0:00:00.600,0:00:05.920 SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY[br]BROTHER CHRIS 0:00:06.360,0:00:11.760 Grace and peace to you all in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. 0:00:11.760,0:00:19.320 And let me begin by welcoming you [br]to this New Year, 2024. 0:00:19.320,0:00:20.840 Thank You, Jesus. 0:00:20.840,0:00:24.360 Thank you, Jesus, for the grace [br]to enter a New Year - 0:00:24.360,0:00:29.760 indeed, for the grace to enter a new day, [br]a new minute, a new second. 0:00:29.760,0:00:33.080 Because all is of grace. 0:00:33.080,0:00:41.280 And people of God, [br]the best preparation for 2024 0:00:41.280,0:00:48.520 begins with the evaluation of each day, starting from today. 0:00:48.520,0:00:57.720 Because no matter the seriousness of our intentions or resolutions, know this - 0:00:57.720,0:01:10.560 your life will not change in 2024 unless [br]you change something you do daily. 0:01:10.560,0:01:20.560 To remain steadfast throughout 2024, [br]stay steady today. 0:01:20.560,0:01:30.320 To prepare for those things you cannot prepare for in 2024, care for today 0:01:30.320,0:01:34.480 because only today is yours. 0:01:34.480,0:01:41.160 Now today, I want to share with you a message that has really been growing in my heart 0:01:41.160,0:01:50.680 in the recent weeks and the subject of this message is ‘Spiritual Sensitivity’. 0:01:50.680,0:01:55.600 I repeat, spiritual sensitivity. 0:01:55.600,0:02:11.040 You see, the greatest danger posed by darkness lies in our failure to recognise it. 0:02:11.040,0:02:15.280 In other words, let me put it like this - 0:02:15.280,0:02:24.600 our inability to identify the real problem [br]is really the problem. 0:02:24.600,0:02:31.920 That's a far greater problem than what many of us consider as problems in our lives today. 0:02:31.920,0:02:34.080 And take note of this, people of God - 0:02:34.080,0:02:46.600 the surest way to prolong and even intensify your problem is to misdiagnose it. 0:02:46.600,0:02:59.160 The way you face your problem is actually a bigger problem than the problem itself. 0:02:59.160,0:03:02.120 I hope you follow what [br]I'm saying, people of God. 0:03:02.120,0:03:10.160 The problem we face today lies in [br]the way we face our problems. 0:03:10.160,0:03:18.680 And know this - there are some tests, [br]some situations in the journey of life 0:03:18.680,0:03:27.560 that only internal resources [br]can sustain you through. 0:03:27.560,0:03:32.480 On this note, remember what [br]I said about ‘spiritual sensitivity’. 0:03:32.480,0:03:38.520 I want to take you to a Scripture in Hebrews 3. 0:03:38.520,0:03:50.920 That's going to be the proof text for [br]today's message - Hebrews 3:12-14. 0:03:50.920,0:03:53.040 Let's read, people of God. 0:03:53.040,0:04:03.640 “Beware, brethren, lest there be [br]in any of you an evil heart 0:04:03.640,0:04:08.400 of unbelief in departing from the living God; 0:04:08.400,0:04:16.160 but exhort one another daily,[br]while it is called ‘Today,’ 0:04:16.160,0:04:23.400 lest any of you be hardened through [br]the deceitfulness of sin. 0:04:23.400,0:04:26.680 For we have become partakers of Christ 0:04:26.680,0:04:36.960 if we hold the beginning of our [br]confidence steadfast to the end...” 0:04:36.960,0:04:50.800 Now, the greatest enemy of spiritual progress is a hardened heart - 0:04:50.800,0:04:57.720 a heart that is lacking spiritual sensitivity, 0:04:57.720,0:05:04.160 a heart that is dulled, darkened, [br]deceived by sin. 0:05:04.160,0:05:15.240 And the deeper the deception, [br]the greater the darkness. 0:05:15.240,0:05:23.560 “If then the light within you is darkness, [br]how great is that darkness” - 0:05:23.560,0:05:27.360 the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:23. 0:05:27.360,0:05:39.120 Because if the devil can deceive you, [br]then he can very easily mislead you. 0:05:39.120,0:05:47.200 Now, just take a look around you [br]at what’s happening in the world. 0:05:47.200,0:05:55.840 It doesn't take long to recognise [br]the effects of darkness - 0:05:55.840,0:05:58.280 the rebellion against God and His Word. 0:05:58.280,0:06:01.520 But don't just look around you. No! 0:06:01.520,0:06:05.880 I'm calling you today to look within you. 0:06:05.880,0:06:12.760 Because the heart of our rebellion [br]is the rebellion in our hearts. 0:06:12.760,0:06:23.440 When fleshly desires meet wrong focus, sinful deeds are never far away. 0:06:23.440,0:06:29.680 But the mystery of God’s amazing grace 0:06:29.680,0:06:34.440 is that there is always room for repentance. 0:06:34.440,0:06:38.080 But take note, people of God - 0:06:38.080,0:06:53.800 the swiftness of our repentance reflects the degree of our spiritual sensitivity. 0:06:53.800,0:07:03.240 Resistance to repentance reflects [br]the hardening of the heart. 0:07:03.240,0:07:05.600 It's not that we Christians [br]don't make mistakes. 0:07:05.600,0:07:08.240 We do. We can make mistakes. 0:07:08.240,0:07:13.720 But when you are spiritually sensitive, [br]you are quick to recognise, 0:07:13.720,0:07:18.000 quick to respond, quick to reconcile, [br]quick to repent. 0:07:18.000,0:07:29.040 But resistance to repentance reflects [br]the hardening of the heart. 0:07:29.040,0:07:40.240 This often manifests itself in the [br]form of internally justifying sin. 0:07:40.240,0:07:48.560 And if the devil can succeed [br]in hardening your heart, 0:07:48.560,0:07:57.360 private justification of sin will soon turn [br]to public toleration of sin, 0:07:57.360,0:08:01.840 even public celebration of sin - 0:08:01.840,0:08:06.280 not only by what we do but [br]by what we fail to do. 0:08:06.280,0:08:17.320 If you don't stand for something, [br]then you will definitely fall for something. 0:08:17.320,0:08:24.360 I want you to reflect on this, [br]people of God - 0:08:24.360,0:08:35.200 resistance to repentance reflects [br]the hardening of the heart. 0:08:35.200,0:08:42.960 And if care is not taken, [br]if conscience is not awakened, 0:08:42.960,0:08:53.080 we can shift from the recognition of wrong to the validation of wrong. 0:08:53.080,0:08:54.920 That's what the devil wants. 0:08:54.920,0:09:00.360 He wants us to shift ground to [br]a domain outside of the light. 0:09:00.360,0:09:10.120 Because when we are in darkness,[br]‘truth’ can easily be twisted. 0:09:10.120,0:09:14.800 A blind man leading the blind... 0:09:14.800,0:09:22.640 This is why downplaying sin [br]is very, very dangerous. 0:09:22.640,0:09:35.640 No move to minimise God's [br]standards ever ends well. 0:09:35.640,0:09:38.200 I repeat it again, people of God. 0:09:38.200,0:09:47.760 No move to minimise, to reduce [br]God's perfect standards ever ends well. 0:09:47.760,0:09:52.000 Now, I want to sound a note [br]of warning at this point. 0:09:52.000,0:09:59.360 Beware of counterfeit conviction - 0:09:59.360,0:10:06.880 when your actions are motivated by a source outside of God's Word, 0:10:06.880,0:10:12.240 for a reason outside of God's glory. Beware! 0:10:12.240,0:10:19.440 The devil delights in dressing up self-righteousness, self-centeredness 0:10:19.440,0:10:28.640 in the garments of seeming good, [br]seeming kindness, seeming compassion 0:10:28.640,0:10:34.680 that has the appearance of godliness [br]but denies its power (2 Timothy 3:5). 0:10:34.680,0:10:38.600 Beware of counterfeit conviction. 0:10:38.600,0:10:48.600 The only source of genuine conviction [br]is the Word and the Spirit. 0:10:48.600,0:10:54.240 It's God's Word, as revealed by the [br]Holy Spirit, that exposes darkness. 0:10:54.240,0:10:58.120 So the more your heart is [br]engaged in God's Word, 0:10:58.120,0:11:06.840 the more God's Word dominates your heart, the more spiritually sensitive you become. 0:11:06.840,0:11:12.120 It awakens, it amplifies [br]the voice of conscience. 0:11:12.120,0:11:29.400 And you are what you are today because of listening to or ignoring your conscience. 0:11:29.400,0:11:32.440 You are what you are today 0:11:32.440,0:11:43.680 as a result of listening to or ignoring [br]the voice of your conscience. 0:11:43.680,0:11:54.040 The more grounded we are in the Word of God, the more disciplined our hearts become. 0:11:54.040,0:12:01.320 Our hearts are awakened to the [br]exceeding sinfulness of sin. 0:12:01.320,0:12:05.200 That's why we are quick to repent. 0:12:05.200,0:12:07.920 That’s why we are quick [br]to recognise our wrong. 0:12:07.920,0:12:13.960 And this preserves, protects us against those dangerous entanglements 0:12:13.960,0:12:19.320 we meet down the road of deception. 0:12:19.320,0:12:24.640 People of God, what am I emphasising [br]in this message today? 0:12:24.640,0:12:29.720 The antidote to a hardened heart 0:12:29.720,0:12:37.760 is to stay saturated in the Scriptures [br]and soaked in prayer. 0:12:37.760,0:12:46.680 To remain spiritually sensitive, take care of your heart in the light of God's Word. 0:12:46.680,0:12:53.720 Prayer each day keeps deception at bay. 0:12:53.720,0:13:02.160 But dodging daily time with God is a recipe for disaster in your spiritual life. 0:13:02.160,0:13:08.360 So, I want to challenge you [br]right now with this question. 0:13:08.360,0:13:20.960 What are you doing daily that is [br]enriching you spiritually? 0:13:20.960,0:13:24.160 Because I have a word of advice to give you. 0:13:24.160,0:13:30.280 And look, people of God, this advice must not be taken through the lens of religion. 0:13:30.280,0:13:35.920 No. It must be received through the understanding of relationship with God. 0:13:35.920,0:13:41.480 Religion resorts to ritual [br]because it lacks life, 0:13:41.480,0:13:45.840 but relationship encourages [br]and fosters godly habits, 0:13:45.840,0:13:48.920 godly routine in the light of God's Word. 0:13:48.920,0:13:53.520 So, a word of advice to you: 0:13:53.520,0:14:00.520 In your home, I encourage you to set aside 0:14:00.520,0:14:08.600 a place for prayer, for reflection, [br]for meditation. 0:14:08.600,0:14:13.880 I know many of us may say we don’t have space for an entire room. 0:14:13.880,0:14:15.680 If you have space, glory be to God. 0:14:15.680,0:14:26.920 But in your house, set aside an area - [br]if you have not yet done so - 0:14:26.920,0:14:34.880 to consciously surround yourself with things that remind you of your relationship with God. 0:14:34.880,0:14:38.160 Why? Because we are all weak. 0:14:38.160,0:14:44.040 In a world filled with distraction, [br]I encourage you today - 0:14:44.040,0:14:49.680 find something natural to remind you [br]of something supernatural. 0:14:49.680,0:14:57.960 Create something you can see to prompt your heart towards things that are unseen. 0:14:57.960,0:15:03.520 Look, people of God, I tell you - [br]your heart is the real prayer room. 0:15:03.520,0:15:06.320 I'm not trying to dispute that fact. 0:15:06.320,0:15:08.560 Our heart is the real prayer room. 0:15:08.560,0:15:15.240 But we must acknowledge that no one is above influence and environment plays a role. 0:15:15.240,0:15:17.000 Environment matters. 0:15:17.000,0:15:20.360 Sometimes you come home [br]and your heart is troubled. 0:15:20.360,0:15:22.680 Maybe you've had a clash [br]with a work colleague. 0:15:22.680,0:15:25.080 Maybe there's a disagreement [br]with your spouse. 0:15:25.080,0:15:29.800 Maybe you've experienced pressure and tension in a certain area of your life 0:15:29.800,0:15:31.920 and your heart is troubled. 0:15:31.920,0:15:37.200 Have a place in your home where [br]you can go and reconcile with God - 0:15:37.200,0:15:40.360 a place that reminds you of your relationship with God, 0:15:40.360,0:15:42.880 a place that redirects your focus to God, 0:15:42.880,0:15:44.440 a place where you can pray, 0:15:44.440,0:15:47.880 a place where you can lie down [br]and reflect on God's goodness, 0:15:47.880,0:15:52.240 a place where you can listen to worship music and let your heart rise in praise. 0:15:52.240,0:15:58.000 Find something natural to remind you of something supernatural. 0:15:58.000,0:16:03.640 This is a word of advice for you 0:16:03.640,0:16:15.480 to help you remain spiritually sensitive throughout 2024 and beyond. 0:16:15.480,0:16:20.160 Right now, people of God, [br]as you ponder on these words, 0:16:20.160,0:16:23.680 I want to take you to a moment of prayer. 0:16:25.200,0:16:28.720 A TIME OF PRAYER 0:16:30.160,0:16:35.840 Right now, people of God, let us pray. 0:16:35.840,0:16:45.000 Ask God right now to cleanse you [br]with His precious Blood 0:16:45.000,0:16:56.560 and wash you whiter than snow! 0:16:56.560,0:17:01.440 In the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 0:17:01.440,0:17:10.680 What's is hardening your heart [br]at this moment? 0:17:10.680,0:17:15.360 Be removed in the mighty[br]name of Jesus Christ! 0:17:15.360,0:17:18.080 Be removed right now! 0:17:18.080,0:17:26.960 That strange spirit amplifying the voice of deception within - be silenced! 0:17:26.960,0:17:28.920 Be silenced right now! 0:17:28.920,0:17:36.600 That voice resisting repentance - [br]be silenced! 0:17:36.600,0:17:43.000 In the name of Jesus Christ! 0:17:43.000,0:17:56.040 Ask God right now to increase your spiritual sensitivity to recognise His voice. 0:17:56.040,0:18:02.080 In the midst of the many contradicting and conflicting voices in this world - 0:18:02.080,0:18:06.960 let your spirit be sensitive to the Holy Spirit! 0:18:06.960,0:18:09.320 Let there be sensitivity! 0:18:09.320,0:18:11.840 Let there be revelation! 0:18:11.840,0:18:17.000 Let there be discretion [br]lightened by the Word! 0:18:17.000,0:18:26.600 In Jesus’ mighty name. 0:18:26.600,0:18:38.400 Lord Jesus Christ, we don't know what to do but our eyes are on You (2 Chronicles 20:12). 0:18:38.400,0:18:43.000 Let your gaze be fixed on Christ alone. 0:18:43.000,0:18:50.000 Let your heart be set apart for Christ alone. 0:18:50.000,0:18:54.800 In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 0:18:54.800,0:19:06.360 Lord Jesus, give us that grace to live an upright life that glorifies Your name - 0:19:06.360,0:19:11.040 in word, in thought and in deed - 0:19:11.040,0:19:20.400 throughout 2024 and beyond, [br]in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 0:19:20.400,0:19:28.520 In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! 0:19:28.520,0:19:30.360 Thank You, Jesus. 0:19:30.360,0:19:32.720 God bless you, people of God, 0:19:32.720,0:19:40.320 as you continue to seek His heart [br]to see life clearly.