1 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,520 Hi and welcome to the Via Zion Sermon podcast. 2 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:14,840 We are a local church based here in Chennai, India. 3 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,640 We are so glad you are with us and hope that this will 4 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,040 encourage, inspire and instill fresh faith in you. 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,360 We begin our new year with the theme for the year 2024, which 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,920 is set apart. We look at how each of us who 7 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:35,000 follow Jesus can live lives that are consecrated and separated 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,800 for Him, both privately and publicly, with His help and 9 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,000 leading. We pray that as you listen, you 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,520 would be challenged to live such a life of victory and peace. 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,120 Hi church. It's such a joy and a privilege. 12 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,840 We're bringing God's word to you today, even as we've stepped 13 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,480 into 2024 here in the second Sunday of the year. 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,920 I believe you started your new year with God at the centre, 15 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:06,720 even as we heard in the new Year Eve service of the entire team 16 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,040 for this year, for our churches set apart, and even for those of 17 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,760 you who are listening right now, even as we heard last week that 18 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,000 we are set apart by God. Today we're going to go on to 19 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,120 the third part of this entire series and it's called Set Apart 20 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,440 by Jesus. And I wanted us to realise that 21 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:30,400 Jesus came into this world, he was set apart exclusively to 22 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,560 fulfil God's plan and purpose for us. 23 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,880 And today you and me as followers of Jesus have a unique 24 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,400 plan that we have to fulfil here on this earth. 25 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,320 Yes, we are called to live in this world. 26 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:44,240 We've heard those verses, we've called to be the salt and light. 27 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,360 We are called to go ahead in this pathway of accomplishing 28 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,640 all that he sets out to do it in and through us. 29 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,440 But he has a unique plan and purpose for us. 30 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,440 You know, we can either be, as we saw in the New Year Eve, some 31 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,600 of those Christians who are lukewarm where we just come for 32 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,600 the sake of being called a Christian, or probably we enjoy 33 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,440 certain perks of being a Christian, but he wants us to 34 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:11,280 fulfill the ultimate call and purpose that he has in store for 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,360 us as followers of Jesus. And so today, even as we move 36 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,360 through this entire third part, I want us to have our hearts 37 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,400 open. Because many a times us being 38 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:27,240 set apart is not what even as I preach, even as I have bringing 39 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,680 out certain scriptures that I've meditated on, it's something 40 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,880 that he does in and through us. And we need to come to that 41 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,720 realization. Oftentimes, God uses the spoken 42 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,080 word of God from a sermon. God uses people to speak in and 43 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,240 through us. But many a times the real 44 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,120 Christian work that happens in and through our life, the one 45 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,120 that God really is getting his hands in and through us, is when 46 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,920 we meditate on His word day and night, when we allow room in our 47 00:02:55,920 --> 00:02:58,800 life for more of him. And so today I just want us to 48 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,720 go back to this familiar scripture that we've read from 49 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,320 John, Chapter 3, verse 16. Lot of us by heart that was. 50 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:09,160 But the intensity and the weight of that verse is so heavy and I 51 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,160 want to read it from the message version and this is what it 52 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,880 says. This is how much God loved the 53 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,640 world. He gave his son, His one and 54 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:21,840 only son, and This is why. So that no one need be destroyed 55 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,360 by believing in him. Anyone can have a whole and 56 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,440 lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble 57 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,000 of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger, 58 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,920 telling the world how bad it was He came to help to put the world 59 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,720 right again. Anyone who trusts him is 60 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,280 acquitted. Anyone who refuses to trust him 61 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,280 has long since been under the death sentence without knowing 62 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:47,200 it. And why? 63 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind 64 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:56,120 son of God when introduced to him, one-of-a-kind son of God. 65 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,200 So when Jesus came into this world, He walked the very earth, 66 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,680 and you and I are walking. She lived in the very 67 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,680 circumstances that you and I are living in. 68 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,240 He was judged by the very humans that we are surrounded by. 69 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,280 He was a Carpenter. He was a carpenter's son. 70 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,160 He had a trade in his hand, yet he chose to do the will of the 71 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,040 Father. His parents knew why He had come 72 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,160 down to earth. And today the reason why He came 73 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:25,880 down to earth was for you and me. 74 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,360 He died for you, and he was sent down by God so that he can 75 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,480 fulfil and bridge that gap for us so that God wouldn't accuse 76 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,120 us. God saw the entirety of the Old 77 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:39,760 Testament. We see time and again. 78 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,640 He set apart a nation, but the nation didn't want him. 79 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,520 He set apart a few remnant from that, but time and again they 80 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,440 kept faltering. They went into slavery. 81 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,320 They went into captivity. He brought them back to the 82 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,560 promised land. He held them, but he knew he the 83 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,720 world. Reader, edema, for entirety of 84 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,560 mankind, He just didn't come for one group of people. 85 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,360 He came for the entirety of mankind. 86 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,320 And So what does it look to be set apart by Jesus? 87 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,360 There's something unique about Jesus walking this earth. 88 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:13,120 He walked where you and I walked, but he touched the 89 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:18,640 people that came in his lane. Everyone who came in his path, 90 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,280 he touched. He called a few, he walked 91 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:26,240 alongside them for 3 1/2 years. And at the end of the day, when 92 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,280 they get commissioned to go fulfill the Great Commission, 93 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:31,520 they just didn't go empty handed. 94 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,920 They went knowing that God was with them. 95 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,600 And so today, when he sets us apart, there's a clear marking 96 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,320 that happens if you and I have to come to the baseline of our 97 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,320 Christian faith. We acknowledge that we are 98 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,760 sinners, that we are sin by birth because Adam who sinned, 99 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,400 we all are sinners. So there is dirt. 100 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,320 No shirt is clean if you wear it. 101 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,000 There is markings of sin. We all have woundings of sin. 102 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:03,520 We've carried it through so many aspects of life, but God here is 103 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,880 saying here I'm mocking you. Jesus, when he meets with us, 104 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,440 marks us. Every Christian who's 105 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,320 encountered Jesus, who's accepted Jesus as your Lord and 106 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,800 personal Saviour, came across an exchange that happened the day 107 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,440 they invited Jesus into their heart. 108 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,560 And even as I was preparing, I was reminded of what his stencil 109 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,200 looked like. The stencil is basically a set 110 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,600 pattern that's cut out and then you mark around it. 111 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,600 You colour it, you do it. But the end result? 112 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,840 The paper has a marking when you are marked. 113 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,520 When Jesus came, he marked us out. 114 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,480 He no longer gave sin the final world, even though our entire 115 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,400 creation is one of sin. When we enter into this world 116 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:53,160 because we've accepted Jesus, he starts mocking us and the longer 117 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,760 we journey with him, the more markings we get all over. 118 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,920 So much that till we meet him face to face, we are clothed 119 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,440 with a new role. And so one of the things which I 120 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,120 as I was reading up on stencil and the history of how it 121 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,160 originated, I came across through this entire method 122 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,800 through which print is done. It's called screen printing 123 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,720 where they have an entire silk cloth and it's and it's cut out 124 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,840 to the impression that's needed and then later add ink and then 125 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,600 they rub through it and then there's an impression where they 126 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,960 beat on paper. Whatever surface we lay 127 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,400 underneath gets that impression. This is what it says. 128 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,440 The greater the number of threads, the more more detailed 129 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,160 the print will be. The mesh is formed by interwoven 130 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:43,920 threads that can vary in number. And I believe as we journey with 131 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,920 Jesus in a closer walk with him each and every day, as we live 132 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,680 out the life that Jesus has called for us, He's interwoven 133 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:57,640 into us and our design becomes more intricate, more intricate 134 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:01,720 because of him. So today, as you and I are being 135 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:07,320 set apart by Jesus, there are few things that we are called, 136 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:11,560 that we are stenciled, that we are screen printed by Jesus. 137 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,080 And I wanted to leave three things with you. 138 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:19,960 The first thing is we are set apart because of Jesus, because 139 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,680 of Jesus. Hebrews chapter 10 talks about 140 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:28,080 this as how the High Priest laid himself down for us under the 141 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,200 Old covenant. The priest stands and ministers 142 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,120 before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices 143 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,679 again and again, which can never take away sins. 144 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,240 But our high priest offered himself to God as a single 145 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,320 sacrifice for sins good for all time. 146 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:47,480 Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand that 147 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,240 he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool 148 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,760 under his feet, for and by that one offering he forever made 149 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,880 perfect those who are being made holy. 150 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,800 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so far. 151 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,920 He says, This is the new covenant I will make with my 152 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:04,240 people. On that he says a lot. 153 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,240 I put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their 154 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,480 minds. Then he says, I will never again 155 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,200 remember their sins and lawless deeds. 156 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,000 And when the sins have been forgiven, there is no need to 157 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,400 offer any more sacrifices. Jesus, once and for all wanted 158 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:25,560 to put an end to sacrifices. He wanted to put an end to 159 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:27,360 bloodshed. He wanted. 160 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,120 He said, You know what? I'm sacrificing my one and only 161 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,680 son, and that's it. That's the done deal. 162 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,000 So today if it was not for Jesus, there is no hope. 163 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:43,080 So which means I need to invite Jesus into every area of my 164 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,160 life. Jesus sacrifice cleanses us from 165 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,200 all sin. Jesus sacrifice stood in my 166 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:56,880 behalf and substituted. He substituted himself for me, 167 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,880 which means everything I go through. 168 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:05,280 She's willing to stencil. He's willing to just allow 169 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:09,920 himself to be on top and say I have covered it all. 170 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,840 And so today I want us to come. As I said in the New Year 171 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,520 service, I said that was for the church. 172 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,520 But today, as we look at it individually, can we allow Jesus 173 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,120 into every area of our lives? We are set apart because of 174 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:28,320 Jesus once and for all. He's paid the price, which means 175 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:32,880 I need to come in acceptance and say Jesus, because you've paid 176 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,880 the price. I'm willing to take a step and 177 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:38,560 allow you to set me apart in this. 178 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,600 Today I want us to take it much deeper. 179 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,120 What area of my life does Jesus need to come in and set me 180 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,840 apart? Today it can be in the area of 181 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,920 man belief. Today it can be in the area of 182 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,360 me being skeptic, being questioning Jesus. 183 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,080 Would you would it? Was it possible for you to heal 184 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,920 something? As emotional as this is, I've 185 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:02,800 been carrying this emotional baggage far too long. 186 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,240 I've been beating myself up because people have hurt me, 187 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,480 because people have spoken this over me, because circumstances 188 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,120 caused this. I shouldn't have been in that 189 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,440 room and that bad touch happened. 190 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,600 I am struggling. Jesus, he's saying, I understand 191 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:23,080 your pain. That sin does not have to mark 192 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:27,480 you. You do not have to be defined by 193 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,960 what those terms say. You are my child. 194 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,360 And the beautiful thing is Jesus took that place, which means, 195 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,960 you know, we, we, we today have termed every, every action that 196 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,560 we can think of has been termed with a particular term, 197 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,040 compulsive disorder, that disorder, that disorder. 198 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,280 He's saying, can I step in? Because when I step in, every 199 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,280 disorder will become an orderly thing. 200 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,520 And today a lot of us are struggling with so many closed 201 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,200 doors because we've not allowed Jesus to step into that. 202 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,200 And he's saying, I came to set apart. 203 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,920 I came so that there'll be a clear demarcation. 204 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,960 He will not have the final word. Satan will not have the final 205 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,480 word I offered myself as the sacrifice that day. 206 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:21,560 Stop beating yourself. A lot of us are living the 207 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:24,320 consequences of our sin. When we're seeing a living, 208 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,440 we're living because we've done something wrong. 209 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:30,440 We are have to live out the consequences of that. 210 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,240 But we don't have to live under the bondage of it. 211 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:37,400 Which means that does not mark. If he go to Jesus for 212 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,200 forgiveness, he's saying I will forgive you. 213 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,960 Verse 17 it says I will never again remember it. 214 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,200 He will give you hope. He will allow you to stand on 215 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,240 the promises. We won't. 216 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,640 You need to be bogged down. God saying I will liberate you. 217 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,040 You don't have to go around saying you know what, I'm set 218 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,760 free because of that medicine, because of that counselor, 219 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,720 because of that thing. All that is add-ons. 220 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,520 You need to first say I am set apart because of Jesus. 221 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:13,560 When he sets you apart, there's something that marks you inside 222 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:17,000 out and there's something that marks you inside out. 223 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,320 Even as I mentioned earlier on when I said the screen printing, 224 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,400 we see it happen internally. That's just a reference. 225 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,960 But what I see Jesus doing is he first works in us before it's 226 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:32,080 revealed out of us. And today what he wants to set 227 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,600 us apart. We need to open our mouth and 228 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,760 confess and say, Jesus, I'm set apart because of you. 229 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,680 I'm not set apart because of my family. 230 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,000 I'm not set apart because my family name. 231 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,000 I'm not set apart because I'm so and so's granddaughter. 232 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,920 You know, I'm so and so's minister's son or I'm so and so 233 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,120 pastor's son or I'm so and so. No, I'm set apart because of 234 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,000 Jesus because I personally had that encounter with him. 235 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:02,960 I need to go to Jesus and say God, I want to have that 236 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:07,080 encounter again. God, the sin is creeping up time 237 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,840 and again. But I want you to come and set 238 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,040 me apart. We will be set apart only 239 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:17,240 because of Jesus. Remember his love was too much 240 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,320 that he said I will give my son. He'll walk on this earth. 241 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,440 The sinless man walked on this earth. 242 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:29,200 He who knew no sin died on our behalf and he's setting us free 243 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,280 because of Jesus. We have a healthy understanding 244 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:36,320 of the fear of God. We see through Jesus life and 245 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,760 his teaching. In Matthew 7 He talks about the 246 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,920 narrow road and the broad road, and this is what it says. 247 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,800 You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. 248 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,120 The highway of hell is broad and its gate is wide for many who 249 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,040 choose the way. But the gateway of life is very 250 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:54,640 narrow and the road is difficult and only a few ever find it. 251 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,160 One of the beautiful things when you set apart because of Jesus 252 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:02,680 is you identify the narrow gate. You identify the narrow gate and 253 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:08,760 you realize that there are many who are also following Jesus and 254 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:12,640 the attraction of the broad limits you Yeah, there are areas 255 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,080 which you feel like God. If I'm in that, I can enjoy 256 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,560 certain benefits, but you start understanding because of Jesus, 257 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,200 there is far more bigger things that he's calling me to do. 258 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,760 God will start speaking to you specifically of what he wants 259 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,400 you to be set apart. Decisions would not just come 260 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,520 randomly. It won't just happen because of 261 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,280 the spur of the moment. He'll come intentionally because 262 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,480 of the word of God. He'll come because of the prayer 263 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,080 that you've been praying. It probably will come because of 264 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:48,080 a deep conviction. So today, if anyone asks you, 265 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,080 you should be bold enough to stand by that conviction and say 266 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,560 I'm set apart because my God has set me apart. 267 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,320 Daniel and his three friends didn't give a big explanation. 268 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:03,560 They didn't give their agenda of why they were set apart when the 269 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,080 food was off. But they just said, you know 270 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,560 what? This is not the food that we can 271 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,720 eat. Just give us this. 272 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:14,080 It's God who blesses everything. So today, what is it that God's 273 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,360 calling you to be set apart because it will not be by your 274 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,600 own strength. Jesus relied on the Father when 275 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:27,160 he was on this earth. We rely on the Father to through 276 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:32,000 Jesus his Son. We are set apart because of 277 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,360 Jesus. I pray that we will be 278 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:39,480 conscious. We will allow his words to see 279 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:43,600 right into our hearts that that narrowly we wouldn't just look 280 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:48,400 at the space that we don't have to operate, but we look at the 281 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,720 one who's calling in front of us. 282 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,280 A lot of us love our spaces, so the Broad Rd. seems comfortable. 283 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,960 But I believe the narrow way is where we do community. 284 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,960 The narrow way is where we understand what suffering is. 285 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,119 The narrow way is where we seek provision and the lack. 286 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:10,280 The narrow way is where we see the supernatural work of God. 287 00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:16,760 The narrow way is where we see gratitude move things mightily, 288 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:18,960 so much that it becomes a testimony. 289 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,800 So can we be set apart because of Jesus? 290 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,560 The second thing is we are set apart through Jesus, so no 291 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,720 longer do we have to go and offer sacrifices because the 292 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,080 high priest himself came down and lead his life for us. 293 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:36,520 We now are set apart through Jesus. 294 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,720 The fundamentals of Christian faith are in 2 aspects. 295 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,600 Let's read from Galatians chapter 2 verses 19 to 21. 296 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,240 This is what it says. What actually took place is 297 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,000 this. I tried keeping rules and 298 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:51,040 working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. 299 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,440 So I quit being a lawman so that I could be God's man. 300 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,640 Christ's life showed me how and enabled me to do it, identified 301 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:03,240 myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified 302 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,760 with Christ. My ego is no longer central. 303 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,280 It's no longer important that I appear righteous before you or 304 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,120 have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. 305 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,960 Christ lives in me. The life you'll see me living is 306 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:22,200 not mine, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God who 307 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,360 loved me and gave himself for me. 308 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,600 I'm not going to go back on that. 309 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:32,360 And the reason why I've chosen this passage are two things. 310 00:18:32,360 --> 00:18:37,760 It says Christ lives in me. Christ showed me how and enabled 311 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,680 me to do it. So when you allow Jesus to work 312 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,400 in and through you and he sets it, we are set apart through 313 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,480 Jesus, we realize there's a cost involved. 314 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:53,160 It's not, you know, it's not a no cost thing that we get from 315 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,000 Jesus. There is a cost involved. 316 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,480 What does that cost? We see two things, two 317 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,560 fundamental things of our Christian faith as I mentioned 318 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,560 earlier, one His blood, The 2nd is resurrection His blood. 319 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,800 We understand that we are set apart through his blood. 320 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,720 So which means every time God causes us to set something 321 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,240 apart, it costs us. It costs God to lay down His 322 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,040 life. And so today when we set apart, 323 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,120 when we say God because of you, because of you working in 324 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:24,160 through me, because my ego is not in prayer and I'm wanting to 325 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:29,160 do what satisfies you and what you pleases you, it will cost 326 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,040 you. The second thing as a thing we 327 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,360 see is Jesus. Resurrection part is what we 328 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:38,200 see, one of the fundamentals of our Christian faith. 329 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:43,840 His resurrection part will work in and through us areas where we 330 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,080 thought we were weak. His resurrection power will come 331 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,800 and make us strong. Areas which we were struggling 332 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,920 to overcome. We will see His resurrection 333 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:56,800 power come and we will overcome that we will be dead to sin, 334 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:01,560 will be made alive in Christ. So no longer will be gratified. 335 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:06,000 Things that that we need, that I want that you know that works 336 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,040 well for me. No, we will start working and 337 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:10,800 doing things that will work well for Him. 338 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,720 And what will work well for Him is the The passage which Jesus 339 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,880 talks in the New Testament when He's here is if you love God, 340 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:23,240 you will love people. If you love God, you will love 341 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,440 His community. If you love Him, you will do 342 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,840 what He wants in the midst of the people that He's placed you. 343 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,160 A lot of times we come to a place of wanting everything done 344 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,400 for ourselves. But when we allow Jesus to be to 345 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,840 be working in and through us, one of the beautiful things 346 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:47,760 about working through us is he comes into us and he finds 347 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,680 another way to exit out, which means the word we received from 348 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,480 him walks in and it departs out of us so that it can bless 349 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,880 someone else. I believe That's how for me, 350 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:02,040 when I was writing this point, I was this reminded of the Marvel 351 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:06,120 character vision where he walks through doors, He doesn't break 352 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:08,680 the door, he just walks through it. 353 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:12,680 And I believe when we allow, when we set apart through 354 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:20,160 Christ, his word will work in US and it will go through us out so 355 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,120 that it blesses someone else. Because the evidence of that 356 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:27,320 will be seen in other people's life, the ego that Jesus Christ 357 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,120 is killing. And then through us, we the 358 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:35,480 people will start seeing it as His characteristics through our 359 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,240 lives. So today it will be no longer 360 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,360 that we live out of our old selfish needs, but will be 361 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:45,720 Christ who lives in US. Romans talks about this and it 362 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,400 says my old self has been crucified with Christ in verse 363 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,640 20. It's no longer I who live, but 364 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:54,320 Christ lives in me. I live in this earthly body by 365 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:58,600 trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for 366 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:00,120 me. Verse 21. 367 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,000 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless, for keeping the 368 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,680 law could make us right with God. 369 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,640 Then there was no need for Christ to die. 370 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,560 One of the beautiful examples we see of Jesus talking about the 371 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,320 standards that he came outside of the law. 372 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,520 When he started talking, he said, you know what? 373 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,840 You don't have to commit. Even if you look at a woman in a 374 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:22,440 lustful way, you've committed adultery. 375 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,800 He stepped up everything what the Lord demanded of us to a 376 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,760 place where we can't do it and we need him. 377 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,760 That's what we need to allow Jesus to work in and through us. 378 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,600 When we are set apart. He's working in and through us. 379 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:43,560 Our ego is getting killed. Our our our physical wants are 380 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,280 killing killed. We we start realizing God, I 381 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,960 have so many selfish motives. Everything gets killed and we 382 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:54,360 come and we are made alive in Christ. 383 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,920 In Romans we read it was his chapter 6 and it says in verse 384 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:04,120 10 when he died, he died once to break the power of sin, but now 385 00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:06,160 that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 386 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,440 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the 387 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,400 power of sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ. 388 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:20,120 A lot of times we give sin extra power by declaring that it's 389 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:22,640 tough, by declaring that we are struggling. 390 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,880 It's difficult to give up. No, sin does not have the power 391 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,760 over us. Jesus has if we want to be set 392 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,760 apart by Jesus. So today I don't know what sin 393 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,800 that we all are going through. But will we come to Jesus and 394 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,440 say Jesus, you for once because of your precious blood defeated 395 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,000 sin, would you give me the power to overcome and he will come 396 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,520 through if we are set apart through him, we'll be dead to 397 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,440 sin. We'll be made alive through 398 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:56,920 Christ. We won't strive to bear his 399 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,200 fruit. We won't strive. 400 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,400 It'll be in our being, in us being who he's called us to be. 401 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,520 We will start bearing the fruit. That's what I said. 402 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:12,560 When he works through us, there are things that he kills that we 403 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,880 kind of like have made as idols in our life. 404 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,040 Oh, this is this the way I needed done my way. 405 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:25,080 He'd start making us look through his eyes when we read 406 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,880 people who encountered Jesus. They came for a miracle, but 407 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:34,440 they left back with salvation. They came and he often told them 408 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:39,800 sin no more because the healing that they received shouldn't 409 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,840 cause them to go and sin. The healing that they received 410 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:47,160 should be able to go back and say God saved me, so maybe not 411 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:52,720 take his grace for granted. His grace is sufficient. 412 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,400 His grace causes me to see another day. 413 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,000 His grace causes me to live in the purposes that he's called 414 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,760 me, to live out, but maybe not take it for granted. 415 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:06,200 I want to pray specifically for those who are struggling in sin, 416 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,840 who are like, you know what? I come to church on a Sunday, 417 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:14,440 but on a Monday, I'm back to just doing what sin requires me 418 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,040 to do. I pray for those of us who are 419 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,800 married. We'll keep our marriage beds 420 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:25,400 holy for those of us who are married, We'll keep our texts 421 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,280 holy for those of us who are married, we'll keep our eyes and 422 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,200 our hands holy. I pray for those who are single 423 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,440 that you will live out the lives that God's called you. 424 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:39,440 You don't have to test the surroundings and see if you know 425 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,760 which will work best for you. I love God to choose and He'll 426 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:48,640 bring the right person in. You are set apart through Jesus. 427 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:53,440 It's a daily submission issue. It's a daily submissive act of 428 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,440 going to Jesus and saying, Lord, I'm submitted to your will and 429 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,120 plan and purpose. I'm set apart for you, Lord, I 430 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:06,520 don't want to give my carnal my, my physical needs, my my earthly 431 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,960 desires, my selfishness. I don't want to feed that, but I 432 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,280 want to feed on you so that you can change me inside out. 433 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,520 The third thing is so we're set apart because of Jesus. 434 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:22,840 We're set apart through Jesus and we're set apart to remain in 435 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,600 Jesus. And so one of the things that 436 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:30,920 when we God sets us apart is so that we will remain in Him, We 437 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,600 read. In John chapter 15 verses 1 to 438 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,200 8, we read and there's this beautiful passage about Jesus 439 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:43,040 talking about the wine and we see how he talks that we have to 440 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,600 remain in him. The thing about remaining means 441 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:51,480 you stay over a period of time. And I wanted to read verse 5 and 442 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,120 this is what it says from 5 onwards. 443 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:55,560 Yes, I am the wine, you are the branches. 444 00:26:55,560 --> 00:27:00,200 Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit, 445 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,320 for apart from me you can do nothing. 446 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:06,000 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless 447 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,640 branch and Withers. Such branches are gathered into 448 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,480 a pile to be burnt. But if you remain in Me and my 449 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,960 words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want and it 450 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,840 will be granted when you produce much fruit. 451 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:24,320 You are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my 452 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:27,360 Father. It's because we remain in Him, 453 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:33,200 we are able to bear much fruits. And mind you, remaining in Him 454 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:37,800 is a much longer time, and us bearing fruits is very seasonal. 455 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:44,880 We will need to remain in Him for the longest of our life so 456 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,920 that in seasons we are able to bear fruit. 457 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,160 We claim that we are set apart. How? 458 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:57,000 We probably have the band that you're wearing, or you've 459 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,960 probably got the tag that we have, or we have the calendar, 460 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,480 or we wear only Christian T-shirts, or we only buy from 461 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,000 Christian stores. No, you're set apart inside. 462 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:14,000 Are you remaining in him? A lot of us are remaining in 463 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,680 other things. A lot of us are remaining in the 464 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:20,280 company of our spouse so much. A lot of us are remaining in the 465 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,440 family name that we've inherited so much. 466 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,360 A lot of us are remaining in the bank balances and the things 467 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:31,720 that we need to pursue on. Jesus clearly says if you're 468 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,360 going to be set apart from by me, you can only serve two. 469 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:36,400 You can only, You can't serve 2 masters. 470 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:40,960 You can only serve one master. You soon have to make a decision 471 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:46,440 who you're going to serve today. Are you serving Jesus or are you 472 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:50,120 serving money? Because money will cause you to 473 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:55,760 make compromise on areas so that Jesus becomes secondary things 474 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,320 which are important you will diminishing you know what I 475 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,920 don't know? The time you will justify 476 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:05,200 yourselves, and sooner or later you'll start believing that when 477 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:09,200 we remain in Him, he wants us to be an extension of His hands and 478 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,160 feet. And I don't know why, but from 479 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,640 the from December of last year, God's been emphasizing this 480 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,240 Word, His extension of His hands and feet. 481 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:22,600 Today the world needs His extension of His hands and feet. 482 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,120 And we as a church are very limited. 483 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,440 You as individuals are an extension in every area. 484 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,080 It might be like you're the only Christian in your apartment or 485 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,320 the only Christian in your Bay at the office cubicle. 486 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,240 B is extension that bring hope, bring joy. 487 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,080 When you set apart and you're called to remain in Jesus. 488 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:50,120 Even if that increment doesn't come, your joy is complete 489 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:52,720 because you know Jesus takes care of my tomorrow. 490 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:56,920 Jesus will meet all my need. My boss is not the one who 491 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:00,040 actually determines it. Jesus allows my heart to be 492 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:04,040 filled with gratitude. Today a lot of us are pursuing 493 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,520 but when we pursue, let's remember Jesus has the final 494 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,400 say. He can either allow me to have 495 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,760 it or he'll allow make sure that I don't have it. 496 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:17,240 Matthew 10 verse one it says Jesus called his 12 disciples 497 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,280 together and he gave them authority to cast out evil 498 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:22,640 spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 499 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,560 And the reason I have taken that is when he called the 12, he 500 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,400 gave them authority. It says when we remain in Him, 501 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,760 we have authority. When we remain in Him, we have 502 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,520 His power. When we remain in Him, we are 503 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:40,400 able to claim His promises. When we remain in Him, we 504 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:43,480 realize our hands and feet are anointed. 505 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,880 So when we pray, it says that two or three are gathered. 506 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:48,840 He's there. And that's why prayer is 507 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:50,640 important. That's why the prayer of the 508 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,760 Saints is important, and I am believing that this year will be 509 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:59,040 a year of supernatural miracles. When we are set apart, when we 510 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:03,360 we remain in Him, it won't happen in like how we feel like 511 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,840 with all the fanfare. Know it'll happen in the 512 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,120 quietness when someone is next to you and being vulnerable and 513 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,040 is saying you know what? This is what I'm going through 514 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:13,320 and you don't have words. You don't have a life experience 515 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:15,960 to you, but you have only Jesus because you're remaining in Him. 516 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,600 When you start praying, you will see miracles happen. 517 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,120 They will go up with the confidence of Jesus. 518 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,320 They will operate with the joy of the Lord. 519 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:28,040 They will see the breakthrough happen because of Jesus. 520 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:35,920 Are we in it for the long haul? Because to remain in Him is the 521 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:41,160 most important thing. You know, you can't dilute. 522 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:45,400 You can't have a section. The one thing about Christian 523 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,120 life is you can't compartmentalize. 524 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,080 Your work, your family, my faith. 525 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:54,120 No, everything is intertwined. Your faith has to go in 526 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,520 alignment with your work. Your faith has to go in 527 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,360 alignment with your family. Lot of times we feel you know 528 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:00,800 what? We can compartmentalize it. 529 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:02,480 I can tell a couple of white lies. 530 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,000 You know, I can fight something here. 531 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:05,120 No one. It's not going to happen. 532 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:06,960 Because anyway I'm giving my tithes to God. 533 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:11,040 No, you're dishonouring God. Take your faith in stand up for 534 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:14,240 what is right. Choose. 535 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,760 A lot of times we compromise because of the position that's 536 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:19,960 been offered, because of the package that we have. 537 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:25,800 God's calling us to sneeze, set apart so we can remain in Him as 538 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,280 much as we remain in the world. We are called not to be of the 539 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,000 world. So even as I said these three 540 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,920 things, there's a call for us. A call for us is to take put 541 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,640 things into action. What is a call for us? 542 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,480 A call for us. The first thing is to build deep 543 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,840 foundations. One of the things that following 544 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,440 Jesus is you have to build deep foundations. 545 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,720 If you come only on a Christmas, New Year and Easter, you're a 546 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:53,640 shallow Christian. There's nothing that's going to 547 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,680 set you apart. There's nothing that's going on. 548 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,240 Keep you in the center of his bill. 549 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:06,400 It's only when you allow Jesus to be part and parcel of your 550 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:11,240 life every day, every hour, every minute, is when you will 551 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,200 be able to build deep foundations. 552 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:17,560 And a lot of us are in this foundation stage. 553 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,920 We are wanting to build a structure so that we'll be seen 554 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:25,160 as established, We'll be seen as doing well. 555 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,240 We'll be seen as, you know what, We've got it all together. 556 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,000 We'll be seen as, oh, OK, they're a happy couple or we'll 557 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:32,760 be seen as, oh, they're good people. 558 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,920 God doesn't care if you're good. God doesn't care if you're 559 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,320 happy. God wants us to have deep 560 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:41,840 foundations. He wants us to enjoy His joy, 561 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,120 the joy that comes only from him. 562 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,320 The more I talk about that, I realize that's the strength that 563 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:53,920 God gives, the strength that God gives to wake up every day and 564 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,440 to say the joy of the Lord is my strength. 565 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:58,480 So let's see from Matthew, chapter 6. 566 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,440 A lot of us know this story. For those of us who've been in 567 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,640 Sunday school, anyone listens to my teaching and follows. 568 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,600 It is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock, 569 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,719 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters 570 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:12,280 rise and the winds beat against the house. 571 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,600 It won't collapse because it's built on the bedrock. 572 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,000 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish. 573 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,960 Like a person who builds a house on sand. 574 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,159 When the rain and the floods come and the winds beat against 575 00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:25,880 that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. 576 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:29,920 Whatever storms come away, if you're not set apart because of 577 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:34,800 Jesus, if you're not set apart through Jesus, and if we do not 578 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,560 set apart and if you're not remaining in Jesus, what will 579 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:42,760 happen is when storms come, storms will come for everyone. 580 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,679 No one is devoid of storms. Sickness will come. 581 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:51,440 Financial crunches will come. Relationship issues will come. 582 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,840 Family struggles will come. Marital, You know, Ego clashes 583 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,320 will come. But if our anchor, if our 584 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:05,320 foundation isn't Jesus, if our foundation is in his word, if 585 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:09,080 we've developed this constant communication with Him, of 586 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:13,640 listening to Him, to waiting on him, we will realize that those 587 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:18,560 storms will go past. A lot of us are happy when 588 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:23,000 things are, you know, normal. But God's saying that's not 589 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:28,080 life, that's not life. And the disciples had to be in 590 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:31,560 the midst of a soft to know that only Jesus can calm the storm. 591 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,920 One of my friends who I studied along was a worship leader. 592 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,120 Name is Sarah says this, she says this. 593 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:40,920 To see a miracle you need to be in a place where you're in need 594 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,360 of a miracle. That's why I said the joy of the 595 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,440 Lord has to be us. 10 So when the Pharisees constantly 596 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:51,360 bombarded Jesus, he pushed them saying you are in the outwardly 597 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:54,640 trying to please people in the giving. 598 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,760 He came and put a bag of offering, whereas there was a 599 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:01,560 person, a widow, who just came and put the two last coins that 600 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:05,160 she had. When you fast, Jesus said you go 601 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:08,400 and fast how? Where you make a big show of it. 602 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:12,040 But when a personal sin comes, he says, God, I'm not worthy to 603 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:16,760 be here. Deep foundations go and allow us 604 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:21,400 to have deeper, intimate relationship with Jesus. 605 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:26,920 God wants us to have those deep foundations so that when trouble 606 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:31,840 comes, when when hardships come, we don't, we don't shake. 607 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:36,720 You know, this December with the floods happening in our city, 608 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:40,000 water came into our ground floor and you know, I met a person and 609 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,480 he said, you know what, I don't, I can't believe you know how 610 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,440 you, how you guys manage this. Honestly, for me, at the end of 611 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,520 it, when I looked at that entire situation, more than the house, 612 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:53,080 I had to be there for the community, with the community 613 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:55,960 people because we had to make sure certain things were done. 614 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:01,560 Self preservation does not really help, and many a times 615 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,080 that's where the goodness of people is. 616 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,920 You don't have to actually be a Christ follower to talk about to 617 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,600 help people around. People who do not even follow 618 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:10,200 Christ are helping each other out. 619 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:15,280 But today what happens when the lives biggest storms come? 620 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,600 When you're When your wife gets rolled in and you're thinking, 621 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,200 God, what is my future going to be? 622 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:23,920 When you suddenly are sitting with a report and you don't know 623 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:26,880 what to do. When suddenly you've brought up 624 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:30,480 your kids so well. But then when they go out, they 625 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:33,120 see the world and they are enticed by the world and they 626 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:37,520 fall for it and they are stuck in in a cycle of addiction. 627 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,840 Your foundations have to be strong because you cannot 628 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:46,080 crumble. You have to withstand the storm. 629 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,280 And that happens when we're set apart by Jesus. 630 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:52,080 He works in our deep foundations. 631 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:55,480 When I serve, am I looking so that I'll get some praise? 632 00:37:55,800 --> 00:38:00,200 Or am I doing it because Jesus asks for me to do it and I love 633 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:04,680 serving Him? Let's not live for the crowd. 634 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:06,200 Let's not live for the superficial. 635 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:08,640 Let's not live for watchful eyes. 636 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:14,520 But a call to live is for Jesus alone, with deep foundations in 637 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:18,600 His word, in His presence in Him. 638 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,520 The second thing the call for us to live in the wholeness of his 639 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:26,120 word. A lot of us today as Christians, 640 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,480 when you're set apart by Jesus, are trying to live in the 641 00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:34,120 technicality of his scripture. Oh, Jesus won't mind if I if I 642 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:36,760 do this because this is what the Scripture says, you know. 643 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,400 And for that they're willing to go and do a deeper study. 644 00:38:40,240 --> 00:38:43,480 Trust the world in its, trust the world in its entirety. 645 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:47,280 One of the beautiful things that Paul goes on to tell is that 646 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:51,120 don't be a stumbling block. And what he means is he says is 647 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:54,240 your love for your brother far bigger that you're willing to 648 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:55,920 give up certain comfort for yourself. 649 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:01,880 I constantly tell people around me, will we be OK to order veg 650 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:06,560 food because two people are there veg And can we sacrifice a 651 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,800 meal of not eating non veg just for the sake of them? 652 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:14,880 It starts with small things like that, it starts with small 653 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:18,560 things like that, and it moves on to bigger decisions that we 654 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,720 take, bigger decisions that we think. 655 00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:23,880 You know what, culturally it's accepted there and this week we 656 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:26,400 can justify. But what is God calling you to 657 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,720 be set apart it Because when he called you to be set apart, you 658 00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:33,200 will not rely on the technicality of the scripture. 659 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:36,040 You'll rely on the wholeness of His word. 660 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:40,400 A lot of false teachers today are going in the technicality of 661 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,400 His word. They're going in the 662 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:46,080 technicality of His word and are making sure that they take 663 00:39:46,080 --> 00:39:49,000 along. Many people read the scripture 664 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,000 for what it is read for its intended meaning. 665 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,640 When you read a scripture, even if you don't agree with what the 666 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:59,400 scripture says, that's where you're allowing Jesus to set you 667 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,720 apart through His word. His word will move through you. 668 00:40:02,720 --> 00:40:06,240 It will bombard the very thing that you think you have to be. 669 00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:14,280 Because culturally that what demands today we see what is it 670 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:17,040 that he's asking you to live in the wholeness of the Scripture 671 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:22,360 he's saying. It has to produce faith. 672 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,720 When we live in the wholeness of Jesus, what it has to produce 673 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:30,680 faith. We are not here for just the 674 00:40:30,680 --> 00:40:32,720 prosperity gospel. We're just not here to say you 675 00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:34,840 know what, the Bible causes us to be prosperous. 676 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:36,800 So I'll do the Jabis Prayer. I'll do that. 677 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,360 All that is good. But there's also a point when we 678 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:44,600 are called to see that our Christian life will be entailed 679 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:49,480 with suffering, will be entailed with hardships, because that's 680 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:52,520 where our foundations matter. That's where we will. 681 00:40:52,520 --> 00:40:55,560 When we are seeing the wholeness, we see a God is a God 682 00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:59,760 of wholeness, not part. So don't believe in a part 683 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:01,240 scripture. A lot of them are like, you know 684 00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:04,400 what we are? We want to experience the gold 685 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:07,800 dust. But the truth is, Christian life 686 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,840 is going to be marked with persecution. 687 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:13,160 A lot of us are thinking, you know what We Because we are 688 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:15,120 following Jesus, we shouldn't fall sick. 689 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,880 We shouldn't do that. We will fall sick and our trust 690 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:21,560 will be in Jesus. When we close eyes here on 691 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:25,160 earth, we will open and we will see him face to face. 692 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:31,560 Don't believe part scripture. Believe the whole of Scripture. 693 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:36,760 In James, chapter one verses 5 we read Let anyone who asks 694 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:39,680 wisdom, let him ask. But in verse six and eight it 695 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:41,760 gives caution. This is what it says when you 696 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:43,560 ask him. Be sure that your faith is in 697 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,920 God alone. Do not waver for a person who 698 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:50,520 with divided loyalties, as unsettled as a wave of sea that 699 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:51,920 is blown and crossed by the wind. 700 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:55,680 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the world. 701 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:58,880 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are 702 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:00,640 unstable and everything that they do. 703 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,840 The more I see a lot of people who are misleading other people 704 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:07,320 in these technicalities, they're doing it for their own ego. 705 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:10,480 They're doing it so that they alone will be made famous. 706 00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:13,000 They're knowing it because if they do something like that is 707 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:16,160 when people will talk about it. There'll be a hype around them. 708 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,440 Move away from that and believe the whole scripture as it is. 709 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:24,960 The whole scripture causes us to have a faith in God alone and no 710 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:27,800 one else. And you might say, you know 711 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:28,880 what? They're doing miracles. 712 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:33,080 They're doing signs, wonders. The Bible clearly says Even the 713 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:36,800 false prophets and the people who don't who worship other 714 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:41,040 things, can do those things. Read His word. 715 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:44,520 We are living in the last days. This year is going to be a year 716 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:49,720 where we are going to go deeper into seeing who Jesus wants us 717 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:52,080 to be in this world. We are going to be real 718 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:53,440 Christians. What does that mean? 719 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:56,040 That we believe the whole scripture where we just don't 720 00:42:56,240 --> 00:43:00,640 live as meek Christians. We live in the authority that 721 00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,160 He's given us. Wherein when I come to church on 722 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:06,000 a Sunday, I've been meditating this entire week. 723 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:10,400 And when I hear Thy worship, when I hear the word, it's a 724 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:12,800 confirmation of what I've been hearing from God. 725 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:16,520 That is how we should be living. We come expectant into the House 726 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:19,040 of God. We don't come absent minded into 727 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,680 the House of God. We come expectant into the House 728 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:24,400 of God so that we'll have a confirmation that this is what 729 00:43:24,400 --> 00:43:28,360 God is doing. In and through my life, we live 730 00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:34,440 under the authority of Jesus. The evidence of our faith comes 731 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:40,640 because we know that Jesus operated out of authority here 732 00:43:40,640 --> 00:43:42,800 on this earth. He operated under authority. 733 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:46,280 He was under the authority of the Father, and that's why 734 00:43:46,440 --> 00:43:48,240 miracles after miracles happened. 735 00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:50,560 And we have to experience that in our own lives. 736 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:52,480 We need to be under his authority. 737 00:43:52,480 --> 00:43:56,040 A lot of us are wanting to be under that authority of a pastor 738 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:59,200 or of a prophet, of an evangelist, be under the 739 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:02,840 authority of Jesus in his right time. 740 00:44:02,840 --> 00:44:06,960 It'll work, you know. And even as I was talking to our 741 00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:10,520 team, I was challenging them, saying that you know what the 742 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:14,680 century lived knowing the authority of Jesus, so that when 743 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,400 he came to him, he didn't expect him to come home. 744 00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:21,440 He just said, Jesus say the word, we will move into that 745 00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:23,960 supernatural where we'll be able to say Jesus. 746 00:44:24,480 --> 00:44:28,120 The authority that you've placed over my life is because I am in 747 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:30,880 submission to your will. And if this is under your will, 748 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:35,120 may we see it happen. Lord, may we see healings happen 749 00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:38,040 because we believe in the wholeness of the Scripture. 750 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:42,920 And even if we don't see it, and if you marked it for us to go 751 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:46,480 through this, we will go through it joyfully, because you will 752 00:44:46,480 --> 00:44:51,000 give us the strength. That is what it is to live under 753 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:55,120 the authority. Under authority means we live in 754 00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:59,960 a way of submission where we say, God, let not my will, but 755 00:44:59,960 --> 00:45:03,520 your will be done. Lord, let not my plans, but your 756 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,280 plans be fulfilled through my life. 757 00:45:05,600 --> 00:45:10,640 Lord, let not my ambition but your purposes be made complete. 758 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:15,080 Lord, let not my Kingdom, but your Kingdom be established here 759 00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:17,560 on this earth. The third thing which I want us 760 00:45:17,560 --> 00:45:21,000 to talk about is the call is to bear fruit and flourish as it 761 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:25,400 I've been reading this particular Psalm time and again, 762 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:28,720 and this is what it says. Psalm 92 versus 12 to 15. 763 00:45:29,160 --> 00:45:33,800 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like 764 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:37,720 the Cedars of Lebanon, for they are transplanted to the Lord's 765 00:45:37,720 --> 00:45:40,880 own house. They flourish in the courts of 766 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:43,680 our God. Even in old days they will still 767 00:45:43,680 --> 00:45:45,800 produce fruit. They will remain whiteland 768 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,240 green. They will declare the Lord is 769 00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:50,600 just. He is my rock. 770 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:58,000 There is no evil in him. When Jesus is Lord and Saviour 771 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:02,600 of our life, He sets us apart inside and the evidence of it is 772 00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:05,760 seen in the outside. A lot of us want to see the 773 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:09,160 evidence in the outside without allowing him to do the work in 774 00:46:09,160 --> 00:46:11,480 the inside. What does? 775 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:16,640 What does that look like? What does that look like? 776 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:19,440 It looks like they've lasted through seasons. 777 00:46:20,520 --> 00:46:23,680 It looks like they've lasted through different life, stages 778 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:26,320 of life. You know even as you see this 779 00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:31,160 picture, you will see this picture of a dear uncle who 780 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:33,960 happens to be visiting our home for the last 16 years. 781 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:38,600 His name is Jason uncle and I don't know that uncle. 782 00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:42,480 I got to know that uncle through my wife's family and through my 783 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:44,520 wife. And she told me stories after 784 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:47,680 stories of how he in fact came to our wedding and he was one of 785 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:52,000 the pastors was seated there during the solemnization. 786 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:55,560 And one of the beautiful things that we've I personally that we 787 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:59,240 have seen. And so this pastor happens to be 788 00:46:59,240 --> 00:47:04,320 Tina's grandfather's friend. And so he's continued to just 789 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:07,760 come into our life for the last 16 years, every birthday of 790 00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:11,200 every one of us, in the five in the five of us. 791 00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:14,000 And in our wedding anniversary comes so many prays. 792 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:21,000 And one of the things that I've seen that's so evident in his 793 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:24,600 life is the fact that he's set apart inside and it's evident in 794 00:47:24,600 --> 00:47:27,120 the outside. You know, one of the ways in 795 00:47:27,120 --> 00:47:31,760 which he goes around is wearing the the dress of a priest. 796 00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:38,600 But when he talks in the last 16 years, he shared so many things 797 00:47:38,600 --> 00:47:41,440 with us. He encouraged us when we had to 798 00:47:41,440 --> 00:47:44,960 start the church. He prayed with us when we had to 799 00:47:44,960 --> 00:47:49,200 find a place for a church and two years back he lost his wife. 800 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:53,080 I remember when he came to pray for our wedding anniversary, he 801 00:47:53,080 --> 00:47:56,640 was seated and he was crying that he was missing his wife. 802 00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:02,760 That is what it means to bear fruit and flourish as a tree. 803 00:48:03,400 --> 00:48:10,400 That is what it means to have a visible sign of God leading you 804 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:15,760 into old days in fullness. That is what he you know, it was 805 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:20,960 beautiful. He, he he talked of how they 806 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:24,400 both have been married, at least probably over like 50 years of 807 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:26,680 marriage. And he talks of how his wife 808 00:48:26,720 --> 00:48:32,360 prepared him for her death. He talked of how he constantly 809 00:48:32,360 --> 00:48:34,760 encourages us of how to run things as a family. 810 00:48:35,120 --> 00:48:40,360 He encourages us of how to lead our home, of how to deal with 811 00:48:40,360 --> 00:48:44,880 our kids, of how to pray for our kids, of how to pace ourselves 812 00:48:44,880 --> 00:48:48,240 in ministry. And the beautiful thing that 813 00:48:48,240 --> 00:48:53,480 I've seen is that he's been through different seasons and 814 00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:57,720 he's lasted. And so today, as I finish this, 815 00:48:57,720 --> 00:49:00,240 God wants us to last through every season. 816 00:49:01,040 --> 00:49:02,920 He doesn't want us to have a premature death. 817 00:49:03,640 --> 00:49:07,840 He sin will causes us to have that with with us, not willing 818 00:49:07,840 --> 00:49:10,880 to live the life that we've called and taking on more than 819 00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:13,520 what we can. We won't enjoy the life that God 820 00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:17,240 wants us to enjoy. So today, even as I close, I 821 00:49:17,240 --> 00:49:21,560 just want to come back to those points as we talked about, will 822 00:49:21,560 --> 00:49:25,320 we be set apart first because of Jesus? 823 00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:28,440 Will we be set apart through Jesus? 824 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:33,320 Because that is a very painful process and we choose to be set 825 00:49:33,320 --> 00:49:38,160 apart and remain in Jesus. The call is to build deep 826 00:49:38,160 --> 00:49:43,160 foundations so that we will last whatever comes in our life for 827 00:49:43,160 --> 00:49:46,200 His glory. The call is to live the 828 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:49,920 wholeness of His word, that we won't just live for the watchful 829 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:53,600 eyes of this world, but we will live to please our audience of 830 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:57,280 one. And the call is to bear fruit 831 00:49:57,840 --> 00:50:01,040 and flourish as a tree. One of the things it says in 832 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:07,840 this verse is you can be cross planted and you will survive, he 833 00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:11,680 says You'll be planted across different places and it says 834 00:50:11,800 --> 00:50:16,880 that you will still bear fruit. They'll be transplanted to the 835 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:19,520 Lord's own house. They will flourish in the court 836 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,800 of our God, which requires us to stay. 837 00:50:23,680 --> 00:50:26,160 A lot of us today are struggling to be planted. 838 00:50:27,080 --> 00:50:29,520 I would encourage you, for those of you listening, be planted in 839 00:50:29,520 --> 00:50:35,280 one church, be planted in a group of believers, Be planted 840 00:50:35,280 --> 00:50:41,480 in His Word. Be planted in Jesus every day so 841 00:50:41,480 --> 00:50:45,520 that you will last. You will run the race and you 842 00:50:45,520 --> 00:50:49,200 will finish well. God's calling us to be faithful 843 00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:52,880 people of His Kingdom. He doesn't want us to be famous 844 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:55,560 people. He's saying good and faithful 845 00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:58,520 stewards, good and faithful servants. 846 00:50:58,520 --> 00:51:01,680 And so today, Church, I want to encourage you that this journey 847 00:51:01,680 --> 00:51:05,120 that you're called to live is one of set being set apart for 848 00:51:05,160 --> 00:51:09,160 Jesus. And in that, may we be 849 00:51:09,160 --> 00:51:13,080 intentional. May we not take His grace for 850 00:51:13,080 --> 00:51:15,720 granted. And may we live the life that is 851 00:51:15,720 --> 00:51:21,880 called to its fullest, flourishing remaining so that 852 00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:25,040 we'll be a blessing wherever He's taking us. 853 00:51:25,840 --> 00:51:28,920 So can we just commit this word into God's hand, that it will 854 00:51:29,040 --> 00:51:31,640 bear much fruit in our own lives? 855 00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:34,080 Our loving Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you, Lord, for 856 00:51:34,080 --> 00:51:36,160 this time, even as we heard your word. 857 00:51:36,160 --> 00:51:38,280 Lord Jesus, I just want to give you the glory and honor. 858 00:51:38,280 --> 00:51:41,520 Lord, we pray that Lord, we thank you that you came down to 859 00:51:41,520 --> 00:51:43,440 this world. You obeyed the Father. 860 00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:47,720 You died for us, Lord Jesus, and because of you we can see 861 00:51:47,720 --> 00:51:50,040 another day. Because of you, we can live to 862 00:51:50,040 --> 00:51:53,720 see your goodness. Because of you, we can see you 863 00:51:53,720 --> 00:51:55,960 clearly. Lord Jesus, in our lives. 864 00:51:55,960 --> 00:51:59,000 And I pray, Lord, we wouldn't take the day that we accepted 865 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:02,240 you into our heart for granted. I pray, Lord, we are sorry if 866 00:52:02,240 --> 00:52:05,920 you've cheapened your grace lot, but I pray, would you work in 867 00:52:05,920 --> 00:52:08,360 and through our hearts? Would you work in and through 868 00:52:08,360 --> 00:52:12,600 our lives? Lord, we want you to be Lord and 869 00:52:12,600 --> 00:52:16,600 Savior of our lives. I pray we set apart because of 870 00:52:16,600 --> 00:52:19,960 you, Lord, because of you. Jesus Christ was the true and 871 00:52:19,960 --> 00:52:22,640 living God. We'll be set apart because we 872 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:24,440 want you to work in and through US. 873 00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:27,400 Lord, only you can work, Lord no one else. 874 00:52:27,720 --> 00:52:29,960 You say, Behold, I'm standing at the door and knocking me. 875 00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:33,680 Allow you to come in but and help us to remain in You, Lord, 876 00:52:33,680 --> 00:52:37,520 that we won't have our eyes in other people's, in other areas 877 00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:40,320 and other things, but you'll have our eyes and you will be 878 00:52:40,320 --> 00:52:44,640 content remaining in you. Lord Jesus, go before us. 879 00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:46,760 Take charge. I pray you will strengthen each 880 00:52:46,760 --> 00:52:47,760 and every one of us. Lord. 881 00:52:48,280 --> 00:52:51,240 I pray especially as we step out this week, that Lord, we will 882 00:52:51,240 --> 00:52:56,280 learn to enjoy your presence. The joy of the Lord will become 883 00:52:56,280 --> 00:53:00,000 our strength for those who need new mercy every morning, all of 884 00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:01,680 us needed. I pray specifically for those 885 00:53:01,680 --> 00:53:04,240 who are not asking for it. Would you come down and give 886 00:53:04,240 --> 00:53:07,640 them that new mercy? Lord Jesus, go before us. 887 00:53:07,960 --> 00:53:09,640 Bless the food and water of our home. 888 00:53:10,040 --> 00:53:13,200 I pray we will be your salt and your light in this world. 889 00:53:13,360 --> 00:53:17,200 We will lead many to follow you. Lord, go before us and 890 00:53:17,200 --> 00:53:19,800 strengthen us. In your most holy name we pray. 891 00:53:20,480 --> 00:53:22,040 Amen. Amen. 892 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:26,520 I pray and charge you that even as you go out, you will live the 893 00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:29,720 call that God's called us to do. The call is simple. 894 00:53:29,720 --> 00:53:33,920 The call is to bear fruit and flourish as a tree. 895 00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:39,160 The call is to build deep foundations, and the call is to 896 00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,200 believe and live out the wholeness of His word. 897 00:53:43,840 --> 00:53:49,360 I pray that we will always look for Jesus to mould us and shape 898 00:53:49,360 --> 00:53:53,480 us wholly and not partly. I pray that you have a blessed 899 00:53:53,480 --> 00:53:56,440 week. I pray especially that even as 900 00:53:56,440 --> 00:54:00,680 you step out, you will be marked by him once and for all, that 901 00:54:00,680 --> 00:54:03,800 you won't allow sin to have power for you, but you allow 902 00:54:04,040 --> 00:54:06,480 Jesus to have the final say in real life. 903 00:54:06,680 --> 00:54:10,240 God bless you all. Thanks for listening to this 904 00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:13,360 message. We hope you were blessed to hear 905 00:54:13,360 --> 00:54:17,080 more messages like this. Make sure to subscribe and check 906 00:54:17,080 --> 00:54:19,760 out our podcast channel for past episodes. 907 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,520 If you like what you are hearing, consider rating us, 908 00:54:23,640 --> 00:54:26,680 subscribing, and even sharing it with friends. 909 00:54:27,040 --> 00:54:30,840 That would really help us. For more content from We Are 910 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:35,880 Zion and to connect with us go to via Zion dot in. 911 00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:39,920 Remember, whoever finds Jesus finds life.