Prosthetic Faith | Pr. Edna Amayo

The Lord is good. Happy Sabbath. >> Happy. >> It doesn't look to be happy Sabbath to you. Happy Sabbath. >> Happy >> and happy day. >> Wow. The Lord is good. Uh we coming to another year according to the advent calendar. We know after the come meeting we get to another year. We pray that God will be able to bring us to the completion of this year next year such a time. Uh it has been a blessed month. The Lord has been walking with us each and every time. Personally I'm blessed. Uh and I bring you greetings from wherever I've been serving in car meetings. Uh I started with my own car meeting at Kura School. When I was finishing they were saying pastor we know you're going to your car meeting. I said not really because I was supposed to serve in another car meeting. Then we served in Kangi east and south. They were having a joint camp meeting. Then last week I was serving in Capua Angaza in central liftar conference. All those come meetings they send their greetings to my church. Happy Sabbath. Thank you. Um today uh my husband is serving in a in a church in a car meeting from Rongo and he has sent his greetings this morning. Happy Sabbath once more. Now um it is hard to talk to people after they come meeting. I know we are somewhere we are somehow fed in a way and we feel like ah do we need something more but I want to tell you that we need more and more and more because after all the journey continues and I'm happy to be here once again after a very long time after a very long time the Lord has been gracious for those who know they know this the Lord has been gracious I didn't see it one day for around this time to be standing at this pull pit. But the Lord has done marvelous to my eyes and I rejoice in his name. He has been gracious given me a second chance. I don't know whether a third chance or something but the Lord has been gracious and uh I thank God for this church for the people reached out for the people prayed with me for the people prayed with our family. It has been a tough period but the Lord has been leading and um I thank God for the one among the the the congregation who was able to take care of me until now and the Lord bless him wherever he is. I don't want to mention his name but the Lord bless him. Now friends um today it is um an end it now Sabbath all over the world for those of us who have finished their come meeting and it's supposed to be read uh it is read by the women ministries in the church and somebody would pause and ask why end it now what about it so we are talking about violence in various ways and we need to equip our members in church and we need to tell our members that even if you going through a trauma or something there is something new that God wants you to have in this life as you prepare also to uh to come to the end of earth's history and we need to remember that we are not in a vacuum we are living in a world where we will be pained we'll be pinned here and there but the Lord is good for us and that's why he has given us an opportunity like like this so we can able to share and know what exactly am I how am I supposed to live? What am I supposed to do? And if I am in such a situation, how am I supposed to be out of that situation? And therefore because this is sermon time I welcome you in the afternoon we'll be able to discuss further and further know about the various or different kinds of abuse and know on how we can be able to relate well in church in homes in even in where we work and at the same time come up with a conclusion how am I supposed to live as a Christian so I invite you for the afternoon program uh so that you you're not going to to part ways after the sermon but come back So we can able to discuss more. But now coming back to our our sermon, the title is up there. The title says prosthetic faith. Prosthetic faith. Let's pray. Our Lord once again I'm standing before you and God you have given us an opportunity to share from your word. I pray that God you speak to us in a way that you know better. And I pray that God I am standing here. May I not be seen. May I be hid at the cross behind the cross of Jesus Christ that Christ may be seen in action, in word. And father, you'll be glorified at the end of this. For we pray and trust you in Jesus' name. Amen. Um I come from a family. I know you too. You come from a family. We are in in various working places. And I know also we are in a church and furthermore a church whereby we have so many members even some members that you do not know even by their names you just crisscross pass and you are off to go you are good to go but I'm here this morning to let you know this that in our scenarios of this world some things have pained us and at some point we have heartaches and some of us we have been hurt until we cannot be able to continue even in this church and some of us we are living in fear and some of us we are living in distress. Sometimes we ask ourel do I need to continue in such a family and some of us we have we are guilty because I feel offended or I offended somebody and thereby I don't know even on how to go and ask for forgiveness and in such a scenario we are living in a world whereby uh we are encompassed by the many things by many suffering words that we can we cannot even be able to describe but I I I want to remind you one thing my friends that we need to remember that man is to error. Hallelujah. Man is to error. And once we get to an error, we need also to h to to sit back and think about our life and think about our relationship with God. In that in the midst of these things, we can be able either to call quit or to continue in a manner that will be able to please our God in heaven. And therefore, let me remind you once again, my friends, that let not prejudice and racial issues hold us back from helping others. Just because I know I don't belong to such a class, just because I know I can't be able to fit in such and such a family, just because I know I have been guilt of some things, just because I know there is some trauma that is that I am passing through, I have not healed. So let not prejudice and racial issues, classes hold us back from helping others. Just be able to understand that Jesus in his own ways, he came down to be able to disintegrate everything that is called race, anything that is called gender, anything that is called culture, anything that is called um anything around uh around anything that can go to hold us from not helping others. And thereby Christ is saying that whenever you see your brother, you see your sister, whether he or she has hurt you or you are you are going through a a moment, you should be able to come back and talk to God and allow him to be able to talk to your heart and give you a light way to be able to continue. Hallelujah. We are living in a world. We are not going to run away and we are not going to say let me live in my in my own household that I cannot be able to INJURE SOMEBODY OR I cannot be injured. We are living in a world and we have brothers and sisters to keep in mind and even even if you live in a family you have a husband, you have children, YOU HAVE A WIFE, YOU HAVE BROTHERS, YOU HAVE SISTERS, YOU have grandparents. So we are not going to run away from what? From the suffering that the world has set us into. And I need to remind you that one thing you need to know if man is to error you can live in in you can live a CAUTIOUS LIFE BUT AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT things are not right even when you have kept your line even when you have kept your what your momentum and you feel that somebody's complaining you have not done this and that and therefore friends this morning you know when when we are we when we are saying that man is to error sometimes we want TO JUSTIFY OUR THINGS THAT WE DO and sometimes we want TO JUSTIFY SOME TRAUMA that we have caused in in some people's LIFE THAT I'M BUT I'M HERE THIS morning to remind all of us that as much as we think that we are made to error but we need to know that we are the same people to bring people on board even when we have wronged them even when we have hurt them we need to be able to stretch our hand and bring them on board even by saying a word that can be able to build and maybe and brighten the face of this person and therefore this morning we are going to concentrate our our our sermon on Luke chapter 17 let's go there Luke chapter 17 and I want to give just a brief history a brief a brief a brief what uh introduction to this book but chapter 17 of Luke is is within the later phase of Jesus ministry Jesus is born he has been serving he has been crucified and now at this point Jesus is in the public ministry and is moving towards Jerusalem. If you read that one in chapter 9 even up to chapter 19 verse 27 Jesus is moving is ultimately toward his his death is now pointing his his disciples and preparing them for the events that that are going to culminate in where in Jerusalem. is telling these disciples, walk with me, go with me as we go to this place, this place and place that you can be able to understand the public ministry, WHAT IT ENTAILS BECAUSE YOU ARE going to be on this earth. You are going to live here. You're going to meet these people. What are you supposed to do? Another thing that comes from chapter 17 of Luke, it it belongs to the period when Judea and Galilee existed under Roman Roman imperial domination. Something about Roman imperial domination. The Romans exist exercised political authority and in that in that in that way they use even the very local rulers and administration to be able to set their things straight. Remember King Herod, Antibbus remember um who who ruled Gallery and Pere and as a tetra where while Judea was under Roman administration can I be ABLE TO SHOCK YOU? That's why you see the people during the Jesus kingdom Jesus time they WERE ASKING GOD MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME. They knew if their kingdom of heaven will be able to come down, then Christ was ABLE TO BRING THEM UP FROM THE RO Roman imperial what domination and give them something that can be able to keep them according to the way they wanted. That one you can able to get them get it in the book of Luke chapter 17 20 and 21. They expected a Messiah who will come and establish the God's rule in their what in the kingdom. BUT GOD WAS SAYING YOU PEOPLE YOU don't understand for the kingdom of God is within you. It is here but you are not able to see it. For them they knew when the king Jesus will come was able to deliver them from the Roman what? From the Roman domination. But now let me also say this. Judaism was deeply concerned when during that time the Judaism people the the Judaism religion was concerned so much about Torah. How to keep the law of Moses. It was good. Okay. Purity. They knew on on the things that you are not supposed to do where and when. They kn they knew on how to do that. The richest identity. I am a Jew. You should be able to understand that. I am a seventh day advent member. Don't you understand that one? Is it hard for you to understand? They also knew about communial boundaries and even obedience to God. But that one was somehow SHORT BECAUSE THEY were making it happen on their own on their own righteousness. And therefore uh and this one now pushes us to our our subject this morning. The pro prosthetic what? Faith. Why? When we are talking about the the Judaism, they were keeping things in faith. Yes. But that faith was limping. that phase phase was faith was not like it was supposed to do what was supposed to be done. Now remember we are talking about purity the richest identity we are talking about Torah and and even communal boundaries and obedience TO GOD BUT AT SOME point here there is something that we are lacking. We need to be able to know for we ARE HUMAN BEINGS AT some point they knew they were keeping the Torah BUT AT SOME POINT THEY HAD OVERSTEPPED ON SOME PEOPLE'S AND AS THEY WERE IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AT SOME POINT THEY ARE NOT IDENTIFIED IT WELL and they were not keeping but the standards of heaven there verse one of Luke chapter 17 says it says then he said unto the disciples it is impossible h it is impossible but offensive Jesus will come. But who unto him through whom they come? It is he was like telling them do you know that offending somebody it will always come. You know we are human beings it it will always come. Yeah. When causing pain in some people's mind it will be it will it will it will always be there. But he's saying who unto him through whom they do what they come. Meaning as you as you as you walk in this world, as you step into into the issues of life, you can cause trauma. Yes. But it is who unto you who causes what? Trauma in some in some people's mind. He's telling them that offenses will be here. Some things will be about to happen. BUT I'M GIVING YOU A WARNING ON THIS. As they come, may you not be THE ONE WHO IS CAUSING TROUBLE even in church, even in your family, even in your workplace. You should not be there. Troubles will be there, issues will be there, PEOPLE WILL HAVE VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOMES, people will be ABUSED HERE AND THERE. BUT YOU SHOULD BE, YOU SHOULD NOT be the one to do it. Hello. Am I speaking to somebody? Yes. You know this is WHAT WE CALL PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. I AM HERE. I know people are supposed to do this and that. Yes. But not you as a Christian. Christ is warning the what? The disciples. He knew these disciples if they cannot be able to understand this thing and be able to move OUT OF IT, THEY ARE GOING TO CAUSE TROUBLE IN THE KINGDOM of God. And you know many of us in church WE ARE CAUSING TROUBLE AND YET WE KNOW ABOUT IT. WE are causing a h miscommunication AND WE KNOW TRULY IT IS ME BUT WE ARE ENABING not to be seen that we are troublemakers but indeed we are what? Troublemakers. He says who and to who unto him through whom these offenses do what? Do come. Friends, are you a church elder? Are you a women ministry leader? ARE YOU A DECONING CHURCH? ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS GOING UP AND ABOUT GOSSIPING ON SOME SMALL ISSUES THAT YOU WANT TO BRING disunityity in the church OF GOD? THE BIBLE SAYS CLEARLY who unto him who causes this ONE IN WHERE IN THE FAMILY IN THE CHURCH FAMILY IN WHEREVER you are working. And he continues to say it were better for him THAT A MILESTONE WERE hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea than he should offend offend one of these little ones. Hello. Are we here? We are saying who WANT WHAT TO THE PERSON WHO BRINGS WHAT? OFFENSES in the family. And we are saying now that this person it is better for him a milestone will be tied on his net and this person to be tossed to the what? To the sea. Hello. In the ancient times. This one was not supposed to be heard of among the family members. We are a family. Yes. Yes. We are a family and we belong to one another and we belong to to each other. And he says, "And if it was it it came to through you, then be hanged, be thrown out there." In in fact, it should not be mentioned among us that we are offending one another in the church of God. WE ARE OFFENDING ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE CAUSING TRAUMA AND PAIN IN ONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. For it is good FOR YOU TO DIE, NEVER TO BE RECOGNIZED AGAIN. This a hard saying. It's a hard saying, but I want to come again. But that this person who causes trouble should be hanged. And he says rather than that he should be able to offend these little ones. Something about the little ones. Who who are these little ones? Somebody be able to think are they the younger ones? Are they the children in church? No. not to cause disunityity and never to not to be able to bring harmony in the people who have believed in Jesus Christ. Hello. Yes, we are in the church of GOD AND SOMETIMES WE WANT TO BRING TRAUMA. WE WANT TO BRING ISSUES THAT are not contained in in the in the word of GOD AND WE WANT EVEN TO STEP ON THE TOES OF THE VERY PEOPLE THAT we are together in church. And some of of them they have just believed the other day. Hello. They have just believed the other day. AND SOME OF US AS MUCH AS WE ARE DISCIPLES WE HAVE NOT GROWN TO THE station whereby we can be able TO LAND ON THINGS AND ASSUME THEM AND and say that they are not for us. Some of us we are pained. Some of us we have left the word of God. And he says if if this person is here should be able to be taken to the sea and died there never to be recognized. For if you bring trouble to the people who are going to heaven and especially disciples of the church and do you know what even the people of the family the people that you call your BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHERE YOU ARE WORKING WHERE YOU ARE DOING YOUR OWN ISSUES HE SAYS TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES ALSO AS MUCH as you these other people are doing it take heed among yourselves. If your brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him and if he repent, forgive him. Hello. What is our sermon title? Prosthetic faith. He says [snorts] Jesus has was warning these people don't be like the Pharisees who are just they it is apparent that Jesus believes that the Pharisees and their behaviors are constant source of what? Stumbling blocks. They cause people to sin. Their constant seeking after honor AND STATUS IN CHURCH and their and and their chasing of wealth and their disregard to their little ones. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE FAITH. He is saying do not make them to stumble. But he continues to say you see this stumbling is saying it is something that you there are people in church who who are specialized in a way that they bring something on board for you to be able to be taken away. HE'S SAYING STAY AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE for they will be able to take you away from the power of God. And he says now friends, if your brother, if thy brother trespass against thee, what are you supposed to do? Rebuke. Hello. Rebuke my friend. You know there is this thing that has come to the church that when whenever someone has has has wronged you, you just need not to to be able to talk about it. Just let it it be able to cover it up. COVER IT UP. LET IT GO. NO, THE BIBLE says rebuke. And that rebuke IS NOT ABOUT COMMANDING HIM TO GO. IT IS ABOUT RESTORATION. HALLELUJAH. RESTORATION IN LOVE. BRING THIS SOMEBODY ON BOARD. IN FACT, you are not supposed to gossip OVER SOMETHING OVER SOMEONE WHO HAS FALLEN away from the flock. No. Do not even keep it to yourself. Do not b IT UP. NO. IT IS TIME to go straight to the point. Sister Lydia, you wronged me here and here. YOU PRAY TOGETHER. YOU RECONCILE and walk to the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hello. But many of men HERE IN CHURCH, WE HAVE ISSUES EVEN IN OUR FAMILIES. WE DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. SOME OF US, WE PASS LIKE MOTO KIDS. WE DON'T. And we are in the church of God and we expect to be in heaven. He says, "Who unto you who brings the what? the offenses. And he continues TO SAY, IF YOUR BROTHER has sinned, do not keep quiet about it. Just rebuke the brother. Rebuke the sister. And also, if this brother or sister SAYS, "I REPENT." WHAT ARE WE supposed to do? Forgive. Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. Friends, it is forgiveness. Meaning that you do not keep it yourself. YOU LET GOD HANDLE THE ISSUES. And even you go to this brother, ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. IF YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO CAUSED PAIN, ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. YOU ARE THE PERSON WHO HAS ABUSED the other person, ask for forgiveness. AND IF HE SAYS, I REPENT, forgive this person. A hard saying, I know. A hard saying, I know. But let it sink. A hard saying, but let it sink. Because for sure we have what we call impractical Christianity in the current church. We we we we pretend to be Christians but we are not. And he says if the offending person repents we are TO FORGIVE AND RESTORE them to a right relationship within the community. And Jesus is now coming to them and saying this. Let's read verse four. He's saying, "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day." How many times? SEVEN TIMES. IN WHAT? IN A DAY. In a single day. This one is not This is This is not a serious one. This one, somebody is a JOKER SOMEWHERE. SOMEBODY COMES, HE STEPS ON YOUR TOES. ONE, THE SAME DAY. TWO, THE SAME DAY. SEVEN. H. What are you supposed to do? Slap. This person is supposed to get hot slaps. Okay. and chase him out of the what? OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT THE BIBLE IS saying if this PERSON COMES OVER STEPS ON YOUR WHAT ON YOUR SIDE one 2 4 7 AND HE CONTINUES TO SAY in a day and seven times in THE IN A DAY TURN AGAIN to thee saying I repent. Can you finish together with me that that that that verse he SAYS THOU SHALT DO WHAT? FORGIVE. HELLO. Someone comes, SOMEONE HAS OVERSTEPPED 1, 2, 3 in the same day. Not yesterday, NOT IN THE OTHER YEAR, TODAY. IN THE WHAT? This day. And what are you supposed to do? FORGIVE FOR HE HAS COME and he has repented. I heard saying, "Hey, you have been beaten by your h your husband. You have been seriously beaten by your husband. Seriously you people I don't know where YOU COME FROM WHERE I COME FROM WHERE WIVES ARE BEATEN ON A SERIOUS NOTE YOU DON'T TALK I COME FROM A COMMUNITY WHEREBY PEOPLE KNOW A WIFE IS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE heard but to be what to BE SEEN ONLY YOUR PRESENCE you you you are not supposed to talk of anything but he says after beating you one two four and even hand SEVEN AND HE COMES AND says my sweetheart I'm Sorry. YOU [screaming] DO WHAT? HEY. HALLELUJAH. This one is a hard saying. Hello. Hello. Yes. We have single PEOPLE IN CHURCH. WHO ARE ENCROSSING our territory. Hello. AND THEY ARE SNATCHING YOUR GOOD HUSBANDS AWAY. And if SHE COMES AND SAYS, "MADAME EDNA, I AM SORRY. What am I SUPPOSED TO DO? THOU [screaming] SHALT FORGIVE. That is the subject this morning. If I explain this one, I am I am done with this sermon. Meaning when Christ looked at these people, he knew what they were able to do. He knew what they were able to command. BUT HE'S SAYING IT IS NOT YOUR COMMAND. It is my command. Hallelujah. It is not your kingdom. It is my what? It's my kingdom. IS NOT YOUR FAMILY. It is my family. IT IS NOT YOUR CHURCH. IT IS MY WHAT? MY CHURCH. AND HE'S saying whenever those people they come to us, I was illustrating something somewhere. If I would have walked to this church, I'm supposed to be the preacher of the day. And I walk here half naked. You know half naked what it means. Okay, I need to explain that one. I walk half naked. I have prayed my hair. They're down here there and I've painted everything is everything is just street light. And they say, "Pastor Edna, welcome to the pulpit." How many of us will be able to sit down and listen to me? No one. No one. Why you think I am the one who is CAUSING THE WHAT? THE OFFENSE. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS IF I come truly AND SAY I AM SORRY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE FORGIVEN AND BE included in God's family. I heard saying I heard saying Jesus say Jesus knew we are not talking about seven as a number but we are talking about several times are we there somebody comes to your he has overstepped several times but what are you supposed to do for give now the demands of disciplehip require a capacity greater THAN HUMAN WHAT CAPACITY HUMAN CAPABILITY and the disciples because they knew that this ONE IS A GREATER A GREATER THING to do and they knew that in their human ability they were not able to do that. God is saying forgive them. Christ does NOT MERE MARY CALL US TO TRY H TO TRY HARDER rather he CALLS US TO TRUST DEEPLY hallelujah trust in him and that's WHY VERSE FIVE IS saying now he's saying and when the apostles heard of this he said or you have said someone who has caused an offense should be thrown to the sea in for no for him not to cause offense to the what the little ones and what about the brother who has who has trespass trespassed he's saying forgive BUT NOW JESUS IS coming again seven times and they said ah dear Lord are you serious and they saying and the apostles they looked to one another and they said what is Jesus Christ serious and he says and and and the apostles said unto the Lord Lord Lord we have heard what you have said indeed we HAVE WHAT WE HAVE HEARD YOU HAVE SAID IF SOMEBODY abuses me, it's okay. I CAN FORGIVE. BUT LORD, ON this increase our faith, [laughter] increase our what? What does that mean? Did did these people have faith? Yes, they did. Don't you have faith as as a Christian? YOU DO. BUT THERE ARE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO DO, they seem impossible. Now let me tell you friends, true biblical faith does not merely change what we believe about God. It changes how we treat people. Hello. Yes. The way we treat people around us. Genuine faith is not primarily about possessing a large amount of faith. It is about placing even the smallest part of your faith in who it belongs. God. He's saying forgive [clears throat] Forgiving forgiving someone repeatedly is not is not merely an intellectual decision. It requires transformed heart. So something was WRONG WITH WHAT? WITH THEIR HEARTS. And he knew for this one. THEIR HEARTS WERE TREMBLING. THEIR hearts was their hearts were FEELING LIKE NO NO NO. WE can't be able to continue this one. But he says when faith in Christ is increased, WE ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THE COMMAND HE HAS GIVEN. HELLO. What is the command? Forgive. Even if it is seven times. And he says now when we recognize CHRIST AS THE ONE WHO GIVES AS THE ONE WHO GIVES even forgiveness. OUR FAITH RECOGNIZES THAT OUR NATURAL capability is insufficient. So what am I supposed to do? God increase what? My faith. Hello. We can't do this one by our own. When somebody has overstepped and you feel that now this one I cannot be able to let it go. It is only God who can able to let it go. Hallelujah. And he says God increase what? Increase my faith. this one that has been has been translated increase in the in the Greek language in the Greek Hebrew in the Greek Bible it's called prostidei where I have taken my word prosthetic faith and it means to add to increase to supplement now let's go let's get down together the the disciples is not that they lacked faith but they had faith yes but THEY ARE TELLING ON CAN YOU ADD CAN YOU SUPPLEMENT ON WHAT WE HAVE FOR WE KNOW WE ARE weak we cannot be able to continue in this you know this is a heart that has given fully to Christ's will that is saying that God you can be able TO DO THIS ADD something to a unto us we do not possess sufficient h sufficient faith in us that we can be able to continue forgiving and forgiving AND FORGETTING NO HE'S H it says that now as you know that WE HAVE FAITH SUPPLEMENT A LITTLE MORE for us so that as we go we can be able TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TO do these words this word is coming like increase they're like you if you you read it from the English version it's like can can you do it no but the disciples what they wanted is is that Christ act in your own way decide for us but supply our need. Hallelujah. Supply our need. We know that you know that we have this faith but just judge by yourself. Look into us and give us whatever it takes and tell us on what we are supposed to do. And therefore when we talk about prosthesis it is this is something that surprise or restores a function that a person cannot perform adequately by himself. And that's why they are saying father give us what? Yeah. increase increase faith in us. Therefore, prosthetic faith describes a faith that does not pretend. Hello, here that is where we have issues even in church. Okay? People pretend to have forgiven you. But deep down in their hearts, they are hurting. THEY ARE WALKING AWAY FROM YOU. IN A FAMILY, we we find A HUSBAND AND WIFE LIVING TOGETHER because we have children together. We must CONTINUE LIVING. BUT DEEP DOWN IN MY HEART I have not forgiven you. God is saying he's saying that prosthetic faith it is it it describes that faith does not pretend to possess sufficient strength in itself but reaches beyond REACHES BEYOND ITSELF TO GOD'S SUFFICIENCY. HALLELUJAH. You know there are things that we cannot be able to do. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. We have said man is to what? To error. But when we reach beyond our what our our inner self and we accept God's sufficiency, we can do anything that we cannot be able to do by our own our own our own strength. Hello. He's saying this prophetic faith it is always this faith it means trusting God sufficiently to live according to what he commands to what he demands. And when God and and and when the disciples came to Jesus, they willingly said we may not be able to do THIS BUT IF YOU COMMAND US I know it can be done. Hallelujah. And once it is done it is not on our own glory. It is the GLORY OF WHO? THE glory of God. Friends we are in a we are we are in families whereby we need prosthetic faith to continue. We need prosthetic faith to do what? To continue. Many of us we are holding because of OUR CHILDREN. MANY OF US WE ARE HOLDING ON BECAUSE maybe how people say about elder so and so pastor so and so. But what we need EXACTLY IS NOT THE REPUTATION. IT IS ABOUT WHAT THE FAITH THAT CAN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO make us continue. You know those of us who have had an issues with their with their limbs and we've been given something to walk with. Okay. You know what the the disciples they were not asking any something big from God. They were saying, "Jesus, we know that we have our limbs, but these limbs may not walk unless you give us a crush." Unless you give us what? A crush. And that crush is it's all about faith and going deeper into THE WORD OF GOD. SUPPLY OUR OUR WHAT? OUR LUCK. SO THAT WE CAN ABLE to move not merely to impress somebody. Don't come to ask for forgiveness when you know deep down in YOUR HEART YOU ARE JUST THERE to impress me. No, it is to BE ABLE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD. HALLELUJAH. >> YES. And that's why we are not so much compassionate for we know if I be I may be the basket of the church. Oh hello. If I do this somebody somebody's going to see this one as a what? As an opportunity. No. The love of God, the the the faith of God, it is calling us that we can be able not to manufacture our OWN KIND COMPASSION, BUT WE CAN BE able to accept that we require something extraordinary beyond human emotion to be able to give the right compassion to the right people. Hello, it is end it now. We we we have issues. I know. And even right here in church, some people we we we just see one another. We talk about other people. But we are here today. WE SAY I CANNOT BE ABLE TO HAVE JUST FAITH. But it is a prosthetic faith. Something added for me, an extra thing so I can able to walk, so that I can able to forgive. We have said forgiving is not just a mere thing from your heart. It is a command of God and it must be able to do what? To hold the waters. The disciples could not manufacture the kind of combustion Jesus demanded. Jesus was asking them to forgive repeatedly. Jesus that requires SOMETHING BEYOND HUMAN WHAT? EMOTION. God does not merely command us to HAVE COMPASSION. HE SURPRISED THE SPIRITUAL CAPACITY by which compassion becomes possible. Who are we? Who who are you to your family members? Some of us siblings we don't see eye to eye. We don't but we are attached members. Some of us one of us is LA Nairobi central another ONE IS NAIROBI SOUTH. BUT WE DON'T WE DON'T CROSS paths unless our parents died. And even when in that funeral we sit distance. WE KEEP ON GUESSING ON WHO IS who is watching what. My friend, it's not just a mere thing. It is God supplying to our spiritual capacity. God must able to supply unto us. The church of God must able to be productive prosthetic that that that prosthetic faith is not just coming to be able to h to to push to push you into the deeper ends of sin but to be able to take you out of the deeper ends of sin to bring you on the other on the on the other on the other end. Now friends, the heart the heart of the prosthetic faith the deeper part of the prosthetic faith says I need to become h you know I need to become dependent enough not on human sufficiency and faith will be able will will enable me to become emotionally stronger TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING OR ARE ARE DEMANDED in my life so that I can INCREASINGLY KNOW THE POWER OF LOVE. If there is something that is lacking in our homes, in our churches today is love. But that love must be proceeded by what? By faith. And faith is able to to make it a a covenant. And friends, if in any capacity we must be able to understand that faith does not give us independent supernatural power. No, rather faith connects human weakness to divine sufficient. Hallelujah. Human weakness, it depends ON WHO? ON GOD TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME. And Paul writes to us in the book of Philippians 4:13. Let's go there quickly. Philippians 4:13. There a verse. I know that you know all of all of us you know about it. 4:13 says Paul is writing I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me I can forgive up to even 70 times for I know it is who it is Christ my friends we need to change our perspective and Luke is saying for us to be able to go to that direction God increase our faith increase our faith. You know many of us we walk in church, we walk wherever we are and you think you can able to to to live a life that is worthy the calling of Jesus Christ when you are doing things. We have said when a brother has wronged you, do not bottle it up. Do not keep it yourself. Do not gossip it but go to this brother rebuke pray about it and RESTORE THIS PERSON INTO THE RELATIONSHIP OF A COMMUNITY of God and somebody will ask pastor what about those people that even when you go to ask for forgiveness they don't pray about it forgive this person and once you have forgiven theologians will tell you oh sometimes go and do this and this let me tell you the principle of god is that forgive this person if he's not able to forgive you and go to God and ask FOR FORGIVENESS AND GOD HIMSELF WILL WORK out his forgiveness and the relationship back to the community. Hallelujah. Don't you see even some sometimes you have close lives with some some people but after some time they have come back they are smiling all is well and everything is okay but I need to remind you that trauma pain and every other thing will be here with us. The only thing that can able to keep us from falling it is prosthetic faith. H friends today I need to tell you Romans 10:17 says that faith comes through hearing and hearing the what? The word of God. IT IS THE WORD OF GOD THAT CAN be able to send us to the deeper ends to be able to make sure that we are we are strengthened. We are growing so that our faith must be able to increase. We must be able to have a deeper connection with the word of God. If the word of God is your friend, YOU CAN FORGIVE YOUR WIFE. IF THE WORD OF GOD IS is is your friend, you can forgive YOUR HUSBAND. IF THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR FRIEND, YOU CAN LET THINGS GO EVEN BEFORE YOU ARE being you somebody comes to you to ask for forgiveness. Hello Lord increase us what? Increase faith in us. This righteousness is far higher than what we can think but it is attainable through Jesus Christ. And this prayer of the disciples can be able to come into us and help us to move and do the things the way they supposed to done. Our God is looking unto us and he wants our mind to be engrossed with the things of the h our minds to be engrossed with with not the things of this world with the things that are coming and he needs to be able to see in us people who have decided that these things are yet not here with us but we can be able to reach them and be able to grow in faith as we partake in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. The faith that will be able to bring us peace in sorrow and tribulation is the faith we must all have. For it is an anger of the soul, entering into that within the veil. In all the times when we are in sorrow, look up to Jesus. Hallelujah. Look up to him. Tell him increase what? Our faith for him. He knows what to increase and what not to increase. He knows when we need him and when we genuinely want him to be our what? Our God. And that faith when it comes TO YOUR LIFE, THAT PROSTHETIC faith when it comes to your life, that support that you need to continue with when it comes to your life, it must be able to help you to let self die for Christ to be able to re to uh to run your life. You know, sometimes I sit down and think what exactly is happening with the Christians of today. We do not practice patience. We do not want patience. We do not need it at all but we speak about it. We do not want love but we speak about it. We want some people to do something for us that we cannot be able to do to them and we think that that is spiritual maturity that is spiritual immaturity and we need to walk out of that place. If we are in a church in a in a in a church setup and we need to continue living together, we must press on even when things are not seemingly good and pray about it. Prosthetic faith, the faith that is given to us to support us. Not that we don't have faith but to support us to support our ways that we can able to let our our inner self die and accept God to come in and continue walking with us. Faith faith in God despite the inadequacy of self. It will always say God I cannot forgive this person in my own strength but you can work out forgiveness in me. Hallelujah. That faith that's what we need. I cannot be able to forgive this husband. I cannot be able to FORGIVE THESE CHILDREN. I CANNOT be able TO FORGIVE MY SISTER. BUT GOD, YOU CAN WORK FORGIVENESS in where? In me. Lord, I cannot overcome this temptation BY MYSELF. SOME OF US, we have sunk so much deep into a darkly into fornication that THE CHURCH OF GOD HAS BECOME A BED THAT CANNOT PLEASE another person. But in that temptation you say I cannot overcome this temptation by myself but you can give me victory. Hallelujah. He has promised it is increasing what our faith and that faith I can able to say I CANNOT CARRY THIS BURDEN by myself but you can sustain me. Hallelujah. I cannot my brothers have sinned against me. I have ALWAYS OFFENDED THEM AND I CANNOT continue carrying this burden. Yes, but God you can be able to sustain me. That faith that can BE ABLE TO SAY LORD I CANNOT ACCOMPLISH YOUR MISSION BY HUMAN STRENGTH. WHAT am I supposed to do? But your grace is sufficient. Hallelujah. Yes. That faith that faith can be able to surrender and accept God to be able to walk with us. That faith that can be able to move us into the rims that we can able to accept heaven to come and reign in our in our minds. In that moment, our families will be restored. Hallelujah. Our children will be restored. Hallelujah. The church of God will not be crying over unforgiveness. We will be praising God for forgiveness. Hallelujah. The church of God will NOT BE TALKING ABOUT infidelity here and there. The church of God will be talking about fidelity to the word of God. WHEN OUR FAITH IS INCREASED, when the faith OF GOD IS REIGNING, EVERY OTHER THING WILL CEASE TO BE AND God will reign forever and ever. Burdens are lifted where? At Calvary. You have a heartache, take it to Calvary. Hello. You have something against your sister, take it where? To Calvary. Even when you can't go and ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, TAKE IT TO GOD in where? In Calvary. Ask for that FA THAT FAITH THAT POWER THAT YOU CAN BE ABLE TO MOVE and tell God that this one I need an increase what faith God increase faith in us this church for it to continue God increase faith in what in us for we do not love one another we don't want this and that God is saying if anything happens forgive forgive if he sits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and he comes the same day and says I repent What are you supposed to do? Forgive. Forgive without counting. Forgive. For God has said, "Forgive. Forgive." I'm here to let you know that forgiveness is a divine gift. Hallelujah. Forgive. I'm inviting the coristers. as we take our burdens to to Calvary, as we invite Christ to be able to increase in us, to give us more support to supplement the faith that we have. Some of us if you continue in the in the next verse he says that if you have a the faith even of the of the what of the mustard seed you can be ABLE TO TELL THIS MOUNTAIN to move before the mountain moves we can be able to accept AND SAY FOR SURE I have this little faith but God increase in me the what the faith that I need to be able to tell this mountain to move. WE HAVE SO MANY MOUNTAINS. OUR FAMILIES ARE MOUNTED. OUR JOBS are mounted. Everything is becoming hard. But God can move these mountains. Hallelujah. In the same spirit, we can sing this song that says, "Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can able to ask for forgiveness." We I invite you to stand up as we sing this song. [music] Psalm 290. Psalm 290. together. Then we