April 27, 2025 - Mission Sunday - Dr. Matthew Thomas

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Time I'm not going to waste any more minutes. I'm going to have Dr. Matthew Thomas join us here. He's one of our missionaries that we support and we've had the privilege of knowing Dr. Thomas probably for 25 years. Right around that time, 24, 25 years. I still remember when I met you. The first time he walks up to me, first thing out of his mouth is I need you to help me in India. That was the first thing he said to me. I didn't know I was being summons but. But we've gotten involved and it's been an amazing journey and he's been in our church almost every single year, apart from health issues. So Dr. Thomas, why don't you come and let's welcome him. [00:00:54] Speaker B: Are you happy this morning? Are you joyful this morning? We should be joyful all the time. Amen. I don't know whether how much you appreciate your pastor, but I appreciate it very much. From airport till I reach home is almost two hours. I had the lesson on book of Jeremiah. I had a lesson on book of Gospel of John and book of Proverbs. And I had a good time. I said I had a very good time listening to man who fears the Lord and have the wisdom of God. Thank you. Thank you, Paul. I cannot call Paul in India. I have to call Pastor Paul. But in certain section in North America, the thing we become close when we call by first name. I don't like that. I like to call by the title. Someone asked me between the service, you have put some weight here. Only one person said, but most of the people said you lost weight. So if you think I have gained the weight, talk to Patty. Don't blame me. She brought temptations after temptation of the cheesecake. And she just told me right before I came here, I brought the piece of cheesecake for Curtis. You have to bring for me anyhow, like Pastor Paul said, I'm here for last 24 years. How I know Andrea was only 16? She was 16 years old and had a good conversation relationship. And then comes Rachel on the picture. And we both, we have enjoyed both of them to see how they are growing in the Lord. Especially Andrea. I was so blessed. I told her that to see how you're growing for last many years. I won't tell how old she is. But I know one thing. When I met her she was 16, which is almost 24 years ago. Her birthday is coming. I could not believe either. They are going, going faster. They're growing faster than us. I don't know but we had a blessed time. As I look forward every year, someone asked me when you will come next year. I said, for last 24 years. Go and ask immigration department. I was asked why you are here. They check the record, you are coming always in April. I said, yeah, there's a very special birthday celebration. So God willing, if the calendar is clear here, I'll be back the last Sunday in April. If not, whatever date. God has been good to us. They asked me. Few people ask me, I should talk about India. You can go to abc, you can go to cbn, you can go to Google and find out why it's happening there. I just want to talk about tbn, the Bible News. That's all I have. So church, thank you at the outset. I want to give a special thanks to Livingstone for being a very great generous supporter of the ministry. We are growing. Challenges are there. It's part of life. I will never pray. Lord, remove the challenges. I never pray that way. Because we have to pray. Wise prayer, not foolish prayer is a part of life. Those who live or those who want to live a godly life, they will have persecution. Amen. So thank you for everything and thank you that that screen is talking to me more than you. It says 1153. And those who know me for long time, I know they have this permanent position. They always sit there, these couple there for many years and notice them. And to see some of the new families, new faces is a good thing. When Pastor Paul talks, I grab something and I register in my mind because which helps me later on. He said, now we have a new access to the church. He brought me from that new axis. I said, thank God. Now the living stone has new access to God. Next eight months. I believe very strongly. It's not that I just come and say something just to please you. No, no, no, no. That's not my ministry. I can come out and I can pull out five, six people right now. Those who are getting discouraged and tears and lot of challenges are there. I can pull. I can 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. On the sixth pew, I can go. I can go on the second pew here. I can go in the second pew here. I have never talked to them even I can do that thing. But I know one thing. I will do everything what God tells me to do. I'm not a man pleaser, so be ready. I have seen many churches. I travel in many countries of the world. I have seen small churches, I have big churches. But the thing which I have noticed in this church, as I have never seen Anywhere in the world where more than an hour Pastor and some of the brother they come and pray for almost an hour. And it's not just new thing. I think it started in 98 or 99 and it's still going on. I'm blessed to see that. I was blessed. Where they are sharing their needs. Prayers, praying for me. And Bill is sitting here. Yeah, Bill. He wants to know. I said, they asked me what I'm going to speak this morning. And I said, I'll be speaking something from Book of Psalms. He want to know which chapter, which psalm. I said, you have to come in the service. And he came back. He's in the service. So just for you, Bill. Psalm number nine. Okay. Just for him. Every life has challenges. If you don't have challenges, raise the hand. If you don't have difficulties, please raise the hands. Godly people, ungodly, they go through sorrows, sickness, challenges, problem. Difficulties is there. We have gone through that. 12 days ago I thought I have lost my wife. I gave her a goodbye kiss. Also 104 fever went so high and nurses told I don't think so. She will make it in the morning. It is 2 o'clock in the morning. I don't think she can make next four hours. But I have a tbn. The Bible news in my distress. Listen to me. Those who are going through problem and challenges. Bible says, in my distress, I cried unto the Lord and he heard me. I didn't know anything what to do. But I knew one thing. I can cry to God. I'm going to bring from Psalm 9 all that if not in the evening service. Listen to me. God did the miracle. When doctor said she should not travel even two hours third day from icu. I asked the doctor, can I take her to America. She says, you are taking a high risk. You have to sign the paper voluntarily. You want to release her or get it discharged. I signed the paper based on one scripture. Let me read that one. Book of Nahum. Book of Nahum. Some people call nahum. Page number 874. Simple TBN Bible news. Lord is good, a strong refuge. When trouble comes, he is close to those who trust in him. When you don't know what to do and you have tried everything and you want to give up, you want to quit. Open Psalm 9. If you put your trust in him and understand he's close to you. I'm away from everyone. My children are. They were in America. No. 1 2:00 in the morning. I'm alone. I didn't know Even where the switches are in my room, bedroom. That much I got frustrated with a fever, not with God. And I just knelt down by the bedside. I said, Lord, I'm helpless. God, I am hopeless now. You have to intervene now. Which is Psalm 57. 56, 57, very good. 2:00 in the morning. I could not even get the ambulance. Somehow young people from my church took her to ICU private hospital. She didn't know anything for six, seven hours. She didn't know anything where she was. All the antibiotic drips were there. And I'm talking and after CT scan and all doctors said lung infection, kidney problem, bacterial infection. And we don't know what will happen. We have a big God. I said, we have big God. Some hundred and thirty, forty people were outside the clinic praying, encouraging me. And I'm encouraging them. I'm singing. It's easy to sing when everything is going good believers. If you go to Psalm 9, he says beautifully, it says there, let me open Psalm 9, Bill, you open now 9. I will praise you, Lord David. You have to know what is happening in David's life. Frustrated, discouraged, full of fear. Fear is there in the midst of all what he is doing. He is teaching us, you and I. Praise the Lord in the difficult times. Praise the Lord. But he put something else with that. I will praise the Lord with all my heart. Not half heart, half heart. Worship is worthless. We have to worship. Maybe evening I will tell you six, seven things what you have to do with your heart. Whole heart. Listen to me very carefully now. There are a lot of wrong teachings are going on in North America. Listen now. Enemy knows what valuable things you have. He will only attack the valuable things for me. Family, children, grandchildren, you may say. Then what about the ministry? Ministry number four. I will never put ministry above family. I'm Enemy knew he tried to get me from anti Christians. Not all those people. I don't want to say that. I had been to the court three, four times already. False accusation that I'm converting people. First thing, I don't believe in conversion. Pastor Mark. I don't believe. I believe in transformation. I have won twice already the case with that word transformation. So they are attacking me from every but they cannot get me. They cannot shake my faith. So Enemy thought now get Mrs. Thomas. We are married for 51 plus years. She never got sick. Only time, you know, she had to go for delivery of mercy. Michael, Melissa, that's all here. There some cold and cough and Patty brought some something she had last trip. That's all but enemy thought he can get me now. And I will quit the ministry and curse God. I never did that thing. I knew slander will be there. I knew unkind words will be there. I know betrayal will be there. But I never knew enemy will attack my wife. When I came out of that third day, I took a step of faith. I don't just talk about faith. I don't just write about faith. Act on faith or I act on the word of God. Brought her from my town to Bhopal. And they know the road. Beautiful roads. Oh no. Bumpy roads from there to Delhi. And doctors told me, you're taking a big risk. I said, yes, I'm taking big risk. But I have a big guard. I want to take her. If you delight in the Lord Bible says he will fulfill the desires of your heart. My heart desire was to bring her to America. I could not get the direct flight. My flight was scheduled for the 23rd of April. So I have to go from Delhi to Dubai. And nine hours layover, nothing happened. I never gave any medicine. I had all the medicine, antibiotic, you know. She said, dad, I'm doing good. She lost the appetite, but she ate good. In Dubai airport she ate very good. Monai appetite is given by God. Good appetite. From there to Chicago. So next day I take her to doctor. I said, doctor, this is the report. I brought all. I think 39 pages of report. Everything I have I gave to you. He said, let me do. Because your report says she has kidney stone and lung infection. So let me do CT scan and some ultrasound. But he said before he gave me any report, he said, I praise God that you have brought wife here. I never knew he's a Christian doctor. But God bring the right people in your path. I said, God bring the right people in your path. God was so gracious to us. No kidney stone, no lung infection, nothing is there only thing she's weak. But she. This morning I talked to her. She said, dad, next Sunday I'll be running, jogging. She could not take few steps, even by the faith. And she's I'm listening. Sometime when she's sick. No, she reads a song she cannot sing, you know. So she reads. She says, I'm reading the songs I want to tell you. Believers trust him, praise his holy name. You have to praise him all the time. Because the moment you start praising, he says, I will praise you, O Lord. Now he is not looking what Absalom is going to do, what other people are going to do for him. He focus on God, not himself. Time has come for followers of Christ. I didn't say Christians. Follower of Christ to look to him. Focus your eyes on him and him alone. I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help cometh. My help cometh from the Lord. In the midst of difficulties. I know some of you are going through a lot of tears and you don't know what to do. I know I can pull out the people the anointing I have because they prayed for me. Double anointing in the pastor's office. Anointing so strong upon me. Now I can pull out and read your email or read your life. That much anointing I have. But I want to declare to you, don't quit, don't give up. We have God who is interested in the details of your life, sister details of your life. God has brought you this far with a purpose. God has a plan and purpose for your life. I will lift up my eyes to the Lord. He is my source. He is my strength. He is my sustainer. He is my shield. He is my shepherd. He is my buckler. He is everything to me. This morning, in the midst of difficulties, if you can say that thing, you will have joy. Unspeakable joy, full of glory. First service. Someone said you're getting stronger. I say, yeah, there's a reason I'm getting stronger now I'm only. I've got 13 more years after preaching. I will be 90. Nothing wrong to have a big goal like that. If you will learn to praise God. Who can praise God with a whole heart, who has a joyful heart, who has a grateful heart for every small thing. Where is a chicken sandwich and everything I enjoy. I love it. I say, Lord, thank you. You will hear me all the time, even when I'm getting into the car. Lord, thank you Lord. When I'm coming out of the car, thank you, Lord. I can get up with two heart attacks still, you know, you can see all the things and doctor wants to check why stitches not healed. I don't care. I don't have time for. I cannot bend that myself. Let him check. But I know the report will be don't come for next three years. How you can say my tongue has power. I can bring healing to my body. I didn't tell Patty or Paul. Pastor Paul. I had a muscle cramp last night and I said nothing will stop me to come to the stage humanly. Oh no, I don't want who Lord is my strength. I will praise the Lord with all my heart. I will tell of all the marvelous things. That's the thing I'm doing here today. So encourage you and build your confidence. Almighty God, he does all. I have not seen that he has done something wrong in my life. I'm Christian for 68 years now. Every day he Bible says, oh, I like this translation. He daily in psalm. He daily loaded us with blessings. Not just few drops, daily loaded us with blessings. What a God we have. What a God we have. I'm going to tell everyone. I'm next Sunday I'm going to tell in California. After that I will tell in Seattle. I will go and tell everyone. My God does wonderful things. Why he does wonderful? Because his name is Wonderful. His name shall be called Wonderful. So my God is a wonderful God and he gives creative ideas of Patty to make wonderful cheesecake. I don't know what she will do next year. No way she can give me cheesecake again next year. So she has to be very creative. My God is a good. I'm like, who said we cannot have fun in the church? I don't know what Christians are teaching. I said, we can have fun in the church. We can be joyful in the midst of difficulties. I have done all the time. My dad big accident was in Dallas. The van SUV flipped completely. There were a boy, three or four years old boy. My brother in law, my sister, my mom always sitting. Somehow dad came out of that on the highway, on highway. He's lifting his hand and praising God, telling the kids God is going to do miracle. And my brother said, you know, we don't know where that little boy, four years old boy. He said, just lift up your hand also start praising God. When towing truck came, they pulled. The boy didn't have any scratching. That kind of God we serve say that kind of God we serve. So I tell them marvelous things. Marvelous things. My roof had a lot of problem in the college. 32 years old roof. It is a big budget. But I never told how much money I need. But I told someone, his name is Jehovah Jireh. I said, I need this much and I need to have this money before I come to America. God is good. My roof will be paid off. I'll be debt free. Not debt free at the time of dedication. It'll be debt free before even I reach there. My God is a good God. So I will tell Marvel. He always does. Oh, I didn't see there 15 minutes more. I have. Am I 12:30? Okay, I saw it's at 12:15, so. So let me open the Bible again because I want to be invited back. Some of the pastors, I never invite them back in my conference because they think they are led by the Holy Spirit. And they. They have a different clock. I don't know how. Okay, So I had 11 things. I'm just going to close the notebook and just read the psalm. That's what I will do. I will be filled with joy. Verse number three. I will be filled with joy because I have. Holy cow. Oh, maybe you didn't get it, Philemon. No, no, it's not there. It says, I will be filled with joy because of you, O God. Joy comes from God. Happiness comes from the world. But he is a source of joy. You can shout, you can jump, you can do everything. In the midst of difficulties, I will lift up my hands toward heaven because he has given me. So the question comes then, who takes my joy away? He says, I will be filled with joy. Who takes this joy away from you then? People. Number one. Number two, circumstances. Number three things. And number four, anxiety, worry, tension. Why you have to worry about this people? Tell me, who will take care of your wife? She's in Chicago now. I said, that's not my problem. Who will take care of the ministry and orphanage and Bible college? I said, that's not my problem. He called me. Not his problem. His problem, not my problem. I know why we waste time. The thing we should not get into, I never get into. I don't have time for this. I never call the board meeting, Only twice a year. If you know the vision of the church, why I have to keep repeating on you? It means you are not part of the team. I'm not talking about you. This church is very good. I'm very happy. Pastor Mark, I got all the good news. What. What is happening in that ministry? I'm very happy to hear. But remember, believers. I use the word believers. Remember the followers of Christ. Nothing should take your joy away from you. You may have a good car running today. Tomorrow it will be gone. Your joy should not be on that car. Your joy should be on Almighty God. He is so good. I'm like, he's so good. I can just stay in. Talking about goodness of God, the grace of God, the glory of God, I can keep talking about because I have the joy. Now let's go further. Otherwise we'll be here. Verse number nine. I'm skipping all because judgment and everything is there. Verse number nine. Lord is sheltered for the oppressed is He. If you are discouraged, downhearted. He is the refuge. Oh, I'm talking so powerful a refuge. In times of trouble, I noticed that thing. I experienced that thing. When you guys are speaking about resurrection power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead, it's in you. Listen to me, Emmanuel. He's with me. Resurrection. He's in me. I have the resurrection power which I have seen in our own family. Time of trouble, go further. I like all this one here. Number 10. Those who know your name. Do you know his name? Oh yeah, I know his name. Jesus. That's all you know? There are 287 names of God in the Bible. How I know? Because I taught it in the college. 287 names. The more you know the name of God, your Christian walk with the Lord will be very strong. Very important for us that we become real followers of Christ. He says, those who know your name, trust in you. Have you seen Abraham? Have you seen Elijah? I have not seen. I have not seen. But I know one thing. My God is a provider. I know him because I know his name. Provision will be there. I know his name. Shammah, Shalom. Peace will be there. So I trust him completely. They Bible says in Book of Daniel, chapter 11, they that know their God, their name, name of their God shall do great things. Why you are not doing great things? You don't know the name of God. David said, I come in the name of the Lord to Goliath his enemy. You must know the name of the Lord. I said, you must know the name of the Lord. He is a good shepherd, leading shepherd, motivating shepherd, inspiring shepherd. He is a great shepherd. So you have to know the name. Let's go further. Verse number 1211. I'm going to skip 12, last portion. He does not listen to me, believers. He does not ignore the cries. Those who suffer. If you are suffering, you are going through trials, difficulties. Cry out to God. Cry out to God. I did it. I saw the result. Hannah did it in. And Bible says no one can hear what she was praying. You can just do it. Cry out. He understand your language. Mom, four months old, baby. When baby cries, mom knows whether baby is crying for the food or something went wrong from the cry. If a mother knows that much, what about your God who died for you on the cross of Calvary? He says, I will not ignore the cries. Those who suffer, cry out to him. Okay, let's go further and maybe come to 18 watching the time. But the needy will not be ignored. Listen to me now. Bible is not this Bible I bought in Chicago. It's not something from east. Wise man came from east. Am I right? But this is from here. This is the living word of God. And he says the needy will not be ignored forever. The hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. What a powerful word we have this morning. Beautiful psalm to encourage you and I to have confidence in the Almighty God. Listen to a young man of 77. Now two, three, four people are. That's fine. I'm still young. Bible says they wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. So I'm young. Don't quit. Don't give up. We have a God who loves you so much. He cares for you. He is willing to support you. World will ignore you, but God will never ignore you. Bible says in Isaiah, a nursing mother can forget the sucking child. But I will never forget what a promise we have. He wants to take care of you. I say he wants to take care of you. In the midst of trouble, trials, difficulties, focus on God and God alone. Focus on God and God alone. Because the moment you focus on him, your problems will become very small. I don't serve just a God. I serve Almighty God. But when we say he is almighty, we think he can only handle big thing. I want to let you know he can handle even a small thing. Try. Try and see how good is the Lord. Sometime he will. Before you will even ask anything, he will answer. Answer is at the door now. Today for some of you, answer is waiting at the door. You have to just start praising God and you can have your miracle, your joy back, your strength back, your children back. I know some of you are worried about your children. Don't worry. Keep praying. My dad prayed for his brother for 39 years. 39 years he prayed. And my dad's brother got saved at the age of 67. Don't give up. There are some people sitting here. They are not saved. Your relatives are not saved. Pray for them. The psalm is teaching us he will never ignore the cry. The greatest water power we have in the world is the tears of the mother. I remember we have five brothers. One sister now alive. Two are in heaven. My mom used to. I'm the second oldest and mom used to. I. I can hear her cry early morning. That's why we get up early. I'm up by 4:00. I'm up. Breakfast by 6:00. Not here in India. America. I have to change my timing. Her cry brought all five brothers and sister to Christ. Out of five boys, three are in the ministry. What a God we have. I can say with Joshua, me and my family will serve the Lord. Because we have learned the Secret to praise him in difficult times. Shall we stand? We have three minutes and then I will turn the platform to Pastor Paul. God can do miracle in one minute. One touch, gracious touch of Jesus can make the difference. Every eye closed. I was very practical, very simple. I didn't check my 11 points. Who will say yes? Dr. Thomas, I'm so much discouraged with my sickness, with my lifestyle. But today is the day. Today is the day. I want to see the miracle in my life. You can lift the hands. I want to pray for you. You don't be ashamed. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Many people are lifting their hands. Two minutes, half a minute I'll give to you to come to the altar. And then minute and half for me for prayer. Just come here. Make your way to the altar. Make your way. God will wipe your tears. Today. God will perform the miracle for you. Just come. I'm telling you, I'm after two. Heart attack. I'm standing here so strong. It's not the Greek food I had, but the power of God. Come on, come on, come on. In your relationship, you have been hurt. You are with someone and someone is not treating you well. And you are in this church today. I just said it openly. Make your way to the altar. Make your way to the altar. We want to pray for you. Pray for you. Young people, don't leave this church. You think you have another day, another Sunday. You don't know. This is the day God has designed for your destiny. Your destiny is not by chance. Destiny is by your choice. Understand? Today's choice will make the difference. I will praise God, the time. And if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not sure. If death knocks your door today, you will be in heaven. You can make your way to the altar. 12:30. Pastor Paul. Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank. Thank you, Lord. You have power. You have power. [00:43:05] Speaker A: Amen. Jesus, we're going to close the service in prayer, so we're going to dismiss you. I'm going to close the service. But if you're up front here and you want to continue to pray, that's great. Just want to remind you that there's tastes of the world just around the corner. [00:43:22] Speaker B: And. [00:43:22] Speaker A: And some of you think, well, I need lunch. Believe me, I've done the taste of the world. By the time you go through 19 units, you've had lunch, you'll be full. You will be full. Okay? So, Lord, we thank you. This morning, you hear the cry of the needy. The afflicted, the distressed, the discouraged, the. The despairing. And Lord, I pray today that you would fill our hearts with hope, with joy, with delight, with your power, your healing, your forgiveness, your deliverance, whatever our need is today. Lord, you're the great provider. You're the great lover of our soul. Lord, may we experience your divine love. It's your kindness, it's your goodness that brings us to a place where we change our outlook, we change the direction of our lives. We begin to move away from where we were. We begin to move towards you. We thank you for that. I just pray, Lord, meet every need, hear every cry, see every tear. We thank you for that, Father. In Jesus name, we. We pray. Amen. God bless you. Excuse me. As you leave this morning. God bless you. [00:44:47] Speaker B: Thank you, Lord.