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Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Today we are so blessed because we have someone that comes to us almost annually for the last 25 years. And he's one of our outside elders and a dear friend in the Lord. Someone that I've had the privilege of ministering with and have seen his life. You know how many know that? Anybody can get up and say things, but a life has to back it up. And I can honestly say that both Dr. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth truly live the life. And they're people of integrity and they're people who pray for us. Isn't that beautiful? You don't need to know. There are people in other parts of the world that are praying for us even as we pray for them. So I'm going to have Dr. Thomas come and bring God's word this morning. Let's welcome him.
[00:00:50] Speaker B: 10:45.
Praise God.
Are you happy this morning?
Are you joyful this morning?
Both have different meaning.
Anybody can be happy, but to be joyful at all circumstances is not easy.
I'm joyful.
Reason I'm joyful because God is faithful.
God is faithful. Church. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you for praying for us, supporting us.
And Elizabeth came out of big, big danger.
She has septicemia. And then in month of February this year, her thigh became like a stone.
And everyone was concerned what will happen?
We are young.
I'm just seven years older than your pastor, so I'm young.
So we came to America and Dr. Did all the tests they can do.
Nerve conduction test wants to make sure nerves and muscles are not damaged.
Thank God nothing is damaged.
Someone asked me, how is my heart? Because I had quadruple bypass two years ago. Two and a half years ago.
I'm doing good.
I am good.
And I'm going to preach till I'm 90.
See, there is power in your tongue.
I believe. Am I right?
We came out of the boiler room this morning and I was just sitting. Boiler room is Pastor Paul's office.
Eleven people were praying. I'm talking only two churches in America have seen.
They come to pastor's office and pray before the service.
I was blessed and I was sharing with pastor there.
I was in Indonesia and church was dying and Church of God took them their membership.
We had the world conference. So he came to pick me up at the airport.
Then doctor, I will not give the big name Tan Saputra.
I say, how the church? He says, church is doing very good.
The moment they took me out of Church of God, my church is growing.
I said, what is the secret?
He says, I will not take you to hotel.
Let's go to my boiler room.
That's the place. I learned 2,000 people were praying Wednesday night in his church.
Church grew to 127,000 people.
Prayer has to come back in our churches.
I talked to Andrea because I want to make sure I'm not making mistake. Because when I saw her first time, she was 16 and the way God is using her, I am so blessed.
The song she picked up. I didn't share what I will be speaking this morning.
But one of my point is the name of Jesus Christ.
I said, andrea, you were talking to my God or I was talking to your God.
God has been good.
Ministry has a lot of challenges. I won't share anything here but pray for us.
It's not easy, but we know one thing.
Those who decide to live a godly life, they shall be persecuted.
So I'm happy and happy. I know Book of Exodus also where it says more they persecuted, more they multiply.
This is our time in India for multiplication.
Not addition, multiplication.
Church once again, thank you for your support.
Thank you.
We are good friends, Pastor Paul and I. We share our joys and sorrow.
And he said, I'm coming here for last 25 years. Second service, I will explain why I come or why I have come for last 25 years.
Are you ready for the word of God?
And I know what time I have to close.
And you heard me many times.
I never get new revelation after the designated time.
I have only one closing. When I see that clock is speaking to me. The moment I close my notebook, you know I'm done.
I want to speak to you from book of acts.
I need 1, 2, 3, 4 people. Tell me how many chapters are in book of Acts.
You can open the Bible and tell me.
Andrea started her song with a question. So let me start preaching with a question.
How many chapters are there in book of Acts?
Lift the hand. One, two. Anyone?
28. Excellent.
Anyone there?
28.
But I want to tell you, book of Acts is not complete.
It does not have 28 chapters.
Sister, you're writing chapter 29, you are writing chapter 30.
We are writing the book of Acts every day.
Every day we are writing because we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and lot of Christian they think when you have Holy Spirit is there to speak in tongues only.
I'm not against tongues.
You can speak as long as you want to speak.
But power is given.
In chapter one, promise was given. In chapter one, chapter two, the promise came.
But in chapter three, that power which was given, you can see in Action.
And that's the thing I want to bring to this church this morning.
Power in action.
So you know, many miracles are in book of Acts. I'm a teacher also. I teach in the college.
There are 15 miracles are recorded in book of Acts.
These are the miracles performed by apostles who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And the first miracle is recorded in chapter three. And you may say, Dr. Thomas, we know the story.
What are you going to bring?
Bible is full of truth.
Golden nuggets are there.
Every time you read, you get new insight. I didn't say new revelation.
I'm very careful.
You will get new insight.
And that story is very familiar.
So let me read to bring to your memory about this beggar.
I'm telling some time we have to just take the scripture and read it now. Peter and John word Peter and John has a meaning there. I'm going to show you seven times in book of Acts you will see that going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. Oh, what if. What if these are all Holy Spirit baptized people and a man this I didn't like, a man who had been lame.
This man they have not given even the name Nameless man people call by your disease, by your defects, by your association, by your hair the color like I heard first time. No, I never heard before. Lord, bless those who have purple hair, black hair and those who does not have no hair.
Name from his mother's womb was being carried along whom they used to set down every day. Underline the word every day. According to historian, this man was 40 years old.
40 years old every day at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful in order to beg alms to those who were entering the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into temple, he began asking to receive alms.
But Peter along with John again Peter along with John fixed his gaze on him and said, look at us.
And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
And Peter said, look now, I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Denaz walk.
Seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
With a leap he stood upright. He stood upright and began to walk. And he entered the temple with them, walking, leaping, praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God. And they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the beautiful gate of the temple to beg a and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to them.
Just look. Now there are three phrases I want to pull out which we can apply for every believer.
Then I will take five words from this healing so you will never forget this story.
The first thing you and I must remember when you read this healing. Healing. Miracle.
Church must able to see beyond your natural sight.
Very important.
Church must see beyond your natural sight. First statement.
Second statement.
Church must able to give beyond human resources.
I have no silver, no gold, but I give something. Am I right?
Able to give something beyond human resources.
Phrase number three. State number three from this healing.
Able to reach beyond your reach.
Are able to touch beyond expected reach.
Three phrases we have to apply our own life.
The five words which is very powerful here.
Labels.
Number two, limits.
Number three looked.
Number four left and number five latch on.
Let's pick up that story now in the second service. I will tell you why Peter and John. I have no time in this time, so let me go right to the labels.
He was lame, could not walk in, could not work, could not worship.
According to the law from Leviticus, chapter 21, 1819.
Layman cannot enter the temple.
And they brought him every day, left him at the gate.
I don't know what label people have given to you, but today we must become tagless.
People will call you by different names.
Don't worry.
Jesus calls you son.
He calls you my child.
Label. We give label to different people.
Excellent. Thank you.
We need people like that in every church.
I just arrived yesterday around 2 o'. Clock.
Coming from frosted weather in Chicago to sauna in Red Deer.
And then I got sore throat. But it's part of life. I will be okay. I will preach. Even if I have a scratchy throat. I will preach.
Listen to me.
What? I want to try to get to you this morning.
Forget about the labor. Forget the name people are giving you.
You may think no one knows you in the Bible that I picked up almost 14 people who have no name.
Lot's wife.
Canaanite woman.
Yes. Society may not know you, but there's a God in heaven.
He knows your name.
If he can call the stars by its name, he calls you by your name.
He knows you.
You may think somebody has given you a title or name.
Failure.
You are not a failure.
We are victorious more than conquerors.
So before you leave this church this morning, say, I will be tagless Christian.
I will have no more labels.
I will go and do what God has called me to do.
The second word. You get limits.
He was limited some. He was Dependent on people.
I don't know how many people brought him to the church.
Beautiful gate.
The beautiful gate. There were 10 gates in this temple.
The gate where they put him every day was 74, 70ft high, according to historians. 60ft wide.
20 people needed to open the door or open the gate.
And no one can go inside that. Through this gate only woman can go when church. The tradition made this layman to stay by the beautiful gate. But there was no beauty in him meaning people.
But something happened at the beautiful gate.
He had miracle.
He had miracle at the beautiful gate.
And the limits left no limits for him now.
Because the one who didn't walk for 40 years, he's walking, leaping, jumping, everything.
What a God we have this morning.
You think you are limited.
You cannot do anything.
I want to tell you with the strength.
And then quadruple open heart. And doctor said, I have problem with my lungs and kidney.
Whose report you are going to believe.
They were trying to limit me.
But I want to tell you my God is a big God.
I say my God is a big God.
Do not listen to the people when they try to put you out of the society, put a limit on you.
We have a limitless God and his power is in us.
Has his power in us.
Now, I don't know how many people saw this beggar.
But here Peter John is talking to him.
He said, look to us.
If you read the passage clearly, you'll find out he. He was the beggar. Looked at them expecting to receive money.
But a powerful statement was given by Peter.
He said, look to us.
We don't have anything but what I have.
We give to you what you have this morning.
I said, what do you have this morning?
I want to tell you I have Jesus inside me.
Oh, you didn't get it. I said, I have Jesus inside me. I know. Each of you said, he's alive.
That's a historical fact.
But real fact is he lives in me.
He lives in me.
Jesus is in me. The power of resurrection which raised Christ from the death is in me.
Greater is he that's in you than he that is in the world.
Listen to me.
What you are going to give.
There are many people outside the church.
They're not in the church.
They're not in the church.
You have to give them something.
And I have come to this conclusion. I'm Christian now for 67 years. I'm not that old.
And thank God. Pastor Paul. I thank God for missionaries from Fellowship fca.
They came when I was born. I could not walk my Younger brother started walking.
And this missionary lady from New York, Salem Tabernacle went and brought me some fish oil from the pharmacy.
And with that one bottle, big bottle, I'm running out running. My brothers, we have five brothers.
Listen to me.
God is a good God.
I say God is a good God.
What you have, you give to the people.
I have the word of God.
I eat this word every day.
As I eat this word every day.
I eat this word every day. Because we live in a society now.
We have diluted the word of God.
You will get the biggest crowd. If I make announcement next Sunday, I'm going to prophesy over everyone personal prophecy.
I'm not against prophecy, but I want to declare time has come in Canada and in America that we bring the word of God.
What is There is power in his word.
Power in his name.
My wife was dying and doctor said only half an hour.
She will die in half an hour.
You know, when you know the name of Christ, the power of his name. I knelt down by her bedside and start crying to God. I said, lord, I will not be able to do the ministry without her. She's my intercessor.
Don't take her away now.
I cried to the Lord, but I used the name of Jesus Christ.
I didn't have any special handkerchief from Jerusalem. I didn't have any oil from Ohio. Some people will know why I'm talking that.
But I had the name of Jesus Christ.
I had the power of God inside me.
And I put the hand and she's in Chicago.
[00:24:51] Speaker A: Now.
[00:24:52] Speaker B: Listen to me.
Time has come for you and I to give to this world Jesus.
To give to this community the word of God.
Pastor asked me a question or someone asked me in the boiler room.
What is your desire?
I have only one desire now.
As you get younger day by day.
My. My desire is to be faithful till I die.
I want to be a witness for Lord Jesus Christ.
I have no brochure, no business card, nothing.
What I have is Jesus. And I want to have that Jesus with you today. When you leave this place, go with Jesus.
You will have joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Peace, which passeth all understanding shall be with you. Listen what it says here.
He lifted. I like that one that we get here.
Seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up.
Now, don't think that beggar crippled man God healed because of Peter.
A lot of teaching is going on, not because of Peter's hand, but because of the power in the name of Jesus Christ.
We need believers and Christians who will go and lift someone in the name of Jesus. They may be discouraged, they may be depressed, they may be disheartened, full of fear, full of sorrow.
Like this morning. I will not share.
Devastating news came from India.
But I said, Lord, everything is. You know everything.
So I'm going to trust you.
I will keep preaching.
I know being a pastor in last seven days four deaths in my church.
Four.
I'm a shepherd, live heavy heart. But I'm going to tell you I have the joy because I will see them one day in heaven, in the glory land.
He lift Peter lifted him.
The beauty about this. I'm going very fast Beauty about this miracle that this beggar man cling. One translation he cling to Peter and John.
He latched on.
We need.
We need believer.
You cannot be independent.
You need someone.
Go and get someone like Peter and John. Just look Peter and John.
What a spirit of companionship.
We need to have godly man and woman in our life.
I thank God for Pastor Paul.
I have only three pastors. I travel all over the world.
Three pastors who are in my inner circle. Pastor Paul Valley, Pastor Mark Bradford and Dr. Merrill. He is now 93 or 94 years old.
It will be very hard for me to replace him because he's a man seasoned man.
I don't look for the other stuff.
Someone asked me, can you tell me something about Pastor Paul? I said two things.
I can write 20 things.
Number one, he preaches the word of God.
Number two, he's humble.
I can call him anytime I tell him as it is, even this morning I was. I promised Patty. Let her come 11 second service. I will tell.
We are very open. We are very friend. I need.
I said I need him.
I need him.
Believers, if you want to be get strong.
Find a godly person in your life who is sold out to Jesus Christ.
Don't look for any other stuff.
I don't care what kind of car you drive, what kind of name brand clothes. I have no time for all those things.
But I have time for those who live a godly life.
We can lift because when two or three agree together.
Whatever is bound in earth shall be bound in heaven. Here Peter and John together not only in the business world. They were together not only they were at the time of crucifixion.
They were together in the time of resurrection. Also they were together in the upper room and are there together for this healing.
God is a good God.
God is a good God. Now let me close. I have still time.
Let me give you three Characteristics of a Christian life from this miracle.
These are the three very important characteristics.
Number one, progression, number two, elevation and number three, worship.
Are you progressing?
Oh, I got saved in 1985. What are you doing now?
They have only. They talk about 85.
They talk about 86, 88, 89. I want to know, did you talk to someone last week about Jesus?
I talked to Even when I travel in the plane, when I go for checking my bag behind the counter person, you have a big smile.
I said, now it's a good thing I have time to witness now.
I said, I will tell you why I have a smile.
I why I'm joyful.
I say I have the joy of the Lord and then I will say, you have power. Now to bump me into business class.
I have been bumped into business class.
I have been bumped into first class from Sweden, Stockholm to Chicago.
Because when people see you're progressing, you have something they want to know more about you. Why you have the joy.
We have witnessed more people in the hospital.
When Elizabeth was put in the hospital and doctor said, you're not concerned that she is going to die? I said, no, I know one thing. I put all my cares upon him.
He careth for me. Are you progressing?
Means I read I'm Krishna for 67 years. But there's not a single day in our home. In our home.
Then my wife Elizabeth and I we read three chapters in the morning and three chapters in the night.
We sing a song and then we have a long prayer. Not the prayer of J Bus.
We have long prayer. We pray for all our kids grandkids.
God has blessed us with three grandkids.
This progressing even in prayer. My faith level is going up and up and up and up and up.
Every year month of February doctor said to my youngest daughter I will correct myself our youngest daughter.
Otherwise I will have board meeting tomorrow.
Doctor said she will not conceive.
She has to go for IVF.
And I found out a lot of money for that.
For six weeks we start praying kind to God. I said, we. My wife Elizabeth took the first time said, if you can bless Hannah, you can bless Melissa.
We need son.
We have to be very specific.
She didn't pray give us a child. She and I want to declare to you on March 9th, our youngest daughter was blessed with a baby boy seven weeks. Today is seven weeks complete and his 13 pounds.
My God is a good God.
We are progressing in our faith also.
As we are progressing, God is teaching us from this miracle. Hey, he got healed. He is not testing whether I. I have a strength on my ankle or nothing. Nothing.
He jumped and went into the temple.
Elevation.
I want you to be lifted up daily in this spiritual life.
Nothing excites me when people come and say they saw the angel last night.
Darren. When people come to me, I try to close my ears. You know, I'm not interested in angels.
They are my ministering spirit in modern language. They are my maids, they are my servants.
I am interested in Jesus Christ.
I want to see him in every situation.
When I am in the valley, I want to see him.
When I am in a mountaintop, I want to see him just Jesus.
Let's have elevation.
And when you come to that point, then you will worship. Easy to worship with Andrea here and the sound and he's starting and singing from the congregation.
Easy to sing. But can you sing when everything's going against you?
We.
You can ask Pastor Paul. Everything is adverse for us now.
Everything, government, everything.
But we are rejoicing, we are worshiping.
We see miracle.
We have been taught by our dad. Don't give thanks after you receive the things.
Lord, thank you that we are going to have another building.
We didn't have even bought the land, even as the land is not even bought.
But I start giving thanks, praising God, worshiping.
You can become a miracle center.
Your home can become a miracle center if you learn to worship. Bible says he worshiped. And when people saw, they were full of wonder and amazement. You want to have people see this one?
What a remarkable thing God is doing for your home and family.
Start worshiping God.
Praise him all the time. I will bless the Lord at all times.
Bless the Lord. O my soul and all that is within me.
Bless his holy name.
What a God we have.
But what I am going to close now, the name you have is like a power of attorney.
Power of attorney.
You have full authority for any transaction on earth because we are using his name.
Ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Use your power of attorney.
Are you using your power attorney?
If not, say Lord, thank you for your name.
Thank you. What you're going to do in my home, especially if you have teenagers.
I don't have teenagers, but I have grandkids.
Pray for them.
Pray for them. I said pray for them.
And I have learned from my dad, who was a pastor for many, many 59 years. Same church I'm pastoring now.
He said it's not important how big church you pastor. Listen to me.
He said it's very important you produce quality people who learn to worship the living God.
We have millions of gods in India. Millions. I have many millions.
330 million gods in India.
They worship cobra, they worship cows, they worship everything.
But none of those God can bring healing, salvation, deliverance, joy, peace.
Jesus Christ can bring. Shall we stand? Have four minutes. Shall we stand?
Who will say yes?
I'm frustrated, I'm defeated, I'm full of sorrow and troubles.
Doctor gave me a bad report.
I want to tell you God can do miracle in next two minutes.
I said bad. God can do miracle in next two minutes.
The greatest miracle is salvation.
In 30 seconds you can. If you need miracle, you can come to the altar.
If you need miracle healing, say, I cannot handle my situation, my marriage is in trouble.
I can come and I can pull you out from your seats easily.
Maybe you are not bold enough to come.
You are even talking to someone. Should we go or not? Every eye closed.
There is power in his name.
I said there is power in his name.
I said there is power in his name.
You can leave this sanctuary with a victory.
You can leave this house of God with deliverance.
You can just lift the hand, no need to come and I will pray for you.
God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Anyone else? God, I can see hands going in every aisle, every place.
Father, we thank you.
You will do beautiful thing in the life of my brothers and sisters here. Lord, we know there is power in your name.
Power in your name.
Power in your name. Thank you Lord.
Thank you for this church and thank you for pastor.
Thank you for the worship team, thank you for the altar workers, ushers, greeters, children's pastor, everyone. Lord, I pray they will have beautiful experiences.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
If you love Jesus, say Hallelujah, Pastor.
[00:42:20] Speaker A: Amen.
Amen. Thank you, Dr. Thomas. Appreciate that.
You know, if you want special prayer, we have people that will pray with you. So while we're leaving, you can come forward and there'll be someone here to pray with you. Isn't that right? So if you have questions or you want special prayer, we're going to just open these altars for you. So Father, we pray as we leave. May your hand of grace and blessing be upon us. May you strengthen us by your holy spirit that we may walk in victory and in joy in Jesus name. Amen. God bless you as you leave.
