- 1 day ago
Are you waiting for an answer to prayer, more time in your schedule or a more favourable condition before you change? In this message delivered at the Jesus Above All Summit in New Zealand in July 2026, Brother Chris emphasises how wrong it is to delay obedience, to put off what we are meant to do today because we are waiting for an improvement in our condition. This is a clear sign of something else occupying the position in your life that is meant for God alone.
'If you don't create time for God when your schedule is full, you will not create time for God when your schedule is free. More time for self is often more time for sin.' - Brother Chris
'If you don't create time for God when your schedule is full, you will not create time for God when your schedule is free. More time for self is often more time for sin.' - Brother Chris
Category
đź“ş
TVTranscript
00:01If you don't create time for God when your schedule is full, you will not
00:06create time for God when your schedule is free. In fact, more time for self is
00:15often more time for sin. The temptation of idleness is just as dangerous as the
00:22temptation of stress. Let me share this word of encouragement with you today.
00:34Several weeks ago, I was speaking to a gentleman and he said the following
00:41words to me, which I want you to think about. He said, Brother Chris, I know I
00:49need to be more serious with God, but my job is just too busy. I'm going to end
01:00this job next year to get another job. When that happens, I'm going to be more
01:08serious with God. I'm going to invest more time in reading the Bible. I'm going to
01:16be more prayerful. I just need to get out of this job. Then I will be more serious
01:25with God. I want you just to pause and think about that for a moment. Because
01:34perhaps for some of us sitting here right now, it could be something we relate to.
01:41This is a very common excuse to delay change, to postpone obedience because of a situation
02:01or location. Once again, just pause a moment. You can think about your own life.
02:12yourself. Think about yourself. Is there something you know you should be doing that you are not?
02:27Or is there something you know you should not be doing, but you are?
02:40What is stopping you from stopping it? For many people today, what our brother expressed
02:53is a similar excuse that comes to our hearts. We know the right thing, but we have found a reason
03:10reason to delay doing it. To postpone doing it. This may temporarily make you feel better.
03:22I will do the right thing, but not right now. It may temporarily dull the prompting of your conscience.
03:32No, I will definitely do what is right, but not right now. I am going to talk about this today,
03:44people of God. And I will title this message. Don't condition your change on a change in your condition.
03:59I will ask you to say it again. Say, don't condition your change on a change in your condition.
04:27That's the title of today's message. Do not condition your change. I will change when this circumstance changes.
04:45I will stop doing this when my financial situation changes. I will stop behaving in this way when I leave
04:57this location.
05:00By the time I reach this age, then I will become serious. Young people, are you listening?
05:08This is a very common excuse that comes to our hearts. When this changes in my life, then I will
05:17do this. This is dangerous.
05:22Because Satan does not want us to act faith in the presence. He does not want us to act on
05:32the word of God.
05:34So what many people do is that they admire the word of God. They admit the truthfulness and the usefulness
05:45of the word of God.
05:46But they do not act on it. They recognize their duty. They know what they should do. They know what
05:59they are meant to do.
06:00But they defer doing it. They delay doing it due to location or situation.
06:10Let's go back to what our brother said to me on that phone call. Just think about that for a
06:16moment.
06:16Oh, my job is so busy. I don't have time for God. When I leave the job, then I will
06:28be able to have time for God.
06:30I will be able to read my Bible. I will be able to pray. I will come and serve in
06:34the church. Let me just finish this job.
06:38Do you know what I said to that brother? I said, brother, if you do not create time for God
06:46when your schedule is full, you will never create time for God when your schedule is free.
06:56Because the issue is free.
06:58Because the issue is not time. The issue is priority.
07:02Think about this, people of God.
07:10If you don't create time for God when your schedule is full, I'm busy. I'm busy at work. I'm busy
07:20with family. I'm busy with children.
07:22I'm busy with my social life. I'm busy with this, with that.
07:28If you don't create time for God when your schedule is full, you will not create time for God when
07:35your schedule is free.
07:37In fact, more time for self is often more time for sin.
07:46The temptation of idleness is just as dangerous as the temptation of stress.
07:52If I have more time, I will give it to God.
07:58The issue is not time. The issue is what do you prioritize in your life?
08:09We're going to talk about that today.
08:11Let me give you another common example.
08:14Because that's an issue of time.
08:17I know many of us can relate to it.
08:19What about this? I have heard many people say to me,
08:22Brother Chris, by the time I get that promotion, by the time I get that financial breakthrough,
08:31then I'm going to start helping the less privileged.
08:35I know God has put it in my heart to have a charitable organization.
08:41I will do more to help people in need.
08:44I'm just waiting for the promotion.
08:47I'm waiting to meet a certain financial threshold.
08:54If you do not use what is in your hands today, you will not use what is in your hands
09:05tomorrow.
09:07I hope you understand.
09:10This is a common excuse.
09:13I know I should do this, but I'm waiting for a change in my finances until I have enough.
09:27If all of us seated here, examine your lives.
09:34If you wait until you think you have enough, you will never have enough.
09:42Because the more man has, the more man wants.
09:48The wants of human beings are unlimited.
09:51So if I say, until I get here, before I do this, by the time you get here,
09:59there will be something else that raises the bar higher.
10:03What are we doing?
10:04We're delaying obedience.
10:08I know I should do this.
10:11It's the right thing to do.
10:12But because of my condition, let me wait for a change in my condition.
10:19Then I will do the right thing.
10:21This stops us from acting on the word of God.
10:28I'll give you another example.
10:31I was speaking to a young man.
10:34Very sad.
10:36He said to me, I'm engaged to be married, but I'm addicted to pornography.
10:42But brother Chris, I know by the time I get married, it will stop.
10:49So you think marriage will magically produce self-control.
10:57The change around you will not produce a change within you.
11:06I hope you understand people of God.
11:08You know, I ask the question, are you doing something you should not be doing?
11:17That you have not stopped.
11:21Because this is what many of us do.
11:24Oh, I know I should not be doing this bad business.
11:30But by the time money comes, I will stop.
11:38I know I should not be watching this.
11:41Oh, if I get married by the time I'm with my wife, I will stop.
11:46What is keeping you from change is also keeping you in chains.
11:53You know, I said this is a serious message.
11:59Because this is a tool, a tactic the devil is using.
12:05To keep you from acting on the word of God.
12:10You know the right thing to do.
12:14I'm supposed to be doing this.
12:16I know I should be investing more time in my relationship with God.
12:21I know I should be disassociating from that ungodly relationship.
12:27But we delay our obedience because of our condition or because of our location.
12:34When this changes, then I will change.
12:40But each situation carries its own temptation.
12:45This is a trap many young people fall into.
12:50By the time I leave my parents' house, oh, then I will focus on my career.
12:58I will be serious with my life.
13:01Let me just relax for this season.
13:04Oh, when I leave school, I will definitely change.
13:08In school, I have to behave in a certain way to fit in with the crowd.
13:14But when I leave school, then I will change.
13:20By the time I get a job, oh, I will stop messing around on my phone.
13:26I will stop watching all this nonsense by the time I'm working.
13:30But for now, let me relax.
13:32Let me enjoy it.
13:34It's just for a season.
13:36It will soon change.
13:37No change around you will produce a change within you.
13:44When you delay obedience, when you postpone change on the basis of your situation, on the basis of your location,
13:55what are you doing?
13:57You are revealing, number one, an attitude of pride.
14:04Number two, an issue of misaligned priorities.
14:13Pride.
14:14Why do I mention pride?
14:16Pride.
14:18I want you to think deeply about what I'm going to say right now.
14:22When you set a deadline for your change, you behave in a manner that suggests you are the owner of
14:40tomorrow.
14:49Pride is manifested when we make plans for tomorrow as if we are its owner.
15:00Next year, when I leave this job, then I will change.
15:06Who told you you will see the next year?
15:13Only today is yours.
15:17Only this moment is yours.
15:21Life is a gift.
15:22The present is a presence from above.
15:32But in our attitude to certain issues, it's common for people to behave as if the future is guaranteed.
15:50That's pride.
15:53You make plans for tomorrow as if you are the owner of tomorrow.
16:01I'm not saying it's bad to make plans.
16:04In life, it's important.
16:06In your presence, you look ahead, you make a plan with the sober consciousness that your life is in God's
16:14hands.
16:16This attitude of postponing obedience.
16:21Oh, I will do the right thing, but not right now.
16:26It's a revelation of pride.
16:31Life is short.
16:35Every day is a day of grace.
16:41As you are thinking about this, let me share another very common example, practical example of this problem in our
16:54relationships with each other.
16:56Human relationships are filled with the potential for misunderstanding, the potential for disagreements.
17:05As a result, it's very common in human relationships, whether it's friendships, family, colleagues, for there to be offense.
17:17Do you know what many people do today?
17:22They base their response on the other person, not God.
17:30When she apologizes, then I will forgive her.
17:35If he does not accept his wrong, I will not forgive him.
17:41What are you doing?
17:45You're indirectly assuming ownership of tomorrow.
17:54What will happen if that person you have a clash with goes to your creator tomorrow?
18:02We are not the owner of tomorrow.
18:04We only have now.
18:07You don't forgive because the person requests it.
18:11You forgive because your faith requires it.
18:15You don't forgive because the person deserves it.
18:19You forgive because your heart demands it.
18:24But this is a common example in human relationships.
18:29U.S.
18:35Because she said this.
18:36I did this
18:40because he behaved like this
18:42me too I'm behaving like that
18:44I will do the right thing
18:49when she does the right thing
18:52this is a common example
18:54of delaying obedience
18:57postponing
19:00obedience to God's word
19:02because of a condition
19:05associated with the behavior
19:07of another person
19:09I hope you understand people of God
19:11this is a problem
19:13that ripples into so many areas
19:15of our lives
19:16where we justify
19:18our inaction
19:20on the basis of a condition
19:24it's a revelation of pride
19:27as if you are the owner of tomorrow
19:29you know what the scripture says
19:32James 4 verse 13 to 17
19:38this is a point to think about
19:42perhaps even now
19:44there's someone
19:45you need to forgive
19:48there's someone you are harboring
19:50grudges toward
19:52there's someone you are harboring
19:55offense towards
20:04what are you waiting for
20:05to settle that issue
20:09settle that issue
20:12because you don't know
20:14when the dust will settle
20:16at six feet
20:19that's life
20:21we don't own tomorrow
20:24we only have today
20:29what are we doing
20:31with that gift of life
20:34if there's something you are
20:36meant to do
20:38that you are delaying
20:41let this message
20:42check your hearts
20:48life is too short
20:49to waste time
20:51on the things
20:52that fade
20:53in the lights
20:54of eternity
20:56life is too short
20:59so I said
21:01this attitude
21:04reflects pride
21:06but it also reflects
21:10misaligned priorities
21:13wrong priorities
21:14I want to turn
21:15to a scripture
21:18Luke chapter 9
21:22and I'm going to read
21:23from verse
21:2657
21:27down to the end
21:28this will be the
21:30the proof text
21:31for the message
21:32now it happened
21:34as they journeyed
21:34on the road
21:35that someone said
21:37to Jesus
21:37Lord I will follow you
21:39wherever you go
21:41and Jesus said
21:43to him
21:43foxes have holes
21:45and birds of the air
21:47have nests
21:48but the son of man
21:50has nowhere
21:52to lay his head
21:54then he said
21:55to another
21:56follow me
21:57but he said
21:58Lord let me first
22:00go and bury
22:00my father
22:02Jesus said
22:03to him
22:03let the dead
22:04bury their own
22:06dead
22:06but you go
22:08and preach
22:08the kingdom
22:08of God
22:09verse 61
22:10another also said
22:12Lord I will
22:13follow you
22:14but let me
22:15first go
22:17bid them
22:18farewell
22:19who are at
22:20my house
22:20but Jesus
22:22said to him
22:22no one
22:24having put
22:25his hand
22:26to the plow
22:27when looking
22:27back
22:28is fits
22:29for the kingdom
22:29of God
22:30hmm
22:32if you are
22:33to take
22:34these words
22:35at face value
22:39it would be
22:40easy to
22:40conclude
22:41that Jesus
22:42is being
22:43very
22:46harsh
22:47in his
22:48approach
22:51insensitive
22:52to these
22:53situations
22:56if you
22:57just
22:58took
22:59those words
22:59you would
23:00say
23:00what is
23:00wrong
23:01with someone
23:02going to
23:02bury their
23:03father
23:03what is
23:04bad
23:05with someone
23:05going to
23:06say farewell
23:07to their
23:08home
23:10but that
23:11is not
23:11the point
23:12Jesus
23:13is making
23:14here
23:14he is
23:17laying
23:17down
23:18the
23:19divine
23:20order
23:21of
23:21priority
23:22the
23:23problem
23:24with the
23:25statements
23:26of these
23:27two
23:27people
23:27are the
23:28words
23:29let's
23:30me
23:30first
23:31go
23:34people
23:35of God
23:36a question
23:38what comes
23:40first
23:40in your
23:41life
23:43let me
23:44first
23:45go
23:46then
23:47I will
23:48follow
23:48you
23:50I will
23:51do what
23:52is right
23:52but just
23:53not right
23:54now
23:54let me
23:55first
23:56go
23:56and sort
23:57out
23:57the
23:57situation
23:58let me
23:59first
23:59go
24:00and deal
24:00with this
24:01issue
24:01let me
24:03first
24:03go
24:04and arrange
24:06this
24:06that is
24:08the
24:08problem
24:10because
24:12as
24:14Christians
24:14we need
24:17to
24:17recognize
24:20the
24:21divine
24:21order
24:22of
24:23priorities
24:25is
24:27to
24:27love
24:28God
24:29above
24:30all
24:33that's
24:34the name
24:35of our
24:35summit
24:35today
24:36Jesus
24:37above
24:38all
24:40to
24:41love
24:41nothing
24:42in
24:43comparison
24:44of
24:45him
24:45and
24:47everything
24:48in
24:49reference
24:49to
24:50him
24:53to
24:54love
24:54God
24:55above
24:56all
24:57to
24:58seek
24:59first
25:00the
25:00kingdom
25:01of God
25:01God
25:02his
25:02righteousness
25:05when
25:06you
25:07delay
25:08obedience
25:09when
25:11you
25:11postpone
25:12change
25:12because
25:14of
25:14situation
25:15or
25:15location
25:17what
25:18are you
25:18revealing
25:20something
25:21else is
25:22occupying
25:23the position
25:23meant for
25:24God
25:24in your
25:25hearts
25:28it could
25:29be money
25:30it could
25:31be family
25:33it could
25:33be position
25:36but
25:37ultimately
25:39what you
25:41idolize
25:43you
25:44prioritize
25:46anything
25:48you place
25:49above
25:50God
25:51in your
25:52hearts
25:53becomes
25:54your
25:55God
25:55this is
25:57a big
25:58challenge
25:59in the
26:00lives
26:01of
26:01people
26:01today
26:03as
26:04believers
26:05we know
26:06the truth
26:07of
26:07God's
26:08word
26:08we
26:09hear
26:10the
26:10truth
26:10of
26:11God's
26:11word
26:12we
26:12admire
26:13it
26:13we
26:14admit
26:14its
26:15truthfulness
26:15we
26:16admit
26:17its
26:17usefulness
26:18but
26:18there
26:19is
26:19a
26:19gap
26:19between
26:20hearing
26:20and
26:21doing
26:24it
26:24is
26:25very
26:25common
26:25for
26:25people
26:26to
26:26not
26:26act
26:27on
26:28the
26:28word
26:28for
26:30there
26:30to
26:30be
26:30partial
26:31commitments
26:35why
26:38because
26:39something
26:40else
26:41is
26:42occupying
26:44the
26:45position
26:46only
26:46meant
26:46for
26:47God
26:47in
26:47our
26:47hearts
26:51what
26:51comes
26:52first
26:52in
26:53your
26:54life
26:56because
26:57we
26:57are
26:57here
26:57today
26:58to
26:58receive
26:59from
26:59God
27:00to
27:01receive
27:02what
27:02only
27:02he
27:03can
27:03give
27:06but
27:07you
27:07cannot
27:09deceive
27:10the
27:12one
27:12from
27:13whom
27:14you
27:16are
27:16about
27:16to
27:16receive
27:18he
27:19he
27:19knows
27:19you
27:21he
27:21knows
27:22your
27:22hearts
27:23he
27:25knows
27:25you
27:26better
27:27than
27:27you
27:28know
27:28yourself
27:28he
27:29knows
27:29your
27:29intentions
27:30he
27:31knows
27:32your
27:32motives
27:32he
27:33knows
27:34what's
27:34happening
27:35in the
27:35secret
27:36place
27:38so
27:39people
27:40of
27:40God
27:40God
27:42don't
27:43tie
27:44your
27:45spiritual
27:47growth
27:49to
27:50your
27:50situation
27:51to
27:52your
27:52location
27:53to
27:53your
27:53emotions
27:54oh
27:54how
27:55I'm
27:55feeling
27:56what
27:57I'm
27:57facing
27:57where
27:58I'm
27:59living
28:01this
28:02message
28:03is
28:03calling
28:04you
28:04to
28:06examine
28:07your
28:07hearts
28:10acceptance
28:11of
28:12Jesus
28:12Christ
28:13is
28:15confirmed
28:16by
28:17commitments
28:20commitments
28:21is
28:24revealed
28:24by
28:25consistency
28:28irrespective
28:29of
28:30what
28:31you
28:31face
28:32we
28:32will
28:32go
28:32through
28:33tough
28:33times
28:33there
28:34will
28:35be
28:35difficult
28:35situations
28:36there
28:37will
28:37be
28:38ups
28:38and
28:38downs
28:39irrespective
28:40of
28:41where
28:41you
28:41are
28:42your
28:42location
28:43can
28:43change
28:43you
28:45can
28:45be
28:45in
28:45different
28:46environments
28:47irrespective
28:48of how
28:48you
28:49feel
28:49faith
28:50is
28:51not
28:51a
28:51feeling
28:54sometimes
28:56we
28:57pay
28:57too
28:58much
28:58attention
28:59to
28:59how
29:00we
29:00feel
29:00we
29:01elevate
29:01our
29:02feelings
29:02above
29:02the
29:03truth
29:03and
29:05our
29:05feelings
29:06easily
29:06mislead
29:07us
29:07our
29:08feelings
29:08easily
29:09deceive
29:09us
29:11irrespective
29:12of what
29:13you face
29:14irrespective
29:15of where
29:16you are
29:16irrespective
29:17of how
29:18you feel
29:18we are
29:20to be
29:21consistent
29:22in
29:24maintaining
29:24maintaining
29:27the right
29:28priority
29:31that's the
29:32message
29:32today
29:34why do
29:35we
29:36condition
29:37our
29:37change
29:38on a
29:39change
29:40in our
29:40condition
29:42because we
29:43have not
29:43actually
29:44prioritized
29:45our
29:45relationship
29:46with God
29:48there's
29:49still
29:49something
29:51else
29:53occupying
29:54the
29:55place
29:55in our
29:56hearts
29:56that is
29:57only
29:58meant
29:58for
29:58God
30:00so
30:01people of
30:02God
30:03I know
30:04this is a
30:04serious
30:05message
30:06it's food
30:07for thoughts
30:09it's not a
30:10message of
30:11condemnation
30:11no
30:12it's a
30:13message of
30:14hope
30:16but it's
30:17a message
30:17that's
30:17calling you
30:18to be
30:18serious
30:22so
30:22as I
30:23draw this
30:23message
30:24to a
30:25conclusion
30:27don't
30:28wait
30:30for a
30:31more
30:31convenient
30:34moment
30:35to get
30:36right with
30:37God
30:39because
30:41the
30:42consequences
30:43of sin
30:44have no
30:45regard
30:46for the
30:46convenience
30:47of man
30:49what do
30:50I mean
30:50you can
30:52delay
30:54obedience
30:55but you
30:57cannot
30:57delay
30:57consequence
30:59you can
31:01delay
31:02commitments
31:02you can
31:03delay
31:04repentance
31:05but you
31:07cannot
31:07delay
31:08consequence
31:10sin
31:11has
31:12consequences
31:15so
31:16the best
31:18time
31:21to deal
31:23with that
31:24bad
31:24habit
31:25is now
31:26if not
31:27sooner
31:27the best
31:29time to
31:30release
31:30forgiveness
31:31is now
31:32if not
31:33sooner
31:34the best
31:36time
31:36to get
31:39right with
31:39God
31:40is now
31:42if not
31:43sooner
31:44because only
31:45now is
31:46yours
31:46tomorrow
31:47is not
31:49only this
31:51moment is
31:51yours
31:52only this
31:53second
31:54is yours
31:59who knows
32:04that change
32:06within you
32:09may well
32:10be the
32:11key
32:11to unlock
32:12the change
32:14around you
32:17but don't
32:18wait
32:18for your
32:19condition
32:20to change
32:21before you
32:23do what
32:24is right
32:24don't
32:26condition
32:27your
32:28change
32:28on a
32:30change
32:30in
32:32your
32:33condition
32:34may
32:36God
32:36bless
32:37his
32:38living
32:39word
32:39in the
32:40midst
32:41of our
32:41hearts
32:45in
32:46Jesus
32:46name
32:48or
33:07you
33:15hard
33:16I
33:16like
33:17honest
33:17funny