I'm very thankful for Pastor Johnny and the team here.
And we're very thankful for Joy Campbell and Russ for their hospitality.
So we are big J fans and that does not mean that we don't like others.
All my kids' names are Joshua, JJ, and Jude.
So it's great to meet the Js again here.
Thank you for having us.
It's been, you know, it's a blessing to us just being here.
I'm just, you know, I'm praising God just for all of you.
And so many people, not just at Southern Seminary in the U.S., but so many churches are praying for you all.
Yeah, so we will continue to do that.
Yeah.
So I just briefly shared that myself and my wife, we worked with leprosy patients for six years.
So when I came to know that, oh, we are going to Ireland, I was like, man, I'm so excited.
Because since 2002, I'm hearing about Ireland.
So here's the interesting story.
I think in 1869, an Irish teacher, his name is Wellesley Bailey, right?
Wellesley Bailey.
He went to India on a short-term mission trip, and he saw the leprosy patients.
They're lying on the streets and dying patients.
And the Lord gave him burden for them.
And then he started sharing the gospel with them, an Irish teacher from Ireland.
And then after that, he came back, and he shared that with his friends here and different countries.
And today, there are more than 18 hospitals.
And over the years, I don't know how many children and families the leprosy mission served.
So many.
There are incredible stories.
But I want to tell you this morning, we will be briefly looking at the promises of God and the power of the gospel.
The promises of God and the power of the gospel.
So these leprosy patients, even today, if you go to India, in some places you see the leprosy patients staying in the campuses for the last 60 years.
Do you know why?
Because when they were like 10 years old, 9 years old, because of leprosy, their own families, they said, please don't live with us.
Go live somewhere outside of the city.
Then the leprosy mission, they went and they cared for these children.
And now the children, at the age of 10, they came to the mission.
And now they're 60, 50.
They're there.
But praise God, some of them, they heard the gospel.
They repented their sin.
And they trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
And they trusted God's promises.
And now, like, I don't know how many of you have seen leprosy patients.
So when they have leprosy, basically, if they don't give treatment within a year,
eventually, their fingers and legs got deformed and they don't feel the sensation, whether it's in the eyes or, you know, hands or legs.
So in the night, they go to bed.
They sleep.
And in the mornings, they open their eyes.
They'll be missing their fingers.
They'll be like, oh, what happened?
In the night, maybe the rats, you know, went and they bit them.
So all kinds of things, they're suffering constantly.
Suffering.
In midst of all this suffering, they're praising God.
They're praising God.
Because, do you know why?
Because one day, they will see their Lord and Savior face to face.
This is our temporary home.
But one day, we all will be with Him.
We all will be with Him.
I can tell you stories like this.
So many.
But in Matthew chapter 28, verse 20, the Lord says, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
This is the Lord's promise.
You are in this world.
One day, you will be with me.
But even now, I am with you all.
I am with you all.
To encourage us, to strengthen us, to give us courage and boldness, to proclaim the gospel.
And 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, you can listen to me.
It says, Praise be to the God, our Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His great mercy, He has given us the new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
From the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.
This inheritance, especially those who are followers of Jesus Christ, this is for all of us.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.
So these are the promises for us as well.
No matter what trials we all face, Christ never leaves us.
Christ never leaves us.
Just thinking of my childhood, when I was five years old, my dad, one evening, he was a whole day he was at home.
And then in the evening, all of a sudden, he said, like, okay, I'm going to office.
And, well, we can't stop him.
And he said before leaving, he promised me that I will bring this thing, that thing.
And then he left home.
And he did not return.
He did not come back.
And after two months, he died.
After two months, he died.
So I remember my dad's words.
And after many years, when I heard the gospel, when I heard about God's promises,
and I was listening.
Listening to people sometimes can be disappointing.
But listening to God and following God, we are never going to disappoint in this life.
Because God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
he is pleading with the Father for us now.
And one day, he promised that one day we will be with him.
We'll be with him.
Friends, that's a great promise.
That's where we can.
Now, the question is, do we trust God's promises?
And the power of the gospel?
So this morning, we'll look at briefly the book of Acts.
The first two chapters, kind of like I'm going to give you a big overview.
So if you have your Bibles, the Red Bibles with you,
it's on page number 1093.
In a while, we'll be reading a few verses from Acts chapter 1 and Acts chapter 2.
So now the question, who wrote the book of Acts?
But it is undisputed that Luke was the author of Acts,
and also the gospel of Luke.
The date will be early 60s, probably before the death of Paul.
Before the death of Paul.
So why, here, what is the purpose of writing the gospel of Acts,
and also the book of Acts, and the gospel of Luke,
to show that Jesus, Lord Jesus,
remained faithful to his purpose of dying,
and raising again as those promises are worked out
in the establishment of his church.
Of his church.
So in both the books,
we see, whether it is in the book of Acts,
or the gospel of Luke,
we see the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We see the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We see people praying.
We see God's interest to the outcasts,
to the poorest of the poor.
And the fact that the gospel is for the whole world.
We see the gospel expansion in these books.
So the basic outline,
the basic outline of the book of Acts,
geographically,
if you see from chapter 1 to chapter 7,
it's all the work is in Jerusalem.
And then from chapter 8 to chapter 12,
all Judea and Samaria.
So the gospel work started in Jerusalem,
and then slowly it spread to Judea and Samaria.
And from chapter 13 to Acts chapter 28,
we see gospel spreading to the ends of the earth.
Gospel spreading to the ends of the earth.
But if you see personally,
the first 12 chapters,
we see the ministry of Peter and others.
And from chapter 13 to 28,
we see the ministry of Apostle Paul.
Apostle Paul.
So there are some lessons we can learn
from the early church.
So especially the early church,
so these are the main points,
the big points I'm giving you.
So the early church trusted God's promises and plans.
The early church trusted God's promises and his plans.
And the second one,
the early church preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The early church preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And finally,
the early church prayed and sacrificed everything
to spread the gospel.
They gave up everything.
So the first one,
trusted God's promises.
The early church trusted God's promises and plans.
So if you see the Old Testament,
God promised everything.
And in the New Testament,
we'll see God's fulfillment through Jesus Christ.
So God's promises in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament,
we see God fulfilling his promises through his son,
Jesus Christ.
So in Genesis,
you see God created man
and put him into the Garden of Eden.
He wanted man to live a godly life
and also not only live a godly life,
maintain a perfect relationship with God.
But what happened?
Man disobeyed God.
But still,
that's in the first,
like if you see in the beginning of Genesis.
But in Genesis 3.15,
we see God's promise in the book of Genesis,
the seed of the woman,
the seed of the one day
that this Christ will come
and restored the world,
restored the world to himself.
And then in,
in,
and Noah,
you see during the flood,
the man kept on sinning,
obeying Satan instead of God.
So God destroyed all the people
except Noah and his family.
We see Genesis,
then Noah,
and then Abraham.
By the time of Abraham,
almost all the people were bad again.
But God promised Abraham
that he would become
the father of great nation.
He would become the father of great nation
and people are chosen by God.
And then Abraham's son,
Isaac,
and his grandson,
Jacob,
had the same promise.
So when Jacob's son,
Joseph,
became the governor of Egypt,
Jacob and his tribe
moved to Egypt
for about 400 years.
They lived peacefully in Egypt
until Pharaoh decided
to make them his slaves.
And then we see Moses,
the people of Israel,
left Egypt
and lived in wilderness
for 40 years.
They conquered the land
under the leadership of Joshua,
which God had promised them
and lived under judges
for about 300 years.
It's so interesting.
Like God's promises
and people disobeying.
God's promises
and people disobeying.
But still,
God has been so faithful.
Not only to them,
even today,
to us.
Today to us.
So when the judges were old,
the people of Israel
demanded a king.
We need a king.
We need a king, Lord.
And Saul
became the first king.
But he did not obey God.
He did not obey God.
The next king,
David,
tried to please God
in most things
and build a strong kingdom.
Build a strong kingdom.
King David.
That was the golden age
of Israel's kingdom
when David was the king.
David's son,
Solomon,
was a wise king.
But he loved luxury
and foreign wives.
He let his foreign wives
build pagan altars
and turn the people
away from God.
He taxed the people
heavily to pay
for his luxuries.
Solomon's son,
Rehoboam,
tried to live like his father,
but the people rebelled
and split the kingdom
into two parts,
Israel and Judah.
As the new kings
came to the throne,
both parts,
the divided kingdom
became weaker and weaker
until they were conquered
and the people
carried away.
Carried away.
Some of the people
came back home
years later,
but they were conquered
again by Greeks
and later by Romans.
Tired of being
a conquered people,
they cried out
for a promised Messiah
who would save them.
These people,
they cried out.
But when the Messiah came,
when Christ came,
they did not recognize him.
They did not recognize him.
Even though God
spoke from heaven
and said that
this is his son,
they would not believe in him.
They would not believe him.
Jesus did many miracles,
healing,
and even raising people
from the dead.
Dead people,
literally dead people.
But still,
people would not believe
in him.
But at the last
time cave,
when Jesus was crucified
by his enemies,
then conquered
according to God's plan,
he rose from the dead
and appeared to
many people.
Later,
he rose up from the earth
to return to heaven.
Return to heaven.
So if you have your Bibles,
turn with me to Luke chapter 24.
Luke chapter 24.
I'll be reading
from verse 20,
Luke chapter 24,
verse 44 to 49.
I'll be reading from verse,
it's so beautiful
how
the Lord,
our Lord God,
through the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit,
written this
word of God.
Luke chapter 24,
verse 44 to 49.
He said to them,
Jesus,
Jesus appeared to his disciples,
and he said to them,
this is what I told you
while I was still with you.
everything must be fulfilled
that is written about me
in the law of Moses,
the prophets,
and the Psalms.
And then he opened their minds
so that they could understand
the scriptures.
Brothers and sisters,
we have seen from Genesis
to book of Acts,
everything,
whatever has been said,
it's all about Christ.
The whole Old Testament
is pointing to Jesus Christ.
And now clearly,
in the words of Jesus Christ,
we are hearing
that everything
must be fulfilled
that is written about me
in the law of Moses,
the prophets,
and the Psalms.
He told them,
this is what it is written,
the Messiah will suffer
and raise from the dead
on the third day,
and repentance
for the forgiveness
of sins
will be preached
in his name
to all nations
beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses
of these things.
I am going to send you
what my Father has promised,
but stay in the city
until you have been clothed
with power
from on high.
And we see,
please turn with me
to Acts chapter 1.
Acts chapter 1,
verse 8.
Acts chapter 1,
verse 8,
page number 10,
1093.
But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit
comes on you,
and you will be
my witnesses
in Jerusalem
and in all Judea,
Samaria,
and to the ends
of the earth.
So when Jesus
was gone,
his disciples
began to pray
in the upper room.
Then the Holy Spirit
came upon them
and they were changed.
They were changed
and they were praising God.
All of them.
They were praising God.
So God is sovereign
Lord of history.
He is a faithful God.
He is not only
promising,
but he fulfilled
his promises
that things happen
in fulfillment
of God's plan
from Genesis,
from the beginning
of this universe.
And Lord
is fulfilling
all his promises.
The only thing
left out
is coming back.
He's coming back.
So one day
he will be back.
He'll be back.
You can clearly
see how God
fulfilled
all his promises.
That's where
we can place
our trust upon him
for everything.
Especially
for our salvation.
So the early church
trusted God's promises
and his plans
and the second point
they preached
the early church
preached
the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
They preached
the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
So Peter,
how many of you
have heard
of Apostle Peter?
He's a friend?
Yeah?
He's a friend?
Yeah?
Yes.
Peter,
this man
denied Jesus Christ.
How many times?
How many times
Apostle Peter
denied Jesus Christ?
Three times.
Literally three times
that was a small
girl witness like,
Oh,
you are with him.
And Peter said,
No,
what are you
talking about?
No,
I don't know
that man.
I was not with him.
Three times
Peter denied.
The fourth time
when he remembered
God's words,
he wept.
Wept.
he gave his life
to Jesus Christ.
He gave his life.
This man,
please look with me
in Acts chapter 2.
Acts chapter 2.
Acts chapter 2,
verse 22.
Acts chapter 2,
verse 22 to 24.
This man who denied
Jesus Christ,
now the Lord
poured out
the promised Holy Spirit
and now
standing in front
of everybody
and these are his words,
Apostle Peter were.
Fellow Israelites,
listen to this.
Jesus of Nazareth,
a man
accredited by God
to you by miracles,
wonders,
and signs
which God did
among you
through him.
As you yourself
know,
this man
was handed
over to you
by God's
deliberate plan
and foreknowledge.
And you,
with the help
of wicked men,
put him to death
by nailing him
to the cross.
But God
raised him
from the dead,
freeing him
from the agony
of death
because
it was impossible
for death
to keep
its hold
on him.
It's impossible
for death
to keep
hold on him.
Peter,
he stood
before these people.
They were laughing
at him.
But then,
he preached
the death
of Jesus Christ
and the resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
friends,
in Hebrews
9,
Hebrews 9,
verse 27,
it says,
man is destined
to die once
and after that
he has to face
judgment.
In Hebrews,
Hebrews 9,
27.
But praise God,
just a few minutes
back,
we have seen
in Genesis,
God created
everything very good.
And he looked
and said,
yes,
very good.
and he created
man and woman
in his own image.
But what happened?
What happened?
Because of man's sin,
disobeyed God
and we are all
separated from God.
And now,
how we are going
to
reconcile
with God?
The good news is,
is not only
just following Jesus.
Here is the thing.
according to Hebrews
9,
27,
we are all
destined to die
once and after that
we have to face
judgment.
But even now,
if God
looked at us,
I don't think
we can stand
before a holy God
without knowing
Christ,
without knowing
Christ.
It's all
God's grace
and love
that I have
this life
and you
have this life.
time for us.
Time for us.
Praise God
for Jesus.
But God
loved us so much.
But to be honest,
you know,
I cannot
pay for my sins.
Jesus Christ,
he came
and he
lived
a righteous life,
a perfect life
and he
died
on the cross
in my place.
and he
took
God's
wrath
upon him
and he
paid
for my sins
and for our sins.
And he
rose again
on the third day.
He rose again
on the third day.
But see,
because of our sins,
God did not
destroy us
or punish us
for disobeying him,
but
God has been
so kind
and gracious
in sending
his son,
Jesus Christ,
to this world.
This fully God,
fully man,
came to this world,
lived a righteous life,
sinless life,
even though he was
tempted,
but
he obeyed
his father
completely
and he lived
a holy life.
This Jesus,
son of God,
son of David,
the son of man,
the Lord,
the author of life,
savior,
holy,
righteous one,
took the wrath
of God
on him
and he died
for our sins.
and now,
when we have
that opportunity,
we are hearing
this gospel
again and again
and again,
what should be
our response?
What should be
our response?
Asking forgiveness
from God.
Asking forgiveness
from God.
So that's what
the apostles,
the early church,
when they
received
the Holy Spirit,
when they received
the power,
they did not,
you know,
shut their mouths
and they were not
hiding inside
their houses.
They went outside
and they boldly,
they preached
the gospel to people.
In Acts chapter 2,
if you read,
if you have time,
like,
Lord willing,
after the service,
when you go home,
please read Acts chapter 1
and chapter 2.
After hearing the gospel
message,
when Peter preached,
they were like,
what shall we do?
What shall we do?
How can we be saved?
And Peter,
repent your sins,
ask forgiveness
from God,
and be baptized.
Trust in Jesus Christ.
And what happened
in Acts chapter 2,
at the end,
3,000 people
came to faith.
3,000 people
came to faith.
So they
preached the gospel,
people repented,
and they started
following Jesus Christ.
First,
these are the consequences.
Now,
we all have
choice.
Like what Adam and Eve
did,
and even today,
what so many people
are doing
is rejecting
to follow
the creator,
and following
their own heart,
and following
the idols
of this world.
In India,
we have like,
330 million gods.
They have like,
every day,
they have one god
to worship.
But,
where are they going?
Where are they going?
Their destiny
is very different
from ours.
Their sin is not.
People go
and take bath
in River Ganges.
Do you know why?
So that their
sins will be
cleansed.
Literally,
millions of people
every year,
they go there,
and even
they bring
the water
from River Ganges,
and worship
the water.
So,
but where are they
going?
Their destiny
is different.
They are not
going to see
the savior.
here.
But we
have the
opportunity.
We are
hearing the
gospel again
and again.
We are
following Jesus
Christ.
Our sins,
if we place
our trust
in Jesus
Christ,
our sins
are forgiven.
One day,
one day,
we'll stand
before God
with confidence
on what Christ
has done
for us.
If you
fear
today,
that day,
we can stand
before God.
So,
the apostles,
the early
church,
they preached
the gospel,
and finally,
they prayed
and sacrificed
everything,
including their
lives,
to spread
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ.
Please look
at me to
Acts chapter
2,
verse 42
to 47.
Acts chapter
2,
verses 42
to 47.
So,
we have
seen the
early church
trusted God's
promises and
plans,
and the
early church,
after receiving
the power
of the
Holy Spirit,
they preached
the gospel,
they preached
the gospel,
and finally,
the early church,
they prayed,
they prayed and
sacrificed everything,
including their
lives,
to spread of the
gospel.
So,
Acts chapter
2,
verse 42
to 47.
They devoted
themselves to
the apostles'
teaching,
and to fellowship,
to the breaking
of bread,
and to prayer.
Everyone was
filled with awe
at the many
wonders and
signs performed
by the apostles.
All the believers
were together
and had everything
in common.
They sold
property and
possessions to
give to anyone
who had need.
Every day,
they continued
to meet together
in the temple
courts.
They broke
bread in their
homes and
ate together
with glad
and sincere
hearts,
praising God
and enjoying
the favor of
all the people.
And the Lord
added to their
number daily
those who
were being
saved.
So,
they did not,
they did not
stop like meeting
once.
they were
meeting
continuously.
You see,
if you read
the whole book
of Acts,
you see people
coming to faith,
people coming
to faith,
and people
gathering,
and these churches
started,
and the gospel
not only started
with Jerusalem
and spread to
Judea and
Samaria,
and then finally
to the ends
of the earth.
So,
we see these
people are
gathering,
so what
happened?
Well,
they were all
like,
you know,
yes,
definitely they
were all
joyful,
and they were
rejoicing and
praising God.
So,
was it like,
was it fun?
Kind of fun,
but at the
same time,
they faced
persecution,
persecution
from the
community,
and people
died,
the first,
Stephen was
murdered,
and they
faced religious
opposition,
they faced
like,
even,
people putting
into jail,
you know.
So,
if you see,
if you,
so these are
the summary
statements I'm
giving you,
from Acts,
Acts chapter
6,
verse 7,
Acts chapter
6,
verse 7,
so I'm
giving you
six summary
statements,
we'll see in
these summary
statements,
how the
gospel spread
from Jerusalem
to Judea and
Samaria and
to the ends
of the earth.
So,
chapter 6,
verse 7,
and the word
of God
continued to
increase,
and the number
of disciples
multiplied greatly
in Jerusalem,
and a great
many of the
priests became
obedient to
the faith,
became obedient
to the faith.
And in
chapter 9,
verse 31,
Acts chapter
9,
verse 31,
so the
church
throughout
all Judea
and Galilee
and Samaria
had peace
and was being
built up,
and walking
in the fear
of the Lord
and in the
comfort of the
Holy Spirit,
it multiplied,
it multiplied.
We're hearing
this word
again and
again,
like multiplied,
the church
multiplied.
And again,
Acts chapter
12,
verse 24,
but the
word of
God
increased
and multiplied,
increased
and multiplied.
And Acts
chapter 16,
verse 5,
Acts chapter
16,
verse 5,
so the
churches
were strengthened
in the
faith,
and they
increased in
numbers
daily.
They
increased in
numbers
daily.
And Acts
chapter 19,
verse 20,
so the
word of
the Lord
continued to
increase
and prevail
mightily,
prevail
mightily.
And finally,
Acts chapter
28,
Paul,
he lived
there two
whole years
at his
own expense
and welcomed
all who
came to
him,
proclaiming
the kingdom
of God
and teaching
about the
Lord Jesus
Christ with
all boldness
and without
hindrance.
With all
boldness
and without
hindrance.
So these
are the
summary
statements
from the
book of
Acts,
how the
Lord used
his people
to preach
the gospel
with much
boldness,
in spite of
persecution,
in spite of
religious
opposition,
in spite of
difficulties.
What did
they do?
The early
church,
they gathered
together on
regular braces,
praying,
they listened
to the
apostles'
teaching,
that's why
we hear
God's
word every
Sunday or
in small
groups and
even one
to one.
We read
God's
word,
we pray
because we
receive power
through God's
word and
through his
spirit.
And as we
go out,
even now as
we go out,
friends,
the Lord
called us to
open our
mouth and
share the
gospel with
people,
share the
gospel with
people.
So God
is actively
bringing about
the fulfillment
of his
plan.
It is an
unstoppable
gospel.
In so
many places,
people are
trying to
stop this
gospel work.
Even from
my own
country,
it's so
difficult for
people to
go inside
now.
But by
God's
grace,
can anyone
stop the
gospel?
No,
God is
working.
God is
working.
There are
people who
even today,
how many
people are
giving their
life for
the sake
of the
gospel?
Even
today?
I can
tell you,
but for
sake of
time,
I don't
want to
tell,
but there
are people
leaving their
homes,
leaving their
families.
I have
seen people
leaving their
families,
leaving their
homes for
the sake
of the
gospel.
even if,
for example,
in some
places,
if you
started
following
Jesus
Christ,
basically
you are
outcasted
from that
village.
They will
not sit
with you,
they will
not eat
with you,
they will
not invite
you to
their birthday
parties or
any functions.
That's the
cost of
following
Jesus.
but they
are thankful,
they are
joyful for
following Jesus
Christ and
they are
faithfully
proclaiming
his word
to the
lost people.
Time flies
very fast.
Our lives
are here for
a moment
and gone
the next.
Our lives
are here for
a moment.
This is why
the Bible
compares our
lifespan with
grass and
vapor.
Sadly,
the world
is more
excited about
things that
will not
matter in
eternity.
Yet as
Henry Matthew,
the great
commentator,
once said,
it ought to
be the
business of
every day
to prepare
for our
last day.
It ought to
be the
business of
every day
to prepare
for the
last day.
Or as
Martin Luther
says,
declared,
there are
two days
on my
calendar.
There are
two days
on my
calendar.
Today and
that day.
Today and
that day.
Honestly,
a day is
coming when
all that
will really
matter is
how you
and I
lived our
life for
the sake
of eternity.
It's great
we can
get the
Lord command
us to care
for our
families,
our
children,
community,
but more
than
everything
else,
we have
to care
for how
we live
today
for the
sake of
the gospel.
For the
sake of
the gospel.
Why is
it matter?
Why should
we live?
Why should
we deny
ourselves and
live for
Jesus Christ?
One thing
is the
Lord called
us to live
a faithful
life and
the other
thing,
not only
living a
faithful
life,
but to
share his
word,
to share
his gospel
with people.
I'll tell
you very
briefly one
of my
experiences
and then
we'll close
in prayer.
There are
thousands of
people dying
every day.
There are
thousands of
people dying
in different
places.
So if you
and I sit
comfortably,
when we have
the opportunity,
please open
our mouths
and proclaim
his gospel.
Pray for
opportunities.
Pray for
opportunities.
If not,
what's going
to happen?
I tell you.
This was
four years
back,
four years
back,
when I was
in India.
I used to
go to a
shop with
myself and
my wife.
We go and
buy clothes
in that
shop.
So once
in six
months or
three months
and then
one uncle,
the shop
owner,
we became
friends with
him and
because we
have known
him for
four or
five years,
he kept
all these
Hindu gods
pictures on
his desk.
In the
middle of
all these
pictures,
he kept
the
Indian
actress.
I said,
Uncle,
do you
worship her
also?
He was
like,
no,
no.
These
college
students,
they'll
visit my
shop.
I just
want to
give them.
I asked
him,
Uncle,
I would
love to
give you
a Bible.
Would
you like
to read?
He said,
son,
I'm here
a whole
day sitting
from 9
a.m.
to 9
p.m.
I'll be
very happy
to read.
I said,
okay,
Uncle,
I'll see
you soon.
I went
home and
I did
not go to
that shop
for three
months.
For three
months.
After three
months,
I went
to that
shop and
his daughter
was sitting
on the
chair.
His daughter
was sitting
and I
said,
hi,
hello,
where is
your dad?
She was
so serious
and she
pointed her
finger
upwards.
My head
was like
this and
I saw
his picture
on the
wall
with
flowers
on it.
I was
like,
what
happened?
My dad
died last
week with
a heart
attack.
Friends,
I had
tears.
Literally,
I asked
forgiveness
from God.
Lord,
please forgive
me.
When you
gave me the
opportunity
to witness
and share
the gospel
with this
man,
now he's
gone.
Now he's
gone.
Friends,
whenever you
have opportunity,
please pray for
opportunities
that the
Lord will
use you.
The Lord
will use
you.
The reason
I'm telling
you,
it's not
that we
sharing the
gospel,
we doing,
you know,
our God
is powerful.
Our God
is powerful.
Recently,
like three
months,
two months
back,
I met
one family.
I did not
even share
the gospel
to them.
Basically,
I said,
like,
friends,
please come
and visit
our church.
They came
the second
week,
the wife
gave his
life to
the Lord.
Just opening
our mouth,
opening our
mouth,
and just
sharing the
goodness of
God,
the grace
of God
to this
lost world.
The early
church,
they did
that.
The apostles,
all the
apostles,
they gave
their life
for the
sake of
the gospel.
They trusted
in God's
promises,
they preached,
they proclaimed
God's word,
and finally,
they gave
everything,
whatever they
have,
for the
sake of
the gospel.
God's
gospel.
I beg
you to
pray
that the
Lord will
show you
what he
wants you
and how
he's going
to use
you to
share the
gospel with
those who
have not
heard.
I pray
that the
Lord will
open the
eyes.
I request
you all
pray.
Pray for
your neighbors,
pray for
your co-workers,
pray that
they will
hear the
gospel,
and they
will be
part of
the
churches
around
in
Corp
or
Ireland.
As I'm
looking at
the
sheets
there,
see how
your church
is passionate
about taking
the gospel
to the
ends of
the
earth.
Praise
God.
Keep up
the good
work.
I pray
that the
Lord will
use you
all
mightily,
not only
here,
even to
the
ends of
the
earth.
There
are so
many
unreached
people
groups.
Thousands,
literally,
they haven't
heard the
gospel.
They haven't
heard the
gospel.
Let's
pray.
Father,
thank you
so much
for your
son,
Jesus
Christ.
Lord,
we are
very,
very grateful
to him
for his
death and
resurrection.
Lord,
thank you
for granting
us the
gift of
faith and
repentance.
Lord,
thank you
for giving
us this
opportunity
to gather
as your
people and
worship you
this morning,
Lord.
Lord,
I pray for
the people
here.
Lord,
please,
especially
if someone
is not a
follower of
Jesus Christ
here this
morning,
I pray,
Lord,
that would
you please
touch them
and help
them to
follow you,
Lord.
Lord,
this is the
day.
Lord,
we don't
know what's
going to
happen the
next moment.
Lord,
would you
please grant
them the
gift of
salvation?
Lord,
it's a
free gift
from you.
Father God,
I pray,
Lord,
that you
please work
in their
hearts to
know you
personally and
give their
life to you
and follow you,
Lord.
Father,
we're grateful
for this
church and
what you're
doing here,
Lord.
Father,
I pray for
Pastor Johnny
and the
team here
and the
people who
are serving
in this
body and
the members.
Lord,
would you
please continue
to sustain
them,
Lord,
continue to
trust in
your promises
and in
spite of
even
difficulties
that they
will proclaim
your word
and your
gospel to
the lost
people in
this area,
Lord.
Father,
thank you
for this
opportunity
you gave
us.
We're
very,
very grateful
to you,
God.
In Jesus'
name,
I pray.
Amen.
Thank you,
Raj.
Do take
time afterwards
to speak
to him
and if
you've
got any
questions
or you
want to