This talk is part 2 of a series, part 1 being titled Chasing The Wrong Dream (18th October 2020). It is suggested that you listen to that talk first. This talk was delivered in Brisbane on 1st November 2020. It is further noted that Pastor Brad also delivered this talk to the Fresno Fellowship on 29th October 2020. There are slight differences in the talks. Jesus worked miracles amongst the needy and the sick, fed the hungry and offered salvation to the sinners and the lost. How did those who were supposed to serve the same people react? The priests had him tortured and murdered on false charges, not caring one bit for the pain and suffering He was solving. The priesthood was corrupt and spiritually sick: that is why God brought it to an end and a new way was born.

The whole world is losing its way very quickly. The people of the nations are struggling to find significance in their beliefs, their values and their reason for existing. The continuous undermining of God given ethics and human respect, is now turning everything on its head.

The first thing that we need to observe is that God chose tongues as a sign and also designed their spiritual usage. God has given us plenty of details and directions, to work out everything we need to know about tongues. Good doctrine needs to be established by the sound use of scripture... not by feelings or personal beliefs.

Sadly, most people don't care about evidence; all they want is someone to agree with their world view. Believing in God is not the same as obeying God... sticking to beliefs that are doctrinally weak, or denying scriptural signs, will fail those seeking eternal life. God has always offered scriptural support and backed it up with evidence. The choices we make in faith, determine the opportunities God can work with.

The Bible is full of faithful people who despite moments of weakness and failure, were able to provide great blessings for God's people. Some have provided far more blessing than they thought possible, perhaps even more than we yet realise. The gained comforts from the following acts of faith are far greater than even they could have imagined. All these blessings have come out of tribulation, despair or weakness. Consider it a great joy to fall into tribulation, because all the great blessings have come out of such trials..

Many marathon runners face a difficult problem in the latter stages of the race... that is when they hit the wall. This refers to depleting their glycogen (glucose, stored in the liver and muscles)and the feelings of fatigue and negativity that come with it. It is the most readily available fuel source to burn when exercising, so our bodies prefer it. When we run low on glycogen, our muscles hurt and our brain wants to shut down activity as a preservation method... this may lead to negative thinking, forgetting the big picture. Most people come to the Lord for the same reason... the easy answers stop coming. Also it is not uncommon for people who serve God to hit the wall from time to time. God excels when the easy way is not available.

The parable of the prodigal son came about because of the criticisms of the Pharisees and the Scribes who rebuked Jesus for always being in the company of sinners. The Pharisees believed that God wanted the church to keep away from its defaulters. Furthermore, they added many extra burdens on those who wanted to be restored and who wanted to serve God. Jesus responded with these 3 parables.

Each of us that are filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues as the Bible said we would, have experienced a God given miracle, the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Most have experienced other miracles, but each of us are still ordinary human beings, and as such we are asked to go out and share our testimony and to share the word of God to all mankind.

Sarah was Abrahams wife and was born on a timeline halfway between Adam and Jesus Christ. She had been incapable of having children and was 90 years old when God healed her. She still had to wait another 25 years after being specifically told she would be healed. To make matters more challenging, not only was she barren, but she had entered menopause... two major impossibilities at a natural level. Like all of us, she had to address the needs of the here and now, but at the same time was facing two seemingly impossible promises. This is how her story unfolds and how her ongoing faith gave them one of the most amazing testimonies in history.

The natural position of 'non or anti-Christians' is to rage against God's laws and principles, despite them giving humanity the best opportunities for a fair and sustainable life. The more they rage, the worse life becomes for the free world, with one failure leading to another. Sadly, yet predictably, the human race never learns from its mistakes. Pride and ignorance always lead to the failures that past generations also suffered.