1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,800 You're listening to the Bridgetown Church Podcast with 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Pastor Casey Kendall, where our vision is Jesus, our mission is 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,760 people, and our cause is love. Thanks for tuning in. 4 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:13,000 Let's dive in. Acts Chapter 3. 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,520 If you have your Bible. Handy Acts Chapter 3. 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,480 One of my favorite Bible stories that I want to. 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,320 End the year with. And go into the new year 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,040 rejoicing and thanking God for what he's doing. 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,080 The Bible says now Peter and John, if you could just say 10 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:33,120 Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,240 prayer. It was the 9th hour. 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,760 And a certain man, lame from his mother's. 13 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,440 Womb was carried, whom they lay daily at the gate. 14 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,920 Of the temple which is called beautiful. 15 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,120 It's ironic that they would call the temple of this. 16 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,000 This gate of the. Temple beautiful even though 17 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:50,640 this. Man. 18 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,360 Faced a very difficult circumstance. 19 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,480 They put what was. Broken in front of what was 20 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,200 beautiful and the Bible. Says that this man would be by 21 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,480 this gate. Of the temple which is called 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,760 beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:09,600 Who? Seen Peter and John. 24 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:14,280 Can you just say Peter and John? About to go into the temple, ask 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,640 for alms and. Fixing his eyes on him with 26 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:23,760 John, Peter said look at us. So he gave them his attention, 27 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,240 expecting to receive something from them. 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,280 And then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have. 29 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,360 That's might be how you feel after Christmas. 30 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:40,000 Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you in 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,200 the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 32 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,320 Rise up and. Walk. 33 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,320 And he took him by the right hand, and he lifted him up, and 34 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,320 immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 35 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,280 And so he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple 36 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,840 with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. 37 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,760 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and 38 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,720 then they knew that it was He who sat begging alms at the 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:18,560 beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder 40 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:24,760 and amazement at what had happened to him. 41 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,280 Jesus, we ask and pray that our eyes would be awestruck by your 42 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,720 beauty, that our heart would be aligned with your will, that our 43 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,720 ears would be attentive to your voice. 44 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,680 Jesus, would you be glorified in this place through the preaching 45 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,640 of your word. Lord, we commit ourselves to you 46 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:46,440 and we pray this now in Jesus name. 47 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,920 And everybody said, Amen, you may be seated this morning as 48 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:53,120 you're sitting next to your neighbor. 49 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,360 If you would just look at your neighbor and say this as we 50 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,560 always do here at Bridgetown, neighbor, my neighbor. 51 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:08,120 Let's go, let's go. Now some of you are thinking. 52 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,520 Let's go to lunch. Some of you are thinking, let's 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,360 go to brunch. I want that to be our posture as 54 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:21,760 we exit out of 2025 and into 2020. 6 is let's go. 55 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,280 My friend out in Redlands, he says this to me all the time. 56 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,640 He loves this saying so much. He put this on the back of his 57 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,680 cars on his license plate with a black plate. 58 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:39,040 And yellow riding it says let's go and that's. 59 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,840 What I want to talk to you about as we close out 2025, these two 60 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,880 words of let's go. And I believe it's important 61 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:52,560 that we understand and how we're beginning this new year and how 62 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,800 we're ending this old year. Do you know it was Sebastian 63 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,720 Bach when he would write his music on his transcripts of his 64 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,120 music that at the top of the page he would put in Latin 2 65 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,320 letters JJ at the beginning of the music. 66 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,800 It meant Jesus help me and then at the bottom of his music, Bach 67 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:20,560 would put the letters SDG, which stood for for God alone receives 68 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,840 the glory. And I believe we can enter into 69 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:29,480 this new year putting JJ Jesus help me. 70 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:36,000 We could close out this old year by saying for God alone receives 71 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,240 the glory. If that's going to happen, we're 72 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:44,120 going to have to live out these this term of let's go. 73 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,400 I was reading this quote by George W Cecil that he wrote 74 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,360 that on the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless 75 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:58,000 millions who at the dawn of victory sat down to wait. 76 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,360 And waiting they died. I want to ask you a question in 77 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:07,280 regards to the statement of let's go is will you really be 78 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:12,440 all in for this as we close out this old year and enter into 79 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:18,000 this new year? Will you be all in for going 80 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,880 then we would be like Isaiah that says to the Lord, here am I 81 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,840 send me now. I want to define if I can, the 82 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:32,320 definition and the mission of someone who's all in and they're 83 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,360 ready to go. If you take note, if you would 84 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,360 just write this down, if you would type this into your phone, 85 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,240 if you would have the liberty to write some things in your Bible 86 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,920 today, I want you to write down this definition in this term of 87 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,720 us being all in and ready to go. And that is number one, that 88 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:57,520 we're going to be fully consecrated and committed to the 89 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,640 task of following Jesus. We're going to be people who are 90 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:08,080 fully consecrated and committed to the task of following Jesus. 91 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,280 Write down this definition. If you take note #2 to be all in 92 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:16,160 and let's go and posture. We're going to give or be 93 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:21,200 prepared to give all of our energy, all of our effort, all 94 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:26,200 of our resources, and all of our reach towards Jesus Christ. 95 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,600 Once again, we're going to be prepared to give all of our 96 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,960 energy, all of our effort, all of our resources, and all of our 97 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:41,840 reach towards the person of Jesus Christ. 98 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:46,600 So I asked you again, will you be all in to go? 99 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:53,240 Will you be all in to go? I read you the story before, but 100 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,440 I want to read it to you again. A century ago, a band of 101 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:01,280 missionaries had gathered together and they knew that 102 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:05,520 going down to the South Pacific for them meant that they would 103 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,600 surely die. So this group of young men and 104 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:15,320 young women, they all purchased one way tickets and to prepare 105 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:19,240 for their arrival, they didn't pack bags to be shipped 106 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,200 suitcases. They packed their own coffins. 107 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:30,000 This was how serious they were about the mission and the task 108 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,360 that was set before them. So much so that AW Milne, A 109 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:39,040 missionary going into the South Pacific, knowing full well of 110 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:44,040 the multiple dangers that he was approaching on this trip, he 111 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,440 packed his own coffin and he served in a village in the South 112 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:54,520 Pacific for 35 years. He loved this village. 113 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,840 He committed himself to this village. 114 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:02,920 He left all the comforts of home and he went to where God had 115 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:08,200 called him to. And the moment that he died, the 116 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:14,240 villagers all gathered together and they buried his body right 117 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:21,000 in the middle of the village. In this they inscribed these 118 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:26,480 words upon his tombstone. They said when he came there was 119 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,000 no light here, but when he left. There was no darkness here. 120 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:39,440 Will you be all in as we end the new old year and enter in to 121 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,039 this new year? Because there's a danger for 122 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:46,680 every single one of us is that we do buy into the gospel, but 123 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:49,240 we really never sell out for the gospel. 124 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,960 And we begin to believe that God's desire is to send us to 125 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:59,400 easy places and to begin to do safe things for the glory of 126 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,200 God. When we begin to think that 127 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,360 faithfulness is just holding down the Fort rather than 128 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:10,280 radically advancing the Kingdom of God, we begin to believe that 129 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:15,960 in our lives that it is the insurance plan that God has 130 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,480 called us to rather than the dangerous plan. 131 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,880 That God has called. Us to and we begin to see 132 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,000 sacrifice no longer as a privilege. 133 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:33,000 We now see it as a burden. And I believe what we call 134 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:38,440 radical Christianity in the West is normal Christianity in the 135 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,920 book of Acts. I think we've navigated so far 136 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:48,400 away from what radical actually means that we've now become 137 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,360 called to what is comfortable and called to what is simply 138 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,320 complacent. Do you see? 139 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,200 Jesus didn't die to keep you safe. 140 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Jesus died to make you dangerous. 141 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:05,240 Jesus died purchasing you upon the cross, paying for the 142 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:10,280 ultimate price for your sin. Where it's not just us holding 143 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,360 down a Fort, it is actually us storming the gates of hell. 144 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,800 And I believe now, as we end out 2025, that we would understand 145 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:26,080 that God is looking for the complete radical surrender of 146 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,400 each of our lives. That we would prepare our lives 147 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:37,880 to arrive into heaven sliding with a dust of glory behind us. 148 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,480 I think it's important that we understand that the purpose of 149 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:45,280 life is not to arrive safely at your death. 150 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:51,600 I think the purpose of our life is for us to live in such a way 151 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,800 that we're willing to go all in and all out and all for the 152 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,720 glory of Jesus. If I could put it a little bit 153 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,800 more bluntly, it's time for us to pack our coffins. 154 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,080 It's time for us to understand that Jesus hasn't come for you 155 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,720 necessarily for you to chase after your dreams. 156 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:14,800 He's called you to pick up a cross. 157 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,120 So much so that the Bible says the call of God in the New 158 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,800 Testament in Luke Chapter 9, verse 23, says that whoever 159 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,160 wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their 160 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:33,120 cross and follow me. Do you see Mark, Jesus said the 161 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,200 same thing in the chapter 8 verse 34. 162 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,040 Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. 163 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,760 It was the Apostle Paul that would say the same thing. 164 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:47,960 In Galatians chapter 2 verse 20, he says I've been crucified with 165 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:54,800 Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 166 00:11:55,400 --> 00:12:00,040 Do you see the radical approach is found in Romans chapter 12 167 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:05,320 verse one, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. 168 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,800 Now there's only three people in all of the Bible that were ever 169 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,920 called to present their bodies as a living sacrifice. 170 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,880 The first one, if you're taking note, was a young man by the 171 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,600 name of Isaac in the book of Genesis. 172 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,360 He was living when Abraham put him on that altar. 173 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,880 The second person who was living was a man, the God Man, Jesus 174 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,440 Christ, who would die on the cross. 175 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:36,640 The third person is you. Can I ask you a question? 176 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,240 How often are you squirming off? The altar. 177 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:44,120 That you're supposed to be. Putting your life down on. 178 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:52,880 How many times do you shy away from being all in? 179 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:55,040 I love what one man said, he said. 180 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,080 The world. Is yet to see what God will do 181 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:02,200 with and for and through and in. To the man or the. 182 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:07,600 Woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to him. 183 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,320 So this is what I'm praying for this old year as we leave in the 184 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,240 new year, as we approach, I'm praying for faith. 185 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,440 I'm praying that God. Instills faith in you. 186 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,000 And he brings the faithful out of you. 187 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:31,400 I'm asking God to do something in all of our lives that we with 188 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,160 open hands. Would say to the Lord, here we 189 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,680 are Lord, here we are send. Us. 190 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,240 Yes, we do want to put butts in the seats to come and worship, 191 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,360 but we want the butts to get off of the seats and be witnesses. 192 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,520 In the world that are around us. Yes, we want to go and come and 193 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,080 sing your praises on Sundays. But. 194 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:56,000 Lord, may we be the best witness in front of that server when we 195 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,520 leave this place. May we be full of tact and truth 196 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,480 and love when we're driving down the road. 197 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,000 Lord, would you make us a witness? 198 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,000 Because if we were to be truthful today, all of us are 199 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:14,040 either a missionary or a mission fields, and we're either taking 200 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,480 the approach to life, no matter where we're at or where we're 201 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:22,440 going to be to allow people to transform us or we are going to, 202 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,560 through the power of Jesus, transform them. 203 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:30,360 And I believe it's true of us that we cannot be moved or we 204 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:34,080 cannot see people move towards Jesus unless we're first moved 205 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,760 towards Jesus. I believe that if we want to see 206 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:42,320 a broken world made whole, we first have to be those broken 207 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,440 people. I believe if you're really going 208 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:49,160 to give your life out, you have to become someone who's all in. 209 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,560 As you know, as we come to the book of Acts. 210 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,640 Acts, the book of Acts is written by a man by the name of 211 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,120 Luke. Luke wrote the book of Acts and 212 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,520 many times when it comes to the book of Acts, we read this like 213 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:06,240 miracle after miracle after miracle after miracle is 214 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,920 happening in the book of Acts. But these chapters written by 215 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:17,120 Luke happen over a 40 year time span. 216 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,920 So when you're reading about all the miracles that God is doing 217 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:27,880 through the book of Acts, these 28 chapters are written over 40 218 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,000 years. That means that there might have 219 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,960 been a day where there wasn't necessarily a miracle recorded. 220 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,200 That might mean that there were some mundane days for the 221 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,880 disciples. There were ordinary days for the 222 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:50,000 disciples, but there were also in these ordinary days that they 223 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,320 would act upon what God has given to them. 224 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,480 Notice the title of the book of Acts. 225 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,840 If you turn in your Bible to that bold heading, it says that 226 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:05,560 it's the Acts of the Apostles. The word apostle in your Bible 227 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:10,720 means sent one those who are sent by the Lord. 228 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,960 Do you know that that your God is a missionary God? 229 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:17,560 Do you know your God is a missionary God? 230 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,360 In the Trinity itself, the Father sent the Son, the Son 231 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,280 sends the Spirit, and the Spirit sends. 232 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,480 You into the world. This is the axe of the sent 233 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:31,440 ones. Just. 234 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:36,720 Look at your neighbor and say I'm sent not, not like I smell 235 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,520 good. I, I, I, I'm actually going to 236 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,360 leave this building and I'm, I'm sent by the Lord to do something 237 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,160 for his glory. Notice the word above the, the, 238 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,840 the apostles is this is the Acts of the Apostles. 239 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,320 Notice it doesn't say this is the awareness of the apostles. 240 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,480 A lot of us come to church and we're aware of the presence of 241 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,840 God. This is not the awareness of the 242 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,880 apostles. This is not, notice this, the 243 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,599 knowledge of the apostles. I've met many people who are 244 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:11,560 knowledgeable about the Bible. They they have doctrine that's 245 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,599 all orderly, but their life is disorderly. 246 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,200 I've met people that have a so hyper knowledge of the three 247 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,480 things of scripture that they have so much information that 248 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:26,040 they've become cold and graceless in their approach. 249 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:29,320 Notice this. This is not the knowledge of the 250 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,640 apostles. Now notice, awareness and 251 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:35,680 knowledge is not bad. We need that, but it has to have 252 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,440 its proper place. Notice this is not the 253 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,920 intentions of the apostles. The apostles weren't going well. 254 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:47,640 I meant to do that. I intended to do that. 255 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,600 No, no, no. Listen, this is the Acts of the 256 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:55,440 Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles are 257 00:17:55,440 --> 00:18:00,720 things that they did because of who Jesus is. 258 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:06,560 The Acts of the Apostles were things that they accomplished 259 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:12,320 not in their power, but by the Holy Spirit, supernatural power 260 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,280 moving through natural bodies and lives. 261 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:20,760 The Acts of the Apostles was the obedience. 262 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,000 Of the apostles. I had a friend I was meeting 263 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,040 with two weeks ago. He asked me this question. 264 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:29,960 He says what does. Obedience look like. 265 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,480 For you in this situation. According to the Bible, what 266 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,480 does obedience look like for you in 2020? 267 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,000 6. What does obedience look like? 268 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:44,880 Is it for you to? Stay Is it for you to go? 269 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,040 Is it for you to to go to Cambodia? 270 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:51,320 Is it for you to go to Africa? Is it for you to to reach out to 271 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:52,240 your boss? What? 272 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,560 What does obedience look like for you in 2026? 273 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:03,200 According to the call of God on your life, notice this. 274 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:09,480 After the ascension, the actions happened. 275 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:16,280 When Jesus ascended, he sent the Spirit of God, and in the. 276 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,040 Spirit of God filling the child of God. 277 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:24,240 The child of God, because of the Spirit of God, was able to obey 278 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,560 the word of God and do the work of God. 279 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,880 All right, that was a good spot for an Amen that just flew right 280 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:36,440 over. So let's just go over this God. 281 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:42,680 Came into a place, he revives the disciples, the revivals 282 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,720 happening in the city, the growth of the church is 283 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,360 spreading the Bible. Says and in. 284 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:55,560 That God decentralizes the church and he decentralizes the 285 00:19:55,560 --> 00:20:00,640 church through persecution, and people are going out. 286 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,560 So just understand can I give? You a word picture? 287 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,280 We're not. Called to be dirt clots. 288 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:15,400 We're called to be dust. I love to gather. 289 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,080 I just want to be in a bubble of Christians and I just want to be 290 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,200 stuck together and we are loyally knotted. 291 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,160 But there's a time and a. Place where we have. 292 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:30,280 To go we got to spread out with the gospel of Jesus Christ and 293 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:31,880 you are. Called to. 294 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,480 Be a missionary, that amazing missionary Lisa. 295 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,720 All right. You guys are tired today. 296 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,000 I get it. It's. 297 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,720 Christmas Listen. God. 298 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,280 Doesn't need a lot of people, he just needs some people who are 299 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:51,800 madly in love with him, people who are willing to do something 300 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,080 that looks radical on the outside, but it's actually 301 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,280 normal obedience to them on the inside. 302 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:03,920 So can I just encourage you as you enter into 2026, can you 303 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,720 just write this down because you're going to need this when 304 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:07,680 you face? This year. 305 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:14,400 God uses unlikely people. Can you just write that down? 306 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:19,040 God uses unlikely people. Notice the Bible says now Peter 307 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,440 and John. These are unlikely people. 308 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,560 God. Uses unlikely people, these 309 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,000 Peter and John. They went together for the hour 310 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,280 of prayer and notice. This the Bible says that as they 311 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:33,440 were. Going to this hour of. 312 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,560 Prayer, they came to this. Gate called beautiful. 313 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,680 And there was this man sitting by the gate. 314 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:40,760 Lame. He couldn't. 315 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:48,880 Walk God uses unlikely people notice to these names. 316 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,760 They're representing Peter and John. 317 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,720 Peter had a big mouth. John had a big heart. 318 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:04,080 He's using unlikely people. They were both Peter and John 319 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,200 Stinky. Poor. 320 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,440 Fishermen who are called by Jesus. 321 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,520 Mark Chapter. One you can read about it in 322 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:19,160 verse 16 through 20 Peter. Would take up a sword, and John 323 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,560 would lay his. Head on Jesus's chest. 324 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,240 He uses unlikely. People they were different by. 325 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:26,920 Nature and. Temperament. 326 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,000 Peter was a doer. And John was a dreamer. 327 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:32,680 Notice these? Unlikely. 328 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,680 People, Peter was a motivator. And John was a Mystic. 329 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,040 Peter had his feet in the water, and John had his heads in the 330 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,120 clouds and notices. Peter would deny Jesus. 331 00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:48,160 John would depend upon Jesus. These were normal men who were 332 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:55,640 called by Jesus to do abnormal things off of the power and in 333 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,000 the power of the Holy Spirit. If you want to read a little bit 334 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,240 more about Peter and John, write these verses down. 335 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:08,360 If you take note, Acts chapter 4 verse 13, Acts chapter 8 verse 336 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:13,080 14, Matthew chapter 17 verse one, you can come up to me 337 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:18,480 afterwards and get all these Matthew 26 verse 37, John 338 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:23,640 chapter 13 verse 23 through 25, John chapter 20 verse 2 through 339 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,440 9, and Galatians chapter 2 verse. 340 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,240 Nine, that they're constantly together. 341 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:35,760 Peter and John and these men who are notice this, we look at them 342 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:41,680 as superhero Saints. We're just unlikely people for 343 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:45,840 God to use. Now, if I'm the Lord, I'm not 344 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:51,800 necessarily picking the poorest people or the smelliest people 345 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,080 or the fishermen during that time. 346 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,320 I just wouldn't do it. I I would want to use like a 347 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:03,000 celebrity. I would want to use. 348 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,080 Someone of royalty. So someone who has already a 349 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,360 name for themselves. But when you already have a name 350 00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:13,600 for yourself, it's hard to provoke the name of Jesus. 351 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:20,280 When you become so focused on who you are and what you do, you 352 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,080 cannot fulfill the mission of God because the mission is 353 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,760 simply about you. So God chose people who were 354 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,440 broken and hurting. God chose unlikely people who 355 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:35,840 found themselves in a place where they would now be paired 356 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:42,640 together for the glory of God. Can you imagine Sabrina and Matt 357 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:47,560 and Rude and and Chris all being paired together for the glory of 358 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:52,000 God? These these are spots. 359 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,040 Where you say Amen at least once. 360 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,600 Can Can you imagine? Can, Can you imagine Ryan and 361 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,960 Steve being paired together? Dora and Tony being paired 362 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:07,720 together? Sergio and Ryan Marquez being 363 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:12,840 paired together, Shannon and Linda Condellario and Rudy, 364 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,760 Michelle and Henry. I mean, whoever thought of that, 365 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,560 right? God did he put it all together 366 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:26,440 for his glory because God is using unlikely people. 367 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,640 Do you see the motto of your life is not I can never. 368 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:36,640 The message of the gospel is God can't so stop your excuses here. 369 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,040 Here's the excuses I've used throughout my life. 370 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,560 I'm too young for this Lord. I'm too young. 371 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,200 I I remember being invited on to to come on staff at a church 372 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,200 and, and and the the the older folks were. 373 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,680 Looking at me going. Can we talk to someone older 374 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:56,000 than you now? I don't have hair and I'm older 375 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:57,360 now. People say, Can we talk to 376 00:25:57,360 --> 00:26:01,000 someone younger than you? But this was my excuse back in 377 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,880 the day. I'm too young for this. 378 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:06,000 God, I, I could never do this. How about this one? 379 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:07,880 I don't know if you've ever used this one. 380 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:14,080 I'm too old for this. I'm too old. 381 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,000 God, I can't keep up with this church. 382 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,080 It's too much bass in here. It's too loud. 383 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,640 God, God, I don't know if I can do hospitality. 384 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,120 I don't. I'm just too old for this. 385 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:30,800 How about this one? I don't know if you've ever used 386 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,840 this one. I'm too hurt to do this. 387 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,800 I'm too hurt. And because of my hurt, now I 388 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:42,720 don't do anything for the Lord. Listen, how? 389 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,120 How about? This one I I'm too bitter to do 390 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:48,000 this now. I'm too bitter. 391 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:51,840 Is the excuse. Listen, I'm too comfortable 392 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,440 right now in the season of my life. 393 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,600 I'm too poor. I'm too rich. 394 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:01,160 Here's what I honestly believe is we've got enough of Jesus to 395 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,360 be informed, but not enough to be transformed by him. 396 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:09,040 Billy Graham used to tell the people in his his evangelistic 397 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,760 crusades, you have enough of Jesus to be inoculated with the 398 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:15,520 Gospel. You have enough. 399 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:22,160 Of it to cause you not to fully surrender to the Lord. 400 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:28,960 And here's what happens is because I don't feel good about 401 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,400 it. We don't get up, we don't take 402 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,320 up and we don't lift up the name of Jesus. 403 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:40,400 God uses unlikely people in unlikely places in an unlikely 404 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,880 time. Whoever thought we would have 405 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,000 ever been in the city of Glendora? 406 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,760 I was aiming for. Pasadena. 407 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,840 God was aiming for a. Whole nother area. 408 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,480 And God is. Calling you right now to step in 409 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:01,240 and to step up into the area he wants for you. 410 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,680 But how do you? Do this. 411 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:04,760 Write this down. This is going to be a long 412 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,080 sentence. Write this down. 413 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,800 We must marry. Our exuberant passion of 414 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,120 worship. To a. 415 00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:13,600 Daily discipline in our ordinary. 416 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,920 Routine. How do? 417 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,960 I surrender myself to be used by God. 418 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:25,160 Is this We must marry our exuberant passion of worship to 419 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:29,960 a daily discipline in our ordinary routine. 420 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,480 Notice this now. Peter and John went up together 421 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,520 to the temple. Where were they going? 422 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,560 Let's. Go. 423 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:46,320 Let's rewind real quick. Peter and John, we're on their 424 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:51,840 way to the temple. This was a Jewish temple. 425 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,600 And they? Were on their way at the hour of 426 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,520 prayer. This is the 9th hour. 427 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,720 Write this in your Bible. They were going to pray at 3:00 428 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,080 PM. This is the time where American 429 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:14,600 citizens are taking a nap. 3. PM And they're going to the 430 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:19,720 temple. Notice this to pray notice Peter 431 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:23,000 and John. All that they were doing is they 432 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:28,680 were walking up to the temple at the hour of prayer. 433 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:34,120 They engaged in their life in the ordinary discipline of 434 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:41,480 communication to God, and they went to the temple at the hour 435 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:46,600 of prayer. At 3:00 PM, they're exiting into 436 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,560 their house, out of their house and into the city. 437 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,880 Now back in the Book of Acts, there was a prayer meeting that 438 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,000 shook the house. This is not this time. 439 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:01,640 This. Is this is at 3:00 PM, these men 440 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:06,440 are getting up and going to a place for a prayer meeting. 441 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:10,320 There's no recorded manifestational fire and wind 442 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,560 that's happening in the place. They're just going to the temple 443 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,840 for prayer there. There is no concert happening. 444 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,440 There's no greeter at the temple door. 445 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,880 There's no one holding a sign that says welcome home. 446 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,120 There's no hospitality on the table. 447 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:30,920 There's no screens that are now posted up for you to sing the 448 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:36,360 songs of lyrics. It is all in this moment where 449 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:40,760 they're coming down to all of this. 450 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:46,200 At 3:00 PM, they're doing what is regular in their life and 451 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:51,640 they are going to pray. At 3:00 PM, someone. 452 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,680 Once said. Show me your church. 453 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,720 Not the Sunday. Gathering not how many people 454 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:03,360 come to the concert at your church? 455 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,080 Show me your church. Show me your prayer meeting. 456 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,680 Prayer is. Normally the last. 457 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:17,200 Thing that we want to do. Prayer is not. 458 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,440 Entertaining prayer is not something that's not sexy, it's 459 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:25,840 not attractive, it's not the cool thing, it's not advertised. 460 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:30,600 Prayer is something in your life that's a spiritual necessity, 461 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:33,640 and it was a necessity of the early church. 462 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,920 So watch it. If you want the outpouring of 463 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:40,000 God's Spirit, you must marry your exuberant passion of 464 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,400 worship to your daily routine and disciplines. 465 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,720 And in doing so, you're going to see the expansion of the Church 466 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,680 of God. I love this about the pattern of 467 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:51,280 Jesus. After ministering to the 468 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,960 multitudes, Jesus didn't make himself popular in the place. 469 00:31:55,160 --> 00:32:00,320 He went away by himself to be with His Father. 470 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,520 Did you see this is the true thing that happens in our lives. 471 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:09,320 The public power is birthed in private discipline. 472 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:15,040 It was the disciples that they would say to Jesus in the Gospel 473 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:20,320 of Luke Chapter 11. Lord teach us how to preach. 474 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,320 Lord teach us how to cast out demons. 475 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,360 Lord teach us how we can multiply the food and feed 476 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,200 thousands of people. And you know they. 477 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,720 Said Jesus. Teach us how to pray. 478 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:42,440 The real work is the end prayer and I believe the difference 479 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,640 between success and failure. It's not going to come down to 480 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:48,160 the level of your passion. It's going to. 481 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:49,840 Come down to the level of your discipline. 482 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:53,680 I believe. That in your life right now. 483 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,840 This is a discipline that we are called to make because we're 484 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:02,440 called to be disciples. We're called. 485 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,680 To be the. Ones who will follow after Jesus 486 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:10,520 no matter the opinions of people, the comments on 487 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,960 Instagram or what people. Might. 488 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:19,800 Say to you, or through you or behind you, we're called to 489 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:25,800 follow Jesus Christ, and that means they'll be. 490 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:29,120 Moments of great passion. But there's also. 491 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:32,080 Moments that you need great discipline. 492 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,080 You see? Christianity is filled with. 493 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:37,480 Discipline. And I just want to. 494 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:41,920 Read you a few. Of these if I if I can, the the 495 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:45,080 disciplines, the spiritual. Disciplines of Orthodox 496 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,040 Christianity, if you want to write them down. 497 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,200 This is what the Bible calls us to live out Prayer. 498 00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:54,840 The Bible calls. Us to live out meditation. 499 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,160 Now, that doesn't mean you sit with your legs. 500 00:33:57,160 --> 00:34:00,880 Crossed and you're humming. That's Eastern meditation. 501 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:03,720 That that is you emptying. Your thoughts Biblical 502 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,560 meditation is you filling your mind and your. 503 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:10,080 Thoughts with God's truth. Meditation. 504 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,400 Notice this There's a discipline of the study of Scripture. 505 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:15,880 In Orthodox Christianity, there's a. 506 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:20,199 Simplicity of life. In Orthodox Christianity, 507 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:23,040 spiritual discipline means you lived a surrendered life. 508 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:27,679 In Orthodox Christianity, you're going to have solitude and 509 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:31,719 quietness in your life in. Orthodox Christianity and 510 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,360 spiritual. Discipline is service to others. 511 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:36,880 It's the confession of your sins. 512 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:40,920 It's seeking wise counsel. It's giving thanks. 513 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,239 It's worship. It's sacrificial giving. 514 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:49,159 It's fasting, it's denying and declaring and depending wholly 515 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:54,280 upon God. Did you see in this moment these 516 00:34:54,280 --> 00:35:01,320 men lived out the spiritual discipline in their lives? 517 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:03,560 Do you know how trees grow fruit? 518 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:08,840 Let. Me ask that. 519 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:10,560 Again, do you know how trees grow fruit? 520 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:13,480 Do they grow? Fruit because they're 521 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:19,440 passionate. No, no, no. 522 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,400 Trees grow fruit not because of their passion, but because 523 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:27,680 they're planted. And in that their. 524 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:30,920 Root system takes root into the US into the. 525 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:34,680 Person of Jesus Christ, and as they're fed and as they're 526 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,640 nourished, they outlast the. Seasons that are all around. 527 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:40,240 Them. Do you know how your? 528 00:35:40,240 --> 00:35:49,680 Marriage stays fruitful. I'm trying to help. 529 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,320 You in 2026, do you know how your marriage? 530 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:56,680 Stays fruitful. Do you know how? 531 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,320 Your marriage stays. Fruitful, some of you. 532 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:07,920 Men are like, yeah, passion. I want the passion, patience, 533 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:10,960 whoever. Said that, praise the Lord for 534 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,640 you. Yes, true, your marriage doesn't 535 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:17,480 grow in moments of passion only. It grows because you plant 536 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:21,840 yourself in a covenant and it's fed daily by commitment and it 537 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:26,800 outlasts the storms around it. Do you know singles? 538 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:31,520 How you live in purity. I'm not just talking about your. 539 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,440 Sexual purity. I'm talking about purity. 540 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:38,280 As a whole person. It's because you're. 541 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:43,640 Unwilling to allow your passions to dictate your pursuit and your 542 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:48,840 pursuit to become your penalty. As a single. 543 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:52,080 Person you. Allow discipline to be formed in 544 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:55,680 your life at such. A spot in your life? 545 00:36:55,880 --> 00:37:00,960 To say no to this, but a greater yes to this. 546 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,160 And I truly. Believe now being married for a 547 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:07,120 few years now. I. 548 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:09,720 Truly believe we don't. Need marriage counseling pre 549 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:11,720 marriage counseling. We need single counseling. 550 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:15,680 Because if you can. Deal with the issues you have as 551 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:18,440 a single. You won't take that. 552 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:22,040 Into your marriage. So if I can encourage. 553 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:26,120 You if you're still looking for that special one in your life. 554 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:29,520 Go get. Some counseling. 555 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:37,480 Talk to Michelle. Talk to someone that. 556 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:42,160 You can grow in a relationship with and learn about who God is 557 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:48,400 and who you are to help you plant yourself and discipline 558 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:54,120 and see the fruit of our lives. This is what I often hear when 559 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:57,760 I'm talking to people. Where did the passion go for my 560 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:00,480 spouse? Where did the? 561 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:05,200 Passion go for my faith. Where did the passion go for my 562 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,160 family? Where did the passion go for my 563 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:11,720 friends? I want to redirect. 564 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:15,840 You it's not necessarily where did your passions go, but where 565 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,800 did your disciplines go? Because your. 566 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,000 Discipline determines your direction. 567 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:28,800 I'm just going to move on because I'm running out of time 568 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:33,000 here. Listen, and I really believe 569 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:37,800 that you will rediscover your passion when you rediscover your 570 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,080 disciplines. But if? 571 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,080 We. Think that the passion is what 572 00:38:43,080 --> 00:38:46,680 needs to come. 1st. We will get it all. 573 00:38:46,680 --> 00:38:49,320 Wrong. That this is what we heard in 574 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:52,880 20/20/20 because we were trying to get back into church outside 575 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,520 because Gavin Newsom was trying to shut the doors. 576 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,720 And we, we just said, OK, we're just going to keep going. 577 00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:01,480 We, we need to keep moving forward outside, whatever that 578 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,920 means. If Monrovia kicks us out, we're 579 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:05,720 going to keep going. We're going to find a city that 580 00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:08,200 we can meet in. And people were just like, what, 581 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:10,320 what's why, Why are you keep doing this? 582 00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,760 You've lost about 100 people already. 583 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:16,480 Why do you keep doing? This This is why. 584 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:20,360 We're going to hold. Church, we're going to seek 585 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:22,040 Jesus. We're going to strike the ground 586 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:25,360 with holy habits. Sanctified. 587 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:33,400 Schedules our daily intentional disciplines until we see. 588 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,560 The fruit of God. For the glory of God and we're 589 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:39,480 going to outlast the seasons of our lives. 590 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:42,720 There are two types of. Christians in this place. 591 00:39:44,240 --> 00:39:46,520 There's Christians. They have passion without 592 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:49,040 discipline. And there's Christians that. 593 00:39:49,040 --> 00:39:51,640 Have discipline without passion. Both are dangerous. 594 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:54,200 Both are. Dangerous. 595 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:56,640 This. Is what it leads to. 596 00:39:57,080 --> 00:39:58,960 It leads to a shallowness in your. 597 00:39:58,960 --> 00:40:02,440 Walk with the Lord. It leads to a shallowness. 598 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:06,360 You're only so deep. And you? 599 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:09,080 Still want people to go deeper with you, but you haven't gone 600 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:14,000 deeper yourself. It leads to. 601 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,840 Being constrained. By the law and not love. 602 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,240 Peter and John went to pray at 3:00 PM. 603 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:24,960 They went at 3:00 PM. Jesus rose. 604 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:27,640 Again from the dead, but we can't even get out of bed on 605 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:36,200 December 28th. It's hard some of. 606 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:38,080 You is like it was. Dark outside in the morning. 607 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:42,320 Listen, I. Commend you. 608 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:46,200 For keeping a spiritual. Discipline. 609 00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:51,000 Peter and John went to pray, and as they went to pray, they 610 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:55,920 committed themselves, and they found themselves now at a spot 611 00:40:55,960 --> 00:41:00,600 where this would happen in their lives, simply because they were 612 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:02,840 disciplined. Notice what happened. 613 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:06,480 A certain man, lame from his mother's womb. 614 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:10,000 Lame means he couldn't walk. He was carried whom they lay 615 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,320 daily at the gate of the Beautiful, which is called 616 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:14,760 Excuse me which. Which at the gate? 617 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,760 Of the temple, which is called beautiful to ask. 618 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:20,320 Alms from those. Who entered the temple? 619 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:23,520 Who seen? Peter and John about to go. 620 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:27,360 Into the temple, asked for alms. Now the word seen there means 621 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,520 that they strained. This man strained with intent. 622 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:33,240 So here's this man. He's laid at the gate, 623 00:41:33,240 --> 00:41:40,040 beautiful. He's holding a cardboard sign. 624 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:44,520 That says. Alms for the poor. 625 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:54,120 Sound familiar? AMPM Chevron in the middle of 626 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:57,680 the busy Rd. Holding the sign. 627 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:00,560 Now this man actually had to be carried. 628 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:04,040 To the spot. That means he couldn't get there 629 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,760 on his own. He couldn't walk. 630 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:12,520 So looking at Peter and John. Intently, he's looking at them. 631 00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:16,480 And he asked for. Alms. 632 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:19,200 Ohms is the. The money. 633 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:25,000 That would be given to the poor. Peter and John. 634 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:28,000 Peter says to the man who's now sitting there waiting. 635 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:36,680 Silver and gold I do not. Have but what I do? 636 00:42:36,680 --> 00:42:39,480 Have. Peter said. 637 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:46,800 I give it to you. But I wanted silver and. 638 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,840 Gold. I wanted. 639 00:42:49,840 --> 00:42:53,120 That which was flashy and that which would be in the moment to 640 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:57,720 fix my hunger. Peter reached. 641 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:02,240 Into the heart, because the matter was of the heart. 642 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:08,760 And he looks at the man and he says in the name of Jesus Christ 643 00:43:08,840 --> 00:43:11,560 of Nazareth. Isn't that interesting? 644 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,960 Why didn't he say the Lord Jesus Christ? 645 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:20,480 Because. Nazareth was where Jesus was 646 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:24,920 coming from, and that was the worst town at that time you 647 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:29,600 could actually come from. In the name of Jesus. 648 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,840 Christ of Nazareth, where all the broken people are, that's 649 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:39,480 where our Lord came from. And there he looks at the guy, 650 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:43,040 and he says In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 651 00:43:44,640 --> 00:43:49,440 Get up now. Understand this. 652 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:51,800 OK, let's put ourselves in this guy's place. 653 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:54,200 In his sandals for. A minute. 654 00:43:56,160 --> 00:44:00,560 Here is this man. Who's not walked his whole life 655 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:09,120 and now two men who are on their way to prayer look at him and 656 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:11,200 tell him to do something that's impossible. 657 00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:17,800 If you were that man. What would you think of those 658 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:20,920 people? It's crazy. 659 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:23,520 It's cruel. Where's your compassion? 660 00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:28,280 What are you trying to tell me? But the man. 661 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:36,080 Experienced what was impossible when he was obedient to the 662 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:40,960 Word. The Bible says this man got up. 663 00:44:42,360 --> 00:44:43,400 And not. Did he just? 664 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:45,080 Get up, but listen to this. This is what? 665 00:44:45,080 --> 00:44:47,520 The Bible says the Bible says he. 666 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:52,080 Got up and his bones received their strength literally. 667 00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:55,280 He sprung up and he was ready to go. 668 00:44:56,320 --> 00:45:01,600 I can hear this man putting down his sign and the Bible says that 669 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:04,880 he was leaping up. He walked and he entered the 670 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:09,760 temple with them walking, leaping and praising God. 671 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:11,880 I want you to write over verse 8. 672 00:45:12,040 --> 00:45:14,600 Let's. Go. 673 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:20,480 Let's go. The guy got up leaping, and he 674 00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:27,840 sprung to his feet singing. How do we form the future for 675 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:32,480 2026? We form the. 676 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:39,760 Future this way what I have belongs to God to reach other 677 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:42,240 people. What I. 678 00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:46,560 Have. Belongs to God to reach other 679 00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:52,400 people that are around me. So what does this look like for 680 00:45:52,400 --> 00:45:56,240 us in this day and this age that we are in? 681 00:45:56,400 --> 00:46:00,120 This is what it looks like. Little things are big things in 682 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:03,640 the eyes of God. Little things are big. 683 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:07,080 Things in the eyes of God, and this is what I want you to live 684 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:08,480 with. I want you to live with the 685 00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:13,000 inability to do nothing. I want you to. 686 00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:15,560 Live with the inability to do nothing. 687 00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:18,400 And here's what I want. You to live. 688 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:22,560 In this year, you ready? Stop. 689 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:29,360 Being so offended. Stop being so. 690 00:46:29,360 --> 00:46:31,320 Offended at everything and everyone. 691 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:34,200 Live in a culture of. Offense. 692 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:38,000 Here's what I want to. Spin this in a. 693 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:44,400 Positive light play offense. Stop being offended. 694 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:51,560 I want us to walk into 20. 26 and stop hitting the pause 695 00:46:51,560 --> 00:46:55,000 button because we're offended, we're hurt. 696 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:56,560 We're to spot in our. Lives. 697 00:46:56,560 --> 00:46:59,080 This man could have looked up and with bitterness said, I 698 00:46:59,080 --> 00:47:02,240 can't get up, I've been in this condition for so long. 699 00:47:02,600 --> 00:47:05,560 But he got up and he sprung up and he began to sing. 700 00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:08,240 And then he walks with Peter and John. 701 00:47:08,520 --> 00:47:11,840 He connects himself to the disciples. 702 00:47:13,080 --> 00:47:16,320 And he goes. Into the disciples praising God 703 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:20,320 and this is what happened. All the people saw him walking 704 00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:22,960 and praising God. God's going to call you to do 705 00:47:22,960 --> 00:47:27,480 some crazy things this year. Let's just say that again. 706 00:47:27,480 --> 00:47:30,520 God's going to call you to do some crazy things this year. 707 00:47:31,800 --> 00:47:33,920 He's going to call. You to take some steps that seem 708 00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:37,640 out of the ordinary for you. He's going to call you to ask 709 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:40,280 for things that are bigger than what you actually think can 710 00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:43,280 happen. He's going to give to you things 711 00:47:43,280 --> 00:47:46,160 in your life that you're going to have to receive, but you're 712 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:49,920 first going to have to let go of some things I want. 713 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:54,320 Us to. Understand that God is big, and 714 00:47:54,320 --> 00:47:59,880 He's calling us to take both little, medium and large steps 715 00:47:59,880 --> 00:48:02,840 for His glory. So this is. 716 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:07,600 What I want you to stop doing if you know the call of God on your 717 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:09,440 life right now. Stop thinking about it. 718 00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:12,120 Stop thinking. About it. 719 00:48:13,160 --> 00:48:15,160 Stop. Overanalyzing about it. 720 00:48:16,440 --> 00:48:18,240 Can I even encourage you to do this? 721 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:19,440 Stop praying about. It. 722 00:48:21,240 --> 00:48:22,520 You already know what. You're called to do. 723 00:48:24,120 --> 00:48:26,040 Here's what. I want you to do act on it. 724 00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:31,080 Act on it. If we want to form the future, 725 00:48:31,720 --> 00:48:34,880 the future will be formed through obedience. 726 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:41,960 So if you know that you know that you're called to go do 727 00:48:41,960 --> 00:48:44,920 something, let me encourage you go. 728 00:48:47,360 --> 00:48:50,240 Whatever that looks. Like for you, let us come 729 00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:57,200 alongside and encourage and support you in the posture of 730 00:48:57,320 --> 00:49:01,640 going and in that time you will see. 731 00:49:01,720 --> 00:49:04,320 A future formed as you. Obey. 732 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:08,240 God as you honor God. And as you lift up the name of 733 00:49:08,360 --> 00:49:13,520 Jesus for his glory, thank you so much for gathering. 734 00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:17,680 Together. On December 20. 8th. 735 00:49:18,600 --> 00:49:22,800 Of two. 1025. We are about to. 736 00:49:22,800 --> 00:49:29,040 Enter into a year that we never thought would come this quickly. 737 00:49:31,800 --> 00:49:35,520 It's going to be. Filled with blessings and bumps, 738 00:49:35,920 --> 00:49:40,480 burdens and bruises, righteousness and victory. 739 00:49:40,920 --> 00:49:43,280 Triumph. Tragedy. 740 00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:47,920 And it will be. Filled with truth and can I 741 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:50,240 encourage you to do 1? Thing this year. 742 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:52,800 As you form the future of your life. 743 00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:59,240 Act. Upon truth, act upon it. 744 00:50:01,000 --> 00:50:05,400 Stop giving into the lies. Of the. 745 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:08,160 Enemy. And watch what? 746 00:50:08,160 --> 00:50:12,600 God will do with people like Peter. 747 00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:17,920 And John, we hope you enjoyed this. 748 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:20,840 Message and we'd love for you to join us in person every Sunday 749 00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:23,200 at 10:30 AM. For more information and 750 00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:25,400 updates, visit wearebridgetown.com. 751 00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:27,680 Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you next week.