1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,880 Welcome to the podcast of the white Church in Adelaide, South 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,360 Australia We're. We're honoured to have these 3 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:19,920 guys with us this morning. Yeah, this is this is a real 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,120 privilege. So these are our extended 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:26,520 family. You know, we, we gather as a 6 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,240 church in this place. We are, we're a covenant family. 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,280 We, we do believe that, right? Like we are a God's family in 8 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,520 this place. And I think it's wonderful. 9 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:35,720 Thank you. What? 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,400 What God's building here. But this is an opportunity for 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,680 us to connect with our family, you know, from the other side of 12 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,720 the world. That's such a privilege, isn't 13 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,400 it? But Ty and Nicole, they they 14 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:55,040 lead the NCMI team. And, yeah, I mean, you guys can 15 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,120 probably. I'll leave you to introduce 16 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,240 yourself and all of that. Most of us know you. 17 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,080 Some of us don't know you. So please do that. 18 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,440 But yeah, they're here. And I just, I failed to read 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:10,280 this this morning just to remind us of the reason that we have 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:15,280 these guys come in. It says here in Romans 1, and 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,920 this is Paul writing. He says in verse 11, he says, I 22 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,480 long to see you that I may, that I may impart to you some 23 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,680 spiritual gift so that you may be established. 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,600 Then he says that this, that I may be encouraged together with 25 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,600 you by our mutual faith, both of you and me. 26 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,480 How cool is that? It's like we should be expecting 27 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,400 that God's going to impart something to us here for the 28 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,480 building up of this church because this is what the 29 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,400 Scripture teaches. And not only that, that these 30 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,160 guys would be encouraged in our mutual faith in the Lord isn't 31 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,320 that special? It's amazing. 32 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,080 So I'm just going to pray for these guys and we we're just 33 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,400 going to let them let them loose. 34 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,720 So Lord, we thank you for these guys. 35 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,680 We love these guys. Lord, we speak your blessing in 36 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,360 your favour in all of the work of their hands. 37 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,680 Lord, we thank you for protection over their travels 38 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,560 and for their family and all of those things. 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,120 God, we pray Lord, that you would just you know that the 40 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,240 anointing would flow in this place and that you would say the 41 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,520 things that you're wanting to say through these guys and that 42 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,440 we would have a heart wide open to catch those things and bless 43 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,080 these guys. Thank you for these guys, but 44 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,280 have your way. Lord Jesus, this is your thing. 45 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,440 This is about you. Lord, we all bow at your feet. 46 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:40,960 We're going to be throwing crowns at you one day. 47 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,880 Lord, you are you are the one that that deserves all honour 48 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,280 and all glory in Jesus mighty name, Amen. 49 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:49,760 Go for it guys. It's. 50 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:52,760 Wonderful to be with you guys today. 51 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:58,920 We really are thankful for this this lampstand that God has he 52 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,440 ordained even before time that he knew was going to happen. 53 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,720 So we really are thankful and as we walked in this morning just 54 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,720 to hear you guys praying was it was such a beautiful, beautiful 55 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,520 thing and just know your guys's prayers. 56 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:19,320 We know is Kingdom prayers so well done for all of you and we 57 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,400 love you and we are so grateful for this partnership. 58 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,000 We really are. Thank you. 59 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,400 Well, good morning. It's really good to be with you. 60 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,800 That's my wonderful wife, Nicole, and we have three sons 61 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,960 together and they are, we're based in the USI don't know I 62 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,440 sound like you and I don't know what I sound like, Not quite 63 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,480 like you, but we have spent many years here. 64 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,440 My parents are actually sitting at the back there. 65 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,560 Dudley and Aunt Daniel. Those are my parents. 66 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,400 I'm very blessed to have them as parents. 67 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,240 And I think you're blessed to have them in your church. 68 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:57,040 Even if you don't. I think they're awesome and, and 69 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,200 we are, yeah, we're just so blessed to be here with you 70 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:00,760 guys. Our three sons, as I said, one 71 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,800 of them lives in South Africa, two of them are ministering 72 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,560 right now in the north of Adelaide. 73 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:07,280 Hopefully will be with us next week. 74 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:08,520 Joining us. We're coming back. 75 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:14,280 So if I'm going to, today's going to be just the worst and 76 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:15,480 next week's going to be way better. 77 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,040 So come back next week. But I don't know if we get 78 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,720 invited twice in a row, so I'm going to take it while I can. 79 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,000 But we're super grateful just for the privilege and 80 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,680 opportunity just to come and share with you something of what 81 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,520 God's saying. I'm hoping this morning will be 82 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,040 reminders. And we make no apologies for 83 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:35,760 that. God wants to keep reminding us 84 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:40,000 of what it is He's called us to. And we celebrate this lampstand. 85 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,760 As my wife said, this is a lampstand. 86 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,040 This wasn't a man's idea. If this was a man's idea, you 87 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,400 shouldn't be here. We're not here to serve man. 88 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,920 We're here to serve God. And when God puts a lampstand in 89 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,560 place, we want to honor what God's doing. 90 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,760 We want to keep it a God thing, which means we've got to take 91 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,080 our hands off it and make sure it is God's and keep coming back 92 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,200 to God's word so it doesn't become our thing. 93 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,160 It always stays a God thing. I mean, you know, God's not in 94 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,320 what we're doing. He's called us to be a part of 95 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,400 what he's doing, not we hope he's in what we're doing. 96 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,080 And I think it's an incredible thing. 97 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,120 And so I appreciate the opportunity, invitation from the 98 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:17,840 elders and just, yeah, the opportunity. 99 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:20,720 We're coming to cheer you on, but also to challenge and 100 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,600 encourage you. Mutual encouragement and mutual 101 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,720 challenge. I'm not standing up here 102 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,360 challenging you. I'm challenged by God's word. 103 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,680 So if you're offended by what I'm saying, I'm also offended by 104 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,240 what I'm saying. And don't shoot the messenger, 105 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,680 right? It's the message presenting his 106 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,960 message. And we all the Bible is a 107 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,600 mirror, not just a lens. In other words, when people get 108 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,880 mad at preachers, I just want to tell you preachers, if they are 109 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,000 worth their salt, they are challenged by what they saying 110 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,840 themselves. God didn't give me a word for 111 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:56,800 you. God's given us a word together 112 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,640 that we all need to adjust. And so a couple of things I want 113 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,480 to say, if you've got a Bible, please go with me to Ephesians 114 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,760 chapter 1. Ephesians chapter one, a couple 115 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,640 of things, obvious things, but the reminders number one, know 116 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:15,040 this, God is working on us and God is working through us. 117 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:23,160 We are God's mission while we are on God's mission. 118 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,040 And I'm going to be honest this morning and say I love God using 119 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,880 me, but I don't like God working on me. 120 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,720 I just love to be used by God. Use me, Lord, use me, Lord, use 121 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,760 me on your mission. But Lord, I don't want to be 122 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,640 your mission. I, I don't want you to work on 123 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,200 me. But God is as committed to 124 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:50,560 working on us as he is committed to working through US. 125 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,200 He's using us for the advancing of his Kingdom, but he's also 126 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,440 reading us for the return of Jesus Christ. 127 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,280 He's bringing all of us. And I know there's some older 128 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:05,240 people in the room in age, but he's bringing us all to a place 129 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:10,120 of maturity that we would be ready for the return of Jesus, a 130 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,640 bride as the Bible says, that is without spot, wrinkle or 131 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,800 blemish. So don't resist the working on 132 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,840 us with your desire to just have him work through you. 133 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,640 And can I say this, He does both at the same time. 134 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,480 And you don't have to be perfect to be used by God. 135 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,240 Otherwise I can't stand you and preach. 136 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,640 He's committed to using US while he's working on us and that's 137 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,760 the goodness of the Lord. So let him do that with you 138 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,160 please, as he's doing that with me this morning. 139 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,680 The other thing I want to say is this that the Bible is very 140 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,840 clear that God so loved the world that he gave. 141 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,320 God was moved, not just all the poor world. 142 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,680 He gave his Son because he so loved the world and God so loves 143 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,880 this region and this place and this and Adelaide in SA that I 144 00:07:54,880 --> 00:08:01,520 believe that he gave a lampstand called up the way, call the way. 145 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,720 And I really do believe that if this is a God thing, if this is 146 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,120 a Dave and hit everything, honestly, they're good people, 147 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,480 but you shouldn't be here. I don't believe I'm not 148 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:14,280 preaching because they're here. I believe this is the Lord and 149 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,840 it doesn't guarantee things, but we want to keep it the Lord's 150 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:18,360 thing. But here's my thing, God so 151 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,040 loves. So we often used to say this, 152 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,920 that God gives cities to churches and I'm not sure that's 153 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,680 biblical. I believe God gives churches to 154 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,120 cities to impact them with the gospel. 155 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,080 In other words, God so loved this region, this place, this 156 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,760 city that he birthed another lampstand. 157 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:38,520 Here you are. Look at you. 158 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,520 This is God-given. This is a God thing. 159 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,919 So they not all out there for us. 160 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,480 God put us here for them and we've got to see them as the 161 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,480 blessing, see them as the people we called to reach. 162 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,000 And I love Jesus and I love his church. 163 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,760 Do you know that you can love the church and not love Jesus? 164 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,760 There's a many, many congregations can I suggest even 165 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,120 in this great city of Adelaide gathering this morning, loving 166 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,080 each other but have no concept of who Jesus really is. 167 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,360 He's not even the emphasis or the focus. 168 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,240 It's just a gathering called the church, but very little emphasis 169 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,200 on Jesus. You can love the church and not 170 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:24,520 love Jesus, but you cannot love Jesus and not love his church. 171 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,280 And I love Jesus and I love his church. 172 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,960 And this morning I want to talk about the church. 173 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,120 I want to highlight some things as we as the people of God, we 174 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,800 are the church, not buildings, not venues, we Gods people. 175 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,160 And and I want to just highlight some of these things again that 176 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:44,240 God is stirring. I believe I've often said that 177 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,880 we've often said that the church is not the center of Gods plan. 178 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:54,920 We're not it. If we were OK, we'll move on. 179 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,960 But we're not it. And often when we hear a message 180 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,120 about the church, we think we're it. 181 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:00,880 It's not. We're not the center of God's 182 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:02,880 plan. Jesus is the center of God's 183 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:04,840 plan. It all revolves around him. 184 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,040 Can I say this? We're not about people. 185 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,360 We are a people who are about Jesus. 186 00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:16,520 The emphasis is Christ, not each other, not people, not Jesus is 187 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,760 their emphasis. And so the church, how many 188 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,960 people have have I met? Have you met? 189 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,440 Have we even known that have grown up in the church, but have 190 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,960 never grown up in Jesus? And can I tell you why? 191 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,880 Because the church has become the focus rather than Jesus. 192 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:35,600 So everything revolves around Jesus. 193 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,440 The Bible is all about Jesus. Heaven is celebrating Jesus 194 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,720 worship right now. It all revolves around him. 195 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,560 So he's the center of it. But we as the church are central 196 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:49,680 to the plan of God. He's included us, He's using us 197 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:51,800 and he doesn't have another plan. 198 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:55,840 It's all about Jesus, right? And so we are central to it. 199 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,360 I hope someone say this recently that the church has never been 200 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,800 louder, but we've never said less. 201 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,200 We've never been louder and we've never said that. 202 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,520 OK, let me just walk the elephant out the room. 203 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,520 I'm talking about every other church, not this church. 204 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:15,600 So be free this morning, all right? 205 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,280 Don't get offended. I'm talking about them, not you 206 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:18,440 guys. So you're good. 207 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,440 That's tongue in cheek. It's us. 208 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:23,880 Are you? I live in the United States and 209 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,920 let me just tell America guys doing a lot of stuff, but 210 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,160 there's a lot of non good stuff happening even in the church. 211 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:32,080 And the church has become loud and political. 212 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:33,880 And can I say I've been here for a few weeks? 213 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,320 It's here too. And I'm just saying we're 214 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,480 getting too busy. We're so loud, but we say 215 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,600 nothing. And we have to come back to the 216 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,880 things that matter, that matter to God if we're going to be 217 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,840 effective. It was Martin Luther who said 218 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,600 this. Wherever God builds a church or 219 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,560 his church, the devil builds a Chapel. 220 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,640 Basically what he's saying is wherever God's doing what God's 221 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,440 doing, the devil sets up a wannabe, an imitation, a 222 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:08,160 counterfeit of the real. I don't believe that the devil's 223 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,720 opposing the church. I believe he's joined the church 224 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,400 and he does way more by imitation than he does by 225 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,120 opposition. And so again, I know those 226 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,800 strong statements, but it's, it's a subtle thing. 227 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,120 It's this, it's this little by little he doesn't just he comes 228 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,960 in and and before we know it, we're running with good things, 229 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:32,880 great things, cultural things, Aussie things, church things and 230 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,040 not necessarily God things. And I don't know about you, but 231 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,760 I don't want to give one second of my life to serve the devil's 232 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,280 plan in any way. I don't want to invest my sons 233 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,680 and and every diamond dollar and every everything we've got for 234 00:12:46,680 --> 00:12:49,960 the Kingdom only to find out one day we gave it all. 235 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,000 I will get to heaven based on everything he's done nothing I 236 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:58,160 get to do but wasted our lives on an imitation of wannabe. 237 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,720 It's the subtle thing. And I believe the Lord's calling 238 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,640 his church, it's back to his church. 239 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,360 Don't get involved in the Chapel stuff continue to be the church 240 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,640 that Jesus said he would build because that's what I want to be 241 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,240 about our trust. That's the same for you. 242 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,920 If Jesus chapter one verse one, let's read together the 243 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:16,200 scriptures. It says Paul. 244 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,240 Can I just say Paul writing this, it's who he is. 245 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:26,120 Paul who I am an apostle. What I do of Christ Jesus who I 246 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:33,560 represent by the will of God. That's my authority to God's 247 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:38,000 holy people in Ephesus. That's my sphere to the faithful 248 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,760 in Christ Jesus. Can I just say that's who the 249 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,920 people belong to Christ, not to Paul or to the church or to a 250 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:49,040 movement. First to grace and peace to you 251 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,520 from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 252 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,120 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has 253 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,960 blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual 254 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:05,520 blessing in Christ, for He chose us in Him before the creation of 255 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,360 the world to be holy. Can I just say that word holy 256 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,120 doesn't just mean separate, that does that, but it also means 257 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:18,240 consecrated, and it also means set apart for Him, and it also 258 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:23,800 means purpose driven. See, holiness isn't just 259 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,880 separate to be ready for Him. It's also to be used by Him. 260 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:32,040 God calls us to be used to be separate and purpose this 261 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,240 purpose to our lives and then it goes on says I'm blameless in 262 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,760 his sight verse. It goes on in love verse 5. 263 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:44,120 He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ 264 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,480 in accordance with His pleasure and will, verse 6 to the praise 265 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:54,720 of His glorious grace, which He freely given us in the one He 266 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:56,680 loves. So the first thing we see here 267 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:07,600 is that God has His plan for His church in Christ in Christ. 268 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,280 The plan is useless if it's not linked to the in Christ. 269 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,880 And Dave emphasized even through the breaking of bread this 270 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,960 morning in Christ, without the in Christ, there's no value to 271 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:23,440 anything. You and I involved verse 7 in 272 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,560 Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of 273 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:32,080 sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He 274 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,960 lavished on us with wisdom and understanding. 275 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,320 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to 276 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:46,440 His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, verse 10, to 277 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,440 be put into effect when the Toms will have reached their 278 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,600 fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together 279 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,160 under one head, even Christ. So the second thing we see here 280 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,720 is that God doesn't just have a plan for His church. 281 00:15:59,960 --> 00:16:03,360 He makes provision for His church. 282 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:10,640 Again, in Christ. We love the provision of God. 283 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,040 We want God's provision. We want to live in that, but 284 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,560 it's in Christ where true provision is given. 285 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,160 It goes on verse 11. In Him we were also chosen, 286 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,480 having been predestined according to the plan of Him who 287 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,800 works out everything in His conformity with the purpose of 288 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,160 His will. In order that we may, we who 289 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,880 were the first to hope in Christ may be for the praise of His 290 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,760 glories. The third thing we're getting 291 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:46,720 here is God fulfils His purpose for his church. 292 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:55,840 You, you got this now in Christ. I mean, it's not Paul writing 293 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,640 this is the Holy Spirit inspiring Paul to write this for 294 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:03,040 you and I to keep understanding that in Christ, in everything, 295 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,319 God has a plan, God has a purpose, God has provision, but 296 00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:14,079 it's all in Christ. Verse 13 and you also included 297 00:17:14,079 --> 00:17:17,359 in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of 298 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,599 salvation having been believed, you were marked in him with a 299 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:27,400 seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing 300 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,600 our inheritance until the redemption of the of those who 301 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,440 are God's possession to the praise of God and his glory. 302 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,880 Are you ready? God keeps his promise for his 303 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,240 church. This be Americans for a moment 304 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:48,120 in in Christ. The promise, the provision, the 305 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:53,320 protection, it's all in Christ. This is how God sees his church 306 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:54,480 and this is what God has planned. 307 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,840 I love these texts. It speaks of we're chosen by the 308 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:06,960 Father, we are redeemed by the Son, and we are sealed by the 309 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,200 Holy Spirit. Chosen by the Father, redeemed 310 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,000 by the Son, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. 311 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,880 Verse 15. For this reason, ever since I 312 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,880 heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all 313 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,440 the Saints, I've not stopped giving thanks for you, 314 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,920 remembering you in my prayers. Verse 17 I keep asking that the 315 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,320 God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you 316 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:36,640 the spirit of wisdom and revelation that gives you deep 317 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:41,760 and personal and intimate insight so that you may know him 318 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,360 better. So Paul's highlighting all these 319 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:48,960 things in Christ and the promise and the provision and the plan 320 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,120 and that all and then he says this it's I keep asking that you 321 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,360 will grow in your wisdom and revelation that you may know 322 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,680 Christ better, not that you walk around with wisdom and 323 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:05,040 revelation that you know this person of Jesus intimately and 324 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,200 better. That is the desire of God. 325 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:12,920 I'm convinced that our greatest confession of Christ should be 326 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:18,200 our latest confession of Christ. I meet people all the time who 327 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,120 tell me the day they got saved and they reference where they 328 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:25,080 got in and praise God that's where you got in, but you not to 329 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:30,880 stay where you got in. Our latest confession should be 330 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,640 our greatest. We growing in our revelation and 331 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,760 our walk with Jesus Christ and I wonder if that's true for us. 332 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,320 Paul says I keep asking for that revelation. 333 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:41,440 We need to be growing in our revelation. 334 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,640 Now I've realized this. If we're not being intentionally 335 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:48,560 formed and fashioned by Jesus himself or then we are 336 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:52,040 unintentionally being fashioned and formed by something or 337 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,240 someone else. So if it's not him, then it's 338 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,200 something and we have to be intentional about this. 339 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,040 And let me just confess to you this morning a few things. 340 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,880 I'm trying to be as honest as I can in what I say, but also some 341 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:10,560 of the challenges I have faced. I, I love the whole Bible and I 342 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,000 love all truth, but there's some truths I like better. 343 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,720 I love some of the pictures of the church, like the the army of 344 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,480 God. I'm a little bit, if I can be 345 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,480 honest, forgive me, a little uncomfortable being the bride. 346 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,240 I get it and I love it, but I'm like, I'd rather. 347 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,760 And so there was always this picture of me wearing a wedding 348 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:30,400 dress. I'm like, I don't know how to 349 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,360 see that. I long for G. 350 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,440 So here's what I've always got comfortable with. 351 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,480 OK, I'm happy to wear a wedding dress as long as I get to wear 352 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,440 the army boots, all right. And there was a kind of tongue 353 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,760 in cheek because we are the army of God and with the bride of 354 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:45,720 Christ and with the pillar of truth, there's a whole lot of 355 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,680 things we are, and we like to highlight the one we like the 356 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,320 family. Maybe you've got the family 357 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,120 here. It's all family, but it's not 358 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,640 family only. It's a whole lot of stuff with 359 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,880 the body of Christ, with the many things in the Scripture. 360 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:58,520 And he doesn't look at one of them. 361 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,760 He looks at all of them and says that's my church. 362 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,040 That's the real church, not the Chapel. 363 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,640 And so I'm like, OK, I'm happy if I get to wear the army boots 364 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,360 and then I'll put on the, the wedding dress. 365 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:12,040 All right. And, and, and while they became 366 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,000 a joke, it actually started affecting me. 367 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,840 I didn't realise that. And I was recently preaching in 368 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,320 another country and I was doing an ordination. 369 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,680 And I, I was, I prepared my message, ready to preach it. 370 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,080 And I was reading the word of God, not for my message for God 371 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,880 speaking to me that Sunday morning early I woke up and I 372 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,280 was reading through scripture and my reading was Revelation 373 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,200 chapter 19. And you know the story if you've 374 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,720 read the Book of Revelation and it talked about that the bride 375 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,240 had made herself ready, prepared herself. 376 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,000 And I felt the Lord challenged me and maybe us that we too 377 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:48,080 militant focused and not enough intimus focus. 378 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,480 The church globally has become known for our militancy put on 379 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,600 the full armor of God. And there's nothing wrong with 380 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:57,880 that because it's in scripture. But we love to fight and we're 381 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,600 in the fight and it's all about a fight. 382 00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:03,560 But Jesus doesn't want people to know us about the fight, wherein 383 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:07,520 he wants us to know about the intimacy we have with Jesus. 384 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,120 And may I say to you this morning, there is a battle 385 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:13,560 blazing and we are in the fight. But this does not end with the 386 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,640 war. It ends with a wedding. 387 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,680 And I wonder how many people out there know about our intimacy 388 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:23,640 with Christ. Not what we're anti, not what 389 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,000 we're against. We stand for truth, we fall. 390 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,800 But do they know? Paul said, I want to know 391 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,400 Christ. I want people to know Christ 392 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,720 through me. Christ in me is the hope of 393 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,000 glory. And so I don't know where you 394 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,720 had this morning, but this church, yes, you're in a battle. 395 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,880 The battle belongs to the Lord. It's a spiritual battle. 396 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,880 It's not against flesh and blood, but I wonder how many are 397 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,240 there? Know what we're anti? 398 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:48,280 But do they know you for your intimacy with Jesus? 399 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,560 Who's coming back for you and me? 400 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,720 Who's coming back? And he's going to have this 401 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,280 incredible wedding. It ends with a wedding. 402 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:06,360 Not just the wall. This lamp stands here to reveal 403 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,680 intimacy with Jesus that Aussies and all these people living in 404 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,360 this region and this nation and the nations can have intimacy 405 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:17,600 with Christ, not just win a battle one day. 406 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,720 Are you with me friends? The political spirit in the 407 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,800 church is anti fight, fight, fight. 408 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:28,400 The holy, the the Spirit of God is come in and have intimacy. 409 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,680 Commune with me. And I'm not saying give up one. 410 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,880 I'm saying be known for the one of intimacy. 411 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:36,800 I've had to come back to say I want to be a follower of Jesus, 412 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,680 not a fighter only, but a follower and prepare myself and 413 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,280 ready myself. So yes, I can wear the the 414 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,320 boots, but I'm the bride. He's ready, We're ready. 415 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,040 And this is coming to a wedding and it's going to be the 416 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,760 glorious day for all of us, including the men in this room. 417 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:57,480 Amen. Verse 18. 418 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:02,480 I pray that also the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, 419 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:07,800 flooded with light by the Holy Spirit, in order that you may 420 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:09,520 know the hope to which He's called you. 421 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,640 The riches of His glorious inheritance in the Saints, and 422 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:16,240 is in comparably great power for us who believe that power is 423 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:20,680 like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in 424 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:24,000 Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His 425 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,800 right hand. In the heavenly realms, far 426 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,680 above all rule and authority, power and dominion, in every 427 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,720 title that can be given, not only in the present age, but 428 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:38,480 also the One to come. And God placed all things under 429 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:44,880 his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the 430 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,400 Church, which is His body, the fullness of him who fulfills, 431 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:52,960 who fills everything in it. We are not beholden to anything 432 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:55,840 or anyone other than Jesus Christ. 433 00:24:56,440 --> 00:25:00,720 We're not called to please anyone or anything other than 434 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,360 Christ. And where the church becomes a 435 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:07,120 Chapel is when we get to start pleasing people. 436 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:09,920 Pastors, leaders, leaders are trying to place people. 437 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:11,480 People are trying to please culture. 438 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,800 And I'm just telling you this morning, the moment we go there, 439 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:20,040 it's a Chapel at best. And the call of the church for 440 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,840 Christ is this come back to pleasing the one and only one 441 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:28,280 being Jesus Christ, not not just as a church as individuals in 442 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,640 this room. And it's very hard because easy 443 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,560 to say you're doing it, but look at who we're pleasing and and 444 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,200 I'm not expecting many Amy's remember working on us as he 445 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,800 works through us. But we're not called to please 446 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,040 anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ. 447 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,200 Can you imagine just this handful of people living with 448 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,680 that revelation. The impact we will have could 449 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:52,000 not could have, would have if we just say, you know what, for the 450 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,080 king and the Kingdom, it really is all about him. 451 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,160 I'm looking to please only him and everyone else is secondary 452 00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:59,840 in that. Oh, it's the way God's called 453 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:03,000 us. Ephesians 320 says now to him 454 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:07,920 who's able to carry out His purpose and do super abundantly 455 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:12,840 more than all that we dare ask or think according to His power 456 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,960 that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and 457 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,920 in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. 458 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,720 Amen. I know there are many people in 459 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,200 this room that have walked a long journey with the Lord and 460 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,360 you've seen some stuff. But when I read that, I'm 461 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:31,680 telling you this, the Lord saying there's a whole lot more 462 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,440 still to see. Your best days are not over. 463 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:36,120 And this isn't a cheerleading session. 464 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:39,960 This is back from scripture. He has so much more for every 465 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,000 single one of us and He has more for this church and for 466 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,960 individuals. His plan, His purpose, what He 467 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,640 can and will accomplish. See, I believe God has more of 468 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,480 His purpose and more of his plan to fulfill. 469 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,000 He's got more purpose. That's why he birthed this 470 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,000 church, purpose and plan to be fulfilled. 471 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,680 God's purpose, God's plan. Some of you come from other 472 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,480 congregations, other people, other churches, and God put you 473 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:09,080 together for more of his purpose and not to rehash or redo, but 474 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,800 to walk in the more of what he has. 475 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,680 And so can I just say we can't live with the past always 476 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,800 linking or wishing. Is this new moment the session? 477 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,720 OK, God, what are you doing? Can I tell you the, the, the, 478 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,320 the word of God reveals the purpose of God. 479 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:26,080 We can't get it from a downloaded podcast and all these 480 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,480 other things we're listening to. It's God's word reveals God's 481 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:33,760 plan. And then can I, while I'm here, 482 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,400 just say that the word of God is not just a book of random 483 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,600 promises that we've made it everyone's reading the, the word 484 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:43,600 of God for his promises to us. You cannot separate the purpose 485 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,520 of God and the promises of God. In other words, if we're not 486 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,240 walking in his purpose, you can't claim his promise. 487 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:56,080 We, I live in a country where there are alarm clocks. 488 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,040 You can wake up to the promises of God. 489 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:00,120 Someone's reading the promises of God. 490 00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:03,280 We've bought books now that separate the word of God to hear 491 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:05,520 the promises of God. We've made them purse or it's 492 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,200 not a book of random promises from God. 493 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,360 It's the plan and purpose of God revealed Genesis 1. 494 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:16,640 God's purpose, God's plan and God's revealing my promises are 495 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,200 linked to my purpose and plan. But if you step out of his 496 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,760 promise, his plan and purpose, you can't claim the promises. 497 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,200 It's it's the unfolding of his plan and purpose. 498 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,480 Amen. So we need the whole word of 499 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,680 God, the the oldness of the word of God. 500 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,720 So it's not what is God's will for us. 501 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,280 It's rather what is God's will and how do we fit into that, 502 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:38,960 right? Are you with me? 503 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,080 Am I going too fast for these guys? 504 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,200 You guys, you're smiling so you I can tell you get in. 505 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:45,920 Is that OK? Good. 506 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:49,920 That's great. One of you is that. 507 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,680 Is that am I making sense here? Like to me it's clear as mud, 508 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:56,760 but to you, I'm not sure. It's not. 509 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:58,200 What is God's will for us, friends? 510 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:00,400 We can't ask that question because I'm telling you when you 511 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:02,760 ask that question, you end up becoming a chap. 512 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:07,280 It's what is God's will and how do I fit into his will? 513 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:09,840 It's not what is God's, because here's the thing, if we're 514 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,240 asking what is God's will, someone's going to tell us what 515 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,520 God's will is, and it's probably not going to be God's. 516 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,800 It's what is God's will? Word of God, How do I fit into 517 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,000 that? Not his purpose for my life. 518 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:26,560 It's my life for his purpose. Otherwise, we're going to miss 519 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,360 what God has called us to. And I want to just say this, you 520 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,280 don't need a platform to be called. 521 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:37,800 You just need obedience. Obedience is what gets us to 522 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,640 walk in the call of God, right? Someone said today's church 523 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,760 wants to be raptured from their responsibility. 524 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,880 There's a lot of talk about the rapture, but the church today 525 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,040 wants to be raptured from our responsibility. 526 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:54,880 But you cannot read Scripture and not see God's plan and God's 527 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:58,800 call and God's desire for this church, for you in this room who 528 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:02,040 served God wholeheartedly. There's still more, and that's 529 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:03,480 why God's put this church together. 530 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:06,160 I believe it. His plan is there's more of 531 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,040 preparing and prioritizing. Things don't just happen. 532 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,400 Yes, God just does what He wants to do, but He's including us in 533 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,240 what He's doing. And I think the church has to 534 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,960 get a little bit, if I can be honest, and I'm speaking as the 535 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:23,280 church too, and seeing what God's doing, not doing our thing 536 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,480 and hoping God's in it. God is wanting to renew our 537 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:31,400 ability to see well, to see with His eyes, not guess our way 538 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,080 forward. In Isaiah 43, it says God says, 539 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:40,320 see, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? 540 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:42,960 See, I travel all over the world and everyone's looking for the 541 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:46,320 next thing and the new thing and running with the next thing, but 542 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,200 they're not seeing what God's running with. 543 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:52,120 And I'm saying, Lord, show me what you doing so I can get on 544 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,000 board with that. Let me perceive what you're 545 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,360 about, what you doing not, hey, we're doing this and trusting it 546 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:01,400 goes with us. So we're going to get better in 547 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:04,720 our prioritizing and planning. We're going to be prophetic. 548 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:07,520 And I'm talking this morning about being a prophetic people, 549 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,120 which I know freaks a lot of people out, but it shouldn't 550 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,360 because we called to prepare and plant and leave for generations 551 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,920 still to come. This church was birthed not for 552 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,560 you guys. This church was birthed for 553 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,160 generations yet to come. And the decisions you're making 554 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,840 today and the highlighting and the value or devaluing is going 555 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:30,360 to impact generations to come on what you think's important, 556 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:31,840 what's not. That's why we've got to keep 557 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:38,080 coming back to God's word, Amen. We've got to get better at 558 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,800 understanding seasons. You know, we talk about being a 559 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,080 prophetic people, and we've always said that prophetic means 560 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:46,520 to see the future, to prepare for the future, and to become 561 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:48,800 the future. And while that is true, what 562 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:50,600 I've realized is to future focus. 563 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:54,440 We're so focusing on what's out there that we don't focus on 564 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,120 what God's doing now. You know, God's doing things 565 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,520 now, not only in the future. He's called us to live for the 566 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,280 future. We look for the return of Christ 567 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,080 and for heaven, but we call to do stuff today. 568 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,000 How many people want to Get Me Out of the season? 569 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:08,320 I want that season. What? 570 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,280 It is a reason you're in this season and costing a whole lot. 571 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:15,280 We, we, we, we live in Denver, Co Ever been there? 572 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,000 It's beautiful, but it's freezing in winter. 573 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,200 It snows, it's cold. We're here in Adelaide right now 574 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:26,160 and I'm having the best winter of my life and I hate winter 575 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,000 there. I love the snow, but snow is 576 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,280 hard work and I hate being cold. But do you know that there's a 577 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:33,880 reason for winter? You can't have summer without 578 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:35,480 winter. You can't have spring without 579 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,640 this. God's a God of seasons and 580 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:42,120 because we pick seasons we want, we aiming for that season and 581 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:44,200 missing all the stuff he's doing now. 582 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:47,800 And can I suggest you might not even get to that season. 583 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,480 Nothing's wasted with God. But we always give me the next. 584 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,920 Give me the next and laws like I'm doing stuff now. 585 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,600 So can I say being prophetic is not just seeing, preparing and 586 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:01,560 becoming the future. It's more about seeing what 587 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:06,000 God's doing in the now with the future in mind, because God's 588 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,880 doing a whole lot of stuff now that I've had times missed 589 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,160 COVID, you know, I don't want to get into the COVID that whole 590 00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,720 remember that there's a whole lot of stuff that I hate. 591 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,520 I hate anyway. I just did not like that season. 592 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,440 But I'm telling you, I don't believe God sent COVID, but he 593 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,440 allowed it. And I know he allowed it because 594 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,720 it happened and I know where it came from, but I'm not getting 595 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:29,760 political. Yeah, just as a what? 596 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:32,000 But I hated that. I'm not Get Me Out of this. 597 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,280 Get me. And I realized in it God be 598 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,760 going to show me some of the stuff he was doing in it. 599 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,640 And I didn't even enjoy it. But it gave me more grace in 600 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,280 that season to say, OK, yeah, it makes sense. 601 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,480 Get the job done. So when we get into the next 602 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,520 season, we've learned some lessons grown up. 603 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,520 You've worked on us rather than Get Me Out of the season into 604 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,800 the next. Now my mother-in-law, I love her 605 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,560 because she birthed my wonderful wife. 606 00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:00,440 Why laughing? That's true. 607 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,680 And we have this thing anyway. I won't get into but but she's 608 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:06,040 has this way. She visits us. 609 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:08,040 She lives out of state from where we are and when, but she 610 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:11,120 whenever she comes to hang out with us, she's always talking 611 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:12,520 about when are we going to see you again? 612 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,679 Like she's always planning the next time we'll see it and I'm 613 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:18,679 like, we will see you again, Like we'll plan it, but let's 614 00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:20,920 enjoy what you've got now rather than spend the whole time 615 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:22,800 talking about when am I going to see you next. 616 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:25,080 I want to say some of us are like that. 617 00:34:25,159 --> 00:34:26,880 We, we're not enjoying what we've been given now. 618 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,000 We're always looking for Gimme the next, but God's in the now 619 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,600 and the next. And I believe for this church, 620 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:34,480 we've got to understand the seasons we're in. 621 00:34:35,639 --> 00:34:38,040 See, God closes doors in order to open doors. 622 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:41,600 And the Bible says in the Book of Revelation that he says, 623 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,719 behold, we all claim this. I, I closed doors that no man 624 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:46,440 can open. I mean, I open doors that no man 625 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,679 can shut. You remember that I'm telling 626 00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:53,360 you, we cheer that we shout, that we pray, that we sing that 627 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,360 we declare that. But it goes on in the same 628 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,520 verses as I closed doors that no man can open. 629 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:01,440 And whenever the door closes, it's the devil. 630 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:06,240 But the great door opener is also the great door closing. 631 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,800 He opens doors and He closes doors and what we got to do is 632 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,920 look for open doors and look for the doors that He opens when He 633 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:17,200 closes because we've seen the seasons and understanding the 634 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,640 seasons. In saying that, can I say that 635 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:22,880 not every open door is God's door? 636 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:27,000 And I know that personally because at times I thought this 637 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:28,280 obvious. It has to be. 638 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:32,920 It's clear as day, but we need discernment when it comes to 639 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:37,560 serving God. Not every door is a God door and 640 00:35:37,560 --> 00:35:39,360 some people are called to walk through different doors. 641 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:40,720 That's the fact. I'm not trying to get weird. 642 00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:43,400 Just hear God for yourself because we look for opportunity. 643 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,720 We just run through the door. I've seen recently that if 644 00:35:47,720 --> 00:35:50,320 you're not discerning what God is, this God called for me. 645 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,280 Is this the door you've given me or is this a door I've kicked 646 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,400 down? And I want to say for you guys 647 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,920 at local church, don't question everything, but be careful you 648 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:00,440 don't just do what everyone else is doing and wonder why there's 649 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:05,520 very little effect and you're burning out and you're becoming 650 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:09,000 a Chapel real busy, but not serving the plans and purposes 651 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,280 where discernment is as important as opportunity. 652 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,240 I've learned, I'm learning this. Get God's perspective, not just 653 00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:21,960 God's permission. Don't ask God, can I do this? 654 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,360 Because you'll find someone who's saying God says you should 655 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,920 do it. Rather ask God, what do you want 656 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:30,680 me to do? Give me your perspective, not 657 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,120 your permission. Then you know you're going to 658 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:35,280 walk. You know, you know, don't react 659 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,720 by impulse, but rather respond by insight. 660 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,360 And can I say if you're invited into a battle, doesn't mean you 661 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:48,040 call to fight that battle. Every day you and I presented a 662 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:49,880 battle, another battle. Someone else's. 663 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:51,160 I'm telling you, I turned my phone on. 664 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:54,120 I didn't I, I, I leave my phone out of my room. 665 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:56,920 I don't have my phone near my room When I turn it on, it's 666 00:36:56,920 --> 00:36:58,600 people and it's like everything in me. 667 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:01,200 There's a battle, another guy needs you and there's a role and 668 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,520 responsibility, but I'm not called to fight everyone's 669 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:05,800 battle. Just because someone said, hey, 670 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,560 would you come fight with me, fight for me doesn't mean I'm 671 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:11,800 God's called me to do that. You've got your own battle. 672 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,120 And so I'm just saying to you, don't be careful as a believer. 673 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:17,120 You're not running into everyone's battles and burning 674 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,720 out and blaming God just because you invited into that. 675 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:24,040 My dad wrote a book or someone wrote a book for my dad with all 676 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,360 these notes and it was choosing your battles. 677 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,640 I want to tell you that's the most prophetic book you can 678 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:31,360 understand. Don't fight every battle in the 679 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:32,840 church. You guys in this room, I 680 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,560 guarantee you're in battles. God hasn't called you to fight, 681 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:40,720 not here this morning in your lives and and you getting 682 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:43,840 distracted and it's real and there's some things you just 683 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:45,600 have to do as a parent, as a father, as a man. 684 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:47,880 I get that. But I'm saying spiritually stuff 685 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:51,120 we're just getting involved in stuff God's not called you to 686 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:53,600 do. That's why we've got to be a lot 687 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:56,040 more prophetic in our understanding of what it is. 688 00:37:56,040 --> 00:38:00,360 And what I've also realized is His grace lifts when His season 689 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:05,200 shifts. A season is not a season if it 690 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,440 doesn't end. Have you met those people 691 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,320 burning out, exhausted? Ah, it's just a season. 692 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:12,760 I'm just in, 10 years later, still doing the same thing. 693 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,160 If it doesn't have an end, it's not a season. 694 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,320 It's a lifestyle pretending to be a season because it sounds 695 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:22,240 spiritual. It has to change in a season and 696 00:38:22,240 --> 00:38:24,960 God's grace does lift. I've seen it and and so we've 697 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:27,360 got to get better. Can I say it like this at a 698 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:31,680 diagnosing undiagnosed pregnancies. 699 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:35,240 In other words, in the church, when God's putting something in 700 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:37,680 someone's heart, we've got to get better at recognizing what 701 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:40,040 God's doing rather than just shutting it down or pretending 702 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:43,000 it's not there Many church splits today are, I think, 703 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:46,800 undiagnosed pregnancies where God's put something in someone 704 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:48,600 to go and do and we like now I just pretend. 705 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:50,920 How many of you know, if you've had a child and we've had a few, 706 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,320 those babies are coming, like it or not. 707 00:38:53,360 --> 00:38:55,680 You can pretend and not 8-9 months, boom, there it is. 708 00:38:55,720 --> 00:38:57,200 Are you ready or not? It's mess. 709 00:38:57,880 --> 00:38:59,800 And I'm just telling you, the church is getting because we're 710 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:01,560 just not diagnosing what God's doing. 711 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:04,000 What's God? Not everything is God, but we've 712 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,280 got to see God in some of the stuff that's happening. 713 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:09,480 And I think if you can do that, you can be far more effective as 714 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:12,600 a local church going forward. So I needed the leaders. 715 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:15,760 It's the people, it's all of us hearing God and responding. 716 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:20,720 Just want to say this, God really spoke to us when we had 717 00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:23,520 our global equipment to me, to the team that I was leading and 718 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:26,520 we spent time with that few weeks, a week before the time 719 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:31,040 and God told me to challenge us. Don't take a seat at a table 720 00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:35,800 that God hasn't given you. Some of us are fighting for 721 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,760 seats at tables. You know, the Bible says in 722 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:41,240 Psalm 23, prepare a place for me in the presence of my enemies 723 00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:44,200 table for me. He prepares the table. 724 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:47,720 You don't have to go and build the table, just some of us maybe 725 00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:50,640 are looking for churches, are looking for doors and 726 00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:53,600 opportunities and want to be sitting at that table when God 727 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,440 hasn't put you at that table. Be careful you're not sitting 728 00:39:56,440 --> 00:40:00,360 where you're not supposed to sit because I believe God's got some 729 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,360 great things planned still and we want to continue in those 730 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:05,160 things. We there's more people and more 731 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,440 places from this people from this place to be coming here and 732 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:13,480 to be going I. I recently was reading the story 733 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:16,520 again of the Moravians who were sent the guys who sold 734 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:20,920 themselves into slavery to go preach the gospel to Africa. 735 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:22,840 Now think about that. They weren't going to just get 736 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:25,440 they gave their lives up and said I'm going to sell myself 737 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:29,160 and become a slave so I can preach the gospel to that that 738 00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:32,000 those people. And the story goes that the 739 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,640 couple of them were getting ready to get on their boat to go 740 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,080 and their family and all their friends came alongside. 741 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:39,200 And when I please don't do this, please don't do this. 742 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:42,760 And they, they got in their boat and started rowing and they 743 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,320 heard the testimony. They were singing out May the 744 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:50,960 lamb who may the Lamb who was slaughtered received the reward 745 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:54,440 of his suffering. Their motivation wasn't just as 746 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,240 people on the other side of the world, they need to hear the 747 00:40:56,240 --> 00:40:58,160 gospel. Not that they can all go to hell 748 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:00,160 if they don't know Jesus. That should be good enough, but 749 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:03,400 that was not their motive. Their motive was Jesus in the 750 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,440 Book of Revelation tells us Hebrews chapter 5, he paid the 751 00:41:06,440 --> 00:41:10,040 ultimate price and he purchased all people with his blood. 752 00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:15,080 And their motivation is there's an inheritance that Jesus has 753 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:18,560 been paid for for every individual on the planet. 754 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,720 And that's why we're going for the Lamb who receiving his 755 00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:23,480 reward, not so they can hear the gospel. 756 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:27,560 And I think when I read that, that has to motivate me and us. 757 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,640 It's not just about people hearing the gospels because 758 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:35,240 Jesus has a reward that he paid us suffering for. 759 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,560 That should be the motivation for us. 760 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,840 Walking across the street telling someone it is gas state. 761 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:46,520 What do you call it Servo trying to get the anyway whatever then 762 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:48,600 are you with me friends doesn't feel bad. 763 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:50,760 It's like how many you get in there place I'm just tired I'm 764 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:53,360 exhausted. I don't want to do this someone 765 00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:55,320 else can tell them about you and then suddenly you got this 766 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:58,560 revelation of Christ. He paid the ultimate I want him 767 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:03,520 to receive Israel again my I grew up in the house where 768 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:06,800 nations church planning. I was born in Africa, moved all 769 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:10,360 over we I don't know anything else but mission and we always 770 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:13,680 used my dad was always song to say ask of me and I'll give you 771 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:16,680 the nations as my inheritance that was on our fridge. 772 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:20,640 And I want to say that's true. But do you know that it's not 773 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:22,800 our inheritance. It's his inheritance. 774 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:26,640 When he says I'll give you the inheritance, he was saying to 775 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:29,920 Jesus, it's your inheritance. So we get to share, but it's his 776 00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:32,960 inheritance. Let's go and tell people for his 777 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:39,520 inheritance. More people, more places, more 778 00:42:39,520 --> 00:42:44,560 pioneering, more planting. This is great and there's a 779 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:46,880 multiplication here. But how do you know gospel this 780 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:49,840 church to plant church? You must just say we knew a 781 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:50,960 couple of years in. Yeah. 782 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:52,880 Doesn't say there's a time limit. 783 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,440 Yeah, it's multiply. You see, if we if we're making 784 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:58,960 disciples, then we will plant local churches. 785 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:02,240 Disciple making respond is I'm a follow of Jesus. 786 00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:04,240 Ultimately I come to a place I'm going to go plant what? 787 00:43:04,240 --> 00:43:05,680 Because that's the next step for us. 788 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:08,320 And so this church has been birthed in order to birth more 789 00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:13,320 church and not when you're ready, when God says that's why 790 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:15,240 he puts you here. That's the plan of God. 791 00:43:15,240 --> 00:43:17,080 Our plan is we stick together, we grow big. 792 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:20,880 And when we're one day ready, if you're parents, yeah. 793 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:23,480 I remember people say to me, don't have kids till you're 794 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:26,320 ready. I have a 25 year old and a 24 795 00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:29,760 year, 23 year old and a 19 year old, 23 year old. 796 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:32,440 So bad. I'm still not ready to be a 797 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:34,720 parent. Just so you know, it's not when 798 00:43:34,720 --> 00:43:36,400 you're ready. It's when God says when you 799 00:43:37,320 --> 00:43:38,840 you're with me because you'll never be ready. 800 00:43:38,840 --> 00:43:40,280 And so I'm not putting this on you. 801 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:41,920 You might look around and go, Gee, look at us. 802 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:45,680 Yeah, God has a plan. Multiply people, plant, keep 803 00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:48,560 going. Otherwise become an incredible 804 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:52,280 Chapel that stops serving the plans and purposes of God. 805 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:57,880 I have to. And I didn't get to my point 806 00:43:57,880 --> 00:44:00,280 yet. Good thing I'm hopefully coming 807 00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:01,800 back. Maybe not next week. 808 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:05,160 Can I just say this, the difference between pioneers and 809 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:06,880 settlers, You might sit just say I'm not a pioneer. 810 00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:08,880 God's called us to be a pioneering people. 811 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,280 Every individual here. I mean, you have to go do 812 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:12,840 something. It means you have to keep your 813 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:15,000 heart and pilgrimage some mighty force. 814 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:17,280 Blessed are those who set their heart and Pilgrim. 815 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:21,040 They go from strength to strength, not settling. 816 00:44:22,040 --> 00:44:26,680 Pioneers see the privilege. Settlers see the price. 817 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:32,600 Pioneers live for the future, settlers long for the past. 818 00:44:32,720 --> 00:44:37,000 Isn't it incredible that the one lady in Scripture, the one woman 819 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:40,760 that Jesus tells us to remember is Lot's wife? 820 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:44,840 We don't even know her name. Now, Before he did say, I know 821 00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:47,280 somebody going to come argue and say, yeah, But he did say the 822 00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:50,600 lady who worshiped the the Alibas was it. 823 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:53,760 He said she will be remembered. He didn't say we must remember. 824 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:56,160 He said wherever the Gospels preached, she will be 825 00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:59,800 remembered. But he tells them once in Luke 826 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:04,480 17, verse 32, remember Lot's wife, and that was when they 827 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:07,040 were focusing all the other stuff and he was saying, hey, 828 00:45:07,040 --> 00:45:12,280 keep focus on the future. Remember Lot's wife, What 829 00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:15,960 happened to Lot's wife? She became a pillar of salt. 830 00:45:15,960 --> 00:45:17,680 Why? Because she looked back, Not 831 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:20,480 because she was looking back at what was happening. 832 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:22,640 I mean, listen, if I was there, I would want to see what was 833 00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:25,320 happening. It's like Star Wars on steroids, 834 00:45:25,360 --> 00:45:30,320 you know? She she looked back, longing for 835 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:34,200 what she had left. There's people in this room. 836 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:36,000 Some of you guys have paid the ultimate. 837 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:38,560 You've walked through stuff, you've left, you've gone. 838 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:41,280 You've paid price. If you long for that, you're 839 00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:44,760 becoming a settler. Yes, you've done it. 840 00:45:44,880 --> 00:45:47,480 And praise God, thank you for your service and your price. 841 00:45:47,960 --> 00:45:50,600 But if you long for that, you become a settler, no longer 842 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:53,120 pioneering. There's more in God and do what 843 00:45:53,120 --> 00:45:56,360 you can with what you're given, but don't lose your way. 844 00:45:56,360 --> 00:45:58,480 Otherwise you become like Lot's wife. 845 00:45:59,120 --> 00:46:02,080 Pioneers embrace sacrifice. Settlers embrace comfort. 846 00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:07,200 Pioneers seek solution. Settlers share complaints. 847 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:12,320 Pioneers see possibilities and dream about what God said. 848 00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:14,760 Set to see barriers and reasons to quit. 849 00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:19,720 Pioneers hear God and do everything He says. 850 00:46:19,720 --> 00:46:22,400 Set this borrowed truth and question every decision. 851 00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:26,360 Pioneers step out with bold and reckless trust in God. 852 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:30,200 Settlers sit satisfied in the results of the past. 853 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:34,680 Pioneers fear holding anything back from God. 854 00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:39,400 Settlers fear more commitment. This is what I love. 855 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:42,080 Pioneers carry current testimonies. 856 00:46:42,720 --> 00:46:45,840 Settlers carry borrowed stories of old. 857 00:46:47,960 --> 00:46:50,280 God's got current. Yes, we celebrate what he's 858 00:46:50,280 --> 00:46:51,600 done. Yes, we celebrate. 859 00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:54,760 I use other people's stories too, but there's my own story. 860 00:46:54,760 --> 00:46:59,080 God wants, God wants us to have current testimonies, living in 861 00:46:59,080 --> 00:47:04,320 the now with the future in mind. And so we've got to be future 862 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:05,880 focused. I didn't get to my priorities 863 00:47:05,880 --> 00:47:08,360 that I came to speak on, but that's enough for this morning. 864 00:47:08,440 --> 00:47:14,560 I think I, I was reminded of the story of the, the cathedral 865 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:19,920 principle and in the 1700s they who built the cathedrals in 866 00:47:19,920 --> 00:47:21,720 England and London. If you've been around and you've 867 00:47:21,720 --> 00:47:24,040 seen them, I've seen some of them, they're fascinating and 868 00:47:24,040 --> 00:47:26,960 beautiful cathedrals. But the principle was this. 869 00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:30,680 When they began to build those cathedrals, they knew it would 870 00:47:30,680 --> 00:47:35,120 take 70 to 100 years to build. And So what they did was they 871 00:47:35,120 --> 00:47:39,440 knew that when they are dead and gone, the buildings, the 872 00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:41,120 cathedrals would not be finished. 873 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:45,880 So what they did was they would. So they planted oak trees when 874 00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:48,480 they started building those cathedrals, knowing there's a 875 00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:51,960 generation behind them yet to be born that would be able to put 876 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:56,920 the roof on the cathedrals because they planted the trees 877 00:47:56,920 --> 00:47:59,760 and readied it for them. That's preparing for the future. 878 00:48:00,560 --> 00:48:02,880 And I read that and go, man, friends, imagine if they've done 879 00:48:02,880 --> 00:48:04,280 everything else but forgot the roof. 880 00:48:04,440 --> 00:48:05,920 What would the next generation do? 881 00:48:06,080 --> 00:48:07,360 They'd have buildings with no roofs. 882 00:48:07,360 --> 00:48:09,400 Why? Because no one strategized and 883 00:48:09,400 --> 00:48:12,880 planned for what's to come. They were too busy doing their 884 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:16,200 own thing. And I suspect at times the 885 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:19,480 church has become about the now. Without even considering what it 886 00:48:19,480 --> 00:48:21,640 looks like for generations to come. 887 00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:24,760 All I can say is I know there's a lot of older people in this 888 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:25,840 room. Praise God for you. 889 00:48:25,840 --> 00:48:27,280 Thank you for your race. Thank you. 890 00:48:27,280 --> 00:48:29,560 You're a pioneer and you still called. 891 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:31,880 It's not time to quit, it's time to carry on. 892 00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:35,920 But know this, we're not in this church for what God's doing now. 893 00:48:37,120 --> 00:48:43,880 We're in it, building for generations yet to be before and 894 00:48:43,880 --> 00:48:45,560 in heaven. That's what matters to the 895 00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:48,160 Father. God is a generational God. 896 00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:50,040 He's not just nations, He's generations. 897 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:55,680 I believe God had us in mind when he called Abraham, Abraham, 898 00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:59,360 Isaac, Jacob. He actually said to Abraham, 899 00:48:59,360 --> 00:49:02,240 right to your offspring, I'll give this land. 900 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:04,200 He didn't even say to you and your offspring. 901 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:07,760 He just said to your offspring, What if you put yourself in the 902 00:49:07,760 --> 00:49:09,400 equation? How does this affect me? 903 00:49:09,400 --> 00:49:12,920 If it's for generations beyond us, keep going, keep pioneering, 904 00:49:12,920 --> 00:49:15,600 keep planting, keep fighting for truth that matters. 905 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:19,200 Keep following Jesus, keep shining the light, keep 906 00:49:19,200 --> 00:49:23,520 embracing what God's doing. Don't become settlers in this 907 00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:27,680 moment because this church is God's church building for his 908 00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:31,360 purposes for generations of Aussies and who else is coming 909 00:49:31,840 --> 00:49:34,200 and I'm a benefit. I'm living in the benefit of 910 00:49:34,200 --> 00:49:37,120 those who've pioneered me and we standing on their shoulders. 911 00:49:37,720 --> 00:49:39,480 And I feel from God to say this to you. 912 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:44,360 Don't short circuit what God's doing for a future by where you 913 00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:46,520 act. Don't allow yourself to 914 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:49,480 determine the decisions that are made in this this church. 915 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:52,360 Look for generations. How will this affect them? 916 00:49:53,240 --> 00:49:56,080 Because God is a God of generations, God of Abraham, 917 00:49:56,200 --> 00:49:58,800 Isaac and Jacob. Amen. 918 00:50:00,240 --> 00:50:01,760 All right, Dave, can I pray? Is that cool? 919 00:50:01,760 --> 00:50:06,520 Are you good? You guys are great, don't you? 920 00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:08,160 Not one point was made this morning. 921 00:50:08,160 --> 00:50:11,560 How great was that for me? Let's let's bow our heads for a 922 00:50:11,560 --> 00:50:14,240 moment. I hope I haven't cheerleaded you 923 00:50:14,240 --> 00:50:16,880 this morning because there's there's no fruit in 924 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:18,960 cheerleading. It's not a feeling. 925 00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:22,960 It's faith. We've got to be faithful and 926 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:29,040 filled with faith. Sometimes it's it's harder to 927 00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:31,720 believe God than it is to believe in God. 928 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:38,640 I don't find it hard to believe God, believe in God, but I do at 929 00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:40,320 times find it hard to believe God. 930 00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:43,080 Faith is not just believing in him. 931 00:50:43,080 --> 00:50:46,800 Faith is believing him. Maybe we're in that place today 932 00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:51,920 just to say, you know, I'm struggling to believe him and 933 00:50:51,920 --> 00:50:54,400 some of these things that have been said because I just haven't 934 00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:57,040 seen them. I haven't experienced them or 935 00:50:57,040 --> 00:50:59,440 I'm just looking at these other things or, and I feel like the 936 00:50:59,440 --> 00:51:02,480 Lord say no, no, believe in me and believe me. 937 00:51:05,720 --> 00:51:08,400 And so Father, I, I thank you for these wonderful men and 938 00:51:08,400 --> 00:51:13,040 women. I thank you that they've laid 939 00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:16,120 down their lives in a sense, because Jesus, you laid down 940 00:51:16,120 --> 00:51:20,320 your life that we're not doing this for each other. 941 00:51:20,320 --> 00:51:21,640 We're not doing this for the region. 942 00:51:21,640 --> 00:51:22,880 We're not doing this for the nations. 943 00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:24,240 We're not doing this for each other. 944 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:27,120 We're not here for one another. We're here for you. 945 00:51:28,880 --> 00:51:32,480 It's not always convenient. It's not even always looking 946 00:51:32,480 --> 00:51:36,160 like we want it. But if it's what you want, 947 00:51:36,160 --> 00:51:38,880 that's all that matters. But let it be what you want. 948 00:51:40,120 --> 00:51:42,400 And so would you help us to adjust? 949 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:45,360 Would you stir our hearts afresh? 950 00:51:46,200 --> 00:51:48,960 To you, who's able to immeasurably more than what we 951 00:51:48,960 --> 00:51:53,240 ask or imagine, It's you, your power, that's at work within us. 952 00:51:53,520 --> 00:51:56,200 It's not us doing, it's you doing it in and through us. 953 00:51:58,720 --> 00:52:00,960 Would you bring us back to the things that matter? 954 00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:05,200 Not to the world, not to the nation, To you? 955 00:52:06,240 --> 00:52:09,000 Would you stop us from doing the things that are not necessary? 956 00:52:09,360 --> 00:52:14,040 Would you convince us to give our lives to the things that 957 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:17,640 matter? My life for your will, not your 958 00:52:17,640 --> 00:52:23,160 will for my life, the way church for your world, not your world 959 00:52:23,160 --> 00:52:27,440 for the way church. And may it be biblical, clear in 960 00:52:27,440 --> 00:52:31,920 Scripture. Convince us, empower us, and let 961 00:52:31,920 --> 00:52:36,160 us be the church you've called us to be, playing our role, 962 00:52:36,400 --> 00:52:40,000 serving your purpose, ultimately bringing glory to you. 963 00:52:40,000 --> 00:52:41,640 We pray. Bless these men and women. 964 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:44,000 I pray breakthroughs. I pray healing. 965 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:48,880 I play for fresh vigor from heaven, not, not not flesh, 966 00:52:48,880 --> 00:52:54,680 heaven, Kingdom, spirit filled, to be able to run this race 967 00:52:54,680 --> 00:52:59,280 anointing, to live in this space and place in the realities of 968 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:02,200 their lives, but are still able to serve your plan and purpose. 969 00:53:02,600 --> 00:53:04,360 With those who are feeling like they're failing you, would you 970 00:53:04,360 --> 00:53:06,400 give them faith and courage this morning? 971 00:53:06,960 --> 00:53:11,000 With those who are feeling like maybe you've overlooked them, 972 00:53:11,000 --> 00:53:14,640 would you show them they're vital to your plan even in what 973 00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:18,120 you're doing today? Yes, Lord, those who have lost 974 00:53:18,120 --> 00:53:20,840 faith, who disturb faith, it's a, it's not a feeling, it's a 975 00:53:20,840 --> 00:53:23,720 person. And that person is Jesus Christ, 976 00:53:23,720 --> 00:53:26,400 the perfecter and the author of our faith. 977 00:53:28,040 --> 00:53:30,200 As I said on you, Jesus, not each other. 978 00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:33,720 And we thank you for your kindness and your goodness to 979 00:53:33,720 --> 00:53:37,480 us, and we give you all the praise and all the glory in 980 00:53:37,520 --> 00:53:41,680 Jesus name, Amen. Thanks, bro. 981 00:53:43,240 --> 00:53:47,080 We will see Ty again next week. Just so you know, bro, I'll be 982 00:53:47,080 --> 00:53:49,040 back. Yeah. 983 00:53:49,040 --> 00:53:53,920 Like I, there's obviously like things in me that God's stirring 984 00:53:53,920 --> 00:53:57,720 out of all that for my life and, and for us as a church. 985 00:53:57,720 --> 00:54:01,160 And, and I know that for us in this room, there's going to be 986 00:54:01,160 --> 00:54:03,840 things that, you know, the Lord's highlighting to you. 987 00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:07,600 So just encourage you not just to walk away from those things 988 00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:10,360 and just get on with your day. You know, we're going to have 989 00:54:10,360 --> 00:54:12,000 some fellowship time and stuff like that. 990 00:54:12,000 --> 00:54:15,600 Let's stir each other up in our faith, talk about the things 991 00:54:15,600 --> 00:54:19,240 that that God's saying. Ask the question, you know, what 992 00:54:19,240 --> 00:54:23,640 did the Lord say through those? And just, you know, go about our 993 00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:27,120 days, just, you know, living in the plan and the purpose that he 994 00:54:27,120 --> 00:54:27,840 has for us. Amen. 995 00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:31,680 So let's have a wonderful day. Thank you for joining us for 996 00:54:31,680 --> 00:54:34,080 today's message. For more information about The 997 00:54:34,080 --> 00:54:38,280 Way Church, please visit ourwebsite@thewaychurch.com dot 998 00:54:38,320 --> 00:54:39,680 AU. Have a blessed day.