1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,200 Morning to all our viewers who are joining us this Sunday 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,700 morning, and we know that it's Mother's Day. 3 00:00:04,700 --> 00:00:09,500 So happy Mother's Day to the mothers of our church and to the 4 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:12,600 new mothers that became mothers these past few months. 5 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:16,200 We just want to extend from the leadership to all of you, our 6 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,100 gratitude and our love and we pray for the families of our 7 00:00:21,100 --> 00:00:22,700 church. We pray for the parents of our 8 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,600 church that God would continue to strengthen you and use you to 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,900 raise up Godly Offspring for his glory. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,700 He and a personal happy. Mother's to my mother. 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,300 I love you. I wish I could see you and I 12 00:00:36,308 --> 00:00:38,900 trust that we will be able to sooner than later. 13 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:43,200 I trust that you're awake this morning and that you have your 14 00:00:43,208 --> 00:00:47,100 Bibles with you because we're going to just touch on a few 15 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:50,800 verses here, but it's going to be intensely practical. 16 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,400 We're not going to like a Bible study dig into various 17 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,000 scriptures to try to pull out some theological truths. 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,700 This is the illogical but it's going to be very very very 19 00:00:59,900 --> 00:01:02,800 Practical and my prayers, that it's going to help. 20 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,400 It's going to be kind of a connecting message to last 21 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,300 week's. And if you're with us last week, 22 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:14,400 you know that we spoke about how to overcome a cold heart, how to 23 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,400 escape this lukewarmness, that many Christians have testified 24 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,000 of experiencing at one point in their lives. 25 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,500 And sometimes it's been a prolonged season of dryness and 26 00:01:24,500 --> 00:01:29,400 complacency and indifference and we looked at the way to escape 27 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,400 that. That kind of a heart posture and 28 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,700 near the end of the message. If you were with us last week, 29 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:39,600 you remember that, we spoke about the necessity and the 30 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,100 discipline of feeding, the flame of the devotion that we have 31 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:46,800 towards the Lord, that despite emotion. 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,200 We must have necessary disciplines of an intake of the 33 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,000 word of God, of being honest and transparent with the Lord in the 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,700 place of prayer and sharpening ourselves by the fellowship of 35 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:01,100 other like-minded believers. Now, We all generally know that 36 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:03,400 though. We all know as Christians, that 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,900 the thing that we all have to do is pray read meet with other 38 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:10,100 believers and serve in your local church. 39 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:15,000 But I don't want us to just understand that General sense 40 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,800 because those tools can be handed to somebody and then they 41 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:25,000 can be adopted as principles. Only to be a mechanical routine. 42 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:30,200 Only to be an end in itself when they are means to an end. 43 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,400 And so what you have is people who understand this, who are 44 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,700 charged with this and then they end up trying to do it and they 45 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:39,500 feel as though they are absent minded throughout it and they 46 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:40,900 don't really know why they're doing it. 47 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,000 All they know is that this is what Christians do. 48 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,500 And so I'm going to do it and hopefully something will come 49 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:48,300 out of it. But that is not the way we ought 50 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:50,100 to think about these spiritual disciplines. 51 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:55,900 Imagine somebody being told that they need to go to the gym and 52 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:58,500 they are getting a membership. They get the right outfit and 53 00:02:58,500 --> 00:03:02,200 everything else and day in and day out they go and they do what 54 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,600 they think they need to do and they move around with machines 55 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,600 and they spent a good hour every day in that facility. 56 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:12,500 And they come out after a year spending money spending time and 57 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:14,700 energy with little to no results. 58 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:17,700 How is that possible that happens to a lot of people? 59 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,800 And one of the reasons is because there is the wrong 60 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,300 approach. There isn't the comprehension of 61 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:25,700 how to do certain things and why they should do it. 62 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:29,400 And then they come out with greater disappointment and with 63 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,500 again little fruit in their efforts. 64 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,800 I would argue that when we understand the spiritual 65 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,400 disciplines, there has to be the right attitude, and there has to 66 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,400 be the right Outlook. Less, we find ourselves just 67 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,800 going through some motions and not seeing what God wants us to 68 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,300 see. And I think that what we need to 69 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:54,100 do is examine our own hearts and be as honest as possible to ask 70 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,100 ourselves. If this is what we find in our 71 00:03:56,100 --> 00:04:00,900 thoughts, this is what we find in our souls concerning our 72 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:03,000 relationship with the Lord. Oh Lord, because what this 73 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,700 message is really going to do is touch on three types of mindsets 74 00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:09,800 were three, attitudes, are three outlooks or our frame of mind 75 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,800 that is absolutely necessary to specifically and more 76 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,500 effectively feed the flame of our devotion to Lord it. 77 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:20,300 And really, they're all going to be drawn from one person and 78 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:22,000 even one book. And that is the book of 79 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,700 Philippians with a man named the Apostle Paul, and I love Paul. 80 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:29,400 Because if there is anyone, that was consistent in his Zeal for 81 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,800 the Lord, if there was anyone that God has given to us. 82 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:35,900 So as an example of how to live from beginning to end only going 83 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:40,000 from glory to glory, it is this man and this is going to be just 84 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,500 a brief touch on these points and I hope that again your heart 85 00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:47,500 will be able to be honest enough to say yes. 86 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:50,000 This is true of my life and no it's not because if you're 87 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,100 honest enough and you're not able to say yes to these things 88 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:56,900 or you're not able to identify or connect with them, then 89 00:04:56,900 --> 00:04:59,700 perhaps you found a reason why even though you're doing these 90 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:03,700 spiritual disciplines? Why they're not really effective 91 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:06,000 and not just effective why they're not enjoyable. 92 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,800 C by understanding this, we will know how we can have a 93 00:05:09,808 --> 00:05:12,100 determination in these disciplines but not just in 94 00:05:12,108 --> 00:05:15,500 determination. We want enjoyment and the light. 95 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,800 I think God has given us these things to really know a joy and 96 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,600 the reason why so many are either board or they are 97 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,500 distracted. Many of the times it's because 98 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:30,000 they don't realize what these things should lead to. 99 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:34,900 So join with me in your Bibles and turn to Philippians chapter 100 00:05:34,900 --> 00:05:37,000 1. And let's look at the first 101 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,900 point that I think is absolutely necessary. 102 00:05:39,100 --> 00:05:42,700 The ingredient that is needed to feed a greater flame for the 103 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:45,500 things of God. It's a flip Ian's one and let's 104 00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:48,500 look at verse 21. It's a very familiar passage. 105 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:50,200 You probably heard of you probably memorized it. 106 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:54,300 But let's look at Philippians 1:21 and see what Paul says, he 107 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:57,100 says for to me to live is Christ. 108 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:02,500 And to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, 109 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,000 that means fruitful labor for me yet. 110 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,500 Which shall I choose? I cannot tell. 111 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:13,100 Now, Paul, this point is expressing, because he's writing 112 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:16,300 from prison. He is expressing the possibility 113 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:21,100 of him dying at some near point, and he is distressed about this 114 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:26,600 possibility of dying at a near point and the distress that he's 115 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,800 experiencing. Her expressing is not because he 116 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,200 has a fear of death. It's not because he is in dread 117 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,500 of pain, know, the turmoil that he is expressing is because he 118 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:40,500 is trying to convince himself. If living is better for him, or 119 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:44,700 dying, is better for him. Most of us want to live. 120 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:46,800 We don't want to die. And that's a great thing, life 121 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,400 is a gift. But Paul here, as though he did 122 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,900 have the choice is saying, listen. 123 00:06:52,900 --> 00:06:56,300 I have the choice to either be with Jesus and he goes, that is 124 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:58,500 far better because there's nothing that can compare to 125 00:06:58,508 --> 00:06:59,900 that. This is my longing. 126 00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:02,900 This is why I live to know him and to experience him and to 127 00:07:02,900 --> 00:07:06,800 have that as we heard even last Friday without hindrance. 128 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,300 Oh, that's my number one choice, but this might be shocking to us 129 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:13,200 as much as that is a desire to pawn. 130 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,900 It should be the desire of every believer. 131 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,400 There is one. Other thing that would keep Paul 132 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,200 Earthbound. There's another thing here that 133 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,700 would keep him in this scene shattered, broken depressing, 134 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:29,600 dark world, and it is found here in this verse where he says, yet 135 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,100 to remain. In the flesh, means fruitful 136 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,900 labor for me. This is his turmoil. 137 00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:42,300 This is the one other thing that would keep him on this side of 138 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:46,400 Eternity. Do you realize how profound this 139 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:47,600 thought is. Do? 140 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,700 You realize what Paul is saying? He's saying the only reason why 141 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:55,000 I would not be in the presence of Jesus enjoying his glory 142 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,500 forever. The only reason why is because 143 00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:01,300 there is a sense of mission that I have in this life and if I can 144 00:08:01,300 --> 00:08:04,800 glorify him more with my breath, then I will choose to do that 145 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,000 because I'm going to end up going to heaven. 146 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,400 Anyway, I'm going to be in the presence of Jesus, no matter 147 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,500 what, that is where I am headed. So the longer I can stay here to 148 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:15,300 glorify him and to live for him. I'll do that in the ends up 149 00:08:15,300 --> 00:08:18,200 concluding saying yep. On your account, for your sake. 150 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,400 I'm going to stay. Think about how this man lived, 151 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,500 his life was all about. One thing. 152 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:30,300 It was framed around one certain direction and that was to serve 153 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:32,000 the Lord with everything within him. 154 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:37,000 Do you think Paul is saying this because he's it's a lesser 155 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,600 option. It's not obviously as more 156 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,100 amazing being with Jesus, but you have to understand Paul had 157 00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:47,300 a joy in serving the lord in Acts 20:24. 158 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:51,300 He says, but I did not account my life of any value nor as 159 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:55,800 precious to myself. If only, I may finish my course. 160 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,900 And the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify 161 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:02,100 the gospel of the grace of God. He was my life, literally has no 162 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,100 significance. There's nothing about living on 163 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:09,300 this Earth, that matters more to me than living to bear fruit for 164 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:11,900 the glory of the name of Jesus Christ. 165 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:14,700 So you're saying what's your point? 166 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:19,600 Here's my point. This is not to say that your 167 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,200 identity has to be in your ministry and it wasn't for Paul. 168 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:26,400 But you can't deny that he had a joy in it and that his life was 169 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,000 organized around it that all the events in the planning and the 170 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,800 motivation and the ambition was centered around this truth. 171 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,800 So the question in the point to make is this, that if you want 172 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,600 to know a consistency in a passion and a Zeal for the Lord, 173 00:09:38,900 --> 00:09:43,700 you must have a grasp on your personal mission for God. 174 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,700 You personally. Yes, you watching, whoever you 175 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:50,800 are. You, you must have a grass, an 176 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:55,600 understanding of your personal mission for God. 177 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,700 Paul had that and that's what kept Paul going. 178 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,700 That's what made Paul want the state, he knew what he was 179 00:10:03,700 --> 00:10:07,500 called to do and he would live for that with everything within 180 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:10,300 him. This is what kept Paul 181 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:12,200 energizes. What kept Paul animated. 182 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,800 This is what gave something called to pray over. 183 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,500 And Weep over into contemplating to dream up. 184 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,900 And to hope for, he knew that there was a calling from Heaven. 185 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:24,400 He knew he responded to that call, and he knew that there is 186 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,400 nothing greater than living for that call. 187 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,900 And this is what every believer is called to do at the same 188 00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:33,900 time, because unfortunately, what you have as many Believers 189 00:10:33,900 --> 00:10:37,700 that are either deceived by ill motive leaders, or they 190 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:41,100 themselves have tricked their own understanding of the faith 191 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:46,700 or the Devil Himself. Has brought them into a state. 192 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,100 Of deception and to thinking what? 193 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,800 That all my Christian Life. You can sum it up in the purpose 194 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,800 for it. Is this formality in attendance? 195 00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:03,600 As long as I have a church, as long as I go there to hear a 196 00:11:03,608 --> 00:11:07,900 message as long as I give from time to time, I may not be a 197 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:10,100 super Christian but on the standard Christian, that's a lot 198 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:12,700 of people think. I have a church named. 199 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:18,400 I attend their I give I here I've done my part and that's 200 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,200 exactly what my life is all about as a Christian. 201 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,800 That is deception. That is not God's Will and that 202 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,400 is a great reason why many people are lukewarm and that is 203 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,700 pervading our generation today because they've adopted that 204 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:34,400 mentality. When I was in high school and 205 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,300 even early on before high school, I played a lot of 206 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,900 basketball. Something I gave myself to with 207 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:44,500 great Zeal and passion, but there is a season of my journey 208 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:48,000 in basketball where I had to spend a lot of time on the 209 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,900 bench, especially my early years of high school. 210 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:55,700 I had to sit down a lot if not most of the games and come in 211 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,100 from time to time, but most of the times, every other night, 212 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:01,400 when we had a game, I would sit on the bench and I would watch 213 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,400 my friends play. And even though we were 214 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,700 encouraged and I wasn't even trying to stir myself up to be a 215 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:10,500 good Sportsman at the Clapping to applaud and to show my 216 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:12,000 support. Can I be honest with you? 217 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,600 It was boring. It was boring. 218 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:20,700 I did not want to spend all of my time sitting and watching 219 00:12:20,700 --> 00:12:24,700 other people contribute to an effort to win while I'm just 220 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:28,000 here shouting and yelling. I wanted to get in there. 221 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,700 I wanted to do something. I wanted to contribute. 222 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,900 Give me some kind of a goal here. 223 00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:35,300 Give me Some kind of a roll here, even if it's just for a 224 00:12:35,308 --> 00:12:37,300 few moments. I'll give everything I have. 225 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,300 Whenever I have the chance I was able to do that. 226 00:12:40,700 --> 00:12:44,600 Now, here's the thing. Sports might be organized to 227 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,500 have people who are playing and other people who are on the 228 00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:50,300 bench as a backup, but that is not how the kingdom of God is 229 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:53,400 organized. That's not how its organized. 230 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:56,500 The kingdom of God, is organized in such a way that every single 231 00:12:56,500 --> 00:13:00,400 person that has chosen to be a part of God's team has a role to 232 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:01,600 play. There is no such thing as a 233 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,400 bench. But what we have is many 234 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,700 believers who have created this spiritual bench and are sitting 235 00:13:08,700 --> 00:13:11,900 on it and are looking upon others who are serving God, 236 00:13:11,900 --> 00:13:15,500 mainly leaders, who are praying evangelizing, a dreaming 237 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,300 sweating, pouring everything out to serve God, and they're there, 238 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,400 and they're showing their support. 239 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:24,200 There are plotting their cheering, they show their 240 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,400 appreciation. But again, you have to 241 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,400 understand that is not how God designed his kingdom. 242 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,400 The kingdom of God is not a sports team. 243 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,100 The kingdom of God, is in our me. 244 00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,900 This is way bigger. This is a way of life. 245 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,200 It's not something that we just do recreationally know. 246 00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:45,400 But unfortunately, again, we have people is convincing 247 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,600 themselves that as long as they have the Jersey. 248 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:50,700 And as long as they tell other people and they convince 249 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,100 themselves, they're part of the team that they've done 250 00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:56,700 everything they need to do. You will not find such an 251 00:13:56,700 --> 00:14:00,500 attitude in the New Testament. And let me tell you this, that 252 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:04,100 kind of mentality might soothe your religious conscience, but 253 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:08,700 it will not contribute to an ongoing Zeal that you and I 254 00:14:08,708 --> 00:14:13,300 desperately need. Paul knew his personal mission 255 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:16,100 from God. And the question you and I have 256 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:18,300 to ask this morning. Yes. 257 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:21,400 Right now is this is where it gets very practical. 258 00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:26,900 What part do I me as I'm sitting and watching and hearing this 259 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:31,200 via livestream. What part do I fill in the 260 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,500 blank? My name play in contributing to 261 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:37,300 the advancement of God's kingdom while I attend church. 262 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,800 No. No, that doesn't mean anything. 263 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,200 That's part of it. What part do you play? 264 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:44,600 What do you give yourself to? What is the gift? 265 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,700 You were exercising. What it what is it that you are 266 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,100 saying? This is what I'm giving myself 267 00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:56,300 to in order to best help Advance the message of the Gospel in my 268 00:14:56,300 --> 00:14:59,200 local context. Now, you might be hearing and 269 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,600 saying yeah, I totally understand what you're saying. 270 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:05,500 And yes, now you are stirring my heart to even to even consider 271 00:15:05,500 --> 00:15:06,600 what I should do. So, you know, what I'm going to 272 00:15:06,608 --> 00:15:08,100 do. I'm going to be a blogger. 273 00:15:08,500 --> 00:15:10,500 I'm going to be a worship. I'm going to be a guest speaker. 274 00:15:11,500 --> 00:15:13,800 I'm going to be the next Ravi Zacharias. 275 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,600 That's what I'm going to be. Now, hold on. 276 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,000 Since when did being used by God mean that you have to be known 277 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,200 in order to be effective or to no fulfillment. 278 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:28,600 God can use anybody for one of those things on a public 279 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,100 platform. But many people get this idea 280 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,000 that the only way that I can serve God and to know a personal 281 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,300 mission is if I have a title if I'm known. 282 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:40,500 If I'm recognize if I'm demanded for Is that really true? 283 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:44,800 Is that how we ought to think about what it truly means to 284 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,100 know the calling that God has for us? 285 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:50,700 Or is it possible that God has callings and many callings that 286 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:53,600 are hidden? That are unknown that man may 287 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:59,900 not be able to identify or even vocalize appreciation for I like 288 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:03,400 to think that there are some who are in the background and their 289 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,500 hidden agents for God, those that are unknown around the 290 00:16:06,500 --> 00:16:09,500 world that are glorifying God, and that is true. 291 00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:15,800 But unfortunately, because I believe this idea of celebrity 292 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:21,200 culture has invaded the church. It is affected the way we view. 293 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:24,700 What it means to truly be used by God and then it's 294 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:27,700 disappointing thing. But here's what you and I have 295 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:30,900 to grasp. That you don't have to be known 296 00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:35,100 or you don't have to pursue Fame in order to no faithfulness. 297 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,400 That is going to be one of the most frustrating things in your 298 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,100 life. If you begin to covet, somebody 299 00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:46,200 else who has a public Ministry and you think that is the only 300 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,500 way that I can truly serve the Lord. 301 00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:53,200 No, that is not the case at all. I think we have to understand 302 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,100 one core understanding here concerning being used by God. 303 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:02,000 The you and I are not limited to those things. 304 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,200 There is a array of ways of being energized by the Holy 305 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,300 Spirit to have anointed Ministries, that would touch 306 00:17:10,300 --> 00:17:12,500 lives, whether people recognize it or not. 307 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,700 And I think what you and I have to settle at this point. 308 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:17,900 If we do not know what God wants us to do. 309 00:17:18,300 --> 00:17:22,200 I think we have to be comfortable and convinced of 310 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,599 this that no matter what it is that God wants me to do. 311 00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:29,800 I will not look to another. I will not try to get into 312 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,200 somebody else's Lane. I will seek what God has for me. 313 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,100 I will exercise the gifts that he's given me to the capacities, 314 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:39,600 giving it to me, and I will try to do it with as much patience. 315 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:44,500 Enjoy that he can offer. If not, you'll just add more 316 00:17:44,500 --> 00:17:47,000 frustration to this spiritual Zeal that you're trying to tap 317 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,900 into, but there is also another group of people that are hearing 318 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:52,500 this and understand. Okay. 319 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:54,500 I got to know my personal mission for God. 320 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:56,900 I got to know what it is that God wants me to do. 321 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,800 And they think to themselves. Well, I just don't know. 322 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,200 My lifelong purpose. I know, I need it. 323 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:05,600 But I don't know. I prayed about it. 324 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:11,600 I fasted, I've sought counsel I researched but I don't know what 325 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,000 it is from now to the last point of giving my breath. 326 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,900 I don't know what it is. And that's another thing too is 327 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:23,600 because some people they want to know a definite. 328 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,800 Category or a definite Lane to be in so that they can give 329 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,300 everything they have into that kind of a thing, and that's 330 00:18:34,300 --> 00:18:36,900 okay. And some people even know it, 331 00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:39,900 they sense a certain calling in their life, but because of the 332 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,300 lack of opportunity, the lack of resources or even the lack of 333 00:18:43,300 --> 00:18:48,400 maybe open doors, people begin to feel discouraged and maybe 334 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,200 even disqualified. I hope this is making sense. 335 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,700 I hope this is reaching different people who have 336 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:58,000 different kind of thoughts about this idea of knowing what God 337 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:02,400 wants me to do. Now, listen, if there's any 338 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:07,100 advice I can give to you, there's any piece of wisdom that 339 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,400 has blessed my life. And I hope will bless yours. 340 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,500 Let's simply be this that you. And I should not be concerned 341 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:16,300 about the long-term you. And I should not be consumed 342 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:20,500 about the lack of clarity of what I am supposed to do or even 343 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:22,200 being frustrated, a lack of opportunity. 344 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,800 Do you know what you're supposed to do? 345 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:27,100 We can't get caught up in that. The one thing that God wants you 346 00:19:27,108 --> 00:19:30,300 and I to do is simply this to know the purpose he has for us 347 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:35,700 in This season alone. And to take a hold of it with 348 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:39,000 everything within you and to trust that at his own pace. 349 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,800 He will unveil what he needs to unveil. 350 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:46,800 That is extremely important. If there is any inspiration 351 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,500 regarding this in the Bible, you might be surprised to hear the 352 00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:53,800 name, Philip. Philip in the New Testament is 353 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:55,700 one of the most inspiring people to me. 354 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,900 Concerning the subject of serving the lord. 355 00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:00,200 Wholeheartedly, no matter what has been given to him. 356 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:04,100 Look at Philip in Acts chapter 6, with six others. 357 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:06,900 He's been called to his literally serve tables and he 358 00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:10,600 does it wholeheartedly, you go to Acts chapter 8, the same 359 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:11,800 Philip, you know what he's doing. 360 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:14,200 He's not waiting on tables. He doesn't have an apron on, 361 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,400 he's not washing the dishes. After the Fellowship of the 362 00:20:16,408 --> 00:20:20,200 church, know he is preaching at a Revival and Samaria. 363 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,200 And God is doing miracles to him and there is mass conversions 364 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:28,800 and awesome baptisms. And then at the same chapter, 365 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:33,400 you see, God taking Philip from that Revival and putting him 366 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:37,500 with one Ethiopian eunuch, who is reading the scriptures and 367 00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:41,100 needs Clarity. And he evangelized him and 368 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:43,800 disciples him. Just one from a Revival 21. 369 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:49,100 And then you go to Acts chapter 21 and you read a Philip who had 370 00:20:49,100 --> 00:20:51,700 four unmarried daughters, who were able to prophesy. 371 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:56,000 I love this. What does it tell us? 372 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,900 Well, should tell us at least one thing that no matter where 373 00:20:57,900 --> 00:20:59,300 Philip found himself in a matter. 374 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:02,100 What kind of a service he was given, he did it with everything 375 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:04,300 within him. He was serving tables. 376 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:07,300 Wholeheartedly if he was preaching a Revival without 377 00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:10,600 compromise, if he was talking to one-on-one, he would do it with 378 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,100 patience and join. He let him with Christ and if 379 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:16,800 you found him in his home, he would raise up his family to 380 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,800 love and honor God. No matter where you found this, 381 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:22,300 man. He was bearing fruit. 382 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,400 No matter what he was given, no matter what role, no matter what 383 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,600 opportunity, lack thereof in terms of breath. 384 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:35,600 He loved to serve the Lord. And everything he touched turned 385 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,900 to Gold because I believed he had that right mind. 386 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:43,000 He loved Jesus, and he served him with whatever was granted to 387 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,500 him. This is how you and I have to 388 00:21:45,500 --> 00:21:47,400 understand this Mission from God. 389 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,700 It is sometimes seasonal. It is. 390 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:53,100 Sometimes in part. It is now always this long thing 391 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:55,200 where your this is who I'm going to be for the rest of my life. 392 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,500 And this is what I'm going to do. 393 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:58,500 Can I be transparent with you? When I first got saved. 394 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:00,300 I thought it was going to be a full-time evangelist. 395 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:02,700 That was at least what I desired. 396 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,700 That is what I was dreaming about and throughout time. 397 00:22:06,700 --> 00:22:08,600 God led me to something that I never thought I would do. 398 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,800 That was to be a full-time pastor, but I do it with so much 399 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,400 joy and Thanksgiving, but that A, how I understand it. 400 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,200 Now. There was a season of my life 401 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:18,800 where it was full-time evangelism. 402 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:22,600 And in fact, it was not the way you and I might think of 403 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,900 full-time evangelism. It wasn't doing Crusades and 404 00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:28,400 preaching in front of thousands. Know when I got saved, I knew in 405 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,000 my heart that I was called to full-time Ministry. 406 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,500 I knew it within a few months and had great desires, and great 407 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:38,900 dreams and great prayers before God, but guess what? 408 00:22:38,900 --> 00:22:42,500 I didn't have the opportunities that I thought I would have and 409 00:22:42,500 --> 00:22:45,500 I didn't have the resources. Resources, but what did I have? 410 00:22:45,500 --> 00:22:49,300 I had a college campus. And So, within a few short 411 00:22:49,300 --> 00:22:51,500 months was there with a Christian group and we would 412 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:53,600 read together, pray together and hand out pamphlets and try to 413 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,100 talk to students. There was a youth group. 414 00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:58,600 I was a part of, and I was a leader that youth group. 415 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:00,400 And I would sit down with a group of students that were 416 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,000 assigning me every week, and we would go over questions on a 417 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,500 sheet based on the message and just talk and pray together. 418 00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:09,800 There's no Pulpit. There was no camera. 419 00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,400 There is no conferences. It was simply whatever God gave 420 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:17,200 me and whatever I was I was out my disposal and to serve him to 421 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,200 that capacity and slowly. But surely God began to just 422 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,900 like when you're in a car at night and there is so much light 423 00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:26,700 you receive from the headlights. You see it in part and as you're 424 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:30,000 driving more, has revealed more to reveal, God began to reveal 425 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,100 it at his own pace and I thank God. 426 00:23:32,100 --> 00:23:37,500 He did it at his own pace. No, the mission even if it's 427 00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:40,200 seasonal, what is it now? How are you serving God? 428 00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:43,300 Now. And you don't have to be a 429 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:47,100 revivalist to be used by God. I look at Susanna Wesley, who 430 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:50,400 raised up to Godly men. She had many children and 431 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,800 perhaps apart from her Godly influence. 432 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,300 We would not have these revivals that we read of, in our book. 433 00:23:56,300 --> 00:24:00,100 We will not have these hymns that we read of but there was a 434 00:24:00,100 --> 00:24:04,000 Godly mother behind the scene, I think about the necessity of so 435 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,700 many parts in the kingdom of God. 436 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:09,700 That need to come together in order to make the bigger 437 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:12,900 picture, a greater reality. I think about those who invest 438 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:17,000 themselves in media and those in graphic design and those who 439 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:17,900 say, I'm going to take the gospel. 440 00:24:17,900 --> 00:24:21,200 I'm going to display it in the Avenue in which we are living in 441 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,100 this generation. I want to I want to help get. 442 00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:25,000 You might not be the guy on the other side of the camera 443 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,800 speaking, but you can be the guy that chops it up and edit sits 444 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,700 and does something with it to make it effective and gripping, 445 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:33,800 all these different things. I can go on with example, after 446 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,200 example, but what you need to be convinced of right? 447 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,700 Now, or you need to figure out between now. 448 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,100 And the next time, you are allowed to go out into this 449 00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:44,300 world, is what does God called me for? 450 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:47,800 What is it? And don't again look for the 451 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,300 title and don't look for the grand picture. 452 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:53,400 Just look for it, seasonally in this time. 453 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,900 In this moment. It might be to give it might be 454 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:02,500 too to be an intercessor. It might be to just be a Sunday 455 00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:05,400 school teacher or youth lie, whatever it is seasonally. 456 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:09,000 What is it? And take a hold of it again. 457 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,800 Paul had this mindset and I know and we have to understand it. 458 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,900 Contributed to his passion and his Zeal and I think the reason 459 00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:18,100 why so many people don't have that seals because they don't 460 00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:21,300 know what they're here for. They're sitting on that 461 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:23,900 spiritual bench and it looking at others play. 462 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,700 And again, they're happy. They have the Jersey on, I'm a 463 00:25:25,708 --> 00:25:28,000 Christian. They have a number, they're part 464 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,400 of the team. But listen, that's boring. 465 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,800 That might work for sports. That might be good. 466 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:35,900 Sportsmanship, that not in the kingdom of God. 467 00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:39,000 Everybody has to get on the field and that is what you and I 468 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,000 have to understand. But there's a second point is 469 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,400 not just understand my personal mission for God. 470 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:48,000 The second point is that you and I must believe that there's so 471 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,400 much more for God to reveal to us. 472 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:55,900 Go to Philippians chapter 3, verse 13 to 14 and see that with 473 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:57,500 me. Look what Paul says in 474 00:25:57,508 --> 00:26:04,500 Philippians 3:13. Brothers, I do not consider that 475 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:09,200 I have made it my own. But one thing I do, Paul says 476 00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:14,700 forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies 477 00:26:14,700 --> 00:26:18,400 ahead? I press on toward the goal for 478 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:23,100 the prize of the upward call of God in Christ. 479 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:27,900 Jesus. Many people quote verse 13 of 480 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:31,600 this chapter to encourage people who have perhaps failed in their 481 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,900 past who have, perhaps disappointed God or a Fanta, 482 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:38,200 Grievous sin or of wasted money. Each time and they quote, this 483 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,200 refer get what lies behind and just strain forward to what lies 484 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,300 ahead and that is absolutely true. 485 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:46,400 And this is a wonderful wonderful scripture to use to 486 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,500 bless others who might feel disheartened because of 487 00:26:49,500 --> 00:26:53,900 something that's happened in their past, but we can't limit 488 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:58,300 what Paul is saying here, to seeing past failure, as a 489 00:26:58,308 --> 00:27:00,800 potential way of paralyzing us and moving forward in the 490 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,600 present, we can use it, but it's not limited to that and many 491 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,100 people limited to that. We have to broaden the 492 00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:11,700 application here and I'm sure Paul understood it in this way 493 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:14,200 as well. There is another danger of your 494 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:19,300 past and mind that can be equal equally as the mobilizing. 495 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,800 As our past failures. Do you know what it is? 496 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:28,100 It's your past successes. It's your past achievements 497 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:31,900 spiritually. These things can be equally 498 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:38,100 paralyzing to somebody growing in their Zeal and faith and 499 00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:41,100 service to God. How can that be? 500 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:45,600 Well, when you have somebody who has had wonderful experiences 501 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:49,900 with God, or has been used by God, whether individually or 502 00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:53,300 corporally the dangers that is it can produce a 503 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:59,600 self-satisfaction where it makes somebody relax in their Pursuit. 504 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:04,200 Greater things. It's possible to have witness 505 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:09,200 got to do amazing things only to continue to contemplate on those 506 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,200 matters and not believe God for more ahead. 507 00:28:14,100 --> 00:28:17,600 And so, the person's heart can almost think like this. 508 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:21,400 Well, I've seen God, do these miraculous things. 509 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,500 I've received Revelation from the word of God in such and such 510 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:27,700 a way. And so there seems to be this 511 00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:32,900 kind of numbness or this neutrality and believing for 512 00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:35,600 more or church can even experience it corporately. 513 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,800 They we have witnessed God do things. 514 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,500 We've experienced wonderful manifestations of his presence 515 00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:43,600 and then we just continue to rehearse those. 516 00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:46,200 Still a point where we don't look forward, always looking 517 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,200 back. You know what? 518 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,900 Paul would say to that. I forget what lies behind me, 519 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:53,900 his failures know, even his past achievements. 520 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,600 Now, doesn't mean that we don't talk about those things. 521 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,100 It doesn't mean we draw, and we don't draw encouragement from 522 00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:00,900 those things. But to keep your eyes on those 523 00:29:00,900 --> 00:29:03,200 things. Can I, can I ask you don't 524 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,700 experiment with this but visualize it try driving, even a 525 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:11,100 mile. In your car, by looking in the 526 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:15,800 rearview mirror the whole time and see how well that goes and 527 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:17,800 many people doing the same. They always have their eyes on 528 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,700 the rearview mirror and they're looking either at their past 529 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:24,600 mistakes or they're looking at their past successes and equally 530 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:27,200 are dangerous for you to not going where you need to go. 531 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,700 And what Paul is saying here is simply this no matter what 532 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:35,600 Christ has used me for no matter, the mountainous 533 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,700 achievements that he is enabled me to accomplish. 534 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:43,500 I'm straining forward to what lies ahead. 535 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:48,700 Do you think this was wishful thinking, you think Paul had 536 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:49,500 false? Hope? 537 00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:53,500 What did Paul have an Insight in his relationship with God? 538 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:56,900 That it only goes Higher and Higher and it only gets greater 539 00:29:56,900 --> 00:30:00,200 and greater and the possibilities of things that no 540 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:05,900 matter how much I've tapped into can take me from one level of 541 00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:10,100 Glory to another Yes, Paul did not have wishful thinking Paul 542 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:12,300 really believe what many Believers unfortunately, don't 543 00:30:12,300 --> 00:30:14,700 believe. And what makes it worse is when 544 00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:18,000 you have believers who haven't had any kind of testimony of God 545 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,500 doing something in and through them. 546 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:23,300 And so they haven't tasted something for them to crave 547 00:30:23,300 --> 00:30:26,300 more, and they are just left with the status quo 548 00:30:26,300 --> 00:30:29,100 Christianity, and they've been left with this unfortunate 549 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:31,700 standard that we've talked about in the first point. 550 00:30:32,300 --> 00:30:34,600 And they think this is just the way it's supposed to be. 551 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:39,100 No, it's not. It's not and the moment. 552 00:30:39,100 --> 00:30:42,100 You even come to a place where you get a little sample of the 553 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:45,500 glory of God, where you see what the gospel can do through your 554 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:46,900 life. If you surrender to it. 555 00:30:47,100 --> 00:30:49,800 If you just yield as a vessel and allow the Holy Spirit to 556 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,400 take control of your life. And you just get a little taste. 557 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:58,200 You'll never be the same again. Paul believed there was 558 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:01,700 something more, this Paul who is experienced so much. 559 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,000 So, the question we have to ask is this number one? 560 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:08,600 Do I have a grasp on my personal mission for God and not just 561 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,900 that number to do? I believe that, no matter what 562 00:31:11,900 --> 00:31:15,700 I've known in the past, that there is something greater ahead 563 00:31:15,700 --> 00:31:20,600 for me in the future. Now ask yourself that now. 564 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,500 If you don't know the answer, if you don't know the answer, if 565 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:25,100 you can honestly examine your heart. 566 00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:28,100 And say, I believe that there is something more, or I don't know 567 00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:30,600 if I believe all you have to do is this one thing ready, pay 568 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:34,000 attention. Examine your prayer life. 569 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,900 That's all you have to do. Just look back at the language 570 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:41,700 of your prayer life and you will be able to determine whether or 571 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:45,000 not you have what Paul is saying and talking about here. 572 00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:48,600 Because to be honest, a lot of professing Christians, all their 573 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:52,000 prayers have been reduced to is this Lord Jesus, protect my 574 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,500 family from harm and feed the poor, and those who are 575 00:31:55,500 --> 00:31:57,800 unfortunate in Jesus name. Amen. 576 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,900 There's nothing wrong with that. But can I tell you something 577 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:04,700 else God wants you to have more than your family being protected 578 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:08,800 from harm and other people being blessed by not your service of 579 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:10,600 helping the poor. But God somehow using somebody 580 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:12,900 else to bless the poor. God's not interested in just 581 00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:15,900 those things in your prayer. Life. 582 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,300 Ask. Where's the desire? 583 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,900 Is there more for me? And you might be wondering what 584 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:25,000 he's talking about more when you're saying more? 585 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:29,600 I mean, I have all of God. Now I'm saved. 586 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,800 I have all that I need in. God and toes are said this the 587 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:38,800 great Paradox of Love Is that we have God or God has us yet. 588 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,800 We search for him and long for him still. 589 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:45,200 It's a great Paradox. We do have the fullness of God, 590 00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:48,900 but there is experientially a Pursuit Of God that we do not 591 00:32:48,900 --> 00:32:52,100 have in fullness. So what I mean by more I'm 592 00:32:52,100 --> 00:32:54,800 talking about this. I'm talking about a greater 593 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,300 awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ in your life. 594 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:02,000 I mean more I mean greater insight and Holy Spirit, Led 595 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,800 revelation of the word of God that will burst life into your 596 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:06,400 soul. What? 597 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:08,500 I mean more. I mean, that God wants to use 598 00:33:08,500 --> 00:33:10,100 you. You don't have to be a pastor. 599 00:33:10,100 --> 00:33:12,100 You'd have to be an evangelist. You know, how to be a gifted 600 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:17,000 speaker. God wants to use you to touch at 601 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:22,300 least one person on this Earth, who is Bound for an eternal hell 602 00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:25,600 to taste of the goodness of God through a vessel that's been 603 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:29,700 saved. What I mean by more, I mean, you 604 00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:32,600 being able to witness something of the glory of God, even in 605 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:36,500 your church context where God can at any moment, crash into a 606 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:39,200 service and sweep through and sanctify. 607 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:42,000 His people in miraculous ways. That's what we're talking about, 608 00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:49,800 more in the spiritual Realm. And again, I think the reason 609 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:55,700 why so many lack of zeal. So many who try to pray so many, 610 00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:59,900 who try to come to prayer meeting so many, who try to 611 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:05,600 read, can't continue. Because the motive and the 612 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:10,699 ambition is missing. People don't really believe that 613 00:34:10,699 --> 00:34:15,500 there's more. And so their devotional life, 614 00:34:15,699 --> 00:34:20,100 the church spiritual disciplines are just things we have to do 615 00:34:20,100 --> 00:34:22,699 because that's what Christians have to do. 616 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,400 We won't go far. It won't last. 617 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:33,900 God gives us a man by the name of Paul to show us and he even 618 00:34:33,900 --> 00:34:36,400 allows them to experience things that you know, anybody watching 619 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,100 ever been to the third heaven. Anybody just comment if you have 620 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,600 if you've been to the third heaven, know anybody raise the 621 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,800 dead, anybody use their napkin and then have somebody take it 622 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:49,000 and lay it on a sick person. They recovered anybody. 623 00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:52,900 Okay, so then there's more and even if you have had those 624 00:34:52,900 --> 00:34:56,300 experiences like Paul, he said there's more there's more and 625 00:34:56,300 --> 00:34:58,400 that's what kept Him going. That's what's going to keep you. 626 00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:02,300 and I going, in fact, it wasn't just Paul. 627 00:35:04,100 --> 00:35:07,800 It was Moses in Deuteronomy 3, verse 23. 628 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,400 He says and I pleaded with the Lord at that time saying O Lord 629 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:15,300 God. You have only begun to show your 630 00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:17,400 servant your greatness in your Mighty hand. 631 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:21,000 Hold on, Moses coming near the end of his life and he's telling 632 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:27,400 God, you've only begun to show me after a hundred plus years of 633 00:35:27,408 --> 00:35:32,300 experiencing. Interventions and miraculous 634 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,300 proportions. You're telling me. 635 00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:38,300 Now, you've only begun to see what is he saying? 636 00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:41,900 He's saying that there's more God, that there is no way of 637 00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:45,800 exhausting the possibilities of your hand being stretched forth 638 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:49,900 in my life and seeing things that will keep me in all of you. 639 00:35:49,900 --> 00:35:53,700 And that's why I look what he says here in verse 25, please. 640 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:56,600 Please. Let me go over and see the good 641 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:58,600 land beyond the Jordan. There's more. 642 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,700 Need to know Beyond the Horizon as long as I'm in this world 643 00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:05,300 that there is something greater to experience here. 644 00:36:05,300 --> 00:36:08,600 God. See his prayer language. 645 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,000 Do you sense the passion? Do you sense the Zeal? 646 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:19,100 Yes, because behind the prayer is the posture of Faith to say 647 00:36:19,100 --> 00:36:22,100 God Almighty. I know, I know, I know. 648 00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:25,100 I've only scratched the surface. I know that I've only 649 00:36:26,300 --> 00:36:30,400 Entertained, the tip of the iceberg and God you have more. 650 00:36:31,700 --> 00:36:36,400 As long as I have breath show me reveal to me, use me Empower me. 651 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:44,000 You know, what's amazing is what Paul says in Philippians 3, 15 652 00:36:45,100 --> 00:36:49,000 and this demolishes any argument to think of this is only the way 653 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,700 pastors should think. This is only how full-time 654 00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:54,000 Minister should think. Yeah as ministers. 655 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,300 You should think that there is more as pastors. 656 00:36:56,300 --> 00:36:59,400 You should believe that there is more that's your ambition. 657 00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:02,200 Just give me a sermon and I'll be happy. 658 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:07,800 I'll satisfy my spiritual Endeavors and will be inspired 659 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:11,700 by your Zeal for God, this verse will shatter that thought. 660 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:14,100 Look what Paul says in verse 15 of Philippians 3. 661 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:21,900 Let those of us who are mature, think this way, let those of us 662 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:24,900 who are mature, think this way and if anything, you think 663 00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:30,000 otherwise God will reveal that also to do you see this, this is 664 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,900 so important. If you've missed any part of 665 00:37:31,900 --> 00:37:34,400 this message, take a hold of this verse. 666 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:37,200 This is the context. Remember Philippians 3:13-14 667 00:37:37,500 --> 00:37:40,300 forgetting It lies behind me and straining for two lies ahead. 668 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:45,400 I press on right, he's saying this and then I'm verse 15. 669 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:46,200 He goes. Hold on. 670 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,100 Let me just pause for a moment if there's any one Among Us, who 671 00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:54,100 doesn't think this way? Realize that you are outside of 672 00:37:54,107 --> 00:37:56,300 the category of mature Christianity. 673 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:00,700 He says let those of us who are mature, think this way. 674 00:38:01,500 --> 00:38:05,400 So a sign of a mature Christian is a person who's thinking the 675 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,400 way Paul is thinking in these verses prior the sign of a 676 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,400 Believer who is who is growing in their zeal. 677 00:38:15,100 --> 00:38:17,900 The evidence of that is that when you open up their thought 678 00:38:17,900 --> 00:38:20,700 life, when you open up their hearts, they're going. 679 00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:22,700 I know that there's so much more. 680 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:25,400 I'm believing that there's so much more. 681 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:32,100 And look what he says if in anything you think otherwise God 682 00:38:32,100 --> 00:38:38,300 will reveal that also to you and what he's saying, he's saying 683 00:38:38,300 --> 00:38:39,600 it's possible for you as a Christian. 684 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:41,200 Not to think the way that I'm saying. 685 00:38:41,500 --> 00:38:45,600 It's possible for you watching to the saying, you've just laid 686 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,300 out a whole, another standard of Christianity, that I've never 687 00:38:48,300 --> 00:38:51,100 even thought was possible. Are you saying that I can be 688 00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:53,700 invited to know more and I should believe for more? 689 00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:55,800 And this is the secret to knowing greater Zeal. 690 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,600 Yes. And if you don't he says God 691 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,500 will reveal that also to you. I love that. 692 00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:03,900 Do you know why? Because a preacher can only go 693 00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:06,900 so far a message like, this can only go so far. 694 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:08,900 It can pray. Philippe point you in the right 695 00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:11,300 direction, But ultimately the person that's going to be able 696 00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:14,000 to change the way you think and I think who's going to do it, 697 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:17,300 God. God is going to reveal it and 698 00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:20,400 then God is able to change it. So if God is revealing it to you 699 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:24,200 right now and God is convicting, you if God is showing you the 700 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,900 lack of the maturity that Paul describes here, then don't 701 00:39:27,900 --> 00:39:30,400 dismiss it. God is doing something in you 702 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,900 and now partner with God until he rewires the way you think. 703 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:38,000 For the sake of your Zeal. In fact, Paul is starting to 704 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:39,900 stay here. Is that if you want your heart 705 00:39:39,900 --> 00:39:43,000 to burn with Zeal, you have to fuel it with the right mindset. 706 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:47,600 If you want your heart to burn with Zeal, you have to have the 707 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:50,700 right mindset. There's a connection between 708 00:39:50,700 --> 00:39:53,800 what I believe here. For those of you are mature, 709 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:58,500 think this way and how it's going to feel the Zeal in my 710 00:39:58,500 --> 00:40:02,200 heart to keep pressing on and to keep believing God. 711 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,500 It's very simple, isn't it? But we miss it completely. 712 00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:11,800 So we see it in Paul. We see it in Moses, men of God, 713 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,500 and we know that they both had one thing in common, at least, 714 00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:17,800 open to different covenants and though they had two different 715 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,200 Ministries. They had one thing in common 716 00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:23,900 God, there's more So, let me see it. 717 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:26,100 I'm going to forget what lies behind. 718 00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:28,600 I'm not going to just dwell on the past. 719 00:40:28,700 --> 00:40:32,200 I'm so I'm striving towards greater things in the spirit. 720 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:34,200 Point. Number one. 721 00:40:34,700 --> 00:40:37,100 Do you have a grasp on the personal mission that God has 722 00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,100 for you? Well, I don't know what God 723 00:40:38,100 --> 00:40:39,600 wants me to have been praying and seeking. 724 00:40:39,700 --> 00:40:41,300 I need a title. I need to know what it is. 725 00:40:41,300 --> 00:40:42,800 Hold on. What is it in this season? 726 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:45,100 That's all you need to know and it will be season by season 727 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:49,500 where God will reveal it. Number two, do you believe that 728 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:52,300 God has much more to reveal to you in your life. 729 00:40:53,700 --> 00:40:55,700 Just just ask yourself. Well, I don't know. 730 00:40:55,700 --> 00:40:58,700 Just go to your prayer life and see how you're praying over your 731 00:40:58,700 --> 00:41:01,000 workplace. Is it your mission field? 732 00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:02,900 See how you're praying over your family. 733 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:04,500 Sear your praying over your own life. 734 00:41:04,500 --> 00:41:06,400 Do you desire? Greater christlikeness, sear? 735 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,100 You're praying for your church. See. 736 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:13,300 But let me come to point number three, here. 737 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,600 Point number three, is this you and I must be totally convinced 738 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,500 that nothing in life is more satisfying. 739 00:41:21,500 --> 00:41:26,600 The point number one and point. Number two, you and I must be 740 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,600 totally convinced that nothing will be able to satisfy as more 741 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:32,800 in this life. Then point number one and point 742 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:37,000 number to see you can hear what's being said this morning 743 00:41:37,300 --> 00:41:40,600 and you knowing that you have a mission from heaven and you 744 00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:45,600 Really apprehending that there is more for me in my personal 745 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:47,800 life, for God personally, to do something wonderful in and 746 00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:50,600 through me, you can have that. But listen, it will not go 747 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:52,400 unchallenged throughout your life. 748 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,800 It will be challenged. And one of the challenges that 749 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:58,400 will come throughout our lives. One of the temptation of the 750 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:02,000 zealous believer, is to diminish in their Zeal, by Satan the 751 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:04,100 world or your own flesh, trying to present something that will 752 00:42:04,100 --> 00:42:07,500 be greater in Joy or satisfaction, and it doesn't 753 00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:09,200 have to be necessarily evil things. 754 00:42:10,900 --> 00:42:13,100 And so there has to be a protection over that. 755 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:18,100 And there must be a continual convincing and that obviously 756 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:21,100 comes through consistency in our disciplines. 757 00:42:22,100 --> 00:42:28,900 But my mind must be preached to my mind, must be saturated with 758 00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:33,300 things that would continue to keep me hungry and believing so 759 00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:35,900 you don't have to experiment with the world to find out. 760 00:42:35,900 --> 00:42:38,200 If it is greater than what you have in God. 761 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:40,400 I've met too many young people at different. 762 00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:44,100 Conferences who can't respond to a call to surrender. 763 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:46,600 Because they've been cooped up in their Christian home, as they 764 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:49,400 would say it, and they have not experimented with the world. 765 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:51,600 And so they're going to experiment and then come back 766 00:42:51,700 --> 00:42:54,500 when they try to weigh and balance the difference between 767 00:42:54,500 --> 00:42:56,400 the significance of both pathetic. 768 00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:00,500 That's not the way it works. And that's just a recipe for 769 00:43:00,500 --> 00:43:03,600 disaster. No you. 770 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:08,200 And I have to trust by faith. That there's nothing that can 771 00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:14,900 satisfy other than knowing that I have been given a task from 772 00:43:14,900 --> 00:43:18,600 headquarters on high. And I know that I can have a 773 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,400 greater unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ and his 774 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:27,100 character and fruit through me. Oh, nothing can even come close. 775 00:43:27,700 --> 00:43:30,800 Nothing can even come close. And you might be saying, well, 776 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:32,900 where's the verse for that? In Paul's life, go to 777 00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:37,000 Philippians 3. Verse 8. 778 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,700 Indeed. I count everything as loss 779 00:43:42,700 --> 00:43:46,200 because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. 780 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:50,300 Jesus, my Lord for his sake. I have suffered the loss of all 781 00:43:50,300 --> 00:43:54,400 things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. 782 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:58,000 See what he's saying here. He was Christ. 783 00:43:58,000 --> 00:43:59,700 He was the call that he's given me. 784 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:05,400 Here's the possibilities of his power being known to be in the 785 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,000 fellowship of his suffering. This is on one scale and here's 786 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,400 everything else. Whether good or evil on the 787 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:14,300 other side of the scale? And let me tell you how it is 788 00:44:14,300 --> 00:44:18,500 Wade out. Everything is a loss, and 789 00:44:18,500 --> 00:44:20,700 everything is counted as a rubbish. 790 00:44:21,500 --> 00:44:24,000 That I may gain Christ. I've counted, I looked at it 791 00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:27,300 said, that's it. I don't want any of it. 792 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:31,700 I don't want religion. I don't want performance. 793 00:44:32,100 --> 00:44:35,600 I don't want sin. I don't want Mere entertainment. 794 00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:40,100 I don't want the American dream. I want to gain Christ. 795 00:44:42,300 --> 00:44:46,600 And that is the great shield for somebody's Zeal for the Lord. 796 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:51,400 If you're not convinced that what I am speaking about is 797 00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:53,300 greater than anything else. Of course, you're not going to 798 00:44:53,300 --> 00:44:56,200 know consistency and Zeal. There's going to be a fight for 799 00:44:56,200 --> 00:44:58,500 your Zeal. There's going to be a greater 800 00:44:58,500 --> 00:45:03,100 struggle to keep a zeal. You might be saying, I know what 801 00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:05,200 you're saying. But experientially I can't say 802 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:07,200 it's true. Then it's time to do something 803 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:10,100 about it until you can look at a verse like this and highlight it 804 00:45:10,100 --> 00:45:13,100 with 10 different colors and say, my heart can say, Amen to 805 00:45:13,100 --> 00:45:16,000 this. My heart can say, Amen, to this. 806 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:19,700 And sometimes it doesn't come through Temptations of worldly, 807 00:45:19,700 --> 00:45:23,800 pleasure or meaningless Thrills in life. 808 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:27,200 Sometimes, you can come over time when you set your heart to 809 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:28,700 believe you have a mission from God. 810 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:32,100 And to set your heart to believe that there's more only to be 811 00:45:32,100 --> 00:45:35,700 faced with disappointment. Only be due to be faced with a 812 00:45:35,700 --> 00:45:39,000 lack of answer. Only the experience. 813 00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:46,100 Many dry seasons, weather doesn't seem to be any rain as 814 00:45:46,100 --> 00:45:48,500 you call upon heaven to be poured out upon your life. 815 00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:54,600 But then again, we are called to live by faith and to believe 816 00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:57,200 that God wants us to have this more than we think. 817 00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:02,000 And I'm scared that many people and I even know of some people 818 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:05,400 who've burn for Christ in their lives who had a Zeal but have 819 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:10,400 now settled in their lives to simply be entertained to simply 820 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:15,700 just Be addicted to a TV show and to have no sense of passion 821 00:46:15,700 --> 00:46:17,700 or or purpose in the things of God. 822 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:22,200 People who used to serve god with such intensity and joy. 823 00:46:22,500 --> 00:46:24,200 And let me tell you something, if you're watching and that's 824 00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:27,200 you, you know, that they happiest you've ever been is 825 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:29,300 when you were completely surrender to the will of God, 826 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:32,600 you know, that the most Joy you've ever experienced is when 827 00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:37,400 you Full Throttle gave yourself to saying, God, I don't live for 828 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:39,700 anything else. I need more of you and I need 829 00:46:39,700 --> 00:46:42,500 you to use Me For Your Glory, you know, you know that nothing 830 00:46:42,500 --> 00:46:45,800 can compare to that. But so many have settled, so 831 00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:49,300 many have just turned it off. And I've just Gone through the 832 00:46:49,300 --> 00:46:50,900 motions. They're still good people. 833 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:53,700 They still love God, but they don't have zero. 834 00:46:53,700 --> 00:46:56,400 They don't have the fire that God wants us to have. 835 00:46:58,500 --> 00:47:02,300 And so, don't just exercise your spiritual disciplines. 836 00:47:04,100 --> 00:47:06,100 Don't just think I'm going to pray moment to read more. 837 00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:08,100 I'm going to Fellowship more. I'm gonna go to church more and 838 00:47:08,100 --> 00:47:10,300 then I'm going to know is, he'll know if you're not doing it with 839 00:47:10,300 --> 00:47:13,700 these motors in mind. You're not going to last a week. 840 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:17,800 But if you know that you have a call from heaven and if you know 841 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,800 that as you pray and as you read and as you meet and as you seek 842 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:25,000 and as you serve, that God is able to just blow your mind with 843 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,400 his power. And if you'd know that there's 844 00:47:27,400 --> 00:47:29,000 nothing else in this world can be satisfied. 845 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:30,900 So the only thing that you're going to do is give all your 846 00:47:30,900 --> 00:47:33,700 energy in your effort to this Pursuit, then your zeal. 847 00:47:33,800 --> 00:47:36,700 Well, not only be kept, it will grow, it will grow. 848 00:47:36,700 --> 00:47:39,600 Will it be challenged? Yes, will you feel dry? 849 00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:42,000 Spell. Sometimes sure, but you will 850 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:46,300 know that there's nothing else. I give that to you this morning 851 00:47:46,300 --> 00:47:49,700 hopefully as ingredients to add to your flame. 852 00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:53,100 Hopefully as a way of stepping back and looking beyond the 853 00:47:53,100 --> 00:47:58,100 mechanical issues here and the actions and to see the heartbeat 854 00:47:58,100 --> 00:48:01,800 behind it that is necessary. And if you just adopt this 855 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:04,000 mentality and if you don't have Have it. 856 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:05,700 You can ask God for a what do you say? 857 00:48:05,700 --> 00:48:08,400 God will reveal that also to he'll reveal and he'll help you 858 00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:10,600 with it pulse, at him, Philippians, 3, 15. 859 00:48:11,300 --> 00:48:13,800 This is what we need. We need faith. 860 00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:20,400 We need understanding, need to sense of life, like Paul did and 861 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:24,200 we will know something of long-term passion for Jesus 862 00:48:24,200 --> 00:48:26,400 Christ. So as you're sitting there this 863 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:29,000 morning, I want to pray with you through this camera that these 864 00:48:29,000 --> 00:48:32,100 things would would be true in your heart and mind. 865 00:48:32,600 --> 00:48:37,700 And that we would Into a new height of Devotion to Jesus 866 00:48:37,700 --> 00:48:38,900 Christ. Let me pray. 867 00:48:44,600 --> 00:48:46,900 Lord, we thank you for this message. 868 00:48:47,100 --> 00:48:55,600 Simple yet so needed. The things that we need. as a 869 00:48:55,600 --> 00:49:02,100 motive, has an attitude as a posture as As a frame of mind in 870 00:49:02,100 --> 00:49:06,000 order to even no consistency in our spiritual disciplines and 871 00:49:06,008 --> 00:49:08,600 more importantly, the passion for you, Lord. 872 00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:11,600 And for your kingdom. Lord, May every person watching 873 00:49:11,600 --> 00:49:17,000 this morning. Not in a bondage type of way, 874 00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:20,800 but in an exciting way, seek you to know what it is in this 875 00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:23,300 season of Life. They need to do to fulfill their 876 00:49:23,300 --> 00:49:24,800 personal mission for the kingdom. 877 00:49:25,900 --> 00:49:27,900 And Lord. We pray for those who have maybe 878 00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:30,900 thought church and Christianity was all about hearing a message 879 00:49:30,900 --> 00:49:34,500 and maybe taking some notes, only to leave a notebook filled 880 00:49:34,500 --> 00:49:37,300 with something that probably won't be Revisited again. 881 00:49:38,900 --> 00:49:42,400 Help us understand that this is experiential that there is 882 00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:46,100 things that God you want to do in us and through us and you 883 00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:48,900 require our hunger and our faith in our participation to 884 00:49:48,900 --> 00:49:52,900 experience it. I even pray for those who have 885 00:49:52,900 --> 00:49:55,100 believed those two things, but are very disappointed. 886 00:49:55,100 --> 00:49:57,700 Maybe even now discouraged deflated. 887 00:49:57,700 --> 00:50:01,500 They feel like I give up. I've sought God, and I just 888 00:50:01,600 --> 00:50:05,300 maybe, I'm not the one chosen. Maybe I didn't make the lottery 889 00:50:05,300 --> 00:50:08,200 for his purposes. Lord help them understand. 890 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:12,800 That there's nothing else to go to otherwise and that in your 891 00:50:12,800 --> 00:50:17,200 time you make things happen. And lastly, we pray that you 892 00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:21,200 would Shield us from any lie of the Flesh of the world of 893 00:50:21,200 --> 00:50:24,000 compromising Christians. That we try to tell us that 894 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:25,600 there's Greater Joy outside of Point. 895 00:50:25,600 --> 00:50:26,900 Number one, and point. Number two. 896 00:50:27,200 --> 00:50:31,100 Keep us believing. Keep us believing these two 897 00:50:31,100 --> 00:50:35,100 things and understanding them. Well, we give you praise and 898 00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:36,700 glory. In Jesus. 899 00:50:36,700 --> 00:50:39,500 Mighty name we pray. Amen. 900 00:50:39,800 --> 00:50:42,500 Amen. May God lead, you and guide you. 901 00:50:42,500 --> 00:50:44,500 In these points that were mentioned met. 902 00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:49,200 You and I know a joy fruitfulness and a zeal. 903 00:50:50,300 --> 00:50:53,000 That before this quarantine, maybe we didn't think would be a 904 00:50:53,008 --> 00:50:56,400 possibility. God will meet us if we seek Him 905 00:50:57,000 --> 00:50:59,200 in Jesus name. God bless you and we'll see you 906 00:50:59,200 --> 00:50:59,800 next week.