Holy Procrastination: Why God Wants You to Start Now

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 0:36

Thank you. A church called the New Life Celebration Center and also a community director for an organization called Friends of Watoto, Kenya, so I'm so excited to connect with you. I'm blessed, married, blessed with three children, two boys and one girl, so I'm just excited to get connected. I believe that God has a word for you this day and I know that God will help you in you at this day, and I know that God will help you in everything that we do. Let's believe and pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we just want to thank you for this day. We thank you for your faithfulness. We thank you for your grace. Thank you, Father, God, for the opportunity that you have given unto us Today. Lord God, as we are going to learn your word, we pray that you will inspire us more. Help us that you may understand your word and be the doers of the word. We praise you and we honor you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 1:33

Now, I'm always a man of action and today I just want to speak something about it's time to do it. I know, probably you have planned things, you have had your plans and most of the time you have been postponing and planning that you will do it next time, but I want to encourage you that now is time to do it. You know, I always believe that action attracts obstacles. There's no way you have a good plan without having an obstacle. There's no way you'll say I'll wait until it's calm. No, you have just to be there and I trust God for everything and I believe that God will help you so that you will not stop at this time, but you'll continue. Let's open the book of James 1: 22. Wow, James" 1, verses 22. I love James when he's writing In Verse 22,.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 2:27

The Bible says "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. So most of us, we are good listeners, we know the word and probably I'll say we deceive ourselves and we stop there. But we have never been doers of the word, and I know I'm speaking to people, probably, who have listened to different preachers, who have listened to different pastors, who have listened to different teachings, depending on your age. You have had a lot of experiences. But just allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you today that it's time to do it. It's time to do it and I just want to remind you again do not merely listen to the Word, listen to yourself, do what it says.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 3:16

You know I'll be wondering, pastor, why are you saying this? I'm saying this because I know we are living in a time that we're just tired of the people who just plan things. We're looking forward to have, you know, like people who love action. And James is reminding us and says in Verse 23, the Bible says "Anyone who listens to the word but doesn't know what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets. I don't know how many things we planned, we wrote down and immediately we left. It just went like that. I just want to encourage you and remind you that it's time to do it. You know, be like a man who plans.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 4:01

Verse 25, the Bible says be like a man who plans. Verse 25, the Bible says but the man who looks intently, let us be, let us intend, let us have an intention to get the word and do the word. You know, when I was thinking about it's time to do it, actually I was learning going through the Bible and I have a lot of people who really heard the word but they didn't do it. And we have a lot of people who really, when they heard the word, they didn't. You know, in James 2" 17,. The Bible says In the same way, faith by itself, if it's not accompanied by action, is dead. I'm reading from NIV. So they say in the same way, faith itself, we love faith, we are people who walk by faith. I'm a man of faith. This is a big topic right here, but I just wanted today to just go through and just remind you something. In the same way, faith by itself, if it's not accompanied by action, it's dead. And therefore, as faithful servant, let us not just be people who are filled and stop there. Let us be the people who do the work so that we don't live like dead people. People are full of faith, but we are not ready to activate what faith holds.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 5:29

Now, when we continue, we will look at 1 Samuel. We will look at some of the examples of the people who really decided that they were going to do it. You know, it's a beautiful story. In 1 Samuel 1: 1, going down, and I'll just start to read from Verse 5. The Bible says "ut to Hannah he gave double portion because he loved her and the Lord had closed her womb. There was love all over, but the Lord had closed her womb. And because of the Lord had closed her womb. There was love all over, but the Lord had closed her womb. And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. I know we have people who are in the situation that is provoking you. We have a lot of things that are provoking you and irritating you, but I believe it's time to do it Now. It's time to actualize and be different. The Bible says this went on year after year.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 6:30

Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival was Peninnah. Her rival provoked her until she wept and ate. Hannah's husband would say to her Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons, man? Those are just your sons for Hannah. He rewarded his own self and because of having this urge to become the truth provoked him to do something. He continued to read and once they had finished eating and drinking, she and Hannah stood up.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 7:09

Now early, the priest was sitting on the chair by the door of the Lord's temple. In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord God, remember me. And she made a vow saying "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant and not forget your servant, but give me her son, then I'll give him to the Lord for all the days of my life and the razor will be used in the hand. Now that's a good story. That's a good you know. Like that one's an encouragement for us.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 7:43

Sometimes we go through things and we pray and I can feel people around me, people who have a lot of people who are going through it. They have prayed for years. They have believed God for a lot of breakthroughs. They have believed God for healing from cancer. They have believed God for a lot of breakthroughs. They have believed God for healing from cancer. They have believed God for healing of their children's addiction. They have believed God to help them just start a business and have a breakthrough. They have believed God in everything. They have really been seeking God, just like Hannah was seeking for a child. They have really been seeking God for direction, and the Bible says in Verse 17, go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him before that.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 8:22

You know, Eli thought Hannah was drunk but he said no, I've been praying out of my great anguish and grief. So Eli realizes that and he releases the word, a prophetic word, in the name of Jesus Christ, and I just want to declare this that go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked. May God give you what you have asked. You have been praying and seeking God, but it's time to do it. May God give you what you have asked. She said may your son find favor in your eyes. Then she went her way and ate something and her face was no longer downcast.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 9:00

When I was reading this story, actually, I noticed most of the people. We stopped there. We have the word for the year and we get excited and then we kind of wash our face. Then, when we don't feel downcast, then we just leave it that way. Most of us are like that. We have heard, we have went to different meetings, we have been praying in different places, but we have never actualized, we have never taken action. See in Verse 18 what happened. She said Verse 19.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 9:29

The Bible says early in the morning they rose in worship for the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. The Bible says and Kana lay with Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her. That action is what I'm talking about. I'm talking about it's time to do it. Don't let, don't stop, don't just be the hearer of the word. But I want you to be like Hannah Just believe God Once you receive the word move. Once you receive the word move. Once you receive the word act. Once you receive the word, believe it. Once you receive the word, activate it. Hannah laid, and Hannah laid with Hannah, his wife, and the Bible says and the Lord remembered her. If she could not have done that, probably we would say no prayer warrior, woman of God, but you're not taking action.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 10:19

We have had a lot of people In Africa. Most of the people pray so much I've met people pray, they'll pray for days, and I love prayers myself, so it's something that I believe in. I love prayers myself. People pray, pray, pray. But we have learned something, and I read this story and learned something that if you're praying and you're not planning, and you're praying and you're not putting action, you may end up crying and weeping and just thinking that the Lord cannot do it. And the Bible says in Verse 20. So, in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son what a beautiful miracle. And he named him Samuel, because they asked the Lord for him.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 11:03

We all know that in Matthew, chapter 7, the Bible says ask and shall be. You have to just take an action of asking and have an action of believing. You have to take an action of being there to make things work out. And the Bible continues. When you see this story, you know that it's all about. You have the word, you have received the word. You have listened, you have received the word. But again, you have to do it. You have an action. Let me give you another example. I love the Bible. It has all the solutions. Another example we can find it in Mark, chapter 5.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 11:37

Now in Mark 5: 24 going down, this is a story again of a woman who was bleeding for 12 years. For 12 years she was struggling, and I know we have a lot of people around here who have been struggling for a long time. They feel like our family rejected us. We don't have a business. We tried this, it didn't work. Our mother is cancerous, our father is cancerous, there's blood pressure. There's all these things that are surrounding us, and we have been receiving the word, but we have missed something. We have been hearing the word, but we have missed something, and this is the story of a woman who had a blood issue for 12 years, and I love reading it.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 12:18

When you go to verse 26, the Bible says she had suffered a great deal, out of the care of many doctors and spent all she had, yet instead of getting better. So she was a woman who actually was in debt. I mean, the situation was finished. Now I know we have people who are in that position. They feel like this this business is finished. They are feeling like this family is gone. We are ready for divorce. They're feeling like these children they're done that they're taken away with drugs. They're feeling like our business. You know everything that we need. I know this is something, but the bible says everything was growing was for her, so death was so close.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 13:00

But in Verse 27, the Bible says when she heard about Jesus, there was an element of hearing, and we know we live in a time that we have heard about Jesus Christ Several. Wherever you go you go to any social media YouTube, facebook, everywhere you go you will get the Word of God, Jesus, being preached everywhere, and the Bible says she heard about Jesus and then she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She had to work and make a decision. That it's not just about hearing. I want to take an action. Oh, if you'll be in church, I'll say touch your neighbor, tell him that it's time to do something. Yeah, it's time to do it.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 13:45

She decided you have written all the plans. You have the plan for this. You have never done it. You have the plan for this. You think about financing your plan for this. You have never touched it. But I want to declare and decree that this year, be strong and courageous, just step out and let God meet you. Step out and try Jesus. The Bible says in Verse 28.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 14:05

She thought if I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. That thought that the Lord has given you as one will bring transformation. The thought, the idea that the Lord has given unto you, that's what will bring transformation. The thought, the idea that the Lord has given unto you, that's what will bring transformation. Don't sleep on that idea, don't keep up. Don't just let that idea slip away from you. That's the solution. She just thought, if I could only touch His clothes or behave other translation uses behave as God and hear Now, for her healing was great, but she knew the process she established.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 14:42

I just need to do something. I know I can see. You have written a good proposal. You have written for business. You have written a good proposal for children ministry, for women, ministry, for other things. You have written everything that you want, but it's now just time to decide. And now this, everything that you want, but it's now just time to decide. And now this idea that God had given you. I have to.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 15:04

Actually, the Bible says when she heard about Jesus, she came up. And she came around and tells us the story. And you know what Jesus comments her in Verse 34. It's all about the faith she was building and things and the step that she made. In Verse 34, Jesus comments her. The Bible says he said to her daughter your faith has healed you, go in peace and be free from your suffering. I'm looking forward to the day where your faith will, you know, you will put into action, not just waiting.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 15:34

There, you have faith, you believe it, but sometimes you have to walk through the. There, you have faith, you believe it, but sometimes you have to walk through the crowd. You have to penetrate through those crowds. You have to go through that crowd. You have to make a decision. I want to touch that head. Yes, you have the faith, but you have to move. Yes, you have the faith. I say it again yes, you have the faith, I don't doubt that. But you have to move. You have to penetrate through that cloud. You have to push for it. You have to feel that, to endure that pain, that you may touch the head, it's time you have to do it now.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 16:03

Jesus says daughter, your faith has healed. Good peace, lord. We just want to thank you for the grace. We thank you, Father, God, for just being here to heal me. I'm so encouraged because I know that throughout all this, there was an action that was taken. That's why I'm saying it's time to do it. I love to see people who are moving and I pray that God has been speaking to me through his scriptures and when I speak to you, I'm just being filled and I feel the presence of the Lord to say, hey, your faith, your faith, your faith, put it in action. One day it will be done and everything will be covered.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 16:41

Now there's another story in 2 Kings 7. 2 Kings 7: 3. I read from Verse 3, but when you go back you'll find this is the story where there was a prophecy about the food. Elijah said tomorrow, by this time, the fruit will be sold at Shekel. And we have those people doubted, because you will never miss people who doubt what you believe. But you know what God had to fulfill this thing through and professional, through people who know self to be recognized. And the Bible says in Verse 3 now, there was four men with leprosy at the entrance. People will not serve to be recognized.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 17:19

And the Bible says in Verse 3, now there was four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city. They said to each other why stay here until you die? Why stay in that situation until you die? Do something. Why struggle in that place until you die? Why do you have to remain in that addiction until you die? You have to wake up again.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 17:43

The Bible says if we say we'll go in the city, we will die. The family is there and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over. That's what I'm talking about. I'm looking forward for thousands of people who are igniting the Spirit. I'm looking, I'm looking forward for thousands of people who are igniting the Spirit. I'm looking, I'm seeing how America is rising and there's revival everywhere. You know, I'm looking at the way Africa is rising. There's revival everywhere. I see the people and I want to let the people, that people are deciding that let's go over. I think this time we have to go over.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 18:20

They made the decision that we are focusing, we are going over to the camp of Armenians. Those are our enemies, but they have what we want. I know people have your solution. Sometimes you say, oh, you know, that's my anger, I cannot fight. Sometimes you just have go, just take a step of faith and actually move. Don't just take them. So the Bible says they are left. They had all the solutions. They said whichever way, death is inevitable in us, on us. So they decided we are going. Hallelujah, just do it, it's time to do it. Just decide today and say I'm going over this proposal, that I've been writing this idea, that I've had everything, that I've had this place I'm going over, I'm making a decision to move. I mean move, move, move, it's time to move.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 19:11

The Bible says at dusk they got up and went and came over Armenia. When they reached the edge of the camp, no man was there. Why? Because they reached the edge of the camp, no man was there. Why? Because there was faith and there was action. There was no man there. Why? Because there was faith and there was action, for the Lord has called Armenians to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 19:33

That's how God works. God wants people to just stand up and say we are going for it, and he will always multiply our steps. He will always make our steps greater. He will always make us move. He will always make things. I am a man who has seen what the Lord has done in our community. We started the church. We were only three, we went to five, we didn't have anything, we didn't have any budget and then, when you come over, we have spent thousands of ten thousand, above ten thousand dollars to build, to have a building in our place. I mean, I don't have, you know, I cannot myself, I cannot own that, no one, even my friends. But God has a way of making things to move. God had to move.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 20:18

So every time they were moving and there was an idea. The enemies come. They say, hey, they're coming for us. And I praise God because I'm talking about taking action. Just don't stay there. They started by saying why die here? I said let's go over, then you know what God cause. The God, you know, multiply the sound Every time they're making a step. I pray that the Lord will create a sound in your step, that every time you make a step of faith, every time you make an action, there's a multiplication of sound, that the enemy will disappear. In the name of Jesus Christ. And I pray the Lord because at the end of the day, the prophets were fulfilled, because after they had been there, I decided, wow, we have to go Now. Let's finish up. I just want to wind up in Luke 5. There's also a story in Luke 5.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 21:12

So, reading from Verse 1 to 3, going down, you'll find Simon and Peter. They are tired, they have done what they know. All night they have toiled, they didn't catch any fish. And Jesus comes in and they are busy doing their cleaning. You know, cleaning. They are just like oh, we have tried, we are experienced. If it didn't work for us, I don't think it would work for anybody else. They are just giving up and almost leaving and the Bible work for us. I don't think it will work for anybody else. They're just giving up and they're just almost leaving.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 21:43

And the Bible says in Verse 4, Luke 5: 4, when he has finished speaking, this being Jesus, he said to Simon Peter put into deep water and lay down the nets for a catch. Well, I'm an experienced fisherman. I don't think that will work. Simon answered Master, we worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, we will put it in action. Because of your word, o Lord, we will put it in action. There's a stirring in me that's telling me that there's somebody just waiting for this word, because the Lord has released this word, that there's somebody just waiting for this word Because the Lord has released this word. It's time to put an action. He said because you say so, I will lay down the need. What happens? The Spirit of the Lord creates surrounds, makes things to start working, and when they had done so, they caught a large number of feet, but their necks began to break. So they signaled their partner in Calabar to come down.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 22:42

There's always an overflow when you believe the word of God, when you take action, not just listening. And taking action. There's always a solution. It's exciting to know that God through making a way and he has given us an opportunity that when we listen to his word, there's a solution for everything. I just want to encourage you that you continue. Be like Hannah, do something. Be like those four lepers, decide. Be like Simon Peter. It might look like it's the end, but say hey, I'll try. Are you a word? And the Lord is faithful because he will make a way.

Pastor Cleophas Muyelele: 23:16

Now, as we end up, I just want to say this Be open to hear the word of God. Whatever way, wherever you're preaching, just be open to hear the word of God. Don't lie. What the word is speaking, what the Lord is speaking into your heart, do the word. Once you understand you have heard the word, do the word, put it in practice. It's about giving, giving. It's about loving, loving. It's about going in, just going out, and bless people, believe in His direction. That's where we see Peter. When Jesus told him take the net, put it down. Okay, they had to do that. And our faith, finally, our faith in pursue. I pray that this word will transform you. I pray that this word will keep you open. Be open to hear the word of God to the word in his direction. God bless you so much. I'm looking forward to calling with you once again. Pastor Cleophas Muyelele. You may God take you. Good be to us. It's time to do it. God bless you.