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The message of grace that empowers you to stand as an overcome beleiver.

  1. 6d ago

    Unlocking God’s Promises | Aug. 23 2026 | Ps. Simon Peter Kaleem

    Introduction and GratitudeThank you so much, my dear brother. I always love being with you all. I am especially thankful for this church; whenever I come to the USA, I love being here because I feel completely at home. You are my true brothers and sisters. I am also deeply grateful for the hospitality of my dear brother and his wife; for the last few days, I have been staying in their home and thoroughly enjoying the meals she has prepared for me. Before sharing the Word of God, I want to clarify something: I normally preach in my native language, Urdu. Since most of you are from Brazil, English is neither your first language nor mine. If I use any English expressions incorrectly, please forgive me. I believe that even if I make a mistake, the Holy Spirit—our Helper—will ensure you understand everything I am trying to say. The Power of Obedience: The Example of AbrahamToday, I came here to encourage the church with one specific word: obedience. Whenever I read the Bible, I am deeply inspired by the story of Abraham because his obedience unlocked God's promises in his life. In Genesis 12:1-4, the Lord tells Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to a land God would show him. God promises to make him into a great nation, to bless him, to make his name great, and to bless all peoples on earth through him. Verse 4 simply says, "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him". Later, in Genesis 22:18, God reiterates that all nations on earth will be blessed through his offspring specifically because he obeyed. When God called Abraham, he was 75 years old and likely the richest, most well-settled person in his area, with livestock, servants, and an established household. It is not easy for a 75-year-old to leave a comfortable zone. However, Abraham obeyed God. He did not rely on his current wealth or resources; he trusted God's call and took a step of faith, knowing that obedience would unlock greater promises. God initially released the promises of blessing and protection, but He did not immediately reveal Abraham's final destination. Despite the unknowns, Abraham trusted God to provide a better place. God does not usually call extraordinary or highly intellectual people; He calls ordinary people to do extraordinary jobs. God can do the same in your life if you are willing to obey Him. A Childhood Promise and God's FaithfulnessI have experienced God's extraordinary favor in my own life. I was born into a very poor but deeply committed Christian family in Pakistan, where the life expectancy is generally only 60 to 65 years. My given name is Simon Peter Kaleem, and I am the only one in my extended family without a traditional Pakistani name. Because of my name, I faced intense persecution and discrimination in school. I was treated as "untouchable" by my classmates and was not even allowed to drink from the communal water cooler. During those difficult early years, I made a promise to God. I told Him that for the first twenty years of my life, I would focus on my studies. For the second twenty years, I would work hard, earn a lot of money, and establish my family. And for the last twenty years—or however many more He would give me—I promised I would serve Him. As I grew up, I forgot about that childhood promise, but God remembered. God granted me incredible favor during my first twenty years. I graduated with top honors in microbiology, zoology, and biochemistry. Earning a gold medal as a poor Christian boy was not a normal achievement; it was God's direct favor. Although I initially wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and become a doctor, circumstances required me to move back to central Pakistan, where I took a basic entry-level job at the multinational pharmaceutical company, Novartis. God blessed me tremendously in the corporate world. As my second twenty years were coming to a close, I had achieved the second-highest position in the company, managing 75% of the marketing and sales teams across Pakistan. I enjoyed a six-figure salary, a company car, and a very comfortable lifestyle. The Trial and The Call to MinistryEventually, a new boss joined our company who was a Muslim Imam. When he realized I was a Christian enjoying high-level corporate privileges, he began to actively persecute me. He set completely unrealistic targets designed to make my life miserable. Believing I could easily find a parallel position elsewhere, I resigned. However, for six or seven months, I could not find another job. I drained all my savings and lost all the company benefits. It became incredibly difficult to even pay my children's school fees or put food on the table. I began to complain to God, asking why this was happening when my family was so committed to the church and to studying the Bible. One day, I was sitting alone in my bedroom reading the Bible. When I came across John 21, reading the conversation between Jesus and the apostle Simon Peter, it felt as though Jesus was speaking directly to me. When Jesus asked, "Simon Peter, son of John, do you love me?" I felt the fire of the Holy Spirit burn within my body. I began to cry like a child. Then, I heard the audible voice of Jesus Christ. He said, "Your first twenty years have passed. Your second twenty years have passed. Do you remember the promise you made to me? Now, it is my time. According to your promise, you must serve me". Filled with the Holy Spirit, I asked how I could possibly serve Him since I had no seminary education and was not a pastor. God told me not to worry, promising to teach and lead me. He instructed me to leave my comfortable home in Lahore and begin teaching children in the rural villages. When I worried about how I would feed my family without a car or an income, God promised He would provide everything we needed. Since 2009, I have been serving the Lord in those villages, and He has never let us lack anything. The Flow of Blessings and The Great CommissionFollowing God’s call always carries a cost. It requires leaving behind comfort zones, ambitions, and sometimes financial security. But while the cost is temporary, the reward is eternal. Every sacrifice made for God's kingdom—whether it is finances, musical talent, knowledge, or influence—is never wasted. God blesses us so that we can become a blessing to others. God’s blessings are not meant to stop with us; they are meant to flow through us. Consider the Dead Sea: water flows into it, but there is no outlet, resulting in a body of water with no life. In contrast, the Sea of Galilee takes in fresh water and continuously gives it out, allowing it to remain vibrant and full of life. When God's blessings flow through us, we experience more life and receive even greater blessings from the Lord. When we walk in obedience, we also receive the immense blessing of divine protection, just as God promised Abraham. God's presence is our greatest security. Just as God promised to be with the disciples until the end of the age in the Great Commission, He promises to be with us today. This call is for everyone. Revelation 7:9 gives us a glimpse of God's ultimate vision: a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before His throne. This mission is not just a program for the church; it is the final call for every believer. You can participate by going to the nations, by sending and supporting those who go, or by dedicating yourself to praying for those suffering in places like Pakistan, Nigeria, and Cambodia. God at Work in PakistanGod is doing amazing things in Pakistan. Through the faithful obedience and financial support of people like Pastor Rafael and the wider church, we have seen tremendous growth. Since planting our first church in 2019, we now have twelve brand new branch churches in Pakistan. We recently completed a brand new school building to provide biblical education for our children. We are also reaching unreached tribes who have never even heard the name of Jesus Christ, and we have established schools right in the middle of brick factories where Christian families are essentially enslaved. Even Muslim families in those factories have started sending their children to our schools, resulting in them learning the Word of God and receiving miraculous healings through prayer. All of this is happening because ordinary people chose to obey and share their blessings. As we conclude, I urge you to ask God what His specific purpose is for your life. Ask Him how you can use your time, talent, and treasure to bless others and fulfill the Great Commission. Your obedience today can literally change eternity tomorrow.

  2. Aug 16

    Being known by Jesus | Aug. 16, 2026 | Ps. Raph

    Beyond the Crowd: True Intimacy with God Introduction Many believers fall into the trap of a false intimacy, going through religious motions, attending services, and sitting in a crowd without truly knowing God or being known by Him. This sermon explores Jesus' warning against superficial religion and calls us into a vibrant, individual, and transformative relationship with our Creator. Main Points 1. The Danger of False Intimacy and Religious Routine Superficial Religion vs. Real Relationship: Sharing the same physical space, attending church, or partaking in traditions does not equate to knowing Jesus. He desires a genuine connection, not empty rituals or performance-based salvation (drawing from Luke 13:25–27).Hiding in the Crowd: God does not view us as an anonymous mass; He knows each of us individually. Relying on "going with the flow" or hiding behind cultural Christianity leads to spiritual stagnation and a dead routine.2. The Path to Being Known by God Loving Because We Were Loved First: True Christian life flows from first understanding and receiving God's unconditional love for us. As 1 Corinthians 8:3 notes, “If anyone loves God, he is known by God,” and we love Him because He first loved us.Obedience as an Expression of Love: Genuine love for God naturally translates into keeping His commandments (John 14:15), moving us away from legalism and self-reliance.Rejecting False Teachings: Believers must remain steadfast in sound doctrine, heeding Paul's warning in 2 Timothy 4:3–5 against those who accumulate teachers to suit their own passions rather than enduring sound teaching.Conclusion Our ultimate purpose is to know Jesus and to be known by Jesus. By moving past religious pretense, embracing His grace, and allowing His love to renew us daily, we step out of stagnant routines and live fully as transformed disciples—true "little Christs" empowered to impact our families, workplaces, and communities.

  3. Aug 9

    Supernatural Rest | Aug. 09, 2026 | Ps. Raph

    Supernatural Rest How can we experience the power of multiplication? The place of power is the place of rest in God’s word. Here is the logic. Grace is the opposite of striving.  If one feels a sense of debt and strives to pay God a price that is already paid in Christ, you miss the point of grace.  God is calling you and me to enter the rest. That is the only striving we are encouraged in the Bible.  “9. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10. for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience." (Hebrews 4:9–11) Grace is multiplied when we rest in Him.  There is a principle of biblical interpretation called the principle of first mention, which teaches us that the first time a major theme appears in Scripture, it establishes a foundational principle. And curiously, the word "favor" or "grace" that appears in the Bible is related to the very well-known character Noah. "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:8) The Hebrew name Noah literally means "rest." That conveys this idea: "Rest finds favor in the eyes of the Lord.” I'm curious about this connection, especially with Noah.  Have you ever worked on something that consumed all your time for days or even months? What about a project that might take 100 years to complete? (Genesis 5:32; 7:6, 11). Only those who learned to rest in the Lord can go that far.  Ahead of us there are about 40 weeks of the academic year. We drive, we lead, we study, we buy and sell, we pray, we fight, we rise every morning and put in and put out kids in the car. We build, we clean, we share, we wake up again. Oh Jesus, we need Your rest. This week, as I was having my meeting with the disciplers, one of them had one little head popping out to see what dad was doing. She came in. Said, “Hello, pastor.”  Stayed there, as she knew everything we were discussing about the church and the semester. But ultimately she was saying, "Daddy, I just want to sit with you." There was nothing she could add to the father’s job. There was no contribution. But her joy made our meeting have another color. Why? Because she was at rest with daddy. It is time to rest completely in the finished work of Christ. The more you rest in His provision, the more His grace overflows.  An inward rest that produces outward favor. seated "Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number." (John 6:10) In the Bible, sitting is always a symbol of rest. It speaks of a position of authority, once you are seated in your royal position to reign in life in Christ Jesus. "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…" (Ephesians 2:6) But now, in the miracle, we learn that, before it happens, we must rest in the Lord. Rest allows the multiplication to take place. It is a permission for Jesus to do His way.  Many of us question, "How will multiplication happen? Where will the provision come from?" Sitting is our answer to say, "Lord, I don’t know how you will do it. But, not my way, not with my useless help, not with my strength. Do it in your way.” Imagine if everyone had rushed forward to grab a piece of bread and fish for themselves; chaos would have damaged the moment. The Spirit of God moves in an atmosphere of order and peace. Most of us, when we are seeking a solution, instinctively try to work harder to make things happen. We grip the handle a little tighter, trying to push through the exhaustion, and force a solution. What if the solution is to accept God’s ways?  The problem here is our pride. "I know how to handle that complicated child. I know how to convice my spouse. I can grow my ministry…I need no help. I need no one." What if you can sit down at Jesus’ feet today and say, "Lord, not my way, but yours"?  A foster parent once shared they met the biological mother of their foster child at a hospital where the sick child needed medical care.  When the mother arrived, the child stayed on the foster parent's lap, without showing any recognition or affection towards the biological mother. Due to severe family negligence, the child was entirely dependent on these foster parents for safety and care. These foster parents carried no malice. They genuinely desired to see restoration and told the mother with deep compassion, "Do you know that we are on your side? We want to help you be permanently together with your child." only to receive a contemptuous look. Instead of receiving grace, the mother responded only with disdain and pride  What makes this story so sad is that pride prevented the mother from regaining her guardianship, and the only one truly affected was the young child who could not return home. All because the other wanted to do it her way. How often do we respond to God with resistance? The very things we clutch onto out of self-reliance are often what we ultimately lose, simply because our pride keeps us from receiving His help. The Lord looks at our frantic striving, our anxiety, and our desperate attempts to manage our own lives, and He whispers, "Do you know that I am on your side? I have a good plan for your future. Trust Me. Rest on me. What you cannot manage, I can resolve for you. Sit down.”  Rest is not laziness. It is an act of absolute trust. It is stepping back from our own exhausted efforts so that His grace can take over. Before Jesus made the miracle, He was sitting down. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. (John 6:3) Today, take a moment to enjoy the feast. The Lord invites us to sit at the table to receive His provision, a measure that our efforts could never reach. Today, my parents called to wish me a "Happy Father's Day, son.” Why? Because in Brazil it is Father’s Day. There’s always a special day for you somewhere. Have you heard the saying, 'It's 5 o'clock somewhere, so relax'? That applies to you today. With 24 time zones worldwide, there is always at least one place on Earth where the local time is 5:00 PM at any moment.  Grass in the desert Mark 6:31 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” The KJV says, “a desert place”. The invitation is to rest in the desert. There, in the desolate place, the Lord finds us grass. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. (Mark 6:32) Jesus was with His disciples when a large crowd gathered around them. To give themselves some rest, He told them to get into a boat. The crowd followed their move and arrived before them, waiting. Jesus then started teaching. Later, the disciples told Jesus, “It’s nearly night, and we’re in the desert with no food. Send the crowd home.”  Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat.” They replied, “How? We’re in the desert, and we have no food for all these people.” Jesus asked them for what they had. They gave Him two fish and five loaves of bread. And then you read something really odd in the story. Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. (Mark 6:39) Three times in this passage it says they were in a desolate place. Now Jesus is telling the crowd to sit on green grass. "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves... And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, 'This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late.’" (Mark 6:31–32, 35) Scholars note that the Greek word translated as "deserted place" or wilderness (erēmos) does not necessarily mean a scorched wasteland devoid of all life; rather, it speaks of an uninhabited, lonely region.  However, the explicit mention of green grass is a deliberate theological echo under the pen of Mark. The people were tired, hot, hungry. He actually led them to green pasture. How not to connect that with Psalm 23?  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:1–2) Jesus lightened their load without stopping them from entering the desert. We all face desert places—problems, giants, bad breaks—which should overwhelm us, but amidst the challenges, His grace will sustain us. We will find strength and courage to endure. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) If you reflect on your life, you probably have moments that you wonder how you overcame that loss, that sickness, that difficult challenge. It was God's grace—giving us grass in the desert and easing hard times—that helped us endure.  Without His favor, sickness might have defeated us, and breakup could have broken us. He didn’t stop the trouble, but He kept it from stopping you. You could have fallen apart or had a breakdown, but God gave you green grass in a desolate place, sustaining and feeding you when you felt overwhelmed. Despite stress, there’s grass in the desert. God has not done yet.  You haven’t seen the promise fulfilled, so stay trusting for healing, promotion, a spouse, a child.  The good news is on its way.  While you wait, God is inviting you to green grass.  You might not notice it, but without God's goodness, sickness could have overwhelmed you. Without His favor, trouble could have defeated you. Without His mercy, addiction could have taken you down. No matter what you go through because you’re a child of God, there’s going to be green grass in your desert. "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not drive

  4. Aug 2

    The Surpassing Power of God | Aug. 02, 2026 | Ps. Raph

    The Surpassing Power of God 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. On this side of heaven, life can include periods of hardship. In Ephesians, Paul refers to "evil' or "bad' days—times when we face a sequence of challenging events. Ephesians 6:13 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  It's important to recognize that in every battle and hardship, Paul emphasizes that our victory comes from God's presence within us, as he operates through a surpassing power. This is the power we need today. There are many things that are not God’s will in this life. It is not by chance that Jesus taught us to pray. (Matthew 6:10) “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The treasure Just one verse prior, Paul describes this treasure as the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). It is the glorious gospel of grace and the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ Himself. This leaves no room for human boasting or self-improvement rhetoric. The treasure is the finished work of Jesus Christ deposited into our spiritually bankrupt vessels, providing an inexhaustible supply of unmerited favor. Grace is not theology. It is not a doctrine. Grace is Christ. A jar of clay cannot manufacture its own contents; it can only receive what is poured into it. (John 12:24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” We are a seed that needs the shell broken in order to have the life manifested. The problem is that many waste the opportunities of brokenness to go into self-indulgence, overeating, overscrolling, oversleeping, overspending, instead of turning that pressure into an experience with the surpassing power available for the one who cries for His presence. God Hears Our Cry Often, we find ourselves without words to pray, overwhelmed by pain and confusion. When shock hits, we seek words to comfort one another.  Today, I want to remind you that God hears our cries and listens to our prayers. He desires to rescue us from all challenging circumstances. Exodus 2:23-25 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Notice that God did listen to the groaning and the crying out for help. The Israelites were crying out for rescue from their bondage, and their plea reached God. And God heard. There are different kinds of groaning. Some people groan out of a sense of entitlement, laziness, or unwillingness to do the hard work required of them. Some individuals are accustomed to being spoiled.  But there is another kind of cry: a deep, personal desperation born of genuine oppression that truly moves the hand of God. God explained to Moses the plan of deliverance and redemption, emphasizing that he was moved by the cries of the people of Israel and was rescuing them. Exodus 3:7 7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, Exodus 3:9 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Different Brokenness, same surpassing power 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Affliction: For Paul, it was the daily friction, suffering, and opposition faced while carrying out the ministry of Christ. For you, it is the long-term chronic disease, addiction, financial tribulation; these unchanged circumstances that are taking longer than you hoped.  That is not God's will for His children. Yet this life has so many fallen things that we may face these kinds of afflictions. Please do not waste the brokenness. The meaning of the word evokes squeezing, or being compressed. It pictures an object placed under a heavy weight or grapes being pressed in a winepress. I understand that the first illustration about the wheat seed involves breaking the seed. However, in winemaking, producers carefully control the pressure so that the seeds stay uncrushed. That’s the point Paul makes: our core, our true self—our new inner spirit—remains never crushed. The way to access the surpassing power is turning to your inner man. Perplexity:  perplexed, but not driven to despair; Being "perplexed" points to those moments when our minds are bewildered. When we find ourselves without answers or solutions. That state connects with verse 9: struck down. 2 Corinthians 4:9 struck down, but not destroyed; It’s natural for the clay jar to feel unsure. In unfamiliar situations, we often feel perplexed.  Many of us felt thrown to the ground a few days ago. The image here is a physical contest or a wrestling match. Moments where we are knocked off our feet by adversity or spiritual attack.  Should I despair or lose hope? When we reach the end of our human wisdom and resources. We pray.  Wisdom is always available for those who seek it. James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Your future is defined by the Treasure, not by your current confusion. You are not destroyed because the Treasure inside you cannot be destroyed. Being struck down is simply an event that happens to the earthen vessel; it is not a reflection of your spiritual worth, nor does it mean God is judging you. Persecuted: 2 Corinthians 4:9 9 persecuted, but not forsaken Persecutions are misunderstandings. The suffering caused by lies and slander. People spreading false information. The word “Dioko" carries the meaning of to be pursued, chased, or harassed. Here I like to remind myself that if there is one third of fallen angels against me, I still have two thirds fighting for me. Mark 15:34 tells us that on the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” So now, like Paul, you and I can also say: 2 Corinthians 4:9 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; Paul closes this passage with astounding affirmations. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. There are brokenesses that are the way to victory. The brokenness that leads to victory The Bible says in the book of Judges, chapter 7, that the people were oppressed by the Midianites. The Midianites were a terrible people, and in the Bible they represent the work of evil spirits. Historically, the Midianites were a nomadic group of raiders. They did not conquer cities or set up governments; instead, they waited for the Israelites to do all the hard work of planting and cultivating crops. Right when the harvest was ready, the Midianites would sweep in like a plague of locusts, devouring the provisions. The Midianites did not attack Israel's army directly; they attacked their food supply. God then calls Gideon while he was beating out wheat in the winepress, that is, beating wheat in the place meant for treading grapes. He was hiding there. And then the angel arrives and says to him,  Judges 6:12 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” God never mocks you. God never gives you bad nicknames to tease you and provoke you.  When God gives you a name, it is because that is your real identity. The Bible says that Gideon thought he was so small, but the angel says, "You are strong." If it were me, I would look to the side and say, "But who are you talking to? Is it really to me? No, my clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my father's house." And the Lord said to him, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel." God uses the improbable. This is to show His surpassing power. Hell must be perplexed to see how a weak, broken vessel like us can be used. You know, there is no glory if the big guy defeats the small one. If Goliath had defeated David, there would be no honor at all for the giant. But when it is the small David who defeats a giant, then there is glory. Goliath was David's glory. The size of your problem, of your enemy, is also your glory. "Oh, pastor, I am going through a struggle, you have no idea, it is very big.” The bigger it is, the greater your glory will be. Those who know you will have jaws dropped, astonished, saying, "What is this that is happening?" Because the Lord chose you. Gideon makes the call, and 32,000 men show up to fight. (Judges 7:3) God says, "It's too many people. We are not going to war with this many people.  Judges 7:2 2 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their

  5. Jul 26

    Be the Church | Jul. 26, 2026 | Ps. Dan Stauffer | Next Level Relational Netwrok

    The church is an active, living body designed to do the heavy lifting. To be the church means engaging directly in the strenuous effort required to bring people into the presence of Jesus. When the crowds block the way and the barriers seem insurmountable, true faith digs through the roof to find a way. True faith operates not just for the individual self, but it stands in the gap and has faith for others. Jesus sees this collective, determined faith and responds with profound authority, declaring that sins are forgiven. To be the church means moving forward with absolute conviction despite the inevitable critics. There will always be teachers of the law questioning the authority of Jesus and the methods of grace. Yet, the mission remains fixed entirely on ultimate life-change. A clean stable produces no harvest, but embracing the heavy lifting and the messiness of ministry brings forth the power of God. The ultimate authority of the Son of Man is demonstrated on earth through the forgiveness of sins and the physical, undeniable restoration of broken lives. To be the church means the congregation goes home radically different than how they came. Paralyzed individuals get up, take their mats, and walk out in full view of the community. This visible transformation astonishes the world, causing everyone to praise God. The ultimate result of being the church is that surrounding onlookers witness undeniable life-change and are irresistibly drawn to Jesus.

  6. Jul 19

    More than Enough | Jul. 19, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    More than Enough It is all a matter of the revelation of how much God has actually blessed us in Christ Jesus.  Out of that revelation, our faith would be brought to a level of trust and confidence that it will have no more limits. Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Paul’s prayer for the church was not a matter of provision, structure and more money. It was all about revelation. But Paul says, vv. 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Grasping God's love requires spiritual, strength, "muscle" and endurance, not just casual reading . "Comprehend" καταλαβέσθαι(katalavesthe). It does not mean "comprehend" in the sense of solving a math problem or intellectually understanding a concept. It literally means to "lay hold of," "seize," "pull down," or "make one's own." The literal Greek reads something like: "you may have the full power to seize and lay hold of all the measures and implications of Christ for us." power at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us," Ephesians 3:20 (AMP): "Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us," It's incredible to realize that God responds to our prayers, even those beyond our wildest dreams. Everything unfolds through His power working within us. The scripture does not say that you must do certain things for the power to work. It simply tells you that power operates within us.  You need to believe that. It’s not a matter of feelings or sensations. God says His power is at work in you.  The word “power” is dunamis δύναμις  That means: force (literally or figuratively), miraculous power, ability, abundance, might. That power " operates in us.”  That expression, “operates in us,” is energeo ἐνεργέω: that means to make active, to make efficient, to energize.  Our word energy comes from energeo in Greek.  Because the power is always working in us, be careful what you say, because God will respond abundantly above all that you ask or think.  To help you understand, I will divide this text into seven levels.  1. Now, to Him who is able.  We have a God who is all-powerful. He rules over the earth and the heavens.  2. Now, to Him who is able to do all things. God is capable of doing everything. For our God, nothing is impossible. 3. Now, to Him who is able to do all that we ask.  Be careful what you ask for because heaven is listening. Be careful what you ask for because God will do it. 4. Now, to Him who is able to do all that we ask or think. Have you ever fantasized about a beautiful house? Have you leafed through some magazines and thought how good it would be to have a house like that? Be careful what you think, because the power is at work in you. If you knew this, you would ask more of God. Once this verse comes alive in your heart, you will ask and keep asking, and think and think. All of this is already good enough, but God has more for us.  5. Now to Him who is able to do all that we ask or think abundantly The next level is that God is able to do abundantly all that we ask for or think of. Suppose you ask me for prayer. Before praying, I will tell you: "Let's pray to Him who is able." That would already be good, but the Word of God says that He, besides being able, will answer abundantly. 6. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think He is able to do far more than everything we ask or think. 7. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us At the seventh level, we learn that the power to accomplish all things is already at work within us. He has unleashed upon us the floods of the abundance of grace. How can sinful man, unworthy man, experience the favor of God? God did it so that when Jesus cried out, "It is finished," all blessings were released. The Surplus of Grace Let’s visit the story of the multiplication of bread and fish again in John 6. Aside from the ultimate miracle of Jesus's resurrection, the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle performed by Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels. John 6:1-14 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.  7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” I'm curious about the thought process the disciples used for the math involved. Today, I'll teach you a simple math problem. When you run a business, the key financial concern is whether your income minus expenses results in a positive number—this is called surplus, revenue, or profit. The disciples made the calculation, and the result was not positive; it was very negative. So, the logic implies that you must close that financial gap with investment, an outside resource that is not part of the original relation of supply and expenses. They made the calculation and said, if we get 200 days of man’s wage in bread, it will not be enough to give each one a piece of bread. If Average Daily Wage (8-hour shift): $265.56 per day. 200 denarii would hold the purchasing power of about $30,000. At Publix Bakery, you would be able to buy around 5,454 loaves.  The next verse informs us that there were 5,000 men. Counting women and kids, scholars affirm there were approximately 15,000. During this week of preparation for our Nation’s Festival, it took us about 3 days to prepare the party. Because not everybody could do the job together, each one was doing a little here, another little there. But after the party, all of us helped to clean the building. In 1 hour, the building was ready for the service. I think of how I would try to resolve the problem of 15,000 people being hungry. I would try to make everybody work, particularly the men.  Five thousand men can do a lot. Maybe one of them had a barley field ready for harvest. Maybe I could send 1000 of them to collect the barley, while another 1000 would be building the temporary sifting and threshing floors and the roasting ovens, and another 1000 would be gathering the other ingredients or fishing in the Sea of Galilee. 1000 would be baking the breads and cooking the fish. The other 1000 would be working on the logistics of the distribution. Done. Great job. It is like the historical phrase "United we stand, divided we fall.” But Jesus did something different. Sit down, it is time to grow  10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.  Why not lead in work? Because Jesus is the employer. Why not lead them to fight for their rights against the lack the Romans created? Because Jesus was not a union leader or revolutionary. Why not motivate them to be more civil? Because Jesus is not a politician. Why not calm them down while they find their way back home? Because he was not a pacifist.  Jesus said: “Sit down.” Why. Because He is the good shepherd. Psalm 23:1-2 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The position of blessings is the position of a king. It is the position of authority in faith.  I know it seems crazy and contradictory compared with the momentary circumstances we are in right now, but that is the growth pain before a fast growth spurt comes. Recently my teenage son woke up with knee pain. It was not muscle pain. It was bone pain, painful growth.  When teenagers hit a rapid growth spurt, the most intense growth occurs in the dark while they are sleeping. The body shuts down other functions to push all its energy into expanding bones and muscles. It is uncomfortable, and it hurts. Lying down to sleep relieves this constant physical pressure. While hormones are the primary driver of growth, this "unloading" allows the cartilage at the ends of long bones (the growth plates) to expand and lengthen more freely. Growing takes an immense amount of caloric energy. When the body is asleep and largely paralyzed, it can divert all of its available resources to the metabolically expensive task of building new bone and tissue. The circumstances we are in right now might feel dark, crazy, and completely at odds with the peace. Mark 6:30-31 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he s

  7. Jul 12

    The God full of Grace and Truth | Jul 12, 2026 | Pr Raph

    The God full of Grace and Truth John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. God became human in the person of Jesus. God dwelt among us then and now is still living in us, full of grace and truth. Prostitutes, sinners, tax collectors, and the marginalized were drawn to Jesus. People could touch Him and receive their miracle with no deserving, merit or explanation. John 1:17 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Pharisees, who trusted in their own goodness, could not receive anything from Jesus. Why? Because He is for the unworthy. If Jesus is full of grace and truth, then He is for those who do not deserve it.  If you know you are undeserving, you can receive Jesus. Grace is for your moments of greatest weakness; precisely when you fail, you can achieve your miracle. Yesterday we had all our foster kids at this big happy pool party. Most of them have been victims of different family situations. Some of them are victims of their own bad decisions. But yesterday, they were being hugged, welcomed and celebrated for who they really are: children, beloved, chosen, as they should always be. That is grace. Grace, the emulsifier of Joy in affliction 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. In chemistry, when you try to mix two unmixable substances, you need a third component called an emulsifier. Think about oil and water. They can’t mix, unless you put on some soap. Another good example is vinegar and oil; you can’t mix them, but if you add an egg yolk, you will mix them, and the result is mayonnaise. Well, that is the picture: here are three elements that are unmixable.  “severe severe test of affliction” "their abundance of joy" "extreme poverty” But if you add “grace of God that has been given,” you can now mix them all. And the result of that mix is different from what some here are experiencing. have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. Let’s break this verse in parts. “severe test of affliction” results in exhaustion, frustration, despair. “extreme poverty” results in fear, anxiety, greed, money-grabbing, alm-begging… But if you try to add joy there, it does not mix. It will be fake, hypocritical and religious. However, once a person realizes the grace we have, it becomes possible to find real joy in extreme affliction and destitution. What grace is that? 2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. With that grace, we do not merely survive; we thrive. We don't just get by—we advance from one level to the next. We do not simply hold the line; we take ground; we go from one degree of glory to another. We do not simply endure; we overcome. Romans 8:31-32 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Our thought should be: How does this need compare to the abundance of grace I possess? What importance does this need have when such provision is accessible?  A father buys his child a fully paid-off, brand-new car. A week later, the child is sitting at home, losing sleep and completely paralyzed by anxiety. Why? Because the car is low on gas, and the child is terrified their father won't be willing to give him $40 to fill the tank. The father would look at them and say, "I just paid for the entire car. Do you honestly think I’m going to let you be stranded over a tank of gas?" You finally got married; do you think God lacks the wisdom to teach you how to deal with the disappointments? You warmly welcome your children, whether born, adopted, or fostered; do you believe that God will not provide you with the love needed to raise them?  You opened your business; God will also bring the clients. God gave us a church building; He will also provide the finances to you so we can keep it, improve it and expand it. Grace to have all sufficiency Would you like God to make all His favor and grace abound in your life? We all do. God promises that we can always enjoy His grace and have more than enough in everything. Even after a pandemic, wars in Ukraine, Palestine and Iran. We can still have abundant supply in all things. All we need is the overflowing grace. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. This promise is not just for the future. In the original text, the verb is in the present tense. God is able to do it today. Right now, the Lord is making all grace abound in your life. At this very moment. So why don’t we always see this sufficiency? Because we are too focused on the natural. We tend to live by sight rather than walk by faith. Right now, the Lord is causing all favor, all grace, to abound upon you. He wants you to have ample sufficiency in all things. At this very moment, as you read this text, God's grace is overflowing in your life. The key is to believe Some people teach that if you have enough faith, you can make anything you want happen. That’s not biblical. True biblical faith is opening your spiritual eyes to see what God is already doing in your life. Yesterday, during the World Cup match between England and Norway, while a group of brothers was watching in a slow stream service, another brother had the game on his phone in real time. It was interesting to see him shouting when England scored, and everybody was biting their nails thinking that the game was over for the British. However, once the TV finally broadcast the goal, all was clear, and England did win the game. It is all a matter of perspective. Who is actually with the final truth? God is the God of all grace and all truth.  It is believing that healing is already yours and thanking God for it. Hebrews 11:1 1 ESV Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Faith makes the invisible real. Even if you don’t see God’s abundant favor yet, faith says: “Thank You, Father. I receive it!” Even if you only have a few dollars in your pocket, you can still thank Him because His grace is overflowing toward you. Faith doesn’t create something new — it simply takes hold of what is already real in the spiritual realm and brings it into your life. This promise is connected to financial provision. The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). For those who give as God leads, His grace abounds toward them, providing more than enough financially. God is continually making His grace overflow so you can have abundant supply. Gratitude Jesus lived in the full abundance of the Father. Everywhere He went, there was provision. Remember the story of the five loaves and two fish that fed over 4,000 people ( Matthew 15:32-38). The disciples saw a huge problem, but Jesus saw abundant grace. He took the small amount of food, gave thanks to the Father, and multiplied it. While the disciples said, “What is this among so many?” Jesus gave thanks because He understood the abundance of God’s grace. Matthew 15:35-37 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. The people ate as much as they wanted, and twelve baskets were left over—untouched. That event was so remarkable in the memory of the disciples of Jesus that, later, John, in his gospel (John 6), after telling about the multiplication, about Jesus walking over the water, and calming the storm, says, all that happened in a place. And the landmark moment that most stayed in his memory was when Jesus gave thanks.  John 6:23 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. The Lord rejoices when we say: “What is this need compared to the overflowing grace of God?” Learning with David, I realize that despite this difficult time, I can carefully select my words before my children, family, and church.  In deep distress, I can always choose to praise Him with gratitude. Psalms 34:11-13 11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. The Correct Image of the Father: full of grace and Truth Consider the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The younger son wasted everything and returned home expecting to be treated as a hired servant. Instead, he received undeserved favor and was welcomed back as a son. All he had to do was receive the father’s abundant grace. Meanwhile, the older brother — who had never left home — became angry and refused to join the celebration. He complained,  Luke 15:29 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celeb

  8. Jul 6

    Multiplication of Grace | July 05, 2026 | Pastor Raph

    Multiplication of Grace There are things that can hold and restrict the grace of God upon our lives. And there are attitudes that can increase God's favor. Notice that I used the words “grace" and “favor" interchangeably.  What is Favor The word favor is the unmeritorious blessings of God coming to your life. I like to explain favor by comparing it with mercy. While mercy is the complete forgiveness of our sins on Calvary, and because of it, we will not receive all the punishment we deserved.  Grace, or favor, is to receive everything we do not deserve: all the blessings, all the joy, all the multiplication that Christ is worthy to receive. Grace is undeserved favor.  Under God’s favor, the enemy can’t prevail against you. Your critics will have no way to reprove you. Your competitors will not surpass you. Psalm 5:12 (ESV) "For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield." Because of God’s favor, the right people will come close and will do business with you. Even if your services are more expensive, people will see an advantage in using them. As important as they are, honesty and integrity do not increase favor.  They are rewarded with trust, and that is good. But we want more than that. We need multiplied favor. Joseph Joseph is the ultimate example in business, management, and standing out no matter where he worked.  Remember that Joseph worked with absolute integrity in Potiphar’s house. He refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, doing the honorable thing.  Later, in prison, he was honest, and His integrity earned him trust.  Both Joseph's superiors trusted him enough to put him in charge of daily operations. Genesis 39:21 (ESV)"But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Trust is good, but it wasn't enough to get Joseph out of prison or fulfill his destiny. Being a trustworthy prisoner still leaves you in a prison.  We need more grace. When God’s favor steps in where integrity reached its limit, from prisoner we will be exalted as royalty God gave Joseph the supernatural ability to interpret dreams, bringing him before Pharaoh. Genesis 41:39-40 (ESV) "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.'" Because of God’s favor, Pharaoh didn't just see a trustworthy man; he saw a man backed by God. Pharaoh immediately promoted him to the second-highest position in the most powerful empire in the world. Abraham Abraham is perhaps the most striking example of favor despite integrity. His story proves that favor is completely unmerited. If God’s blessing depended solely on Abraham’s honesty and integrity, he would have lost everything. There were two instances (with Pharaoh in Genesis 12 and with King Abimelech in Genesis 20) in which Abraham’s honesty completely failed. Out of fear for his life, he lied and said his wife Sarah was his sister. His lack of integrity put him in a terrible position. If Abraham had only relied on his honesty, he would have been punished by these kings for deceiving them. He broke their trust. But instead of Abraham being punished, God’s favor intervened. God stepped in, protected Sarah, and actually rebuked the kings.  Because of unmerited favor, Abraham wasn't just spared; he was blessed with massive amounts of livestock, servants, and silver. It was not Abraham's excellence or morality, but God's favor, that multiplied his wealth despite his lack of honesty. Genesis 20:14 (ESV) "Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him." Abimelech realized that, though Abraham had previously lied to him, Abimelech could not deny the supernatural blessing on Abraham's life. He realized that anyone who opposed Abraham would lose, and anyone who aligned with Abraham would prosper. So he went to "do business" and form an alliance.  He didn't approach Abraham because of his flawless integrity; he approached him strictly because of the undeniable, multiplied favor of God on his life. Genesis 21:22-23 22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” How To grow in Favor  This begs the question: how can we increase God's favor upon our lives? That was the desire of the Apostles for us. 2 Peter 1:1-2 1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Peter made it clear. Faith is the number one condition for multiplied grace.  A faith that makes you conscious of God’s gift of righteousness. Favor does not come because we make more things for God.  Favor is not meant to be a repayment for hard work. The biblical reasoning is: we do more because we have received more grace. Grace and peace are multiplied when we know more of the Lord. The more you listen to a preaching that exalts the work of Christ. When you learn more about the person of Jesus, everything in your life will prosper. This is not about the so-called “Prosperity gospel.” This is about the gospel of grace that will indeed produce prosperity. Romans 5:17 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. So we can pray in the name of Jesus and ask for anything we need, with confidence that the Father listens and answers. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 6:2 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. It is a matter of seeing more of the Lord.  We tend to think we need more money, but the Lord says we need more favor, which grows as we see more of the Lord. Our school had a demand for expansion for this coming school year in August. We had no resources to make that happen. But because of favor, a grant was given to enable us to achieve world-class quality using the best materials and equipment for that growth. We are opening two new classrooms because of that. Our foster families were loving these kids with all their hearts, and one of them testified that an unexpected amount was given to them with no application or process. That is favor.  We are being convinced that it is a matter of better marketing, but it is a matter of more favor. I talked with a brother yesterday who told me that all his business growth over the past year was driven by word of mouth. He said his only problem now is finding people willing to learn and work. That is favor. When Peter and Paul say about knowing the Lord, the knowledge here is a “heart” matter. Therefore, turn on a worship song. Pray “Lord, I want to know you more.” And by doing that, the favor will increase over your life. Have a Conscience of Forgiveness Romans 5:20-21 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Because of what Paul wrote here, many think that he meant to say, "the more a person sins, the more grace one will have.” Actually, that was exactly what Paul’s opponents accused him of saying. If you read the following verses, Romans 6:1-2 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? What Paul was teaching is that one must be conscious of how sinful and broken and wretched they were without Christ to be so thankful and pleased with the great forgiveness they had received.  That is why it is so important to know that we would never be worthy of God’s favor based on our own merits and uprightness. The law was like a spoon. If you have a cup of water with residue at the bottom. While the sediments are still and tamed at the bottom, the water seems crystal clear. But if a spoon moves the water, the dirt from the bottom will be revealed. The spoon did not produce the dirt in the water; it only revealed it. The spoon is the law. The law does not have the power to clean the water. The spoon only reveals there is a problem.  Sin is already in our flesh. And unless one sees their sin, they would never perceive the need for a Savior. Here is how the grace can increase. Once one says yes to God’s solution for our terrible sinful condition, saying yes to Jesus, we no longer need to live under the conscience of sin.  We need to grow in the conscience of forgiveness. Luke 7:47 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” The one who knows and reminds himself of God’s complete and amazing forgiveness will love the Lord the most and consequently will receive more favor. The problem with the conscience of sin is the continuous shame and condemnation that it evokes. These things prevent the favor from growing in our lives. Think like this:  If my son wants to relate to me based on shame a

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The message of grace that empowers you to stand as an overcome beleiver.