Joseph Prince - The Key to Prospering In All Things (02/16/2026)
Praise God for His gentle teaching of grace through simple things like wildflowers and birds, showing we grow without toiling or worrying, as our heavenly Father cares for us far more. Seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all needs are added. The sermon urges possessing our possessions through meditating on God’s Word day and night, leading to prosperity, good success, lasting strength, and vibrant health even in advanced years.
Opening Praise and Showers of Blessings
Good morning. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. So good to see all of you. Was it raining outside? It came early. So, if it’s raining, those are showers of blessings. Amen. The Bible talks about showers, not a shower, alright, just a drop, but showers. And I’m believing God that for all of us who have come to His house today, there will be showers of blessings on you. And just like a withering leaf, alright, you will blossom forth, put forth shoots, and flowers will come. Amen.
You know, I love the way the Lord tells us and teaches us grace. He uses little preachers of righteousness, amen, on that hillside. I’m starting my preaching already, so just in case you are taking down notes.
Little Preachers of Righteousness: Lilies and Ravens
You know, we always think God will manifest His glory, His majesty, His awesomeness by stormy winds or great sun shining or howling winds or great earthquakes. That’s how we think. But God, when He wants to preach righteousness to us, when He wants us to receive that message of His love and kindness, Jesus on the mountainside points all the people to a little wildflower. It’s growing wild. It’s not a flower that’s kept in a palace. It’s not a flower that grows in a house that is tended over, cared for. People are watering their plants regularly. But it’s a wildflower.
And He says, look at the Lily of the field. Look at how they grow. How they grow. We are so concerned about our growth in the Lord, our children’s growth in grace. But Jesus said, look at how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. And we are toiling in our minds. How should I get this done? You know, we are spinning all the time, right? Sometimes you feel your… anyone? Your mind is spinning all the time. You get easily distracted. You get pulled in different directions.
But this little preacher of righteousness, Jesus says, this is a wildflower. It is exposed day and night to the winds. It is exposed to all the outward atmosphere, the sun by day. And yet, the Lord cares for it. Look at how beautiful it is. Your father… he didn’t say my father there. Your father clothes them. Are you not of more value than they?
If God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is, tomorrow is cast into the oven, which means they wither up and dry. It’s a temporary thing. And yet, God cares for it. How much more will he care for you? Amen. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Amen?
Then Jesus says, you know Solomon in all his glory, the wealthiest man in history. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. And I believe he plucked it and showed it to the people. Solomon, in all his wealth, in all his splendor, is not arrayed like one of these. Amen.
Beauty from Within: Health and True Clothing
Why? I began to meditate on that, and I began to see that the flower, its beauty, and its clothing, because Jesus is talking about why worry about what you shall wear. Amen? Look at the lilies of the field. The clothing of the flower comes from within. Whereas Solomon will have to bring his clothes from outside. It’s put on from outside.
Which means this growth or this clothing from within, he’s talking about health. Amen. The moment that Lily loses his clothing, it becomes usually brown in colour, right? Withers up. It’s health. He’s telling you, Solomon in all his glory, you can put nice clothes, you can put purple gorgeous robes, you know, on a king, but the king is diseased. The king doesn’t have good health. All the wealth and all the beautiful gorgeous clothings in the world won’t matter.
But this little Lily, the beauty is its health. It comes from within. And you know what? It doesn’t even struggle for health. It doesn’t toil. It doesn’t toil on the treadmill. I’m sorry. I mean, I’m just saying that because I think of toiling. I see people running, you know, like hamsters all the time. Okay, sorry. The thing is that I used to run on a treadmill, okay, but I feel like running outside or walking outside is so much better. You know, I just feel like a hamster running. You know? And then they speed up, right? They see how the hamster runs.
They toil not. These lilies don’t toil. And then you can hear the birds singing. He goes, «All right, all of you, look at the ravens.» He mentioned ravens. In your Matthew’s Gospel, it says birds, but in Luke, it says, «Look at the ravens.» Ravens are dirty, unclean, as far as the Jewish law is concerned. They don’t offer them as burnt offering. Ravens are big animals. Like, they represent the powers of darkness. Completely.
You know, one time I remember, it’s a…. I was walking down the street here in Singapore, and there was this ravens flying, this big, you know, it’s not a small one, it’s a big one. Those black birds, huge black birds. And all of a sudden, I felt someone slap me on the back, you know. No kidding, I was walking down the street, and it was a raven. It’s a demon-possessed raven, I’ll tell you that. Because it didn’t hit anybody else. Everyone was walking. This guy came, and there were other ravens flying around. And then he came back all the way again, right, one round. And he came and hit me again. This time I’m confirmed, it’s demonic. Alright, he cannot stand the glory of the Lord. Amen. Praise God.
I really think that they represent evil. And I stood still. I said, «One more time, come. Come on.» And I was ready, ready. So, they come from behind. That’s how the powers of darkness come. They come from behind. Amen. But not to worry. Jesus said, «Look at the ravens of the air. They sow not, neither do they reap. Yet they don’t gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them.» These unclean birds. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
And which of you, by worrying, can increase your height? Those of you who want to increase your height, Jesus advised you. Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit? Cubit is from your elbow to your longest finger here. That’s the cubit measurement in those days. How many of you like to grow taller by one cubit? Jesus says, «You cannot. You cannot grow taller by worrying. If you cannot do that which is least.» He calls that the least. Why worry about the rest?
But seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things will be added to you. Amen? Praise the Lord. That’s my introduction. His voice is not found in the earthquake, and then there’s the wind, and then fire, but in the still, gentle voice. In the Old Testament, God would manifest, and sometimes there’s earthquakes, there’s lightning, there’s fire, especially on Mount Sinai. But when God wants us to understand grace, it’s found in that still, small voice, in the gentle quietness. Amen?
So thank God for all these little preachers of righteousness, the birds, the wildflowers. I’ll tell you this. It gives hope to all of us. Sometimes we are looking for the big things, and God uses the little things. And how these flowers and these birds have blessed millions down through the years, who’ve heard this message. And we think we won’t care for a flower that is today, you know, is here and tomorrow is gone. So let’s buy fake flowers. Amen? But God cares for temporal flowers. Amen.
So remember, the key is that, how they grow, they toil not, neither they spin. Which means, if you worry, you toil with worry, you spin with anxiety, you will not grow. You have to rest, and let go, and let God take over. Amen?
So for this service, will you take a deep breath and just say, «I let go.» That area. You all have certain areas, you all came in here with different, different anxieties, different concerns, different apprehensions, different fears. So whatever it is, whether it’s a fear of growing old, a fear of losing a loved one, or a loved one’s love, a fear of not able to handle a situation at work, or fear of death itself. Okay? Right now, in the name of Jesus, say, «I let go.» Of that fear. And I let God, His grace, His faith, take over. Amen? For the rest of the service. Amen? Praise the Lord. Isn’t God good?
Possessing Our Possessions — Don’t Be Slack
Now, the last time I shared about possessing the land, I want to show you something that I mentioned real briefly towards the end of that sermon. I’m not finished preaching that yet, because God has so much for us in that. Amen. And He’s telling us what? Why are you so slack in possessing your possessions? Amen? Why are you so slow? Why do you hold back from possessing your possessions?
Now, that means something is yours, but you’re not possessing it. Alright? Singaporeans don’t do that. If something is yours, I’m telling you, you forget, you buy two, you get one free, you didn’t know it. Right? You go home, and your home is far away from that shop. Okay? And then you found out, your friend told you, you didn’t get the extra thing, they didn’t give you. No, they didn’t give me. I tell you, you’ll go back. I don’t care how far it is, you will go back, and you’ll say, where’s my free offer? My free gift. Right? I bought two, I supposed to get another one. Right on. Amen?
You will possess every possession that belongs to you. Come on, Singaporeans. Amen? Hallelujah. We won’t say, ah, that, that, you know, someone, that lot has your name on it, let’s say. Okay? And someone tucks there. You will say, hey, I paid for it. Amen? Or something is yours, and someone takes it. Right, Singaporeans? Even in the middle of a, a movie, you come in late. Right? Someone is sitting on your seat. You ever had that, that, that thing before? That kind of a situation? Someone is sitting on your seat, and you got, and you feel, you felt like you chose a very good seat. So now the person refused to move.
What do you do? You toil not. Neither do you spin. With anxiety. Amen? You just carry the guy up. Amen? Alright? You put him on the aisle, and then you sit down. Right? No fear. No anxiety. Amen? Unless you’re as, as strong as Pastor Lawrence. No, usually you’ll find that there’s something going on. If the person refused to budge, the person who has that as his possession, refused not to possess it. They are not slack. There’s an argument going on. Amen? Ayah, never mind lah. Sit somewhere else lah. The show started already. He said, no, no, no, no. I chose this seat. Right? Singaporeans? We are so slow in possessing the things that God has for us.
You know why? It’s a spiritual lethargic. It is, it is a, a, a spiritual being, spiritually dense. We are no more, you see, if you, you don’t have hunger for God’s Word. God’s Word is so precious. David says of God’s Word that I find your Word is like, I treasure your Word more than spoil. You know the spoils of war? All the treasures, the gold, the silver, the jewelry, and all that, that they get from the, from the battle, the victory that they accomplish. Right? David says, I treasure your Word more than the spoils of war. Another place he says, I esteem your words greater than gold and silver. Amen.
The entrance of God’s words, the word there is unfolding, of God’s words gives light. Whatever fears you have is because light has not shone into the area yet. Amen. The moment light shines in, I remember as a young boy, I would push a Boulder by the beach somewhere, and there was this little white crawling creatures. I don’t know what they are actually. It looks like a little mini lobster, but they are not, and they are crawling, and they are white in colour. I ran away in fear to my mum. And then when I came back gingerly, you know, I walked slowly back to the place. I look at it. It’s all gone. Why? The light has exposed it. Nothing can remain. All these fears, alright, cannot remain in you. All these anxieties and worries, the moment light comes in.
So, the entrance of God’s Word gives light. So why are we not more in God’s Word? Why? Because our appetite has been spoiled. You know, it’s too much of Korean movie dramas, and too much of Netflix, too much of worldly stuff, worldly thinking, worldly reasoning, worldly, you know, mothers of Perundi at the workplace, too much of talking about natural things, too much of indulgence in losing your temper, and being bitter, and all that. Not thinking about God’s Word and what God counsels you to do.
You know, it’s like your appetite is spoiled. Let’s say you eat a lot of candy and snacks and cookies and things that are sugary, right? Do you have an appetite for things that are good? No. Amen? We all know that about our children. We tell them don’t eat anything sweet before they have their dinner, right? Right? Because we know it will spoil their appetite. So, it’s not that they find God’s Word boring, it’s that their appetite is spoiled. Because when you realize the benefits of receiving God’s Word, man, I’m telling you, you will be in the Word every day. Hallelujah.
There are treasures for you to uncover. Amen. It’s the glory of God to hide things even, but it is the glory of kings, all of you, to search it out. Amen. Amen. You know, I love it. I thank God. Sometimes God hides things. Amen. But especially He hides things from people who don’t appreciate it. Jesus Himself said that. But to you, it is revealed. To know the mysteries of the kingdom. Amen.
So, all our life, you know, our life that God wants us to live. Of course, you know, it’s like, the Bible is like the manufacturer’s handbook. If things go wrong with a product, we go to the manufacturer’s handbook and find out what’s going on. Right? Nowadays we Google. Right? We try to find out what’s going on. We have to go back to the manufacturer’s handbook. Amen.
And sometimes it is the way we are plugging it. It is the way we are, you know, putting things together that’s not right. We need to find out what’s the problem. Not blame the source. Amen. So, God wants your life to be put together. Amen. Amen. He wants your mind to be peaceful, poised. He wants your body to be vibrant with health and wholeness. Amen. So, if these areas are suffering, and we all have areas that we are all believing God for, He wants His light to shine in, into the area. Will you allow it to shine in?
But because we are so dense, we don’t see the need of shining. You know, you can be in the darkness for so long, you can be so familiar with the darkness, you can find comfort in the darkness, that you are in the cave for a long time. And this happened after World War II. There were some fighters, some Japanese fighters in the Philippines that was in the cave for a long time. And when they were asked to go out, alright, they came out for a while. You know what they did? They covered their eyes and then they went back in again. Refusing to come out. Why? Because they are so used to the darkness.
Don’t get used to the darkness, child of God. Don’t get used to being fearful, being worried, being… You know, it’s not your norm. Amen.
Restoring Appetite for God’s Word
So what is your norm? What’s your appetite like? Okay, imagine you are going on a… I think we all can imagine this, right? A long day of hiking up a hill or a mountain. Just imagine, okay, you are hiking the whole day. I mean, you are drinking water. And now, you finished your lunch about four hours ago or five hours ago. And you are hiking down and you are very hungry now. Amen. Especially when you are hiking, you are very hungry. You are drinking water most of the time. And you are looking for base camp. Right? You are going back to your camp.
Now, you arrive at your camp. It’s by the beautiful lake. On one side of the camp are all the boxes of chocolates, strawberry cookies. Amen. Candies, sweets. And over here, alright, on the charcoal fire, are spikes of fish being cooked. Amen. Lathered with salt. Amen. And there is bread being baked. And there is potatoes, alright, in the kettle. And you smell this aroma. Okay, chicken spinning. Alright. And you have a choice. You are very hungry. Which will you go for? Alright. Which will you go for?
Now, this person has been purified. Why? He has been fasting. He has not been eating for, let’s say, eight hours or seven hours. Right? By the time he comes down, think about pure. Back to your real self. What you really want. That actually shows what you really want. You are coming back to your real self. And then your craving is for what? Good food. Amen. You won’t want this stuff. That’s why this stuff here is for people, they eat too much until they don’t even know they are eating junk. And they snack in between. Oh. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
And we don’t realize we must get back to our real taste. Your real taste, child of God, is for good food. The Word of God. I said the Word of God. Amen.
Joshua Full of Wisdom — Meditate Day and Night
So Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses laid his hands on him. Now this is the last chapter of Deuteronomy 34. Say last chapter. Okay. So at the end, Moses has died. Okay. And Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom. How many of you want to be full of the spirit of wisdom? Do you have a relish, a taste for wisdom? Of all the things in the world, do you want wisdom? Amen. Amen.
If an angel comes to you. Alright. Not an angel. Even the Lord comes to you and say what? Name one thing that you want. What would you want? Okay. What would you say? Don’t tell me things like, give me a request that they make other requests. Okay. Not very smart. Okay. Just one. Solomon did that. And Solomon asked God for wisdom. And what did God say? With wisdom come, riches, honour and life. Amen. Amen. And asking that in the first place shows that there is some wisdom already. Which probably came from the advice of his father David. Right?
Singaporeans will ask for four numbers. Not knowing that the four numbers is a means to an end. But wisdom gives you the blessings that the four numbers cannot give. And it can give you even more. Amen. Because the Bible says wisdom, time and time again, it says wisdom does bring riches. Read the book of Proverbs. All right? Now, I’m not that kind of, you know, get as much money as you want. And that kind of thing. No, no, no, no. In fact, the danger of the love of money, and the love of money is a problem. All right? Not money. The love of money. You can have no money and still love money. But having that as your central pursuit. All right? The love of money is the root of all evil. Think of that. The root of all evil. You think about, it may be a root, but not the root. But it says the root of all evil. All right? So watch it. You can have money, but don’t love it. Use it.
But the Bible says wisdom gives riches. What about honor? Wisdom gives honor. What about life? It says wisdom gives long life. These are good things. Praise the Lord. So, if anything, wisdom is always first. In Corinthians, it says that Christ is made unto us wisdom, even before righteousness. Wisdom and then righteousness from God. Amen? And then sanctification and then redemption. Wisdom is first. The Bible says, of all the things, even the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the word of wisdom comes first. Amen. Crave wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing.
So, anyway, Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom. So, I know that this church, you’ve been asking God for wisdom, right? Amen. Wave your hand if you have. How many have asked God for wisdom just yesterday? There you go. A few hands, but I’m a bit sad with the rest who didn’t raise your hands. What do you ask God for every day? Huh? Four numbers. Okay. So, did you ask God for wisdom this morning? Amen. Do you come to church asking God to speak to you? Praise God. Yeah, that’s the spirit. Amen. That’s the spirit. Give me that light, that wisdom, Lord, that will set me free. Jesus said you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Amen.
Say, but Pastor, I’m not in bondage. Are you not? I’m talking about, is there an area where you find that you cannot but think about these things all the time? You don’t want to think about it, but you think about it. Alright? That’s mental bondage. And it usually leads to depression. Amen. Are there areas where you’re not free? You cannot but be a slave to it. There you need to be, you need your freedom. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Amen.
So even Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom why Moses had laid his hands on him. I’m very careful about laying hands on people. Amen. When they ask God for wisdom or whatever, because you know why? I believe that there’s an impartation in laying hands. Amen. You know, I’ve had wonderful men of God laid hands on me down through the years, especially when I was younger, much younger, in my teens and in my 20s. And I believe there was a real impartation. I began to see things I never saw before. I began to realize things I never saw. I began to move in the spirit in areas that I never moved before, after the impartation. So there’s a real impartation.
When Joshua received that laying on of hands by Moses, he was full of the spirit of wisdom. And the mantle of leadership was also passed on to him. And the people of Israel heeded him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. Now this is the last chapter of Deuteronomy. The next chapter is actually Joshua chapter 1. A new book, but it follows the sequence.
In Joshua chapter 1, the Bible says, «Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you.» Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I have given you.
We studied this the last time and we saw that the children of Israel, after seven years in the Promised Land. Joshua came in, remember? Through the river Jordan that was opened all the way to the city of Adam and then God made a way where there was no way and then they conquered the first city. The first city was Jericho, remember that? So since then, seven years have come and gone, and seven tribes still have not possessed their possessions.
So He says, «How long will you be slack»? He said. So the key, we need to know, we need to find the key. And the very next thing after He says, «How long will you be slack?» You know what He says, Joshua? He says, «Each tribe choose three men to go out and walk through the land.» Wow! He still remembered. The way to possess your possessions is to go out there and walk.
So each tribe provide three men to go out and walk through the land. In the Hebrew, it’s walk to and fro. Go out, halak, go out and walk through the land. Possess your possessions. Amen. So the Word of God is like we can walk through the Word of God. Amen. Different pages, different books, different chapters, different verses. Amen. And then we are possessing it. All the promises of God in Christ is yes and amen. Amen.
So notice Joshua is full of the Spirit of wisdom. Many of you have heard me preach on wisdom years ago. And since then, every day your prayer is wisdom, wisdom. Ask God for wisdom. And rightly so. I always tell business people when they say, you know, «Pastor, pray for me.» I say that it’s important you pray for yourself every day before you go to work. And I always ask God for wisdom. Amen. Not just wisdom for your business affairs, but also for your home life. Amen. Amen. For your walk with God.
But wisdom comes first. And after that, favor. Favor. These two things you’ve got to pray for every day. Amen. And the third thing, protection. You never know when you get into danger. Danger has no smell. Danger has no warnings. It has no symptoms. It can just happen, bang! You are in a car crash. Like I was just a few weeks ago. Major car crash. Until now, they are still debating about who is right, who is wrong. Yeah. And my car is still damaged. Yeah. Until that is done, they cannot do anything. Right? So, it was a major thing. It was total. I mean, the whole sight thing came off. I mean, it was damaged. And then the airbags came out. I never smelled airbags like that before. But Justin says, «I like the smell. I feel like I’m in a plane.» But thank God the Lord protected us. And the day before, I was praying specifically for protection. Amen? You have not because you ask not.
So, the next thing you need to ask God for is protection. Every day. So, Pastor Prince, can God just do things without us telling and all that? You need to understand one thing. I’m going to say real fast. This is a fallen world we live in. God used to have control over everything before man came. Before you came. But because you came. And God could have made a man with like a, you know, with no free will. Just obey him. Like a robot. Like an AI. Right? But God didn’t want that. God want a human being with a free choice to love him. To obey him. To want to be with him. Amen? God didn’t want a robot.
But therein lies the danger. If you make someone really a free choice. The free choice, it must be free choice. You cannot control the free choice. So, man chose the wrong choice by his free choice. You understand? Alright, but the thing is that just because you choose something, God cannot spare you of the consequence. Because God says you choose this, this is life. You choose this, this is destruction. So, men chose to rebel against God. They chose destruction. Like I said before. You can choose to put your finger, yes, into the fire. But you cannot choose no burn. No, no. You cannot choose the consequence.
So, the thing is, we must realize that since then, the earth is fallen because God said to man, I give you, the earth has He given to the sons of man. When God gives something, He’s not like you, you know. Give back, give back. Alright? Now, we are no more attached to you. Give back. Give back what I gave you. So, if you give, if you gave, the loan is a different thing. But if you gave, it is given. So, God does not take back what He has given. The earth has He given to the sons of man. And man has obeyed Satan instead of obeying God. The horror of it, you think about it. Amen?
So, in a way, Satan took the lease of the world, this earth, and brought in all kinds of destruction. That’s why the earth is not functioning the way it’s functioning. You can’t call it global warming. You can call it whatever earthquakes and storms and hurricanes and all kinds of things happening because God is not really running the earth yet. But the, the lease, Adam’s lease that He gave to the devil is running out. With every passing day, it’s running out.
So, God sent another Adam, Jesus Christ. Amen? Who died for our sins because our sins was the hindrance. It must be paid for. Amen? In a country where there’s no, uh, there’s no laws and, and bylaws and constitutional laws and all that, it will not be prosperous. It cannot function. It cannot be civilized. You don’t want to be in that country. I told my son Justin the other day, «Is it fun to play football if there are no rules?» That’s how they, they, the first football was played like that. There are no rules. Someone found a ball and they start kicking around. In England many years ago, I read about it. There’s no rule. You can even punch someone in front of, alright? I don’t think they’ll bring that back in case you are wondering. Alright?
So, now there are rules and they are introducing new rules with VR to observe, to make sure that, right? So football, football in Singapore is really football. Alright? My son says, «I don’t like to call it soccer. because we have the name football. Why change it»? he says. So it’s football. Football. Football. If you run with a ball in your hand, hand, ball. Correct. Okay, anyway. American football is different, okay? So, but they probably call us playing soccer. They call it soccer. Alright? To give us a term, but it’s football.
So there’s, there’s no rules. How, how, how do you think you will enjoy the game? You say, I don’t think I… No. You say, it’s not enjoyable. Rules help you to enhance your enjoyment of the game. You enjoy it because there are boundaries. There are rules. So the rules are not put there to heal your joy. Amen. It is to enhance it. Amen.
So, God has rules about this earth. And God gave man the very first rule that he broke. He obeyed an outlaw spirit. So this earth, in a sense, that’s why the devil can come to Jesus and say, «All the kingdoms of this world I give you if you just bow before me and worship me.» He wasn’t lying. «All the kingdoms of this world has been given to me.» He wasn’t lying. Who gave it to him? Adam. But Jesus would get it back. Amen? Lawfully. Alright? But He would die for our sins first because our sin is the main hindrance. Amen.
And then, that’s why the Bible calls Him the last Adam. Or the second Adam. Amen. And He would come and die for our sins and then rise from the dead. Praise God. And He says, «Now all power is given unto me in heaven and on earth.» Now all power. The earth is still lost. The earth is still fallen. The earth is still groaning. All these earthquakes and hurricanes and all that is the earth groaning. Do you understand? Amen. This global warming is all the earth groaning. Okay? You see all chaos and all that is the earth groaning. And they are groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God. They are crying out. Because the moment we are manifest, when Jesus returns, we are manifested as the sons of God. Praise God. All this will cease. And then you will see the earth set right. Praise the name of Jesus. Hallelujah. Amen.
So now, Jesus says, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Say amen. Go ye therefore. You, you. Go ye therefore. Therefore is there because all power is given unto me. But I won’t be here physically. I’ll be here by, by my spirit in all of you. But you execute as my, as my representatives with the power of attorney in my name. In my name, you will cast out demons. You shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Amen. They shall speak with new tongues. Praise the Lord. Are you listening, people?
Jesus says, Go ye therefore. Because all power, all authority is given unto me. Go ye therefore. Go ye therefore. And, and one of the things that we, we do is pray. If someone prays on earth, God says, I have a covenant with this person. Amen. I must come in with my power in that situation. All that to tell you, why pray? You don’t, you have not because you ask not. Are you listening? You have not because you ask not.
So, with all the wisdom that Joshua had, like some of you ask God for wisdom every day. I don’t have to read the Bible. Right? The very next chapter, Joshua 1, God actually tells Joshua how to possess the land in verse 8. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. This Word of God, this Bible. And the Bible they had back then was just a Torah. Alright? But imagine, they had to meditate on the Torah. The first five books of the Bible. Whereas you and I, we have so much more wonderful promises to meditate on. Especially the Gospel. The grace of God. The new covenant.
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. Alright? But you shall meditate in it day and night. Now, the word meditate here is haggah. Say haggah. Haggah. Haggah is the matter under your breath. Ever see someone talking to themselves. Amen? Without the earphones. Now they must say without the earphones. Right? Because, like you see them talking, then they start smiling. Maybe they are thinking of a recipe. or something they want to cook. Right? And they are smiling to themselves. They talk to themselves. Now, that is muttering.
So, mutter God’s Word day and night. And the Bible always says the same thing about meditation. Of all the things in the Bible, meditation is the one that God always ties up prosperity with. Okay, now, when I say prosperity, don’t just think of money. Okay? Prosperity is a prosperous result. That God gives this person, prosperity means a prosperous result. Whatever He does, whether it is in parenting, whether it is in His married life, whether it is in His relationship with people, whether it is in His work or whatever, God prospers Him. Whatever He does, prospers.
And here’s what God says, then you will make your way prosperous. And then you will have good success. Can you see it? It’s tied up with meditate. Haga. Mutter. Now, if this is not enough, look at Psalms 1 verse 2. We showed it the other time, but look at it again. But His delight is in the law of the Lord. His delight, His joy. His joy. See that? It’s not that I have to do meditation. No. His delight is in the law of the Lord. And in His law, He meditates. You know what’s the word there? Haga. Mutter. Same word. In His, in His Word does He meditate. Day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. You’ll be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that does not depend on the stock market. That does not depend on the circumstances of any, any world event, whether there’s war going on or whatever. Why? Because other trees may, may suffer the drought. Right? But you are a tree planted by not just one stream, but by rivers of water. And the word planted means someone did the planting. You are not a tree growing wild somewhere.
You’ll be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Your leaf will not wither. What’s the leaf? The leaf is the health of the tree. When it withers, it becomes brown, it dies off. The next stage is death. God says, your health will not wither. And it is always green. If it’s not withering, it’s always green. It means what? You’re always young. God will keep you young. Amen? And the next thing, whatsoever He does shall prosper. If God says whatsoever, it is whatsoever. Don’t let man put a restriction on it. God says, whatever you do prospers, whatever you do prospers. Amen.
I want to say this. Some people get shocked when I say this. Sometimes even your mistakes prospers. Amen. Now don’t go around making stupid mistakes. Okay? But I’m just saying, just by sheer living in this side of heaven, all of us will make mistakes. But don’t groan over your mistakes and all that. If you’re a meditator of God’s prosper, God says, whatever you do prospers.
So I’ve never found anything in the Word of God that has one thing that you do and that’s prosperity, prosperity, prosperity. Especially in every area. Whatever He does prospers. You will make your way prosperous. You will have good success.
Testimony of Meditating on Proverbs
I remember many years ago as a boy growing up and I got turned on to God’s Word. probably I was in my late teens at that time. I read about this. man, a Christian man, that God gave this revelation. of meditating on the book of Proverbs. Why? Because he was he was in school and he was always failing his grades. He wasn’t doing well. And then he was he was trying to memorize you know, the studies, books and all that but he couldn’t do it. And he had a problem with his mind.
So, at that time I had a problem with my mind. Okay? You all know some of my testimony. And then, in fact, I went through mental health issues when I was a young. teenager. starting from maybe mid-teens and on. And today they have a term for it. Now I realize what is it. Alright? Depression and all that. That’s how the Gospel of Grace came out of that. Amen. How God gave me the Gospel of Grace that Paul preached. the authentic original one. And you know, when it’s original, right? And there’s a lot of some fakes going on. The original looks fake. Like a Johnny-cum-lately. But actually, if you study what I’m sharing with the New Testament, Paul’s writings especially, you’ll find it’s in line. Amen. Okay? Whatever I do, I show the Word for it and the context especially. I don’t take verses out of context.
So, I had this problem and this young man was also going through some mental issues but he said he was failing his grades and then God showed him to meditate on the book of Proverbs. Now, he said, you know, he need to, if anything, meditate and memorize. his curriculum, his studies. Right? But he said, God told him to memorize the book of Proverbs. He began in chapter 1, he began to memorize. And difficult as it was in the first place, he began to memorize more and more and meditate.
The next stage is, you need to memorize it before you can meditate, right? You bite a huge chunk in the morning from God’s Word, you say, this verse speaks to me. Then you memorize it first, right? So, the whole day, you don’t have to have the Bible in front of you knocking into the lamppost or whatever or your phone, right? You can just meditate in your mind. Whether you’re in the bars in the MRT or you’re driving somewhere, you can just meditate by muttering. That itself prospers you. God promises that. Amen.
So, he meditated on the book of Proverbs. And guess what? When he did his exam, the exam that was forthcoming, after he meditated on God’s Word, he scored straight A’s. Now, he has a ministry today. I think he’s still alive. But it was amazing when I read that, I told myself, and God was teaching me on meditation already.
So, there was one testimony that I grabbed on and I tell myself, and I was still studying at the time, so I said, you know, I’ll meditate on God’s Word. And not so much like, I study it, you know, as much as I can, but when it comes to God’s Word and to memorize and meditate is God’s Word. I prioritize. Amen.
Some of you, your kids don’t come during exam period. Alright? Now, let me tell you this. Put God first. You know, just a few hours, Sunday morning, right, they cram-cram, nothing will happen once. I mean, if they cannot, cannot already. It’s too late. You understand, right? Alright? Why not put God first? And maybe God will show them something that will come out. You know? God will make them study something that is more focused. It’s amazing when you put God first, the things that you want, you turn around, you find it’s there. But when you’re pursuing those things, you find that without God, you find it’s such a, like a treadmill. You know, you’re going, running, running, running, putting a lot of effort, but sweating and all that, but going nowhere.
Seek you first, the Kingdom of God. It’s righteousness. All these things will be added to you. Amen? Amen. Some parents are not even here. because their kids are having an exam, right, in the coming weeks. So, no, why worry? I must show that I’m worried so I don’t go to church. so that everyone knows that I’m a good parent. No. If you want the best results for your kids, you will go to church. Amen. Praise the Lord.
The Tree by the Rivers — Unfading Health and Prosperity
So, God says, alright, can you see the result? Psalms 1 as well. It tells you, you become like the tree. I left God’s Word, you know, it gives you a picture. And the picture falls into your spirit and germinates. Amen. I’m like a tree planted by… Many of you know these verses, so I don’t have to repeat it. Alright, many of you know these verses, and I know that you know it. But know this, how that meditation is tied up with prospering in every area. Not just in your studies, but in parenting, in your workplace, and even your health.
Your health, your green, your youthfulness will not wither. Amen. It’s wonderful to see someone advance in their age, right, and then their youthfulness never wither. Remember, we’ve been studying on the blessing of Asher in Deuteronomy 33, blessing of Asher. It says what? Asher is most blessed of sons. Asher means happiness. Asher means happiness. And it says, let him be favoured by his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil. There’s a lot of food mentioned in Asher or things pertaining to the feet. Your shoes, your sandals shall be iron and bronze. You see? Sandals, dip his foot. I think it’s got something to do with walking. Spiritual walking, walking in the spirit, walking to possess your possessions. But also, don’t over-spiritualize it and neglect the physical part. I think there’s something about physical walking.
And then it says, as your days, so shall your strength be. Now, listen, listen, listen. How the devil has tried to steal this verse. Every time you hear it, next few days, the devil steals it. Jesus says, when the word falls on ground that a person doesn’t understand, Satan comes immediately. and snatches it away. So don’t allow him to do that. Alright? The devil will come to steal the word. Notice immediately. You know why? He cannot allow it to take root.
Now listen, are you listening to this verse? Do you know what it really is saying? It says, as your days, so shall your strength be. Today, everywhere you go, the experts on medical affairs and all that will tell you, as your days, you decline in your strength. Am I right? That is true. naturally. This verse is supernatural. As your days, so shall your strength be. So this is the blessing of Asher. And Asher means happiness. And happiness. makes you strong, healthy, and young, vibrant. Vibrant. Amen? So be happy. A merry heart does good like medicine. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah.
Exam period. Rejoice in the Lord. And again, I say rejoice. Amen. Have a merry heart. Praise the Lord. So the Bible says that as your days, so shall your strength be. And then amazingly, in the New Testament, you don’t find the twelve tribes mentioned a lot. Especially in its specific names. Amen. You have the tribe of Zebulun and Naphtali about the land of darkness that a bright light has shone because Jesus went to that territory in Galilee by the lake of Galilee. That whole territory that’s mentioned. But it’s a way of passing remark to quote Isaiah. But there’s no one that’s saying this person is from the tribe of Galilee. There’s only a phrase like you men of Galilee. But which tribe?
But there’s one person in the Bible in the New Testament that it says this person is from the tribe of Asher. So let’s look at a story. Baby Jesus has been born and He’s brought to the temple for the dedication. The temple in Jerusalem. He was a baby. And the Bible says in Luke 2 there was one Hannah. Say Hannah. Hannah, her name means grace. If your name is Hannah or Anna it means grace. Alright? It’s Joanna. It is Yahweh. There is Jehovah. God’s name. God’s grace. Okay? That’s why John is God’s grace. grace. Okay, so here there’s one Hannah, a prophetess, the daughter of Panuel of the tribe of Asher. She’s of the tribe of Asher. So she’s grace, the daughter of Paniel. Paniel is actually the face of God. Paniel. Pan is the face. El. God’s name. Paniel.
So when the face of God is shining on you, Amen? Let me see what. The grace is coming on you. And then you’ll be happy. You’ll be happy because you have got grace for that situation. Right? So she was of great age. So I like the Bible because the Bible uses words like very specific and I choose versions that reflect the original. The original, for example, says advanced years, right? But then a lot of people when they, some versions say very old. But you say very old, people’s idea is that very old, you know? The picture of very old because all of us have images of old. But when you say advanced in years, because the original says advanced in years, even the Hebrew, Abraham was advanced in years. The next thing you know he’s running. He’s running to receive his guests. Remember that? Hello? You know, how old was he, you know? Nearly 100 years old when he was running to receive his guests. 99 years old to be more specific. Because the guests, one of them is the Lord telling him that next year he’s going to have a son. He had a son when he was 100 years old, right? So he was 99 when he ran and in the whole passage it says he ran twice. As your day, so shall your strength be. These are Bible people. Can I have a good amen? Amen.
Oh yeah, Pastor, you don’t understand. My knee very pain. Then walk. Walk. Your sandals are bronze. Don’t worry. Walk. The other day I was. at a certain cafe with my son and in walk a lady with a stick. And then when she saw me, she was so glad. I realized she’s from our church. We talked for a while, fell at her a bit. Then she sat down there and says that, I’ve been having a problem with my hip. My knee, I think. My hip and knee. And that’s why I’m carrying this stick, she said. Now she’s a bit advanced in years, you can tell. So, I prayed for her. in that cafe and then I felt this word rising up. I said that, never stop walking. Because I’m telling you, walking is probably one of the best medicines. When you feel like there’s pain here, pain there in your leg, walk. Walk. Don’t run, walk. The more you walk, the oil will start flowing. And you’ll be surprised, one day, you’ll find that the problem is no more.
So, I told her this, I felt the word walk. And she let me, okay, I’m going to walk. Walk around your neighborhood, I says, and don’t stop walking. I said, first of all, even 10 minutes. I said, walk for 10 minutes. Even you walk with a stick, right? Walk for 10 minutes. Amen. After that, you’ll find that 50 minutes. You will grow. As your day, so shall your strength be. Amen. Okay, so, that was only a few days ago when that happened.
So, she had been a widow for about 84 years. Now, she was a great age having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. So, think about it. How old do you think she was when she got married? She was about, about probably 16. In those days, they married early, okay? 15, 16. It was said that Mary was probably 15. So, let’s give and take 16, okay? 16 years old. She was 16 years old. Then she married at 16 years old. Then she lived with her husband for seven years. How long is that now? 23. Very good. The rest of you, study math. Okay? By the way, God loves math. Study the Word of God. There’s a lot of mathematics involved. And the whole world, everything, right? Like, our bodies work in cycles of seven. Seven days. Seven times seven. Seven times seven. You know, it’s like, like, seven, even the tabernacle. God loves math. After all, he created it. Math is exact. Amen?
So, 23 years old. She had been, she had been a widow for about 84 years. I like this translation because this translation and I think N-E-T as well brings out the meaning of that. She has been a widow for about 84 years. Other translation says she is a widow of 84 years. Makes you think that she’s 84 years old. She’s not. She has been a widow for 84 years. So, 23 plus 84? 107. No wonder it says great age, right? She was of great age. 84 is not exactly great age, understand? She’s advanced in years. Great age, right?
And she didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. Do you know, you go without food, one day, and you are able-bodied, you are a 21-year-old guy, alright? Just one day without food, oh, I can see them, you know? Some of them. They cannot even walk, right? Like what Pastor Lian was sharing, like, guys, you know, we go to the mall, she goes to the mall and all that, guys cannot take it, right? We cannot, guys, we cannot walk like the ladies can. We melt, we wither away, alright? Actually, they don’t know, right, guys? They don’t know. They were just giving excuses so that we can sit somewhere and drink coffee, right? You know? Because we find some things boring, right? Alright?
Do you think this red colour nice or this purple colour? I think cappuccino, I mean cappuccino, cappuccino, I mean cappuccino colour, I mean this colour is okay. So, right, it’s not that we are tired, amen? Amen, guys? Hey, we have been to national service, amen? Amen? So, so I’d like to ask Pastor Lian how she know about the guy’s thing. Don’t you think Pastor Lian is a beautiful example of someone? I won’t tell you her age. Don’t you think she looks young? And she’s strong, you know, vibrant, you know? Amen? It’s like she’s reversing in her ageing.
Alright, so she didn’t depart. Think about it. This woman of great age from the tribe of Asher, she’s a fulfilment of as thy day, so shall thy strength be. And that’s why the only example in the New Testament God gave us is the fulfilment of that verse. She went without food often. Fasting is plural. And you know what? She was able to go from a house to the temple every day. No one willed her there. She walked. Hundred and seven years old. How about her voice? Does she speak like that? Justin was telling me the other day. He had a prophecy for me when he was a younger boy. Not the other day. Younger boy. He says, I think the Lord is saying to you, I recorded it. I think the Lord is saying that when you are old, even your age and all that, people will be surprised that why your voice is strong. I love it, you know? And I recorded that. And at that time, he was probably eight or seven years old when he prophesied that. I still have that recording. I take it, it’s from God, out of the mouth of babes. Amen? There are moments like that. Amen.
So, look at her voice. Next verse. «Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord publicly, you know, and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Yerushalayim.» In other words, this baby is here now. She’s telling one by one, «Do you know what, who is this baby? Do you know not?» She went around and she proclaimed, «Everyone, this is the baby!» She went around. That takes energy, that takes strength. «As her day, so shall her strength be.» Are you with me so far?
Conquering the City of the Book — Kiryat Sefer
I want to tell you another story in the Bible, very interesting. And this is a story of a man called, oh, you see his name, here. «Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir. Formerly, the name of Debir was Kiryat Sefer.» There is no insignificant details in the Bible. When you study the Bible, there are no insignificant details. When the Bible tells you that this city called Debir, formerly was called Kiryat Sefer, that means there’s meaning to names. Even names have meanings in the Bible. Not just numbers have meanings, names have meanings. Okay?
So, Debir, what is Debir? Debir is oracle. Oracle is a speaking voice of God. Today, we call it Rhema. Rhema, voice of God. And people say, «Pastor Prince, how do you get God to speak to you from the Bible?» That’s the best way, okay? Listen, if God speaks, but even an angel appears and all that, and it’s not consistent with the Bible, it’s not God. It’s an angel of light. It’s demonic. A scammer. Okay? So, but God, the best voice is the voice that you hear. Every time you read the Word of God, there is a…you get familiar with…there’s a certain tone. Especially when you read widely, you’ll find once you get that tone, the same tone will speak to you. You can tell God’s voice. My sheep hear my voice. He didn’t say, «My sheep have to study to hear my voice.» You know God’s voice. That’s how you got saved. You heard His voice. So, I don’t remember. I didn’t hear…no, don’t think of things outside. Think of the voice speaking from inside. It spoke to you. Amen?
So, here, we have this place called Debir. In this, the speaking voice of God, all the oracle of God. How do you get the rhema of God? Previously, it was called Kiryat Sefer. This town with Debir was previously called Kiryat Sefer. Guess what? Kiryat is city. Sefer is book. City of the book. There’s a city of the book. This book is like a city. There are buildings, different kinds of buildings. There are rivers that go through it. There are things that are so beautiful for us to explore in different rooms, different chambers, upper rooms and all that. And this city is all for us. Amen.
So, spend time in the city. Previous name. So, first of all, spend time in the city of the book. And then, Debir will come out of it. Can you see it? Alright? That’s why it says the previous name was city. That’s where you find it from. The Debir is the same as the city of the book. And Debir is where you get Davar later on. Davar is the Word of God. The Word, Davar. Okay.
And Caleb said… Remember Caleb? When he was 85 years old, what did he say? «Give me this mountain.» He says, «I’m as strong today.» And the mountain was full of giants. Not small, small guys. Okay, short guys. Who by taking thought cannot add to their cubit. I mean, to their height. I’m not referring to the kind of guys. I mean, these are really giants, giants. Recently, I saw a little documentary. They found Spears, Spears. And these are archaeologists that are not believers in Israel. They are not believers. They found Spears that is like… I kid you not. It’s like the edge of the spear is like this big. Or bigger than this. How are you this? Sharp. And they say that they didn’t find the handle. But they say that if that is so, the handle is going to be very heavy. And the Bible talks about a giant called Ish-benop. And his spear weighs the kind of shackles, you know, that heavy. Right? Talk about giants.
But you know what the… So, they tried to think about it. No man can hold this spear, they said. Definitely not for fighting because you cannot maneuver it. But yet, they say the spear, the blade has a lot of jagged side, which means it was involved in the battle. So, these people don’t believe in God. You see, God, if you believe in God, things become simple. So, they start thinking, why is it not involved in battle? Why is it a jagged? And why is it like, you know, there are signs that it’s involved in some… People have hit with it. So, someone says, maybe it’s used for decorative purpose. That’s what they always say. But they found Spears belonging to giants. There were giants, okay, on the earth. The Bible talks about it. And that’s another message altogether.
So, Caleb said, «He who attacks Kiriath Sefer, the city of the book, and takes it, to him I’ll give Aqsa, my daughter, to wife.» Now, look at this. God is saying to us, «If you conquer this book, I’ll give you Aqsa.» What does that mean? Pastor, does that mean I’m single, pastor? Does that mean there will be a girl called Lim Aqsa? I don’t mind Korean, Korean, all right. Chuo Aqsa. No, no. Her name is Aqsa, and Aqsa means ankle jewelry. Anklet, the anklet. Now, where is it? Where is it? Here, the foot. God is saying, those who master this Bible, those who master the Bible, will receive, will possess their possessions. Okay? Will possess their possessions.
Of course, in the real story, right, his daughter better be beautiful. Anyone who attacks Kiryat Sefer, by the way, this story happened, right? There’s a place called Kiryat Sefer. It’s still there in Israel. All right? Anyone who conquers Kiryat Sefer will get my daughter. And the daughter comes back. You know? Most guys will be like, «Yo, all right man, you conquer man, you conquer.» Right? She must be a beauty. She must be a beauty. And as, as we will presently, as we will presently see, we will see that she’s actually not just a beauty, but she has wisdom and she has faith. Amen.
The Bible says, «So, Othniel, the son of Kinas.» So, if a person is called something O’Neil, right? O’Neil is from this name. And it’s an actor last time called Ryan O’Neil. Right? O’Neil is, O’Neil in Hebrew means «Lion of God.» So, «Lion of God, the son of Kinas, the brother of Caleb.» It’s actually his nephew. «Took it and he gave him extra, his daughter to wife.»
So, Othniel took the city, the Lion of God. I love it. He took the city of the book. By the way, to see Christ in this, it’s actually the book of Revelation chapter 5. John had a vision, and this is the future, right? When he was in heaven, he saw a scroll with seven seals. And a strong voice said, «Who is worthy to open and loose the seals of this scroll?» And this scroll means forfeited inheritance from Adam. Adam forfeited the inheritance. Right? And as long as it’s sealed, it’s bad news for the earth. That’s why every seal has a very bad thing happening in the book of Revelation. Because each seal represents what? The evil spirit and the judgments and all that.
So, is anyone able to remove the seals so that the forfeited inheritance becomes ours? And John says, «I wept much, because there was no one worthy to loose the seals thereof.» And then an angel told John, «Weep not! For behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed!» Then Jesus stepped forth. And he stepped forth in that chapter called, «The Lion of Judah.» And he loosed the seals. Thundering, things are happening. And all the following chapters tell us, each seal, what it means. And as he opens each seal, he’s literally redeeming the earth from all this, what these seals represent. Amen.
So, it’s a picture. The book is now open to us. The book of our inheritance. But for some of you, it’s sealed. You don’t even bother about it. Alright? You watch drama that you’re hooked on, and yet you feel sentimental, you feel this, but you go back to your problem still there. It doesn’t help you. It helps them though, increase their viewership, and they go laughing at the bank, to the bank, hallelujah. Amen. But it doesn’t help you. I’m not against you watching. I’m not against you, you know, having some entertainment. I’m just saying, those things don’t help you, no. You help them, you know. Do you understand, no? Yeah. You spend too much time in these things. It’s not wise. It’s unwise. Huh? Okay?
So, those who master this, I’ll give him the possession. Amen. That’s a spiritual truth coming out from here. So, Othniel, the son of Canas, the brother of Caleb took it, and he gave him Aksa, his daughter, the wife. We’re about to see Aksa’s character. Next. «Now it was so, when she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from a donkey, and Caleb said to her, 'What do you wish? '». Wow. The father asked her, 'What do you wish? '. She answered, 'Now this is New Testament prayer. Give me.' Don’t be afraid. There are people who make me feel guilty for asking, 'Give me.'.
She said, 'Give me a blessing.' She said, 'Since you have given me land in the south, give me also Springs of water.' So he gave her the upper Springs and the lower Springs. What is the upper Springs and the lower Springs? In a land like Israel, you need the Springs of water because it can’t depend on the rain. The rain comes in its seasonal times. They have the early rain, the latter rain, and things like that. But you can’t depend on the rain. So the streams of water is necessary for their own livelihood as well as also for watering the plants and all that. So having water, you know, they fight over Wells of water even, right? So this is a real blessing.
So what is upper spring? Upper spring is the Holy Spirit upon, alright? It’s the Holy Spirit upon. Lower spring is the Holy Spirit within you. Spirit within is for guidance. Spirit upon is not always true. Like right now, I have the Spirit of God upon me. And that helps my preaching. Whatever you’re doing for the Lord, when the Spirit comes on you, you do it beyond your natural enablement. If you are a preacher, you start saying things that you didn’t even prepare for, but it is so good you want to stop sometime and take down notes. But you know, it’s not you. The teacher takes over.
The Spirit upon is always for ministry. Spirit upon is always for the benefit of others. Spirit upon is always for some task or some assignment God gives you. Okay? You can ask God for that. Because Aksa showed us, possess your possessions. She said, «Give me Holy Spirit upon.» Okay? But what you have is the Holy Spirit in you within all the time. And that is for guidance. So, Spirit upon is for power. Spirit within is for guidance. Spirit upon is not always on you. It comes and goes for ministry. After ministry is over, it’s not on you all the time. It goes. But the Spirit within is in you forever. The Holy Spirit. And that’s for guidance.
How many of you have done things here? «Ah, it didn’t feel right.» I don’t think. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t feel right. You obey your Spirit within. Amen. There’s a verse in 1 John 2:20 that says, «You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.» Amen. The anointing which you have received of Him abides in you. 1 John 2:27. «The anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.» Amen.
The anointing within is for guidance. Are you with me so far? And by the way, in the New Testament, we have the counterpart. It says this, «It’s God who works in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.» To will is guidance. God gives you the willingness, the desire. One version says, «God gives you the desire and the doing of His good pleasure.» How many of you think that, you know, when God tells me to do something, or I think it’s something I don’t want to do. God tells me to be involved in this ministry, but I don’t like to be in this ministry. Like I told you before, if you don’t like kids, and you feel like God is calling you to work among kids, please don’t go there. It’s not God’s voice. Alright? Because when God assigns an assignment for you, it will always be, He will work in you the desire, the willingness. That’s the guidance.
And then, not only that, you can have a desire, but no power to do it. He will even give you the power to do it. By the way, this verse, the verse before this has been so abused by people. It says, «Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.» I’ve heard people use this verse and they abuse it to put fear in believers. They’re saying, «Yes, I know we are saved by grace, but do you know something? The Bible says, 'Work out your salvation.'» Have you heard it before? It’s not saying, «Work for.» It says, «Work out.» Why? The next verse, «God works in.» Work out what God is working in. Work it out. Amen? Fear and trembling is a Hebraism with carefulness. Amen? With reverence. Praise the Lord. Alright?
God works in you. You work it out. Amen? God works the message in me. Now I’m working it out. Amen? God works in the server. Amen? And then He works it out by serving. Amen? God works that love in you. If you have a problem with your husband or whatever right now. Right? God works that love. God works in you first. And then He gives you the power to forgive your husband. Amen? Amen. This is Christian life. We cannot take glory. It’s God working all the time.
And preachers, let me give you a word of advice. Okay? This is going to help you. When you are preaching, do you think you are working for God? That’s the biggest mistake. You’re not working for God. God is working in you and through you. Once you see that, it will change your life. Amen? Because a lot of people, they think, «I gotta serve God. I’m preaching to work for God.» God doesn’t want that. God wants you to wait until He starts working in you and through you. Are you a vessel in the first place during your time of preparation? You receive the message that God is working in you. Your heart jumps. He gives you a desire to preach this Word. I’m telling you how I do it. And then He gives you the performance of it, the doing of it. And all the while, it’s God. And you know He’s God, so you can’t take credit, you can’t take glory for it. Amen?
As opposed to, «I gotta work for God. I must work for God. God is worthy. Yes, I must obey Him. I work for God.» Then you are left to your own resources. No, be open to God working in you. And then, even the doing is God’s doing. Okay? So, praise the Lord. Are you with me so far? Understand?
Word for Sleepless Nights — Meditate in the Watches
Now, I’m going to tell you something. I got a word for people. As I was preparing, the Lord gave me that a number of you are having problems sleeping, and especially not sleeping deeply, or you wake up intermittently during the night. I want to give you a word that will help you. All right? And it’s from Psalms 119:148. It says, «My eyes,» David is talking, «My eyes anticipate the night watches, so that I may meditate on your word.»
In Israel, there are night watches, like from 6:00 to 9:00, 9:00 to 12:00 midnight, 12:00 midnight to 3:00, 3:00 to…the 4th watch is the darkest, as they say. 3:00 to 6:00. That’s why Jesus says, «Blessed is that servant, when I come again shall find so doing. If I come on the third watch or the fourth watch, which is the darkest, He’s blessed if I find Him so doing,» Jesus said.
So, even the watches, you say that, «Pastor, I wake up at usually about 2:00, 2:00 AM, you know, and I need to go back to sleep. I need to go to work, and then I wake up again about 4:00 AM. I don’t have good sleep.» You know what David says? David had a problem with insomnia. There are even scholars who say that, because he talks a lot about in the night, he gets up to praise God. And not only that, he says, «My eyes anticipate the night watchers, so that I may meditate on Your Word.»
You know what you’re doing right now? I’ll tell you this, I know because I’ve been through that. I had problems sleeping. And what really helped me is really meditating on God’s Word. David went to the extreme. He says, «I purposely anticipate the night watchers.» Nighttime especially is like when your problems are multiplied. Somehow, it’s like something evil. It’s like, things look bigger. Symptoms seem stronger in your body. The feeling of apprehension and foreboding is heavier. Don’t you find it so? And when morning comes, it’s like, «Ah,» you know? But David says, «I purposed, I anticipate the night watchers.» I look forward to waking up here and there. You know why? David says, «So that, God, I can meditate on Your Word.» I’ll find those times.
If the devil is going to keep you awake, then he’s going to do this, this time to edify me. And I’m telling you, down through the years, «I have been blessed by revelations in the night.» Songwriters, you heard the saying from the Bible, He even gives songs in the night. Think about the things that God gives to people in the night. God gave a covenant. God made a covenant with Jacob when he was sleeping at night. God gave wisdom to Solomon when he was sleeping at night. So many things happen at night. And at midnight, the angel appeared. And they had a wrestling match. We don’t know how long it lasts. 1 A.M., 2 A.M., but it was pretty long. And until the break of day, the Bible says, it’s the break of day, let me go. Until early morning. So things happen at night. God is also active. Not only the powers of darkness. God is active. You must know that. Why not take advantage of that?
If you cannot sleep, meditate. Take a verse and meditate. Are you listening? Take a verse and meditate. Hug on it. «In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.» «In returning and rest shall you be safe.» «In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.» «In quietness.» Quietness at night and in confidence. Most likely, you will fall asleep again. And this time, into a good sleep. But perchance, that doesn’t happen. Never mind. Both have happened to me before. I meditate, I fall asleep. There are times I feel like, wow, I didn’t sleep much. Only four hours or four hours plus. How can I face the day? Right? But because I was meditating, for some reason, the whole day, there’s strength. It’s as good as the effect of…I’m telling you, that’s much better than the effect of bad sleep.
So David went to the extreme. He says, «I anticipate the night watchers that I may meditate on your Word.» So you tell me, «Pastor, I’m too busy to meditate.» So the Bible used the word «day and night.» «This book of the Lord shall not depart from him.» «Day and night.» Psalms 1:2. His delight, he meditates on God’s Word, what? «Day and night.» Huh? You see that?
Actually, I have something I want to share with all of you, but it was actually the crux of the whole thing also, but that’s enough for today. It’s enough for today. Amen. We can always continue. You want to? Subscribe to this channel. Alright? We’ll notify you. Not only will notify you, la. Every Sunday you come. Amen? And you will hear the Word.
So find a verse. Okay, I’ll give you one verse. Matthew 7:11. I prepared for you this verse. For example, you take this verse, alright, and you chew on it. «If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts, good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask Him?»
So you meditate. «If you then, being evil, wow, you then, being evil,» Jesus said. It is contrasted with a dark background. The goodness of God is contrasted with man’s evilness. «If you then, being evil, you know how to give good things to your children,» well, you meditate. You get excited, I’ll tell you this. Yeah, evil people give good things, what? And their good things is not necessarily God’s good things, you know. They think, «Oh Lord, candy, good, good, good, good, good, good, good appetite, right?» But you know how to give good things to your children. By the way, because it’s health, does God give health? Right? Us, you being evil, would you give health to your children? Would you provide for them to have access to health facilities? You want them well when they are sick? How much more? Oh, you came on that for a few days enough already. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things, good things to them that ask Him?
Pastor, I’m fearful that I’ll die young. You ever ask God for a long life? But my friends say you cannot ask God for that. Your time to go, you go. You tell your friend, like, if you want to go, he go. He go alone. But you can ask God. You know David asked God for a long life? Have you asked God before? Is it a good thing? Is it a good thing? You see, when you are in heaven too soon, right? You are no more earthly good. And trust me, God has plenty of perfection there. Alright? He doesn’t, you know, don’t go too early.
So, anyway, is it a good thing? But why don’t God just give me? To those who ask Him? Have you asked? Have you asked? I don’t understand the Bible, Pastor. I really need God’s wisdom. Have you asked? If you…if this revelation becomes so strong in you, you’re asking the…every day you’re asking, you know. As long as it’s a good thing, how much more will Father in it? Okay, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. I should not be meditating for you, okay? This is your meditating verse.
It’s time to close already. Huh? Well, I must do this for you also. I’ll break it down for you. Huh? Spoil, huh? Okay? So, take a verse, meditate on it, enjoy it. You cannot sleep, meditate on it. Trust me, you’re getting…your body is still getting the rest. Amen? And sooner or later, you will go back to the normal cycle of sleep. Amen. Praise the Lord.
Closing Invitation and Prayer
For a chance there is someone here, you have never received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. This last Adam that came to redeem all that the first Adam has forfeited because of his sin. We are all sinners because of Adam’s sin. Likewise, God ordained that the last man, the last Adam, Jesus Christ, by His obedience, we are all made righteous before God. Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved in your house. If that is you, pray this prayer with me right now. Say:
Father in heaven, I thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for all my sins. I thank you that you raised Jesus from the dead when I was justified in Him. All my sins totally forgiven. All my diseases healed. Thank you, Father, you watch over me. Thank you, Father, you care for me. Amen. Jesus Christ is my Lord, now and forever. In Jesus' name, amen.
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Amen. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Stand to your feet. And you’re blessed. Don’t take your protection for granted. Okay? Always trust God. And He will always give if you ask. Amen. Amen.
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, as your people go forth, Lord, I pray for throughout this week, Lord. Let your angels go before them and make all the crooked places straight. Give to each of them your spirit of wisdom and revelation. In the knowledge of you, Father, even when they open your Word or they look for a verse to meditate, your spirit of wisdom, even their wonderful Holy Spirit will give them that Word, Lord, that will speak to them for them to memorize and meditate and feed upon.
Father, I pray that you will make this a new lifestyle for all of us. Instead of meditating on our fears and worries, Lord, we pray you will Grant us, Lord, the grace and the performance of it, Lord, to have this as part of our new lifestyle. And I pray for everyone, Father, under the sound of my voice, that as their days increase, so shall bear strength. Let it be so, Father, that the stories of Hannah, Caleb, Abraham are not just stories in the Bible, Lord. But let us be leading testimonies, Lord, today, Lord, of your Word, that all the glory may go to Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, and all the people said, Amen.
Father, I pray that you will make this a new lifestyle for all of us. Instead of meditating on our fears and worries, Lord, we pray you will Grant us, Lord, the grace and the performance of it, Lord, to have this as part of our new lifestyle. And I pray for everyone, Father, under the sound of my voice, that as their days increase, so shall bear strength. Let it be so, Father, that the stories of Hannah, Caleb, Abraham are not just stories in the Bible, Lord. But let us be leading testimonies, Lord, today, Lord, of your Word, that all the glory may go to Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, and all the people said, Amen.