Soto - The kingdom of heaven

This past Sunday that we had the call for prayer here at night, brothers, I tell you that it was a moment of prayer like never before. To put it in the words of my brother Gonzalo, it was a moment of total intimacy before God.

And you know that when you are in intimacy before God you feel totally free to do what you want before Him. And it was so beautiful and so beautiful to be able to see my brothers and sisters that together we took off our shoes, and we sat on the floor, praying, crying, laughing in front of the Lord's presence, listening to his word, spending moments of silence, it was a great time. We didn't have any plans. I was amused because Pastor Samuel says that Greg, Samuel, and I meet here at 7 and we look at each other's faces like what are we going to do, what's going to happen. And the answer was: 'well, why did we come? Let's pray, then, pray. That's the most we can do nothing else. Well, let's pray. And that's where we follow him, brothers, if God took control of all things.

When I say that we took off our shoes, I think there was a double meaning in this, because there was a sense of comfort of being in the house of God and although there were the smells of shoes around, but what? you know what? those odors became a pleasant aroma before God. It is a mystery, I cannot understand it but it is a mystery. And I believe that at the same time, brothers, it was the fact that we were in the presence of God and this place became a holy place. And it is not that we are fierce about being Moses or being Joshua and taking off our shoes, but I believe that every place that is holy, every place where the presence of God becomes real, if the Lord tells me to take off my shoes, I I take off my shoes.

But I say all this, my brothers, because I see that a change is taking place in the town. We know that we are in a time of fasting and you know what? Fasting, my brothers, does not change the mentality of God. Fasting what changes is us. Fasting changes us. I was reading an article on the Internet that said that fasting is rather a discipline that subjects us to a commitment that we have made with God, it is a type of discipline that helps us submit to something that perhaps we had not previously we had experienced and that type of submission begins to cause changes in the midst of our lives.

There are things that depend a lot on that type of submission that we have, therefore the one that changes is us. God does not change because God's desire is to bless us. God is not going to change his mind. His desire is to give his blessing, to fulfill his purpose in each one of you for this time in which we are living, but what God needs is for us to change. God needs our lives to be transformed, to be renewed, so that we can receive what He has for each one of us and then we can be good witnesses of Him here on earth where we live.

And for that, then, I want to share something with you. I want you to go with me to the book of Philippians, it is in the New Testament, Philippians, Chapter 1, verse 27. It says like this: "Only behave as is worthy of the Gospel of Christ." That first word “only”, there is something very interesting with that word. In another translation, the new international version, the word he uses is "whatever happens", well, it's not a word, it's a phrase. He says "whatever happens, behave as is worthy of the Gospel of Christ so that whether I go to see you or be absent, I hear from you that you are firm in the same spirit, fighting unanimously for the faith of the Gospel and in no way intimidated by those who they oppose; for them it is certainly an indication of perdition, but for you salvation and this from God.”

This letter from Paul to the Philippians is a very special letter. It is well dominated by a sense, by a spirit of motivation, of love, of joy, of effort. Paul was encouraging the Philippians that no matter what their situation was, that they could persevere with one accord in that faith that united them.

Philippians, if any of you don't know, Philippians, although it was more or less the city of Philippi, although it was in the area of Greece, more or less around that area of Macedonia, Philippi was a roman colony. And being a Roman colony, that means that all the people who lived there were Roman citizens. It's like us who live here in the US and we, at least those who have their residence, are US citizens. If you live in Guatemala, you are a Guatemalan citizen. Or if it is in the case of Puerto Ricans, although we are considered Puerto Ricans, but as Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, or in more classic words, a colony of the United States as well, well, there is that aspect of being American citizens as well.

And this is the case, then this city of Philippi, in Rome, was a Roman colony therefore all the people who lived there, including Christians, were Roman citizens, with all the benefits of those who lived in Rome as well. Now, but with those benefits also came their demands, because that means that they had to follow all the orders of the emperor of Rome and they had to follow all the laws that the Roman system established about them. In other words, the words of Jesus are repeated, give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.

It's like in the case of us here, give the federal government what belongs to the federal government, give the state government what belongs to the state government, give the municipality where you live what also belongs to the it belongs to the municipality, and as Pastor Samuel said this morning, welcome to Massachusetts. Or in other words to Taxachussets, another word also to also describe Massachusetts. And lastly then there is that aspect and give God what belongs to God.

And in this situation then is where Paul begins to exhort the Philippians, those believers who were there in that city to persevere united and joyful in the faith they had received from Christ Jesus. I believe that these people were encountering the reality that there was some kind of confrontation with the city in which they were, not only that they were seeing opposition that their values as Christians were clashing with the dominant society in that area, for being colony of Rome, but also within the same church there were people who were fighting with each other as well.

So, the kind of dynamic they had was, it seems, very difficult. So a letter of exhortation and encouragement came in handy at the time. Now, but what were then those words that Paul gave to this church in the midst of that controversy that they were experiencing? Since it was making it perhaps seem a little difficult for them, although not that difficult because Paul also talks about his faith remained firm in the Lord, that they continued to grow. But even so, Paul tells them these words, and that's where we read in verse 27. "Whatever happens, behave as is worthy of the Gospel of Christ."

I believe that this phrase, my brothers, has a lot to teach us as well regarding the time in which we are living. Many of us can say that, at least those of you who have understood, this age in which we live is being defined very much by a term called “postmodernity”, that the society in which we live is a postmodern society. Everything is post modern these days. Everything has to be with a very contemporary touch.

But you know what? What defines that aspect of postmodernism is a philosophy that cannot receive any kind of authority, it is in total confrontation with everything that is called having an authority. It does not receive a truth as something absolute, and that is why Christianity today is said to have this confrontation because we know that we have the truth in Christ Jesus, and we proclaim it like that and we also believe that through this confession there is a authority that is given to us to be able to move forward here in this world, in this society in which we are.

And it is precisely against this type of belief that today's society rebels day after day, moment after moment, but do you know what? A person who does not have the vision of God is going to to say 'well then it will be impossible for me to be able to evangelize, for me to be able to speak of Christ, for me to be able to bear witness to him. You know what? On the contrary, the opportunities open up even more. That's how it happened with this church. Look why.

When Paul tells the brothers that phrase “only or whatever happens”, in other words he was saying no matter what? no matter what you are facing there is something you have to do. Look how interesting: Pablo at the time that he is writing, was writing from prison. Paul was on the verge of being executed for his profession in Christ Jesus, so imagine some of us maybe in jail, and if we're facing death, it's going to be really hard for any of us to be able to write a letter of joy, 'hey, brethren, rejoice in the Lord. I'm sending you here from jail, I'm about to die, but rejoice as you like.' Many of us would find it hard to get that kind of perspective, but Paul was sure.

The difference with him is that he was sure who he had believed in. And he was sure that the Philippians' faith was well established in Christ Jesus, that's why he was saying, 'look, even though my life may be at the point of death, I tell you rejoice, rejoice in the faith that they have received, because that has a purpose that joy. So on the one hand there is Paul facing his situations, facing his tumults, his oppositions, but with everything and that, he kept his mind well focused. His heart, his spirit were well focused and there he sends that letter to the Philippians.

The Philippians then, on the other hand, were encountering all this opposition also that perhaps many of them did not know how to proceed, how to move on, how to face all those philosophies of life that were spreading. going against the beliefs and ideals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was also telling them 'look, no matter what happens, behave in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.'

Behave yourself, brothers. behave yourselves There is not just, I wanted to analyze that word a little more, and that word behave does not have so much to do with conduct. This word has an even greater meaning still. When I studied that word, its original Greek, that word has two implications, on the one hand, Paul was telling them 'look, brothers, that their behavior or the definition that this language gives is that their conversation be in a civil manner. That is one of the meanings. Let your conversation be in a civil manner.

And the second meaning it gives is that then your behavior is like a good citizen. In other words, Paul was telling them that both their conversation and their conduct should point to their being good citizens. Citizens obviously not just of the area in which they were living. I understand that perhaps Paul was saying to them 'look, yes, you are... there in the city of Philippi you have laws to comply with. Fantastic. Behave like good citizens. Obey the laws, if you see a sign that says STOP, don't eat it, it doesn't say Coca Cola, stop. If you see that the light is turning yellow, that doesn't mean, lemon to keep passing, it means slow down because the red comes later. There are laws that must be followed.

If it says that the speed limit is 45 miles or 35 miles, rather, this I recently did on a sign, it does not mean that you fuck with a spray can and end the three saying an eight not to mention 85 miles the speed limit. No no no. There are laws to follow. There are some patterns of life that must be followed for you as citizens.

But Paul was also telling them here that there is another type of citizenship that they need to pay attention to as well. And that is the citizenship of the Kingdom of Heaven. Watch this, brothers, I want you to watch this with me. How can I determine that? When Paul tells you 'behave yourself worthy of the Gospel of Christ', I mean to myself, what does that mean? What does it mean to behave as is worthy of the Gospel? What are the things that distinguish this? And you know what? my brothers, the Gospel of Christ Jesus on the one hand, and a very important side, is highly defined and characterized by the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven.

If you look at Jesus, when Jesus preached here on earth the central point of his preaching was what? the Kingdom of Heaven. That was what he was preaching. If you pay attention, there are several examples, in Matthew, Chapter 4, after he comes out of his temptation in the desert with Satan, that he begins his ministry, Jesus begins by preaching "repent, why? because the Kingdom of Heaven has arrived, it has become real here in your midst.”

After that, in the sermon on the mount, he begins preaching and addresses who first, blessed are the poor because what is theirs? the Kingdom of Heaven. If you see the Our Father prayer that says: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name and come what? Come to my house? No, it says your kingdom come. If you realize the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God was crucial in the preaching of Jesus.

And there are times that it is very interesting because after Jesus ascends to heaven and the Apostles remain preaching, the preaching turns more to the person of Jesus and it is not that they ignore the Kingdom of Heaven , but that aspect is totally involved in the very person of Jesus.

That is why I can tell you, my brothers, that the Kingdom of Heaven is clearly seen in what Jesus did and in what Jesus said. The Kingdom of heaven, look, does not imply that an entire city will come transformed into gold and that it will establish itself and that it will crush all the existing buildings here on earth, that does not mean the Kingdom of God. It may be that in the future when Jesus returns the second time, that this is the case, that the things of this world are annulled and destroyed so that then the new Jerusalem can be established, the new city of the Kingdom of God that represents the totality of the world. Kingdom of God, but here in the time in which we are, the Kingdom of Heaven has an even greater meaning. It is not as tangible a meaning as a specific building, but something that goes deeper into people's hearts.

The Kingdom of Heaven has more to do with a new system of government, brothers. Defined directly by God, not by men, over each of the human beings who are here on earth, over all humanity. A new system that is full of justice, a justice that has not been corrupted by sin but carries with it new values and a new pattern of conduct, new morality, new principles for the citizens of this Kingdom of Heaven.

Guess what, look bros, let me tell you something. If I told you right now that the Kingdom of Heaven is clear in the person of Jesus, how can we identify this? Look at the following, I believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is shown through healings and miracles. If you look at the ministry of Jesus, what were the things that Jesus did? The blind were allowed to see, the mute could speak; the deaf could hear; the lame and paralyzed could end up jumping and jumping all over the city; He gave life to the dead.

How do I see the Kingdom of Heaven there? You know what Jesus was telling people when he did those miracles, he told them 'this is the Kingdom of Heaven'. The Kingdom of Heaven means that there will not be any type of disease, there will not be any type of pain, there the whole world will be a complete being, it will be a total being. Those are the Kingdom implications.

Do you follow me brothers? Are you understanding what I am telling you? The Kingdom of Heaven meant that each one was going to be formed in the perfect image of God, the image with which God intended each one of them. There is no room for the sick, there is no room for the lame, for the crippled, but rather the whole world will be full-fledged and complete in the presence of God.

The Kingdom of Heaven also implies forgiveness of sins. Jesus was confronted many times when the Pharisees told him 'and who are you to forgive sins? Let me tell you who I am 'I am the son of God and I can not only forgive sins but I can do many other things'. Jesus knew where he was standing. Jesus knew the authority that he had and that forgiveness of sins does not mean that in that second coming, because then the whole world will be transformed and white as snow, but that this experience of forgiveness of sin can be experienced now, because the Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst, in the person of Jesus. The Kingdom of Heaven is there for each one of us and the forgiveness of sin is needed by each and every one of us. Each one of us needs that reconciliation of God, with God.

I look at all of you and I look at myself and you know what I say? What a stream of sinners we are. I am not offending you, it is clear, I am speaking the truth. We all have our faults, we all have our skeletons hanging in the closet and each one of us needs that restoration that only God can give. The person who says 'no, I'm good. I am a good person'. How many can tell me I am a good person? Let see your hands. Are they a good person? No one dares to raise their hand.

Oh, Lord, we don't have good people here. One, ok, I have one. Brothers, how many consider themselves people? Let me see. I consider myself a good person. Okay. Let's do a test. How many of you have ever told a lie? Let see your hands. Okay. And if they have told a lie, that makes you what? A liar, right? A liar. Oh, pastor but they are little white lies. A lie is a lie, that doesn't matter.

When you were little, how many of you stole something? I said, when they were little, I'm not saying now, when they were little, when they were younger. How many of you cheated on an exam, so to speak? Oh, oh, oh, oh... confessions, Lord. Hey, I cheated on a test, you know what I'm doing, I'm stealing the other person's intelligence and wisdom that he or she has. So that makes me a what? Thief. So I'm a liar and a thief. With just those two, I'm not going to say any other, believe me, with just those two, you think I'm a good person. Oh, I fall short... if the mercy of God.

But guess what? My brothers, God is so good that He offers us His forgiveness. He offers us his restoration. He offers us to be reconciled once more with Him and to be reconciled with those around us as well. And this is part, my brothers, of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is also characterized by the fruits of the spirit living in our midst, the fruits of the spirit when they are palpable, tangible, visible in our midst, I can say that the Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst. When people know how to love each other, how to respect each other, how to receive, how to be hospitable, how to express tenderness, how to express meekness. No, ah... you did something to me and I'll rip your head off; but ah, you did something to me, it hurts but we are going to work on this. When the fruits of the spirit are tangible there in our midst, look brothers, I can say that the Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst. And it is not just for our benefit, it is for the benefit of those who also need it.

And one last point that I want to mention about how the Kingdom of Heaven is characterized and this one I do want you to write down. Take that green piece of paper and on the back where it says the preaching notes, write this: the Kingdom of Heaven in the person of Jesus interrupts and defeats the works of the domain of darkness. I say it again: the Kingdom of Heaven in the person of Jesus interrupts and defeats the works of the kingdom of darkness. Once again: The Kingdom of Heaven in the person of Jesus interrupts and defeats the works of the kingdom of darkness.

Why do I say this my brothers? Look at Jesus. When Jesus met a person who was possessed on the road, what did Jesus say? Let it continue to burn there in the fire. Let him keep hitting the floor. Man no. Jesus when he saw that, he would go and minister freedom, he ministered healing, he ministered a total liberation of that person. He told those demons that could be tormenting that person: out, kick yourself, kick out because you don't have space here. Jesus was being well meaning because He was wanting to let people know that in the Kingdom of Heaven, not only were people going to experience healing, not only people were going to experience forgiveness of sins, not only were people going to to experience the fruit of the holy spirit in them, but also the presence of the enemy, had to come out. There was no room for Satan in the midst of this new kingdom that Jesus was establishing at that moment and that is still tangible in our midst.

I believe it, my brothers, that God is still in the business of bringing total freedom to those who are oppressed by evil. Any person who is oppressed by whatever, you name it, drug, alcohol, vice in any form, gambling, or abuse of his wife or children, or talking bad, or jumping from party to party , or whatever it is, God brings freedom for that person. Because in the Kingdom of God that does not fit. In the Kingdom of Heaven that is not present, that type of oppression does not exist. You know what, my brothers? It's like... let me take the wand I used this morning, my Samurai sword, I'm going to take it out here, it's like Jesus himself at that time, do you know what Jesus did? Not if you've seen this in the movies, but it's as if Jesus drew a line on the ground from side to side and said 'no more, no more. You don't cross that line. This is as far as your oppression came. This is as far as your abuse. You have no more space in my Kingdom. This far you have come, your days are numbered, your head is under my feet. No more. That's it.'

And brothers, that is the type of mentality that God wants us to have too, that in the midst of our lives that we draw that line and tell the enemy 'no more, you don't go beyond here'. You know what? That is a very strong action, my brothers. Not everyone can do that. In a war, when one side did that to another, do you know what that meant? That meant a challenge. One side was telling the other 'I dare you' 'Dare to cross that line'. What came next was an all out fight.

You have read this passage. Are brothers with me because I see them so serious? Let's see if I ran out of time or something. Look at this passage, Matthew, Chapter 11, verse 12. Jesus is speaking that from the time of John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven becomes strong and what? and only the brave snatch it away.

Someone explain that to me as if I were a five-year-old. Dr. Villafañe, you don't count in this, someone explain that to me as if I were a five-year-old boy. What does it mean that the Kingdom of Heaven moves violently and that only the strong take it by force? You know what, my brothers?

I wanted to find out more about this passage and in order to understand it, I had to make a mental image. I had to imagine as if here in this corner is the side of the devil, the kingdom of darkness, weighing only 55 pounds in bone nothing more, and on this other side is God and his Kingdom. It has no weight, do you know why? because it is incalculable. Incalculable, my brothers, it's too tall, it's too wide, it's too deep, it's too long to measure so what number I can't fit in there, so unlimited weight.

And suddenly when God takes that wand and draws the line to the devil, he says 'no more, that's as far as you've come'. The battle line was drawn, and that is where the revolt was formed. That's where the bembé is going to form, as they say... more clearly Puerto Rican. Let me speak in a more concrete vocabulary for everyone. And there go these two forces, these two charging sides, meeting each other, running towards each other, and suddenly they find themselves in the same middle....... you hear this noise and suddenly like one of the sides as if it began to dominate over others, but nevertheless the other as if suddenly it became stronger and began to dominate over the other and began to conquer all that terrain and began to push the kingdom of darkness to the other side and start saying 'no, no, no, this land is mine. The land of his heart is mine, not yours. The land of the city of Boston belongs to the Kingdom of Heaven and does not belong to the kingdom of darkness. The land of the nation of the USA belongs to God and does not belong to the kingdom of darkness. The land of the entire globe, my brothers, belongs to God and does not belong to the kingdom of darkness.

That is why when I read in Scripture that the Kingdom of Heaven grows strong, it is not that it grows strong, it is that it moves with violence. There is a violence that occurs and there is a constant clash that is occurring and when Jesus then says, only the brave, only the warriors, only the vigorous, only those who dare to lay hands on things, only those are the ones who will to be part of that kingdom.

Big things, brothers. He who wants big things, big responsibilities await him. And that's what I see Paul was saying to this church. He encourages them to live in unity. Not just because they were Roman citizens, but because they were citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, their conduct had to bear witness that they knew how to live as citizens but that they also bore witness to a higher calling that went beyond being a Roman colony. It was a call directed by the values of the Kingdom of God.

And that final call, brothers, that Paul urges you to fight for, to remain united in the faith of the Gospel of Christ, do you know why? First Paul recognizes, my brothers, that the struggle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is a constant struggle. There is always a clash between these two sides, always.

Second, it is also recognized that this incessant struggle is because every earthly system that is dominated by a corrupt mind that has not been transformed by the power of God, will always stop against the values of the world. Kingdom of Jesus. What implication does that have for us now? If I am talking so much about the Philippians, how can the Philippians speak to me, in my daily life, with my children at home, with my neighbors, with my coworkers, with my fellow students, what does that mean? for me now?

Guess what, brothers? A lot. If you look at verse 29 of Philippians, look how Paul tells them here. Paul tells them "because it is granted to you because of Christ, not only that you believe in him, not only they have the benefit of being able to believe in Jesus, of being able to live with the company of Jesus, to be able to live with the direction of Jesus, but it is also granted to them that they suffer for him.

To each of you who believe in Jesus, to each of you who say you call yourself, according to the name of Jesus, in the midst of your lives, each of you is also granted to suffer for him. How many of us want to be a genuine follower of him? How many literally want to walk in the footsteps of the master? How many literally want the dust from the teacher's shoes to cover each one of you? How many say love to that? Are we willing to suffer? Are we willing to pay the consequences?

Brothers, you know what? there is no reason to be afraid. I use those words of Paul: there is no reason to be afraid of the suffering or the opposition that you are going to experience. Whatever opposition one may encounter. I find that I am threatened with being fired from work. I find that they see me threatened that I have all my neighbors around my house watching over me all the time. I am faced with the opposition that I may be deported from the country. Be what it is, come what may, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You know my brothers, I want to end this. I was saying this morning, time of fasting changes many things in us. Myself yesterday, yesterday I went out with my wife to shop, I went to BJ's. Do any of you shop at BJ's? Yeah. Obviously, very good specials there. But suddenly we would pass by the area where they were going to make the roast chickens... oh! Those chickens looked delicious and I had eaten a salad of lettuce, tomato, and gherkin before, just because that is my commitment that I made with God for this time.

And guess what? I am very honest. In my mind all of a sudden it started like... geez, but why don't we make an adjustment to your fast? ........ Why don't you add at least one dinner to your fast? You can eat your oatmeal in the morning, your lettuce, tomato and pickle at noon and at night after that you can enjoy a good plate of rice, beans and your chicken. And I went through that chicken section like twice. And I said to myself, 'Lord, you understand, you understand, right? I think it wouldn't be bad if I make this adjustment, right? now in this time of my fasting. And I left BJ's thinking about it. And I kept praying, Lord.

I arrived here at the church service at night and Pastor Samuel was preaching about that very thing, about the commitment that comes with being a committed disciple of the Lord. And I came here thinking 'Lord, I'm going to pray tonight for you to confirm in my heart that maybe I can add one more dinner to my fast'. I came determined to that, to receive that kind of confirmation. But you know what? the rug was pulled out from under my feet.

And do you know why, my brothers? Once you commit to the Lord, at least in a time like this, God is going to take you to his word. God will take your word seriously. I wrote in my diary, I said so, Lord, this is the type of fast that I want to do, and with your help I am going to do it. When I left here last night, I said to myself 'the roast chicken is going to have to wait for me', because I made a commitment in front of the one who suffered much more than hunger for me and that, my brothers, for me is a way that I bear witness to what the Gospel of Christ is in my life. I share it as a testimony to you. I am not glorifying myself in this, my brothers, believe me, it is difficult for me with salads, nothing else, but I believe it, I believe it, that this type of sacrifice, that type of commitment that one makes before God, the The pay that this is going to bring is going to be a big one.

And I'm not fasting just for pay, because I want something afterward. Look, no, my brothers, you don't know how my life has been literally broken. I visualize myself like this, like a broken vessel. This time of fasting, my brothers, I have realized so many things in my life that need God's restoration, so many areas in my life that need God to truly break me and make me anew. But at the same time I have managed to experience the grace of God to restore the one who comes with a contrite and humiliated heart. I have experienced the grace of God that is willing to equip everyone who says, 'Lord, I want to be a genuine and real disciple of yours. I want you to use me. And I can see how the grace of God begins to move, to form, to nourish in the life of that person so that that person can become a good witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Brothers, this afternoon I encourage you to behave as is worthy of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. I end like this, brothers. Society today does not want a person like me to stand here with a tie and preach to them and point the Bible at them. People don't want that. People want my actions to speak louder than my own words. People want their actions, which are called being the people of Christ, that their actions speak louder than their words.

A Gospel of action. I was reading a book by Dr. Villafañe that he brought me recently and he made a note to San Francisco de Asís, I don't know how many of you know about him: San Francisco de Asís. Many years ago he said the following words, he said "preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary". “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words”.

Guess what, brothers? I believe those words come alive for me and for each of us today. Brothers, we live in a time where each one of you is going to have to reach a moment where you are going to have to give a defense of your faith. The oppositions to the Christian world, to the Christian life are so many that the time will come when you will have to make a defense of your faith. I ask, as Jesus himself says, in Luke 21, I leave you with this and I invite you to stand up and take your Bible in your hand and read this with me.

Luke 21, verse 14. I leave you with these words from Jesus himself. He says "propose in your hearts not to think beforehand how you are going to respond in your defense because I - look at that, brothers - because I, Jesus, will give you words and wisdom which all those who oppose will not be able to resist or contradict"

Young people that are here, read this with me, young, young, university students, let me put it that way so I don't have problems with anyone, university students that are here, young professionals in their twenties and thirties, I'll leave it at that , please, read this with me "propose in your heart not to think before how you will respond in your defense because I will give you words and wisdom which will not be able to resist or contradict all those who oppose".

Now everyone over 30, read with me because this is for everyone. Furthermore, we are all going to read it in unison "propose in your hearts not to think beforehand how you will respond in your defense because I will give you words and wisdom which all those who oppose will not be able to resist or contradict".

Brothers, say amen to that word. This is a word that comes directly from Jesus, it does not come from me. It is a word that comes directly from Jesus. God is going to give wisdom to the common people. God is going to give wisdom to people that others consider to be nothing. God is going to give wisdom to people who seem to be weak but are very strong. Word and wisdom that they will not be able to contradict. So that in that way then they can conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your word. God, your word that inspires us, your word that reproves us, your word that is life, your word that is real, that penetrates to the depths of our being, breaks, Lord Jesus, our thoughts, the intentions of our hearts and reveals what what is in us in front of you.

Father, I believe that this word that we have read is going to come to life in each one of my brothers and sisters who are here, Lord Jesus, even in the mouths of children you will put wisdom that no one will be able to contradict, Jesus. In the mouth of young people you will put wisdom that no other person, no university professor will be able to contradict. In the mouths of my brothers and sisters, in their work areas, in their homes, in their neighborhoods, Father, I know that you are going to put a word of wisdom that they will not be able to contradict, because it is a word that comes directly of you for this time, Lord.

Father, the signs of the times indicate that you are soon to return for your church and you want a clean, pure, sanctified, consecrated church, dedicated to you, Lord Jesus, a church that knows how to remember that first love and a church that knows how to move in action and in an action directed by you Lord.

Father, as we wait for that time, help us to behave in a manner worthy of your Gospel, help us to be good citizens of your Kingdom Lord Jesus and know how to represent that in the people around us. . Father, I ask that this word cause conviction in the midst of my brothers and sisters. Lord Jesus, may this word cause a transformation in the midst of their hearts, Lord, may they be willing to preach the Gospel at all times, Lord Jesus, and when necessary they may resort to words, but may their actions speak for themselves, Lord Jesus.

Make us a town of actions, make us a town, Lord, where the fruits of your spirit can be seen. Make us a people, Lord, where miracles and healings, Lord, are made clear and evident to those who do not believe in you. Make us a people, Lord, where the oppression and yoke of the enemy is broken in its entirety, Lord Jesus, that every giant that comes against us, Lord, that we are not satisfied with throwing a stone in the middle of their foreheads and seeing them fall, but that we also move to use those weapons that were forged against us and that we use those same weapons to completely cut off the heads of those giants, my God who rise up against your church.

Lord, may we not only watch those giants fall to the ground, but utterly tear them apart in the bud. Your kingdom moves firmly Lord and we want to move with the same firmness Jesus, in your favor. We want to move at your pace, Lord. Put that firmness in our neck, Lord, in our entire being, Jesus, may that firmness be in us. Dad and that we are a people more of action and not just words. May words not be lacking but may our actions abound. Every effort, Lord, every sacrifice we make, may you take it, Lord, and multiply it, triple it in blessings not only for our lives, but for those around us who also need it.

Lord I pray for your people here in León de Judá, I pray for my brothers and sisters, I pray even for those who are visiting today for the first time. Lord, I ask that your holy spirit bring conviction in the midst of their lives and that they can leave here, Lord, convinced, convinced, Lord Jesus, that living for you is a privilege, Lord. Living for you is a blessing, representing you on earth, Lord, is the best we can do Father.

Bless your people, Lord. As we prepare to leave this place, bless your people. May these words continue to bounce in the midst of your hearts and may we not be satisfied with just caressing these words in our minds, but may they be transmitted from our minds into true actions, Lord, day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute, Second by second, Jesus.

Strengthen my brothers who are fasting, Lord. I lift them up right now in front of you. Whatever commitment they have made to you, Lord, help them fulfill that commitment, Jesus. That we do not get carried away, my God, by the feelings of our body, but that we can remain firm in that commitment that we made in front of your presence. Father to you be glory and honor forever Jesus. We love you. We love you, Lord, and to you be the glory and honor forever and ever Lord. amen. Amen, God. Thank you. Brothers, may the Lord bless you, may the Lord keep you.