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