 1/2 years through prayer elijah who destroys the prophets of Bal and Asher elijah that prays fire down from heaven one thought in his mind hijacks his life and he runs for the cover he runs and he isolates himself like some of you today you're trying to shut me out but you cannot our sound system is too loud you are where you are because of your thoughts your thoughts have brought you where you are today oh you can blame your mama you can blame your papa you can blame the government you can blame a part as long as you want to but you are not a victim of yesterday you are a product of God's grace and my Bible says if any man be in Christ he's a new creature old things have passed away behold all things have become new my Bible says if you then be risen with Christ set your mind on things above and not on things on the earth for your life is dead and you are hidden with Christ in God you are a new creature you're not a loser you're not a defeist you're not a victim you're not an addict you're not bound you are free by Christ if you believe it shout amen come on change your mind about yourself in Jesus name give the Lord a praise today come on [Music] it's like people flow through life and it's just like I can't help myself but then they go buy a self-help guide it's a contradiction you dressed yourself this morning how did your mama dress you 30-year-old man no you dressed yourself your attitude is your choice by the way everything in your life is your choice yeah we don't come from the same place but we all arrive at the same place when we arrive at the foot of the cross and there's equal opportunity there we are accepted in the beloved there is a new beginning there is a future and a hope when I arrive at the foot of the cross so I can blame people for yesterday but you cannot take the power of the cross away because it's at the cross that your sins were forgiven it's at the cross that your burdens were removed it's at the cross that the power of the devil was broken over your life it's at the cross that you received a new identity it's at the cross that you were seated in heavenly places far above principality power might or dominion so stop acting like your BC days before Christ entered your life and begin to identify with who you are in Jesus' name i'm born again i'm overcomer i'm washed in the blood of Jesus greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me hallelujah that's what the Bible says and yet often we live in a place of defeat because we are overwhelmed because we forget where the battle is and we focus on the external battles while the true battles come on the inside and the victory emanates from the victory that starts in your mind where you display an indomitable spirit where you become strong and courageous in your mind where you the Bible says g up the loins of your mind you nobody else so medicine can medicate you but medicine cannot heal you that was good you can clap your hands any doctor will tell you that [Music] and by the way it's not the operation who heals you when they cut the growth out so these doctors with a God complex get over yourself you're not God get over yourself you're an instrument you're not the healer like no pastor is the healer god is the healer no businessman has the intellect to make money god gave you the power stop gloating in your arrogance stop being puffed up and begin to give God the glory let no man say "My power and my might have given me this." Well God gave you the brain god gave you the wisdom god gave you the opportunity and God will lead and guide you you can say amen because it's good so Elijah thinks his life is over in his mind it was but not in the mind of God then ultimately it's what God thinks that matters not what we think but we need to bring our thoughts into agreement with God elijah runs and isolates himself but here comes God hallelujah a God who is committed a God who loves a God who will never give up on anybody a God that will chase you a God that is a man chaser and God goes to Elijah when Elijah runs away from God with suicidal thoughts God goes to him the angel of the Lord that's the pre-incarnate Christ Jesus hidden in the Old Testament jesus goes to him like Jesus came to us in the New Testament oh come on in the name of Jesus in your valley in your depression in your turmoil in your tribulation God will not abandon you god will come to you god will love on you and God will lift you up because he has not forsaken you has not abandoned you and he will not cancel you don't cancel yourself [Music] so God sends an angel Jesus ghosting god says to him "Time out Elijah sometimes wives have to be the angel in their husband's lives right not the devil and sometimes husbands have to be the angel in their wives lives and not the devil you see somebody under pressure you bake them a cake some of us have to go for baking lessons cuz I can bake nothing i can make an egg oh and co I learned to make spaghetti but that's about it after 100 attempts I got it right i'll make better spaghetti than anybody else now okay I got it figured out took me a long time but I got it so God says to Elijah "Time out." God doesn't fight with him god doesn't judge him he knows the man is discouraged god loves you where you are god is there for you where you are no matter how you got there God is there god doesn't come to him and say "What's up man?" You just break fire down i gave you the power yesterday you You broke a drought and now you're running like a cow it's not how God spoke to him god comes to him understands him and what does God do to him minister to him elijah is fed up god says "Eat up." Elijah wants to run away god says "I'm not done with you your destiny is an over you need to listen to me i don't care how long you have failed i don't care how far you have fallen you're not done until God decides and God has decided that you're not done you your your future is not over that business is not over i don't care what it looks like in the natural now there's a way out because we have a way maker we have a miracle worker we have a promisekeeper those promises are y amen you can say amen this morning you look like you believe what I'm preaching in Jesus name get yourself out of the grave and back in a place of faith [Music] so God says "Let's get you back into a good space let's get you back on your feet stop talking when people are under pressure they talk a lot and they're making a big mistake they they they're wreaking wreaking havoc in their own lives so when when Israel walks around Jericho gates God says to them "Silent there's a victory in pro progress." Why because the previous generation spoke themselves out of the victory when God comes to Elizabeth and she's going to fall pregnant and God talks to Zachchariah because he's so old he doesn't believe it what does God do god gives him the gift of dumbness god silenced him why so he would not cancel God's miracle you may not understand it and we seldom do you don't have to understand it the Bible says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart lean not to your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your your paths the Bible says believe the Bible says have faith in God faith is when you don't understand faith is when you don't know but when you don't know you need to keep your hands up in a place of prayer you need to stay on your knees in a place of praise and worship you need to stay in the word so you don't become fed up with what's happening in your life but you remain fed up build up in Jesus name so God comes and God feeds him he bakes him a cake what cake huh i like peanut butter cheesecake okay yeah don't ever bring a peanut butter cheesecake close to me i have to throw it give it away very quickly i'll eat the whole thing but this wasn't the kind of cake that we're talking about we're talking about spiritual food angel's food which is what the word of God amen so God knew before his mind his sound mind would return he had to get him eating and sleeping sleeping doesn't mean going to a place of insomnia or or a place where you shut things out sleeping means that you rest there remains a rest for the people of God that you get out of your struggle and out of your anxiety and you get yourself in the presence of God where you rest and you rest and you rest and you rest in the presence of God and then God's word will feed you the spirit of God will minister to you god knows how to get you back on your feet again are you listening to me god knows how to get you running for him again god has not given up on you say amen in Jesus' name thank God he never leaves us he never forsakes us so Elijah says "It's enough God." And he says "God I can't handle this any longer i'm finished i'm done i'm tired i'm exhausted." God says "You might be in the natural but this is a faith journey you still have places to go you still have a king to anoint you still have a prophet to call you still have a business to rescue you still have a child to raise you still have something great to do for God oh come on if you're a believer give the Lord a triumphant praise in Jesus name give him a praise like you believe god is good and God is in control [Music] so then after he spent time in the presence of God he slept suddenly an angel touched him he ate slept again that's time of fasting and prayer in the presence of God before you make decisions so after Elijah was strengthened he senses returns listen now and he hears the voice of God again you know when people talk they talk a lot of what they hear pastor I heard this there's no hope for South Africa white South Africans with all these laws that are being passed there's no future i don't want to hear nothing of that i don't want to hear nothing i'm not saying be ignorant but I'm not going to be controlled by those things listen don't look at me like that in that tone of voice if you're not white listen to me everybody faces a challenge the devil tries to steal hope from everybody our hope is in the Lord our God we will have a future and a help our children and our children's children will have a future in South Africa our God is a God who answers prayer and the people of South Africa will be blessed you can say amen in Jesus' name [Music] you don't need to take from somebody to bless somebody else god's big enough man my word can we just have a revival in the politicians can we just have God get into the minds and the hearts of the politicians they are not the God of South Africa i'm tired i'm 60 years old i'm not tired but I'm fed up [Music] with this nonsense i have to shock someone every Sunday that's the thing when you pastor a multi-racial church you say this somebody there gets mad you say that somebody there gets mad get over yourself with all due respect i'm not preaching to black people or white people i'm preaching to Christians say amen in Jesus name [Music] so 1 Kings 19 after he God feeds him God says to him "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord." Get yourself back in church i said "Get yourself back in church get yourself back in the presence of God stop loving your victor mindset and say "There's no church that that that can meet my need oh you so special that God cannot design a church for you oh how special you are it's a miracle God found a mother and a father for you you are so complicated that there's not a church that can meet your needs oh how special you are how special you are how you going to find a wife with that attitude i don't know cuz you're too special for anybody else you're too complicated for anybody else right [Music] so the Lord passes by in a great strong wind cuz that's what we want when we in crisis mode we want miracle after we want the building to shake god's not going to shake the building god's first going to deal with you your spirit your mind your heart that's where God starts and the Lord passed by and a great strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces but the Lord was not in the wind and after that an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake although some of us need an earthquake I suggest to wake us up in the midnight hour like Paul and Silas in prison you need to wake up man get out of your religious little mindset wake up get over yourself become a on fire child of God become a Christian become radical for Jesus become a praiser become a worshshiper become a pursuer of God unapologetically man say amen after the earthquake of fire some of you need a fire in your heart a firecracker in your heart [Music] but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice because when we go through all this um when we're in crisis mode we are loud ourselves and we magnify our problems and in that place we can never hear we'll never hear God's voice in a place of in a confused state of mind ever that's why we first have to be fed God's word and be reassured of God's love and God's care for us like God did for his prophet then God said "Get back to the mountain out of the cave." The cave is the dark areas in our minds we develop our negative images is the dark recesses of the mind where we worry and we contemplate all the negative things that can go wrong that's where we develop our pictures and that picture then overshadows your heart the treasure and the Bible says "A good man out of a good treasure of his heart brings forth good things an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." And it all starts with a single thought a thought a thought that is meditated upon the counterfeit of what God instructs us to do to meditate in his word day and night now we meditate about on our lack our suffering our fear our past our rejection our anger we meditate on that and it's magnified and it builds momentum and from there it drops to y and when it's there it becomes a stronghold it controls your life this is where you hear God in your spirit 1 Corinthians 6:17 the Bible says he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit you're not getting your God in your mind he's not an intellect he's a spirit john John 4 says God is a spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth god's not going to talk to your mind while your mind is rushing and your mind is in control and your opinions rule and dominate your life there's no place for God in your life that's why you have to get silent and you have to dethrone your mind and you have to humble yourself as James 1:21 says "Receive with meekness the engrafted word of God which is able to save your soul." You need to be silent until you hear the voice the familiar voice the still small voice my sheep hear my voice john 10:27 the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord that searches the inner depths of his belly till that light is ignited in your heart again Proverbs 20:27 spirit bears witness with your spirit not your mind people want to serve God here it's not inside it's on top but in this case it's inside and Tik Tok get you way there instagram gets you where there the television gets you where there and you want to live there you think your degree will secure your future you're wrong there are many highly degreed people unemployed in our country today there are many chartered accountants who are bankrupt today they give advice to others because wisdom is not knowledge wisdom is a sovereign gift that comes from God god is the source of wisdom and one word of wisdom can change and oh come on man and change and revolutionize your whole life one word of God's wisdom but while you're in a panic mode while you are in a stress mode while you are in a quitting mode you are never going to hear the word of the Lord you have to take a step back and you have to get fed up you have to feed on the word you have to eat the word you have to edify your spirit you have to build your spirit you have to spend time in the presence of God until you hear that still small familiar voice again and you all know that voice if you are saved cuz it's that voice that called you out of darkness to light it's that voice that convicted you of sin it's that voice that you know you stop hearing that voice you're in trouble you're going to follow every other voice so God comes to him and he hears the voice and what does he do now he moves from the cave to the entrance from darkness to light i'm back not Arnold's watching they go I'll be back i'm back i've heard and he wraps his face in his mantle his mantle is what he's calling his destiny he was prepared to lay down his mantle god said "No it's not your time to lay down your mantle i've still got things for you to do you've got to anoint Yahweh as king you've got to anoint Elijah as a prophet you still have a race to run i'm not done with you you're going to get out of the cave but there's one way you're going to get out of the cave you get yourself back in the presence of God you get yourself off the floor you get yourself you eat you sleep you eat you sleep you eat you sleep you eat you sleep as you eat god's word will nourish you as you eat god's word will edify your spirit as you eat i'm talking about the word of God matthew 4:4 the Bible says "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." When you eat the word you feed your soul when you eat the word you feed your faith when you eat the word you feed your your your your your attitude without the word of God your mind will become weak your thoughts will become frail your thoughts will begin to wander your the word is what anchors you in your life are you listening to me this morning less time in the world and more time in the word not Tik Tok i mean I watch young people they sit and they watch Tik Tok reals for hours i It's like an addiction they just go like next next next next next next next next next next 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours how many of you are doing that see I'm not looking the Bible says as newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby the word is your spirit man's food no word your spirit man will be weak and by the way it's your spirit that sustains you in a time of difficulty the Bible says in Proverbs 18:14 "The spirit of man will sustain him in sickness but who can bear a broken spirit?" Proverbs 18:14 message "A healthy spirit conquers adversity." But what can you do when a spirit is crushed the passion translation says the will to live sustains you when you are sick the will thoughts power mind but depression crush crushes courage and leaves you unable to cope so where does it all start in your mind how do we fix it in our minds romans 12:2 the Bible says be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good acceptable perfect will of God for your life Ephesians 4:22 the Bible says be renewed in the spirit of your mind in the attitude of your mind the program of your mind the paradigm the filters of your mind be renewed cuz you filter all information through your mind these filters these filters this mind that's been controlled and programmed For as long as you're alive your culture your religion your experiences people around you have programmed your mind now you need a new beginning every human being needs a new beginning when does that start when you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life now you need to become a disciple part of a disciple is being disciplined being disciplined in what being disciplined with your thoughts you can't have your thoughts run wild and rampant and be a disciplined follower of Christ you have to follow the teachings of Christ you have to follow the word of God you're now a disciple of Jesus Christ say amen in Jesus name television thank you for being with us honor to preach to you wherever you are get into the word so you don't live fed up but you live fed up god bless you in Jesus name amen hallelujah [Music] so so so there's one thing very often that Christians don't want to talk about and that is responsibility listen how quiet it is thank God silence there's a victory in progress it's responsibility is taking a look in the mirror and having the mirror reflect the true image back to you what mirror am I talking about james chapter one the law of liberty the mirror of God's word where you go look into that mirror and you stop looking into the natural mirror and the mirror of your past and the mirror of your hurts and the mirrors of your victimization and the mirrors of everybody's hate around you and you go look in the mirror of God's word and you begin to change yourself according to that mirror and as you change yourself according to that mirror through changing your word your mind and the word of God has that power to save your soul cuz your soul needs saving as well you know when you get saved your spirit is saved but your mind is exactly the same you don't get saved and suddenly you just think different thoughts it's not like God saved you and he gave you a new spirit and he also took your mind out gave you a new mind you thought exactly the same thoughts after you said Jesus be my Lord and Savior if you were depressed before you'll be depressed after cuz you have thoughts of depression and yes there may be chemical imbalances and yes medication buys you time but listen to me medication doesn't heal you it buys you time to claim back the territory that you lost whether it's somebody else prolonged stress prolonged pressure like Elijah he was in a in a in a a mode of depression can we agree on that he was depressed because depression there's so many different forms of depression now um suicidal thoughts that means you're depressed i want to kill myself you're depressed i want to quit you're depressed i don't feel happy you're depressed but depression is not always a permanent state of your mind depression can be a temptation that has to be resistant so if you accept everything that comes your way every thought what what's happening in your mind the good the bad the ugly and at times the good come out at times the bad come out and times the ugly come out and we wonder but that person's talking in tongues that person is shouting hallelujah in church but then the person goes like boom boom boom why cuz your mind have received sources of information as truth and reality and your mind has transferred that information now listen to me to your heart which is like a baby which is neutral territory your heart is ground your heart does not make decisions your heart brings forth whatever you put into it so if you think on something long enough your heart will want to produce it cuz your vision comes from your heart your future comes from your heart proverbs 4:23 name of what the Bible says God your heart more than anything for out of it flow the issues the extent the boundary of your life from where your heart your heart so what's happening in your heart will determine your future now what messes our hearts up is the information that comes to our minds if we don't stop reject cast down wrong information those sources or those thoughts will become strongholds in our minds and will control So people are controlled in various areas because they've got wheat and tears sewn into their minds i'm so happy so very happy today and tomorrow you want to fight with everybody so we want to get to fighting less with people and happier it's transformation right i said it's transformation it is a process but we cannot backslide we cannot go back to our thoughts of defeat of prejudice racism low self-esteem rejection inferiority we have to progress that is called transformation from glory to glory to glory how by assimilating God's word in our minds putting thoughts in our minds putting new thoughts in our minds cuz nothing changes until you don't change your mind nothing your mind has to think differently and that it takes responsibility where you have to go study the word and you have to self-medicate on the word psalm 107:20 the Bible says he sent the word and he healed them and delivered them from their destruction bible says those who find the word will find their healing it's healing to all their flesh the word the word the word is greater power than nuclear weapon the word is how God works the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe you've got to receive God's word into your mind before it receives into your heart please listen cuz until your mind is not changed nothing will change you can change your hairstyle but you're the same person you can lose 50 lbs but you're the same person you can go to gym you're the same person same mind you can talk in tongues you're the same person that mind has to change [Music] i mean if people live heavy it's because their thoughts are heavy people live happy they have happy thoughts people live energetic they have energetic thoughts people are like [Music] they have thoughts whatever that is choice every baby comes out of the womb equal then they are programmed culture environment there's the miracle of God's grace is when you actually believe what God says and your life is transformed and people can see it and it's a journey it's not a miracle it's not a wind it's not an earthquake it's not on fire it is a journey of transform ation people see change is happening not I'm staying the same change is happening change is happening as change is happening the greatest journey you can ever embark on is this journey from this ear to that ear no from this to this there is the longest journey you will ever embark on Yeah there there because if we don't understand this and I thank God for this we are victims right that means market can you buy this i had to make a decision when I met Jesus this is who I am [Music] lot of people think say not my past as a matter of fact the pain of my past has made me a better person a more understanding person a compassionate person for the pain of other people that you don't sit there with your legalistic little rule book and you have the answers for everything because listen Jack you don't even have the answers for your own life you can prophesy to others but you can't keep a job something is wrong with a Easy [Music] to be busy over there you need to be busy yeah are you getting something five of you good for you so Bible says "Though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds where are they not in the heavens casting down arguments arguments thoughts that argue against God's word and every high thing high thing that exalts itself above God's word that itself there it says that exalts above the knowledge of God bringing every thought bringing what every thought bringing what every thought cuz if we don't bring that thought into captivity that thought will bring you into captivity if you don't bring that thought into captivity that thought will bring you into captivity if you don't bring that thought into captivity that thought will bring you into captivity and if you are in captivity you live your life as a captive it's not rocket science so to get out of the prison you need to change your thoughts you need to replace your captive thoughts with Christ thoughts replacement can't be a vacuum i can't come and lay hands on you and say "I cast out these negative thoughts i wish I could but it doesn't work like that." You need to order your own thoughts all of us i have to go i wish I didn't but I have to but you know there are planes flying over our heads but they don't land on our heads there are birds flying over us they don't sit on us maybe my one of them might just happened to be on a bike trip pastor Andre and I were sitting under this massive trees Little Switzerland and there was this big hardy down the next minute he blessed me it was just like bam bam i thought oo what you can have a a batfly over your head but he's not going to nest in your hair unless you catch him and and put him there no bird is going to come and sit on your head but we all have birds sitting here now the same birds are flying over all of us the same airplanes are flying over all of us we're all exposed to exactly the same things can we agree on that all of us same information we all see the news and we hear exactly the same thing but why is the interpretation different because of the mindset mindset the mindset the mindset 12 spies went to spy out the promised land that God says "I am giving it's a land flowing with milk and honey." 10 came back with a negative mindset and said "We are not able we were like grasshoppers in our own sight." And so we are in theirs and two said "Let's go we'll be well able i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me come on church if you believe your future is great give the Lord a praise come on give the Lord a praise if you believe you can you will do great and awesome things for God come on what doesn't kill you makes you stronger you get stronger through adversity you become more determined through adversity you walk harder you become more silent your praise should be louder but your negativity should be silent if you're in a place of stress do not go around and speak your defeat that's the time to be silent don't tell your family what you're going through don't tell anybody what you're going through talk to God and God's going to lift you up and when you have the victory you tell people "Look what the Lord has done." Hallelujah come on give him a praise i love you man i'll be back next week i hope you are as well working you never stop even when I Even when I don't feel it you're working even when I don't feel it you're working you never stop you never stop working you never stop when I don't feel even when I don't feel it you're working even when I don't feel it you working you never stop you never stop working you never stop even when I Even when I don't see it you're working even when I don't feel it you're working you never stop way maker we say way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my God that is who you are oh we call him rain maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the dark oh tell me wherever you are just raise your hand and worship him that is who my God is he's the way maker maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my God that is where you are his victory setting your thoughts is healing your voice right now miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkest my God that is who you are way maker way maker miracle worker promise keeper light in the darkness my God that is who you are my God that is who you are to every single one of us you are the way maker the miracle worker the promiseke keeper the light in the darkness and as pastor preached this morning every single one of us are at a different place in our lives and we thank you that as we standing here in your presence that Holy Spirit you will show us right now where each one of us are what we need to work on and we know as we come before you today that you are our healer that you are that miracle worker that you come through for us over and over again doesn't matter what decisions we have made how many times we have let our thoughts take control of our lives this morning we come before you and we give that all over to you and we thank you that you will speak to our spirit you will touch us you will heal us and you will change us and as we walk out of this place we will walk out completely changed set free father we honor you right now i just want every head bowed every eye closed with believers praying right now no one moving and as you heard pastor preach this morning how powerful your mind is when you change your mind you change your life and this morning the first step for you to change your mind for you to truly change your life to change what is busy happening on the inside is for you to have a personal relationship with God takes one moment one encounter one decision for your life to completely change for your thought patterns to start changing but it's up to you this morning maybe you're standing here for the first time watching there online and you heard this message and it touched you but because of where you are at in your life because of the constant negative thoughts because of the constant bad patterns that you have repeated in your life it has gotten you to a low place like Elijah but today he wants to come to you he wants to touch you he wants to change you he wants to yield you he wants to set you free he wants to give you that experience of a new hope for a greater future but this morning you've got to make right with him you've got to invite him as your personal Lord and Savior i want to ask you if you had to die today or you had to die tomorrow do you know where you would spend eternity will you be going to heaven or are you at a place where you are not sure because this moment right now is for you you've got to make right with him you've got to make 100% sure that you will be spending eternity in heaven with our father so if that is you you've never made a decision to give your life to Jesus i want to tell you if you were the only person here on earth Jesus still would have died for you cuz that is how valuable and precious you are it doesn't matter what thoughts you have it doesn't matter what you did before you came to church what you did yesterday what matters is the decision that you make right now so in the few moments I'm going to ask you if you want to give your life to Jesus for the first time or maybe you want to come back home to him and in a moment all it says in the word it says "Call upon me and you will be saved." Call upon the name of Jesus of the Lord and you will be saved and he will save you today so if that is you you want to make right with Jesus you want to come back to him then on the count of three just lift your hand one two three just raise your hand right now lift it up high i see those hands there on the balcony watching online raise your hands down yeah I see your hands there's more of you there's the stirring in your spirit you feel you don't want to walk out of this place without making 100% sure that you are going to heaven so if you have any doubt in your mind then right now I'm going to ask one more time if that is you just lift up your hand raise it up high right now thank you thank you what I'm going to ask you to do right now if you raise your hand I want you to take your Bible your personal belongings whatever you brought with you to church step out of your seat and come and join us right here at the altar maybe you didn't raise your hand but you still want to give your life to Jesus join us now take that step of faith step out of your seat and it's a moment a decision where everything is going to start changing watching online god is going to touch you where you are watching from oh come on if you brought someone with you church walk with him to the front it takes one decision one moment come on oh he loves you he loves you he loves you he loves you you want me to be Lord where you are me and there's more of you don't wait he never waited for you he gave up his life for you cuz that is how much he loves you take me to the deep cuz I don't want the shallow waters i just want to be where you want me to be lord where you are draw me in and pull me closer 21 seconds if you still want to walk walk right now there's people walking from the balcony make a way he's going to touch you he's going to transform you come on me into the deep cuz I don't want the shallow waters i just want to be where you want me to be there's more of you come on we waiting we waiting where you are [Music] and pull me closer i just want to be where you want me to be take me to the deep cuz I don't want the shallow waters i just want to be where you want me to be Lord lord where you are throw me in and pull me closer i just want to be where you want me oh come on let's just praise him in this place for every life that is being changed right now [Applause] amen family we want to tell you that we are so proud of every single one of you for making this decision today this is the day where everything is going to change it is a start and you are going to see God is going to touch you and we want to walk this journey with you we are excited so what we want you to do is just put your hand on your heart raise your other hand to heaven just close your eyes and just repeat this prayer after me say "Heavenly Father thank you for sending Jesus Christ your one and only son to die on the cross for all of my sins today I believe that Jesus Christ rose after the third day and right now I invite you Jesus to come and live inside of my life and to forgive me of all of my sins thank you that from today I am a new creation thank you that my past is forgotten and that from today I will start focusing on the great things that you have for me thank you Jesus that from today my mind will be transformed and I will study your word to see a greater change in my life i love you Jesus thank you for saving me in Jesus name and all God's people says amen and amen on behalf of Pasad and the entire family we just want to say we are excited to walk this journey with you welcome to the family if you do not have a church we want you to get connected and join our church we would love to walk this journey with you we'd love to give you a Bible if you do not have a Bible so I'm going to ask you to turn to my right your left and follow our pastors and leaders there they're going to explain to you and then they will bring you straight back into the service there online wherever you're watching from reach out to us so that we can reach back to you walk this journey with you and connect with you [Music] thank you family you can take your seats and turn your attention to the screens for this week's offering at CRC we're a church that believes in purpose we believe that no life is an accident that no matter your background situation or circumstance God has a future and a hope in mind for you in 2007 I arrived in Blunten i found myself staying in the township in a back room with seven of my homeboys we slept on the floor and our meals consisted basically slap chips and some bread as student life we were pursuing a different life careers and one Sunday as I was in the township I saw buses picking up people going to church and the following Sunday I hopped into those buses and I went to CRC and when I got to church pastor on that Sunday he was speaking about living life on purpose and that shook my life and changed my life totally in terms of understanding and living a better life or a life living with purpose in 2009 I was challenged financially and I could not finish my studies and I needed to make a decision whether I'm going back home or I'm furthering staying in bantine and look for a job and through my home cell we I managed to find a job in the financial services sector where I worked as a salesman and insurance company i was taught in the church to operate with excellence in everything that I did and I applied myself and as I applied myself I became more sharper and smarter in what I was doing and I started becoming affluent in my industry and I became the best in my in my industry and at that stage I began to think of a life beyond myself a life where I need to live for other people as well i was challenged to start a business and that business today is benefiting 40 plus employees and one of the sermons that pastor preached was a sermon titled I can i just love it when I get the testimonies of young people under the age of 85 who believe God for something great they chose to be different with a different attitude a different spirit i can I will I must do all things through Christ who strengthens me i will build a world shaking church right here in Bloomington cuz when people catch the fire they are willing to run for God and each and every day I still confess that scripture today that I can I will I must and I I am married i found my wife in the church we have two beautiful children we're raising those children in the church to live their lives beyond themselves and live their lives on purpose and I would like to thank you Pastor Art for this opportunity and for opening your church and accepting the call of God upon your life today through our bus ministry over 9,000 people are brought to church every Sunday in Bloomington Pritoria and Johannesburg these buses are more than transport every seat represents a life reached and impacted by the gospel of Jesus Christ thank you to every member and generous giver because of your contributions we are seeing life-changing testimonies just like take place every week the generous soul will be made rich and he who waters will also be watered himself proverbs 11:25 the ushers can now stand as we receive the offering please note for your security the doors will remain closed god bless [Music] ooh I've been thinking of the years I spent trading conscious with the enemy ooh build myself with double fig higher than the eyes can see trapped in my flesh and bones crying out to you Lord i'm desperate love can carry these cages and set me free my fears like gold's going to come down come down all my fears go to come down come down oh my prison turns to ruins and all I'm moving on my feel got to come down come down [Music] [Applause] [Music] truth was racing through the pain in the blind coming straight into the heart of me ooh long before I even called your name you were fighting for my victory i save my soul i save my souls for all this got to turn down oh my go [Music] down oh [Music] my god come down come down all my fears got to come down you're now my present my go down my wall down my wall down My present when you love me all of my feel like going to come down amen amen let's say thank you to the band for that item what a wonderful item all right family thank you if we can remain seated as we are going to do the baby dedication now and for those parents that's dedicating their babies can you please bring them to the front um for the baby dedication now please all right while they're still walking I'm going to start reading out of Ephesians 6:4 fathers do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them rather bring them up in the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord preparing for today's baby education I went through the Bible to see what the Bible says about raising children and it became evident to me the importance of a father's role in a child's life 1 John 2:13 says "I'm writing to you fathers those believers who are spiritually mature because you have you know him who existed from the beginning." We have a saying in a church that some things are taught but other things are caught and there are many theologians and theologian students may know of God but they do not know God in other words they do not have a living relationship with the father and this is where the father's is important in a child's life you see it's normally the father that allows the child to fall and to stand up by himself to get his strength to go gather his might wipe away the tears and run again it's the father that teaches the child to exercise God's principles in his life practically seeing the fruit of the principles for himself that one day he can conquer his own mountains and his own giants now mothers I haven't forgotten about you this is the counterpart of the relationship with many words to say now honestly it's where men may fail in their communication where mothers fill in the gap helping the children to fully understand and observe God's principles correctly proverbs 31:26 says the following when she speaks her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness she carefully watches everything her household and in her household and suffers nothing from laziness and it's normally the women the wives that helps the fathers not to provoke the children to anger for being the more gentler more comforting counterpart of the relationship but like any rope um there is more there is more than just two strands and Malachi 4:5 says "Look I'm sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives his preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers." One of the strands the church I know pastor is not a prophet of old but he surely is our spiritual father at the moment a spiritual father that's very intentional towards this generation and the next generation that's building for generations to come and also equally caring for the whole family of the church that's that's a vessel that God is using now in this vision for this nation at this very moment so we cannot afford to keep our children out of church nor can we keep ourselves out of the church and there's many strands in a rope and to find out what the other strands do you have to come to church tonight that pastor can teach you now today we're not just making a promise to train our children in the ways of God but a promise that we will keep this rope intertwine that we will fight against the attacks of life and prevent the evil one from unwinding this rope in the family it's our responsibility to protect our family our children against the attacks of life and to allow the church to be the church in our lives so family parents that's standing in front of you I want to ask you to pray the following prayer with me to repeat the following words with me making a promise to God that you will raise your child in the ways of God so please repeat after me father today as a parent we want to thank you for the gift you have entrusted with us we commit ourselves to raise our children in the ways of God to teach them to love you to obey your word and to serve your purpose help us to be an example to them give us wisdom and understanding to train them in the ways of God and to teach them how to serve you with everything they have this is our promise today just just stretch our hands out and let's pray for them father we thank you Father that we can pray your protection upon these families upon these children Father knowing Father that you will lead them that you will guide them Father that you will be with them in every decision that they have to make that you will show them the way that they have to go Father that you will strengthen them in the moments of their weakness Father that you will supply us the wisdom and the knowledge Father to encourage our children to go above and into a greater future Father work growing from glory to glory in faith with you in the mighty name of Jesus we give you the praise the glory Father for what you have in store for them in Jesus mighty name amen amen can I please ask the parents here in front just to turn around and present the babies to the congregation please all right thank you family for the parents here in front your um baby um baby dedication certificates will be at reception in the foyer there will also be tea and coffee on the mezzanine floor where you can actually get together and have a a quick chat with one another then um for the rest of the congregation there's just a few more announcements that we have to announce today so NM O will be today 8:30 after the service in the chapel and then also the 1st of July in the chapel Tuesday evening 7:00 if you're not connected in a home cell we want to ask you to come and speak with us or ask at the reception desk that we can connect you in a home cell please then baby dedication will be again on the 27th of July please register your baby at the info desk in the main foyer then if there's any prayer or any prayer needed the pastors and the leaders will be here in front to pray with you can we just close the service please father we want to thank you for the amazing word that we have received today Father and we pray Lord that your Holy Spirit will convict of of us of that word that we will go apply it in our lives Father seeking your face first Father in all your righteousness Lord so that we can Father live out of the benefit of heaven's economy Father thank you Father that you will fill us Father with goodness that we can Father be a people Father different to this world that we can shine your light Father in a crooked and a perverse world that those people around us Father can experience your goodness we want to give you the praise the glory and the honor for what you are going to do in us through us and all around us in the mighty name of Jesus amen thank you family have a wonderful Sunday see you tonight amen [Music] [Applause] [Music] you gave me [Music] You gave me a new life you gave me a new start now I am free cuz you are my victory hey [Music] you covered all my sins tore down the ve you made a way now I see all that you have for me all the silence