President Dr. Irfaan Ali attends Thanksgiving service and Culture

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]that paradise.

[00:00:29]We are so as we continue our program we have the girls ministry and they have an acrostic.

[00:00:43]So we're going to ask them to come right ahead and let's hear what they have to say. Praise the Lord. The girls and their acrostic.

[00:01:21]G. G is for green landscape stretching as far as the eye can see. Genesis 1:11.

[00:01:28]Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation, seedbearing plants, and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it." And it was so you on tame river flowing toward the deep blue sea. John 7:38. Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, river of living water will flow from within them.

[00:01:55]Why youthful hearts building a future for you and me? First Timothy 4 12.

[00:02:04]Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

[00:02:19]A A is for abundant wildlife that the golden lands immerse. Psalms 50 verse 11. I know every bird in the mountains and all the insects in the fields are mine. Thank you.

[00:02:34]and native rhymes echoing through the forest floor. Psalms 96:12. Let the fields be jumbled on everything in them.

[00:02:43]Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

[00:02:49]A ancient wonders like kitetor forever to adore. Psalms 1112. Great are the works of the Lord. They are by all who delighted in them.

[00:03:02]Y >> wonderful. Wonderful. Yes. Praise the Lord. That's the Sunday school department.

[00:03:21]Good. And so we're moving on. We have Pleasant Sunday School and they have a dance. So let's relax and enjoy.

[00:03:30]Pleasance Sunday school.

[00:03:54]Before I spoke a word, you were singing over me.

[00:04:25]You have been so so good to me before I took a breath. You breathed your life in me.

[00:04:42]You have been so so kind to me.

[00:04:49]Oh, the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. Fight till I'm found. Leaves the night.

[00:05:06]I couldn't hurt and I don't deserve it.

[00:05:10]Still you give yourself away.

[00:05:15]Oh, the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Yeah.

[00:05:42]When I was your fault, still your love fought for me.

[00:05:51]And you have been so so good to me.

[00:06:00]When I found no words, you paid it all for me.

[00:06:09]You have been so so kind to me.

[00:06:15]And the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God.

[00:06:24]Oh, it chases me down.

[00:06:33]I don't deserve still you away.

[00:07:09]There's no shadow you won't.

[00:07:12]>> You giveth us all good things to enjoy.

[00:07:16]You bless us with life and talent.

[00:07:20]and our offering is an expression of what you have done for us. We thank you that we can come and worship with you >> with that which represents our time and our talent. Bless the offering. Continue to bless us as we wait in your presence as we hear your word.

[00:07:39]Thank you for those online. Father, many hearing, many watching at this hour.

[00:07:44]Thank you for finding them and for encouraging their heart and lifting them up in the name of Jesus. We bless you.

[00:07:53]Amen.

[00:07:54]>> You may be seated.

[00:07:58]Praise God.

[00:08:01]Good to be here and another special day.

[00:08:04]Happy Independence Day. Are you glad you're in Guyana this time?

[00:08:10]>> It's a good thing to be in Guyana. He ordained, God ordained that we be here.

[00:08:15]He planted us here and we enjoy the benefits of being in a nation such as ours.

[00:08:24]We honor to have our ex president excellency Dr. Muhammad of Ali. He'll be sharing with us after his good friend share.

[00:08:36]But um I want to introduce man who grew up in this church.

[00:08:43]Father Sean Geran, >> active in the Sunday school department, the youth leader and a leader in our church and apart from that the CEO of the bank.

[00:09:07]So what was it? Was it >> GBTI? Sorry. GBTI.

[00:09:24]>> Yeah. Yeah. Not Darra Bank. GBTI. Ghana Bank of Trade.

[00:09:33]Praise God.

[00:09:35]Apart from that he's a he serves at the full gospel businessman fellowship in the national representative the leader in gayano >> apart from that he's also saddled with a great responsib responsibility his wife and children we honored to have him here Sean Gerand share with us he had an unfortunate problem recently but He did not give up on the assignment to share the word of God.

[00:10:16]>> Praise God. Good morning.

[00:10:20]>> I know you have many questions, but God is good. Amen.

[00:10:24]>> It is good to be back in the house of the Lord after a couple of weeks. And there's a very special guest in our midst and he is none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[00:10:36]>> There's also my very good friend the president Muhammad Eran Ali. But it's really really good to be here this morning and a happy happy independence to each and every one of you. As you know this is our diamond jubilee. Look to the person next to you and say diamond >> diamond.

[00:10:55]>> Diamond jubilee. That means this is special and you can tell them you look real special too.

[00:11:03]Amen. And we all decked out today and um I think we've done tremendous and I'm certain our president is happy to be here. I recognize this contingent as well. My good friend, my new friend, brother Lennox Kush. Um and Lennox, I'm aware that you coordinate the president's cricket matches. So this is an open challenge. We have a very young thriving team looking for some big men to be tough. So when you're ready know that our cricket team boys are we ready?

[00:11:37]>> Yes. So we will open challenge to the president and his cricket team. Praise God. But this morning it's it's really good to be in the house of the Lord again. I just want to share a little bit about a very interesting parable and I am pretty certain the president in his younger days when he used to go to youth ministries will remember this story. But just before we do that uh let's just bow our hearts for a moment. Father we bless your name. We thank you. We praise you Lord God that we are gathered here once again. And father we thank you for your faithfulness this morning. We thank you for your love, your mercies, oh God. We thank you for your peace that surpasses all understanding. We thank you God that no matter what life will bring our way as a people, as individuals, and as a country, Lord God, we have that blessed assurance that you are with us. So Jesus, we acknowledge you as the Lord and Savior of this land. We acknowledge you, Lord God, as the ruler of this nation. And we say, Lord God, take preeminence, take your rightful place in our midst today. And we say may your Holy Spirit dwell with us. May your word go forth and accomplish that what it set out to do. Oh God. So we thank you.

[00:12:54]Blessed assurance.

[00:12:59]>> Jesus is mine.

[00:13:04]>> He's been in the fire time after time.

[00:13:12]Oh yes Lord.

[00:13:15]born of his love >> and what he did for me on my trust in God, my savior, the one will never change.

[00:13:50]You will never be my one who will never fail.

[00:14:08]You will have the praise.

[00:14:15]>> What is our praise?

[00:14:17]>> All is our praise.

[00:14:22]I know the author of tomorrow is over my so and this is my song.

[00:14:39]I'm praising my rising king and savior all the day long.

[00:14:48]Cuz I trust in God, my savior, the one who will ever take right will Never.

[00:15:19]He will never.

[00:15:24]I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust in God.

[00:15:43]My savior, the one who will never Praise you Lord.

[00:16:03]>> There is no better place that you and I can put our trust than in our Lord and Savior. Amen.

[00:16:11]Praise God. So this morning we are celebrating Guyana. We are celebrating our different cultures, different foods and we are looking forward to that on the outside. Different traditions, different histories, different backgrounds. We saw the cultural display showing African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, mixed heritage all one nation or one Guyana.

[00:16:39]But while culture is a beautiful thing, culture alone cannot unite our hearts.

[00:16:46]Only the love of Christ can do that.

[00:16:49]>> You see, culture will teach us customs, but Christ teaches us compassion.

[00:16:55]Culture may shape our identities and how we look and how we behave, >> but Christ transforms your character.

[00:17:03]>> You see, in a world that is divided by race, politics, division, class, personal differences, as a church, we must demonstrate something that is higher. We must demonstrate that the love of Jesus Christ sees humanity before any other label.

[00:17:20]This morning we want to talk about the parable of the good Samaritan. Turn with me if you can to Luke's Gospel chapter 10 verses 25-37.

[00:17:33]Just then an expert in the law stood up to test him saying teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?

[00:17:43]What is written in the law? He asked him. How do you read it?

[00:17:48]He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself." Somebody say, "Neighbor."

[00:17:59]>> Neighbor.

[00:18:00]>> You've answered correctly, Jesus said, "Do this and you will live."

[00:18:06]But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who then is my neighbor?"

[00:18:14]Jesus took up the question and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead."

[00:18:28]A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed on the other side.

[00:18:35]In the same way, a Levite who was also a religious person when he arrived at the place saw him and passed on by the other side.

[00:18:46]But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him. And when he saw him, the Samaritan, the man, he had compassion.

[00:18:55]He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

[00:19:05]The next day he took out two dinaries or two currency of the day, gave them to the inkeeper and said, "Take care of him for when I come back, I'll reimburse you for the extra that you have spent."

[00:19:20]Which of these three do you think prove to be the true neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?

[00:19:29]The one who showed mercy to him, he said. Then Jesus told him, and do the same. Look to the person next to you and tell them, "Go and do the same."

[00:19:45]Praise God.

[00:19:47]So to give you some background here, in the time that Jesus was sharing this story, the Jews and the Samaritans didn't used to get along. They were arch enemies. They were very different sets of people.

[00:20:03]Jews never wanted to even be in the presence of the Samaritans. They were different ethnicity, different how they looked, how they behaved, and how they worshiped.

[00:20:13]But it's interesting that when Jesus was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he decided to use two enemies to talk about who really is your neighbor. And when Jesus in this example brought out that the Samaritan was the example of neighborly love, can you imagine how surprised those persons must have been? Because it wasn't the priest. It wasn't the one dressed in the nice suit. It wasn't the one who comes to the the church and prepares everything. It wasn't the Levite. But here was this man, the outsider, who really demonstrated what true love is supposed to be.

[00:20:54]dished off the audience because Jesus was teaching something very interesting.

[00:20:58]He was telling them, you know what, a title doesn't make you righteous. He was teaching them a position doesn't make you compassionate. He was telling them your religious appearance doesn't make you look like Christ, but it instead your actions and what you do, how you demonstrate Christ, that is the true testament of what a true Christian should be like.

[00:21:21]>> So, you have two other characters in this story. You have the priest and the Levite. Now these were the people who had title had long titles, long robes.

[00:21:31]They looked very good. They looked the part. Lutman, they looked the part. They looked like, "Yeah, this is what Christianity should be like." But far from looking at the part, their heart was too hard. That is why the Bible says God does not look on the outward appearance, but he actually looks at your heart. Amen.

[00:21:52]>> Many times in our church circle, we want recognition. We want to be acclaimed and heralded as you did this and you did that. But we're not willing to do the things that Christ did whilst he was on earth. Sometimes the same people that Jesus embraced while you on earth, we push them out. When they didn't dress right, if you can't say amen, say ouch.

[00:22:11]When they don't dress right, when they don't sound right, when they don't sing right, sometimes our first thing is to push them away.

[00:22:19]But Jesus was the other example. Jesus embraced them. He welcomed them. He welcomed the sick, the needy, the lost, the ones that society was ready to kill.

[00:22:29]What did he do? He showed mercy.

[00:22:33]>> Christianity without love is performance.

[00:22:38]>> Let me say that again. Christianity without love is performance.

[00:22:45]>> I'll say it at time. Put it in your pipe. Smoke it tonight. Status right to Christianity without love on this culture day is performance.

[00:22:56]>> You can carry your Bible. You can testify. You can prophesy. You can properly lie. But if you don't have love in your heart, you're nothing but a vagamon.

[00:23:10]>> You can sing on platforms. You can play the keyboard and the drums and worship.

[00:23:14]And here you can even preach. But if you don't understand the heart of Christ, you're nothing but a vagaban.

[00:23:22]>> You see, Jesus was showing that true true Christianity was not measured by image, but was measured by mercy.

[00:23:31]This good Samaritan, look what he did.

[00:23:34]He got off his animal. He could have said, "You know what? You Jew, that's what you deserve because you don't like me.

[00:23:48]you Jew, that's what you deserve because you don't like me. When you see me, you torn up your nose. But the Bible tells us he gave up his own animal. He jumped off. He tended. He used oil and wine and bandaged the wounds of this man who was injured. He saw a need and he responded.

[00:24:09]Many times we go around our communities and you see a need and what do we do? We turn the other way. I'm too holy for that. I'm too Christian-like for that.

[00:24:19]But Jesus is calling us again back to the heart of the good Samaritan.

[00:24:24]The Samaritan didn't say, "Wonder what race he is." Samantha didn't say, "I wonder who he voted for last election."

[00:24:33]The Samaritan didn't say, "Wonder if he speaks the same language." No, he saw something and he jumped at it. He saw a need and he won. He saw pain and he responded. That is Christlike love. What does this mean for Guyana today?

[00:24:53]Understand Guyana is a beautifully diverse place. And if you know the president anymore, you will know how much he embraces all our cultures and what it is to be true Gyian. I remember during elections time an old lady the back of boxing said don't worry she used to come to let the back here and play dominoes.

[00:25:12]Yeah. But it shows you that we are a beautiful people and we can be a beautiful people.

[00:25:19]One guy is a wonderful initiative and I encourage all of us to be a part of it.

[00:25:24]But understand diversity without love is division.

[00:25:30]Love is that one thing that will bring us all together. As uniquely beautiful and brilliant as we are, we need the love to bring us all together. You see, ethnicity, history tells us ethnicity can divide, politics can divide, class can divide, the way we look can divide, but the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ can tear down these walls. The gospel of Jesus Christ can unite this country like never before. Because you see, the blood of Jesus Christ eases all tension. The blood of Jesus Christ is stronger than any stereotype. The blood of Jesus Christ can destroy any label that anybody can put on you.

[00:26:10]>> You see, in Christ, nobody is superior.

[00:26:13]In Christ, no race, no title, nothing, nobody is superior because at the foot of the cross, we're all sinners saved by grace. You see, when I look at this congregation, I don't see color. I see one color, and it's red, not because that, but it's red because we're covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. So, when you look at somebody, don't see if they're white, they're black, they're yellow, bald hair. Look and understand that that person there, Jesus, he gave his life for them 2,000 years ago. and their blood, that blood, that precious blood that we cling to, that is what saves, that is what that mens, and that is what that countries by by what's not.

[00:27:01]But we must show Christlike love. A love that serves, a love that forgives, a love that embraces and helps and listens and restores, and a love that truly sacrifices.

[00:27:16]Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another."

[00:27:27]Not by denomination, not by title or culture, not by popularity, but by love.

[00:27:35]Titles are good and we need them. But title means nothing without love. Think about it. that Levite, this one who goes to the temple every day, that priest, they pass this wounded man. How many wounded are we passing every day? How many wounded do we see and said, "You know what? I got to go to church. Got deliverance service is 10:00. I must stay focused." But you pass the very person who needs help.

[00:28:03]You might be going to work every day and thinking, you know what, this man at the traffic light only bother me for $20.

[00:28:08]$20. But maybe that's your opportunity to demonstrate what Christ is like. Your neighbor might be suffering, just lost a job, and you're enjoying the luxuries of it all, and your neighbor is starving.

[00:28:23]What does the compassion of Jesus Christ challenge you to do this morning? What is it calling you to do? You can be a pastor, bishop, leader, cardinal in the army. Whatever it is you want to be, you can be. But understand the main thing that you and I are called to be is to be someone who shows love. Because heaven, heaven is not impressed by a title.

[00:28:48]Heaven's impressed by the way you show love.

[00:28:52]The question is, how do you reflect Jesus this morning?

[00:28:59]What does true Christianity looks like?

[00:29:01]It looks like helping people around you, helping people who are different. It looks like showing kindness in the most unexpected ways.

[00:29:10]Because you know what? Above all of this, like this man, I was on a road once, wounded, destroyed by sin. But my good Samaritan came 2,000 years ago and he rescued me.

[00:29:26]He gave his life blood for me. He said, "You know what? There will be a man who will really need help 2,000 years forward named Shawn and I must give my life so that he can have life and life more abundantly. Jesus understand is the ultimate good Samaritan.

[00:29:45]And he understand that he gave his life so that you and I can have life today.

[00:29:50]So whatever we must do, we must always reflect Jesus Christ. Our world is broken by sin and we can't save ourselves. Christ thankfully came to us and gave us mercy. He gave his whole life for us. He created us in his image so that we can be like him. So this morning as we celebrate our culture day, let's celebrate our diversity.

[00:30:17]Let's pursue unity.

[00:30:19]Let our churches be a place where every race can feel welcome.

[00:30:25]Every culture can feel loved and every person can experience the true love of Jesus Christ.

[00:30:33]We got to understand when Jesus binds us together, culture becomes a thing of beauty and not division. Diversity becomes strength and instead of conflict and the church becomes a true reflection of what heaven is.

[00:30:52]Paul tells us in Colossians 3:14, "Above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Or as we might say today, "Let the love of Christ bind us together beyond culture, beyond status, beyond titles, and beyond backgrounds." Because that is what true love looks like. That is what true Christianity is supposed to be. So on this Independence Day church, as we celebrate Guyana and we celebrate what it means to be 60, let us turn our eyes back to the cross. Let us turn our eyes back to what Jesus did. And as we reflect, may it move your heart to be different. May it move your heart to be more like Jesus. Shall we bow our hearts for a moment?

[00:31:51]Jesus, you're the lover of my soul.

[00:32:00]>> Jesus, I will never let you go.

[00:32:07]>> You taken me under my reclaim.

[00:32:15]You set my feet upon the rock.

[00:32:18]And now I know I love you.

[00:32:26]I need though my worth. I'll never let you go.

[00:32:37]You're my savior.

[00:32:41]My love is praise.

[00:32:45]I will worship you until the very end of Jesus.

[00:32:52]>> Jesus, >> the lover of my soul.

[00:32:59]Jesus, I will never let you go.

[00:33:06]Taking me from the merry grave.

[00:33:13]You set my feet upon the rock. Now I know I love you, Lord. I love you.

[00:33:23]I need you.

[00:33:27]Oh my word. I'll never let you go.

[00:33:34]My savior, my God says praise.

[00:33:41]I will worship you until the very end.

[00:33:47]>> Jesus, we thank you for your love this morning. We thank you for your great love. And God, it's our prayer this morning that you change our hearts. Lord God, may we be more like you in everything that we do. Lord God, may we look beyond titles, races, ethnicities, and God. May we see each and every one of us covered by your blood. Lord God, may we love like you. May we care like you, God. And Lord God, may we unite this nation like never before. So we thank you for your love and we thank you for your mercies. And oh God, may your love define how we live our lives every day, every minute, every hour we pray in Jesus name.

[00:34:25]>> Amen.

[00:34:27]>> And amen. Praise the Lord. Let's give the Lord a round of applause.

[00:34:36]So it is indeed my real real real honor and privilege to invite a longtime friend.

[00:34:47]I remember the first time I met him was a big contractor and this was I would think maybe 19 years ago and the dead gentleman said let me introduce you who will be the next president of Guyana and the good gentleman said to me and I'll never forget it. He said, "No, no, no, not the next president. After Ramatar is going to be me." And as the good Lord would have it, he has fulfilled that word.

[00:35:20]I have met this man a long time. I have sat in meetings with him. He is patient.

[00:35:26]He is kind. He's humble. And he has a true love for what he does for this nation.

[00:35:33]I know he doesn't like long introductions as well, but please help me welcome this morning as you stand his excellency president Dr. Muhammad Air final.

[00:35:55]>> Thank you very much. Please have your seats. my dear and respected pastor, my respected elders, brothers and sisters, children, my dear friend Shawn and I can say that Shawn in my humble view is an outstanding example of someone who lived by the values of Christ.

[00:36:28]I've seen this relatively young man influence many people and in the way he carries himself.

[00:36:42]I seen how his life has affected positively the life of many others.

[00:36:51]>> And pastor, I don't think you made a mistake. In Ghana we say alo we are one family.

[00:36:59]So all the cos might be one.

[00:37:06]So my brothers and sisters in Christ distinguished guests of the congregation before I say anything let me affirm an eternal truth.

[00:37:19]Every nation, every government, every leader and every power on earth remains subordinate to the creator of the heavens and arts.

[00:37:34]>> There is absolutely no doubt about this.

[00:37:38]Kings may rise and kingdoms may fall, but the sovereignty of God endures forever.

[00:37:47]>> Amen. Wealth cannot rival him.

[00:37:50]Armies cannot overcome him. Science cannot replace him. Human power is temporary. But the authority of God is everlasting.

[00:38:04]>> And if we understand this as humans that we are temporary, what we represent is temporary.

[00:38:16]Our existence here is temporary.

[00:38:20]Our journey here is temporary.

[00:38:24]But authority of the one who made it temporary is everlasting.

[00:38:33]>> As the psalmist declares in Psalms 24:1, and I quote, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.

[00:38:44]>> The world and they that dwellth therein. End of quote. And praise God, we are given a piece of this earth where we dwell as gy, >> where we dwell as six different people under the common banner of one country, one love, >> one Guyana. Praise God.

[00:39:09]>> Yes, we praise God that we are given a piece of this earth that is peaceful.

[00:39:15]We praise God that we are given a piece of this earth that we don't go to sleep thinking whether a missile will cruise over our head.

[00:39:23]>> We praise God that we're given a piece of this earth that is filled with the richness of his mercy.

[00:39:29]>> But more importantly, we praise God that we're given a piece of this earth that we know that without faith we are nothing.

[00:39:38]>> Without prayers, we are nothing. Amen.

[00:39:41]>> And we're given a piece of this earth where we as a people recognize that faith, prayer, and understanding the temporary nature of our life is important. And that is why I thank God every day for the blessing of waking up in this beautiful piece of art he has granted to us, Guyana.

[00:40:07]And in Daniel 2:21, the scripture reminds us that, and I quote, "He changeth the times and the seasons.

[00:40:17]He knoweth kings and setth up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." End of quote. Now, knowledge, everyone can claim knowledge.

[00:40:38]Here is what Daniel said.

[00:40:41]Wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding.

[00:40:50]You can have all the knowledge of the Bible, but you understand it.

[00:40:58]>> And the way you understand it is the way you live it. Amen.

[00:41:02]>> It's the way you practice it.

[00:41:05]>> You can know all the laws of the country but you still break them.

[00:41:12]>> You may not understand them.

[00:41:15]That is why when they mark your paper for Cxc there's comprehension, there's reasoning right Sean and you have to score across all because knowledge without understanding is just information.

[00:41:36]Knowledge is not meant for information.

[00:41:39]Knowledge is meant for practice.

[00:41:44]Knowledge is meant to shape you in a better way.

[00:41:51]How much of us have the knowledge that too much alcohol is not good for you?

[00:42:02]But we don't have the understanding to practice a life that save us from the abusiveness.

[00:42:11]How much of us have the knowledge that our dear brother Sean shared with us of what is expected of a good Samaritan of a good human being.

[00:42:26]How much of us practice it through understanding?

[00:42:30]So as we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we have the knowledge of our trials, the knowledge of our tribulations, the knowledge of our success, the knowledge of our shared history.

[00:42:53]But my dear brethren, do we have the understanding that we don't have to live with the wounds and take forward the wounds?

[00:43:05]Do we have the understanding that we must now transcend from that knowledge to a higher place, to a higher covenant, to a higher decree?

[00:43:18]Not established by man, but established by faith.

[00:43:26]Established by the ultimate ruler, the Lord of the heavens and the earth.

[00:43:36]So my friends, it is therefore right and proper that I begin My remarks to what I called an extraordinary service this morning.

[00:43:58]How many religious institution thought that is important that a special service of thanksgiving be dedicated to our homeland to our country.

[00:44:15]Do not take this lightly.

[00:44:18]This Thanksgiving ceremony with praise and thanksgiving to God, the master of the universe, the giver of life, the sustainer of nations, and the keeper of our beloved Guyana.

[00:44:39]This I am grateful for.

[00:44:43]This I'm thankful for and I congratulate everyone in this congregation for this moment.

[00:44:52]I express my heartfelt gratitude to the members and leadership of the Better Hope Assemblies of God Church for extending to me the honor and privilege of being part of this sacred Thanksgiving ceremony. I thank you for your kindness, your fellowship, and your commitment to keeping faith, prayer, and thanksgiving alive within our nation.

[00:45:29]Thanksgiving is not simply an event.

[00:45:33]Thanksgiving is a posture of the soul.

[00:45:37]It is an acknowledgment that without God, we are nothing. But with God all things are possible.

[00:45:51]>> And I acknowledge this fact as this church acknowledges this fact this morning that as a nation we are nothing without God.

[00:46:03]>> But with God >> everything is possible for us as a people and as a nation.

[00:46:11]Yes sir.

[00:46:12]>> And that is why this service is so important.

[00:46:20]And that is why our dear pastor might have by the will of God allowed a younger member of the congregation to deliver this word today because faith is about transition.

[00:46:46]>> Life is about transition.

[00:46:50]Existence is about transition.

[00:46:55]>> The gift of transition is our ability to recognize that we live every day on the journey of transition.

[00:47:08]We can have all the glorious plans, the most beautiful plans and tomorrow the plan for us might be to go back to the maker.

[00:47:23]So if we live a life of transition, that life must be a life of purpose.

[00:47:31]And as a country, if we live as a nation in transition, every day in the nation life must be a day of purpose, a day for purpose.

[00:47:45]>> Today, our purpose here is to give thanks and praise.

[00:47:50]It is to recognize that our nation is blessed.

[00:47:55]It is to recognize that our nation rest on the foundation of love.

[00:48:03]It's to recognize that our nation rise as a result of the mercies of God.

[00:48:14]The Bible repeatedly calls upon us to give thanks.

[00:48:18]In Thessalonians 5:18, we're instructed, and I quote, "In everything give thanks, >> for this is the will of God in Christ concerning you." End of quote.

[00:48:35]Amen.

[00:48:36]>> And you know I always give the example when in this country you can have a beautiful road but you may have a mango tree at the end of the road that you don't like and we concentrate on cutting down the mango tree and giving thanks for that one beautiful thing that we're using.

[00:49:00]But I experienced something different when I went to Jamaica after the hurricane.

[00:49:08]It was complete destruction like you can never imagine in your life.

[00:49:14]This was disaster at a scale and magnitude unimaginable.

[00:49:20]And I stood there and I walked the roads with other leaders and I look at the Jamaican people came over to me and say, "President, it is bad."

[00:49:33]But thank God, praise God, we are alive to live in order.

[00:49:42]I didn't hear them say the type of words that we will hear sometimes.

[00:49:49]I hear them say it's bad, but praise God, we still have life.

[00:50:00]>> Thanksgiving and giving thanks is a cornerstone of faith.

[00:50:07]It is the truer and deeper understanding of what faith is and means.

[00:50:16]Because thanksgiving allows us the knowledge and the understanding that important, the most important gift is what we all woke up and enjoyed today.

[00:50:35]Because the gift of life allow us one more opportunity to correct the mistakes of the very life we make.

[00:50:47]>> And this is important.

[00:50:50]Notice the scriptures does not say give thanks only when life is easy.

[00:50:57]It says in everything give thanks.

[00:51:03]Give thanks in moments of abundance and in moments of struggle.

[00:51:08]>> Give thanks in times of victory and in seasons of uncertainty.

[00:51:14]Give thanks when the road is smooth and when the burden is heavy and pastor just like you in my shoes the burden can become heavy.

[00:51:29]Then is when you understand that the burden can become light in faith in an understanding that there is somewhere higher that you can appeal to that even when humans ignore the burden you carry you know in that higher place your burden is lifted away from you.

[00:51:59]So my friends, gratitude is one of the highest expressions of faith because thanksgiving recognizes that God has been present even when we did not fully understand his plan.

[00:52:18]That's important.

[00:52:20]That's another important cornerstone of faith that even when we don't understand what is happening to understand that even then God is present.

[00:52:33]>> You may have the roughest time within your family.

[00:52:37]You may say I've invested everything in my children and I'm at a point now where I feel as if this investment has been lost.

[00:52:47]It is at that moment that you understand God is still there in that time.

[00:52:58]>> And once God is there, faith does not allow you to give up.

[00:53:04]Faith does not allow you to succumb.

[00:53:07]Faith does not allow you to give up. Let me hear a congregation say that. Faith does not allow you to give up.

[00:53:21]>> Okay.

[00:53:22]Psalm 104 reminds us, and I quote, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name.

[00:53:44]That is instructive how we should carry ourselves.

[00:53:50]A thankful people are a hopeful people.

[00:53:53]A thankful nation is a strong nation.

[00:53:58]Gratitude softens the heart and remind us that we are all dependent upon God's grace.

[00:54:07]>> That's the other important thing of thanks.

[00:54:09]>> Amen.

[00:54:11]Thanks softens the heart because it remove the arrogance that I have accomplished this and it replaces it with the gratitude of understanding that I accomplish this. Yes. But through the grace of God, >> through the honor of God, through the love of your parents, we are nothing. I am nothing. And none of us can be anything without the love of our parents, >> the strength of our grandparents, the strength of those who came before us and laid the foundation for a nation to stand. Those who came and were tortured and beaten as slaves.

[00:55:08]Those who came as indentured labors.

[00:55:13]The foundation and sacrifice that they lay is that gift of gratitude that we inherit today.

[00:55:23]We give praise and thanksgiving in their memory.

[00:55:28]and we pray for their souls to be uplifted and find peace.

[00:55:36]A thankful people are a hopeful people.

[00:55:40]A thankful nation is a strong nation.

[00:55:45]Gratitude oftens soften the heart and allows us to enjoy God's grace.

[00:55:57]Sometimes you say, "Man, I ain't receiving the blessings of God."

[00:56:05]And you're breathing and alive, you know.

[00:56:10]>> You have the gift to speak. You know, you're speaking the words, but you're still questioning.

[00:56:17]You know why? Because you're looking at the person next to you driving in a new car.

[00:56:23]So your thinking moved from gratitude and thanksgiving to greed and get those little rabbits out of the field of corn.

[00:56:37]>> As Guyana celebrates 60 years of independence, it is only fitting that we pause to give thanks and praise for this long journey as a nation.

[00:56:49]60 years is evidence of endurance.

[00:56:53]It is proof that through trials and triumphs, God has sustained this land and its people.

[00:57:01]Our nation's journey has not always been easy. There were moments of hardship, political division and strife, economic difficulties and social uncertainty.

[00:57:14]There were seasons when hope appeared distant and when many wondered what tomorrow would bring. There were times when our people struggled and times when our democracy itself was tested. But through every storm, God carried us.

[00:57:36]>> Through every storm, God carried us.

[00:57:41]There are moments in our history when without God we may not have made it. Yet his hand remained upon this nation. The prophet Samuel once raised a stone of remembrance and declared in 1st Samuel 7:12.

[00:58:03]Here too had the Lord helped us.

[00:58:07]And that is a testimony of Guyana today.

[00:58:10]Thus far, the Lord has helped us. Let me hear you say, "Amen."

[00:58:17]>> Amen.

[00:58:18]>> He helped us through colonialism.

[00:58:21]He helped us when we attained our independence.

[00:58:24]He helped us through political unrest.

[00:58:27]He helped us through economic challenges. He helped us through floods and tragedies. He helped us through moments when our people became discouraged and weary.

[00:58:39]And today, as our nation stands at a place of unprecedented opportunity, we must remember that prosperity without gratitude can become arrogance and success without God can become destruction.

[00:58:58]>> We must never be a country that enjoys prosperity without God. or never be a country that enjoys prosperity without gratitude and thanksgiving.

[00:59:14]As our country grows and as the eyes of the world turn toward Guyana, we must never forget the source of our blessings.

[00:59:23]Deuteronomy 8:18 warns us, and I quote, "But thou shall thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth the power to get wealth." End of quote.

[00:59:39]Our nation must therefore remain grounded in humility, righteousness, and gratitude.

[00:59:46]Development alone cannot save a nation.

[00:59:52]Wealth alone cannot unite a people.

[00:59:55]Infrastructure alone cannot build a society.

[01:00:02]A nation must also possess moral strengths, spiritual values and compassion, compassion, compassion, compassion for one another.

[01:00:16]>> Independence is not merely political freedom.

[01:00:20]True independence also requires spiritual maturity, national unity, and social responsibility.

[01:00:31]We must therefore strive to build a Guyana where justice prevails, where unity triumphs over division, and where love for country rises above selfishness and greed.

[01:00:47]The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13, and I quote, "By love, by love, serve one another.

[01:01:02]Not by wealth, not by power, not by arrogance, not by stature, not by looks, not by race, not by division, not by attitude, but by love.

[01:01:22]>> By love, serve one another.

[01:01:27]That message is especially important in a diverse nation such as ours.

[01:01:35]Guyana is blessed with many cultures, many traditions, many backgrounds, and many faiths.

[01:01:43]Yet, despite our differences, our people under one flag and under one God celebrate together as one nation.

[01:01:57]Thanksgiving should therefore inspire not only gratitude towards God but also kindness towards one another. A grateful heart does not hate. A thankful spirit does not speak destruction.

[01:02:16]Gratitude teaches humility because it reminds us that all we possess ultimately comes from God.

[01:02:27]As we celebrate 60 years of independence, let us therefore recommmit ourselves to the ideals upon which nation building depends.

[01:02:39]faith, unity, sacrifice, love and gratitude.

[01:02:49]Let us remember the generations that came before us.

[01:02:55]Those who toiled in the fields, labored in the factories, taught in the classrooms, preached in churches, in the mosque, in the temples, and fought for freedom and dignity so that future generations could inherit a better Guyana. We stand today on the shoulders of many who sacrificed before us. We honor them best, not mereily with speeches, but by building a nation worthy of their sacrifice.

[01:03:33]Just like our children today, you have the opportunities your parents never had.

[01:03:44]Think about it.

[01:03:46]Your parents may not have finished secondary school, but you are a doctor today.

[01:03:53]>> You came from the same genes because they sacrificed and you have the opportunity in a nation today to become a doctor.

[01:04:08]You have to honor their sacrifice.

[01:04:11]Not be arrogant at the fact that, oh, I'm a doctor today.

[01:04:17]How do you honor the sacrifice of your parents?

[01:04:21]How do you honor the sacrifice of your grandparents?

[01:04:25]How do you honor the sacrifice of your elders?

[01:04:30]The simplest way is by gratitude, by humility.

[01:04:38]Because today it is on their shoulders of sacrifice that we stand. I stand on the shoulders of my parents, my grandparents, my grandmother who planted rice with her hands and plowed the fields with her bare feet so that her daughter could have become a teacher and then ended her career as a deputy chief education officer. And on their sacrifice, my parents' sacrifice, God has granted me this opportunity in this country.

[01:05:22]So too are the stories of everyone in this church today. Everyone in our country.

[01:05:32]We honor them best by making use of their sacrifice, by living a positive life, a meaningful life, a life that is rich with goodness, that is rich with mercy, that is rich with thanksgiving, that is rich with honor, and rich with humility.

[01:05:58]And as we look to the future, we must place our trust not in human wisdom alone, but in God, Almighty God.

[01:06:11]Proverbs 3:5 and 6 declares, and I quote, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[01:06:24]In all thy ways acknowledge him, and >> he shall direct thy path.

[01:06:33]>> Guyana's future will not be secured merely by resources beneath the sea or wealth within the economy. Our future will be secured when we continue to place God at the center of national life, >> family life, and personal life. I want to repeat that our future and I want to repeat this in an unapologetic way.

[01:07:02]Our future will only be secured when we continue to place God at the center of national life, family life, and personal life.

[01:07:16]If we honor God, if we walk in righteousness, if we care for the vulnerable, if we pursue justice, and if we remain united as one people, then no obstacle will be able to defeat this nation.

[01:07:36]So today, let us give thanks for 60 years of nationhood.

[01:07:42]Let us give thanks for peace.

[01:07:44]Let us give thanks for survival.

[01:07:47]Let us give thanks for opportunities yet to come. Let us give thanks for families, churches, temples, moss, communities, and for the resilience of the Gy people. But above above all, let us give thanks to Almighty God because without him, we are nothing. And let this be our declaration as we move forward into the future that Guyana shall not be a nation consumed by division, arrogance or despair, but a nation strengthened by faith, guided by wisdom, and anchored in gratitude to God. May God continue to bless this church.

[01:08:36]May God continue to bless every family gathered here today. And may God bless our beloved Guyana.

[01:08:44]And may future generations look back upon us and say that in our time, we did not forget God. We did not abandon gratitude.

[01:08:56]We did not lose faith in the destiny of this great nation. I thank you for lending me your ear. I thank God for giving us this opportunity to meet here together and may our lives continue to be enriched and blessed. God bless all of you. Thank you very much.

[01:09:45]Praise God. I have a token here. Token of appreciation and blessing presented to presented to his excellency Dr. Muhammad Eran Ali. But seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added onto you. May his wisdom continue to guide your steps and lead our nation toward righteousness and prosperity.

[01:10:17]Presented by Better Hope, Assembly of God Church. Mr. President, it's a honor to have you here this morning and on behalf of the church and the leaders, we want to present this back to you and wish you well as you continue your journey.

[01:10:33]>> I want us to pray for our president at this time and then you continue. Just raise your hand and say, "Lord, bless this man. Keep your hands upon him." The word of God teaches us that we must pray for all those that are in authority >> that we might live a peaceful and a quiet life in all godliness and honesty.

[01:10:58]So this time we lift up your choice servant before you, his family, those that work around him. Thank you for your special hand of grace upon his life, wisdom and knowledge and understanding and the strength to go forth and do what is pleasing in your sight. I commit him into your hands, his wife, his family.

[01:11:23]Keep him in good health, oh God, and let your hand of mercy continue to be with him and he would fulfill your plans and your purposes in his life and in for the nation. Father, continue. Have your way.

[01:11:38]Bless and keep him in Jesus' name. Amen.

[01:11:42]Praise God. God bless you.

[01:12:07]Praise the Lord. We thank our president for that wonderful. It was not just remarks and a speech. It was a second sermon.

[01:12:19]>> Hallelujah.

[01:12:21]So we thank we thank Sean for his first sermon and then we had the second sermon full of good advice and admonition. Give it up for the president. Thanks to God.

[01:12:36]Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. We will continue to pray for him and maybe the next title will be the Reverend Doctor.

[01:12:47]Amen.

[01:12:49]Hallelujah.

[01:12:50]Praise the Lord. Well, we have another item and that's a dance, a cultural dance. And so, we're going to ask them to just come forward and you'll be blessed. Praise the Lord.

[01:13:28]Look down.

[01:13:30]No big city lights just come for my such a man. Welcome to land faces.

[01:13:40]Not one to six different races. You know when you're skin you're in the right place. G U I A N Oh, let's have you train.

[01:13:56]G I Y A N.

[01:14:00]One people, one nation, one destin.

[01:14:16]Hey, hey, hey.

[01:14:49]Give me Hallelujah.

[01:15:28]matter.

[01:15:54]We're all going to matter.

[01:15:58]Oh no.

[01:16:25]Hey Love when you Peace and harmony. Love and unity.

[01:17:04]Love and unity. Peace and harmony. Love and unity.

[01:17:13]Love you. Peace and harmony. Love and unity.

[01:17:22]Love you. Peace and harmony. Love you.

[01:17:42]You didn't realize that was the beats of various uh ethnic groups in Guyana.

[01:17:49]Praise the Lord. So, give it up one more time for the youth.

[01:17:57]Now, we coming down to the end and coming to close. I'm going to ask brother Stanley to come right now and do what he has.

[01:18:05]>> Hallelujah. Praise God. Pleasant good morning to everyone.

[01:18:10]>> Happy to be in the house this morning.

[01:18:13]>> Yeah. It's not only coming to church. We had a wonderful time.

[01:18:20]>> But when we graced with the opportunity to have the man that lead this nation in our midst, it's a blessing. So give him a round of applause this morning.

[01:18:31]Hallelujah.

[01:18:34]>> Praise God. Hallelujah.

[01:18:36]You know, we were contemplating on getting him to come sometime, but with our good friend and our brother, brother Shawn, with true to his instrumentality and his friendship, right?

[01:18:55]And then I heard from brother Shawn saying, "The president will only come if brother Shawn is preaching.

[01:19:06]I'm so good.

[01:19:08]Brother Sean did minister, right? He's not in the ministry with with um the president in ministry, but he's a minister of the gospel.

[01:19:18]>> Amen. Amen. And amen. So, we're happy to have the excellency here. Amen. Praise God. Now, quickly for some announcements.

[01:19:28]Um you know, we're celebrating the 60th anniversary of our independence in this country. But on the very day, Tuesday, take note, Tuesday at 700 a.m., we like all those who are available, the young people put this together, they want to have a time of worship and prayer in church. They're seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is very important. Amen. So all the young people and adults who are available, you want to come, come and join with them Tuesday morning at 7. Is that okay?

[01:20:06]>> Amen. Praise God. Tuesday's a holiday.

[01:20:10]Wednesday is a holiday, right? So the next service we'll be back here Friday and all are invited for prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m. And then next Sunday morning again, we'll be here for another wonderful time in the presence of the Lord. Amen.

[01:20:25]>> Amen. You know, I've been saying every week going that things are happening in this church.

[01:20:33]>> The Lord is doing something.

[01:20:36]>> Amen.

[01:20:37]>> And we see it. You know what?

[01:20:41]God hears and he answer prayers.

[01:20:46]>> Amen. It might not be instant, but it's answer is coming.

[01:20:51]>> He's a gracious God. All right. Praise God. Now, you know, we're celebrating today and all the six races. We have boots out there for all the food and whatever. But what we'll ask you to do, we want the congregation to go out after the service and to be seated, right? Be out there and be seated. Then the president and his team will follow.

[01:21:18]Is that okay? Please be seated and then allow our guest special guest to go after. Praise God. Let's all stand as we dismiss and we would like to pray for our nation.

[01:21:34]Amen.

[01:21:43]>> Amen. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for this nation of Guyana. We thank you for the entire 83,000 square miles. Lord God, >> we pray Lord God that your Holy Spirit shall move upon the length and breadth of this nation. God, all 10 regions of this nation, oh God, that your people will come to know you as Lord and Savior. We thank you for the many blessings that you bless this land with.

[01:22:12]Lord God, the many riches, Lord God, that you have in store for us, Lord God.

[01:22:18]And we pray, God, as we continue to be in this nation, Lord God, under good leadership, Lord God, we pray, Father, that we shall inherit the blessings that you bestowed onto us, Lord God. We pray, Lord God, for your blessings upon the leader of this land, President Ali, and his ministers, the parliament, the cabinet, the entire God. Give them wisdom, knowledge, understanding, Lord, that your will and your purposes will be accomplished in this land. We thank you, God, for what you're going to do. We know, Lord God, that you hear and you answer prayers, Lord God. And we put this nation before you. We put the leaders of this land before you, Lord God. You give them the wisdom, knowledge, understanding. Help them to run this nation the way you want this land to be, Lord God, with all its blessings, all its resources, Lord God.

[01:23:12]We pray, Lord God, that you take all the honor, all the glory, and all the praises because you are our guide. We look upon you for direction, Lord God.

[01:23:23]Help us this day, Lord God. In everything we give you praise, glory, and honor in no other name but in the name of Jesus. And everybody say >> amen. And amen.

[01:23:36]>> Before we close off, we want to sing the song, let us cooperate for Guyana.

[01:23:41]>> Amen.

[01:23:42]>> So, let's take that up. We had a wonderful service this morning, didn't we?

[01:23:50]>> Hallelujah. God is here. Praise God.

[01:23:54]>> Let us cooperate for Guyana.

[01:23:58]Let us cooperate for our land.

[01:24:03]Let us resolve to fight together. See they do it right together. Can we do it?

[01:24:10]Yes, we can.

[01:24:13]Each man must do his bit with his comrades. Each man must do his bit for his land. Each must resolve to help another. learned to call his neighbor brother. Can we do it? Yes, we can.

[01:24:35]>> For the region, each must do his best for the land.

[01:24:43]Sacrifice a little to do.

[01:24:48]Can we do it? Yes, we can.

[01:24:52]The regions must unite for the country.

[01:24:57]The regions must unite for the land.

[01:25:12]Can we do it? Yes, we can.

[01:25:18]>> All right. Praise the Lord.

[01:25:34]and keep you make the Oh, we saved.

[01:26:32]Your mom generation and your children before you for you.

[01:27:03]Oh yeah.

[01:27:06]Oh yeah.

[01:27:16]Oh yeah.

[01:27:19]Amen.

[01:27:28]Generations, the family, your children, the children, their children, his presence before you behind you and besides you all around you and within you. He's with you. He says amen.

[01:27:56]Amen.

[01:27:59]Amen.

[01:28:04]Amen.

[01:28:09]Amen.

[01:28:12]Amen.

[01:28:18]He wants the world to raise your children. Your children go for your mind all around you.

[01:28:40]He's still with you.

[01:28:52]I am amen.

[01:29:14]You are thousand children.

[01:29:33]the children in his presence before you Oh yeah.

[01:29:57]Oh yeah.

[01:30:12]Hey, this season.

[01:30:43]It's a new day.

[01:30:46]A fresh anointing coming away.

[01:30:53]It's a season of power.

[01:30:56]Prosperity.

[01:30:59]It's a new season. It's coming.

[01:31:09]It's a new day.

[01:31:12]A fresh anointing of earth is coming our way.

[01:31:19]Season of power of prosperity.

[01:31:25]It's a new season of Grandma.

[01:32:09]Heat. Heat.

[01:32:31]Heat. Heat.

[01:32:55]Heat. Heat.

[01:33:37]Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat.

[01:34:02]And then I came back to my mom to raise their hand.

[01:34:09]Your husband.

[01:34:48]I know. I know.

[01:35:23]Hello.