WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.600 Hi, everybody. Good morning. 00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:13.099 So, yeah, we're back in the book of Acts this week, and we've been going through Acts, which 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:18.080 ! is about the life of the early church. But today, in addition to just hearing from the early 00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:22.179 ! church, God's word about the early church, we'll actually have a chance to hear some testimonies 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:28.179 from Jackie and Florence today. And also, I'd like to give a warm welcome to Jackie's parents 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:32.659 and relatives who decided to join today. Welcome. So glad you're here, and thanks for joining us. 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:42.939 Now, today in Acts 9, we're going to read about two occurrences of miraculous healing. Miraculous 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:50.019 healing. There's Ananias, who's a man who was paralyzed, but then, at the word of Peter, stood 00:00:50.019 --> 00:00:57.820 up and walked. Also, Tabitha Dorcas was a woman who fell sick and died, but then was raised back to 00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:04.739 life. Miraculous healing. Now, I'd like to ask a question. What do you think of when you hear of 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:11.700 healing? What's your gut reaction when you think about healing? For some of us, because I think 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:17.879 there's a few different reactions we may have, for some of us, there's longing. I want healing. Some of 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:23.060 us are praying for healing for ourselves, maybe for your knee, for a family member, a relative, 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:30.219 a friend. You want God to heal. Or maybe there's a situation where you're disappointed that God hasn't 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:36.520 healed. Now, for others, there's skepticism. I don't believe it. When you're reading about healing 00:01:36.520 --> 00:01:43.000 stories in the Bible, it sounds made up. Maybe you find the Bible hard to believe because you think that 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.280 these miracles simply aren't possible. Or maybe you believe that God healed in the Bible, but it's hard 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:54.760 to believe that he still does that today because I don't see it. Some of us read these healings and 00:01:54.760 --> 00:02:00.620 we're in awe, just like the people in Acts were. That God can do that? Don't lose that amazement. 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:05.599 But on the other hand, I think possibly the most common reaction to healing in the Bible 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:13.979 is simply apathy. We just shrug at it. Most of us are Christians, but we've read these stories so many 00:02:13.979 --> 00:02:19.039 times in the Bible that when we read about healing, we don't blink an eye. We just shrug. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:25.079 Paralyzed man walking again? Okay. Dead woman back to life. Cool story. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:31.259 The awe and wonder is gone. The healings are just stories in the Bible, but they don't feel relevant. 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:36.879 They might not feel relevant to our lives 2,000 years later in Hong Kong. So how do we react to 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:42.459 healing? How is it that we react to healing? In any case, whether it's longing or skepticism, 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:48.659 some awe, apathy, I believe that our passage here today in Acts 9 has something to say to every one 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:54.040 of us. We'll read about these two healings in Acts 9 and even not just healing, but one case of 00:02:54.040 --> 00:03:00.319 resurrection. And today we'll see that God, yes, he wants to heal us, but his purpose goes far beyond 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:06.080 just healing our bodies. When God heals us, he's giving a taste of the greatest message in the world 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:13.660 that Jesus brings us from life to death, from death to life. The healings in Acts 9 and all the healings 00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:20.320 that happen today, they're pointing to the good news that Jesus brought us from death to life. He gives us 00:03:20.320 --> 00:03:28.160 new life. And with that, let's turn to Acts chapter 9 verses 32 to 43. Let's stand as we read God's word. 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:33.760 If you're able, please stand as we read God's word together. We do that just as a small gesture of reverence. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:37.120 So Acts chapter 9 verses 32 to 43. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:44.719 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 00:03:45.299 --> 00:03:51.299 There he found a man named Anais, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, 00:03:51.859 --> 00:03:57.819 Anais, Jesus Christ heals you, rise and make your bed. And immediately he rose. And all the residents 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:03.519 of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:09.280 Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days, 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:14.640 she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda 00:04:14.640 --> 00:04:19.360 was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:24.620 please come to us without delay. So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:29.280 they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:35.139 other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:42.219 and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes. And when 00:04:42.219 --> 00:04:49.599 she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and 00:04:49.599 --> 00:04:54.859 widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa. And many believed in the Lord. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:05:00.480 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. This is the word of the Lord. 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:01.500 Please take a seat. 00:05:05.460 --> 00:05:11.280 Now, as we read just now, our passage is about healing. And today I'd like us to see that healing 00:05:11.280 --> 00:05:17.560 depicts the good news that Jesus brings us from death to life. That is what healing is about. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.480 Now, before getting to Neas and Tabitha, last week we heard about another healing. Last week, 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:30.520 we heard the story of Saul who was confronted and then converted. He was confronted by Christ and 00:05:30.520 --> 00:05:35.600 then converted. Saul was the one who approved of killing Stephen. He was someone who persecuted 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:41.759 the church, breaking in house after house to drag those who believed in Jesus to prison. And in Acts 9, 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:48.500 Saul was breathing threats and murders against the disciples of the Lord. And he went to Damascus to put 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:53.319 these words, these threats into action. And that's when Jesus stopped him dead in his tracks. 00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:58.339 The resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a light from heaven and said, Saul, Saul, 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:06.139 why are you persecuting me? And Saul was blinded for three days, but healed by Anais three days later. 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:13.060 He was blind physically, but now could see. He was also blind spiritually to seeing who Jesus was, 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:19.939 but now he could see in a flash of light. His eyes were open to seeing the reality of Jesus when he was 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:27.120 confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was blind, but can now see. Jesus confronted Saul 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:33.519 and changed him. And this man, Saul is more commonly known as the Apostle Paul. Previously, 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.779 he was a persecutor of the church, but he ended up as one of the greatest preachers and evangelists 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:44.600 of the gospel of all time. He wrote 13 books of the New Testament. One was one of the most fruitful 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:51.220 evangelists. That's the power of the spirit of Christ to bring the dead to life. And we see the 00:06:51.220 --> 00:06:58.020 same thing also now in our passage about the healing of Anais and Tabitha, Dorcas. Just as Saul was changed 00:06:58.020 --> 00:07:06.460 from persecutor to preacher, Anais was healed from paralysis to becoming a proclamation of Christ. 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:13.959 Let's look at verse 32 here. It says, now, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:18.899 also to the saints who lived at Lydda. The Apostle Peter, he was going around doing apostle things, 00:07:19.159 --> 00:07:24.060 preaching the gospel, building up the church. And he came to the saints, God's people at Lydda, 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:29.399 which is a place about 40 kilometers from Jerusalem. And there he found a man named Anais, 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:35.859 bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. Peter said to him, Anais, Jesus Christ heals you. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:44.900 Rise and make your bed. And immediately he rose. Imagine being there. Do you see how insane that 00:07:44.900 --> 00:07:51.759 would be? Anais was paralyzed for eight years. That's a long time. Imagine not being able to move, 00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:57.280 not being able to leave your bed for eight years. I recently got my PR in Hong Kong. I came to Hong 00:07:57.280 --> 00:08:03.500 Kong seven years ago. So not even eight years, but in that time, lots of things happened, right? We have 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:10.699 COVID. We had protests. Some people lost their hair. And that all seems like a world ago. Just not even 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:17.259 eight years. Eight years ago, that's when Fortnite first came down. Eight years ago, that's when Trump 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:23.459 tweeted, covfefe. So for eight years, Anais was suffering. For eight years, he was paralyzed in bed. 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:32.919 But with these words, Jesus Christ heals you. He got up immediately. Let's not shrug and skip past this. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:40.279 This is the power of Jesus to heal. Jesus Christ heals you. Know that it's not, it's, it's not Peter. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:45.840 It's Jesus, right? Jesus Christ heals you. In an instant with a single word, he said, rise. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:54.759 And immediately the paralyzed man got up. And that got me thinking, do I have such a big view of God? 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:04.019 Are my eyes fixed on a glorious God who has this power to heal? So if you've been praying for someone, 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:11.000 maybe to know Jesus, a friend, a coworker, a relative, maybe you've been praying for eight years. 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:19.120 Remember Anais? Immediately he got up. If there's someone you think that is so far from God, is so 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:27.580 hard hearted, what does it change to know that God can save even someone like Paul, a persecutor of 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:34.419 the church, some, or someone who's paralyzed for eight years? Jesus Christ heals you. Do we worship, 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:40.419 do we worship such a God with that power? And what's the result of Anais's healing? 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:46.319 It says in verse 35, all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:53.959 Now in this, we see one purpose for miracles and healing. People saw that Anais was healed and the 00:09:53.959 --> 00:10:01.699 result was they believed in the Lord. Jesus turned Anais's paralysis into proclamation. That's one 00:10:01.699 --> 00:10:07.139 purpose of healing. Miracles serve the message. And that's why in Acts, the most common name for 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:14.000 miracles, the most common phrase to describe miracles is signs and wonders. As wonders, these miracles 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:20.360 fill us with awe and astonishment. And as signs, they're like those blue MTR signs that point us 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:25.699 towards the nearest station. It's signs and wonders give weight to the proclamation that Jesus is Lord 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:33.179 and their salvation for all who believe in him. Anais healed. When Anais was healed, that gave reason, 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:37.979 they gave people reason to believe. And so they turned to the Lord seeing what had happened. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:45.859 So Anais's paralysis became proclamation. Next up, we have the story of Dorcas, also known as Tabitha. 00:10:46.859 --> 00:10:53.359 Anais was healed. And if that was crazy enough, Dorcas was literally resurrected. She was dead and came 00:10:53.360 --> 00:11:02.440 back to life. Dorcas was brought from death to life. Let's look at verse 36. She, that being Tabitha, 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:07.779 Dorcas, she was full of good works and acts of charity. Yet despite all her good works in those 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:15.759 days, she became ill and died. Anais was paralyzed, but Dorcas was straight up dead. And after washing 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:21.200 her, it says, they placed her in a room upstairs. They washed her and prepared to bury her. But first, 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:26.720 they sent for Peter in verse 38. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:32.600 there, sent two men to him, urging him, please come to us without delay. So Peter rose and went with them. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:39.100 And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:45.700 showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. So Dorcas was dead and they 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:53.160 sent for Peter. Now the Bible doesn't specify exactly why they went to go find Peter. There could 00:11:53.160 --> 00:11:58.200 be a few reasons. Dorcas was well known and loved in Joppa. So maybe Peter knew her and they wanted him 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:04.500 there for the funeral. Or another reason is maybe they believed that Peter could heal her. They heard 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:10.400 of Peter healing Anais at Lydda and rushed to him, believing that he could raise Dorcas to heal Dorcas 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:16.379 also. Those are two possibilities, but the Bible doesn't tell us enough to say for sure. But even 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:21.220 if we don't know what those at Joppa believed when they sent for Peter, we know for sure what Peter 00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:27.980 believed. We know for sure that Peter believed that Jesus could bring her to life. Verse 40 says, 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:33.699 Peter put all of them outside, meaning he sent them all outside the room. And he knelt down and prayed. 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:41.300 And turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:49.720 she sat up. Again, let's not skip past how insane this is. Dorcas was dead. She was dead. But he called 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:57.840 to her, Tabitha, get up. And she opened her eyes. The dead rose to life. And I can only imagine how those 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:03.020 who were there felt. They were outside grieving, comforting one another, maybe hugging one another, 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:08.340 not sure what would happen. But in between their sobs, they heard Peter from outside the room, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:14.639 maybe muffled, saying, Tabitha, get up. And then Peter, he runs out of the room. He says, come and see, 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:20.740 look, she's alive. She's alive now. Imagine the joy that would have felt. The joy, the relief, 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:28.740 the amazement. How could this happen? Jesus brought her from death to life. And we see again in verse 42, 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:35.860 people saw that and they believed. It says, it became known throughout all Joppa and many believed 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:42.279 in the Lord. Once again, miracles support the message of who Jesus is. Because if Jesus brought 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:48.759 Dorcas from death to life, why not believe that Jesus also rose from the dead? Miracles give reason 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:55.720 to believe. But that's not all. See, out of all the miracles that Jesus could have done or that the 00:13:55.720 --> 00:14:03.340 apostles could have done, why is it so often that the miracle is one of healing? Why did he so often 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:08.360 choose to heal? Right? Jesus could have done other miracles. He did some other miracles, but he, he, 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:14.259 he could have flown through the sky like Superman, faster than speeding bullet, leap tall buildings in a 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:19.039 single bound, shoot lasers out of his eyes. Those are some miracles that Jesus could have done to get 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:23.740 people to believe in him, right? Jump off the temple in Jerusalem and have angels catch him. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:30.819 But Jesus didn't do that. Those are not the miracles Jesus chose to do. He chose primarily to heal. 00:14:31.439 --> 00:14:39.840 And that's because healing depicts the good news and is a partial fulfillment of the good news. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:46.360 The message is that the kingdom of God is here. That's the gospel. The kingdom of God is here. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:53.160 Jesus has come to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:58.860 of sight to the blind, to set at liberty, those who are pressed to proclaim the year of the Lord's 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:05.580 favor. That's what Jesus came to do. Why is that? Because before the good news of the gospel, 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:11.740 there's the bad news that we were all sinners. We are all sinners. We were all sick in the heart 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:17.540 and dead in sin. And maybe you feel this. You can try as much as you want to do good things and you 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:23.800 could do that for a bit, but inevitably we fail. Inevitably we far short. At some point we will get 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:30.780 angry with our parents. At some point we will fall short. We were sick in the heart and dead in sins. 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:38.059 And now other religions and perhaps secular morality will tell us that the solution is to change and do 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:45.659 better. We just need to work harder, try harder. But Paul, Anais, Dorcas, they show us that dead people 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:51.699 can't work their way out of the grave. They can't do that. If we are dead in sin, there's nothing that 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:56.439 we can do to save ourselves. Dorcas couldn't just sit up and get out of bed by her efforts. 00:15:56.440 --> 00:16:02.440 The good news is that Jesus loved us and on the cross, he took the punishment that we deserve, 00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:09.260 died in our place and rose on the third day so that we may have life freely given if we believe 00:16:09.260 --> 00:16:16.120 in him and are united with him. And just as Peter said, Tabitha, get up. And she opened her eyes. 00:16:17.260 --> 00:16:23.500 God said to a dead sinner, God said to me, Gabriel, get up. He said, Jackie, get up. Florence, 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:30.559 get up. And he says to all of us here today, get up, open your eyes, look on Jesus and be saved. 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:35.840 We were dead in our trespasses and sins. There's nothing we could do to fix it. But God, 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:41.500 being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:47.879 Christ. By grace, you have been saved. That's the gospel. Through Jesus, God heals us completely in 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:57.299 every way. Now, for those of us who follow Jesus, do we know that, are we aware that our faith is also 00:16:57.299 --> 00:17:05.359 a miracle? Today, if you're here gathered with us worshiping and you feel in your heart, a love for 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:12.759 God, this burning for the glory of God, that is a miracle. God brought you from death to life. God gave 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:21.319 you that love for him through his spirit who lives in you. That's a miracle. But do we shrug at that? 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:27.960 Like how we might skim past the fact that God healed Anais and Dorcas. Do we also forget how big 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:33.759 a deal it is that Jesus literally brought us from death to life? Sometimes when people share their 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:39.920 testimony, they think, they say something like, I was born in a Christian family. My story isn't that 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:44.539 interesting. Right? And that was me before. I remember hearing stories of people doing all these 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:49.660 crazy things, like getting arrested and, and God turned them around. And I thought, man, I wish I, 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:54.740 like I was a drug dealer. And then, you know, I met Jesus in jail. That'd be such a cool story. 00:17:54.740 --> 00:18:02.220 Right? That'd be such a cool testimony. But that's not the point. That's not the point. Right? It's only a 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:10.200 minor detail how Anais got paralyzed or how Dorcas felt sick. We don't get much detail though there. What 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:16.000 really matters is that we were dead. We were all sinners, but Jesus gave us new life. And that's 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:23.620 always a miracle. Every person here who knows Jesus is a reason to celebrate just as the widows would 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:28.900 have been overjoyed. Right? When Dorcas, Peter said, Hey, come see, see Dorcas. She's now alive. They would 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:36.759 have been overjoyed in tears, mind blown, seeing her alive. Every person who's come to know Christ 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:43.019 is a miracle. And so I want to take a pause here, take a moment to celebrate someone in our church 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:48.100 family. We heard about Anais. We heard about Dorcas. Now I'd like to invite our dear friend, 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:53.759 Jackie up to share what Jesus has done for him. Let's get him a mic. Thank you. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:19:04.619 Hey, Jackie. Hello. All right. So we'll go straight because we don't have much time. So what was your 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:11.579 life like before, before you met Jesus? What was your life like before? Before Jesus? It's like, 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:18.559 it's like almost 12 years ago. 12 years ago. Yeah. It was a long time ago. So I'm trying to, 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:25.559 uh, I would say I was always searching. I was always searching, like looking back is clear when, 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:30.700 when you're going through, you don't really know. Uh, but, uh, as I reflect, I kind of, 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:36.500 I see myself as always searching for something more because there's something that is kind of 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:44.240 strange because before I met Jesus, um, there's a unifying thing where, which is like, don't lie. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:51.579 People like are gravitated to love, um, you know, righteousness, justice. These things are like, 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:58.559 without, without Jesus, people still resonate with that. And that made me curious. So I kind of, 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:06.059 uh, but I wasn't like focused and looking for religions, but my actions came out as like studying, 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:14.319 um, like Buddhism, studying like Eastern philosophy, um, Greek mythology, and then like, even like art, 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:21.419 just looking for answers, I guess, just curiosity. So. Cool. Thanks for sharing that. And what led you 00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:28.539 to encounter Jesus? What led up to that? Uh, yeah. So, so in the midst of that, it's pretty, 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:39.480 pretty normal stuff. Um, but, uh, a decade ago, um, I get, I get news from my family that, um, really 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:50.480 kind of broke my world that, uh, made me not have the dreams that I kind of have, uh, previously. So, 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:56.779 uh, there was a period where I was kind of lost, like about like six months or so, just, 00:20:56.779 --> 00:21:04.399 like I said, when I was going through it, I didn't really know that I was doing that, but how to like 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:13.279 numb that pain of like, of loss. Um, I just partied a lot and just drank a bunch and then did all the, 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:18.399 did all like, you know, smoke a lot of weed. I was in Canada. So like, so it was legal. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:31.240 Completely don't recommend. Super lost. And then, uh, six months passed, super lost spiritually 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:39.980 looking for like an answer. Um, and then now I'm physically lost. Uh, GPS wasn't very good. I had 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:47.519 to go back to university, uh, to my dorm room. Um, the, the party was on a Saturday. So like now it's a 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:58.079 Sunday, uh, making my way back, um, get lost, see a church in front of me, super hungover. Uh, and I'm 00:21:58.079 --> 00:22:03.279 like, my standards are so low. So I'm just like, okay, at least there's a sink I can drink water from. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:11.039 Like, so I go inside, no words exchanged with the greeter. And then she just really nice. She just 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:18.619 gave me a cup of water and then, and I'm like, thank you. And then I sat, I sat back at the, 00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:28.180 at the back of the pews sermon just started. Um, I think that's the first time I've ever like 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:34.440 listened to a sermon and, and actually heard it in my heart. Cause I've, I've been in church 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:41.140 environments before, uh, to be frank, it was quite scary. Cause I used to go to, go to like 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:45.880 summer school, like, or like, uh, or Sunday school. And then there was one time where like, 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:51.720 yeah, they kind of make you, they make you believe in Jesus. I was like, I was like like this, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:57.380 this tall. And then I'm just like, okay, sure. I'll believe in Jesus. And never went back. 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:05.140 Yeah. So, uh, so people are not perfect. That's what I'm trying to say. Uh, but fast forward to this 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:15.080 moment, the preacher was saying, um, like making a comparison of unconditional love and the mainstream 00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:22.840 love, which is like kind of like the Hollywood love, which is like, and the difference. I think 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:29.559 that's the first time I heard someone broke it down so well for me, which is, uh, the mainstream, 00:23:30.199 --> 00:23:37.399 the, the romantic love, the Hollywood love that you kind of see most of the time is actually a 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:45.019 transaction where I give you this much, at least you can give me that much back. Right. That would 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:51.700 be kind of the reasoning. If you really dig down to the essence of it, that's, that's kind of toxic 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:58.220 and it's not good. Uh, that's actually a transaction. It could be even a business transaction. 00:23:58.220 --> 00:24:11.019 Um, but where God loved the unconditional love is I love you. Here we go. I love you. And period. 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:19.500 And I think when I heard that, I just broke down, I think because maybe it's because of the accumulation 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:26.819 of the things that was happening in my life. And, and then I felt the presence of God and, 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:36.259 uh, the preacher gave me like some applications in the sermon to like apply it in my life. Like how do, 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:42.500 how to challenge this? How do you, how far can you go with this, uh, concept? And then, 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:49.220 and I tried my life and then people around me felt better as well. And I can see the goodness in it. 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:56.980 And eventually I'll just like, okay, uh, the more made me curious, went back to church more. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:25:03.879 And then eventually, uh, became consistent. And then there was a moment where I'm like, am I Christian? 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:09.560 Yeah. And then you were sharing that for you. It was, there was one moment where you, 00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:14.780 that kind of hit you, that love for God, but it took, it was a journey, right? That was like the 00:25:14.780 --> 00:25:20.760 start of a journey where you came to know Jesus. You were exploring, you were open to asking these 00:25:20.760 --> 00:25:25.680 questions and you, you found that the more and more you tested what the Bible said, you found that 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:32.260 it was true. It's true. It's rock steady, man. And how's your life changed since, um, yeah, 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:37.900 since I'm still on this journey. I'm also still figuring out what unconditional love looks like. 00:25:37.900 --> 00:25:44.220 There's always more that you're, cause as you walk with God, the more healing you, you, you get, 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:49.940 the further that God wants you to walk with him and you have to humble yourself to get there. 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:57.460 Like, don't, don't like the victory is not yours is, is God's and he's, and he's trying to heal you. 00:25:57.460 --> 00:26:03.480 So I think that's, so I'm still walking. I'm still learning like what, what it's supposed to be like 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:08.840 right now. Yeah. We're glad we're on this journey with you. Thanks. Thanks, Jackie. Thank you. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.120 Let's give him a round of applause. 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:17.019 And yeah, Jackie, Jackie didn't have time to share, but one thing he really wanted to say is, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:21.039 you know, there's stories in the Bible where people are healed instantaneously. See, and God does that. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:26.700 But for a lot of us, it takes, it's a, it's a process. God takes us on a journey. And even once 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:31.319 we get to know Jesus, there's this process of sanctification where we, we, we look more and more 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:36.500 like him. And actually, Jackie had one more story about how a couple of years after that, he had 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:41.279 eczema and God healed him of that. And actually through that process, he came to know and love 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.680 God more. So if you, you're interested, I'm sure he's happy to share with you. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:51.060 Um, but that's how Jesus came to change. Jackie gave him new life. And just as apostle Paul was 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:57.380 physically and spiritually blind, Jackie was physically lost on a three hour journey back 00:26:57.380 --> 00:27:03.460 home, hung over and spiritually lost. But God, Jesus changed his life. And for those of you who 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:07.940 know Jackie, if you see something different about him now, where he's, there's this joy in him, 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:12.700 this lightness in him, I invite you to be curious and learn more. Ask him what's changed 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:18.019 because it is so good to know the God that Jackie knows. So I invite you to that. 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:24.160 And now some of you might be wondering, okay, so we talked about spiritual healing and spiritual 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:30.840 resurrection. What about like real healing, healing, healing, like physical, mental healing, 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:36.940 like, like Anais paralyzed, but getting up and walking. Does God still heal like that today? 00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:42.680 Does God still heal today physically? And the short answer is, is yes. He 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:50.100 still does. And we can pray for healing today. Some reasons why firstly, God can heal through 00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:57.860 just natural means. God created the world and he gives us his common grace. God made us. And it's 00:27:57.860 --> 00:28:04.640 incredible how intricately he designed our bodies to heal itself. Right? God gave us platelets in our, 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:09.200 in our blood so that when we cut, when we're cut, they'll clot and stop the bleeding. And there's white 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:14.640 blood cells to fight off infection and our skin will cells will multiply and cover over the wound. 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:22.200 God is the one who heals us even in how he designed our bodies. And God also gave us intelligence and 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:29.180 wisdom to learn science, develop medicine, train doctors who can treat us. So doctors, modern medicine, 00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:35.779 they are gifts from God. So when we're sick, we can go see a doctor while thinking God for that gift. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:41.859 He's been given us and glorifying him for it. Also, secondly, God has a power to heal, not just 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:47.339 naturally, but supernaturally. God is the one again, who created the world and he's active in the world, 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:52.160 who sent his son into the world, who sent his spirit in the hearts of all who believe in him. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.420 And Bible says, our God is in the heaven. He does all that he pleases. 00:28:56.420 --> 00:29:03.360 If God is, he created the world, he's certainly able to fix the world too. God has the power to heal today. 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:08.279 He's able to do it. And I don't dare limit him or put him in a box that way. 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:14.539 Thirdly, God is a compassionate God. He's still a loving and compassionate God today. 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:22.060 Matthew 14 verse 14 says, Jesus had compassion on the crowd and healed their sick. 00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:28.379 Jesus had compassion when he saw the state they were in and that compassion moved him to heal them. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:34.619 Also, when Jesus heard Lazarus had died and saw the grief of those who loved him, 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:42.899 there's that famous verse, Jesus wept. Jesus wept. Jesus was grieved by our suffering. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:51.559 In the Old Testament, Exodus 5 verse 26, God says, I am the Lord, your healer. I am the Lord who heals you. 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:56.779 Our God is a healer and he has that same compassionate heart towards us today. 00:29:57.579 --> 00:30:00.000 So yes, God still heals and we can pray for healing. 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:05.519 Knowing that he has the power to heal and he loves us. He cares for us still today. 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:11.339 Now at the same time, we need to avoid a mistaken overemphasis on healing. 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.819 We can underemphasize healing. 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:18.319 Just think that God is separate from the world with a secular worldview, a very enlightened worldview. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.299 There's also a way to mistakenly overemphasize healing. 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:25.220 Let's not take healing beyond what the Bible says. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:32.059 There's some people out there preaching that God promises health and wealth for all believers. 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:37.179 If you follow Jesus, if you have enough faith, it is always God's will to heal you. 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:40.220 God promises you healthy, prosperous lives today. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.559 That's what some people say. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.559 Okay. 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.519 Now that's false. 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:49.339 The Bible doesn't promise us full healing in this life. 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.940 If anything, there's assurances that we will suffer. 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:56.419 John 16 verse 33 says, in this world, you will have tribulations or suffering. 00:30:56.420 --> 00:31:06.000 And if you really want to be apostolic, remember last week, what Jesus said about the apostle Paul, chapter nine, verse 16, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:13.080 And we're not going to focus on money today, but all I'll say is that God did bless Judas with 30 pieces of silver. 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:21.800 Now, those who promise health and wealth today will back their claim by saying that Jesus's death on the cross bought our healing. 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:29.460 For example, Matthew 18 verse 17 says, Jesus cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:32.099 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah. 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:35.680 He took our illnesses and bore our diseases. 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:38.740 Jesus was casting out demons and healing diseases. 00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:42.779 And Matthew connects that to the atonement, quoting Isaiah 53. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:51.099 They say that Jesus's death purchased not just forgiveness of sins, but also healing for all who call upon him. 00:31:51.799 --> 00:32:03.599 And actually, let me tell you so far, I agree with all this, that yes, Jesus died to fully heal us completely, physically, mentally, spiritually, relationally in every way. 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:06.500 That is absolutely true that Jesus died for that. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:09.919 But the question is, when? 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:12.839 When will we surely be healed? 00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:16.460 When will we receive these promises in full force? 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.460 When will we receive these promises? 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:25.480 The big mistake is not a matter of whether, but when the kingdom of God will finally be consummated and we have all these promises completely. 00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:31.720 Yes, the kingdom of God is here and we see glimpses of it in healing today. 00:32:32.420 --> 00:32:36.700 But the fulfillment, the full effect of the promise is for when Christ returns. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:40.460 Healing we receive today is only a taster of what's to come. 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:43.660 There's examples in the Bible, faithful believers who weren't healed. 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:53.400 For example, 1 Timothy 5, 23 tells us that Timothy has stomach problems, but Paul doesn't say, hey, you need to pray more and you will surely be healed. 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:56.759 He says, drink some wine rather than dirty water to avoid healing your stomach. 00:32:57.559 --> 00:33:02.079 Or Paul himself in 2 Corinthians, there's a thorn in his flesh, likely a physical ailment. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.180 It could be some other form of suffering though. 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:09.680 But he pleaded to God three times for healings, but even the apostle Paul wasn't fully healed. 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:15.840 Yet he said, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:19.240 For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses. 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:21.600 That's the type of faith that glorifies God. 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:24.920 When for the sake of Christ, I'm content with weaknesses. 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:29.279 Remember, Aeneas got up and walked. 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:31.019 Dorcas came back to life. 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:34.359 But what do you think happened 10, 20, 100 years later? 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:37.519 Aeneas got up, but he died. 00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:41.440 Dorcas lived again, but at some point she died again. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.879 That can't be all that there is to healing. 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:48.700 Look at this world, how painful and miserable and broken it is. 00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:54.519 It'd be terrible if the blessings of the cross were limited only to what we see now. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.019 That's not good news. 00:33:57.339 --> 00:34:00.160 God heals today, but when he heals, it's a foretaste. 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:02.779 It's a little sampler of his promise. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.480 We look forward to so much more. 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:08.240 When Christ returns, there'll be no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow. 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:10.159 He will wipe every tear from our eyes. 00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:15.480 And the blessings we have in Christ are so much more, they include, but are so much more 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:18.059 than just the promises of healing now. 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.880 So yes, God heals us physically now. 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.159 We have a taste of that. 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.340 We'll have that in full effect when he returns. 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:28.180 And I'd like to invite Florence up now. 00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:33.700 She'll share a little bit about examples of healing in her life and her family. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:37.600 And as she comes up, she messaged me before this week. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.740 My family's life should be a K-drama. 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.740 Ha ha. 00:34:42.120 --> 00:34:42.960 That's what she said. 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:47.300 So yeah, Florence, you told me I know your family has been through a lot. 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:50.320 And we have to summarize 16 episodes in five minutes. 00:34:51.220 --> 00:34:56.960 Could you tell us first about what happened with your mom's, her depression, how God healed 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.620 your family? 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:57.640 Yes. 00:34:57.660 --> 00:34:59.900 So this is an ultra abridged story. 00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:02.980 Yeah, you can find me later for a longer version. 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:07.280 But in the beginning, when I was born, my mom had postpartum depression. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:12.420 And it really worsened over the years because of a miscarriage as well. 00:35:12.580 --> 00:35:14.700 So she wasn't able to see. 00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.920 So my mom and dad are here too. 00:35:16.080 --> 00:35:16.320 Hi. 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:20.620 She wasn't able to see anybody during that time. 00:35:21.080 --> 00:35:22.680 She could only stay at home. 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:25.260 And then the pressure at home was really high as well. 00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:27.760 She would harm herself. 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:31.920 She would also, there was still a lot, there was also a lot of physical and verbal abuse 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.440 involved. 00:35:32.600 --> 00:35:35.400 And as I grew up and I was very depressed. 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.840 I hated life. 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:38.400 I had no hope, honestly. 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:41.539 My dad tried everything to help her as well. 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:44.119 We really sought for many options, but nothing worked. 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.880 We turned to pet therapy. 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:48.180 Long story short, we ended up with 13 cats. 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.559 Didn't really work as well. 00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:52.360 So it's just a really long story, you know? 00:35:52.660 --> 00:35:56.940 And in that journey, really just sought for hope and sought for, because it was just really 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.360 hopeless. 00:35:57.880 --> 00:36:03.280 The first, yeah, long period of that life, we really didn't know when that exit was. 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:08.940 So all this time, my aunt, who is a Christian, she would preach the gospel to us. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:10.920 She'd like give us Christian books. 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:15.860 But then my dad took none of that to account, except for this book called The Power of a 00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:16.660 Praying Husband. 00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:22.760 And it was just that one occasion where he was reading this prayer of release for, of 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.940 depression for my mom. 00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:27.140 Thought nothing about it because he read it to comfort my mom. 00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:31.719 Um, the next day, again, I'm going to abbreviate everything that happens in between. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:33.739 He gets stung by a bee. 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.940 He's allergic. 00:36:35.259 --> 00:36:39.879 So he, within two minutes, rashes everywhere, um, anaphylaxis, right? 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:41.199 So he's a dentist. 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:45.119 And then he thinks, maybe I can save myself with an easy jab of epinephrine. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.759 Tries to make it to the clinic. 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:48.159 Doesn't make it to the clinic. 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:52.059 Bright light shines, falls to the ground, gets whisked to the hospital. 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:58.320 Um, and in that time, my mom also ends up whisking to the hospital to see what's going 00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:58.619 on. 00:36:58.719 --> 00:37:02.440 My aunt, who keeps preaching a gospel to us, is also there. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:08.239 Um, doctor comes out, tells everyone that, hey, your dad's BP and heart rate dropped to 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:08.559 zero. 00:37:08.779 --> 00:37:10.000 He's likely going to die. 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:11.279 Just be prepared for the roast. 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:14.159 And then my mom was like, oh, you know, what can we do? 00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:17.559 Like, what can I, I want to try everything to save my dad. 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:21.179 And that was when she, um, prayed with my aunt, Auntie Joan. 00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:22.319 Some of you might know her. 00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:26.139 Auntie Joan, the sinner's prayer as well. 00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:29.039 And it's just for healing and gave her life to Jesus. 00:37:29.359 --> 00:37:32.279 And that night she had the greatest sleep of her life. 00:37:32.419 --> 00:37:34.679 Completely senseless because she could never sleep before. 00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:37.279 She would sleep at 5am, 6am, stuff like that. 00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:39.719 But she slept from the start to the end. 00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:40.960 Whereas my aunt couldn't sleep. 00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:47.159 Um, but then after that, we fast forward to when my dad wakes up, he looks around, 00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:49.699 he realizes that the doctor misdiagnosed him. 00:37:49.699 --> 00:37:51.339 They put him as an epileptic. 00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:54.179 So they were giving all the wrong, giving him all the wrong meds. 00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:56.000 He has no history of epilepsy. 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:56.899 He had no seizures. 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:59.299 It was a completely ridiculous diagnosis. 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.199 Doesn't make sense. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.759 Even a normal person would see the rashes and be like, hey, he's, he's got allergies. 00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.939 You know, simple as that. 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.419 But hey, no. 00:38:06.919 --> 00:38:10.619 Um, so he was stuck in the hospital because he was on the wrong meds, but he couldn't die 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:13.159 because they gave him a shot of adrenaline when his heart rate stopped. 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:13.359 Right. 00:38:13.419 --> 00:38:14.819 So it was just stuck there. 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:19.160 Um, and over the course of everything, he was stuck in the hospital for four days and 00:38:19.160 --> 00:38:19.700 three nights. 00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:23.700 And my mom in the process came to him was like, hey, you know, I gave my life to Jesus. 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:29.260 I want to go to church and I am going to turn from, you know, all the ways that, um, we've, 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.640 I've been treating you guys. 00:38:30.640 --> 00:38:32.160 And I just, you know, feel a sense of peace. 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:38.440 And fast forward to the end, we see that actually this entire crazy story was not, of course, 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:39.179 my dad was healed. 00:38:39.239 --> 00:38:39.759 He didn't die. 00:38:39.819 --> 00:38:40.980 He's still alive here today. 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:43.779 The doctor did a really bad job, but he's still okay. 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.940 But it was to heal my mom. 00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:50.799 You see, because if he had the epinephrine shot and he got out right away, it would actually 00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:52.099 not have done anything. 00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:56.000 You know, it would just be, hey, mom, mom, I was really, I was going to die. 00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:58.339 I had an aphylaxis, but hey, I'm okay. 00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.639 So happy, happy. 00:38:59.899 --> 00:39:00.599 Everything else is good. 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:05.460 But no, because of his, um, yeah, because he was sent to the hospital and he was stuck 00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.639 there for a good while. 00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:09.099 Um, my mom had the chance to turn to the Lord. 00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:12.480 And after this, we saw her depression disappear over the years. 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:12.719 Yeah. 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:14.539 Um, so it was just really cool. 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:16.000 It's just that incident afterwards. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.920 It was almost as if she just changed. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:21.639 Like she couldn't see anybody anywhere between the crowds of like five to six. 00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.279 She'd be like, no. 00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:27.940 But then now she was able to share her testimony, preach to other people, um, be in a fellowship. 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:29.900 So it's just a really beautiful transformation. 00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:34.780 And not only did, you know, God heal my dad, my mom, but also just our entire family. 00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.059 Yeah. 00:39:35.099 --> 00:39:35.539 I love that. 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:39.660 And I guess, yeah, your, your mom and dad here today are a living example of how God 00:39:39.660 --> 00:39:44.579 heals depression, bee stings, even though that was bungled, but he's still alive. 00:39:44.660 --> 00:39:45.539 We thank God for that. 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:47.940 And, and that you've all come to know Jesus, right? 00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:53.019 And, and you also shared that your relatives soon after that came to know Jesus and, and 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:55.240 your, your aunt had, um, a battle with cancer. 00:39:55.240 --> 00:39:56.440 Can you share about that? 00:39:56.700 --> 00:39:56.860 Yeah. 00:39:56.920 --> 00:40:03.099 So shortly after, um, just again, uh, are actually, my mom's family was really broken. 00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:05.079 They hated each other to their guts. 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:10.539 So my uncle hadn't, my uncle and my aunt, my mom haven't seen each other for like seven 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:10.840 years. 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.679 Cause they really disliked each other. 00:40:12.759 --> 00:40:16.940 And then to the point where, you know, they like rip people's faces out of the family photos 00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:17.860 that kind of dislike. 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:20.179 So they really hated each other's guts. 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:24.639 Um, but because my auntie Carmen, she just moved into a new apartment. 00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:26.880 We're like, Hey, why don't we have a house warming anyway? 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:31.240 So that was the first time when our entire family got together for the first time after 00:40:31.240 --> 00:40:31.960 like seven years. 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:37.400 So then, um, my mom shares, you know, her testimony is like, I got healed from depression. 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:39.019 You know, God is really wonderful. 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.760 Our family has changed so much. 00:40:40.940 --> 00:40:46.180 And there we realized that my uncle Ping, his wife also has severe depression, auntie Karen, 00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:48.920 and she's had it for a really long time as well. 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:51.519 And also tried everything, doctors, nothing worked. 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:54.980 So with that, my mom was like, Hey, why don't you come to church with us? 00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:59.000 And, you know, let's see, uh, and, and meet God and see what happens. 00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:03.699 So auntie Karen actually knew God a little bit before, but never had a personal relationship. 00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:08.219 But when she went to church and she heard the sermon and just in the prayer heard that 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:09.800 word sinner, she just broke down. 00:41:10.059 --> 00:41:13.519 I think she really just saw something that's within her heart that she couldn't heal within 00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:13.940 herself. 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:15.199 And she really needed the Lord. 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:16.500 So she gave her life to Jesus. 00:41:16.920 --> 00:41:21.460 Um, and shortly after, and then shortly after in like three months, her depression also just 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:22.099 left her. 00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:27.920 And then our, her, her husband also believed and also her family believed as well, but 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:29.139 that wasn't the end of the story. 00:41:29.279 --> 00:41:35.199 So within a few months, she actually got diagnosed with lung cancer and it was just casual. 00:41:35.360 --> 00:41:38.960 It was stage three B, uh, doctors told her that she had three months to live. 00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:40.119 So I mean, all of this, right. 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:41.579 She's just a new baby Christian. 00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:45.099 And then she just came to Christ and suddenly, Hey, you got cancer. 00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:49.860 Um, but then there was still this kind of like joy and peace about her that you can't 00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:50.239 explain. 00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:52.979 So our family, we got together, we started to pray. 00:41:53.219 --> 00:41:57.379 There was this one aunt in Hong Kong back then, Auntie Carmen, she hadn't believed yet. 00:41:57.659 --> 00:41:59.139 Um, but then she was the one who moved. 00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:02.759 So we're like, Hey, you know, why don't we keep praying for Auntie Karen and see what 00:42:02.759 --> 00:42:03.339 God would do. 00:42:03.419 --> 00:42:04.939 We trust that God is powerful. 00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:10.219 Um, and, and again, long story short, there was this one time I just, I was on the bus and 00:42:10.219 --> 00:42:14.299 I felt that the Holy Spirit told me that, Hey, you got to tell your Auntie Carmen that 00:42:14.299 --> 00:42:15.739 Auntie Karen's going to be healed. 00:42:15.739 --> 00:42:17.979 I'm like, Oh, can I say that? 00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:19.239 What if she doesn't get healed? 00:42:19.419 --> 00:42:19.699 What? 00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:23.079 I say it anyways, because, uh, yeah, I say it anyways. 00:42:23.259 --> 00:42:27.579 And in the end, uh, Auntie Karen, Karen does get healed. 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:33.360 Actually, um, she does chemo, does rare therapy, essentially didn't really get any effects from 00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:33.519 it. 00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.799 Didn't really lose any hair. 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:36.719 So like had minimal pain. 00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:41.639 And within, I think like just a couple of months, the doctors did a scan and there was nothing 00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:42.119 left. 00:42:42.239 --> 00:42:43.480 So just a scar. 00:42:43.719 --> 00:42:43.939 Yeah. 00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:47.539 Which is so crazy because the doctor's like, you got three months to live. 00:42:47.899 --> 00:42:49.059 Um, and it was so beautiful. 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:52.019 Auntie Carmen, the process of all of this also came to know Jesus. 00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:57.099 So this broken family that hated each other so much that they would rip each other's faces 00:42:57.099 --> 00:42:57.480 out. 00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:02.919 They all came to know Jesus and, um, and it was really just restored those, all those 00:43:02.919 --> 00:43:03.819 relationships. 00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:04.559 That's amazing. 00:43:04.799 --> 00:43:05.099 Yeah. 00:43:06.719 --> 00:43:14.659 And then, so yeah, their God seems like he healed your aunt of cancer. 00:43:14.899 --> 00:43:16.239 He did heal your aunt of cancer. 00:43:16.839 --> 00:43:18.099 Um, what happened next? 00:43:18.419 --> 00:43:24.599 So within a few months again, um, her cancer came back, but this time it was in stage three 00:43:24.599 --> 00:43:25.679 B with stage four. 00:43:25.899 --> 00:43:27.539 So it was just widespread. 00:43:27.739 --> 00:43:30.359 And then, um, and it was really difficult this time. 00:43:30.439 --> 00:43:31.519 We prayed for her. 00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:33.359 She was just in so much pain, you know? 00:43:33.360 --> 00:43:37.099 Um, in the end, she had so much morphine and it's none of it worked as well. 00:43:37.180 --> 00:43:39.579 She was just in very dire circumstances. 00:43:39.579 --> 00:43:41.940 We prayed, but God didn't heal at this time. 00:43:42.300 --> 00:43:47.660 Um, but what was even more beautiful, I think was just seeing just her faith, you know, like 00:43:47.660 --> 00:43:53.220 she had such hope and such just hope for, um, for what is to come. 00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:55.059 She knew that what this life wasn't it. 00:43:55.059 --> 00:44:00.099 And then she was looking forward to when she can meet Jesus again and when we can all gather 00:44:00.099 --> 00:44:01.679 together and see her together in heaven. 00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:07.320 So it was just really beautiful, um, to know that, you know, even though God healed her the 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:08.940 first time, he didn't heal her the second time. 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:13.719 But I think what was more beautiful was how she was able to hold on to the hope that is 00:44:13.719 --> 00:44:14.860 beyond this world. 00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:18.380 And I think that is what we're able to hold on to as well. 00:44:18.380 --> 00:44:23.660 So, and that's more beautiful than her getting better and us meeting together in heaven is 00:44:23.660 --> 00:44:24.960 more beautiful than anything. 00:44:25.760 --> 00:44:26.200 Amen. 00:44:26.460 --> 00:44:27.019 Thanks Florence. 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:38.039 Yeah. 00:44:38.039 --> 00:44:38.559 Thanks Florence. 00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:41.660 Um, yeah, it's her family has been through a lot. 00:44:41.720 --> 00:44:46.220 She's, she's experienced a lot of the, the concepts, the ideas we talked about today, the 00:44:46.220 --> 00:44:47.180 stories we read in the Bible. 00:44:47.179 --> 00:44:53.460 She experienced that she saw that God heals and sometimes that healing is only temporary, 00:44:53.460 --> 00:44:59.039 but it's part of an even bigger purpose that you have this eternal hope that you will see 00:44:59.039 --> 00:45:00.199 your aunt once again. 00:45:00.799 --> 00:45:01.319 Right. 00:45:02.539 --> 00:45:07.859 Um, yeah, her aunt was healed of cancer, but passed away later, just like Dorcas Aeneas. 00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:16.179 They were healed 2000 years ago, the past away later yet in Christ they have, we have a hope 00:45:16.179 --> 00:45:20.519 that they, they're, they're, they're in a place where there's no sickness or pain and, and, 00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:22.039 and her aunt will live forever. 00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:30.500 So yeah, once again, um, you may have a variety of, of, of reactions to healing, skepticism, 00:45:30.819 --> 00:45:34.719 apathy, uh, longing to the skeptical, right? 00:45:34.719 --> 00:45:38.059 Who can't bring herself to believe in miracles that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:45:38.439 --> 00:45:42.359 Well, there's, you heard from Jackie, you heard from Florence, you heard their stories 00:45:42.359 --> 00:45:46.159 of how their lives were changed and how Florence's family experienced healing. 00:45:46.159 --> 00:45:52.239 And even if you don't believe, I invite you to be curious and ask, and ask them, why do 00:45:52.239 --> 00:45:52.839 you believe in Jesus? 00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:53.559 Tell me more. 00:45:53.819 --> 00:45:57.920 See the evidence of life, lives changed by Jesus, right? 00:45:57.960 --> 00:46:03.139 And know that he offers to you a new and abundant life that you can come to know him like Florence's 00:46:03.139 --> 00:46:05.819 family, like Jackie has experienced life today. 00:46:06.599 --> 00:46:12.299 For the rest of us, we heard last week, if you've been converted to Christianity, if you've 00:46:12.300 --> 00:46:17.120 been, if you say you've been converted as a Christian, has your life been converted or 00:46:17.120 --> 00:46:21.440 are we just apathetic to the miracle that God worked in us, that God gave us new life? 00:46:22.080 --> 00:46:27.680 Anais was paralyzed for eight years, but his life was turned completely upside down when 00:46:27.680 --> 00:46:29.380 he heard Jesus Christ heals you, get up. 00:46:30.260 --> 00:46:32.039 And today Jesus tells us, get up. 00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:35.060 He freed us from sin and calls us to live in that freedom. 00:46:36.300 --> 00:46:38.440 What's Jesus calling you to leave behind? 00:46:39.560 --> 00:46:40.920 Let's not turn back to sin. 00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:41.960 Let's not turn back. 00:46:42.300 --> 00:46:44.940 Let's live the new life he's given us. 00:46:46.640 --> 00:46:49.340 And what happened after Anais and Dorcas were healed? 00:46:49.840 --> 00:46:52.380 The news spread and many believed in the Lord. 00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:57.320 If you've come to know Jesus, whether your testimony is dramatic or not, whether you have 00:46:57.320 --> 00:47:02.160 dramatic stories of miraculous healing or you've, you've been so lost, you've, you've, 00:47:02.620 --> 00:47:04.160 yeah, so many bad things in the past. 00:47:04.620 --> 00:47:06.019 You have a story to tell. 00:47:06.740 --> 00:47:08.480 God has done a miracle in you. 00:47:09.080 --> 00:47:09.820 Share your story. 00:47:09.820 --> 00:47:16.160 Some people, you might have friends that like to debate apologetics or science or social issues. 00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:21.240 But it's hard to argue against your story, what you've experienced, how God has changed 00:47:21.240 --> 00:47:22.140 your life. 00:47:23.039 --> 00:47:28.160 Whether or not someone believes in miracles, it's hard to argue when a paralyzed man starts 00:47:28.160 --> 00:47:30.320 walking again and a dead woman comes to life. 00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:33.180 Will people also believe when they see you? 00:47:33.179 --> 00:47:40.460 And if we're longing for healing, know that we have a compassionate God who loves us. 00:47:41.019 --> 00:47:43.379 We can pray and cry out to him for healing. 00:47:43.960 --> 00:47:45.440 Don't neglect that fact. 00:47:46.099 --> 00:47:51.699 Don't neglect the fact that God cares for you and he wants to heal us in part even now. 00:47:51.699 --> 00:47:58.899 And if you're in Christ, his blood assures us that God will 100% surely heal you. 00:47:59.539 --> 00:48:03.439 But maybe not today or tomorrow or not even the day we die. 00:48:03.960 --> 00:48:09.599 But he will certainly heal you and bring you from death to life once for all on that day 00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:10.480 when Jesus returns. 00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:15.039 And it's not easy when healing doesn't come now. 00:48:15.460 --> 00:48:16.639 We heard Florence's story. 00:48:16.940 --> 00:48:21.460 It's not, I can't know the full extent of the pain your family has experienced. 00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:26.360 But how pitiful would it be if this broken world was our home? 00:48:27.460 --> 00:48:28.820 If this was all that there was. 00:48:29.119 --> 00:48:30.059 Thank God it's not. 00:48:31.139 --> 00:48:36.539 Let us have faith, anticipation, and eager expectation that Jesus will make all things new 00:48:36.539 --> 00:48:37.980 and it'll be glorious. 00:48:37.980 --> 00:48:43.900 Please, I'll invite the musical worship team to come up now as I close by reading this encouragement 00:48:43.900 --> 00:48:48.320 from 1 Corinthians 15, which is about when Jesus comes again, what will happen. 00:48:50.240 --> 00:48:51.740 Behold, I tell you a mystery. 00:48:52.360 --> 00:48:57.639 We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 00:48:57.639 --> 00:48:58.599 at the last trumpet. 00:48:59.400 --> 00:49:04.219 For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed. 00:49:04.219 --> 00:49:12.319 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable and this mortal body must put on immortality. 00:49:13.319 --> 00:49:17.980 When the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality, 00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:21.679 then shall come to pass the saying that it is written, 00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:24.139 death is swallowed up in victory. 00:49:24.779 --> 00:49:26.259 Oh, death, where is your victory? 00:49:26.819 --> 00:49:28.719 Oh, death, where is your sting? 00:49:28.719 --> 00:49:32.879 The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. 00:49:33.579 --> 00:49:38.459 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:49:39.699 --> 00:49:45.279 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 00:49:45.619 --> 00:49:48.759 knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 00:49:49.639 --> 00:49:50.539 That's the good news. 00:49:50.719 --> 00:49:51.459 That's the gospel. 00:49:51.659 --> 00:49:54.839 Jesus defeated death once for all and he gives us life. 00:49:56.019 --> 00:49:57.199 Let us respond in song. 00:49:57.199 --> 00:49:57.379 Amen. 00:50:06.159 --> 00:50:07.299 Jesus, we thank you. 00:50:11.739 --> 00:50:13.939 We thank you that it was your grace that met us. 00:50:15.039 --> 00:50:16.379 Your grace, this gift. 00:50:19.980 --> 00:50:22.480 That you would save us. 00:50:23.339 --> 00:50:24.419 We who are lost. 00:50:25.679 --> 00:50:26.739 We who are blind. 00:50:28.159 --> 00:50:29.099 We who are sick. 00:50:33.359 --> 00:50:37.099 And Jesus, that you are here right now, today, in this place. 00:50:38.639 --> 00:50:39.399 Bringing healing. 00:50:42.980 --> 00:50:44.639 Not just to bodies, but to souls. 00:50:44.639 --> 00:50:50.699 Thank you, Lord. 00:50:50.699 --> 00:50:50.719 Thank you, Lord. 00:50:56.079 --> 00:51:00.519 And Lord, we finish as we start it. 00:51:01.799 --> 00:51:04.879 By keeping our eyes firmly fixed on you. 00:51:04.880 --> 00:51:12.140 The author and perfecter of faith, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. 00:51:12.139 --> 00:51:13.379 We thank you. 00:51:13.379 --> 00:51:15.480 We thank you. 00:51:19.099 --> 00:51:20.179 In your name we pray. 00:51:21.500 --> 00:51:21.799 Amen. 00:51:23.239 --> 00:51:24.119 Please take a seat. 00:51:24.119 --> 00:51:25.359 Thank you, Gabe. 00:51:25.359 --> 00:51:27.739 Thank you, Gabe. 00:51:27.639 --> 00:51:30.539 Thank you, Gabe. 00:51:30.659 --> 00:51:32.440 And thank you, Florence. 00:51:32.639 --> 00:51:33.880 And thank you, Jackie. 00:51:33.880 --> 00:51:39.059 Just as a final reflection. 00:51:41.780 --> 00:51:45.700 As I was listening to these testimonies, and I was listening to what God actually does in lives, 00:51:45.699 --> 00:51:49.659 and he transforms lives, and he changes them as he pleases. 00:51:49.659 --> 00:51:59.219 I was reminded of Jesus in John 5, when he sees the man at the pool for 38 years, unable to walk, unable to carry himself in. 00:51:59.219 --> 00:52:04.399 And he asks him that simple question, that almost just assumed. 00:52:04.739 --> 00:52:05.839 Do you want to be healed? 00:52:06.259 --> 00:52:07.059 And the guy says, yes. 00:52:08.379 --> 00:52:10.139 Of course I do, but no one can help me. 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:16.799 And as Gabe posed the same question to us today. 00:52:17.119 --> 00:52:18.119 Do you want to be healed? 00:52:18.480 --> 00:52:20.759 I don't know what your relationship is with healing. 00:52:20.859 --> 00:52:26.259 And I know actually the church has done its fair share of damage when it comes to a topic like this. 00:52:26.260 --> 00:52:31.700 But I want to tell you right now that I do believe in healing. 00:52:33.540 --> 00:52:35.060 I do believe that God heals. 00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:37.520 It's just who he is. 00:52:37.600 --> 00:52:38.380 He's here. 00:52:38.520 --> 00:52:40.780 But you can also see, he saved that man. 00:52:40.860 --> 00:52:42.760 He healed that man at the pool, and he didn't heal anyone else. 00:52:43.440 --> 00:52:44.920 Because as Gabe said, there's something bigger. 00:52:47.100 --> 00:52:50.040 Everyone that was healed by Jesus eventually passed away. 00:52:51.180 --> 00:52:55.180 And so it tells you again that what Gabe said, that this is something, there's something bigger at play here. 00:52:55.659 --> 00:52:59.239 And so we, we ask and we pray because we know that God heals. 00:52:59.339 --> 00:53:02.919 We know that God cares, and he does care for our sufferings right now. 00:53:04.440 --> 00:53:06.139 And so I want to encourage you, keep asking. 00:53:07.239 --> 00:53:07.940 Keep trusting. 00:53:10.500 --> 00:53:15.139 But then, as Gabe showed us today, but also cast our eyes further. 00:53:15.139 --> 00:53:24.279 That there are two kinds of healing that we are craving for, not just the one of body, but the one of the soul. 00:53:25.559 --> 00:53:33.739 And if I may, just to finish, every day we go out here, we will see news about how this world needs healing. 00:53:33.739 --> 00:53:37.079 That there is brokenness, there is sickness. 00:53:37.459 --> 00:53:42.019 Not even just in body, but not just in mind, but in the very depths of our beings. 00:53:42.919 --> 00:53:49.259 Every time you see something like that, I pray that we would have the faith to then pray for that healing, for the world. 00:53:50.179 --> 00:53:54.879 And we take heart that Jesus said, hey, this world, you will have trouble, but I came to overcome all of that. 00:53:54.880 --> 00:54:00.940 I came to bring healing to all of that, to wipe away every tear, to restore health. 00:54:03.200 --> 00:54:05.720 Let us be vessels of that healing to those around us. 00:54:07.880 --> 00:54:11.019 Let us be vessels of that healing to those around us. 00:54:12.340 --> 00:54:14.300 This is the end of our time here. 00:54:14.920 --> 00:54:16.740 Next week, we're going to carry on into Acts 10. 00:54:16.860 --> 00:54:23.599 So continue, continue to pray and ask, what is the Lord wanting us to do as we follow the book of Acts, as we follow the early church here? 00:54:23.599 --> 00:54:25.460 And what role do we have to play? 00:54:25.779 --> 00:54:27.299 That is not, these are not fairy tales. 00:54:27.400 --> 00:54:31.639 These are real people having real testimonies, having real lives transformed conversions. 00:54:32.819 --> 00:54:34.400 And we are a part of that. 00:54:34.460 --> 00:54:35.699 We are an extension of that. 00:54:35.819 --> 00:54:41.059 Let us pray as each one goes now, that the spirit of God that moved then is the same spirit that moves now. 00:54:41.739 --> 00:54:42.219 Bless you. 00:54:42.500 --> 00:54:43.599 May the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:54:43.599 --> 00:54:44.639 And we'll see you next week.