1 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,560 This year's been an incredible year for us as a family for two 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,040 major reasons. One, we are celebrating a 3 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,440 milestone in our relationship because Kath and I have been 4 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,960 together this year for 40 years, 40 years. 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:32,400 This is kind of cool. It was on March the 17th, 1984 6 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,520 at 10:25 at the local roller skating rink that I just grabbed 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,920 her hands, skated backwards, looked in her eyes as Bonnie 8 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:42,680 Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart was playing. 9 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,000 You might say, why was I skating backwards? 10 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:53,560 Because I can, and I asked her to be my girlfriend. 11 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:54,960 I simply said, will you go out with me? 12 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,080 She said yes and we've been together ever since, which is 13 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,000 just awesome. So we've been we've been 14 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,520 celebrating a sabbatical, we've been on holidays for the last 15 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,760 six months, travelling the world like lovestruck teenagers, just 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:08,760 enjoying life together, which has just been amazing. 17 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:11,400 And the other thing we've been celebrating is the fact that we, 18 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,720 along with the clerks are celebrating the birth of our 19 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,400 church that we planted 30 years ago this year, which is just 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:23,800 amazing. So which was really, really 21 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:25,960 cool. And we had a big celebration at 22 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,400 the 30th and had some friends over for dinner, which was 23 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:30,840 amazing. And, and you know, in that 24 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,600 moment where your friends give speeches and it's just beautiful 25 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,720 and it's amazing. It's a little bit embarrassing 26 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,200 and you're saying, oh, please stop. 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,720 But you're like, keep going, keep going. 28 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,600 And we had that moment, but then there was this one friend of 29 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:55,640 ours that said something that just caught my attention and 30 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,120 grabbed me in the moment because what he said was profound. 31 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,640 And while I appreciated it, it made me ponder and think. 32 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:11,920 And he just, he said, I want to say thank you for being 33 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:17,560 yourself. Thank you for being your 34 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:25,520 authentic self and that moment just grabbed me because I 35 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,840 started to think about what that has taken for me to be my 36 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,320 authentic self. And I love the church. 37 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:39,960 That's why I started with I love the church, but the church at 38 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:46,680 times is one of the hardest places to be your authentic 39 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,960 self. I love the church with all of my 40 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:57,360 heart, but for me to remain my authentic self, for us to remain 41 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:02,040 our authentic selves has been a fight. 42 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:08,240 It's been a battle, particularly when you have a personality like 43 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:14,520 me and a surname like Rainbow. I have felt at times there are 44 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,960 people who feel called by God as their mission to take the colour 45 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,680 out of my last name and I've been told many times that I'm a 46 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,720 show off. Can you believe that? 47 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,360 Me a show off? There's a show off? 48 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:31,880 At least I'm not wearing a tank top. 49 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,920 Seriously, someone get the man a show. 50 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:52,320 Just make me look bad. Jesus said that he came to set 51 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,800 us free. And I don't met you, but I am 52 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:01,320 glad that Jesus came to set me and each and everyone of us in 53 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:02,800 this room. Free. 54 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,520 Who? He's glad that Jesus has set you 55 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,520 free. Is there anyone who is glad that 56 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,520 Jesus has set you free? Do you remember that day? 57 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,560 Do you remember that day when you gave your life to Jesus? 58 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,399 Some of you raised your hand, some of you ran down the front, 59 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,920 some of you wept, some of you laughed, some of you jumped, 60 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,880 some of you danced. It was just an amazing, amazing 61 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,280 experience. That moment of salvation, that 62 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:29,400 moment where you sensed freedom in Christ for the very first 63 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:34,440 time. Being set free is an amazing 64 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,160 experience and it's a one off experience that we all get to 65 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,240 experience when we first give our life to Jesus. 66 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:48,560 But what I've found ever since that moment is staying free is a 67 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,200 whole lot harder. It's a whole lot harder. 68 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,520 And so tonight if you're taking notes and you like titles, like 69 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,400 I like making up titles, I've simply entitled this freedom 70 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,480 fighters. Can you say freedom fighters? 71 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,480 When pastors get you to repeat stuff, it's for two reasons. 1 72 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,640 is so that you memorize it. The other is so that they can 73 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,640 take a drink. So one more time, say freedom 74 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:21,440 fighters, excuse me, freedom fighters. 75 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,400 That's what we're going to be talking about today, because 76 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:32,000 staying free is not as easy as being set free. 77 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,560 Being set free is a work of the cross. 78 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,120 Staying free is a battle. It's a fight. 79 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,320 And I would encourage everyone of you in this room tonight, I 80 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,680 trust that you leave this place with courage, with a glint in 81 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,920 your eye, with a smile on your face, with a spring in your 82 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:56,280 step, that you could leave this place free, freer than you came 83 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:57,920 today. Amen. 84 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,200 And while I said I love the church, I really do. 85 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,440 But the church is one of the hardest places to stay free. 86 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,040 Why? Because of the expectation. 87 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:12,480 We have expectations, we just do. 88 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:13,680 And there's nothing wrong with that. 89 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,640 But sometimes those expectations create pressure and sometimes 90 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,960 that pressure creates bondage. And let's be honest, most of us 91 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:28,280 don't set out to do that. It's just the result of us 92 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:34,680 wanting the best for people. It's like mums who look at 93 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,280 Little Johnny who's got a T-shirt on and it's freezing 94 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:43,240 cold outside and and he's fine but mum's cold and so she wants 95 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:44,680 to put a jumper on Little Johnny. 96 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,240 Johnny's I don't need the jumper. 97 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,080 Every mum kind of knows what I'm talking about and that's a 98 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,320 well-intentioned thought. There's nothing wrong with that, 99 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,320 except little Johnny doesn't need your jumper. 100 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,880 And a lot of that stuff takes place in this beautiful place 101 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,920 called the church. And the last thing I want to do 102 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,880 is bash the church. But I am here with the love of 103 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,760 my heart for the church and hopefully what I share today 104 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:19,520 will help us. And so this morning, let's just 105 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,080 this evening, let's just simply pray and we'll move on. 106 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,280 Father, we just say and give you goodness, your faithfulness. 107 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:27,880 We thank all the incredible stories we've already heard 108 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,000 tonight. And I just ask and pray that you 109 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,560 take my words and you'd use them, Lord, to bring freedom, 110 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,520 life and joy into this place today. 111 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,640 And we ask all of that in Jesus mighty name. 112 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,400 And everyone said Amen. If we don't continue to stay 113 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:52,720 free and live free, we can find ourselves being more bound than 114 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:57,400 when we were saved. And that's what we want to try 115 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,240 and avoid today. And this often produces 2 116 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:05,120 outcomes that we either lose our freedom and we become robots 117 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,520 doing things out of obligation based on the law. 118 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,000 We have to go to church, got to go to church. 119 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,520 Some of you might be here tonight because I've got to go. 120 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,320 Can't miss it. And while that's a that's a good 121 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,040 thing to be in church, it can become a bondage just because we 122 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,720 feel we have to be there. And so we create robots. 123 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,960 And that was never the intention and something I'm not going to 124 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,520 do that. And so we, we don't do that and 125 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:31,520 we go to the other extreme and we just become rebels and we 126 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,400 just do our own thing. And we think, I'm not going to 127 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,320 be told what to do. I'm just going to do my own 128 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,520 thing. And so we become either robots 129 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,000 or rebels. And you know what I've learned? 130 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,360 The enemy doesn't really care which one it is for us as long 131 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,360 as it's either one of those. He doesn't care whether we're 132 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,440 rebellious or we're robotic in our relationship. 133 00:08:55,080 --> 00:09:01,920 Jesus, however he wants to use, He wants to use our freedom for 134 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:07,200 another way. So the answer to abuse is not no 135 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,880 use, but it's correct use. And we're really good. 136 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:13,760 If something's not working, we just Chuck that out and we just 137 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,720 try the next thing. But what we learned from the 138 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:23,200 life of Jesus is that he was completely free and yet under 139 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,480 full authority. How can you be completely free 140 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,600 and yet under authority? Has everyone ever thought that? 141 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,200 You see Jesus, is he completely his authentic self? 142 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,960 No one was going to put anything on Jesus and they tried. 143 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,320 And yet He was under full authority. 144 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:51,360 In actual fact, his authority was a real talking point amongst 145 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,720 the people. In Luke chapter 4 verse 32, it 146 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,160 says they were amazed at his teaching. 147 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,200 Why? Because it wasn't like the other 148 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,800 teachers. His teaching had authority. 149 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,720 Question, where did this authority come from? 150 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,960 Through being under authority. So Jesus wasn't a rebel. 151 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,920 He was a man under authority. He wasn't rebellious. 152 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,360 He wasn't doing his own thing. He was completely under the 153 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,440 submission of a higher authority. 154 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:21,960 Jesus said on one occasion, I only do what I see my father 155 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,880 doing. He knew what it was to honor his 156 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,600 parents. Even when he was on the cross 157 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,200 with all the stuff that he was going through physically, 158 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,040 emotionally, spiritually. He looks down and sees his mum 159 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,800 weeping and in a weakened state. He he looks to one of the 160 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,240 disciples. John says, can you take care of 161 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:46,680 mum? Talk about honour. 162 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,080 He honoured the law in its entirety. 163 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:56,680 Jesus was not a rebel. His actions were not robotic. 164 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,680 They were not rebellious, but they were birthed out of a 165 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:08,720 relationship with his father. See, law produces robots and 166 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:17,880 license produces rebels, but love produces relationship, and 167 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,560 relationship is the goal. I showed you a photo of our 168 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:28,880 family just a minute ago. But when Mitch got married to 169 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:36,440 Caitlin in New Zealand last year, I was asked to do a 170 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:39,160 speech, which isn't normal because it's normally the father 171 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,520 of the bride. But Mitch said, Dad, I love you 172 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,920 do a speech as well. So I said, not a problem. 173 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,960 And I'll never forget what I said. 174 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,400 And I'll never forget the looks on people's faces as I said, 175 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:54,640 Caitlin, I would love to welcome you into the family and 176 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:58,360 everyone's ready, poised, ready to clap, you know, and I said, 177 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:07,990 but I can't. And it went as quiet as it is 178 00:12:07,990 --> 00:12:12,430 right now. And then I explained why I 179 00:12:12,430 --> 00:12:14,670 couldn't welcome her into our family. 180 00:12:15,150 --> 00:12:17,680 I said because she's not joining our family. 181 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:23,960 Mitch and Caitlin are starting their own family, and one of the 182 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,880 things I know that breaks down new families is overbearing 183 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:33,680 extended families that put on expectation. 184 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:38,560 After all we've done for you, do you know the pain you put your 185 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:40,360 mother through at the birthing process? 186 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:46,720 We, we don't mean to do that, but we just love them so much. 187 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,400 We just don't want to let go. And I just wanted from the very 188 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,360 outset to say, Mitch, Caitlin, we love you. 189 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:59,120 And we love you so much that we are willing to let you go 190 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,920 because I don't want you coming around our home because you have 191 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,040 to. I don't want you coming to 192 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:10,160 dinner because you have to. But do I want them to come 193 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:11,440 around? Oh, you better believe I do. 194 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,800 Do you think for one moment I don't want to see them again? 195 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,520 Oh my gosh, I would see them every day if I could. 196 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,600 You know the amazing thing? Although Mitch leaves in another 197 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,600 country with ever on the phone, with ever talking, 198 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,200 communicating. This morning I received 5 brand 199 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,840 new photos of our granddaughter and no one made them do that. 200 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,760 And do you know what that does for a glamorous granddad? 201 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:47,200 And it just makes our day because we never made them. 202 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:52,760 It wasn't a robotic response. It was a response that was 203 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,840 produced out of love and relationship. 204 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,360 And they want to share the joy, They want to share the love, 205 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,800 they want to share. But we took a risk because we 206 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,280 said, hey, you're your own team. And they are. 207 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:12,840 They are. And the last thing I want to do 208 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:19,920 is start controlling them, manipulating them, because the 209 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:26,360 information I have, maturity, I have years of experience and rob 210 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:32,400 them of what God is wanting to do in their team, which is the 211 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,640 captain of his team. Nathaniel is the captain of our 212 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,440 daughter's team, Jordan, and we give them the room and the space 213 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,120 and it's so wonderful when they phone us. 214 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,800 It's wonderful when Jordan said, hey, can we come around your 215 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,120 house for dinner? I said, well, we can go around 216 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,560 yours. No, let's go to your house. 217 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,440 It's a it's a wonderful, wonderful thing. 218 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,640 See, God wants us to be free and with the help of the Holy 219 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,640 Spirit, to stay free. As I've already mentioned 220 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,560 before, freedom can be found in a moment, but staying free is a 221 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,040 process. And I do not believe we can do 222 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:13,520 this in our own strength. I am speaking out of my struggle 223 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,640 of I'm speaking tonight out of my battles and, and, and, and 224 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,480 contemplating, am I being big headed? 225 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,280 Am I this, are they right? Should I be this? 226 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:24,920 Should I, should I be less of that? 227 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,920 Should I be more of that? Anyone know what I'm talking 228 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,280 about? And I've had to wrestle that 229 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,960 and, and tonight I hope through my experience, we can all help 230 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,760 each other stay free. Everyone say stay free. 231 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,560 In John chapter 16 verse 12, it says I have much more to say to 232 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,200 you, more than you can now bear. These are the words of Jesus. 233 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,440 But when he the Spirit of truth comes, He'll guide you into all 234 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,640 truth. He will not speak on his own. 235 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,880 He will only speak what He hears and He will tell you what is yet 236 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,880 to come. He will glorify me because it is 237 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,520 from me that He will receive what is known to you and make it 238 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,080 known to you. All that belongs to my Father. 239 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:09,760 Sorry. All that belongs to the Father 240 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:14,200 is mine and that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me 241 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:19,200 what He will make known to you. I love this thought that the 242 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:20,880 Holy Spirit will lead us into truth. 243 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:24,440 If you're anything like me, you, I just want to know. 244 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,240 Give it to me all now. I can handle it. 245 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:34,000 We can't handle it. And so Jesus has given us a 246 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,760 precious gift with the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth one 247 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,920 step at a time. And He does that because we're 248 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:47,000 all at different stage, stages, and phases of life. 249 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:55,680 And so he speaks to me about what I need to do or not do, 250 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,080 keep doing or stop doing because of where I'm at. 251 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:04,000 And at the same time, He's speaking to you about what you 252 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,480 need to do or not do or keep doing or stop doing based upon 253 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:14,359 where you are at. I told a story this morning 254 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:18,520 about my reluctance to go into ministry and what I'm about to 255 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,240 quickly tell you is pretty embarrassing on my part. 256 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,960 It's so superficial because my pastor was asking me one day 257 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:27,359 about ministry and what I thought. 258 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,200 I was a teenager and I was loving life at the time, and I 259 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:31,680 did not want to go into ministry. 260 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:36,720 And I was very dismissive. I just said no thank you. 261 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,680 I went to bed that night and I just felt incredibly convicted 262 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:47,760 that I was incredibly rude to my pastor and incredibly dismissive 263 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,840 to what God may have for me in the future. 264 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,960 And then I had this kind of discussion in my bed with God. 265 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,880 You know, those discussions you have, I've never heard the 266 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:56,800 audible voice of God, but I know the voice of God. 267 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,280 And I felt God say to me, what's your problem? 268 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,560 The kind of thing that God said to Adam, like Adam, where you 269 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,320 at? And I thought God sent me tiny 270 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,080 what's what's your problem? And I had to think about that 271 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:15,640 for a minute because I didn't really know my problem. 272 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,000 But as I thought about, I thought, well, I do have a 273 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:25,680 problem because as a teenager, I loved God, I loved our pastor 274 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:27,320 and I loved the local church I belonged to. 275 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:32,600 But I didn't want to be a pastor because all the pastors back 276 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:37,160 then and, and please no disrespect if you fit into 277 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,480 either one of these categories, but it was a big deal to me as a 278 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,840 teenager. My impression of all ministers 279 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,000 is they were overweight and they didn't have much hair. 280 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,280 So bad, so bad. And I, I found myself saying it 281 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,560 out loud. Oh, so sounds so bad. 282 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:00,480 And the way God responded to me was just one of those beautiful 283 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,320 moments because he met me where I was at in my superficial, 284 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:15,720 selfish, pathetic state. And I felt him say this. 285 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,560 He said, hey, Tony, if you look after your body, I'll look after 286 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:29,000 your hair. The thing I didn't do that is 287 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,080 make that a law. The thing I didn't do that is 288 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,520 put that on everyone else. So if you're sitting there all 289 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:36,800 you shouldn't pray that pray. No, you shouldn't. 290 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:43,040 That was just me and where I was at at that time. 291 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:51,440 God meets us where we're at, and I'd never make that a theology. 292 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,200 Herein lies a problem. People don't tend to see things 293 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,760 as they are, they see things as they are. 294 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:04,400 Do you get that? They don't see things as they 295 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:13,800 are, They see things as they are, and as a result we tend to 296 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,320 judge accordingly. And Jesus said in John chapter 297 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,760 24 verse seven, stop judging by mere appearances, but instead 298 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,440 judge correctly. So Jesus didn't say don't judge. 299 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:31,840 He said judge correctly. We tend to judge superficially. 300 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:35,560 There are some things that are definitely right and wrong. 301 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:38,120 You know, I'm not going to, you're not going to hear me say 302 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:39,800 murder is OK, you can murder someone. 303 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,680 So if you were thinking, hey, I wonder if he's going to say 304 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,200 that's OK. No, but they're the obvious ones 305 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:46,880 and they don't tend to bring too much bondage. 306 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:51,520 They're pretty obvious, those ones, but it's the things that 307 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,600 we perceive are right and wrong that tend to bring the problems 308 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,520 and the bondage because we feel very strong that I don't think 309 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,600 that's right. So a couple of years ago I 310 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,960 decided to grow my hair long and it got really long. 311 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:12,400 And I also at the same time, decided I'm going to ride a 312 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,760 motorbike. And I looked something like 313 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:22,840 this. And in that time, do you know 314 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,920 how many people said to me, he's having a midlife crisis? 315 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,880 Yeah, Yeah. And do you know what I did? 316 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,200 I stopped and asked myself this question. 317 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:45,920 Am I having a midlife crisis or is it something else? 318 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:53,480 Am I having a midlife crisis or am I coming into a new season in 319 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:59,320 my life of freedom? Two of our kids don't even live 320 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:00,800 at home anymore. Do you know how much more money 321 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:05,280 we have now? Financial freedom, baby. 322 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:19,300 Is it a midlife crisis or is it a season of more freedom 323 00:22:20,660 --> 00:22:24,080 financially without those kids around? 324 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:25,360 Guess what? I've got more time. 325 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,440 I've got more freedom in time now. 326 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:34,200 And so I chose to use the little bit of extra freedom I had 327 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:39,720 financially and time just to do something I always wanted to do. 328 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,520 But I just put on hold to the right time. 329 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,440 And I'm so glad I was able to have that interaction with Holy 330 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:51,760 Spirit to help me decipher whether it is a midlife crisis. 331 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:56,120 Because if it is, I need to know that the last thing you want to 332 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,760 do when you're having a midlife crisis say no, this is just new 333 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:01,200 financial freedom. You don't want that. 334 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:11,680 And I'm so grateful for the Holy Spirit who's able to speak into 335 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,880 those situations. And so as a result of knowing 336 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,120 the truth, because the Bible says it's the truth that sets 337 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:21,600 you free, not a truth, everyone will throw a truth at you. 338 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:24,720 Your hair is getting longer. That was true. 339 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,440 That was a truth. But it doesn't mean now because 340 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,120 of that, I'm having a midlife crisis. 341 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:38,440 And so because I got my answer that I needed, it set me free. 342 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:42,840 And when people say you're having a midlife crisis, I just 343 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:43,960 joined it and said, that's so funny. 344 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,560 It's true, isn't it? But one thing I didn't do is 345 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,840 just stop growing my hair. One thing I didn't do is sell my 346 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:56,600 motorbike, because that would be to put me back into bondage. 347 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:10,120 See how it creeps in? I think when it comes to how we 348 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:18,240 decipher whether someone is right or wrong is often measured 349 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,320 by the wrong metric. So I want to look at 4 things 350 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:27,080 that have helped me when it comes to making decisions to 351 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,520 stay free. I don't have long, so I'm going 352 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,160 to quickly rush through them very quickly. 353 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,320 A better question to ask than is it right or wrong? 354 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,320 Is this number one? Is it righteous or unrighteous? 355 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,000 See, when it comes to money, for example, question, is it right 356 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,480 or wrong to have a lot of money? Is is that a sign of blessing? 357 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:54,560 For some it might be, for some it might not be. 358 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:56,760 But at the end of the day, money's neutral. 359 00:24:57,120 --> 00:25:00,800 It's what we do with it. And often what we do with what 360 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:02,960 we have is more important to God than what we actually have. 361 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,680 Because we can have money and be righteous with money, and we can 362 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:08,080 have money and be unrighteous with money. 363 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,400 You can be poor and be righteous and you can be poor and be 364 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,000 unrighteous. And so one thing I've found 365 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:20,160 that's help keep me free is asking a question like, is this 366 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:25,800 righteous or unrighteous? We decided a number of years ago 367 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:30,280 as a church to do a men's event called The Bloke, and we want to 368 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,400 do something different because I felt like most men's ministry 369 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,760 around the world was just women's ministry in disguise. 370 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:44,200 That's what I just and we were just copying the women and what 371 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:45,760 they did. So, so they worship, we worship 372 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:46,720 men. I don't want to do that. 373 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,840 I, I don't want to sing next to another guy, you know. 374 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:50,920 And so I said, well, what can we do? 375 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,800 We could meet men halfway. And we came up with this idea to 376 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:59,080 do an event called The Bloke around three things that men 377 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:07,720 like burgers, beer and boxing. Do you know the Flack we got for 378 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:10,480 that? We got so many emails when we 379 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,680 put the advertising out there, I got 1 e-mail saying Ichibod, 380 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:14,880 they're called Ichibod. That's all they put on. 381 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,720 It was like Ichibod, the Lord has departed. 382 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,120 I'm like wow, now here's a question. 383 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,600 Could be a Burgund boxing be unrighteous? 384 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:27,640 Absolutely, absolutely it could. But could it be used as an event 385 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,920 that brings the glory of God? Well, I'm here to tell you, yes 386 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,160 it can because that's exactly what we saw. 387 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,960 We had these incredible events, we saw boxing, we saw cars, we 388 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:42,880 saw all kinds of things. And I had the incredible 389 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,120 privilege to stand in the boxing ring and just share the gospel. 390 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:47,480 And I tried to do it in a way that was relevant to the men 391 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,360 that were there. My first time I ever did it, I 392 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,520 preached on three things that beer has taught me about life, 393 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,920 and all of you right now want to know those three points, so 394 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,400 don't judge me. But my last point was this, that 395 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,440 beer doesn't just happen. You can't put anything you do 396 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,800 into a glass and call it beer. No, it takes someone who knows 397 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,120 what they're doing to put that together. 398 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,920 And I said, if that's true for beer, how much more for a 399 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:23,840 person? And then I said, now in the red 400 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:29,080 corner we have no, this is it righteous or is it unrighteous? 401 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,240 Secondly, is it healthy or is it unhealthy? 402 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,800 Do you know the debate about big church, small church is if big 403 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,320 church is better or big church is worse. 404 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:39,480 Small church is better. Small churches. 405 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,720 It's irrelevant. The question is, is it healthy? 406 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,280 You can have a large, healthy church and you can have a large 407 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,880 unhealthy church. Do not kid yourself that every 408 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,000 small church is healthy. There are some very, very 409 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,840 unhealthy small churches with very mean people in it. 410 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:01,800 I've, I've been to some, I mean, I love people, but some people. 411 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,840 Is it healthy or is it unhealthy? 412 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,480 Do you know, every one of us has a personality and a gift from 413 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:22,320 God And with that gift, you can use it to bring glory to God 414 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,400 When you're healthy. Do you know I'm an incredibly 415 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,720 deep thinker and in a healthy space? 416 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,280 That makes me an incredible problem solver. 417 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:35,400 It makes me incredibly creative. I come up with this whole idea 418 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:36,800 about the bloke and the beer, the burglar. 419 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:40,880 It's amazing that that's me healthy, but me unhealthy. 420 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,880 And it happens way too often for my liking. 421 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,880 That thinking becomes overthinking, becomes worry that 422 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:53,560 leads to anxiety. Start fretting me worried. 423 00:28:53,560 --> 00:29:01,200 Can you imagine that I can worry with the best of you when I'm 424 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,640 unhealthy? And so when I'm worrying, I use 425 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,840 that as a warning. Now I say, oh, if I'm so worried 426 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,600 that's telling me something, I'm using my God gift to think in an 427 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:19,680 unhealthy way. Thirdly, is it wise or is it 428 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:21,640 unwise? If you haven't touched, is it 429 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:22,960 right or wrong? Let's stay away from that. 430 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:25,520 You shouldn't do that. Why? 431 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:28,440 Who said you did? I knew when I was. 432 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,640 Growing my hair, it was a lot of people with hair, people that 433 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:33,080 were losing hair. That was like, you shouldn't be 434 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:33,800 growing your hair. I said. 435 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:45,140 At least I can no. One guy did say that to. 436 00:29:45,140 --> 00:29:45,500 Me. He had. 437 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:46,900 No, he'd come at me. Why are you going here? 438 00:29:46,900 --> 00:29:47,860 I said. Because I can. 439 00:29:48,340 --> 00:29:50,700 They walked off anyway. It doesn't matter, OK? 440 00:29:52,820 --> 00:29:56,540 Is it wise or is it unwise? Do you know I'll never get this 441 00:29:56,660 --> 00:30:00,120 moment where I went to Queensland to be with my family 442 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,680 who just immigrated from the UK and went up there, had a great 443 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,760 time and I had a beer and went out with my cousins. 444 00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:06,760 It was amazing. Invited them to come down. 445 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,200 Six months later, they came down. 446 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:12,720 And I invited. Him to the youth group that I 447 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,560 was part of and he starts telling the story. 448 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:15,960 Oh mate, you should see Tony when he came up. 449 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:17,880 It was an amazing night. He was so drunk. 450 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:22,680 And I got all these youth. Pastors looking at me. 451 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:27,760 Was I drunk you? Wouldn't know, don't you? 452 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:29,960 No, I wasn't, but I did have a drink. 453 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:34,400 And I just learnt. Something for me that I didn't 454 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:38,000 put on anyone else. I made a decision. 455 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:44,400 That day that I'm not going to let alcohol get the credit for 456 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:50,840 all of this. I honestly, I don't need alcohol 457 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:52,920 to be the life of the party. I just don't. 458 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,200 I never have. And I certainly don't want 459 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,760 getting alcohol getting the credit for this. 460 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,880 And so I just. Chose not to drink till the age 461 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,600 of about 40 and now I'm making up for it. 462 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:12,600 I know. I just didn't. 463 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,440 Think it was right for me, but I never said you're not allowed 464 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:21,520 because that was a word for me. I want to live in freedom. 465 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,640 And by not drinking, that kept me in freedom. 466 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:26,880 But I didn't. Want to put anyone in bondage 467 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,080 because the new found freedom I did experience. 468 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:32,160 And the last? One if the bank can come up, 469 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:35,120 that'd be great. Is number 4. 470 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,800 Is are. You becoming better. 471 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:42,760 Or bitter. In other words. 472 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,680 How's your belief system working out for you? 473 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,200 Is it leading to? Freedom. 474 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,000 Or bondage. Paul writes to the glacier, says 475 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:55,880 this. This was his measure. 476 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,880 Where's your joy gone? He didn't. 477 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,680 Talk about the end. Times when Jesus come. 478 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,400 He didn't say that, he said dude. 479 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:14,250 Where's your joy? And if you. 480 00:32:14,250 --> 00:32:17,250 Find yourself getting less joyful? 481 00:32:18,010 --> 00:32:20,370 They say that children laugh a lot more than adults. 482 00:32:20,370 --> 00:32:22,690 You know why? Because we get bitter, not 483 00:32:22,690 --> 00:32:26,880 better. In two. 1016 I think I've shared 484 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,320 this story before, but we had a incredibly strange, weird year. 485 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:32,800 We affectionately call it something else, which I will not 486 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:36,120 repeat in this room. But 2016 took on another name 487 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,520 for us because of all the things that happened. 488 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,120 In January, our youth pastor died, got struck by lightning. 489 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,480 In March, my wife had a cancer scare. 490 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:48,720 In April, Mitchie broke his arm. In May I had a blood infection 491 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:53,200 which almost killed me. I survived that praise. 492 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:57,160 God, but the blood infection did damage one of my heart valves, 493 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:00,320 so I had to have heart surgery. And this went on and on and on 494 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:01,280 right through the end of the year. 495 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:04,880 And I'll be honest with you, I didn't get many answers for that 496 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:07,360 year. To this moment in time, I still 497 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:09,120 don't have any answers for you. Why did that happen? 498 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,520 I don't know. But I'll never forget. 499 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,560 What happened on the 31st of December 2016? 500 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:21,920 Because I was walking my normal walk, praying to God, and I just 501 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:25,520 was overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible year that I 502 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:29,000 just had. Because I chose to. 503 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,840 Reframe it with a better narrative. 504 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:34,080 Than what a horrible. Year. 505 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:36,880 I didn't get. Any answers? 506 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,840 And I still don't have answers. But you know what I did get? 507 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:41,800 Because I got something and I got something really precious. 508 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,960 I got God and. I got him at. 509 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:51,480 A whole nother level. I got him at a level of intimacy 510 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,480 and depth I'd never experienced before. 511 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,760 And with tears. In my eyes, as I'm walking the 512 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:02,880 public streets of our neighbourhood, I mean, I was 513 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,560 loud crying, I said to Roy. I don't cry much. 514 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:09,400 I think every story I've told, I cry, obviously cry more than I 515 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,440 actually give myself credit for. But I'm crying. 516 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,960 I said. God never let me forget this day 517 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,360 on a mark, this day, the 31st of December 2016. 518 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:23,360 May I never forget what an incredible year 2016 was. 519 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:29,000 Why? Because I got God at a whole 520 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,000 nother level. And I don't know what it is 521 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,320 you're going through, but I know you're going through something. 522 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,560 And if you're not going through something right now, you went 523 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:39,560 through something recently. And if you haven't gone through 524 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:41,880 something recently and you're not going through something now, 525 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:43,480 guess what? You will in the future. 526 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,080 Pains just. Around the corner. 527 00:34:53,150 --> 00:34:55,070 I went to. Many conferences in Australia 528 00:34:55,070 --> 00:34:57,590 where the keynote preacher would always say this, the best is yet 529 00:34:57,590 --> 00:34:59,870 to come. And I believe that, and I say it 530 00:34:59,870 --> 00:35:03,430 all the time. But equally as true as this, the 531 00:35:03,430 --> 00:35:07,350 worst is yet to come. Best. 532 00:35:07,510 --> 00:35:10,430 Worst tears weep. They go together. 533 00:35:10,750 --> 00:35:15,670 Sheep, goats. Good, bad, light, dark. 534 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:20,680 You can't have Christianity. We just like rainbows and 535 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:23,480 butterflies. I am a rainbow, but I don't 536 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,280 always have rainbows and butterflies. 537 00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:32,720 But we can always. Have God every moment of every 538 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:34,560 day you stand to your feet right now. 539 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:42,680 Every day we can have him. Every day we. 540 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:47,520 Can just be in his presence. This is. 541 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:50,400 What I know every one of us will either get better or bitter. 542 00:35:53,240 --> 00:35:55,160 And not only. Is that a choice to become 543 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:58,480 better? It's also a fight to become 544 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:02,800 better. Better is found at. 545 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,680 The top of the mountain. Bitter is. 546 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:11,320 Found in the Valley. Better is a climb. 547 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:16,720 Bitterness is a fool and with the help of the. 548 00:36:16,720 --> 00:36:22,640 Holy Spirit, in this place tonight, I believe that. 549 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:26,400 God wants to put. Strength and courage into each 550 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,880 and every one of us. That we would commit to the 551 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,880 climb of getting better and not bitter. 552 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:38,320 That we might make a commitment here in this place with the help 553 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:43,360 of the Holy Spirit to change our narrative from a -1 to a +1. 554 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,280 That we would see His goodness and His grace. 555 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,320 That we would be a people that hold on to the good. 556 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:53,200 It's one of my favourite passages of scripture because 557 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:56,440 it's easy to remember and it's so powerful. 558 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:59,560 Hold on to the good. Whatever church you're from 559 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:03,480 tonight, hold on to the good. The Bible doesn't say hold on to 560 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:05,480 the bad. We don't have to be reminded to 561 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:07,440 do that. That just happens naturally. 562 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:12,240 But to hold on to the good, to hold on to the great, is. 563 00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:13,000 Amazing. We just raise. 564 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,840 Our hands to heaven, Father, we just thank you for your 565 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:18,400 goodness, We thank you for your kindness, we thank you for your 566 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:21,840 greatness, and we declare. We surrender afresh. 567 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:25,840 We re surrender our lives. We recommit our lives to you 568 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:28,240 afresh. Tonight we won't. 569 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:31,080 We don't want bitterness to get the better of us. 570 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:33,560 We want your goodness to be our narrative. 571 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:35,720 We want your grace to be our narrative. 572 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:37,880 We want your joy to be our narrative. 573 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:40,240 We want your hope to be our narrative. 574 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,200 We want you, King Jesus, to be our narrative. 575 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:48,080 So Holy Spirit, won't you come? Won't you saturate this place 576 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:52,680 right here, right now as we worship you and honour you and 577 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:56,800 sing songs of praise and worship and or adoration to your 578 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,520 goodness today?