The Man in the Mirror

The Man in the Mirror" | Pr. Alex Ambuchi l Newlife SDA Church, Nairobi

Happy Sabbath everyone. Can I just see you waving your hands? Happy Sabbath everyone. >> The Lord is good >> all the time >> and all the time. >> The Lord is good. Allow me to thank your pastor and uh his team, the team of men who planned this event and for extending your invitation to me. Thank you so much. Thank you. When I was leaving home, I just came alone and some of you may have forgotten my name, Alexi. I'm a husband to Mary. She had sent me with our greetings together with our two boys. Do you receive our greetings? Thank you so much. And also my administrators, I did mention that I will be away from my usual duty at the university that I will be here and they also send their greetings. Do you receive their greetings as well? Thank you so much. Uh to be honest, I was just telling pastor um I think my my thoughts have been thrown away completely, but I'm trying to to to speak a little bit so that I can regain my thoughts. I didn't know that our dear Ella has slept and let me just say this when I was here those years many years as pastor said Elder Samuel Our was the head elder then when his term came to an end. We went to nominating committee and we looked for an elder to take over from Samuel Osor. It was a difficult time for us to get a head elder. We tried many names. No name worked. Everybody was declining. And then after prayer a thought came he said let's present new names and the elder Elder Ste's name was was proposed he gave a number of excuses and that time he was working at Nairobi hospital and because of unknown reasons he had been relieved from his work and he stayed without a job for 5 months. Something very interesting with this man and he said pastor why do you want me to be a head elder when I don't have work? I said elder are you not serving God? Is God not able to give you a job? He kept quiet. I said, "We want to pray." And we prayed with him and we gave him hours to reflect then give us a response. And that is exactly what this man of God did. I cherish it in my heart. And when he accepted, we prayed and we made announcement of the names. He took over as the head of this church. And something very interesting, we began a program on how to bring young people together. It was initiated by him. He had no job. He was running a cafe in Westlands and every Sabbath he brought loaves and juices and we gathered the young people together and he literally fed the young people for not less than four months. when he had no job. And to make it worse, December 2001, I had gone to see one of your elder, Elder Malonesa, who was an APD staying in Shao. When I went there, I took a M. That time it was KBS. I was a lighting at Pumani walking on foot to Xiaomo. When you reached at the at the at the bridge, it had rained. It was December and I was with a young man from Mombasa who is an APD was going to Shaoo. So while we are crossing and there were some potholes, the road wasn't so good and and and and and there was water. So we are basically to navigate carefully at the bridge. Lo and behold, we were mugged. It was noon. And I realized something is hanging on my neck, but I can't see. I thought it's an angel. But I said because I'm trying to trace where it is beginning and where it is ending. I'm not seeing any human object but I'm feeling you know is a metal put on my throat. I said wait a minute. I said if I stand still then I may lose the ground and what will happen? I may be found down. So what do I do? I open my leg so that I can balance so that he may not take me down. So I was stressing to see whether there's a human being behind me or an angel. Lo and behold at the age I got a hand of a human being. And then I said what do I do? And I and I to bend slightly when I was bending and the force through the through the man on this other side. So when I saw the guy remove his hand I was almost taking off. I was given a blow that I'm still remembering up to today. It was right here and the guy had an object in his hand that he missed by injures. Today I will be having a title the mono eye pastor and the blood was just popping out and I lost my sight. It was a blackout. I found myself on the ground and for some minutes I can't see. I open my eyes but I can't see anything. I stayed there for about 2 minutes. When I regained my conscious and the blood with I was in a pool of blood and when I I could receive my sight back slightly. Then I stood up. I looked at my colleague. They had marked him earlier because he was behind me. Then I was the last victim. Then I could see those guys just walking. They took my book, book on prayer by George Mera. I loved it. And they took my phone which the church had bought and the blood, you know, is pouring out. And to cut a long story short, and no one could help me. This town, you will die alone. You will die alone. And I I went to wake up my friend who was down. When he woke up, he thought those guys have come back. The guy took off. He took off in a supersonic speed heading to Shaoyo. And I could see him climbing the hill without resting until he went to the compound of Shiaoyo. And some people were passing by. I said, "Please can you just give me a tissue paper because all my hands is blood and nobody could help." Then I realized this town can die. When I reach out more, I washed my hands. Then I asked someone, "Please, can you dive this number for me?" The number of Elijah Elijah Steamer, he was at work at Wasteland. HE SAID, "PASTOR, GIVE ME 5 MINUTES. I'll be there." For sure. It was a Sunday. He drove crazy. It's about 6 minutes. The guy was already there. He's the one who took me to the hospital. I was just telling pastor last year I wanted to visit him. I told Pastor Kali, "Please, let's go." Something happened. We couldn't. Today I was coming. I said, "Yes, I haven't seen my elder fall for a while. Maybe when I finish this meeting, I have to trace where he lives." And your pastor Brexit the news. I had to say it because I I don't know how to begin this sermon, but I pray the Lord will be gracious to us. Let me hear this song from the control room as I regain my thoughts. Let's pray. Father, we are just but sinners in this world. It is difficult for this church and the family of your servant elder stemer. I pray that your spirit that knoweth it and how to console, console his family and console the church as we move to the ministry of your word with all these mixed feelings. I pray that may you grant me grace that even as we get into your word, may we hear your voice, your word that changing lives that this morning, this afternoon that our lives can be changed by the power that is in your word. May I be a messenger in your hands, a vessel in your hands that you'll use for your name's sake and for your glory. And forgive our trespasses and cleanse us and lift us closer to you because we ask in Jesus name. Amen. The men of this church chose a theme, a man in the mirror. But I want us to look this topic in the other way around that I put it, a man in the mirror from the context of Job's life. a text that was read to us. It was coming from the book of Job chapter 1 and verse one. I'll read again. The Bible says, "And there was a man in the land of ooze. His name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and skewed evil." Friends, I want us to understand the men in the 21st century face many challenges. We need to look into the mirror and acknowledge the truth of our condition. No matter how bad we owe, how bad our lives may be, there is hope. There is hope. The only hopeless case is failure to admit the truth about ourselves. Let me just give this illustration. When I was a student at UAB, we were in auditorium doing exam and the paper we are doing as theology department was Greek. And while we are doing our exam, something happened. I heard a discussion from behind me saying, "What are you doing?" Then I realized that one of us, a theology major, was cheating. And when that happened and then I could hear students are murmuring quietly. Someone has been caught and then one asked who is that a pastor. I said Lord if there was a pit I will just enter and then bury me I go one of us is called you know when you when we study languages which your pastor knows Greek and Hebrew it is either you know or you don't know there's no middle ground even if you cop copy. There's nothing you're copying. It's either you know or you don't know. And this student finally was that one was suspended for one year and he was on a full baser. Let me give you another story for me for me be able to connect where we are heading to. A story from one of my mentor Dr. A from Ghana, a man that I love and I cherish. He came to my camp meeting and shared with me stories and he said, "Pastor, I had a challenge in my tenure of duty. My head elder he said was transferred to another city. It's like Nairobi and Mobasa." And he was committed every weekend is home. Every weekend he's home. And after 6 months he did not come home every weekend. He skipped two weekends before he came. After 3 months he could stay for one month without coming. As he continued more started skipping you know coming home and women have a sting she can notice something is not okay. God has blessed you the women who are here. I said no there's something and she did quickly a investigation and she found that there is someone else who has come into the life of her husband and immediately she shared with her with the pastor said pastor something is not okay with my husband what is it I have checked I have found there's a woman and decide okay we'll go there. And the pastor and one elder that traveled to another city to that city and they did their survey and they knew where the guy lives and they they went and knocked at the gate. Behold who came? They had elder carrying a baby and he welcomed them and said whose baby is this? It was a story a difficult story to continue. But later on it is it is it is closed that elders I'm sorry this is my baby and where is the mother the mother had gone to do the shopping and come back market and why she was coming because the elder and the pastor discussed he said we want you to get out of this union immediately he said, "Pastor, but what will happen with this child? You have to make a decision." And they discussed the man was not giving in. And they prayed and the pastor prayed, "Lord, this illegal union, put anity, PUT ANITY may separate. IT'S ONLY YOU CAN DO IT. And after the prayer, the man is still not accepting. And and and and the and the lady ended. And when she ended from the gate, she said, "It is over. IT IS OVER." SHE'S CARRYING A LUG. IT IS OVER. IT IS OVER. AND SHE CAME in and she looked AT THE GUEST. WHO ARE THESE? THESE ARE THE VIS. NO, IT is over. Get out of my house. This union is over. GOD had answered prayer. And that is how this elder was rescued. Friends, what am I talking about? One writer that I was checking this week, I found him. Patrick Molly had written a book, The Man in the Mirror: Solving 24 Problems Men Are Facing. One, Solving Our identity Problem. Two, solving our relationship problem. Three, solving our money problem. Four, solving our time problem. Five, solving our temperamental problem. and six solving our integrity problems. A man, the man in the mirror, I'm talking to the man. Molly says we need to find a RIGHT INFORMATION. WE NEED TO PLUG INTO THE RIGHT INFORMATION. THE RIGHT INFORMATION IS FOUND in the Bible. Somebody say amen. >> We need to TAKE A DEEP LOOK AT THE MAN or the man in the mirror. The Bible TELLS US IN JOB 1 AND 1, THERE WAS A MAN IN THE LAND OF WHOSE NAME WAS JOB. AND THAT MAN WAS PERFECT and upright AND ONE WHO FEARED GOD AND HAS ceued evil. JOB was the first book of the Bible written by Moses. It is one of THE BOOK THAT IS CALLED THE ANCIENT BOOK. And this book is still used as an example in accounting WORLD TODAY. AND JOB gives a detailed account on many areas of life. It touches its family relations. IT BRINGS IN QUESTION OF INTEGRITY. It brings in how we can relate with one another in the community. IT IS THE BOOK THAT HELPS US TO TAKE INVENTORY OF DIFFERENT ASPECT OF LIFE. The book of Job. The book of Job. Job had a home. HE HAD A PLACE that he live. He belonged to a place. He belonged to a region. He belonged TO A CITY. HE WAS A citizen of ooze. This is where Job lived. He had a name and his NAME IS JOB. HE HAD IDENTITY. HE HAD A WIFE. He had children. He lived in a community, A COMMUNITY LIKE US NEW LIFEERS THAT LIVE. AND THIS MAN JOB, HE WAS BLAMELESS. HE WAS AN UPRIGHT. HE FEARED God and shunned evil. This is a man we are talking about. This is a man we are talking about. AND THE BIBLE TELLS US THIS MAN WAS EXTREMELY RICH. HE WAS THE GREATEST MAN AMONG THE PEOPLE who lived in the east. Many scholars try to know exactly where is and it is found is or was in Jordan. And this is where this man live. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL THIS, THERE ARE testimonies that testify the life of this man Job. The first testimony is a testimony from the family. From within the family, from within HIS MARRIAGE, HIS OWN wife gives us an account OR TALKS ABOUT HIS INTEGRITY. And the Bible tells US IN THE BOOK OF JOB 20, then said his WIFE UNTO HIM, "DUST THOU STILL RETAIN thy integrity? CURSE GOD AND DIE. The wife gives a confirmation. Job was a man of integrity AND THE WIFE IS LAMENTING. DO YOU STILL WANT TO EMBRACE ON YOUR INTEGRITY when I have lost all MY CHILDREN WHEN YOUR HEALTH IS NOW IN DANGER? YOU KNOW FRIENDS, WE ALL know what Job had to go through. WE ALL KNOW THE PAIN JOB had to go through. Losing all his children AND HIS OWN LIFE IS threatened and HIS ALL HIS FRIENDS could not understand what he was going through. AND THE WIFE COMES IN BETWEEN LAMENTING, "DOES THOU still retain thy integrity?" THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY TODAY, it is a broad topic in the political world. IT IS A BROAD TOPIC THAT PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING IN ECONOMIC WORLD. IS A BROAD TOPIC THAT PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING IN THE CHURCH. THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY. IT IS THE QUESTION THAT IS C CAUSING A LOT OF DISTURBANCE. INTEGRITY. Job's wife told Job, "Dust thou still retain thy integrity?" We train students both private universities and public universities. People can get all a but no integrity. It's a question of integrity. A FEW YEARS AGO, THE WORLD BANK DIRECTOR LOST HIS job because OF INTEGRITY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR you read the IMF CHIEF EXECUTIVE LOST THE JOB BECAUSE OF INTEGRITY. THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY, IT IS A QUESTION OF CONCERN NOW THAN BEFORE. AND THE BOOK OF JOB OUTLINES THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY. And the wife testifies Job was a man of integrity. looking at his public life, the community, people he lived with, people interacted with, Job's life, PUBLIC LIFE EARNED A LOT OF RESPECT FROM THE YOUNG MEN, from the OLD MEN, FROM THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, from the princes, FROM THE KINGS, FROM THE POOR, FROM THE WIDOWS, and from the profession. PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU READ THE BOOK OF JOB 29 AND 1-1, WE can get the insights that we are talking about. Job received respect from these people AND GOD ALSO HAD TO TESTIFY about the life of Job. the testimony FROM GOD HIMSELF. AND THE BIBLE SAYS IN JOB 1 AND VERSE 8, "AND THE LORD SAID UNTO JO, LORD SAID UNTO SATAN, >> Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him on the earth, A PERFECT AND UPRIGHT MAN, ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND excuse evil." God is making a testimony AND TALKING TO SATAN. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB? There's none LIKE HIM ON THE EARTH, A PERFECT AND UPRIGHT MAN WHO FEARS GOD AND EXCUSE EVIL. GOD IS TESTIFYING ON THE LIFE OF JOB. AND VERSES JOB CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 3. THE BIBLE SAYS, "AND STILL he hold fast to his integrity. Although you incited me AGAINST HIM TO DESTROY HIM WITHOUT CAUSE, he hold upon his integrity." THE WORLD TODAY IS LOOKING FOR MEN OF INTEGRITY. THE WORLD TODAY IS looking for men OF INTEGRITY IN THE PUBLIC ARENA AND IN THE PRIVATE ARENA. GOD IS LOOKING FOR MEN OF INTEGRITY. Integrity is a challenge today. In the government, in the private sector, in the church organization is a question of integrity. THE QUESTION IS WHAT MADE JOB'S LIFE DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL? WHAT MADE him extraordinary man that with a new LIFE AS MEN WE CAN EMULATE FROM JOB? WHAT made him a distinct person, a distinctive man? Job. the life of John. He delivered and comforted the poor that cried. He helped the fatherless. HE RECEIVED AND HELPED THE PERISHING ONES. He did what was right. He administered justice to all. He helped the blind and the lamb in their struggle, in their moment of challenge. He comforted the poor. He punished THE WICKED. JOB LIVED FOR GOD. JOB FOUND FAVOR IN GOD. HIS FAITH YIELDED THE FRUIT OF the spirit. This is the man we are talking about. THIS IS THE MAN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. HIS LIFE HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. HIS CHARACTER REFLECTED CHRIST CHARACTER. HE SHOWED COMPASSION TO THE NEEDY, to the widows, to the poor, to the orphans, to the strangers. The deeds testified HIS DAILY WALK WITH GOD. Job walked with God. He remembered THE WIDOWS. HE REMEMBERED THE ORPHANS. AND THE BOOK OF JAMES 1 AND VERSE 26 AND 27 DISCUSSES the true religion. And the BIBLE SAYS IF ANYONE AMONG YOU THINKS he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart. This one's religion is useless. PURE RELIGION OR PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION BEFORE GOD and the and and and the father is this to visit the orphans and the widows in their trouble AND TO KEEP ONESELVES unsported from the world. TALKING ABOUT the pure religion THAT THE REMNANT CHURCH HAS TO EMBRACE THAT THE NEW LIFE AS MEN HAVE TO EMBRACE A PURE religion and defile religion before God to visit THE ORPHANS CRY with them in their TIME OF CHALLENGE TO VISIT the widows EMPATHIZE WITH them in their trouble. AND AS WE CARRY ALONG WITH THEM, APOSTLE PAUL, I MEAN, APOSTLE JAMES SAYS, "THIS IS THE RELIGION THAT GOD has called us. THIS IS THE MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED US upon to minister." JOB WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY. HE LOVED JUSTICE. JOB EXERCISED BENEVOLENCE TOWARDS his servants. A man who wants nothing but justice. A man who does not desire to have anything favorism passing ACROSS HIM. JOB EXERCISED BENEVOLENCE. He helped those who needed help. He visited with them. He counseledled with them. JOB WAS OF THIS TYPE AND JOB HAD FRIENDS AND ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WAS ELIHU and Eliu gives a testimony on the life of Job. WHEN YOU READ JOB 33 AND VERSE 12, God is greater than man. He says IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD. IT'S NOT ABOUT HUMAN BEING, YOU AND ME. GOD MAY SPEAK IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WAY. YET MAN DOES NOT PERCEIVE IT. Many do hear the voice of God. They are busy speaking WITHOUT STOPPING. FRIENDS, I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH US human beings. We talk a lot. We listen not. We even talked to God to listen to us but we listen not to his voice a Leo gave a testimony until God had to speak AND GOD ANSWERS JOB BY ASKING MANY QUESTIONS who provided for the raven his food questions for Job to give a response. When his young ones cry unto God, they wonder for lack of meat. And Job is listening. And these questions were hard to crack when God was speaking to him. AND JOB'S PERSPECTIVE, IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD. AND JOB RECOGNIZED HIS STATE OF UNWORTHINESS. I AM UNWORTHY. How can I reply to you? In chapter 40, I put my hands over my mouth. IN JOHN 40 5, BUT I WILL SAY NO MORE. I WILL NOT speak a word. I WILL NOT SPEAK A WORD FOR I HAVE recognized that I am unworthy. I am unworthy human beings. JOB KEPT QUIET. IN JOB CHAPTER 42 AND VERSE 5, MY EARS have heard you but now my eyes have seen you. Since we believed, we have heard many things about God. Since we joined the service, we have heard many things about God. AND JOE IS TESTIFYING, I HAVE heard of you, but I had not seen you, BUT NOW my eyes have seen the Lord. It is possible to preach about God the way I'm preaching. It is possible to witness and lead many other people to make decisions. IT IS POSSIBLE TO SERVE GOD IN ANY CAPACITY TO SERVE GOD IN THIS church as an elder, A DEACON OR WOMEN MINISTRY OR A CHOIR. IT IS POSSIBLE TO SERVE THE LORD. A GOD THAT WE HAVE HEARD BUT a God we have not seen. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO GROW IN ranks of service but we have not seen God. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT HIM BUT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LORD. JOB IS GIVING A TESTIMONY AS A CHRISTIAN WHO STRUGGLES IN HIS JOURNEY AS HE WALKED TO THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM. HE SAYS, "I HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOU. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOU. I've listened about you. I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR STORY, BUT I'VE not seen you." This afternoon, the question lingers before each one of us. Have you seen the Lord? AND JOB 42:6, THEREFORE I DESPISED MYSELF AND REPENTED IN DUST AND ASHES. When the voice of the Lord came, I DESPISED MYSELF. I REPENTED IN DUST AND ashes when he saw the Lord. AND APOSTLE JAMES SAYS GOD RESISTS THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. It is about God's grace. GOD REVEALED HIS GRACE TO JOB. God blessed Job when he PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS. GOD HAD HIS PRAYER AND ANSWERED. EVEN THOSE WHO ACCUSED HIM, HE PRAYED FOR THEM AND HE ASKED THE LORD TO BLESS THEM. And God blessed the enemies of Job, HIS CHILDREN THAT HE HAD LOST AND HIS PROPERTY THAT HE HAD LOST THAT HAD BEEN WIPED BY THE DEVIL. AND BECAUSE WHEN JOB CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE from serving God from his head religion AND NOW HE SAW the law AND HE WORSHIPED GOD AND AND JOB 42 AND 10 AND THE LORD GAVE JOB TWICE AS MUCH AS HE HAD BEFORE. SOMEBODY SAY AMEN. GOD BLESSED THIS MAN. JOB UNDERSTOOD THE GRACE OF GOD THAT GOD IS GRACIOUS. THE GRACE IS ALL ABOUT SAVING HUMAN RACE. GRACE IS ABOUT RESTORING MEN AND WOMEN. Sister White makes a statement actual apostle PAGE 9 VERSE ONE. THE CHURCH IS THE REPOSITORY OF THE RICHES of the grace of Christ. THE ONLY PLACE WE CAN FIND GRACE, it is in the church. THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THE GRACE FROM, IT IS THE CHURCH. FOR THE CHURCH IS the repository of the riches of the GRACE OF CHRIST. WE THE CHURCH THE NEW LIFERS NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS GRACE. WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE GRACE OF GOD. AND ACTS OF APOSTLE PAGE 49. Daily the early church DAILY THEY PRAYED FOR FRESH SUPPLIES OF THE GRACE THAT THEY MIGHT REACH HIGHER AND STILL HIGHER TOWARDS PERFECTION. I need the grace of God. THE CHURCH NEEDS THE GRACE OF GOD. The Bible TELLS US IN GENESIS 6:8, "BUT NO FOUND THE GRACE IN THE EYES OF GOD." IN GENESIS 39 4, JOSEPH FOUND GRACE IN THE SIGHT AND SERVED HIM. FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED. SOMEBODY SAY, "AMEN." >> It is the grace of God. Of every gift, OF EVERY TALENT, OF EVERY ACHIEVEMENT THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED IN THIS WORLD, EVERY POSITION THAT YOU HAVE CLIMBED, every trait of character, it is only due to the grace of God. IT IS NOT YOUR MAKING, IT'S NOT MY MAKING. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD. It is the grace of God. In acts OF APOSTLE PAGE 457 PARAGRAPH 1, THE APOSTLE REMINDED FILIMON THAT EVERY GOOD PURPOSE AND TRAIT OF CHARACTER WHICH HE POSSESSED WAS DUE TO THE grace of Christ. THIS ALONE MADE HIM DIFFERENT from perverse AND SINFUL AND THE SAME GRACE COULD MAKE THE DEBASE CRIMINAL A CHILD OF GOD AND USEFUL LABORER IN the gospel. SOMEBODY SAY AMEN. IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT has made you and HAS MADE ME THAT HAS MADE US TO BE HERE TODAY. IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT SOME OF US WILL HAVE PERISHED YESTERDAY. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT GOD HAS ACCORDED TO YOU. IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH. It is the grace OF GOD THE POSITION WE ARE HOLDING. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD. ACTS OF APOSTLE 338 PARAGRAPH 1. WE ARE NOT TO EXALT SELF BUT magnify the grace of God. It is the grace of God. It is the grace of God. I want us to understand we love because he loved us. THE MISSION IS ABOUT BRINGING GLORY TO GOD. IT'S ABOUT REVEALING GOD TO HUMANKIND. JESUS BROUGHT GLORY TO GOD ON EVERYTHING. HIS LIFE AND MISSION WAS ABOUT BRINGING GLORY TO GOD. AND THAT'S the reason why a man in the mirror, every man IN THE MIRROR HAS TO BRING GLORY TO GOD BY REFLECTING THE IMAGE OF Jesus Christ. by uplifting the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, BY GIVING GLORY AND PRAISES AND HONOR UNTO GOD. IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD. OFFENSE. Isaac Newton known to us involved in slave trade AND MANY SLAVES WHO ARE CARRIED FROM WEST Africa particularly Ghana TRANSPORTED TO SOUTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA BEING A PILOT OF THE ship and when he CAME TO KNOW WHAT THE GRACE OF GOD IS HE ABANDONED HIS MISSION. WHEN HE SAW THE GRACE OF GOD, HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRISTIANITY. WHEN HE SURRENDERED HIS LIFE TO GOD, HE WEPT BEFORE GOD AND HE WROTE THIS WORDS OF THIS SONG. Amazing grace. It is the GRACE OF GOD. FRIENDS, YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE BECAUSE of the grace. I AM WHAT I AM BECAUSE OF THE GRACE. OUR FAMILIES HAVE SUCCEEDED BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD. WE ARE IN THIS CHURCH BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD. THE POSITION WE HOLD, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD. IT IS THE GRACE THAT TRANSFORMS FROM WITHIN TO WITHOUT. IT IS THE GRACE THAT CHANGES US to be humble men FROM PROUD MEN. IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WILL HELP US TO OPEN OUR EYES FOR MISSION WORK. IT IS THE GRACE OF GOD is I mean Joe Newton Newton and in this song amazing grace of God let's hear this song as I bring this to cross and this song is sung by our pastor. It is the grace amazing grace of God that transformed the life of Job. The power of God that transformed him, it is available to transform us and make us God's children. This afternoon, my friends, as I finish, is there anyone here says, "Lord, I need this grace." Stand with me. I need this grace. The power of this grace may transform my life. That transformed job. THAT THE POWER OF THIS GRACE may transform me as a man in this church and to transform me into the mission field and be the missionary. I want to pray with someone. Could there be anyone? You have not been baptized. Could there be anyone? You are not a member of Seventh Adventist Church, but you just came. Could there be anyone that began his journey because the forces of evil have twisted his standing in the church by one reason or the other. It has thrown us off God. And today God says my grace is sufficient. Is there anyone who says I want to receive this grace a new and to be baptized or rebaptized AND SOMEBODY'S HERE I want to commit my life completely in the hands of God for I have known I live by God's grace I've taken it for granted for some time but today I want to open my arms wide and receive the grace of God and SAY, "LORD, MY LIFE, I live it in your hands. For whatever happens with this life, I live it in your hands and I live it for your judgment." And somebody is here. Just raise up your hand. I want to pray with you. Just raise up your hand. I want to receive this grace. God bless you. Just raise up your hand. God bless you. Keep on raising it higher. God bless you. Keep on raising it higher. God bless you. Keep on raising the higher. I receive this grace. Keep on raising the higher. God bless you. Keep on raising it higher. God bless you. I want this grace. May I just say one thing because of time. Can I just invite you to come here and stand? We pray together after you raise up your hand. Just walk and come as I invite our pastor. Just walk and come as the corers see as they see. Just walk and join me up front. I need this grace. I need this grace. What this grace can do is amazing. A MAN LOST EVERYTHING. ALL HIS CHILDREN TURNED GONE. GONE. ALL HIS WEALTH WIPED OUT. GOD HIS king is destroyed. AND THE WIFE LOOKS HE HAS SHE HAS NOTHING. EVEN this one is going to die. She said, "Do you still want to hold upon your God?" Come on. COME ON, JOB. CAST GOD AND DIE. It is the grace of God that kept Job. YOU WANT to receive this grace? I invite you to come. I invite you to come. THIS GRACE, I INVITE YOU TO COME. THIS GRACE THAT TRANSFORMED JOB. I WANT YOU TO COME. I INVITE YOU SISTER TO COME. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU'VE LIVED. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE HOW FAR YOU'VE GONE. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONE TERRIBLE THINGS. THIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT TO CLEANSE US, to give us A NEW POWER, A NEW REVIVAL, A NEW LEASE OF LIFE. THIS GRACE is what I need. marvelous grace over >> as they sing this stanza one two and last one please I want to invite you on color is mar outward there where the blood of the lamb your spirit. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace to porn and bless grace. race. Graceless is gater than all are seen and dispel like the sea. Gra threat and the soul will infinit grace that is greater grace to voice to the reuge. Come brother come >> sister come. >> This grace is yours. Come on. Come. >> This grace is bigger than your seats. Come. >> THIS GRACE IS BIGGER THAN THE SINS you have committed. Come >> inless grace. >> This grace will lead us home. Come >> on all bee. you the longing. >> His grace will leave you home. Come >> his face will this moment his grace receive. >> Come brother, come sister. God praise praise the children come my brother that is The last one is this. I want to ask all the men of this church, today is the men's day. I want to ask the men of this church, there is something we can do before the Lord comes. We can do together. We can WALK TOGETHER. WE CAN DO THIS MISSION TOGETHER. We have no time. We'll look at it in the afternoon. We have no time. All the men of this church are saying, "I want us to form a movement that will shake this city. Shake this city with a mission." AND ALL THE MEN WHO ARE HERE ARE SAYING, "I WE NEED A PRAYER AS MEN. WE NEED A PRAYER AS MEN THAT THIS GRACE WILL CARRY TO ANOTHER LEVEL. I want to ask the men, you can now begin to come, come and feel here. Come, begin to walk as they sing the same last dance. All the MEN ARE SAYING, I WANT to move. I want to be moved BY THIS GRACE TO SHARE THE SAME GRACE TO OTHER PEOPLE. AND I WANT TO INVITE ALL the men. I'm not asking the ladies to look around and see mistaken identity. BUT I'M ONLY ASKING the men come. Come feel all over here. Come and FEEL ALL OVER HERE. WE ARE THE MAN. A man in the mirror THAT GOD MAY USE ME. JUST stand fill this place. FEEL ALL OVER. FILL THIS PLACE. We have to do something. We have to do something for the Lord. We have to do something FOR THE LORD. I WANT TO INVITE the men, the men of this church, THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH. AS YOU BEGIN this movement, shake this city, please just come, just take over this space all over. All this is your space. THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH, ALL THIS IS YOUR SPACE. All this IS YOUR SPACE. SOME OF YOU CAN MOVE, make two steps or three steps to to create space for others. THE MEN OF THIS CHURCH, THE GRACE THAT TRANSFORM JOB, I want this grace transform our mission of the men of new livers. Please I this space is still here. ALL THE MEN THAT ARE SAYING I WANT TO BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER. I want to be an active member. ALL THE MEN that saying, "LORD, YOU TOUCH JOB. YOU TOUCH JOB. Touch my ministry. Touch my ministry." AS A RESULT of the touch of THE LIFE OF JOB WHEN HE LOST EVERYTHING, GOD restored everything for him. I want the men of THIS CHURCH SAYING, "LORD, I want to test you. We want to TEST YOUR GOODNESS. WE WANT TO TEST YOUR GOODNESS. AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU something has begun to happen. Something has begun to happen. Something happened in the life of Job, a man in the mirror. The image of Christ TRANSFORMED HIM. THE GRACE OF CHRIST TRANSFORMED HIM WHEN he looked at the mirror. Job's life never remain the same again. Let me say this in closing as I invite my host pastor to move closer to me. We want to do this prayer together. I want to let you know a few years few years when we are serving Nope syndrome when I got there the men used to sit in bamboo tree DISCUSSING MISSION WE WILL GO WE WILL GO HERE COME HERE goes the discussion is the same here come here goes the discussion is the same when we change the leadership he said enough is enough WE CANNOT STAY UNDER THE bamboo tree discussing politics, DISCUSSING MATTERS. WE have to begin running. I thank God for Elder Simba. He's late now. We began a mission to the to the prison ministry. We began campaigns. We began to go to OUR ENDED AREAS. WE OPEN CHURCHES THROUGH THE MINISTRY of men. We can do something. We are able to do something. Tomorrow is not mine. Tomorrow is not yours. We can do something by the grace of God. I want to ask the PASTOR TO PRAY FOR THE OUTPOURING of the Holy Spirit to the men. Let our mission be transformed. And as he prays for them, I will pray for those who have come, given their lives to the Lord. Can we have a mic? And as the mic is brought and some of us who are following online you may not be able to come to be here but you can stand before your screen as the pastor will be praying you can raise your hands and some of you who HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES also you're following on the screen you're following this online you can still move close to the screen and say I commit my life to Jesus Christ for baptism. All right, allow me to request those that are seated now to rise up. We having a very special prayer here. If you're seated, please rise up. Thank you very much. Truly appreciate. All heads bowed, all eyes closed. Our heavenly father, what can it be said this afternoon except that we may thank you for your grace? Grace that is greater than all the things that we have done. May your name be glorified. Amen. >> We pray that you may be here this afternoon and speak to us in a mighty way. And Lord, haven't you done so? May your name be glorified. Lord, >> thou hast used a feeble man to speak your word with firmness and authority. And we pray, may the words spoken usward be embedded in our hearts to draw us closer to you to the glory of your name. We testify that your word is clear spoken to us at such a time as this. Indeed, there was a man in the land of ooze and his name was Job. You made a testimony that he was a man of integrity and we are thankful for you recorded that in the scriptures for those of us who live in this day and age. Now may it be said of us here and now that there are men in the city of Nairobi. >> Yes Lord >> and they are situated in Fifth Gong Avenue SDA church and that they are men of integrity. Be it that Lord we have heard our ups and down as men of this city as men of this church and as men in our homes today we plead for pardon in Jesus name. Amen. >> Transform us into your likeness. And just as Job was, may it be said of us in our workplaces, in our homes, in our jobs, in this church, and in this city, as it was mentioned of Job, behold here a man of integrity. >> I thank you, heavenly father, for the men of Fifth Gong Avenue, New Life S, dear church. And because boldly they have all walked up front in testimony that we want to be like Job. I pray may none go back to their seats the same again. May none go back to their homes the same again. May we not be felt the same in our workplaces. May it be testified as it was upon Job's life that we are men of integrity. Let there be a revival of primitive godliness that this man standing up front here may awaken this city like never before. >> Thank you for you here and answer our prayers. May the man in the mirror today be turned into the likeness of Jesus. For these things we pray in Jesus name. And let all men in the house say aloud amen. >> Amen. Amen. Father God, we continually thank you for you raised a man, a faithful man that your grace transformed him to be a faithful man, to be a man of integrity, to be A man that is upright, a man that is killed evil in the name of Job. Lord, our desire is may we be job in our own community, in our own place of work, in our own place of mission. And even as we have made this call, your children have come, they want to receive your grace, to be baptized, to be rebaptized. and some are giving their life for the first time to you. I beg in Jesus name. May you baptize this that have come with the power of the Holy Spirit. May you transform their lives as you transform the life of Job. And Lord, I pray keep them safe. Put an edge around their lives. Put an edge AROUND THEIR FAMILIES. PUT AN EDGE around their properties that you have given them that the forces of evil that may be desiring to destroy them as your word says no weapon formed against the child of God will succeed and I pray that you keep them their decision that they have made to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and the savior of their lives. I pray that Lord may this decision be recorded in the book of life when Jesus will come a second time. May all of them that have walked in front be found in your kingdom. And for these men Lord that have come as the mission begins as the journey begins IN THE NAME OF JESUS Christ hold every man at his right hand. AND IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES, YOU OVERCAME all the challenges. Scatter the plans of the devil over their lives. Destroy any weapon formed against them. And any roadblocks that are ahead of them for the mission TO SUCCEED, REMOVE IT and dismantle them in the name of Jesus Christ. AND I PRAY LORD set a fire that you set in the life of Job, in the life of every man in this church. And I want to pray blessings for your daughters. Please bless them and bless us together. I pray for your man's servant, Pastor Gerald and his colleagues. Lord pour your Holy Spirit in their life AND DRIVE THEM, DRIVE THEM crazy for the mission. And Lord, I PRAY PROVIDE MEANS FOR THEM TO MOVE to reach unreached because we have no time. Oh Lord, I pray unite them, unite the church for the mission of Jesus Christ. And may your blessings be upon each one of us now. AND IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT IS SICK HERE, you are the healer of every disease. Lord, bring your healing. And if there IS ANY CRY FOR A JOB, OPEN the doors. And if there is any challenge in the family, bring healing the family. If there is any misunderstanding, bring peace to the home, to the marriage, to the church. And Lord, I pray THAT AS WE END THIS SERVICE, may the spirit of God take control of our lives now and forever because we ask all these things believing and trusting in Jesus name. Amen. God bless you. Thank you very much. Church, be seated. All men in the front, you'll be the ones to do the closing song. All men in the front, you're doing the Please come. Savior like a shepherd, please come. Yes. Lead us. All the men in the front. Savior. Yes, I know that you're a chister. Savior like a shepherd leaders. All of you, you're doing the closing song. The men, it's your day. Savior like a shepherd. Lead us. All men. Thank you. >> Thank you. Requesting you project the song Savior Like a Shepherd. to my life with the father I E thous you die for repay. Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. Love us. Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. Thou must be We are like friend. Keep life from sin. defend us. Seek us before us. Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. He will hear us when we pray. Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. Oh he pray. Thou has promised to receive us through mercy to receive us praise to God to bless Jesus. Blessed Jesus to me. Blessed Jesus. Blessed Jesus. We will all be to thee. My elders, you'll leave the team that came up front for baptism to the vest tree and we shall have a prayer together with them as we discuss and write their names. The elders present to man the chairs h sorry not the chairs I'm sorry to man the doors kindly be in your rightful places. Church, shall we pray together? Father, we are thankful for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit witnessed in our midst. glorify yourself. And father, may you work that work you have started in us to fulfill the promise that the good work you began in us, you shall be in us until the completion of that work in Christ Jesus. Thank you because we know you've heard and answered our prayer. New Life Church members watching online and those of you standing here, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon each one of you and be gracious to you. >> Amen. May he cause his face to shine upon you and grant you peace. Amen. >> Peace now and forever. In his name we pray. Amen. >> God bless each one of you. Please be seated. Men, you can be seated. There we will be ushered out. >> Thank you. Yes. Hallelujah. Check check check. So uh men we had agreed men we had agreed we are having a meeting shortly at this right side. All the men please don't leave. We had agreed we having a meeting and then we are coming back at 2:15. We have a panel discussion to discuss the mentorship program led to us by Elder Morris and the entire team. Please come at 2:00 in the afternoon. Men, we're meeting over this aside. God bless you. We'll disperse with song number 422. 422. We'll do that as we disperse. >> Marching to Zion. Come with the hills on Zion. A thous before we reach the heavens. Before he reach the heaven street we're changes Beautiful, beautiful. You're the beautiful city of God. The stars and every We'reing through to the world on high to sh beautiful. You're the beautiful city of God. Let's meet for the afternoon service. Amen.

Purpose Driven Life

Mar 04, 2026

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