Finding Breakthrough in Faith

Zacchaeus: Breakthrough | Joby Soriano | March 23, 2025

Estimated read time: 1:20

Summary

This sermon, delivered by Joby Soriano at Christ's Commission Fellowship, uses the story of Zacchaeus from the Bible to illustrate the concept of breakthrough in faith. Soriano emphasizes the importance of seeking Jesus, obeying Him, and surrendering to His will to experience transformation and spiritual breakthrough. Through scriptural examples and personal testimony, the message encourages believers to trust in God’s power to change lives and overcome life's battles, emphasizing that God is a God of breakthroughs. The talk also includes practical steps for achieving spiritual growth and offers hope to those feeling overwhelmed or defeated.

Highlights

Zacchaeus' story is used to illustrate personal transformation and breakthrough. 🌿
Emphasis on the power of seeking Jesus and overcoming obstacles to reach Him. 🌄
Biblical examples highlight God’s ability to bring freedom and transformation from dire situations. 📖
Encouragement to rely on God’s power rather than personal strength for victory. 💪
Testimony shared to highlight the real-life impact of surrendering to Jesus. 🗣️

Key Takeaways

Breakthrough begins where our self-reliance ends and faith in God starts. 🙏
Seeking Jesus is the gateway to experiencing God’s power and transformation. 🔍
Obedience to God's word can lead to breakthroughs and blessings. 🎁
Surrendering personal struggles to Jesus opens the way for divine intervention. 🌟
God’s character is one of love, grace, and relentless pursuit of His people. 💖

Overview

Joby Soriano’s sermon at Christ's Commission Fellowship centers around the theme of breakthrough through faith. Using the biblical account of Zacchaeus, Soriano conveys the message that true transformation and freedom come from seeking Jesus, obeying His word, and surrendering oneself completely to Him. The story of Zacchaeus climbing a sycamore tree becomes a powerful metaphor for overcoming obstacles to see Jesus.

The sermon is rich with examples from both the Old and New Testaments, showing how God brings miraculous breakthroughs in seemingly impossible situations. Stories like the parting of the Red Sea, Daniel in the lion’s den, and Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection illustrate God's power to turn adversity into breakthrough moments. Soriano emphasizes that God is ever-present, willing to meet us in our struggles and lead us to triumph.

To drive the message home, Soriano pairs biblical lessons with contemporary testimonies, including a poignant personal story of redemption and transformation through encountering Jesus. This blend of scripture, personal narrative, and practical advice encourages believers to put their complete trust in God, highlighting that when we let go of our limitations and allow God to lead, we can experience true breakthroughs in our spiritual journey.

Chapters

00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Greetings The chapter opens with a warm welcome, as the speaker greets the audience with joy and excitement. He is joined by his family, including his wife Cindy and son Miles. The speaker extends greetings to online viewers watching from various satellite locations, conveying blessings to them. The chapter sets the stage for the continuation of a series on a topic that is relevant to everyone.
00:30 - 01:00: Series Introduction: Real People, Real Impact In the series introduction titled 'Real People, Real Impact,' the chapter sets the tone for exploring life lessons derived from Bible characters. These individuals made significant choices that offer valuable insights into decision-making. The chapter emphasizes that both good and bad choices made by these historical figures can serve as crucial learning experiences for contemporary audiences. The introduction signals the intention of the series to present a relatable and impactful exploration of these characters' lives and decisions.
01:00 - 01:30: Struggles and Breakthrough This chapter, "Struggles and Breakthrough," delves into the emotional and psychological burdens that individuals carry—often in silence. It acknowledges the feeling of being at a breaking point due to overwhelming struggles, disappointments, and discouragements. The chapter highlights the silent battles fought in one's heart and mind, unseen by the outside world. Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope and resilience as it emphasizes the importance of prayer and resisting the urge to give up. This suggests a theme of perseverance and finding strength amidst adversity.
01:30 - 02:00: Biblical Examples of Breakthroughs This chapter explores the concept of breakthroughs in a biblical context, focusing on how moments of doubt and despair can transform into divine encounters. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance and faith, suggesting that just when individuals feel most hopeless, that is where God is poised to intervene. The enemy may attempt to sow seeds of doubt and hopelessness, but this is exactly when and where God proves His presence and power. The chapter encourages readers to resist giving in to despair and to remain open to the possibility of a breakthrough engineered by divine intervention.
02:00 - 02:30: Message Title: Zakayas Breakthrough In this chapter titled 'Zakayas Breakthrough', the narrative begins with an encouragement to embrace breakthroughs, illustrated by biblical references to divine miracles emerging from seemingly insurmountable challenges. The story recalls the Israelites' escape from Egypt, dramatized by the pursuing Egyptian army and the daunting obstacle of the Red Sea, setting a thematic backdrop for the breakthrough concept.
02:30 - 03:00: Biblical Story of David and the Philistines The chapter discusses the Biblical stories of individuals who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges but were delivered through divine intervention. It begins with references to the Israelites at the Red Sea, highlighting that what appeared to be the end was actually the beginning of their freedom when God parted the waters. This theme continues with the story of Daniel in the lion's den, where Daniel's apparent doom turned into deliverance through God's intervention. The transcript concludes with a mention of Jesus's crucifixion, suggesting a similar pattern of overcoming adversity through divine means.
03:00 - 03:30: Principles of Breakthrough: Reliance on God The chapter titled 'Principles of Breakthrough: Reliance on God' discusses the theme of overcoming challenges and adversity through faith in God. It draws a parallel between the crucifixion of Jesus, which seemed like a defeat, but was ultimately a gateway to eternal life. The message encourages viewers to realize that their current struggles are not the end, but rather a step towards a breakthrough or greater purpose.
03:30 - 04:00: Real-Life Applications of Breakthrough Chapter Title: Real-Life Applications of Breakthrough Summary: This chapter focuses on how individuals can experience personal breakthroughs in their lives. It begins with a motivational message suggesting that God wants everyone to have breakthroughs. The chapter is anchored around the concept of 'Zakayas breakthrough,' demonstrating through faith and divine intervention, one's life can significantly improve. The emphasis is on seeing God as a faithful provider and how belief can lead to transformative outcomes.
04:00 - 04:30: God's Nature and Character The chapter 'God's Nature and Character' opens with an invocation, inviting the listener to experience God in a unique way through His word. The speaker references a Biblical passage from 2 Samuel 5:19, where David seeks God's guidance before going into battle against the Philistines. This illustrates the theme of seeking divine intervention and guidance in overcoming challenges, suggesting that understanding God's nature entails recognizing His willingness to lead and support His followers in times of need.
04:30 - 05:00: Call to Action: Choice Between Breakthrough or Breakdown David has just been anointed as king over all Israel, completing his coronation. The Philistines, a longstanding enemy of Israel, decide to attack upon hearing of David's rising power, aiming to crush him before his reign could solidify.
05:00 - 05:30: Steps to Experience Breakthrough: Seek, Obey, Surrender to Jesus This chapter delves into the story of David and how he chose to seek divine guidance rather than rely on his own experiences and past victories to gain power. Faced with the threat of the Philistines, instead of assembling his army and charging into battle, David turned to prayer. He asked God for guidance, exemplifying a process of seeking, obeying, and surrendering to God's will, as he asked explicitly, 'Shall I go up against the Philistines?' The emphasis is on the spiritual journey of consulting and aligning with divine guidance to experience breakthroughs.
05:30 - 06:00: Story of Zacchaeus: Intentionality of Jesus The chapter discusses the story of Zacchaeus and the intentionality of Jesus. It draws a parallel to the story of David, illustrating how David sought guidance and assurance from God before going into battle, emphasizing humility and faith.
06:00 - 06:30: Zacchaeus's Desperation and Humility The chapter titled "Zacchaeus's Desperation and Humility" draws a parallel to a Biblical reference from 2 Samuel 5:20, where David attributes his victory over enemies to divine intervention rather than his own strength. This chapter highlights the theme that true breakthroughs come through reliance on God rather than personal capability, showcasing the importance of humility and desperation that leads one to seek divine help. It reflects on the story of Zacchaeus, illustrating how relying on God's strength can lead to significant victories and personal transformations.
06:30 - 07:00: Overcoming Obstacles to Seek Jesus The chapter titled 'Overcoming Obstacles to Seek Jesus' uses powerful imagery to convey the unstoppable power of God. The metaphor of water breaking through a dam illustrates God's might and power, similar to the way Philistines could not withstand the force of Almighty God. The narrative emphasizes the uncontainable nature of God's power, encouraging believers to recognize and rely on this divine strength when overcoming obstacles in seeking Jesus.
07:00 - 07:30: Obey Jesus: Zacchaeus's Response The chapter titled 'Obey Jesus: Zacchaeus's Response' discusses the biblical account of Zacchaeus and his transformative encounter with Jesus. The narrative draws parallels between Zacchaeus's actions and the story of David naming a place 'Bal Perazim,' meaning 'Lord of breaking through.' It emphasizes the idea that just as David actively engaged in battle and witnessed divine intervention, Zacchaeus's willingness to change and take action in response to Jesus's call is a key aspect of his obedience and transformation. The chapter highlights the importance of human effort in conjunction with divine assistance, portraying an active faith journey where individuals do their part and God responds with breakthrough.
07:30 - 08:00: The Meaning of Zakayas's Name and Jesus's Invitation The chapter discusses the significance of Zakayas's name and Jesus's invitation, reflecting on personal battles and challenges such as a crumbling marriage due to infidelity and the impact on family dynamics.
08:00 - 08:30: Principles of True Obedience This chapter discusses the challenges one might face after converting to Christianity, especially when a spouse does not share the same beliefs, and the emotional turmoil that can accompany this journey. It explores how mental depression and emotional issues can lead to a desire for isolation, and touches upon the impact of financial crises where overwhelming debt can be a significant stressor.
08:30 - 09:00: Judgment and True Character The chapter titled "Judgment and True Character" discusses the various struggles individuals face, such as financial difficulties, health issues, and overwhelming career or educational pressures. It highlights the uncertainty and fear about the future concerning oneself or loved ones. The narrative connects these external challenges to the development of true character, implying that the way individuals handle such adversities reflects their inner strength and values.
09:00 - 09:30: Surrender to Jesus: Zacchaeus's Transformation This chapter explores the concept of surrendering to Jesus, highlighted through the transformational story of Zacchaeus. It emphasizes that God's nature isn't just about action but is fundamentally about character, and how understanding this character can lead to personal breakthroughs. The chapter encourages faith in God through the acknowledgment that He is deeply aware and understanding of individual struggles.
09:30 - 10:00: Repentance and Restitution The chapter titled 'Repentance and Restitution' begins with an exploration of the unpredictable nature of human actions compared to the reliable character of God. It emphasizes that God, being a deity of breakthroughs, should inspire confidence and change in our lives. The central theme revolves around the idea that God is our ultimate source of breakthrough and that this understanding should impact how we live and perceive challenges. It cautions against attempting to manipulate this belief and instead encourages trust in God's inherent reliability.
10:00 - 10:30: Testimony by Cindy Seraniano The chapter explores themes of trust and faith, emphasizing the importance of trusting God's heart rather than expecting him to act according to our own desires. It acknowledges the emotional struggles individuals may face, such as fear, guilt, anger, and bitterness, and highlights that in such moments, a choice is always available. The core message is about making a conscious choice in how to respond to life's challenges, suggesting that faith and trust in God's plan can guide one through difficult times.
10:30 - 11:00: Cindy's Transformation and Restoration The chapter discusses the idea that individuals can either experience a breakdown or a breakthrough in their personal lives. It questions what one might be waiting for—perhaps an answered prayer or a miracle. It draws a parallel to the biblical story of David, suggesting that the same God who helped David can help individuals today. The chapter seems to aim at encouraging those who feel stuck or overwhelmed to seek transformation and renewal through faith.
11:00 - 11:30: Final Reflections and Call to Commitment The chapter begins with an emphasis on God as the God of breakthroughs, using the story of Zacchaeus from chapter 19 verse 1, where Jesus enters Jericho.
11:30 - 12:00: Closing Prayer and Invitation This chapter discusses Jesus's intentional journey through Jericho, a town known for its biblical significance as the place where Joshua led the Israelites to victory by toppling its walls. It touches upon the historical context of Jericho, recalling how Joshua cursed anyone who would rebuild it. The chapter ties in these biblical events to illustrate the importance of Jesus's actions in Jericho.
12:00 - 12:30: Sunday FastTrack and Q&A with Pastor Joby The chapter discusses Jesus's journey through the city of Jericho, referred to as a cursed city due to its doomed inhabitants. The narrative draws a parallel with another biblical passage where Jesus passes through Samaria, a region traditionally avoided by Jews, highlighting Jesus's intentional decision to visit these areas.
12:30 - 13:00: Encouragement for New Believers Jesus intentionally traveled through Samaria to meet a Samaritan woman. Their conversation led to her transformation, prompting her to share her encounter with others in the city. Similarly, Jesus went through Jericho with a purpose, indicating his intentional actions.
13:00 - 13:30: Approaching Those Who Don't See a Need for God The chapter discusses the concept of God's unconditional love through the example of Him sending Jesus into the world to save humanity. It references a biblical passage, highlighting a man named Zakayas, a rich chief tax gatherer, as an example of someone who might not initially see a need for God. The chapter likely explores how to approach individuals like Zakayas, who may not recognize the presence or necessity of divine intervention in their lives.
13:30 - 14:00: Knowing When to Surrender The chapter discusses a character named Zakayas, who is described as a tax gatherer. The speaker asks the audience if they pay taxes and how many of them enjoy paying taxes. The context suggests a broader discussion on the role or perception of tax gatherers during the times being referred to.
14:00 - 14:30: Announcements and Conclusion The chapter titled 'Announcements and Conclusion' discusses the unpopular role of tax collectors in society during the Roman Empire. It highlights how Jews were appointed by the Romans to collect taxes. The chapter points out that these tax collectors were often despised because they not only collected the required taxes for the Romans but were also incentivized to collect over the quota to increase their own earnings.

Zacchaeus: Breakthrough | Joby Soriano | March 23, 2025 Transcription

00:00 - 00:30 [Music] what a joy and delight it is for me to be here i'm here together with my wife Cindy and my son Miles oh I send greetings to all the satellites that are watching online right now wherever you are God bless all of you well friends we're continuing our series on a topic which involves all of us it's entitled
00:30 - 01:00 real people real impact real people real impact these are life lessons from individuals Bible characters who made choices life choices that affect all of us some we can learn from their experience which are good some who made bad choices and we can also learn from their experience as I begin I want to just say maybe some of you have come here today you've walked
01:00 - 01:30 in maybe some of you are watching online and you're feeling like you're at your breaking point the weight of your struggles your disappointments your discouragement the silent battles in your heart and your mind that no one sees it's overwhelming and you've prayed you've resisted giving
01:30 - 02:00 up and you're wondering "God God where are you?" Let me tell you that the place that you're in right now if you're thinking about giving up is where God wants to meet you the enemy wants to tell you "Your life is over you're done you're hopeless there's nothing you can do it's time for you to break down." But God is
02:00 - 02:30 saying "No it's time for you to break through." to break through i love how the Bible tells us about the great miracles how they all started from impossible situations i mean you all remember the the Egyptians were attacking the Israelites as they were fleeing Egypt and the Israelites were faced in their back with the Red Sea and the Egyptian army was ready to attack them it seemed
02:30 - 03:00 like they were at their end but when God broke through and opened the Red Sea that was not the end that was just the beginning of their freedom and then you have Daniel who was thrown into the lion's den it looked like for Daniel it was complete destruction but when God intervened Daniel was delivered you have Jesus who was crucified and while he was
03:00 - 03:30 on the cross people thought that's it he's defeated but no Jesus was not defeated god came in and and that was just a doorway of our eternal life today whatever you're facing whatever you're facing realize that it's not the end of your story what you might be experiencing as your breaking point is leading you to something
03:30 - 04:00 greater friends are you ready to hear what God has to say to you he wants you to experience a breakthrough the title of our message today is Zakayas breakthrough can you all say that zakayos breakthrough this message will show you how your father who is faithful who is a provider can change your
04:00 - 04:30 life and I pray that as you listen God will speak to your heart and that you will experience God in a very different way through his word let me explain to you what breakthrough means in the Bible in the book of 2 Samuel 5:1 19 it says let's read this together david inquired of the Lord saying "Shall I go up against the Philistines will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David "Go up
04:30 - 05:00 for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand." Now what's happening here a little background david was just anointed as king over all Israel the coronation to his throne has just been finished and now the Philistines the longtime enemy of of Israel wants to attack when they heard that David was rising in power they wanted to crush him
05:00 - 05:30 because they didn't want him to gain so much power now David instead of assembling his army and charging against the Philistines with his experience with his past victories you know what david didn't do that he went to the king of kings and he prayed and he asked him two questions the first question was "Shall I go up against the Philistines?" David was
05:30 - 06:00 inquiring "Is this a a battle I must fight?" And secondly will you give them into my hand in other words Lord will I be victorious i love how David did not presume that he would win the battle by himself with his army no he went to the Lord in humility and the Lord answered and said to David "Go up for I will certainly give you the Philistines into your hand." So God said "I am with you David go and fight them." In the next
06:00 - 06:30 verse in verse 20 it says "So David came to Bal Perazim and defeated them there and he said 'The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore he named that place Bal Perazim friends breakthroughs happen when we don't rely on ourselves when we don't rely on our own strength and our own wisdom but we rely on God
06:30 - 07:00 i love the imagery here about the water the waters breaking through the waters break through speaks about God's unstoppable power can you someone say unstoppable power friends it's like a dam when a dam breaks the water rushes out and you cannot contain the water just like the Philistines could not withstand the power and the might of Almighty God
07:00 - 07:30 they were victorious they were victorious he goes on and says "We name that place Bal Perazim." In the next slide it says "Bal Perazim means Lord of breaking through." Can you all say "Lord of breaking through." Lord of That's what Bal Perisim means friends david did not just sit back and relax and do nothing no he did his part he fought in the battle and God did his part and brought
07:30 - 08:00 victory today what battle are you facing what battle is raging in your heart for some of you it might be a marriage that's f falling apart your husband has cheated on you could have maybe a mistress has left your home neglected your children abandoned the family or maybe a wife who does not want to
08:00 - 08:30 become a Christian and you as a husband are here every Sunday and you're praying that your wife would somehow understand your new faith it could be that you're going through mental depression emotional issues that's eating in your soul you can't understand what's happening but it's just slowing you down it's causing you to want to be isolated you could be facing maybe financial crisis where your debts are too much to
08:30 - 09:00 handle that you don't know how you're going to make ends meet some of you here might be going through health issues major sickness in your life and you've seen so many doctors and the battle you're facing is what's going to happen to my life or maybe to someone dear to you all of these issues it could be work your career your school the pressures are too much the expectations are so high that you can't seem to meet all
09:00 - 09:30 these expectations friends I don't know what your battle is but God does god understands your battle listen to this breakthrough isn't just something God can do it is who he is understand that it's not just God's actions that we rely on it's God's character often times we don't
09:30 - 10:00 understand his actions they're unexpected sometimes but when it comes to God's character God's nature that's when you can be sure he's reliable he is reliable you see God is a God of breakthrough god is our breakthrough amen amen and that should change our lives we should have so much confidence that God is our breakthrough no one else understand that we cannot twist
10:00 - 10:30 God's arm to do what we want him to do no we should trust his heart trust his heart maybe today you're tired of crying you're filled with fear and guilt anger bitterness i don't know what's going on in your life but you have a choice and your choice two things you can have a
10:30 - 11:00 breakdown or you can have a breakthrough two things what is it you're waiting for are you waiting for an answered prayer maybe a miracle can I just say that the same God that gave David that breakthrough is the same God you and I today worship adore and love that's the same father that we have if you feel stuck if you feel overwhelmed by the surrounding of your
11:00 - 11:30 enemy brothers and sisters we have a God who is God the breakthrough God zakaya's breakthrough we have three points today point number one is seek Jesus point number two is obey Jesus and point number three is surrender to Jesus let's look at the story of Zakayas in Zakayas chapter 19 verse one it says he Jesus entered Jericho and was passing
11:30 - 12:00 through this is very interesting because you see that Jesus was intentional he entered Jericho and was passing through you all remember what Jericho is in the Bible remember Jericho this is where Joshua went they were the Israelites they circled the the the fortress of Jericho for several days and the walls came tumbling down that's the Jericho joshua in the Old Testament he cursed any man who would rebuild the
12:00 - 12:30 city of Jericho the man and his children would all perish and so this is a cursed city now Jesus was going to pass through Jericho there's another passage in the Bible that talks about Jesus passing through do you remember that passage john chapter 4 where Jesus passes through Samaria samaria is a place that Jews do not go but Jesus made it a point to go
12:30 - 13:00 through Samaria why because he wanted to have an encounter with a Samaritan woman and while he was in Samaria he talked to this woman and in their conversation her heart was changed she was transformed she ran to the city and told the people about what happened to her it was an encounter with Jesus and here we have Jesus going through Jericho because he has a purpose it tells me about how
13:00 - 13:30 God purposely comes into our lives unconditional love sending his one and only son Jesus into our sinful world to rescue us to rescue all of us it goes on and says in chapter 19:2 "And behold there was a man called by the name of everyone Zakayas and he was a chief tax gatherer and he was rich." How many of you here
13:30 - 14:00 are named Zakayos any Zakayas here not a very common name zakayos i'll tell you a little more bit more about that name later on but it describes Zakayas as a tax gatherer can you all say tax gatherer tax tax gatherer in those days they had bir also they had collectors tax collectors how many of you here pay your taxes can I see your hands raise them high yes okay yes how many of you love to pay
14:00 - 14:30 taxes oh what happened to your hands how many of you love tax collectors okay how many of you want to be a tax collector okay you know friends tax collectors in those days were appointed by the Roman Empire so the Jews served the Romans these Jews were given a quot to collect taxes and anything over and above that quota is what they would give
14:30 - 15:00 keep for themselves and they'd give the kota to the Romans now this system caused the fellow Jews to hate those tax collectors who were their brothers they're Jewish they were detested they were despised they were considered traitors outcasts so can you imagine if you're Zakayas how people feel about you as a tax collector tax collectors were not allowed to go
15:00 - 15:30 into the temple to pray why because they're considered defiled when they have dealings with the enemies the Romans who are non-Jews they were considered defiled they could not vote they were outcast people looked at Zakayos not only as the tax chief tax colle now notice it also says he was the chief meaning he was the boss over other tax collectors he had a franchise he had
15:30 - 16:00 a network of other tax gatherers under him so this man was rich look at what it says he was what he was rich but there's something about Zakayas that's interesting in spite of having so much wealth I believe in his heart he was searching something was not right there was an emptiness there was a a discontentment in his life i can really relate to Zakayas because before becoming a
16:00 - 16:30 Christian my God was my God was money i lived just to make money i'm so ashamed to say that but I didn't really have God in my life i thought I could be a man who's successful to you know be what I want to be and in the process I reached success thinking that I would have satisfaction joy everything I wanted at the age of 25 I had three
16:30 - 17:00 companies i was working in big company as well i had all these material things but friends can I tell you there was no peace there was no joy there was this emptiness in my heart and I knew I couldn't feel that any other way i had friends i had girlfriends i had all these material things but they didn't mean anything to me this is where Zakayas was it says Zakayas was rich but he was empty let's look at point number
17:00 - 17:30 one seek Jesus can you all say seek Jesus seek seek Jesus in Luke chapter 19:3 it says "And he was trying to see who Jesus was and he was unable because of the crowd for he was small in stature." Notice Zakayas was trying to see Jesus that tells us that somehow Zakayos heard about Jesus and was doing everything he can to go and see him it
17:30 - 18:00 could possibly be that Zakayas heard about Matthew another tax collector who left his tax collecting business to follow Jesus as a disciple who is this Jesus zakius is asking it could be that Zakayas heard about the Pharisees who hated Jesus and they they had he knew that the tax collectors were having dinner with Jesus the tax dollars were always with Jesus and the Pharisees hated Jesus for that
18:00 - 18:30 who is this Jesus zak the case is asking well it goes on he says before that he said there he was he wanted to see Jesus look at go back up he was small in stature this is one of maybe uh Zakas's deficits small and he was short okay i'm sorry I can't say short right that's politically uncorrect let me just say he was vertically challenged okay so Zakayas could not see Jesus
18:30 - 19:00 because of the crowd there was a big crowd in front of him blocking his view i look at that and I say could it be for us today the crowd is maybe the obstacle the hindrance the distraction between us and seeing Jesus what is it in your life what is it in your life today that's hindering you from seeing
19:00 - 19:30 Jesus could it be you're too busy could it be that you're so rich you don't even need Jesus could it be that you're so poor that you're working so hard that you have no time for Jesus for some it could be their pride i don't need Jesus for others their crowd is their
19:30 - 20:00 religiosity they're following religious traditions and because that they can't go over that to see Jesus it's hindering them for others sadly it could be other Christians who are not living a life that reflects Jesus i don't know what it is in your life today what is your crowd what is the obstacle between you and Jesus what's holding you back well it goes on to
20:00 - 20:30 say "So he ran on ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree in order to see him for he was about to pass through that way." You know Zakius is very smart he says "Okay I can't see him here because of the crowd but I can see he's going to pass this way and go over there so I'm going to go ahead." So he runs ahead now notice he's a government official and he's running okay he's running not only running he's also what climbing a tree can you imagine that's so undignified
20:30 - 21:00 for an older man to climb a tree what kind of tree a sycamore tree can you all say sycamore tree sycamore tree you know if you go to the place of Jericho together the CCF Holyland trip you will see a sycamore tree if I had a tree I could show you i would really show you and so here's Zakayas and he's running he's climbing a tree and he's wondering look at the people around me what are they i
21:00 - 21:30 don't care about what they say i know that there's a a sycamore tree that I've got to climb how many of you have climbed a tree recently huh how many of you over the age of 65 have climbed a tree recently huh yeah no a tree if I had a tree I could show you oh that that looks like a sycamore tree in itself yes you know why a sycamore tree many reasons but hey I have an idea i I'll be right back huh i
21:30 - 22:00 think I saw this tree outside yeah that's the tree outside wow look at this tree this tree is beautiful i got to climb it i have to climb it amazing wow i hope I don't fall it's such a tall tree wow here we go ah
22:00 - 22:30 yes wow i got on top look at this what an incredible view this is oh I can see all of you even those of you in the balcony this is fantastic oh no wonder Zakaya has climbed the sycamore tree and that's because he can see a more you know friends the reason the Bible specifies a sycamore tree is because it symbolized strength
22:30 - 23:00 protection a tree of life eternity you have to understand in those days it was shameful it was humiliating for a grown man a government official at that to run and to climb a tree you know especially wearing a long robe an expensive robe people down below could seek more now what's the lesson we learn here you see Zakayas humbled himself can you all say
23:00 - 23:30 humble yourself tell your seatmate right now humble yourself one more time one more time tell your seatmate humble yourself great zakayas didn't care what people say he didn't care what people thought of his actions he simply focused on Jesus knowing that Jesus was the answer and for us today we've got to realize the same thing we need to humble ourselves zakayas really went out on a
23:30 - 24:00 limb he did should I continue preaching from here well friends pride is the number one reason why so many people miss out on God's breakthrough now I better climb down before I break through all right see you down
24:00 - 24:30 whose idea was [Applause] that the things I do to make a point oh wow did you learn something you know friends pride is the number one reason why we cannot come to Jesus we feel that we have it all together but look what it says in Jeremiah chapter 29:13 it says "You will what seek me and
24:30 - 25:00 find me when you what search for me with all of your heart." Notice all of your heart not just half your heart not just a partial of your heart no all of your heart this is a promise for all of us god is waiting and actually looking for us and he himself is searching for us you see Zakayas the crowd came to see Jesus zakayas came to seek Jesus there's
25:00 - 25:30 a big difference are you willing today to humble yourself and let go of whatever it is that's hindering you from going to seek Jesus many of you here today have come you've come here but have you come here to see Jesus or to seek Jesus it continues "The principle seeking
25:30 - 26:00 Jesus begins where self ends." I truly believe that Jesus went to Jericho to have this appointment with Zakayos it wasn't an accident it was a divine appointment and in life today there are no accidents there are divine appointments and God has brought you here today precisely because he wants to meet with you he wants to meet with you point number two obey Jesus could you
26:00 - 26:30 all say that obey Jesus yes in Luke 19:E5 it says "And when Jesus came to the place he looked up and said to him Zakayas hurry and come down for today I must stay at your house." Now just imagine this okay jesus is walking and as he's walking he comes across this tree and there's crowds all around crowds of people he stops he looks up
26:30 - 27:00 and he says "Zakayas hurry come down i must stay at your house today." Can you imagine zakayas on the tree is like "Me you know my name wow who told you about me i've never met you before." He must be feeling so at the same time not only special but hypocritical because of all the people Jesus spotted him and said hurry come down come down why I want to be at your house today friends when someone comes
27:00 - 27:30 to you and invites himself into your into your house and says feed me what do you call that tagalog what do you say what is that kind of person they invite themselves into your homes huh Yeah not not that what else what else you know what it's called kapalmuk right that's what it's called if I were to knock on your door and ask you "Can I have a meal with you can I have a meal can I eat here?" What would you say yes or
27:30 - 28:00 no i hope you'd feed me so I want you to understand what does the name Zakos mean in Hebrew zakos means righteous one or not guilty so can you imagine the people there know what names of meaning of what names mean and so Jesus shouts out Zakayas or righteous one not guilty i've got to go to your house can you imagine how Zakayas felt
28:00 - 28:30 he must have felt hypocritical because his life did not match his name it didn't match how could he call me righteous when I'm not righteous and all the people here know that but I love Jesus he didn't say "Zakayas fulfill the ten commandments do all these religious rituals and come down i'll have lunch in your house." No no he called Zakus
28:30 - 29:00 righteous even while he was guilty we continue luke 19:6 "And he heard and came down and received him gladly." I love the fact that Zakayas didn't say "Wait Jesus I'll pray about it." No he obeyed right away he came down hurly with excitement to go with Jesus to his home when it comes to obedience you friends what is obedience to you what is obedience to
29:00 - 29:30 you i wrote down a few things about what obedience is obedience is walking by faith not by sight waiting on God's timing instead of going ahead obedience is trusting God's plan even when it's unclear obedience is stepping out of your comfort zone and walking on water obedience is acting on God's word
29:30 - 30:00 not just agreeing with it obedience is following Jesus fully not partially without hesitation obedience is a key to breakthrough and blessing in Luke chapter 19:7 it says let's all read this together and when they saw it they all began to grumble can you all grumble yeah that's grumbling no they're
30:00 - 30:30 all grumbling they were not happy saying he has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner can you imagine a lot of people were not happy that Zakayos is now going to going with Jesus to his home they were angry that it wasn't them they were self-righteous it should be me why is Zakayos and this is the problem friends often times as the Bible says in 1st Samuel chapter 7
30:30 - 31:00 16:7 the Lord does not look at the things people look at people look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the the Lord looks at the heart today what do people say about you what do people say about you maybe for you you're not generous or for you you're so selfish or for you you're so
31:00 - 31:30 lazy or maybe for some of you it's it's you just think of all yourself or maybe for some of you you're such a good steward or you're so kind you're so pleasant you're so all these different things people have many opinions about us and those opinions form our reputation but can I say right or wrong what really counts is not what people say it's what God says that's really what counts
31:30 - 32:00 that's what counts you see people see you in light of the present jesus sees you in light of his presence don't let your present keep you from his presence what's the principle we learn here jesus looks beyond what you are and sees what you can
32:00 - 32:30 become i love the fact that Jesus did not look at what people said he didn't listen to the criticisms he didn't mind people he just went and did what he knew was right and all those onlookers all the crowd as they were pointing their finger slandering Zakayas they didn't realize it but they're pointing three fingers back at them the truth is brothers sisters none of us none of us deserves God's grace we
32:30 - 33:00 don't deserve God's mercy or his love we don't none of us satisfy God's holy standard none of us is perfect we must learn to accept others for who they are and not to condemn them not to judge them let's look at point number three surrender to Jesus could you all say surrender to Jesus surrender surrender to Jesus now while they were in the
33:00 - 33:30 house with Jesus Zakius and Jesus alone I'm sure the crowd was outside they're waiting to hear what what happened okay okay they wanted to see my thoughts are what were they discussing while they were in that house what do you think were they talking about the Bible is not clear it doesn't say but we can always presume and assume what they were talking about in my case I would think maybe Jesus was not
33:30 - 34:00 condemning Zakayos he wasn't chastising him he wasn't pointing out his sin i'm sure Jesus knew zakayas already knew that Jesus must have just been showing grace love to Zakayas now this is something I've I've been always wanting to ask when I see Zakayos in heaven I'm going to ask him wouldn't that be great zakayos what were you and Jesus talking about when you went into your house well someone said
34:00 - 34:30 to me "Pastor Joby what happens if if Zakayas is not in heaven and he's in hell?" I said "Well then when you when you die you ask him." Right let's continue luke chapter 19:8 says "And Zakayas stopped and said to the Lord behold Lord every Let's read this together behold Lord behold Lord half of my possessions I will give to the poor and since I have defrauded people I will give back four times as
34:30 - 35:00 much." Now this is a turning point friends a major turning point notice how Zakayos calls Jesus calls him what lord can you all say Lord calls him Lord and this is a is a declaration from Zakayas based on his faith and submission to Jesus as a divine authority jesus is my master that's what
35:00 - 35:30 Zakaz was saying and it shows that Jesus did not tell Zakayas what to do zakayas did this out of his own desire he gave out of his own free will this shows a changed heart it really shows a changed heart now when he says here I will give half of my possessions that's 50% imagine you were to give 50% of everything you owned to the poor can you imagine that you'd be left with 50%
35:30 - 36:00 and then he says "Since I've defrauded people I will give back four times as much." Now that's a lot that's a lot in the Jewish law if you were a thief who was caught you need to return everything that you stole to the person and then you're required to give an additional 20% of the value of whatever it is you stole in addition to the item in
36:00 - 36:30 Zakayas's case he was saying "I'm going to give back four times as much 400%." You know Zakas's heart was so different his heart was like "I will go over and beyond the law it doesn't matter." What does this show to us it shows to us that repentance leads to restitution repentance leads to restitution you can see the heart of Zakayas was so
36:30 - 37:00 changed because all of a sudden money was not a an issue to him anymore he knew his priorities he knew God is my priority jesus is my priority and he was willing to give up this amount of money because to him what was more important was following Jesus than living for money his life was changed and that's what repentance does repentance leads to restitution if today you say you've
37:00 - 37:30 repented I've repented of my sins that's one thing that's great but have you taken it to the second level where if you need to ask for forgiveness you do that as well if you need to restore a relationship you do that as well repentance in words is one thing but when you take it to action it shows true repentance you see friends Jesus breaks through our life and makes us new he breaks through
37:30 - 38:00 our lives and makes us new 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says "If any man is in Christ he is what a new creation the old has passed behold new things have come." Question was the chaos saved was Zakayas saved i agree but listen to this zakayas was
38:00 - 38:30 not saved because of his actions no his actions were the evidence of his salvation are you with me all right luke chapter 19:9 says "And Jesus said to him this is from Jesus today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham." Jesus was declaring that today salvation has come to this house the
38:30 - 39:00 life of Zakayas Jesus is I affirm that he is saved i affirm that I've seen changes friends if you today profess or proclaim that you are a follower of Christ that you've given your heart to him have you seen changes in your life because if there's no changes in the way you speak in your words in your
39:00 - 39:30 actions in your attitude in your relationships if there are no changes you need to stop and you need to ask yourself am I truly saved because changes should happen changes must happen you cannot be a Christian that doesn't change and those changes come about not because you force it it's because the Holy Spirit works in and through your life to
39:30 - 40:00 allow those changes to happen now the word salvation is very important when he says salvation this word salvation that's crucial what does it mean in Hebrew the word salvation is Yeshua or Messiah which is the name of Jesus so in front of the whole crowd while Zakayas and Jesus were leaving that his that home Zakayas was saying Jesus was saying to all the people he
40:00 - 40:30 was saying Jesus the Messiah savior has come to this house he declared that Jesus has saved Zakayas in Luke 19:9 again it says and now he because he too is a son of Abraham that phrase is a Son of Abraham is very crucial the Jews knew what that meant and Jesus was now proclaiming to all those who were there he is now the
40:30 - 41:00 son of Abraham meaning he is now a spiritual son in God's family transformed by faith he's part of God's family what's the principle we learn here the principle is living Jesus living in you brings consistent transformation brings consistent transformation brothers and sisters Zakayas's life was completely transformed from a small man he became a
41:00 - 41:30 new man he became a changed man from being lost he was found his life is an example to us of a breakthrough a breakthrough of God in his life this afternoon we're so privileged to have a person who's going to share their testimony please all welcome my wife Cindy Seraniano my name is Cindy and I'm here to share
41:30 - 42:00 with you a glimpse of my life in the past but it is my prayer my hope that as I do that you would see God more than you will see me i just start and I'm in tears but I'm crying not because I'm sad i'm crying because it reminds me that 38 years ago I walked in to a CCF gathering for the very first time i was single in my late
42:00 - 42:30 20s i walked in because I was so empty and I entered CCF and the beauty about it was no one knew I was living a double life you know when you're caught in a spot in your life or in you have one foot in one foot out you know you're missing something but you don't know how to get out of it that was where I was 38 years ago no one judged me in that Bible
42:30 - 43:00 study no one asked me my life i just heard God's word and I thank God that's when I met Pastor Peter and Da and the rest is history so let me bring you briefly through a short snippet of my life i'm raised by a very good father and mother family of nine eight daughters so you can imagine my father who raised me in Cebu had to watch over his children like a m like a you know a
43:00 - 43:30 really daddy my mom and dad were hands-on we had great values they laid the groundwork and foundation for me and my sisters and brother however things changed when we were moved to Manila and then we had to really see what the world was like i don't know if you're a parent and you're raising kids and you're wondering what the future of your children are my my parents did the best they could but little did they know that the world would take me by surprise
43:30 - 44:00 it doesn't matter how strong I was in values but the world was just stronger i started working in a five-star hotel it was there that I saw that there were so many things I missed out on i saw that I could have a career and there were three things I was dreaming about a career wherein I could rise up the ranks and become successful second if I said I attained number one I would go for
44:00 - 44:30 finding a husband and third my last was to raise a family three simple dreams that were so elusive so hard to get the first was easy i was educated i got my career but I struggled so badly with the third you know when you're single and you feel you're turning 30 they say it's almost over and I remember struggling so hard to be a woman that any man would
44:30 - 45:00 love to have it came to a point that I lost my sense of self i kept evolving through every relationship hoping to keep it that relationship committed to me only to find that all my relationships each one ending with a breakup believe it or not better believe it they all broke up with me i was not even part of breaking up i was so surprised that no matter what I did I could not hold a solid relationship this
45:00 - 45:30 is about the time in the peninsula when I was so personally devastated but you know how it is you keep it from everyone you show up every morning and you pretend you're fine but then you go home every night and you know you're aching this is about the time my father talked to me and said "Something's different in you you're out till midnight you're you're home by 3:00 a.m you're not the Cindy we
45:30 - 46:00 know what's happening?" And I said "Dad I'm old enough i have a life do not stop me from being happy." Sadly I never saw it was my father's desperate appeal to bring me to my senses and so what did he say cindy if you're not going to change and by the way leave this guy you're with i'm giving you an ultimatum if you can't obey me you need to leave the house that was the biggest mistake of my
46:00 - 46:30 life i did not listen i left home and became a literal prodigal daughter for almost two years i did not count the cost i did not assume my my career would pay for my walk out of home you know there came a time in my life I had no money when you read the prodigal do son story many of you may think oh wow you know it's a story i tell you there would be 10 days out of every month when I had
46:30 - 47:00 zero money to the point that I would walk home from the hotel to my little room that I rented literally starving the only meal I had was the meal that the hotel gave employees for free how I savored it because I knew I would starve that night and I would walk down the hotel walking to my home dreaming of food i don't know how many of you are my age do you remember the barbecue along
47:00 - 47:30 Wendia the barbecue was the best smelling barbecue and I would tell myself all you'll have is a cup of rice and believe it or not it helps and you know I did not even think that I was looking for God i was not a Christian i didn't know God all I wanted was to get what I wanted from life i never even
47:30 - 48:00 thought of the hearts broken at home into about the second year the general manager of our hotel said "None of you are going to work this morning you're going to attend a lesson." In my mind what lesson sitting there in a room for 20 people was a Bible teacher believe it or not someone from CCF i could not understand why we were having Bible studies in this hotel and that was when I heard for the first time that
48:00 - 48:30 Jesus was the payment for my sin that he desired that I have a full and abundant life that he desired for every p person to know their purpose i looked at the man and in my mind I said "What a loser this is ridiculous how can anyone think this is a practical thing in life?" I left the room i mocked him and I shut the door to the Lord my life turned worse after that
48:30 - 49:00 i went into my final relationship with whom I thought would save me from my poverty my singleness and everything only to find out that again my heart was broken you know that feeling when you've given all you've got you've left all the people who loved you you've changed into somebody in the mirror I never knew one morning I woke up and I said "Who are
49:00 - 49:30 you i don't even like who you are but it was me." And in my desperation lonely and broken I remember looking for another remedy and then I began to drink praise God i did not turn to drugs but I turned to alcohol in one of those very very drunken nights I think maybe God was saying enough is enough i don't know how many of you have experienced
49:30 - 50:00 getting drunk but when you're drunk it's almost impossible to walk or even stand still and so I remember falling on my knees in the bathroom hurting myself a bit but in that state I said "Wow how low how low have I come just for my dreams." And I said "Lord if you're real if that Bible study is true in my state of not even a you know being able to
50:00 - 50:30 walk if you're real Lord can you please save me save me from all this save me from whatever you said you could save me from?" and I fell asleep in the bathroom when I woke up something was different something inside me changed there was in me a desire to let go of my sinful relationship and my past and I decided Lord I'll go home and God said
50:30 - 51:00 "Yeah I'll go home and take the consequences." What happened was my family forgave me it wasn't the same of course but then there was the desire in me to know who this God was and I found myself walking into my first Bible study that I talked about earlier at CCF then at AIM I met Peter Pastor Peter and Diona they nurtured me they walked through my life with me and I never
51:00 - 51:30 realized is it really possible that God could turn such a immoral broken dark dirty life into something better and you know I I'd like to share this sometimes we think our dreams are great and we think this goals I had were the biggest goals but when you look at it from the eyes of God he saves us saved me not for my little dreams he saved me because he had a
51:30 - 52:00 bigger plan sharing my story in this crowd it's really big crowd is hard but if it will save one woman if it will save one person saying there's nothing God can do for me i've blown it can I say you're believing a lie god is a God of the impossible he can turn your little dream
52:00 - 52:30 into something bigger and it's not for you it's going to be all about him and I hope as you heard my story which is just a little bit of the teriseria of my life that you will see God's hand throughout my life from the beginning till the end and in fact I thank God that in spite of what I've done how I misused my life how I defied my parents he decided to give me a husband Joby who has walked this life with me who now I can't understand
52:30 - 53:00 how CCF is willing to use us in the way we are to serve in CCF Alabang and in the national church planting program i just thank God and it can happen to any one of us who walked in here today and said there's nothing I have in this life there is if you surrender and you see it from God's point of view god bless you thank [Applause] you praise God praise God indeed i don't
53:00 - 53:30 deserve that woman really God is so wonderful you know we are far from perfect we are far from perfect but we have a perfect God amen we do luke chapter 19 verse 10 Jesus says "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Can you just imagine if we didn't have Jesus
53:30 - 54:00 seeking and saving us we'd be lost where would we be today he's in fact stating his purpose this is his purpose and for those of you who who are here today who have been found by Jesus he has commissioned you to do likewise to go out and to seek and save the lost to spread the gospel to tell people about this great news of salvation the question to all of us here today is are you still up in a tree
54:00 - 54:30 today or is Jesus in your house if you're still up in a tree remember what Jesus says hurry come down for I must be at your house today jesus doesn't want you to have a breakdown he wants you to experience his breakthrough zakayas was allin at this point in the end of his life his name
54:30 - 55:00 finally matched his lifestyle righteous one not guilty god I know is speaking to many of you here today and saying to you you can have a breakthrough in your life you can be a new person a changed person you can be once lost and found even if you've been a Christian for many years there might be some things in your life that you need a breakthrough in and he's waiting for you he's waiting for
55:00 - 55:30 you i want to ask you to do one thing it's called an I will statement an I will statement is something you write down write down on your device i will what will you do based on what you heard from today's message has God spoken to your heart has he told you to do something just one thing what is that one thing that he wants you to do so take out your devices take out a piece of paper just write
55:30 - 56:00 down what's that one thing that impacted you that you will start doing this means a lot friends because this is the application this is where you you put into action what you heard today if you don't do this maybe nothing will happen in your life so I encourage you write down Yeah i'm so glad seeing a lot of you writing down write down what is the one thing that you will do i will i will and when you've written that down I'd like you to share that with your
56:00 - 56:30 D-group leader or share it with your best friend share it with the person who invited you here share it with someone who will walk alongside you to see how you progress in this I will statement you can all do that so did you learn something today zakaya's breakthrough seek Jesus obey Jesus and surrender to Jesus let me close with a poem that I wrote just for you it's a poem entitled
56:30 - 57:00 God's Breakthrough as I read this poem I'll read the first line and I'd like to ask all of you to read the second line is that okay god's breakthrough feeling trapped and snared not knowing what to do the storm crashes around will I ever pass through
57:00 - 57:30 is this the consequence am I paying my dues struggles heartache and pain i cry out to you i know this darkness will pass before the sun shines through
57:30 - 58:00 i give up and surrender Lord i commit my life to you nothing can stop you from carrying me through i was broken but praise you for breaking through as the impossible comes true praise be to God praise be to
58:00 - 58:30 God i'm so excited for all of you to experience the impossible breakthrough that's going to come into your life friends as we close I know that God wants to invite everyone you of you here who's never given your life to him you've never surrendered your life to him and he wants to make you part of his family he's asking you now will you commit your
58:30 - 59:00 life to me and I want to pray for you all of you here who who want to give your life to Jesus Christ you want to surrender your life to Jesus Christ right now this is your personal moment just stand up wherever you are just stand up and declare "Lord God I'm here for you." Go ahead stand up lord Jesus this is for you this is all about you i've been living my life my way and I'm getting nowhere and I
59:00 - 59:30 need you Lord God i want to change i want that breakthrough Lord father this is the very first step the first step that I need to take and that's to commit my life to you yes I see all of your hearts and God sees you right now in the quietness of your heart make this prayer your prayer to God heavenly Father I thank you for loving me as I am
59:30 - 60:00 imperfect sinful in so many ways i've been running away trying to evade you but Lord today I know this divine appointment is to give my life to you i want to thank you for loving me i want to thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to die on that cross to pay for all my sins today I want to commit my life to you i receive Jesus by as my
60:00 - 60:30 Lord and Savior and I repent of all my sins i come before you Lord God with an open heart asking you to be my Lord and Savior i commit my life to you i surrender it all and I thank you Lord Jesus that you receive me and that you forgive me and that you give me the gift of eternal life today thank you Lord Jesus and I look forward to walking this
60:30 - 61:00 journey with you hand in hand day by day for the rest of my life i love you Lord and I want to pray for everyone else would everyone else please stand everyone else just stand father in heaven we truly thank you for you are the God of breakthrough there is no one like you and as we live our lives Lord God we pray that your Holy Spirit give us the power to truly declare who you
61:00 - 61:30 are in our lives may our lives shine forth Jesus that people will see him in this dark world use each and every one of us here to make a difference to proclaim Jesus for who he is we love you we praise you we thank you we give you all the glory and all the honor we pray this in Jesus name amen and amen i love you guys god bless
61:30 - 62:00 you good day CCF family welcome to Sunday FastTrack where you ask real life questions and we give you biblical truths i am Gerald Orasan from Big Exalt Ministry and we're here today with our speaker Pastor Joby Serana to answer some of your questions hi Pastor Joby thank you for your message how are you very well and I wish to say hello to all those watching Sunday Fastrack right now yeah so praise God so are you ready for our questions i'm ready okay so for our
62:00 - 62:30 first question we received this from our community and it says "I am a new believer in Christ and my past is marked by great sinfulness when I tell people that I have finally given my life to Jesus they express disbelief telling me that they don't see any change or that I'm probably just experiencing a phase and will eventually go back to my old self so how should I respond?" You know Gerald you have to remember that for all of us our past does not define us
62:30 - 63:00 really uh when people see us they might not see a perfect Christian and none of us are we need to tell people we're still a work in progress and Jesus is slowly transforming us day by day i think of the Apostle Paul who was Saul he was a Christian killer persecutor of the church and his life changed people did not see him for who he was but he quietly walked with God and he showed
63:00 - 63:30 that he was different i believe that the Bible says uh by your fruits they will see who you are and so if we live by the fruits of the Holy Spirit people will see the difference and I love what it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone is in Christ he's a new creation the old has passed behold new things have come so first and foremost be patient with yourself if there are things that you need to change you change them don't keep living that way but at the same time don't live on people's opinions and
63:30 - 64:00 thoughts focus on Jesus to continue to change you yes thank you so whoever asked this question be patient with yourself okay so for our second question some people watching today might think that their life is just fine without God and they don't need a breakthrough so how do we share Jesus with these people who don't seem to have any problems in their life and therefore don't see a need for God wow people who have no problems i'd like to meet them huh they
64:00 - 64:30 say they're fine you know what deep inside all of us all of us have a empty hole and that hole can only be filled by God and until and unless God fills that hole the person will always be looking for something deep inside i would say don't argue with the person don't debate don't try to convince them about your faith just pray for them be genuinely loving and God can turn their hearts around the person who comes to mind is
64:30 - 65:00 Solomon he had everything you can imagine and yet he said life is futile vanity it's all vanity it's nothing the Bible also says uh in in book of Mark for what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul so I believe all these people who say I'm fine you know what we do for them we share our testimony we let them hear and see how our life has changed by God and how it's still changing and then you ask
65:00 - 65:30 them a question you know all of us will die one day where will you think you will spend eternity and ask this gently lovingly with concern and come alongside that person and tell that person if ever you are in need of answers to questions about your future please come to me and I'll show you what the Bible says yes thank you pastor and for our last question how can I know if God is truly asking me to surrender something to him
65:30 - 66:00 and this is not just me wanting to excuse myself from responsibility or action okay many people do that they surrender their things and say "Oh that's because I'm not responsible for it anymore." But listen when you make decisions especially big decisions you always have to filter it i say go to the word of God and make sure that your decision is in line with the word of God it's not just excuse to get out of doing something that you're responsible to do secondly ask yourself what do godly
66:00 - 66:30 counselors have to say this decision is so important i need to find out from wisdom of others another filter would be does it bring clo does it bring me closer to God when I make this decision if I surrender this part of life how does it enhance my relationship with God and lastly will I have peace will I have peace in my heart knowing this is what God wants me to do so these questions that filter yourself give you clarity
66:30 - 67:00 give you clearer direction as to how you should decide based on God's will yes thank you so much Pastor Joby for answering all our questions and before we go we have an exciting news for all of you our face-to-face classes for GLC level one join us for book one classes at 10:30 a.m or book two classes at 1:30 p.m every Sunday until April 30 2025 walk-ins are welcome so for more information visit the GLC booth on the second floor of the CCF Center and
67:00 - 67:30 that's it for Sunday FastTrack god bless everyone god bless you [Music]