1 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,960 Hi and welcome to the Via Zion Sermon podcast. 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,000 We are a local church based here in Chennai, India. 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,240 We are so glad you are with us and hope that this will 4 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:20,280 encourage, inspire and instill fresh faith in you. 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,080 We have started a series called The Kingdom Life based on the 6 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:27,920 life and teachings of Jesus from the Gospel according to Mark. 7 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,800 We look at how we must live our lives on this earth as followers 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,720 of Jesus in a way that is countercultural yet powerfully 9 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,160 impactful. As you listen in, our hope is 10 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:44,080 that you will be motivated to live, love, lead, and serve just 11 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,000 like Jesus. Hi church, It's such a joy and a 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,120 privilege to be bringing God's word to you today. 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,880 And even as we take some time to listen in to God's word, whether 14 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,840 you're watching it or listening to it, I pray that God world 15 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,440 will come alive in your hearts and that it'll resonate and not 16 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,520 just just resonate in, you know, being good sounding to your 17 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,640 ears, but it'll enable you to rise up and do what God's 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,160 calling you to do. Even as we've been going through 19 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,840 this entire series called Kingdom life, we've broken it 20 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,920 down last week into a subset which you're calling as Kingdom 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,280 paradoxes. And last week we saw the first 22 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,760 part of this Kingdom paradox where we saw the fear of the 23 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,760 Lord versus the joy of the Lord. And, and it's interesting that 24 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:29,120 even as we live God fearing lives, we'll experience a deep, 25 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,680 real and indescribable joy. As we saw the word joy, we saw 26 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,200 that it's literally an awareness of grace that's on our lives. 27 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,040 And that unspeakable joy is what resonates, is what attracts 28 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,040 others to come and ask, how are you joyful? 29 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,680 And the Scripture reminds us that if we trust God and if we 30 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,680 obey God, he will fill our hearts with joy and gladness. 31 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,240 And I want to encourage us that even as we live this life in 32 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,560 fear, knowing that God is going to come back, we are going to be 33 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,880 with him, that he is holy. And if the fear of God becomes 34 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,400 the guardrails for our lives so that we'll be able to live this 35 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,600 narrow path well, And that will not just be one where we are, 36 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,800 you know, bogged down by fear. And it's not one we're bogged 37 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,960 down with unhappiness, but we will enjoy and have the joy that 38 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,520 brings gladness. The second paradox that we are 39 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,560 going to see today is one which says shrewd as snakes versus 40 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,520 innocent as douse. Shrewd as snakes was innocent as 41 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,240 douse. And this is a passage where 42 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,040 Jesus tells his disciples that he wants them to be shrewd as 43 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,400 snakes and also innocent as doves. 44 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,640 And even before we go into that, I was just, you know, 45 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:39,360 meditating. And I realized that when we are 46 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,360 living this Kingdom life, we are living under the headship of 47 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,720 Jesus Christ, who is the reigning king. 48 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,800 He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. 49 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,480 And this Kingdom life, you're living it in his camp. 50 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,080 You're not living it in some other camp. 51 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,320 You're living it in his camp. And you know, so our hearts, our 52 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,800 allegiance is everything towards this Kingdom. 53 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,080 But the scripture says that we are called to live in this world 54 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,120 but not be off the world, which means we are placed in different 55 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,800 pockets of the world. You probably are placed. 56 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,600 Your entire spectrum of people that you meet might be working 57 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,640 people, some might be business, some might be within the four 58 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:15,560 walls of their apartment complex. 59 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,520 Whatever your world looks like, you're called to be in the world 60 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,400 but not offered. Which means the characteristics 61 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,880 of the world are not what we live by, but we live by this 62 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,440 Kingdom principles and life that God's calling us to live. 63 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:29,160 But how do we live this Kingdom life? 64 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,560 We live it constantly going back to his word and saying God teach 65 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,080 me how to live. And as I was melting, I realized 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,120 there are some things that are very important which we need to 67 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:42,200 love our hearts and our minds to so that we give access to Jesus 68 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,680 so that he's able to do it. And this points me takes me to a 69 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,920 verse in Ephesians chapter 6 verses 11:50. 70 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,880 I want to read it from the message version because God 71 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,720 wants us. So don't just come in on a 72 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Sunday, give Him praise, not just think of him on a Saturday 73 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,600 and get ready, but rather from a Monday to a Sunday. 74 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,280 We are living this life fullest. So this is what it says in 75 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,000 Ephesians 6 versus 11:50. It says in verse 10. 76 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Now, my beloved ones, I've saved these most precious truths for 77 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,040 last. Be supernaturally infused with 78 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,200 strength through your life union with the Lord Jesus. 79 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:20,040 Stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing 80 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,320 in and through you. Put on God's verse 11. 81 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,320 Put on God's complete set of armor provided for us so that 82 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,120 you will be protected as you fight against the evil 83 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,640 strategies of the Accuser. Your hand to hand combat is not 84 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,840 with human beings, but with the highest principalities and 85 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:36,880 authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly 86 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,440 realms, for they are a powerful class of demon gods and evil 87 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,640 spirits that hold this Dark World in bondage. 88 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:45,840 You know, even as I was meditating on this, I was 89 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,760 reminded that Jesus was tempted. Jesus was offered these three 90 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,520 different temptations. You know, one where he was asked 91 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,960 to eat 1. He was asked taken there and 92 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,560 said the entire world is here. The other one where he was taken 93 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,800 to the highest of the temple rooftop and asked to fall and 94 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,120 he'll be protected. But Jesus came out victorious 95 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,040 every time, and he didn't give in to the past and the 96 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,360 principalities of the world. Satan tempted him saying, if you 97 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,800 just bow down before me, I'll give you the entirety of the 98 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,720 world. But Jesus controls everything 99 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,520 far beyond what this world can offer. 100 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,120 And so even here as we look, there are two things which I 101 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,080 want to highlight as we go into the sermon so that this would be 102 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,960 the pathway for us to see this so that we'll be able to rely on 103 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,800 God. I love how the Passion 104 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,440 translation puts it. It says infused with 105 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,040 supernatural strength, infused with supernatural strength, 106 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,680 which means it's not something we put on, but it's rather 107 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,200 infused in which literally moves into your very bloodstream. 108 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,080 You know when they off. Lately I've been watching a lot 109 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,840 of these BBQ videos and stuff and when they want the 110 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:54,080 marination to really soak in, what do they do? 111 00:05:54,080 --> 00:06:00,120 They infuse the marinade right into the very skin they like 112 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,520 inject it and they allow that to go soak in into the very. 113 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,600 It's just not an outer layer, but it's right in. 114 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:10,680 And so here Paul is telling as he's encouraging the Ephesian 115 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,760 church, as he's closing this letter, he's saying you can only 116 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,440 live this out if you're infused with supernatural strength, 117 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,000 which comes from the Holy Spirit because of your life union with 118 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:22,760 Jesus. So it comes down to the point 119 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,600 that I just can't discount the Holy Spirit, but rather because 120 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:31,080 I'm following Jesus, because I'm given my life entirety Jesus, my 121 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,400 heart is solely, you know, worshipping him alone and given 122 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,680 only him access. I am now infused with strength 123 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,440 from the Holy Spirit. And it's interesting that the 124 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,680 early church was infused with the strength from the Holy 125 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,160 Spirit. They all were different. 126 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,280 Their LinkedIn provides weren't great. 127 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:52,600 It was this fisherman tax collector. 128 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:58,480 It was just ordinary profiles. But when the Holy Spirit infused 129 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,440 strength into them, they became who God was calling them to be. 130 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,680 And so today, if we have to live this Kingdom life, God's asking, 131 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,720 will you allow me to infuse strength into you? 132 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,560 Not superficially, because if I put it superficially, I'll 133 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,880 struggle to carry. I'll take treat it like a dress 134 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,480 where I'll put it on and if I don't like it, I'll remove it. 135 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,440 Or if I don't want God to come into a place. 136 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,360 No. But when we are infused with the 137 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,080 strength, we take him everywhere. 138 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,760 We when we are alone, He is with us when we are with our friends. 139 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,200 He is with us when we are the colleagues. 140 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,800 He's with us when we are tempted to go into the wrong, he's still 141 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,680 there and he's also moving us to make the right choice so we'll 142 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,520 be liberated and free from the clutches of sin. 143 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,960 The second thing we see is our positional standing is one of 144 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:46,000 victorious, which means because of his the power flowing in and 145 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,920 through us, we're not standing from a place of defeat. 146 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,000 We're rather standing from a place of victory which comes 147 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,800 through Jesus. The finished work of the cross 148 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,600 is a place where our standing is one of victory. 149 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,680 It's not one of defeat. And as we look into this, it 150 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,960 gives us a deeper understanding of our place, of where we stand, 151 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:11,080 because Satan will always pull the rug under our feet to say 152 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,040 you're standing in a place of defeat. 153 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,960 You are a nobody, you can't do this. 154 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,520 You've tried it and you failed. But Jesus saying, if I am in you 155 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,400 and if my strength is infused in you, I'll give you the strength 156 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,360 to overcome. Would you ask me to come in? 157 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,680 Would you bring me into that situation? 158 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,440 Would you allow me to break that addiction? 159 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,120 Would you allow me to make that bondage? 160 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,760 Would you allow me to set you free? 161 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,159 And the reason why I wanted to give this context was when Jesus 162 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:43,080 is actually telling his disciples to be, you know, 163 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,840 shrewd as a snake and innocent as a dove. 164 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,920 He literally was commissioning the 12 to say, hey, now you can 165 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,600 go and do this. Then Matthew chapter 10, when we 166 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,000 read it in context, we see that Jesus actually has been 167 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,200 journeying with them. And then he says, you know what, 168 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,280 now I'm sending you out. This is where you have to go. 169 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,640 He gives them clear instruction. You know, you don't need to go 170 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,200 to the Gentiles and preach, but go to the fellow brethren and 171 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,040 preach there. And so I just want to read a 172 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,480 couple of verses so that we have idea and the context behind it. 173 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,480 And then we'll be able to realize why we are called to 174 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,560 live as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. 175 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,600 So Matthew chapter 10 verse one reading, Jesus called his 12 176 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,560 disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure 177 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:28,720 spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 178 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,080 We see that Jesus is the one who gives authority. 179 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:36,800 And so today if we are his people who are living here in 180 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,480 this world and we are, we are of his Kingdom, Jesus will grant us 181 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,840 that authority. A lot of times we are unable to 182 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,920 walk in that authority. We've not appropriated that 183 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:47,760 authority which comes in Jesus name. 184 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,320 And I believe today God is raising us up to drive out 185 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,520 impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 186 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,000 And I pray that fear won't set in. 187 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:02,200 We won't be bogged down by the worries of this world that we're 188 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,560 unable to actually take authority in Jesus name. 189 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,600 When we read through the remainder of the verses, we see 190 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,160 they were given a clear instruction where to go, who to 191 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,640 meet, what to proclaim, what they're supposed to do. 192 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,640 And now also the fact that if someone accepts them, give them 193 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,200 blessing. If someone rejects them, wipe 194 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,800 off the dust and move away from them. 195 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,640 And so let God deal with them. And so as we read this, we see 196 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:35,560 God has a distinct plan for all of us who he's commissioned here 197 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:37,320 on earth to be part of his Kingdom. 198 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,800 The Kingdom paradox is only makes sense when you're living 199 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,080 under the authority of the king. And why is it important? 200 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,960 Because God wants us to go and do what he is giving us the 201 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:54,040 authority to go and do. A lot of times we are doing as 202 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:55,640 his fault was what we want to do. 203 00:10:56,560 --> 00:11:00,120 But I believe as we read this, it's very clear God sent them 204 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,840 out. And in fact, when every book of 205 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,320 the gospel concludes, it concludes with that great 206 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,880 commissioning where it says go ye into all the world, Make sure 207 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,960 you're making disciples of all, baptizing them in the name of 208 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,280 the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and take the Gospels to the 209 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,560 uttermost parts of the world. And even as we read that we are 210 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,960 all called to fulfill this Commission as much as you and I 211 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,520 are called to fulfill everything else that we've laid out in our 212 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:31,480 lives because we've been born, we've been influenced, we've 213 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,840 been brought up, and then we have, you know, we find our 214 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:36,680 spaces where this is what we're doing. 215 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:41,720 But God's saying, would you also make a priority to do what I'm 216 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,600 calling you to do? And for those of you who've been 217 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,760 saying, you know what, I've been struggling to find God's call on 218 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:52,240 my life, do what you can there. You can. 219 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,480 When God has given you that opportunity, you don't have to 220 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,600 maybe go looking around the immediate need that's right in 221 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,360 front of you. For some of you, it's just the 222 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,280 opportunity and the skill set that you have to serve in any 223 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,360 capacity. Wherever God's placed you at, 224 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,480 ask him, pray about it. He will lead you there. 225 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,560 So as we read this, we're going directly to the worst, which 226 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:15,840 talks about what this Kingdom paradox we are looking at for 227 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,920 this week looks like Matthews 10 verse 16 to 20. 228 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,920 I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. 229 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:25,160 Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 230 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,200 Be on your guard. You will be handed over to the 231 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,440 local councils and be flogged in the synagogues on my account. 232 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,440 You'll be brought before governors and kings, as 233 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,160 witnesses to them and to gentiles. 234 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:39,760 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what you say or how 235 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,280 you say it. At that time you'll be given 236 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:46,640 what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the spirit of 237 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,280 your Father speaking through you. 238 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,520 And I'm just reading that verse 69, and I'm sending you out like 239 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,320 sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes 240 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,360 and as innocent as doves. Today we need to identify 241 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,080 ourselves. Are we going out as sheep 242 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:06,960 amongst worlds? Because if we are believing the 243 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,560 Kingdom culture, we will be like the that of a sheep. 244 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:13,040 And you're going into the world which will have the culture of 245 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,120 worlds because they are all about themselves. 246 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,480 You look at the world, it's all about how I can climb, how I can 247 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,240 do. And it's ambition is good, but 248 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,640 there's only a ceiling to which you can go beyond that. 249 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:24,800 What is it that you're going to achieve? 250 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,680 Because you it says you can conquer the whole world but lose 251 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:30,040 your soul. And so today, God, what are you 252 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,560 calling me to do in my pursuits, in my achievements, in 253 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:34,240 everything? What? 254 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,000 What are you calling me to do? He's saying be a shrewd as a 255 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,560 snake and as innocent as a dove. So even as we see these 256 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:44,640 instructions, I just want to break those two things apart and 257 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,120 see what is it. God's expecting us because he's 258 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,840 expecting us to go and be his light in this world. 259 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,280 And when he's calling us to be that, he's also giving us a 260 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,400 caution. He's saying be as shrewd as a 261 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,320 snake. And so the first thing I want us 262 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,680 to realize is when God's calling us to be shrewd, we are called 263 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,040 to be shrewd to advance God's Kingdom. 264 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,120 You know, when you look at the comparison he's drawn, he's 265 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,840 drawn it to a snake. And even if you go back to 266 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,160 Genesis chapter, you know, the early 123 chapters, you'll see 267 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,760 that the snake comes. And when the snake comes, he's 268 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:23,480 craftily enough and he's shrewd and he's moving towards Adam and 269 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,240 Eve and causing them to sin so that his agenda will be 270 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:29,160 fulfilled. What is his agenda? 271 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:33,960 He wanted them to become knowledgeable of sin and no sin 272 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,800 and he had them under his clutches and that's what 273 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,880 happens. And so today, what is God saying 274 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,720 when you're shrewd? You need to realize with why 275 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,160 does he say be shrewd as a snake? 276 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,360 Because he's saying when you're of this Kingdom of God, you 277 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,720 suddenly have to think As for a Kingdom and not for yourselves. 278 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,320 You start thinking Kingdom equation. 279 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,640 You start thinking Kingdom, you know, progression. 280 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,600 You're not thinking about your progression at that point 281 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,080 because if you're thinking about your progression, which means 282 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,480 the Kingdom has really not taken effect in you, it's, it's 283 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,800 clearly evident that Jesus is not at the center of your 284 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,160 decision making. It's clearly evident that the 285 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,400 Holy Spirit is not guiding your thoughts. 286 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,280 And so today, what is he saying to be shrewd? 287 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,320 What does to be shrewd mean? To be shrewd means to have 288 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,840 powers or judgements to move things in someone's favor. 289 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:26,680 Anyone who shrewd is moving certain things, is orchestrating 290 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,280 certain things, is putting their pieces in the right places so 291 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,040 that it'll benefit them. They're not shrewd for something 292 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,520 else, they shrewd for themselves. 293 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,200 But God saying, if you're shrewd, I want you to take that 294 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,880 very nature which the snake caused mankind to fall and 295 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,520 redeem that. You're shrewd as a snake for 296 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,320 God's Kingdom because he's sending you out as sheep, as 297 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,760 wolves. And so today, what are we called 298 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,800 to do? And a lot of us know many of the 299 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,960 people who are shoot around us. We have friends who are shoot 300 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,720 around us, around us. We realize that they count 301 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,800 everything. They are so careful about their 302 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:08,080 own world and we see that they live for themselves. 303 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,680 But at the end of the day, Jesus saying, if you're about the 304 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,760 Kingdom, you know, in your process of living out the 305 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,600 Kingdom life, your own life will take shape. 306 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,920 You don't have to strive for it. God will bring into realization, 307 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,960 God will move the hearts of your children. 308 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,800 God will move the heart of your spouse so that you can live out 309 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:30,760 the Kingdom life to its fullest. And I believe God wants us to be 310 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:35,520 different because the world is shrewd in doing evil. 311 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,080 That's what Jeremiah talks about in Jeremiah chapter 4 verse 22. 312 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,520 It says for my people are stupid and foolish, says a Lord to 313 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,400 Jeremiah. They do not know me. 314 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,760 They are foolish children. They have no understanding. 315 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:53,840 They are shrewd to do evil, but they do not know how to do good. 316 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,640 They are shrewd to do evil. They do not know how to do good. 317 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,040 And today I would ask you, what are our heart motives? 318 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,640 What are our heart motives when we see you, when Jesus is 319 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,839 sending them, sending the 12 out today he's asking us, I'm 320 00:17:08,839 --> 00:17:11,240 sending you out. You're going out every week you 321 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:12,920 come back here and you're going out. 322 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,960 What are you going out for? Are you going out for yourselves 323 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,440 or are you going out for your Kingdom purpose to be 324 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,560 accomplished in your life? You might be asking Yeshua, what 325 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,480 does that look like for me? Who's working in a corporate 326 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,840 world, preparing you so that when you go there, you're 327 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,600 different from others? You're shrewd, but you shoot 328 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,120 about God's Kingdom. You know the success comes in 329 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:37,200 his timing. You know you don't have to work 330 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,400 your way, or you know butter people up, or you don't have to 331 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,640 do favours to make sure you can climb the ladder. 332 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,640 God will open the right door if you're doing it with a genuine 333 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,760 heart. Intentions matter. 334 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:53,280 The snake is interesting. When you look, study the 335 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,920 characteristics of a snake. Snake are solidary animals, 336 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,960 which means that they are by themselves. 337 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,200 Only for mating do they look for another person. 338 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:04,520 And it got me thinking that as long as we are all about 339 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:10,360 ourselves, we will soon realize the shrewdness that we are 340 00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:12,720 operating out of will only benefit us. 341 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:19,280 But the minute we move from a place of being for God's 342 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,080 Kingdom, you're starting to think about others. 343 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,920 Your your heart is starting to ache and beat for other things. 344 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,240 That is breaking God's heart. What does that look like in the 345 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,520 city of Chennai on this stretch of format? 346 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,160 What is the top five things that God is breaking the heart of his 347 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,520 people? It probably could be the for 348 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,920 loneliness. It could be for things that are 349 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,560 causing for people to go astray. Probably divorce is really big. 350 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,880 Whatever it is, God will move our hearts to at least start 351 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,480 praying to bring joy in these different areas in people's 352 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,160 life. So I want to ask you today, what 353 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,400 is God calling you and me to be shrewd about so that we're 354 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,360 alert? We're just not, you know, 355 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,600 without foresight going into things, but we're shrewd. 356 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,000 We're saying, God, I'm solely dependent on you because I know 357 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,840 this is where you've placed me for the season. 358 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,480 What are you calling me to do? You know, when we see this, the 359 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:19,000 meaning of this word shrewd in Hebrew it is pronymos, which 360 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,520 means prudent. It's acting with or showing care 361 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,480 and thought for the future. And when you look at the 362 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,520 meaning, it's more like a, it's like a diaphragm where it, it's 363 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,040 this muscle which helps you inhale and exhale. 364 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,120 So which means the inside matches the outside. 365 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:43,920 Shrewdness is where my heart's desire and my intentions matches 366 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,000 my actions. I'm not doing this. 367 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,960 I'm not doing certain things that will benefit me. 368 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:52,240 I'm doing this because my heart is at the right place, for God's 369 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,920 Kingdom is residing in my heart. And so many a times we need to 370 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,760 have that rhythm built in. It starts with small and as it 371 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:05,000 grows into our lives, as we get older, we will soon see God move 372 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:09,360 us to do bigger things because we would have been shrewd in the 373 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:12,760 small things for His Kingdom. We will soon realize, you know 374 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,280 what? This is the place God wants me 375 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,280 to be. He's kept me here so that 376 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,720 there'll be peace in this particular place. 377 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,400 He's kept me here so that I'll bring influence to a certain 378 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,960 group of people. He's kept me here so that I can 379 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:28,040 be a voice and I can lead and I can serve and I can do certain 380 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,640 things. You will soon realize why he's 381 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,960 placed you. You will soon realize why he's 382 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:36,200 placed your spouse there. You will soon realize why he's 383 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,840 placed your children there. Shrewdness at the world shows 384 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,400 with Jeremiah talks about evil is for the now they act for the 385 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,160 Tao. They do shortcuts, bribe, 386 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,400 corruption and all that for the noun, but Jesus saying would you 387 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:55,760 be in it for the long haul? Be shrewd as snakes, but do it 388 00:20:55,760 --> 00:21:01,520 the Kingdom way because I am going to set things different. 389 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,520 I'm going to set things different. 390 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,880 So today I want to ask you church, what motivates your 391 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,000 heart? What motivates your heart? 392 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,200 Because what we set our heart to is what we decide to pursue. 393 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:17,120 You know what, I was just meeting a friend last week and 394 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:23,200 he was talking about what his best friend says and he says he 395 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,680 is best friend always tells this quote which got me thinking. 396 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,880 He said why settle for success when you can settle for 397 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,600 significance? And it got me thinking, how am I 398 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,000 looking for success in everything right now? 399 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,640 Or am I willing to be in this for the long haul because 400 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,000 significance will always cause me to look up and say, God, 401 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,840 there's much more to be done. I won't settle this. 402 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,440 And I think I'm preaching to the culture of this age where 403 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,000 everyone is talking about early retirement, having enough and, 404 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,800 you know, pursuing all that sounds good. 405 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,240 In reality, I don't know because, you know, you're living 406 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:57,720 your life now. You don't know how it will be 10 407 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,440 years from now you could retire. You don't know what the economic 408 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:04,680 situation is going to be, but at the end of the day, when we have 409 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,040 to live, we are living 1 of significance and all of success 410 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,880 because I believe success will leave you lonely. 411 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:15,080 Significance will allow you to live with God's people, 412 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,160 accomplishing God's will and plan in God's Kingdom. 413 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,720 So our solution where does it like lies on what we pursue. 414 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:27,320 It lies on what people say and I believe to be shrewd as a snake 415 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,840 we need the wisdom of God because if you're calling if 416 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,200 God's calling us to advance God's Kingdom we need God's 417 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:39,120 wisdom in that in Proverbs 4 verses 11:50 it says take my 418 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:42,800 instruction rather than seeking silver and take knowledge rather 419 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,600 than choice to gold for wisdom is better than rubies and all 420 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,800 desirable things cannot compare with her. 421 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,400 I godly wisdom reside with prudence, good judgment, moral 422 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:57,880 courage and astute common sense. I find knowledge and discretion 423 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:02,240 and so I believe this verse 12 is going to be very poignant for 424 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:05,520 us to be shrewd to advance God's Kingdom. 425 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,000 Godly wisdom reside with prudence, which is good 426 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:12,760 judgment, moral courage and astute common sense. 427 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:16,640 Three things that will keep us in check so that we'll be shrewd 428 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,320 to advance God's Kingdom. And I find knowledge and 429 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,840 discretion. And I believe if we are called 430 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,280 to live a life of significance, we will soon realize this is 431 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,600 what God wants me to do, to pursue the wisdom that comes 432 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,160 solely from God. And if you've been someone who's 433 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,280 been lacking that because you've been, you know, you've succumbed 434 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,320 to the pressure of the people around you, the friends around 435 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,200 you and the, and the motivation that they drive and certain 436 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:46,040 things that they ask you to do, I would say it's not too late. 437 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,840 James, 15 says, if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who 438 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,440 gives liberally without reproach. 439 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,640 And I pray that over your life that you would ask for it 440 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,720 because even for me, I'm, I constantly keep asking God, am I 441 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,200 doing this? Am I doing this particular thing 442 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,240 so that it builds my pride up? Or am I doing it because it 443 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:10,240 really is building your Kingdom and I'm starting to see that the 444 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:14,480 most insignificant things is what is actually building God's 445 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:20,600 Kingdom about doing the mundane, doing things many a times which 446 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:25,360 people don't see, which people don't praise about as really 447 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:28,400 valuable things in building God's Kingdom. 448 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:30,800 So today I want to challenge you, Church, that even as you 449 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,960 step out this week, would you be shrewd to advance God's Kingdom, 450 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,760 Shrewd to advance God's Kingdom with the wisdom that God gives 451 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,520 from above. The second thing is innocent, 452 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,080 innocent as dove. So it's we saw the first thing 453 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,800 as shrewd to advance God's Kingdom. 454 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,680 The second thing is innocent to conquer and reclaim our 455 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,760 promises. Innocent to conquer and reclaim 456 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,640 our promises. We saw that the snakes were 457 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,920 solidary things and so you know that's that's a cultural thing 458 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,200 which you have to constantly fight It's not about my will, 459 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,320 but God's will with the doves. The interesting thing that when 460 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,280 you read about them is they say they have, they've got a homing 461 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,240 device in them wherein, you know, they've been used since 462 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,760 the early days. If you look in the life of Noah, 463 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:19,960 you know, after the floods, he sent out a dove out and it came 464 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,720 back. And so the researchers and 465 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,280 people say that doves usually, you know, how many ever hundreds 466 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,200 of kilometres ago they have a homing device of coming back to 467 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,760 the same place where they went. And in fact, later on when we 468 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:38,200 see in seasons of war, kings, nobles and army generals have 469 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:43,240 used doves to transport messages across different places. 470 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:48,560 And it got me thinking, God wants us to be a dove so that 471 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,080 we'll be able to carry his message into the world. 472 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:55,320 You know, one of the beautiful things is we, I think in, in the 473 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:59,200 whole Christian world, we've come out with so many ways of 474 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,200 evangelizing. We've come out with so many ways 475 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:02,920 of discipleship. We've come out with so many 476 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,480 techniques and methodologies. But the beautiful thing and the 477 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:11,920 heart behind everything is innocent innocence as a doubt, 478 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:16,600 which means we go out doing what we're doing with sincerity of 479 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,800 heart. If God's called you to a place 480 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:22,600 and it's made you the light there, and if you're the sole 481 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,720 person carrying the light, be the best person you can be 482 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:27,040 there. Even as I was thinking about 483 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:31,280 these doves having a homing device, which means as doves, if 484 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:33,880 you're called to be innocent, as doves, we should always know who 485 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,280 we come back to. You know, there's this saying, 486 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,760 home is where the heart is. Probably a lot of you have that 487 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,880 in your home as a plaque or as an art piece or something. 488 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,960 Where is our home really? As much as we all love our 489 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:47,960 physical homes, we know how to make it cozy. 490 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,920 We have our space, we have the lighting, you have the couch, we 491 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:55,480 have our corner in the house. But I want to ask you today, if 492 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,240 home is where your heart is, I really want to know where your 493 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,720 heart is. Is it in God's word? 494 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:05,520 Because this thing is the only thing that can sustain you to 495 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,400 actually be innocent as those as you take His word out. 496 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:12,920 You know, when we read the scriptures, we see many a times 497 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,400 that there were so many people who just received the call of 498 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:18,840 God on their lives and they lived the call of God to their 499 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,720 fullest. They didn't prepare or anything. 500 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,400 They just lived it out in innocence because they received 501 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:27,880 it from God. We see in the New Testament time 502 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,240 and again, Paul kind of like talks about it time and again of 503 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:35,040 all the people that have come alongside him in his ministry. 504 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,280 And we see this even when you see from the life of Stephen, 505 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:42,240 it's evident that there was they were just being innocent to the 506 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,800 call of God of their lives. They were ready to face the 507 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:50,000 world knowing that even though they were sheep were sent into a 508 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,160 world which was filled with wolves. 509 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,360 So I want to ask you today, where is our heart? 510 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,520 Where is our heart? Is our heart at rest when it's 511 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:05,240 in God's Word, when it's with God, Is it at rest because many 512 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,880 a times the Kingdom life, we need to realize if our heart and 513 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:13,160 our home has to be in rest in the Kingdom or is it pursuing 514 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,920 other things? You can't pursue other things 515 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,000 and say my heart is at rest because I know the Kingdom. 516 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,120 You can know the Kingdom, but your heart will still be 517 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:24,000 troubled. You can know about the Kingdom 518 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:30,680 and you still will feel lost, but is your heart in the place 519 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:35,440 where God's called you to be? Where God's called you to be? 520 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:39,800 And many a times it'll come down because if we don't find God, we 521 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:43,080 will be lost. You know, there's this quote by 522 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,760 Saint Augustine says you have made us for yourself, O Lord. 523 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,760 And a heart is restless until it rests in you. 524 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:57,640 And I believe God is wanting us all to find him hearts to be at 525 00:28:57,640 --> 00:28:58,720 him. Where is he? 526 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:02,840 He's in his word. He's in times when I take time 527 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,800 to read it, meditate on it, because that is where it brings 528 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:08,120 life. It refreshes my soul. 529 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,280 When we see innocence, and especially in the Hebrew word in 530 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:17,720 this, it means unmixed, which means innocence is it's just 531 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,000 innocent, it's white. That's why the representation of 532 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,480 innocence is always shown as a dove, because it's just white. 533 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,880 It's pure white. It's unmixed. 534 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,040 There's no hybrid dove. There's no it's not. 535 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:31,440 It's not mixed at all. It's just pure. 536 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,960 And that's what God wants. Our intentions to be pure, our 537 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,760 thoughts to be pure, our heart to be pure. 538 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,240 We read in Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17. 539 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,480 For anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. 540 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,160 The old has gone and the new has come. 541 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:54,640 So when Jesus comes in, he's wanting to reset us, but our 542 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:56,960 sinful nature causes us to go back. 543 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,960 Our sinful nature causes us to go back because the those are 544 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:02,280 better rhythms for us because we're used to it. 545 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:06,640 Those are better things that satisfy and quench our thirst. 546 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,040 So we go back to it. But God saying no, come back. 547 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:14,120 It might feel like you have you. It might feel like there's 548 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,440 you're missing out, but let your heart be at rest and this 549 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:24,040 beautiful thing like when we see the innocence of a child, the 550 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,880 minute you hold a newborn baby, you know one of the beautiful 551 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:31,240 things about holding a newborn baby and pure innocence is the 552 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,280 fact that they are fully dependent. 553 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:36,320 And that is the nature God wants of us. 554 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,040 If he's saying innocent as a dull, which means a fully 555 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,880 dependent on God. Innocence can exist as long as 556 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:48,120 only we are in the light. The minute we start mixing light 557 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:49,840 and darkness together, it gets tainted. 558 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:55,080 And so in Ephesians chapter 8 was 16-8 to 16, it says you 559 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:59,040 groped your way through that mock once, but no longer. 560 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,240 You're out in the open. Now the bright light of Christ 561 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:06,360 makes you way plain. So no more stumbling around. 562 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,200 Get on with it. The good, the right, the true. 563 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:12,320 These are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. 564 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,400 Figure out what will please Christ and then do it. 565 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:19,720 Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busy work, the barren 566 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,640 pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham 567 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,280 they are. It's a scandal when people waste 568 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:28,720 their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one 569 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:32,120 will see. RIP the cover off those frauds 570 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:36,360 and see how attractive they look in the light of light. 571 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,880 Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your coffins. 572 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,880 Christ will show you the light. So watch your step, use your 573 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:46,880 head. Make the most of every chance 574 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,160 you get. These are desperate times. 575 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,400 These are desperate times. So what is it that God's asking 576 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,640 us to do today when we're innocent as doubt is to realize 577 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,400 that we're solely dependent on Him. 578 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,520 When we're solely dependent on Him. 579 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,840 Which means I don't have to do much. 580 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:09,520 I just have to ask God for the strength to carry me through. 581 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:13,200 I just have to say, God, I trust in your strength and not in my 582 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,800 strength. I trust in you alone and not in 583 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,760 myself. And so today God wants us to be 584 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:23,160 like the dove, innocent, which means that you're not unmixed, 585 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,800 which means you're not tainted, you're not moving, you're not 586 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,320 groping ourselves in the dark, but rather we know clearly what 587 00:32:29,320 --> 00:32:32,160 we're called to do. It says here that there are 588 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,120 three things, the good, the right, the true, That we will 589 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,720 know all this because our eyes are open. 590 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:43,200 We can see it in broad daylight. There are three things that I 591 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,440 want to ask of us that as we meditate on being innocent as 592 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:52,080 doves, is the fact that we'll carry the message that God's 593 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,920 deposited in our hearts. Each and every one of us have a 594 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,440 message from Him. What is our message? 595 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:59,560 It's our testimony. It's what God is doing through 596 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:00,920 us. It's what God has done 597 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:04,200 beforehand of lifting us from the mighty clay and putting us 598 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,800 on a rock to stay. That is our message. 599 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,200 Our save. Salvation is our message. 600 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:12,160 Would you make that your message and carry it forward? 601 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:15,000 So as a dove, we take that message wherever God's calling 602 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,360 us to go. We are present in the 603 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:19,960 battlefield. As we read earlier, this is a 604 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:23,280 hand to hand combat. It's not against against people, 605 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:24,920 but rather against principalities. 606 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:28,040 We are in the battlefield. When we go out, let's not think 607 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:31,600 oh OK, the vibe is nice here, the aura is so good here. 608 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:33,680 Oh the atmosphere is so nice here. 609 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,400 No, we are in places of battlefield. 610 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:40,040 You'd be surprised many times that how many battlefields 611 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,960 exists even in the so-called Christian world. 612 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,280 We need are stepping into a battlefield. 613 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:49,960 Be mindful that being innocent as does is that you're in a 614 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:54,400 battlefield. You're not in a garden and a 615 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,680 call to enjoy the garden. Our time has not come yet in 616 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:01,680 this world. We've been sent out as sheep 617 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,640 into a place where there are wolves which are wanting to 618 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:08,000 deposit their culture, wanting to change as they're wanting to 619 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,199 devour us. So can we rise up and stand and 620 00:34:11,199 --> 00:34:14,040 say we are in the middle of a battlefield? 621 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:18,880 The third thing is because we rely on God's strength, because 622 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:22,120 we're solely dependent on him, we allow him to fight our 623 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,040 battles. And it got me thinking, Lord, 624 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,639 many a times I'm fighting a lot of battles which only you can 625 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:33,280 fight, which means I pray, I claim, I say God, come through, 626 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,960 show your power, lift up your heads, Lord Jesus, in this place 627 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,679 so that they'll know that you are the true and living God. 628 00:34:41,120 --> 00:34:45,280 A lot of the battlefields that you're facing are places where 629 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,639 we're struggling with and we're unable to conquer because we've 630 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:50,880 not invited the King of Kings into battle. 631 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:53,880 We've not invited the King of kings into battle. 632 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:56,719 It's high time we made way for the king. 633 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:01,040 We made way for the King so that he can be high and lifted up. 634 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,120 Because when he is high and lifted up, every knee bows, 635 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:08,000 everything trembles, everything shakes because he wears the 636 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,120 victor's crown. Every stronghold trembles and 637 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:16,200 will fall at his feet. And so today I want us to come 638 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:17,440 across with two different things. 639 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,160 Probably you're feeling really battered. 640 00:35:19,240 --> 00:35:23,160 You're probably in the in the in the edge of where you're like 641 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:25,960 God, I want your miracle to come through, but I, I don't know. 642 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,960 I don't know, Lord, I've, I've struggled in this Lord. 643 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,600 I know I've been called, I've called to live this Kingdom 644 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,480 life, but I'm struggling, Lord, because Lord, it seems that I've 645 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:37,920 been having defeat after defeat and I want to encourage. 646 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,760 Even as I was meditating, God gave me two sections which I 647 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:44,120 really wanted to pray specifically for people who are 648 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:46,800 in that weight for saying, God, I'm waiting for this 649 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,880 breakthrough, Lord. Lord, I know I have to be shrewd 650 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,760 as to advance your Kingdom, Lord. 651 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:56,280 I know I need to be innocent so we can conquer your promises, 652 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,160 Lord Jesus here in this earth. But Lord, I feel like giving up. 653 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,520 I want to encourage you from Exodus chapter 14 versus 13 to 654 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:06,480 14 when Pharaoh was chasing the Israelites and they were caught 655 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,440 on one end with the Red Sea. This is what says most, this is 656 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,080 answer the people. Do not be afraid. 657 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:15,680 Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring 658 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:18,600 you today. The Egyptians you see today you 659 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:21,760 will never see again. The Lord will fight for you. 660 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:27,080 You need only to be still, and this is the beautiful thing 661 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:31,800 about being innocent as it of because you've chosen to follow 662 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:35,480 the light, because you've chosen to not be mixed and groping 663 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:38,560 around in darkness because when you start groping in darkness, 664 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,720 you'll start finding a way. But when you have the light, you 665 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:43,680 move directly where you have to go. 666 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:47,400 You know who's called you, you, you are clear your your 667 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:49,760 intentions are good. You know what he's setting you 668 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,960 up for. I would ask you don't give up. 669 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:58,040 Don't fight this battle alone. I love God to fight sometimes. 670 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:03,640 Most times I believe we are just called to stand still and now 671 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:06,640 God to fight and that anxiety. Allow God to fight in that 672 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,680 stressful situation. Allow God to fight in that 673 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:12,760 confusion. Allow God to fight in that midst 674 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:17,960 of that weight. Allow God to fight the second 675 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:19,800 group of people. That's one for those who are 676 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,680 waiting and who are losing hope and are feeling like they're 677 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:26,400 going to be defeated. The second, probably you feel 678 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:30,040 your innocence was violated. Probably you feel like the 679 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:33,560 innocence that you carried once, that flame that you had for God, 680 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,400 everything that you had, everything has been wiped away 681 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,600 because of that certain abuse or that certain touch or that 682 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:44,440 certain thing that happened in your life which you are ashamed 683 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:46,320 to talk about. And you've been carrying that 684 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:48,440 guilt and that shame all along your life. 685 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:52,520 Jesus saying, I came here to restore that innocence back to 686 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,280 you. Would you allow me? 687 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:56,920 Because I was there with you and that happened. 688 00:37:56,920 --> 00:38:00,160 I was there with you. As much as you feel defiled, I 689 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,240 was there with you and I am here to set you free. 690 00:38:03,720 --> 00:38:05,720 I'm willing to make you innocent. 691 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,440 Would you allow me? And I want to encourage you from 692 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:13,280 Psalm 34, verse 18. Is anyone crying for help? 693 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,280 God is listening, ready to rescue you. 694 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:18,120 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there. 695 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:20,760 If you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your 696 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:23,640 breath. Disciples so often get into 697 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,440 trouble. Still, God is there every time. 698 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,480 He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone. 699 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:33,560 Not even a finger gets broken. The wicked commits slow suicide. 700 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:35,560 They waste their lives hating the good. 701 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,840 God pays for each slave's freedom. 702 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,720 No one who runs out to him loses out. 703 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:45,480 And I pray that you would run to him today. 704 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:50,600 You would run to him today. Today, whatever their seems 705 00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:55,200 stolen, whatever might look stolen to you, God saying I'm 706 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,960 willing to restore the innocence back. 707 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,600 So church today, even as I'm coming to a close, I just want 708 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,560 to encourage you. This one story I had read during 709 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:08,040 my devotion in Nicky Gumbel's Bible, daily Bible Reading and 710 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:11,360 he talks about Chuck Colson. Chuck Colson was a self-made 711 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:13,840 man. He in fact was a student who 712 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:17,400 arrogantly turned down Harvard, you know, a scholarship. 713 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:20,760 He joined the Marines. He set up his own law firm and 714 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,960 entered politics. He in fact was one of the 715 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:27,880 hatchman of President Nixon. And during the Watergate scandal 716 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,920 which broke out and Nixon has to step down from his presidency, 717 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:37,200 he was in fact jailed. He pleaded guilty and he was 718 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:40,160 involved in a cover up scandal and he was sent to prison. 719 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:45,080 But that moment of his life when he was sent to prison is when he 720 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:48,720 encountered Jesus. And when he came out of prison 721 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:52,000 is when he went out and set up prison ministry. 722 00:39:52,720 --> 00:39:57,480 And today it's a big ministry. And I believe it's in that 723 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:01,960 lowest moment where God met with him and what happened that he 724 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:05,280 was shrewd. Apparently he's people used to 725 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:06,800 say that no one can get past him. 726 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:11,000 He was shrewd, cutthroat. He lived for himself. 727 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:15,240 But, and there was no innocence in him because it was all mixed 728 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:17,880 up. But the minute this lowest point 729 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:20,960 came in his life when he went into prison is where Jesus met 730 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:22,840 with him. And this is what it says. 731 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:27,000 He says when he left the court after hearing the sentence that 732 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,000 he had to go. He said what happened in court 733 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:31,600 today was the court's will and the Lord's will. 734 00:40:32,080 --> 00:40:35,640 I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for 735 00:40:35,640 --> 00:40:39,960 him in prison as well as out. Colson did just that. 736 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,480 After his release, he set up Present Fellowship and became 737 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:44,720 directly and directly responsible for leading 738 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:48,440 thousands to Christ. I once heard him say I was 739 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:50,800 ambitious, and I'm ambitious today. 740 00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:54,440 But I hope it's not for Chuck Colson, although I struggle with 741 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,320 that quite a lot as a matter of fact. 742 00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:01,920 But I'm ambitious for Christ, ambitious for Christ and for 743 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:06,280 Christ's glory. So today you and I are called to 744 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:09,800 live this kingdom's life. You and I are called to do His 745 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:13,600 work, but you and I are not called to take His glory. 746 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:18,440 The glory belongs to him. And so today God can rewrite 747 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:19,680 anything. That's a beautiful thing. 748 00:41:19,680 --> 00:41:22,400 You know, God needs us at a point of our need. 749 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,000 And so today I want to pray specifically that for people 750 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,560 who've been, for those of you who've been so shrewd about the 751 00:41:29,560 --> 00:41:33,280 world, I pray you'll start being shrewd about advancing God's 752 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:36,480 Kingdom because that is the call of God on each and everyone of 753 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:40,040 us who follow Jesus. And the second thing is that as 754 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:44,960 much as we are are innocent, we won't mix light and darkness. 755 00:41:44,960 --> 00:41:47,120 We won't be. Rather, we would be people who 756 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,840 stand out as innocent, innocent so that we can conquer and 757 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:55,960 reclaim our promise from God. To be sure, we would need the 758 00:41:55,960 --> 00:42:00,080 wisdom of God to be innocent. We would need the strength from 759 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:03,800 God because he's wanting to fight a battles for us today, 760 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:07,520 even as I did earlier from Ephesians 6, verse 10 to 12 in 761 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:09,720 the Passion. I would ask you church, would 762 00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:13,080 you be infused with supernatural strength that comes from the 763 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:16,960 Holy Spirit and would you find your positional standing with 764 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:21,040 Jesus, which is one of victory? Can you pray and close? 765 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:22,560 Lord, we just thank you, Lord, for this time. 766 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:25,920 Thank you, Lord, that even as we read from your word, Lord, 767 00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:29,320 you're calling us to live and go out into this world. 768 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:32,720 Lord Jesus, even though it seems daunting, Lord, as sheep who's 769 00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:36,480 been sent out into a world full of worlds, Lord Jesus, we thank 770 00:42:36,480 --> 00:42:38,960 you that you died for each and every one of us. 771 00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:41,880 Lord Jesus, we thank you that we're not fighting people, but 772 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:44,120 rather the principalities and the powers of darkness. 773 00:42:44,120 --> 00:42:47,000 But I pray even as we step out, Lord Jesus, we'll go out in 774 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,120 boldness. Lord Jesus, I pray we won't be 775 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:52,480 shrewd about ourselves or we'll be shrewd about advancing your 776 00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:54,840 Kingdom. We'll be innocent, Lord Jesus, 777 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:58,720 as doves, so that we'll be able to conquer and fulfill the 778 00:42:58,720 --> 00:43:01,200 promises that you have kept for us. 779 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:03,760 Lord Jesus, I pray, Lord, even right now you give your children 780 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:05,680 wisdom. Even right now you give your 781 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:09,120 children Lord, power from above. Lord Jesus, we thank you. 782 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,800 Lord, I ask Lord, even right now for people who are at the as we 783 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:15,080 read, Lord, I pray that they'll stand still and they'll allow 784 00:43:15,080 --> 00:43:17,840 you to fight the battles, Lord Jesus, and they'll come out 785 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:21,560 victorious and singing sing. I waited and the Lord came 786 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:24,360 through and he delivered me. Lord Jesus, we thank you. 787 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,960 I pray especially for those who are crying right now, Lord 788 00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:28,920 Jesus, and they desperately need your help. 789 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:31,360 We thank you for your word, which says you're close to the 790 00:43:31,360 --> 00:43:33,560 broken hearted. You hear their cry and I pray 791 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:36,080 would you hear them set them free right now? 792 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:38,440 Lord, I pray, would you touch them today so that their 793 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:41,920 innocence would be returned, that they'll be all out for you. 794 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:45,160 Lord Jesus, I pray that their lives will be 1 which is lit, 795 00:43:45,920 --> 00:43:47,960 that they don't have to mix it with darkness. 796 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:53,560 Be glorified, be honored. We thank you Lord, go before us. 797 00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:55,640 I pray the food and water of our home will be blessed. 798 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:57,920 I pray every conversation that we undertake will be blessed. 799 00:43:58,240 --> 00:44:01,040 I pray you bless the work of our hands, strengthen us, take 800 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:03,360 charge. In your most holy name we pray, 801 00:44:03,880 --> 00:44:04,800 Amen. Amen. 802 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:07,760 So Church, even as we just prayed, I pray and believe that 803 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:10,160 God's calling you to live your life to the fullest. 804 00:44:10,720 --> 00:44:15,800 I pray you live it knowing that you're called to be shrewd so 805 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:17,440 that we'll be able to advance God's Kingdom. 806 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:21,760 We are called to live innocently so that we'll be able to conquer 807 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:26,520 and live out the promises that God has kept for us. 808 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:30,280 I pray you'll have His wisdom and His strength as you do this. 809 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:32,320 I pray that you have a blessed week ahead. 810 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:35,280 God bless you all. Thanks for listening to this 811 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:38,360 message. We hope you were blessed to hear 812 00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:42,120 more messages like this. Make sure to subscribe and check 813 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:44,760 out our podcast channel for past episodes. 814 00:44:45,240 --> 00:44:48,520 If you like what you are hearing, consider rating us, 815 00:44:48,680 --> 00:44:51,680 subscribing and even sharing it with friends. 816 00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:56,400 That would really help us. For more content from Via Zion 817 00:44:56,720 --> 00:45:00,920 and to connect with us, go to Via Zion dot in. 818 00:45:01,480 --> 00:45:05,000 Remember, whoever finds Jesus finds life.