God's Ways Are Higher (Sunday, July 20, 2025)

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters.
What a tremendous joy it is to be here with you this morning. I consider it an honor and a privilege to stand before you and share from God’s precious Word. I bring you warm greetings from Finland, where my family and I serve the Lord. Finland, as you may know, is a small country sandwiched between Russia and Sweden — right between East and West. And yet, in this small country, God is moving. We give Him all the glory for what He is doing.

I serve as a mission pastor in Finland at a Pentecostal church, and I have the joy of traveling wherever God opens the doors, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. We also have a weekly radio program, a TV ministry, and an online Bible school that is now reaching over ten countries. Only God can open these doors. I have been privileged to minister in many places — recently in India again — and what a joy it always is to see God’s people hungry for His Word.

I am so blessed to have my family with me — my precious wife, Paula, my son Isaac, and my daughter Lila. They are not just family to me, but they are my partners in ministry. They love the Lord, and together we are serving Him. My sister Neelam is also with us. She works faithfully in missions, often in hard places, among people many might forget — but God never forgets them. All of us are simply servants, walking in the calling God has given us, trusting Him for each step forward.

This morning, I want to share with you a simple, but deeply important truth: “God’s Ways Are Higher.”
This is not just a theological idea. This is something I have learned, experienced, and relearned over and over in my walk with God.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Brothers and sisters, I have come to realize that we all have our ways — our opinions, our expectations, our plans. We often think we know how things should go, how people should behave, how life should unfold. But God reminds us: His ways are not like ours. His thoughts are higher. His plans are wiser. His purposes are eternal.

And yet, even knowing this, how often do we wrestle with God’s ways? How often do we question Him? How often do we try to bring God down to fit into our way of doing things, rather than humbling ourselves to walk in His?

Let me share with you some examples from Scripture where God’s ways clearly challenge our human ways:

1. How we treat others.

Man says: Love those who love you.
God says: Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-48).

This teaching of Jesus is radical. It’s not humanly natural. But it is divine. Our Father makes the sun rise on the good and the evil; He sends rain on the just and the unjust. He calls us to reflect His character, not the world’s.

2. How we deal with offense.

Man says: If someone wrongs me, I’ll get even.
God says: Do not repay evil for evil. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).

Forgiveness is not weakness; it is strength. God teaches us to leave revenge in His hands. He alone judges righteously.

3. How we respond to others’ success.

Man feels jealousy when others are honored.
God says: Rejoice with those who rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26).

When others succeed, we celebrate. When others suffer, we share their pain. This is how the body of Christ works.

4. Who deserves the glory.

Man seeks glory for himself.
God says: Not unto us, O Lord, but to Your name be the glory (Psalm 115:1).

The world loves self-promotion, but our purpose is to glorify the Lord in all we do.

5. How we treat people.

Man uses people for his own benefit.
God calls us to serve and empower others (1 Thessalonians 2:5).

True leadership is not manipulation. It’s not control. It’s empowerment, raising others up for the glory of God.

6. How we handle worry.

Man says: I must control everything.
God says: Cast all your cares on Me, for I care for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Worry adds nothing to our lives. Trust in God brings peace.

7. Our attitude towards wealth.

Man says: Get more by any means.
God says: Be content with what you have. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

Wealth itself is not evil — Abraham, Job, and Solomon were wealthy. But it is the love of money, the craving for it above all else, that destroys lives.

I also want to share with you the story of David bringing the Ark of God to Jerusalem. David had a good and godly desire — he wanted to bring the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, into the heart of the city. But the first time, he did it the wrong way. He followed the world’s method, placing it on a cart like the Philistines had done. That mistake led to tragedy. Uzzah was struck down. The music stopped. The celebration became mourning.

David was confused. He was angry. “Lord, I was doing this for You! Why this tragedy?”
But then David sought God’s Word. He realized: the Ark was never meant to be carried on a cart. It was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites, as God had commanded.

Friends, even good intentions must follow God’s ways. Zeal without knowledge is dangerous. Religious enthusiasm without obedience leads to disaster.

The second time, David did it right — God’s way. And this time, there was blessing, there was joy, and there was victory.
How often do we, like David, rush ahead, doing what seems right in our own eyes — only to find ourselves facing confusion and hardship? God’s ways may seem slower. They may require humility, patience, submission. But they lead to life.

Moses knew God’s ways. Jesus Himself, in Gethsemane, prayed the ultimate prayer of surrender: “Not My will, but Yours be done.” And because Jesus walked in the Father’s way, He conquered sin, death, and the grave. Today, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that He is Lord!

1 John 2 reminds us: The world is passing away — its lusts, its pride, its temporary glory. But whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Some people say, as they did in Ezekiel’s time, “God’s ways are not fair.” But God answers: “Is it not your ways that are unfair?” He calls us to repent, to turn from sin, and to live. God’s heart is not for judgment but for redemption. He says, “Why should you die? Turn, and live!”

I want to leave you with this beautiful promise from Isaiah 55:10-12:

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void. It shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.”

When we walk in God’s ways, we walk in joy. We walk in peace. His Word will not fail. His promises remain true.

My prayer for you, for myself, for all of us today is this:
“Lord, help me to know Your ways. Help me to walk in them. Give me the humility to surrender my thoughts, my ambitions, my will to You. Teach me Your paths. Show me Your ways. I want to do Your will. I want to walk in obedience, not in assumption. Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Brothers and sisters, when we walk in God’s higher ways, we will find His peace, His joy, and His blessing — not just for this life, but for eternity.

Amen.

Draw On His Strength When You Face Challenges

I believe that the Lord has laid in my heart a specific word for the church this morning. For years, whenever someone went through hardship, I would comfort them by saying, “Don’t worry — God would not allow this if He didn’t know you could handle it.” It sounded good. It sounded compassionate. But church, that is not the truth of Scripture. That is the world’s message. That is the message of Hollywood, of humanistic thinking — “Look within yourself, find the strength inside you, you can do it.” But the Bible teaches the opposite.

Everywhere we look around we see stories and movies that try to tell that you are a hero and that you can look with yourself and find strength. It is that foundation that makes you think that in the time of crisis, you just look within you.

The truth that we understand from scripture is that if you look within you during time of crisis, you will still see emptiness.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 says this so clearly. Paul writes, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” Church, God allows situations that we cannot handle on our own. Why? So that we will stop trusting in ourselves and trust fully in Him. This is where true faith is born.

It is not about what is inside of us apart from Christ. Apart from Him, Jesus says in John 15:5, “you can do nothing.” Our strength does not come from looking inward; it comes from abiding in Christ. It comes from surrender. The world says “look within,” but Scripture says, “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Paul speaks again in 2 Corinthians 4:7, saying, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” We are weak vessels, fragile, ordinary, but we carry within us the treasure of the gospel, the power of the Spirit. Why? So that no one would mistake where the strength comes from. It is not ours. It is His.

Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, saying, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” Church, this is the perspective we must have. What feels unbearable now — the trial, the suffering, the waiting — is light and momentary when compared to eternity. It is achieving something far greater in us. Romans 8:18 echoes this: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

But we struggle when we look at our situation through natural eyes. That is why Paul exhorts us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we walk by faith, we realize who we are in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 tells us we are already seated with Him in heavenly places. Our perspective must rise to where we are seated spiritually, not sink down to where we are standing physically.

In Ezekiel 37 — we read about the valley of dry bones. Sometimes God leads us into places that look hopeless. Lifeless. Places where we say, “There’s no future here.” But God leads us there for a reason: to remind us that His Word has power to bring life where there is none. He told Ezekiel, “Prophesy to these bones.” Church, we must learn to speak the Word of God over our circumstances. Over our families. Over our hearts. Over the lost people in our lives. Speak life, not death. Speak faith, not doubt. Speak hope, not fear.

Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Speak the Word. Declare it. Prophesy over your situations. Sometimes you will see bones come together, but no breath yet. Do not stop. Keep speaking. Keep waiting on the Lord. The breath will come. His Spirit will move.

And in all of this, let us not forget that God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He does not share His glory. Let no man say, “I got through this by my strength.” Let no woman boast, “It was my wisdom that brought me through.” No, it is the Lord.

So church, let us rise up again today in faith. Not in our own strength, but in His. Let us speak His promises over our lives. Over dry bones. Over impossible situations. He is the God who raises the dead. He is the God who speaks light into darkness. He is the God who brings beauty from ashes.

Today, as we close in prayer and worship, let’s surrender afresh. Let’s fix our eyes on the unseen, on the eternal, on the faithful One who has promised, and who will surely do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Amen.

Called to be a royal priesthood

Praise the Lord!

This morning, as we gather for Communion Sunday, I feel a strong burden to speak to us about identity and purpose. Before we approach the Lord’s table, I want us to look closely at what the Word of God says about who we are as believers — and what that means for how we live.

We begin with praise. I encourage everyone to lift up their voices in joyful worship. Too often we hold back — discouraged by our circumstances or weighed down by burdens. But Scripture commands us to shout to the Lord, to make a joyful noise in His presence. Praise isn’t just a feeling — it’s an act of faith. When we stand, kneel, raise our hands, or lift our voices, something shifts in the spiritual atmosphere. Our shout can break heaviness. Our worship, even in pain, can become our victory cry.

From there, the Lord draws me to remind the church of our true identity: we are a royal priesthood. First Peter 2:9 declares it — we are chosen, we are holy, we are royal, and we are priests. This is not just for pastors, elders, or church leaders. This is for every believer washed in the blood of Jesus. Each one of us is a priest unto the Lord, called to serve Him and represent Him in this world.

This priestly calling is not new. In Exodus 19:6, God tells Israel that they are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. That same calling is extended to the Church today — the spiritual Israel. We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light, not just to enjoy the light, but to declare His praises and carry out His purposes.

So what does it mean to be part of this royal priesthood? We have a responsibility to minister to God, our priestly duties to Him. In addition, as God’s priests on earth, we have a priestly responsibility for other people as well. Today, I want to talk about those responsibilities. The Lord puts three key responsibilities on my heart — three ways that we live out our priestly role:

1. We Pray.

Prayer is our first and most essential duty. Jesus teaches us to pray always and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). Paul commands us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). As priests, we are called to stand in the gap — for our families, our church, our communities, and even for strangers.

Prayer isn’t limited to a set time or place. It’s a posture — a lifestyle. I tell the church that one preacher once said, “I never pray more than 30 minutes, but I never go 30 minutes without praying.” That kind of constant communion with God is what we’re after.

We’re also called to pray for all the saints — not just ourselves. Ephesians 6:18 says to pray with all kinds of prayers, at all times, with all perseverance, for all the saints. When someone asks for prayer, don’t just say “I’ll pray for you.” Actually stop and pray. And then follow up with encouragement. Let people know they are being lifted up — it brings strength and hope.

2. We Prophesy.

When we hear the word “prophecy,” many people immediately think of predictions about the future. But the New Testament shows us that prophecy in the church is about edifying, encouraging, and comforting others (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Every Spirit-filled believer can walk in this. If you’re listening to the Lord, He will give you words to build others up. This might happen through a conversation, a prayer, a message, or even a text. The Lord often speaks through His people — not always with thunder, but with quiet, Spirit-led words that bring peace, strength, and direction.

We must speak words that lift people, not tear them down. We don’t always know what others are going through, but God does — and He can use us to minister deeply if we’re willing and attentive. Let us be people who speak life, who point others to Christ, and who remind them of God's faithfulness.

3. We Proclaim the Gospel.

The final priestly responsibility is to proclaim the good news. In Romans 15:16, Paul says he has received a priestly duty to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. That same duty is now ours. Evangelism is not just for the few — it is for every royal priest.

We don’t need to have a seminary degree to share Jesus. We simply need to be willing. It could be a conversation with a neighbor, a word to a co-worker, a Scripture given to someone on the street, or a prayer offered for someone in pain. The world is desperate for hope — and we carry the message of eternal hope.

I remind the church of a man who gave gospel tracts and the Gospel of John wherever he went — in taxis, at restaurants, in stores. His life reminds me that it’s not about perfection, but about intentionality. It’s never too late to begin. If you haven’t shared the gospel in years — start now. The time is short. The need is great.

A Church of Priests

I tell the church — I don’t want us to be known for slick programs or polished sermons. I want us to be known as a people of prayer, a church that speaks life, a community that carries the gospel. Let us be faithful priests. Let us use our time, our gifts, and our words to serve both God and people.

We are not just waiting for heaven. We are working until He comes. We don’t know when our time will be up — but as long as we are here, we are on assignment. Let us not waste the privilege of being priests unto God.

So I declare again — I am a priest unto the Lord.
And I remind the church — You are priests unto the Lord.
Let us pray.
Let us prophesy.
Let us proclaim.

All for His glory. Amen.