WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.299 Scripture reading coming from Matthew chapter 9. So please follow along on your screens 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:10.759 or in the bulletin or in your own Bibles. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.839 In Matthew 9 verse 18 we read, 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:28.359 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:35.100 My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.659 And Jesus rose and followed him with his disciples. 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:50.939 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:57.840 For she said to herself, If I only touched his garment, I will be made well. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:07.079 Jesus turned and seeing her, he said, Take heart, daughter. Your faith has made you well. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:11.439 And instantly the woman was made well. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:19.939 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, he saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:25.560 He said, Go away, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping. 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:27.900 And they laughed at him. 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:37.520 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand and the girl arose. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:43.340 And the report of this went through all that district. 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:52.380 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, Have mercy on us, son of David. 00:01:52.379 --> 00:02:03.340 And Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? 00:02:03.340 --> 00:02:07.500 And Jesus said to them, Yes, Lord. 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:14.800 Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done to you. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:17.860 And their eyes were opened. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:23.680 And Jesus sternly warned them, so that no one knows about it. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:31.260 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:38.719 As they were going away, behold, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to him. 00:02:39.760 --> 00:02:43.719 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:50.379 And the crowd marveled, saying, Never was anything like this seen in Israel. 00:02:50.379 --> 00:02:59.159 But the Pharisees said, He casts out demons by the prince of demons. 00:03:00.079 --> 00:03:01.500 The word of God. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.460 Thank you, Bernard and Anjali. 00:03:08.419 --> 00:03:09.699 Good morning, Watermark. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.919 It's really great to have you this morning. 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:16.519 And my name is Alan, and I oversee the youths here at Watermark. 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:21.420 It's such a joy to be here this morning, just ministering the word of God for all of us. 00:03:21.480 --> 00:03:27.420 I just pray that his word be revealed, and just that God would minister in our hearts this day. 00:03:28.320 --> 00:03:33.080 So we have been going through the Gospel of Matthew, and we are at chapter 9 today. 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:39.200 And we have been just looking at what it means to be following Jesus in our everyday life. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:48.179 Just last week, towards the end, we were seeing this crowd that were around Jesus, that they were marveling, and they were looking at the miracles of Jesus. 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:50.399 And they were, like, glorifying God. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:54.379 But then we saw that this crowd was not really coming to Jesus. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:56.099 They were not really following him. 00:03:57.239 --> 00:04:04.919 And at the other side, we saw Matthew, a tax collector, a despicable man, just a man who was despised, a sinner. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:08.639 And Jesus calls Matthew and says, follow me. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:11.819 And Matthew leaves everything and follows Jesus. 00:04:13.239 --> 00:04:19.579 Whenever we see Jesus interact with people, he always comforts and confronts them. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:23.199 He would always calm them, and at the same time, he would always challenge them. 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:28.500 Last week, we saw the comfort was that he came for sinners, that he was here for sinners. 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:29.740 We are all sinners. 00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:32.519 He's here for us, that he died for us. 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:35.579 He paid the price for our sins, and he brought us salvation. 00:04:35.919 --> 00:04:39.680 He got us eternal life, which is not only for the future, for now. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:40.759 And we have hope. 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:41.699 We have life. 00:04:42.039 --> 00:04:43.939 We have everything in Jesus. 00:04:44.719 --> 00:04:45.439 And that's comfort. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:50.639 But then the challenge was in this, that he bids us to follow him. 00:04:51.419 --> 00:04:55.519 And not just follow him, but follow him with everything that we have. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.339 Not just follow him by adding him, a little bit of him in our life. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:01.240 Not just by adding him a little bit in our culture or system. 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:12.699 You see, many times we think that following Jesus is like upgrading our iPhone X by adding a new cover, a new protector, a little bit of design, or maybe even upgrading our iPhone X to iPhone 12. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.639 You know, same, same, but different. 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:17.240 A little bit of change in the camera, but it's the same thing. 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:22.639 But actually, following Jesus is like throwing away your iPhone X and getting a totally new product. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:23.800 It's total change. 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:25.600 Everything is different. 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:28.560 And everything is oriented around Jesus. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.879 Now, he's calling us to follow him. 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:32.780 All in. 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:39.600 And in the element of following Jesus with everything that we have, there is something inside of it. 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:41.280 And that is faith. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:44.899 Now, we can get into the definition of faith. 00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:45.939 And this is what faith is. 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:47.559 This is not what faith isn't. 00:05:47.739 --> 00:05:49.119 Or this is a picture of faith. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:51.239 And this is what, or maybe we don't even know what faith is. 00:05:51.599 --> 00:05:52.519 But let me stop you there. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:56.879 Because what I want us to do today is for us to actually take a walk. 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:01.339 Now, before you start putting on shoes and your mask on, let me stop you. 00:06:01.359 --> 00:06:02.000 This is what I mean. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.759 Let us take a walk with Jesus in today's passages. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.740 Because he will be talking about faith. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:11.939 Actually, as we sit there, we'll be seeing a lot of things that will happen. 00:06:12.039 --> 00:06:20.240 Imagine yourself sitting down with Jesus in verses 14 to 17, where the John disciples are asking Jesus, challenging Jesus about fasting. 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:24.480 And Jesus talks about new wine and going to the old wine sake. 00:06:24.539 --> 00:06:25.079 And all this stuff. 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.519 Basically, Jesus tells them that, hey, you cannot just add me into your life. 00:06:28.719 --> 00:06:31.039 You cannot just add a little bit of me into your system. 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:33.719 But you've got to orient your whole life around me. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:37.579 If you are following me, you've got to follow me with everything that you have. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.079 Jesus, imagine you're sitting there. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.120 Now, as you're sitting there, a series of things start to happen. 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:48.759 That tells us about faith, that which Jesus is calling us to have on him. 00:06:49.659 --> 00:06:52.620 And that's the journey I want us to take today. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:57.300 And as we take this walk, we'll see three things about faith. 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:02.579 Desperate faith, action-led faith, and the object of faith. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:05.340 But before we get into that, let's get into the story. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:08.780 Because in this passage, we'll be encountering three characters. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.680 The ruler, the bleeding woman, and the two blind men. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:14.680 Let's dive into the story. 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:20.199 So in the story that happens, the first character we see is the ruler. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:25.279 When we look into the other Gospels, we see that this ruler is a synagogue leader. 00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:26.620 And his name is Jairus. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:27.759 We find that his name is Jairus. 00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:30.979 Okay, so a synagogue, he's also a synagogue leader. 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:38.740 So basically, a synagogue is a place where Jewish people would gather for their worship, religious worship, prayer, scripture reading. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:42.280 So Jairus is an important person. 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:43.420 He is a person. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.560 He's a religious leader. 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:45.879 He's a man of status. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:47.319 A well-respected man. 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:48.780 Educated man. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:53.180 And now we find that this Jairus is walking towards Jesus. 00:07:54.819 --> 00:08:00.819 Now remember that this place where he's walking towards is not like a secluded place. 00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:01.920 It's a very crowded place. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:06.939 There are the disciples, tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, religious leaders, John's disciples. 00:08:06.939 --> 00:08:08.839 Now all these people are in this place. 00:08:09.219 --> 00:08:14.100 Because if you look at the previous verses, you'll find that all these Pharisees are there trying to question Jesus. 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:16.540 Just looking at Jesus to challenge him. 00:08:17.019 --> 00:08:20.199 Now these people are seeing Jairus walk up, another religious leader. 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:24.339 Now the Pharisees must be thinking, oh here comes Jairus. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:26.180 Here's Jairus, bring it on. 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:27.920 Bring on the question to challenge Jesus. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.019 Yes, Jairus is here. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.600 And they must be expecting that. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:36.279 But Jairus comes and he goes straight to his knees in front of Jesus. 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:39.060 Now imagine the atmosphere. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.680 It must have been dead silent. 00:08:43.420 --> 00:08:46.700 And in that silent, Jairus speaks out. 00:08:47.760 --> 00:08:50.180 And he says, my daughter is dead. 00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:54.120 But come and lay your hand on her and she will live. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.960 I don't know, maybe the Pharisees started speaking to each other. 00:08:59.060 --> 00:09:00.140 Man, what is Jairus doing? 00:09:00.939 --> 00:09:03.139 Maybe we should take him out of his position or something. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:06.500 But if you look carefully, Jairus was in sorrow. 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:07.860 His daughter had died. 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:12.519 And he was in sorrow and he was pretty desperate for help. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:20.059 As Jesus moves on towards Jairus' house, we encounter our second character, the bleeding woman. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:29.720 We encounter her in a crowded place, in a very crowded place, almost like at Malachi Station in MTR at 6 o'clock where it's extremely crowded. 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:34.639 And a crowded place, which is the last place she should be. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:39.300 You know, she has been suffering from a discharge of blood for 12 years. 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:47.940 And for a woman like her, there is a law that declares her unclean, which we find in Leviticus chapter 15. 00:09:47.940 --> 00:10:17.920 It says, 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:21.320 In other words, anything she touches will be unclean. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:24.880 And whatever she touches, if I touch it or if anyone touches, they will be unclean. 00:10:26.160 --> 00:10:29.760 Being in a crowded place is the last place she should be. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:32.940 Because anyone she touches would be unclean. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:36.180 Nor can she, she cannot hang out. 00:10:36.260 --> 00:10:37.120 She cannot touch anyone. 00:10:37.280 --> 00:10:38.220 She cannot be in a group. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.100 She cannot go to temple to worship. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:43.340 And for Jairus' people, the temple was where the presence of God is. 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:45.320 She cannot enter the presence of God. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.120 She has not been there for years, 12 years. 00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:51.480 And she has not, maybe she has not even been hugged. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:54.760 Maybe she has not even touched her loved ones or families away. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.000 She has been quarantined. 00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.360 Now, she needed healing. 00:10:58.460 --> 00:11:00.580 Not just for healing's sake, but for her life. 00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:02.400 To have her life back. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:07.240 She was in shame, pain, in pain, and desperate. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:14.740 And finally, later on, after Jesus heals Jairus' daughter, we see, we meet our third character. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:17.439 We meet the two blind men. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.039 As Jesus is walking, we see two blind men shouting from the back, 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:23.639 Have mercy on us, O son of David. 00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:25.019 Have mercy on us. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:29.659 And it's pretty interesting how two blind people are following Jesus. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.299 I don't know how they're following two blind people. 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:33.840 Maybe someone was guiding them. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:37.399 But these two blind people were following Jesus, even though they were blind. 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:41.840 And the peculiar thing is that Jesus does not stop for them. 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:44.039 And Jesus actually walks on. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:44.980 He goes into a house. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:48.199 And these blind people follow him into the house. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:54.040 I mean, it's, blind people are usually beggars in those times. 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:56.860 They cannot do anything about it, honestly. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:57.500 What can they do? 00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:57.940 They're blind. 00:11:59.780 --> 00:12:02.500 And it's not a mystery that these people were desperate. 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:05.580 These people really needed Jesus. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.520 They were really asking for mercy as they followed Christ. 00:12:11.300 --> 00:12:12.759 Now, let's take a step back here. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:16.920 Do you see the desperate faith in these three characters? 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:22.320 The father, Jairus, needed help badly because his daughter was dead. 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.280 He did not care for his reputation or status as he knelt down before Jesus. 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:31.680 He did not look for a private time or a time when Jesus is maybe alone to reach out to Jesus. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:32.780 He was desperate. 00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:34.640 His daughter had just died. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.740 I mean, I'm not a father, but I can understand. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:38.800 That's devastating. 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:41.759 Do you see it in the bleeding woman? 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:45.800 She came to a crowd that could turn on her if they knew who she was. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:51.699 If the crowd knew that she was a bleeding, unclean woman, they could have turned on her and it could have been a dangerous scene. 00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:53.459 She was desperate. 00:12:53.599 --> 00:12:55.039 It would have been shameful. 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:58.919 It would have even been dangerous for her to be in that place. 00:12:59.599 --> 00:13:02.939 I mean, she was desperate for Jesus to reach out right now. 00:13:02.940 --> 00:13:09.740 Do you see it in the two blind men who were shouting and following Jesus regardless that they were blind? 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.860 They followed still when Jesus walked on and entered the house. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:16.500 You see, they were relentless and they were desperate. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:20.480 Now, here's a question, church. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.759 What have you been desperate for in the last few months? 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:28.960 Was it your favorite football team to win? 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.059 Was it your business to do well? 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.080 Was it your career? 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:34.860 Was it your investment to work out? 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.600 Or was it anything else? 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:41.299 When was the last time you felt that you needed Jesus desperately? 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:47.879 Or have we been so used to Jesus that he was just a small part of our life? 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:57.000 You see, it is so easy to forget Jesus throughout the week and just remember him on a Sunday or on our CGs or small gatherings. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:03.959 You see, it is so easy to forget Jesus in our workplace and our schools when making decisions big or small. 00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:08.539 It is so easy to forget Jesus in all of our other parts of our life. 00:14:08.859 --> 00:14:10.559 You see, we tend to rely on our own wisdom. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:17.319 We tend to rely on our own self whenever we make decisions or whenever we are solving problems. 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:20.639 You see, Jesus seems to be taken out once in a while only. 00:14:21.359 --> 00:14:23.819 But do you remember what we were talking about right in the beginning? 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:27.319 That when Jesus calls us, he calls us to follow all in. 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:34.759 When he's calling us that we would need Jesus in everything that we do. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:37.879 If you look, go to John 15, 5. 00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:38.939 Jesus says, 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.659 I am the vine and you are the branches. 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:46.039 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.899 For apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.879 Can I define nothing to you? 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:53.720 It means nothing. 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:57.440 Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:02.440 If I just turn that around, it means that we need Jesus in everything. 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:05.379 Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:08.120 There's nothing we can do without him. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:11.120 Do we live a life that believes in that statement? 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:18.540 Do we live our life in such a way that I need Jesus in everything that I do and everything I have in my life? 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:21.379 You know, there's a song, Lord, I need you. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.179 I need you. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:24.159 Every hour, I need you. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.539 My one defense, my righteousness. 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:28.379 Oh, God, how I need you. 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:33.959 I knew this one young adult back at my church, my old church. 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:38.159 And she was a young adult and she was part of the youth. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:44.699 And I was always amazed at how she used to pray for even the smallest of the smallest thing. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.679 You know, like she would have a day off and she's like, God, where can I go? 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:53.620 And she would maybe even buy a small thing and she would like pray over it and say, God, I pray that this will glorify you. 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:59.019 I'm like, even the smallest of the smallest thing, which we don't even bother about, she would pray over it. 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:09.559 And you see, what I saw in her was that it showed that she was so reliant on God, even the smallest thing. 00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:13.620 That she needed God, even in the smallest of the smallest things she did. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:17.980 And she was always asking God and always needing God in all the smallest things. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.820 Things that we don't even bother God with. 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:28.379 So, are we living and following Jesus, being desperately in need of him? 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:32.279 Or are we relying on ourselves and other things of this world? 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:40.600 You see, we can put Jesus in a box and just need him when we are suffering or when we need something. 00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:44.899 Not realizing that we need Jesus in our every part of our life. 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:53.139 And we want, we need Jesus in our every relation, in our every decision, in our every thinking, in our workplace, in our school, in our anything. 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.179 We need Jesus. 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:58.120 Now, let's go back to the characters again. 00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:59.359 Let's go back to the story again. 00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:02.000 You see, these people needed Jesus desperately. 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:04.279 These people were desperate for Jesus. 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:07.480 But you see, they did not just stay in one place. 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:11.519 They did not just stay in one corner and just be needing of Jesus. 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:17.159 But they actually moved out of their faith, which leads us to our second point, action-led faith. 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.139 Look at their lives. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:23.840 The father, Jairus, could have just stayed home and hoped for Jesus to come around. 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:28.460 Maybe just hoped that Jesus would be alone when Pharisees are not there and reach out to him later on. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:31.640 The father could have just stayed in a corner and waited for Jesus to come around. 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:39.240 The bleeding woman also could have stayed, maybe isolated, and just wait for Jesus to be alone or maybe bring the mountain. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.980 And she'll just go up to him in a crowded place. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:45.300 Or she could have just stayed outside or just waited for Jesus. 00:17:46.280 --> 00:17:47.740 And the blind people, same thing. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:51.720 They could have just stayed in the next side of the road, which we find that many people are doing that. 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:55.519 They could have just stayed and just waited for Jesus to pass and they could have shouted. 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.759 But no. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.940 They were all moving out in faith. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:03.680 You see, there was an action involved in faith. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:06.500 You see, and that is what faith is, right? 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:09.880 There is an action involved in faith. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.940 Hey, let me give you guys an image. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:14.819 You see, take a look at this, Jairus. 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:19.819 Faith is not believing that this chair will hold my weight. 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:25.019 So faith is not just standing at the side and saying, yeah, this chair is going to hold my weight. 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:29.659 But faith is actually standing on this chair. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.240 So faith is not just standing at the side and saying, yeah, that chair is going to hold me. 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:38.539 But faith is actually when you put your weight on the chair totally. 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:40.319 That is faith. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.379 You see, there is an action involved where you're standing on the chair. 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:48.159 And there's a second thing that's involved that is that you're putting your weight on the chair. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.359 You're putting your whole life. 00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:53.439 So when Jesus calls us to follow him with all in, he's calling us to have faith in him. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.119 And this is what faith is. 00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:58.220 Not just standing at the side and saying, I believe in you, Jesus. 00:18:58.919 --> 00:18:59.859 Good job, Jesus. 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.339 Yep. 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.460 You died for me. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:04.680 But actually, you're putting your life, your everything on him. 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:07.200 You see, you're relying on him. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.960 You could fall. 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.420 But you're putting your faith on him. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.460 He who is trustworthy. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.880 He who is steadfast and who is a rock. 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.980 You see, that's why we find that in Psalms, right? 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:21.980 Where, Psalm 19, where David says, like, God, you are my rock. 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:24.140 I can stand. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:28.839 Because that is what faith is, that you're putting your everything on Jesus. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:31.740 You're putting your faith on him. 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.880 Think about it. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:38.620 If someone were to watch a movie about your life, would they see a person who follows Jesus? 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:43.120 Would they see a person who has put their faith on Christ Jesus? 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:48.319 Or is our faith that something that just happens in our heart? 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.599 Is our faith that something that's happening inside of us? 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:55.719 Or is it something that can be seen in our actions? 00:19:55.959 --> 00:20:00.939 When we go to James 2.17, that's the exact thing, what James, we find here. 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:06.699 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:10.819 Basically, faith without action is dead. 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.819 Again, let me define dead. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.159 It's dead. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.240 It's not growing. 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.799 It's not going anywhere. 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.159 It's not alive. 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.839 It's not moving. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:19.919 It's not moving. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.319 You don't even know if it's there. 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:25.919 So faith without action is dead. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.099 It's not going to grow. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.199 It's not going to happen anything. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.500 It's not going to impact anything. 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.299 It's dead. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:37.899 So church, in what part of our lives have we seen, have our faith been unseen? 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:44.100 This happened a few years ago when I was traveling early in the morning towards my workplace. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:47.500 And I was in the MTR, extremely crowded. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.599 And I was not in the best mood. 00:20:49.939 --> 00:20:51.579 You know, like, it was too early, too crowded. 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:55.859 And as I was standing there on the MTR, like, you know how the MTR goes. 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:58.139 I saw this person sitting down. 00:20:58.979 --> 00:21:00.339 Man, he had a jolly face. 00:21:00.479 --> 00:21:02.559 You know, like, a really bright face. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.359 And that was very curious. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.459 And he was, like, looking around. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.899 I'm like, you don't see that often, right? 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:11.319 When everyone is buried on their phones and their smartphones. 00:21:11.459 --> 00:21:12.699 And this person was, like, looking around. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:15.939 And it did not take long for me to find out what he was looking for. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:18.360 And he calls this old woman. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:20.279 And he gives her his seat. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.700 And he was looking for someone to give his seat up to. 00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:26.779 And then after a few seconds, he reaches for his bag. 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:27.799 And he takes out a leaflet. 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.440 And he gives it to this old woman. 00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:31.100 And I stretched out to see what it was. 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:33.200 And it was actually a gospel leaflet. 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:37.200 It was a leaflet with a cross and about the gospel. 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.620 And he started talking with her. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:42.820 And that was so challenging for me. 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:47.720 And here I was, a Christian, with my face all like this. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:50.740 And here was another Christian who was filled with joy, 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.220 just looking out to share his faith. 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:55.379 My faith was in my heart. 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:57.639 And my face was all crumbled up. 00:21:57.980 --> 00:22:03.099 And here was a Christian whose faith I could see in his face, 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.960 which was filled with joy and the actions that he took. 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:08.500 You see, many times we are buried in our phones. 00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.599 But look around. 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.319 There are things going on. 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.299 There are things. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.879 There are people that are needing Jesus. 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:18.299 Coming back to here, you see, faith involves action. 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:23.579 We can keep it in our hearts and never show it or never bring it out in action. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.599 But then it stops being of faith. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.700 It's not only in doing these things, you see. 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:31.059 It shows in the way we act around people. 00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:34.839 It comes out in the decisions, in the way we make decisions, big or small, 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:37.639 whether we seek God's will in everything that we do or not. 00:22:37.639 --> 00:22:39.460 Or like we were talking about the first point, 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:42.599 or whether we're needing Jesus in every small things that do. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.399 And it shows. 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:50.459 So in everything you do, in everything we do, do we seek Jesus and have faith in him? 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:55.759 You see, in a few weeks we are having this citywide outreach also, loving the city. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:23:01.959 Will you step out in faith to not only share the gospel, but actually love the city? 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:05.140 Now that's challenging. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:10.900 That's very challenging, you see, to need Jesus in everything and to put our faith wholly on him, 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.400 which comes out in action. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.759 But that is challenging. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.660 But let me invite you back to the story. 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:21.539 Take a closer look at the stories here, at the events that have just happened. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.740 You see, we can talk about faith all day. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:27.200 We can talk about faith, what is and what isn't. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:29.599 And I can give you an image and you can give me an image. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.579 And we can go through all this thing. 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:35.359 But there's one very important thing, very valuable thing, 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:39.200 that if we miss it, that if we get it wrong, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.640 that it would have been all in vain. 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:45.740 And that is the object of our faith. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:48.279 We all can have faith. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:51.759 But the question is, what is the object of our faith? 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.839 What is the thing that we are putting our faith on? 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.819 Going back to the story, look at the faith of all these three characters. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:01.180 Jairus, Bleeding Woman, and the two blind men. 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.079 They were desperate. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.359 They needed Jesus. 00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.120 They were coming out in action. 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:08.539 He was coming out in the way they did it. 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:13.579 But their faith was on the person they were moving towards. 00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:17.359 They were all moving towards the object of their faith, 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:19.419 on whom their faith rested on. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.439 Jesus. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:27.819 If you look at verse 29, to the blind men, 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:32.240 and Jesus tells them, according to your faith, be it done so. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:36.579 Hey, we tend to think that this actually means that Jesus is saying, 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:39.339 like, because you guys have a great faith, I'm going to give you a great healing. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:42.919 Because you guys have a level 10 faith, I'm going to give you a level 10 healing. 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.600 No, no, no. 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.620 Actually, what Jesus is saying here is that, 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:49.680 because you have faith on me, on the person of me, Jesus, 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:52.200 so be it done to you. 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:58.880 You see, many times we find ourselves putting our faith on anything else but Christ. 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:02.620 We put our faiths on our jobs for security and identity. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.140 We put our faiths on our careers for our value and status. 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:08.800 We put our faith in ourselves to come up with, 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:12.539 really come up with the right answers and solutions in life. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:15.019 We put our faith in anything but Jesus. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:17.859 You see, we even put our faith in our religious works. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:22.720 We put our faith on our religious works, like praying, fasting, and gatherings, 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.079 to get a sense that God is pleased with me, 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:28.180 to get a sense that, yeah, I'm right with God because I'm doing these things. 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.639 You see, those things are not bad. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:33.819 But if Jesus is not the center of it all, 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:36.559 if Jesus is not the one that we're seeking, 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:39.859 if Jesus is not the one that we're putting our faith in, 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.659 then we're missing the whole point of it. 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:45.720 When I first came to Christ, 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:52.519 I found myself that my Christian life was based on whether I was preaching or not, 00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.440 or whether I was leading worship or not. 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:57.080 So if I was leading worship and preaching, 00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:58.540 then I felt close to God. 00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.620 I felt like a holy person. 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.640 I felt good. 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.740 But if I was not doing that for a few months, 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:04.700 then I would feel so, 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.560 like I feel I was not pleasing God, 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:08.240 and I would feel so far away. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.099 So what happened was, 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.940 you would find me very active at church, 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.919 doing all these things, 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.559 and people would be like, 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.720 ooh, Alan, you're doing good. 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.220 But then in reality, 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.619 my heart was very far away from God. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.019 In reality, 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.419 what had happened was that 00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:26.240 I had started putting my faith on my religious works. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:29.519 I had started putting my faith on 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.720 the fact that I'm doing all these things 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.759 to get to God. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:36.740 and not putting my faith on Jesus himself. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.599 You see, if I was seeking Jesus, 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.559 it would have made a whole difference 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.940 in the way I did my ministry 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:43.680 or approach to worship and preaching. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.619 Going back to the story, 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.960 many commentators say that their faith was not 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:53.059 the three characters. 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:55.019 Their faith was not perfect. 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:56.599 Their faith was actually still growing. 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.720 They were not there yet. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:01.319 You see, some of them came to Jesus as a last resort. 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.400 I'm like, nothing worked. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:03.300 I'm going to go to Jesus. 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:05.200 Some of them came to Jesus as, 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:07.180 you know, in a very superstitious way. 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.600 But here's a beautiful thing. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:13.259 Though they had faith that was still growing, 00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:16.640 because their faith was on the person of Christ, 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.960 they encountered Jesus. 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:22.060 You see, when we start putting our faith, 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:24.900 not in work, self, or religious things, 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.720 or anything else, 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:28.740 but when we start putting our faith on Jesus himself, 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:31.620 that is the place where we encounter Jesus. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:34.199 That is the place where Jesus comes to meet us. 00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:37.739 I mean, look at those three characters. 00:27:38.479 --> 00:27:40.000 One was a religious leader, 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.839 very important man, educated man, high status. 00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:45.779 The other was an outcast, unclean woman, 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.639 a beggar. 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:50.759 But Jesus meets them all through faith. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:55.299 You see, there is another side of the coin, though. 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:57.779 There is the other side to this story, too. 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:01.319 You see, we can also live a life without faith. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.799 You see, we can be people who look at Jesus, 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.799 touch him, and see him do miracles after miracles, 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.279 but leave unchanged. 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:11.440 We can know a lot of things about Jesus, 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.879 do studies after studies, 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.900 theology after study. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.779 Those are not bad things. 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.680 Do all those things, 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.539 but still not encounter him. 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:20.440 You see, when the bleeding woman was trying to touch Jesus in the crowd, 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.519 there were already people around Jesus touching him, 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.940 but they received nothing. 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:28.740 You see, it is possible to touch Jesus in the crowd 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.159 and remain unchanged. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:33.440 It is possible to see miracles after miracles 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.859 and ascribe it to the devil. 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:41.599 We might think that if I was in the crowd, 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.799 I might have believed it. 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:45.619 But actually, we find that many people were there 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:47.579 and saw the miracles, but they did not believe it. 00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:51.779 You see, the human heart is capable of profound resistance 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:54.019 and deep self-deception. 00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:57.279 We tend to put our faith in anything but Jesus. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.899 And faith is our last resort. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:01.960 It may still be growing, 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:05.120 but if it is placed on Jesus, 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.259 on Jesus, 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:09.680 it binds the sinner and the Savior together. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.500 I mean, isn't that beautiful? 00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:13.120 Our faith might still be growing, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:15.220 but if it's placed on the person of Jesus, 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:18.340 it binds the sinner and the Savior together. 00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:23.480 So if you're new or feel like you're not there yet, 00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:27.640 so if you're feeling that your faith is not great at the moment, 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:29.000 if you feel like you're not right, 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:31.240 come, come to Jesus. 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.880 Make Him your object of faith, 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.940 not yourself or what you have done, 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:38.519 because when you put your faith on Jesus, on Him, 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.420 that's the place where you encounter Him. 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.279 Because you see, Christianity is not a religion. 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.740 It's a relationship that you have with God. 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:48.200 So you can have all this knowledge 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.640 and all this studies and after all, 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:52.000 and you can get all these facts right about Jesus, 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.380 but at the end of the day, 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:55.480 you cannot have relationship with a fact. 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:57.720 You have a relationship with a person. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.779 And that person is Jesus. 00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:01.860 So come to Christ, 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.380 even if you're weak in faith, 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:06.299 even if you feel like you're not in the right place, 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:09.339 but come to Jesus and put your faith on Him. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:12.400 And even if you have been Christian for years and years and years, 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:14.759 remember the sermon that we had a few weeks back 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.279 about Jesus calming the storm. 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:19.019 We saw that Jesus welcomes the weak in faith, 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:22.380 but He pushes us to be stronger in faith. 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:26.560 And so this is what following Jesus in everyday life means, 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:29.400 is to live a life of faith, 00:30:29.800 --> 00:30:32.960 faith in Jesus in every part of our lives. 00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:37.400 You see, it starts by knowing that I need Jesus, 00:30:37.520 --> 00:30:39.500 that we need Jesus in every part of our life, 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:42.800 and He's lived out by living our faiths in our actions, 00:30:43.060 --> 00:30:44.580 He's lived out in the way we live. 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:47.279 And our faith might not be perfect. 00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:49.000 It might still be growing and weak. 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:52.879 But if the object of our faith is Jesus, 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:55.599 that's the thing that brings us to Him. 00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:57.939 That's the thing that brings Jesus to us. 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:58.960 So come. 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.079 Come to Jesus. 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:03.319 Even if you feel like you're not there yet, 00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:04.919 even if you feel like you're still weak, 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:08.339 look to Jesus who is the perfecter of our faith. 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.159 Come to Jesus, 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:11.579 even if you have been Christians for years and years, 00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:15.379 because we still need Him in every part of our life. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.599 Come to Jesus. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:19.259 Turn our eyes towards Him because we need Him. 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:21.480 You see, He is a God who is faithful. 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:24.199 He is a steadfast God, unchanging. 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.500 He is your rock. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.699 He is your cornerstone. 00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:28.379 He does not sleep nor slumber. 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.639 He is with you. 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:33.120 He promises that He's with you till the end of ages. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:37.620 So church, come have faith on Jesus, 00:31:38.080 --> 00:31:42.080 for He is Christ, the object of our faith. 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:46.680 Let me invite us to take some time to think about it, 00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:47.580 to reflect on it. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:51.400 Take a moment to think about that. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.720 And as you're reflecting, 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:59.300 let me just invite Zihau to guide us in this reflection.