THE SECRET OF DELIVERANCE FROM SELF

Sunday, April 27, 2008 – First Service

Pastor Joseph Prince

SGD 18,000,111 was collected from Miracle Seed Sunday on 20 April 2008. 20 April 2008 also saw a new record attendance being set with 18,700 people. The previous record was slightly over 18,000 people in 30 December 2007.

The LORD gives us the seed as long as we have the heart for it.

Some is for bread (to eat), some to sow (to give unto the LORD).

Where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be.

How do you know if you have love of money? If you cannot release that money to the LORD or for His purposes.

Ecclesiastes 2

1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Solomon tried jokes (Ecc 2:1-2).

Solomon tried wisom (Ecc 2:3) and scholarship, perhaps psychology — perhaps ’self-actualisation’ even before Oprah in the 21st made it popular.

Contrary to Ophrah’s beliefs, the truth is the moment you are born-again you are complete in Christ. You are already united with Christ.

HP Computers discovered that intelligence dropped with the introduction of Blackberry and the internet because amongst other things, there was no longer a reason to have to memorise things.

Ecc 2:9 – Solomon’s intent to accumulate, etc, was to impress all others .

Often, we spend money on things we can’t afford and don’t need to impress people who don’t care.

Ecc 2:10 – Solomon believed that his accumulating of things was his reward.

Ecc 2:11 – In the end, however, there was no profit under the sun.

Ecc 2 shows what life is like under the son i.e. without Jesus.

GOD put key to Ecclesiastes in 1st chapter — “vanity, vanity” under the sun. But we Christians live ABOVE the sun. We don’t have the same aspirations as worldly people.

GOD gave us children to enjoy, not educate.

“Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.” Ecc 2:17-18

“With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” Ps 91:16. God wants us to have a whole life of looking at Jesus [salvation].

When you don’t want things, those things come after you. When you don’t want approval, approval comes after you.

Case in point: American idol judge, Simon Cowell

The common denominator in the Ecclesiastes passages is the personal pronoun – I

E.g. I build, I planted, I made,

When life revolves around “I” , as Solomon proves, you end up hating life.

Law makes you self conscious. Whereas Grace makes you God-conscious. – I [the LORD] will put my laws into your heart, etc.

Jesus died for the “I”.

If the “I” is put down, then when someone else is praised, you are able to clap and applaud that person.

Romans 7:6-25

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Flesh is the splinter in you. You are not the Wood or splinter, in fact, we are the New Creation.

In Romans 7, the personal pronoun – I – is used 28x

Behold God and you are transformed. Striving to change is religion. We don’t try, we trust in God.

Rom 7:20: WHO [not what] shall deliver me. Only Jesus can deliver. No a technique, not a philosophy.

Jesus Christ died so that we can live in Father’s presence as the new us [in Christ].

That’s why we should search for Jesus Christ in the whole bible, and behold how the Father sees Him. As the Father sees Him, this is how the Father sees us.

Look to Jesus; not to your wounds (recall incident of Moses and the bronze serpent).

The first mention of song is in Exodus 15 sung by Miriam. This song is not “I” centred. It is God-centred.

You cannot see Jesus Christ without being transformed. When the Father and you both enjoy the same object i.e. Jesus, you have communion. We have delight in the same object – Jesus.
COMMUNION = COMMON + UNION

When we have something in common with the Father – delight in Jesus – we have union!

Jesus always exceeds expectations.

For example, He touched the leper, not just healing him.

When accusation attacks, point the accuser to Jesus, He is our perfection.

Jesus sees you in all your ugliness and in full light, yet  forgives us.

Are we naturally good? If so, it might be a hindrance to what God wants to do in our lives.

Jesus “must needs” to go to Samaria. Jesus ministered to the woman by making a request of water from her.

King Solomon wanted to build a house because no house on his inside. Solomon wanted watering pool because no rivers of living water inside. He wanted singers because he had no spiritual songs in his heart. When you don’t have the spiritual things, you want to compensate by physical things.

That’s why you only feel truly full when you feed on Jesus and not physical food, TV, entertainment or secular books.

Good seeks worshippers.
First thing that Jesus wants is NOT for us to follow his precepts BUT to feed on Him. That is why He said, I am bread of life, and whoever drinks of the water I give him shall never thirst. Eat of Jesus and you shall having the strength to follow Him!

Samarian woman now became an evangelist, she said, See a Man. She is no longer self-conscious, and she is delivered from “I” as she now has another object, Jesus, to look at. At first, the Samarian woman was shy, she came out to draw water at noon. Now, occupied with something greater – Jesus – she is delivered from “I”.

When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he restrained the eyes of the Emmaus disciples because He wanted them to see Him in the Bible before physically in the flesh. So that we in the present can say that we truly see Jesus by beholding Him in the Word. The pharisees saw Jesus physically yet were in unbelief. All in the past and in the present have equal opportunity to see Jesus via the Word.

Genesis 44:1-15

1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth ? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen. 10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine

Joseph brough his brothers to his house to bless them and not to condemn them. By this time, the brothers have experienced a change of heart, they even wanted to sacrifice themselves and wanted to be guarantor.
Genesis 44:15-34

15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine ? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Joseph, a type of Jesus in this story, wanted to be alone with his brothers.

When we focus on Jesus alone, we no longer have pride.

If you have an inferior-complex, you are self conscious and not looking to Jesus to your strength, etc. When you are proud, you are also self-conscious, this time, thinking that you don’t need Jesus.

The Lord is not just satisfied with with forgiveness of sins, He also wants us to draw near to Him.

Brothers had past, present and future fears.

Joseph relieved ALL these fears.

“I am Joseph, your brother.” [Present Tense] Gen 45:3. Joseph did not say, I am the PM of Egypt.

– I am still Jesus. Although I am now high and glorified.

Humility is seen when you turn around and use the power, glory, riches, etc for Jesus.

Proud people are insecure.

Gen 45:5 “Now therefore be not grieved, “

Joseph as a type of Jesus, banished fear of the past.

Genesis 45
7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt

Gen 45
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

GOSHEN = nearness

By His blood, we are drawn near.

In the place of nearness, Jesus will provide for us.

Gen 45
13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

True worship is telling Father about glory of Son.

Gen 45
11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Joseph banished brothers’ fear of future.

Gen 45
15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Brothers talked with Hom as now comfortable with Him and all fears banished.

Genesis 45

1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: 10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. 14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased ^F225 Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; 18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. 21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

©  6 May 2008  Yeo Choon Meng Terence