1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:05,760 A friend is visiting, Brittany said. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,440 I don't know how you do it. Yeah, standing up here must be 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,320 as nervous as can be. Actually, no, I have to pinch 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:14,640 myself. The privilege of standing and 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,160 serving in this season, it is absolutely remarkable and at a 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:20,720 time of. Three Cr's History where 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,760 anything can happen. Grab your Bible. 8 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,960 Open up to the Book of Acts as we continue our series. 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:32,200 We're going to be in Acts Chapter 16 this morning and if 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,360 you were here last week. Last week, the way I define it, 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,320 in a word it we were talking about the. 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,600 Work of the Cross This week we're going to change gears. 13 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,560 We're going to look at. The Walk of the Cross. 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,840 I'll explain it like this. A friend of mine was telling me 15 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,280 he had the an opportunity to relocate with his. 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,600 Business to the Seychelles. And I'll ask him the question 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:54,960 that I'm going to be asking you this morning. 18 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,480 Like how do you know if God's in this? 19 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,720 How do you know that this is an opportunity? 20 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:02,200 Or a trap? How do you discern? 21 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:03,200 How do you? How do we hear? 22 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,360 God's voice. I mean the Seychelles. 23 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:06,560 It's a given. That's God. 24 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,720 But yes, like what if we said Bloom Fontaine, you know, how do 25 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,000 we know? How do we discern? 26 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:14,760 Because. To you, it just looks like a 27 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:19,000 relocation or maybe a promotion. Maybe it's the opportunity to 28 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,080 buy a business, or sell a piece of land, or move schools that 29 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,440 you're teaching at, or marry her. 30 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:31,720 But what you might not know is behind that is a nation changing 31 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:37,280 generation, shaping Kingdom creating moments that you don't 32 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,600 even know. You wouldn't be any. 33 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,160 The wiser. So we're going to look at this 34 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:46,000 through the lens of Acts Chapter 16 and see if there are some 35 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,280 some things that we can learn as a community in the season where 36 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,360 anything can happen, but we want what God wants to happen. 37 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,040 All right, So let's take a look. We're going to be picking. 38 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,320 Up in verse four of chapter 16. And then we'll just unpack some 39 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,000 of these essences of of the nature of the Kingdom of God and 40 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,160 the ways of. God through this SO Act 16. 41 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,479 Four before I read last last week, we were looking at Chapter 42 00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:10,600 15, where? It was the gospel plus. 43 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,400 And so the disciples and the apostles got together just to 44 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,600 make sure that they were all on the same page in terms of what 45 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,360 Jesus had taught. And so now we find Paul actually 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,370 taking that decision through the ancient Near East and verse. 47 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:25,450 Four says as they traveled from town to town, they delivered the 48 00:02:25,450 --> 00:02:28,490 decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem 49 00:02:28,490 --> 00:02:30,770 for the people to. So the churches were 50 00:02:30,770 --> 00:02:33,450 strengthened in faith and grew daily in numbers. 51 00:02:33,770 --> 00:02:34,890 And take a look at this first six. 52 00:02:34,890 --> 00:02:38,090 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Frigia 53 00:02:38,090 --> 00:02:41,370 and Galatia, having been. Kept by the Holy Spirit from 54 00:02:41,370 --> 00:02:45,010 preaching the Word in the province of Asia, verse seven. 55 00:02:45,010 --> 00:02:47,290 When they came to the border of Messier, they tried to enter 56 00:02:47,290 --> 00:02:49,690 Bethania but the. Spirit of Jesus would not allow 57 00:02:49,690 --> 00:02:53,170 them to, so they passed by Messier and went down to Troas. 58 00:02:53,490 --> 00:02:56,370 During the nights Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia 59 00:02:56,370 --> 00:02:59,170 standing and begging him come over to Macedonia and help us. 60 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:02,650 After Paul has seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave 61 00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:05,530 for Macedonia concluding. That God had called us to preach 62 00:03:05,530 --> 00:03:08,730 the gospel to them. From Troas we put out to the sea 63 00:03:08,730 --> 00:03:11,810 and sailed straight for Sumatra, since the next day we went on to 64 00:03:11,810 --> 00:03:14,310 Mneapolis. From there we travel to Philippi 65 00:03:14,310 --> 00:03:17,190 Roman Colony in the leading city of that district of Macedonia, 66 00:03:17,190 --> 00:03:19,230 and we stayed there several days. 67 00:03:20,310 --> 00:03:22,710 Now at at first read you might be going like. 68 00:03:22,870 --> 00:03:24,830 OK, this is a little bit above my pay grade. 69 00:03:25,590 --> 00:03:28,430 Like seeing visions and dreams and the Holy Spirit. 70 00:03:28,430 --> 00:03:31,110 Like, you know, it's like, I'm just going to go on Facebook. 71 00:03:31,110 --> 00:03:32,750 I'm not going to learn anything from this. 72 00:03:32,750 --> 00:03:34,870 You know this. Is this is for the big dogs You 73 00:03:34,870 --> 00:03:37,070 know the A grade the real super Christians. 74 00:03:37,750 --> 00:03:40,150 I know that it can. It can be a little overwhelming 75 00:03:40,150 --> 00:03:41,620 when. We're talking about like, how do 76 00:03:41,620 --> 00:03:43,820 you decide am I going to have? To wait for the Holy Spirit to 77 00:03:43,820 --> 00:03:45,340 give me dreams. But I want to. 78 00:03:45,340 --> 00:03:48,300 I want to just distill this down to actually three very common 79 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:50,140 things. Before we apply it to ourselves, 80 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:52,700 and here's the first the first thing you notice from this is 81 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:55,740 that Paul had to be listening ongoingly. 82 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,740 OK, very simple. He was just listening ongoingly. 83 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:02,100 We'll see a little later that actually he was. 84 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:03,540 He had a completely different plan. 85 00:04:03,540 --> 00:04:05,740 It wasn't just that he wasn't allowed into. 86 00:04:05,740 --> 00:04:08,820 Asia Universe 6 And it wasn't allowed into Bethany, and the 87 00:04:08,820 --> 00:04:10,810 spirit was stopping him from the get go. 88 00:04:10,810 --> 00:04:13,250 From the very start, it seemed like he was wanting to go this 89 00:04:13,250 --> 00:04:15,690 way, and God sent him the. Other way he he started. 90 00:04:15,970 --> 00:04:18,850 He didn't take a step without inquiring of God, without being 91 00:04:18,930 --> 00:04:19,890 open. To God. 92 00:04:20,170 --> 00:04:23,850 OK, so ongoingly we'll look at in depth a little later. 93 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:26,090 The second thing and I want to dig into this one. 94 00:04:26,290 --> 00:04:29,410 Was that Paul had to believe that God's plan was best. 95 00:04:30,250 --> 00:04:31,810 See. Because it seemed like God was 96 00:04:31,810 --> 00:04:35,490 blocking him all the way and I don't know if anything like me, 97 00:04:35,490 --> 00:04:36,770 I just. Sort of pushed right through 98 00:04:36,770 --> 00:04:40,260 that, that roadblock, and then things fall apart and then it's 99 00:04:40,260 --> 00:04:43,500 all God's fault, you know? But it seemed like Paul has this 100 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:48,220 discernment that actually God's plan is best and he blocks us 101 00:04:48,220 --> 00:04:49,740 because he wants to. Bless us. 102 00:04:50,060 --> 00:04:51,060 I don't know if you've ever been. 103 00:04:51,260 --> 00:04:54,500 Blocked by the Holy Spirit, so blocked by God in a decision 104 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:57,460 that you wanted to make and if you responded to that and 105 00:04:57,460 --> 00:05:02,140 allowed him and. There I had I think one simple 106 00:05:02,140 --> 00:05:05,260 example when. I was at Bible college, one of 107 00:05:05,260 --> 00:05:06,580 the. Rules of Bible College was that 108 00:05:06,580 --> 00:05:09,640 you're not allowed to date. As long as you're studying 109 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,720 there, you're not allowed. To date, which means that I was 110 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:16,800 planning to date. So I'm in my first year, I'm 111 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,720 running with my my roommate Charles. 112 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,400 And so the plan was what I'll do is is I'll ask you out during 113 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,400 the holidays and then the leaders won't know and we can 114 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:26,880 just sort of keep it on the down low. 115 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,120 So I'm running with Charles. I'm telling him my story, my the 116 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,960 plan that I've had, and he asks the questions scripture is 117 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,480 asking of us this morning. How do you know God's in this? 118 00:05:37,690 --> 00:05:39,890 Obviously must have said something because the leadership 119 00:05:39,890 --> 00:05:40,650 has said no. But. 120 00:05:40,690 --> 00:05:42,810 Clearly God has said yes. So why? 121 00:05:43,370 --> 00:05:45,370 You know? And I lied through my teeth, 122 00:05:45,370 --> 00:05:47,890 because the real answer was I didn't ask. 123 00:05:48,930 --> 00:05:51,650 Because I had the sneaky suspicion God would block me, 124 00:05:52,890 --> 00:05:55,890 and I grew up with a deep, unbiblical theology. 125 00:05:55,890 --> 00:05:58,130 It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. 126 00:05:59,130 --> 00:06:02,890 So that was my plan, right? Now you won't be surprised to 127 00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:06,090 know that it was possibly the worst relationship known to 128 00:06:06,090 --> 00:06:08,960 mankind. It got me to the point where I 129 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,240 was so sick and tired of this dating nonsense. 130 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,920 I thought, you know, maybe. The easy way out is just never 131 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,440 to marry. I'm going to live single for 132 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,080 Jesus, properly burnt out and broken and offended. 133 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,240 And it was like when when I eventually got over it, because 134 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,720 I met a former swimsuit model, I couldn't help myself. 135 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:31,080 But when we started dating Cath and my ex had this falling out 136 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,840 with the the mom and everything in the shops, it was terrible. 137 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,280 It was an. Absolute disaster, because God, 138 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,450 it would have said no if I bothered. 139 00:06:38,450 --> 00:06:41,770 To ask. I didn't want to ask, and so now 140 00:06:41,770 --> 00:06:43,370 I carried the consequences. Okay. 141 00:06:43,370 --> 00:06:45,330 Now this is this is boyfriend girlfriend thing. 142 00:06:45,330 --> 00:06:47,890 This is insignificant. Or is it? 143 00:06:49,170 --> 00:06:50,610 Maybe this is a Seychelles thing. 144 00:06:51,050 --> 00:06:52,490 Maybe this is a buying or selling. 145 00:06:52,490 --> 00:06:56,570 Maybe this is a discerning who to employ because. 146 00:06:56,570 --> 00:07:01,570 What happened was there's this church called 3 CR and we 147 00:07:01,570 --> 00:07:04,090 weren't in it. Actually, we weren't in any 148 00:07:04,090 --> 00:07:06,570 church. We were newlyweds. 149 00:07:06,690 --> 00:07:09,730 I'd been offended by church and we were just floating. 150 00:07:09,730 --> 00:07:11,170 And yeah, I'm going to do this on my own. 151 00:07:11,170 --> 00:07:12,690 Maybe this is a word for someone here. 152 00:07:13,170 --> 00:07:14,890 I just. Figured you know what Who needs? 153 00:07:14,890 --> 00:07:17,130 The church I got Jesus, but actually I didn't really have. 154 00:07:17,210 --> 00:07:21,410 Jesus, because we got cold and cynical and bitter, our marriage 155 00:07:21,410 --> 00:07:23,530 was taking strain. We didn't have anyone around us, 156 00:07:23,530 --> 00:07:26,210 and my wife decided she's going to go hunting for a church. 157 00:07:26,930 --> 00:07:30,130 I didn't need one. She realized we did, and she 158 00:07:30,130 --> 00:07:31,810 came across three CIS, she said. Babes. 159 00:07:32,250 --> 00:07:36,630 This is the church for us. So I visited and I loved it. 160 00:07:36,790 --> 00:07:39,550 You can't. Love 3 CR Unless your ex. 161 00:07:39,550 --> 00:07:42,310 Is in it then it's the worst place in the world. 162 00:07:43,510 --> 00:07:47,430 Not only was she in three CR, she was married to one of the 163 00:07:47,430 --> 00:07:50,950 elders and I had to sit under his preaching. 164 00:07:51,390 --> 00:07:53,150 I'm like I said to Kay. Thanks, but no thanks. 165 00:07:53,350 --> 00:07:54,910 No, we can find another. Yeah. 166 00:07:54,910 --> 00:07:56,350 Let's keep trying. Let's keep looking. 167 00:07:56,350 --> 00:07:58,670 Surely there must be another church out there that we can go 168 00:07:58,670 --> 00:08:01,750 to. So that was like 20 something 169 00:08:01,750 --> 00:08:06,480 years ago and. If you look at that decision, 170 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,480 okay, I didn't bother. To ask God. 171 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,160 Now I've made some really dumb decisions. 172 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,880 Now I'm facing certain consequences, but the cost of 173 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,760 not recognizing that God's plan is. 174 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,840 Actually, Best could have finished us, so thankfully my 175 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,600 wife of substance. Actually crossed that border and 176 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,000 made a treaty actually when they when they relocated into 177 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,450 Germany. It was like saying goodbye to 178 00:08:33,450 --> 00:08:36,049 our best friends when her and her husband. 179 00:08:36,049 --> 00:08:37,809 Left because God did such a work. 180 00:08:37,809 --> 00:08:41,169 But here's the here's the point I'm trying to make because of 181 00:08:41,169 --> 00:08:44,169 that one moment of not wanting to inquire. 182 00:08:44,169 --> 00:08:47,170 Of God the consequences we would never have known. 183 00:08:47,170 --> 00:08:51,530 I would never have known. What was at stake by hopping 184 00:08:51,530 --> 00:08:52,650 over? There's one simple. 185 00:08:52,650 --> 00:08:56,410 Bible College rule because I stood at the door of three CR 186 00:08:56,410 --> 00:09:00,290 saying I don't want any part of her, which would have meant a 187 00:09:00,290 --> 00:09:02,310 marriage. Who knows what would have 188 00:09:02,310 --> 00:09:05,030 happened with our marriage when you left on your own with 189 00:09:05,030 --> 00:09:07,830 someone like myself. I needed godly men and women 190 00:09:07,830 --> 00:09:11,150 around us to carry us and care for us, and we're only in a 191 00:09:11,150 --> 00:09:14,750 place now, married 25 years. I think because the last 20 192 00:09:14,750 --> 00:09:17,470 years we were carried by this community and we wouldn't have 193 00:09:17,470 --> 00:09:20,510 had that, and we wouldn't have had the privilege of ministering 194 00:09:20,510 --> 00:09:23,950 into into youth and we wouldn't have our kids getting saved and 195 00:09:23,950 --> 00:09:26,070 baptized in this church. I wouldn't have had the 196 00:09:26,070 --> 00:09:28,990 privilege of getting to know you and being in this place where we 197 00:09:28,990 --> 00:09:30,750 stand and go like, God, what are you doing here? 198 00:09:31,270 --> 00:09:33,110 I have to pinch myself. That I have this privilege 199 00:09:33,870 --> 00:09:38,390 because of a simple decision where I wouldn't recognize that 200 00:09:38,390 --> 00:09:41,470 God knows best, so it's important. 201 00:09:41,470 --> 00:09:44,910 That we see this because on my scale it's interesting. 202 00:09:44,990 --> 00:09:48,190 On Paul scale, it's unprecedented. 203 00:09:48,630 --> 00:09:51,670 I want to show you some maps I've been ministered to this 204 00:09:51,670 --> 00:09:53,990 week by maps. I'm sorry, we're going to geek 205 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:55,750 out and you're going to think I'm very strange, but. 206 00:09:55,750 --> 00:09:57,070 Hopefully you see what I've seen. 207 00:09:58,230 --> 00:10:00,470 Right. So this those red line that's 208 00:10:00,470 --> 00:10:02,350 that's the journey that that Paul eventually. 209 00:10:02,350 --> 00:10:05,870 Took as God led him okay. The second picture is what is 210 00:10:05,870 --> 00:10:07,670 his plan? I've overlaid. 211 00:10:07,950 --> 00:10:11,870 There was the dinky little journey that he was planning an 212 00:10:11,870 --> 00:10:12,830 EX15. He says Let's. 213 00:10:12,830 --> 00:10:15,790 Just go back to the the towns and villages we've administered 214 00:10:15,790 --> 00:10:16,910 to. That's what it looks like. 215 00:10:17,150 --> 00:10:19,390 So the first thing you see is like God's plan is A. 216 00:10:19,390 --> 00:10:21,350 Heck of a lot bigger than my plan. 217 00:10:21,350 --> 00:10:23,950 My plan was just find a church where my ex is not at. 218 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:28,650 God's plan is you will have the opportunity to serve thousands 219 00:10:28,650 --> 00:10:31,490 of people on a Sunday, you know. So that's the first thing. 220 00:10:31,490 --> 00:10:33,410 But now if we zoom in, I want you to see this. 221 00:10:33,650 --> 00:10:35,930 Okay, so this is the portion of X15. 222 00:10:36,130 --> 00:10:38,330 That we looked at. If you see Antioch, there's sort 223 00:10:38,330 --> 00:10:40,530 of middle, right? Okay, this is where. 224 00:10:40,930 --> 00:10:43,650 The portion we started reading, he wanted to go to Asia because 225 00:10:43,650 --> 00:10:45,490 there's no not there, so he keeps on going north. 226 00:10:45,490 --> 00:10:47,650 He gets to the border of Bethania because there's no not 227 00:10:47,650 --> 00:10:48,970 there. He's like, OK, what else do I 228 00:10:48,970 --> 00:10:50,650 do? So he goes along the mountain 229 00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:53,090 range or miss here to troez and troez. 230 00:10:53,090 --> 00:10:58,050 God sends a vision or a dream and he heads over across into 231 00:10:58,050 --> 00:11:01,730 Europe and if you look there their names like Philippi, 232 00:11:02,210 --> 00:11:05,130 Thistle, Anaka, Corinth, Ephesus. 233 00:11:05,770 --> 00:11:06,930 None of that would have happened if. 234 00:11:07,130 --> 00:11:10,210 If he hatched his plan, right? But Philippi? 235 00:11:10,730 --> 00:11:13,630 Yeah, you can take it all. Philippi becomes his favorite 236 00:11:13,630 --> 00:11:16,710 church. There's such a deep love. 237 00:11:16,830 --> 00:11:20,430 Philippa was his three CR that he would not have gone to if he 238 00:11:20,430 --> 00:11:22,630 went straight through that roadblock and did his own thing. 239 00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:25,110 He hopped over to Philippa. Not only was it his. 240 00:11:25,110 --> 00:11:28,030 Favorite church, But they supported him financially for 241 00:11:28,030 --> 00:11:32,070 the next 20 years, which means. The rest of that dotted land 242 00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:35,350 came as a result of their financial support that he would 243 00:11:35,350 --> 00:11:37,670 never have received if he had done his own thing. 244 00:11:38,420 --> 00:11:41,140 And then you went to Thessalon. I can to Corinth into Ephesus, 245 00:11:41,300 --> 00:11:43,820 which means you and I sit as the beneficiaries. 246 00:11:43,820 --> 00:11:47,740 Most of the New Testament came as a result of those moments of 247 00:11:47,740 --> 00:11:49,460 obedience. We got blocked him, and then 248 00:11:49,460 --> 00:11:51,140 blessed him, and blocked him, and then blessed him, and 249 00:11:51,140 --> 00:11:52,340 blocked him, and then blessed him. 250 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:55,780 So you and I sit with one and two Thessalonians, one and two 251 00:11:55,780 --> 00:11:57,900 Corinthians. The pastoral letters, because he 252 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:00,340 was taking Timothy and Silas and Tartus with him. 253 00:12:00,620 --> 00:12:04,100 We have the book a mark from all of this, from those acts of 254 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:05,260 obedience. But. 255 00:12:05,910 --> 00:12:09,550 He also presses into Philippa, which is in Europe, and the 256 00:12:09,550 --> 00:12:12,670 Gospel spreads from there. If you go a little further, it's 257 00:12:12,670 --> 00:12:15,230 Greece. And then Hungary, Budapest, 258 00:12:15,390 --> 00:12:19,550 Germany, France, the UK. The Gospel spreads from this 259 00:12:19,910 --> 00:12:22,070 crossing over the simple act of obedience. 260 00:12:23,590 --> 00:12:26,230 And you know where. We receive the gospel from guys 261 00:12:26,230 --> 00:12:29,790 coming down from Europe. We are indirectly a result. 262 00:12:29,790 --> 00:12:32,550 Mass salvation is. Indirectly, a result of Paul 263 00:12:32,550 --> 00:12:41,920 simply believing that God's plan is best minister to by maps. 264 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,840 How big is our God? Exceedingly abundantly above. 265 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:50,040 And then the third thing is that Paul was not led by what was 266 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,560 seen, but by what was unseen. And I want to camp here. 267 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:56,360 Just for a little led by what was seen or unseen. 268 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,720 See, he uses a term to describe Christians, pneumatic costs. 269 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,600 People of the spirit, we're led by the spirits. 270 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,490 What is unseen? I think here in the city and 271 00:13:06,490 --> 00:13:08,810 definitely in my life, I'm not a pneumatic Cos. 272 00:13:09,090 --> 00:13:14,370 I'm a new opportunity. Cos led by situations, so I want 273 00:13:14,370 --> 00:13:17,450 to see. You know what works best in my 274 00:13:17,450 --> 00:13:19,250 favor. I don't know if you've. 275 00:13:19,250 --> 00:13:23,130 Ever used this phrase? God opened the door for me. 276 00:13:24,930 --> 00:13:27,250 It's funny how God opens the door to Cape Town but never to 277 00:13:27,250 --> 00:13:34,090 bloom from time. Hey, yeah, God opened an 278 00:13:34,370 --> 00:13:37,770 opportunity and we're going to now go to New Zealand. 279 00:13:37,770 --> 00:13:39,530 We're going to start a fresh there. 280 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:43,210 No crime. But that's not not how Paul 281 00:13:43,210 --> 00:13:46,650 operated, you know? Jonah could have said that God 282 00:13:46,650 --> 00:13:48,850 says go this way. He goes to the harbor and it 283 00:13:48,850 --> 00:13:50,850 just happens to be a boat going that way. 284 00:13:51,250 --> 00:13:54,850 God opened the door for me. The enemy can open the door. 285 00:13:54,850 --> 00:13:57,650 For you actually, your own gift set can open. 286 00:13:57,650 --> 00:14:00,090 Doors for you. I have a friend who buys and 287 00:14:00,090 --> 00:14:04,180 sells mines and he's only got a standard 6. 288 00:14:04,380 --> 00:14:06,460 He is so gifted in the business world. 289 00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:08,980 Everywhere he goes, he is able to open. 290 00:14:08,980 --> 00:14:12,180 Doors, But it doesn't mean that you're being led by the Spirit. 291 00:14:12,180 --> 00:14:15,740 You're being led by what is seen and that's not what we see Paul 292 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:18,460 doing here. You see, it goes on to. 293 00:14:18,460 --> 00:14:21,660 Say the following. This is probably four or five 294 00:14:21,660 --> 00:14:24,100 verses, verse 25 of that same chapter. 295 00:14:24,460 --> 00:14:28,980 So he's pulls over in Philippi and he gets himself thrown into 296 00:14:28,980 --> 00:14:33,130 prison like Paul often did, and then we pick up in verse 25 of 297 00:14:33,130 --> 00:14:34,530 that chapter says, About midnight. 298 00:14:34,530 --> 00:14:37,090 Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the 299 00:14:37,090 --> 00:14:38,490 other prisoners were listening to them. 300 00:14:38,690 --> 00:14:40,850 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the 301 00:14:40,850 --> 00:14:44,490 foundations of the prison were. Shaking at once all the prison 302 00:14:44,610 --> 00:14:46,730 doors. Flew open. 303 00:14:47,970 --> 00:14:51,250 God open the door for me and everyone's change came loose. 304 00:14:51,250 --> 00:14:54,690 The jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors open, he 305 00:14:54,690 --> 00:14:56,130 drew his. Sword and was about to kill 306 00:14:56,130 --> 00:14:58,250 himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 307 00:14:58,490 --> 00:15:00,370 But Paul shouted. Don't harm yourself. 308 00:15:00,970 --> 00:15:03,730 We're all here. The jailer called for lights, 309 00:15:03,730 --> 00:15:06,690 rushed in and fell, trembling before Paul and Silas, and then 310 00:15:06,690 --> 00:15:08,810 brought them out and asked us what must I do? 311 00:15:08,810 --> 00:15:10,890 To be saved. I want you to see there. 312 00:15:12,210 --> 00:15:14,690 The Bible does talk about doors being opened, and the Bible does 313 00:15:14,690 --> 00:15:17,690 talk about God opening doors, but if that is the only dictator 314 00:15:17,690 --> 00:15:20,330 of. What we do and how we know is 315 00:15:20,330 --> 00:15:23,090 Seychelles an option. Do I employ this person or that 316 00:15:23,090 --> 00:15:25,250 person? We're in for trouble. 317 00:15:25,530 --> 00:15:27,170 Because we're being led by what is seen. 318 00:15:27,730 --> 00:15:33,400 So Paul chains off Midnight. Prison doors are open. 319 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:35,120 Clearly, he's not from the bluff. 320 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,000 Because if he was, he would have been out there very quickly. 321 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,000 But God had told him, this is part of my plan. 322 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,760 Don't use this open door. As a way to escape. 323 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,800 And because he stayed, the man was saved and so was his 324 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,120 household, which meant if he had gone through that door, that man 325 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,560 would have taken his own life and his family would never have 326 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,000 been saved. It's important to add into the 327 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,800 mix when we're going like. Oh Lord, what are you doing 328 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,670 here? That we are not governed first 329 00:16:01,670 --> 00:16:04,150 and foremost by while he opened the door? 330 00:16:04,190 --> 00:16:06,110 It's an opportunity. It looks so good. 331 00:16:07,390 --> 00:16:08,870 It looks so good. It always does. 332 00:16:08,870 --> 00:16:12,550 So what do we do? I want to leave you with these 333 00:16:12,550 --> 00:16:15,870 three. Throughout the Bible, we find 334 00:16:15,870 --> 00:16:17,390 that we are led. By three things. 335 00:16:17,390 --> 00:16:21,950 Scripture by the Spirit of God and by strong community 336 00:16:22,590 --> 00:16:24,750 Scripture. Spirit of God and strong 337 00:16:24,750 --> 00:16:26,590 community. Very simple. 338 00:16:27,550 --> 00:16:33,370 Nuts and bolts, keys and mesh message, but the nations and the 339 00:16:33,370 --> 00:16:36,410 generations and the Kingdom creation that comes. 340 00:16:36,410 --> 00:16:41,890 Out of it is unprecedented. So very simply, Scripture we are 341 00:16:41,890 --> 00:16:44,290 led firstly. By Scripture, the Bible says 342 00:16:45,090 --> 00:16:48,490 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 343 00:16:48,970 --> 00:16:51,410 Now, I haven't seen it in Pretoria, but on the bluff. 344 00:16:51,770 --> 00:16:54,460 They have these. I don't even know what it is the 345 00:16:54,460 --> 00:16:56,340 kind of. Spotlights that you know that 346 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:59,620 they used to use maybe to hunt down the airplane during war. 347 00:16:59,620 --> 00:17:02,700 I don't know if you've seen it when and we on the bluff they 348 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:03,220 put. It at all. 349 00:17:03,220 --> 00:17:06,859 The pubs and bars, all that you know, whether it be tram sheds 350 00:17:06,859 --> 00:17:08,980 or dungeons or whatever, you can see it from far in the middle of 351 00:17:08,980 --> 00:17:09,660 the night. You've got these. 352 00:17:09,859 --> 00:17:14,180 Strobe lights sort of streaking through the sky, this is not. 353 00:17:14,180 --> 00:17:19,060 What the Bibles refer to when it says your word is a lamp to my 354 00:17:19,060 --> 00:17:22,619 feet and the lights in my path, it means your next step. 355 00:17:23,609 --> 00:17:28,010 The Scripture will shine light on that, and the next step shine 356 00:17:28,010 --> 00:17:29,650 light on that because. That's what we see with Paul, 357 00:17:29,770 --> 00:17:31,130 remember? Ongoingly. 358 00:17:32,090 --> 00:17:34,490 It blows my mind. And this, you know, maybe it's 359 00:17:34,850 --> 00:17:36,770 personality. I'm like, Lord, will you just 360 00:17:36,770 --> 00:17:38,490 tell me okay guys, we're going to. 361 00:17:38,530 --> 00:17:41,310 Philippa, Then we'll we'll make our way there. 362 00:17:41,350 --> 00:17:44,110 Why do you have to block Asia and block Bethania? 363 00:17:44,110 --> 00:17:47,510 And because God's more interested in the journey than 364 00:17:47,510 --> 00:17:49,110 the destination. He wants a journey. 365 00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:52,790 With us as part of relationship, he wants us leaning in and being 366 00:17:52,790 --> 00:17:54,750 drawn to him ongoingly. And so he says. 367 00:17:54,830 --> 00:17:58,710 You know your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path. 368 00:17:58,750 --> 00:17:59,670 Just that. Next. 369 00:18:01,190 --> 00:18:04,550 Step I was so deeply challenged a few years ago, I don't know if 370 00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:07,350 you remember Nico from America sharing at the call conference. 371 00:18:07,510 --> 00:18:12,520 Hey. He got up and all he did was he 372 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:17,480 took his Bible and he took his like a journal and a daily 373 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,360 devotional and he walked. Us through his business, So 374 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:22,080 what? What we used to have is one of 375 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,960 the sessions when we had the call conference. 376 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,040 One of the sessions was devoted to the marketplace, to the 377 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:29,480 business world. And so Nico got up and he said, 378 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:34,120 well, back in 1992 I felt God really calling me to have an 379 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:36,560 influence in in the education system. 380 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,150 And he said so. I'm like, oh Lord, I don't. 381 00:18:40,150 --> 00:18:42,310 Know, I don't know if that's really me. 382 00:18:42,870 --> 00:18:45,550 He was heading in a different direction and then he read to 383 00:18:45,550 --> 00:18:47,310 us, he said. And so on whatever day. 384 00:18:47,390 --> 00:18:50,630 Whatever he goes, I'm read here. And he said the following He 385 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:52,950 says, you know, don't despise the day of small beginnings. 386 00:18:53,510 --> 00:18:55,790 He's like Okay. We'll start small, so he 387 00:18:55,790 --> 00:18:58,150 gathered a few people together. Apparently there were like 6 388 00:18:58,150 --> 00:19:00,430 people showed interest and five of them left. 389 00:19:00,430 --> 00:19:02,350 So it's him in someone else like Okay. 390 00:19:02,870 --> 00:19:04,310 Don't despise the day of small beginnings. 391 00:19:04,990 --> 00:19:07,310 And then a few years later, he felt this thing start taking 392 00:19:07,310 --> 00:19:09,270 shape. Which it now is, which is. 393 00:19:09,310 --> 00:19:15,350 Edduplex and this was in. The Year 2, 1000 and this is now 394 00:19:15,350 --> 00:19:17,430 getting bigger than he ever expected it to be. 395 00:19:17,430 --> 00:19:18,990 And like Lord can I? And then he read. 396 00:19:18,990 --> 00:19:20,950 To us, he said. Oh, and then the Lord gave me 397 00:19:20,950 --> 00:19:23,630 this verse in Zechariah. For this is it's not my mark nor 398 00:19:23,630 --> 00:19:26,510 my power, but by my spirit. Okay. 399 00:19:26,510 --> 00:19:27,910 So I'm not going to be governed by what I see. 400 00:19:27,910 --> 00:19:29,190 I'm going to be led by your spirit. 401 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:31,310 And so I carried on. Two years later, they're facing. 402 00:19:31,310 --> 00:19:33,470 Bankruptcy to you. Thanks for that, Lord. 403 00:19:33,750 --> 00:19:35,870 I could have done without. This what do I do now? 404 00:19:35,870 --> 00:19:39,150 Do I declare bankruptcy and we see, you know a whole bunch of 405 00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:41,910 people hurt and offended and and we go down that. 406 00:19:42,230 --> 00:19:44,710 Rabbit hole. Or do I go after the bankers? 407 00:19:44,710 --> 00:19:48,150 Maybe we can get financed or or do I ask of some contacts that I 408 00:19:48,150 --> 00:19:50,030 have some influential men? What do I do? 409 00:19:50,030 --> 00:19:51,670 Lord. And he prayed. 410 00:19:51,670 --> 00:19:54,630 And he prayed, and he waited. And then the Lord let. 411 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:56,790 This the there will be a lamp to his feet. 412 00:19:56,790 --> 00:20:00,400 Just the next step, and it was Psalm 2714. 413 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,320 Wait patiently. For the Lord, be strong and 414 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:05,160 courageous. Yes, I tell you, wait patiently. 415 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,600 So he waited. In 2002 he waited and. 416 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,160 Over the next 10 years while the rest of the. 417 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,920 World went through that financial crisis of two. 418 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:19,600 Thousand 8910 His business multiplied 1000% and there was 419 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,160 just the start of the story, and he went to the next day, and the 420 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,040 next decision, and the next Bible verse, and the next step 421 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,050 that he took. And I was so captivated by that 422 00:20:28,050 --> 00:20:31,930 because I'd. Grown up in a missionary home, 423 00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:34,850 knowing the Bible, I studied theology. 424 00:20:34,850 --> 00:20:37,570 But I'd. Never once seen it applied like 425 00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:41,330 that as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and. 426 00:20:42,330 --> 00:20:44,050 When you see it, you see it throughout the scripture. 427 00:20:44,130 --> 00:20:45,810 That's all the Saints of God did. 428 00:20:46,170 --> 00:20:47,650 Lord, what do we do with this situation? 429 00:20:48,010 --> 00:20:49,650 What do I do? With this employee I just. 430 00:20:49,650 --> 00:20:53,170 I could kill them. Your word is lamp him to my feet 431 00:20:53,170 --> 00:20:54,690 and a light to my path, and he'll show you. 432 00:20:55,190 --> 00:20:57,190 And we're led by that, so much so that if. 433 00:20:57,430 --> 00:20:59,790 If you were to ask me like what's my life verse, it's 434 00:20:59,790 --> 00:21:02,030 governed around this moment. It's from some father. 435 00:21:02,030 --> 00:21:05,750 In the message it says Morning by morning I lay the pieces of 436 00:21:05,750 --> 00:21:08,630 my life on your altar every step. 437 00:21:08,790 --> 00:21:13,470 Ongoingly, morning by morning, here I am, your invited guest. 438 00:21:13,590 --> 00:21:16,190 I love that you're invited. This is what he invites us to. 439 00:21:16,590 --> 00:21:20,470 Here I am, your invited guest waiting for direction to get me 440 00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:24,840 through enemy lines. That's is what we see 441 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,640 throughout. You want to know how to discern, 442 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:32,160 say, shells, New employee, bar. Sell, marry her, get the girl. 443 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:34,440 You want to know these life decisions. 444 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,160 What you do is you trust that the word will. 445 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,720 Be a lamp to our feet, a lot to our path. 446 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,880 And then secondly, the Spirit, the same pause, busy talking to 447 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,040 the Galatians that he eventually did get to and eventually did 448 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,160 plant the church. That's also very interesting all 449 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,880 the places. Got blocked and from he went. 450 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,120 Eventually went back because God's timing is perfect. 451 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,920 And there was fruitful results of his work. 452 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,520 So he's in Galatian. In Galatia, he's writing the 453 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,520 letter back to them, and in one sense that. 454 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,120 In chapter 5, it's almost as if he begins to explain this so 455 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:06,600 that you know what this is all about. 456 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,240 And he starts talking about walking by the Spirit, being led 457 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,080 by the Spirit, and keeping in step with the spirit. 458 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,280 So you got the word, but you also got the spirit and. 459 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,440 When I read that and prepping for today, I can't help but 460 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,410 think of Rory. But there's one guy I know who's 461 00:22:20,410 --> 00:22:24,570 led by the spirit. Like, radically, it's Rory. 462 00:22:25,250 --> 00:22:27,330 I think one day we're going to publish a book. 463 00:22:27,770 --> 00:22:29,330 Just. Using the accounts that come 464 00:22:29,330 --> 00:22:30,970 through our elders WhatsApp group. 465 00:22:31,650 --> 00:22:35,970 You know, I mean this the last 10 days won't give you too much 466 00:22:35,970 --> 00:22:37,690 detail because I know he's going to share them in depth. 467 00:22:37,970 --> 00:22:40,930 You know, Rory, it's like, hey guys. 468 00:22:40,970 --> 00:22:44,610 You won't believe what happened. I was having my haircut and 469 00:22:44,610 --> 00:22:47,290 right next to me and we started a conversation and turns out 470 00:22:47,290 --> 00:22:50,290 he's my neighbor's neighbor. And ten years ago we moved in 471 00:22:50,290 --> 00:22:52,570 and I got to know my neighbor. And he's gotten to know that 472 00:22:52,570 --> 00:22:53,730 neighbor. And he's brought him to three 473 00:22:53,730 --> 00:22:55,090 CA. And he's talking about how his 474 00:22:55,090 --> 00:22:57,170 life has been radically changed over six months. 475 00:22:57,370 --> 00:22:58,890 It's amazing. I'm just going like, what? 476 00:22:59,170 --> 00:23:02,770 That's incredible. And then the next day, hey guys. 477 00:23:03,130 --> 00:23:05,770 You won't believe it, but I filled in. 478 00:23:06,170 --> 00:23:08,890 Yeah, putting in petrol at my garage in Montrose. 479 00:23:08,890 --> 00:23:11,610 I'm busy heading out and as I get to the stop St. waiting for 480 00:23:11,610 --> 00:23:14,930 cars and I get a message from a girl who's also putting in. 481 00:23:15,330 --> 00:23:18,050 Petal at our garage and she just messaged me saying, I'm sitting 482 00:23:18,050 --> 00:23:20,130 at your garage and I'm looking at the mountain that you 483 00:23:20,130 --> 00:23:23,410 preached on and I just wanted to let you know I feel safe at 484 00:23:23,410 --> 00:23:26,690 Tricia and so Rory says. So I did a quick U-turn, went 485 00:23:26,690 --> 00:23:28,090 and knocked on her window. Yeah, How's it? 486 00:23:28,090 --> 00:23:31,690 And she's like, what the heck I was like, how did? 487 00:23:31,690 --> 00:23:33,330 That happen. And then we had this coffee date 488 00:23:33,330 --> 00:23:36,290 and God did an unbelievable stuff and restored and redeemed 489 00:23:36,850 --> 00:23:38,860 by the spirit. Hey, guys. 490 00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:39,740 You won't? Believe it. 491 00:23:40,140 --> 00:23:42,220 I was driving through Sonic Pass and whatever. 492 00:23:42,220 --> 00:23:43,940 And then it was sleeting and it was cold. 493 00:23:43,940 --> 00:23:46,860 And so I pulled into our hotel and there's a couple, and you 494 00:23:46,860 --> 00:23:48,660 won't believe they just needed a place to stay. 495 00:23:48,660 --> 00:23:51,620 But there was no room in the inn until the boss arrived. 496 00:23:51,620 --> 00:23:54,780 Then suddenly there was room. And you know who they are. 497 00:23:55,220 --> 00:23:58,220 It's not just random strangers, it's Eugene's former boss. 498 00:23:58,820 --> 00:24:01,060 And so so I get the privilege. Eugene. 499 00:24:01,060 --> 00:24:02,300 This is all. Eugene. 500 00:24:02,660 --> 00:24:04,020 So I get. The privilege of thanking the 501 00:24:04,020 --> 00:24:06,540 man that taught Eugene his skills so that we could live in 502 00:24:06,540 --> 00:24:08,970 the luxury of. You might believe I'm just no, I 503 00:24:08,970 --> 00:24:11,810 can't believe it's like, So how was your day? 504 00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:23,530 I, I But if you watch. Rory, when he preaches, he walks 505 00:24:23,570 --> 00:24:27,050 and he looks and then he sees Butch and he's reminded of 506 00:24:27,050 --> 00:24:30,370 something that and he takes the story that that he knows of 507 00:24:30,370 --> 00:24:34,170 Butch's journey with Jesus and he links it to Chris's. 508 00:24:34,170 --> 00:24:37,050 Journey and then he. Close our mouths and we got 400 509 00:24:37,050 --> 00:24:39,370 people getting baptized and people getting poured on with 510 00:24:39,370 --> 00:24:41,210 water and the holy. Spirit moves and live chains 511 00:24:41,410 --> 00:24:45,210 because he's led by the spirits. So you don't get those, hey, 512 00:24:45,210 --> 00:24:49,930 guys, out of a pragmatic daytoday rhythm. 513 00:24:49,930 --> 00:24:52,410 You get it by being led by the Spirit. 514 00:24:52,570 --> 00:24:54,610 Now you might look at that and go like, yeah, that's that's me. 515 00:24:54,890 --> 00:24:56,890 I'm not really a words guy I'm or a spirit guy. 516 00:24:56,890 --> 00:24:59,810 I go with my gut. That's not what I'm saying, 517 00:25:00,830 --> 00:25:02,710 Steve, Paul says. You walk by the Spirit. 518 00:25:02,870 --> 00:25:06,030 You're led by the Spirit. You keep in step by the Spirit, 519 00:25:06,030 --> 00:25:08,670 but he. He preempts it by saying how did 520 00:25:08,670 --> 00:25:11,070 we receive the spirit we received by faith and? 521 00:25:11,510 --> 00:25:15,110 The Bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word 522 00:25:15,150 --> 00:25:18,070 of God. And these two work together, so 523 00:25:18,070 --> 00:25:20,710 we have an. Understanding of God in His ways 524 00:25:20,950 --> 00:25:24,030 through His word. And then we had the freedom and 525 00:25:24,030 --> 00:25:27,910 the awareness mass, the Holy Spirit in me resonating with the 526 00:25:27,910 --> 00:25:30,190 Holy Spirit new, and the stories are joined. 527 00:25:30,820 --> 00:25:33,340 And God does exceedingly abundantly above what we could 528 00:25:33,340 --> 00:25:37,260 hopefully imagine. So you want to know how you 529 00:25:37,260 --> 00:25:42,660 discern A Seychelles, or how you discern an employee or selling 530 00:25:42,660 --> 00:25:45,700 that piece of land, or which cases to take? 531 00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:48,300 You get in the word and you say, Father, would you show me? 532 00:25:48,740 --> 00:25:50,420 Yeah, What would Jesus do? What? 533 00:25:50,420 --> 00:25:51,260 What is? What is your? 534 00:25:51,260 --> 00:25:54,820 Character and your nature here when you, when you constantly 535 00:25:54,820 --> 00:25:57,380 driving past that person, begging for money at the robot 536 00:25:57,740 --> 00:26:01,780 you go, you should get a job. Maybe you read like God. 537 00:26:01,780 --> 00:26:05,020 Here's the cries of the poor. And you're like okay. 538 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:07,740 And then the next time the Spirit challenges you, you're 539 00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:11,100 winding down that window and you're giving the 100 Rand led 540 00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:13,620 by the the scriptures. We led by the Spirit. 541 00:26:13,620 --> 00:26:16,420 And we led by strong community. For time's sake, I'm just going 542 00:26:16,420 --> 00:26:19,820 to read this one verse. So remember the story, Paul? 543 00:26:19,820 --> 00:26:21,660 Sort of. Hooked up from Antioch went 544 00:26:21,660 --> 00:26:23,740 north and then he went across to Tro S. 545 00:26:24,340 --> 00:26:27,420 To Corinthians 212. He says Now when I came to try 546 00:26:27,420 --> 00:26:29,740 us to preach the gospel. Even though the Lord had 547 00:26:29,740 --> 00:26:33,460 presented an opportunity for ministry, my spirit was not 548 00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:35,940 addressed because I didn't find my brother Titus there. 549 00:26:36,540 --> 00:26:37,340 So, I said. Cheers. 550 00:26:37,340 --> 00:26:40,300 And went on to Macedonia. Like what? 551 00:26:40,820 --> 00:26:44,220 Look at that. He presented an opportunity for 552 00:26:44,220 --> 00:26:47,620 ministry. It's like I came and there were 553 00:26:47,620 --> 00:26:51,660 these 2000 people saying we want to know more about Jesus, but 554 00:26:51,660 --> 00:26:53,620 I'm looking like tart, this is not your. 555 00:26:54,430 --> 00:26:56,870 Pete's here, but Eugene, no catch these guys. 556 00:26:56,870 --> 00:27:01,110 I'm going. It's unbelievable the amount of 557 00:27:01,110 --> 00:27:05,750 weight he gives to community. You know, I often think I wonder 558 00:27:05,750 --> 00:27:10,470 what our parents marriages would have looked like if they were. 559 00:27:10,470 --> 00:27:12,590 Surrounded by community, they say hey. 560 00:27:12,750 --> 00:27:14,550 You don't treat your wife like that. 561 00:27:16,430 --> 00:27:19,830 This is how a godly. Man looks after his family. 562 00:27:20,790 --> 00:27:22,590 You're drinking a little too much, but. 563 00:27:24,510 --> 00:27:27,990 But Paul knew it. So it's scripture. 564 00:27:28,750 --> 00:27:32,110 It's a spirit. And it's strong community, which 565 00:27:32,110 --> 00:27:33,790 is why Pete gets up here. And what does he say? 566 00:27:34,190 --> 00:27:37,590 Get into a life group. Surround yourself. 567 00:27:38,550 --> 00:27:41,590 Don't there be a mom. Without coming to Mom's group, 568 00:27:42,430 --> 00:27:45,590 you're going to face some stuff that you never thought you'd 569 00:27:45,590 --> 00:27:48,680 face. You're going to lose your stuffs 570 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,360 like you. Never thought you'd lose it. 571 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:51,880 You're. Going to look at this precious. 572 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,520 Little thing and think you're the devil Incarnate. 573 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,080 And then you're going to think I'm such a wicked mom until the 574 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,400 lady next to you said I've been there. 575 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:06,040 I've been there. Hey, surround yourself with 576 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,920 community, strong community. Going to leave you with two 577 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,480 pictures because I'm a pictures person if you knew the church 578 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,390 and you didn't. Maybe you don't give much 579 00:28:15,390 --> 00:28:18,190 credence to scripture, or maybe you're only just starting to 580 00:28:18,190 --> 00:28:20,230 learn this journey. I want to leave you with two 581 00:28:20,230 --> 00:28:23,110 pictures to add. Some weight to what I've been 582 00:28:23,110 --> 00:28:25,990 sharing. The first one is some of Pete's 583 00:28:25,990 --> 00:28:34,910 origami handiwork. He wishes so. 584 00:28:34,950 --> 00:28:39,110 Origami is creations like this out of one piece of paper. 585 00:28:40,030 --> 00:28:42,150 So this guy was very clever. He used. 586 00:28:42,190 --> 00:28:43,990 Whites and brown on the other side. 587 00:28:43,990 --> 00:28:46,550 So the way that he felt that he gets it, there's a second. 588 00:28:46,590 --> 00:28:48,270 Picture I want to show you. They say there's the most 589 00:28:48,270 --> 00:28:55,670 complex origami work ever to be. 1 piece of paper here. 590 00:28:56,230 --> 00:28:58,990 Crazy. So the guy's name is Satoshi. 591 00:28:58,990 --> 00:29:00,750 Kamir, you can leave it up there for now. 592 00:29:02,630 --> 00:29:05,190 Apparently it takes. Weeks to make it, but here's the 593 00:29:05,190 --> 00:29:09,110 crazy thing. You give me a piece of paper, I 594 00:29:09,150 --> 00:29:12,150 might, you know, make a jet if you're lucky. 595 00:29:15,550 --> 00:29:18,910 You and I can make this thing. It is called a. 596 00:29:19,350 --> 00:29:24,790 Reusion 3.5 in a while Reusion 3.5 You can make this because 597 00:29:24,790 --> 00:29:28,950 what they do. Is once all the fanfare has 598 00:29:29,110 --> 00:29:31,790 quietened down, they publish what is called a crease. 599 00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:34,910 So the reusion. This is the crease pattern for 600 00:29:34,910 --> 00:29:42,790 the reusion. Guys, it's just folding paper, 601 00:29:47,950 --> 00:29:50,230 but not only do you have. The crease pattern, but you have 602 00:29:50,230 --> 00:29:52,150 those Lovely. People with YouTube channels 603 00:29:52,150 --> 00:29:54,310 Which we'll show you how to do it it. 604 00:29:54,470 --> 00:29:57,030 Only takes 8 hours a day for three or four weeks. 605 00:29:58,430 --> 00:30:02,830 But you can do it. You can take a boring, bland 2 606 00:30:02,830 --> 00:30:06,550 dimensional piece of paper and create an artwork, A 607 00:30:06,590 --> 00:30:09,870 masterpiece. Because you have two things. 608 00:30:10,030 --> 00:30:11,990 Well 3 you have the crease pattern. 609 00:30:12,790 --> 00:30:15,470 We get the crease pattern. This is how you fold. 610 00:30:15,630 --> 00:30:17,590 This is what you do. You have the. 611 00:30:17,590 --> 00:30:20,270 Spirit in the community with the YouTube channel and people 612 00:30:20,630 --> 00:30:26,030 rooting for you to succeed, and that is what we're invited to. 613 00:30:27,830 --> 00:30:30,270 Like getting stuck into the word, getting to know the ways 614 00:30:30,270 --> 00:30:32,350 of God. Getting to know the crease 615 00:30:32,350 --> 00:30:35,470 pattern, trusting the spirit as he shows. 616 00:30:35,630 --> 00:30:37,990 No, not that. And those around us, listen, 617 00:30:37,990 --> 00:30:39,510 I've done that before actually, if you. 618 00:30:39,630 --> 00:30:41,950 Go to this point before. That point is a whole lot easier 619 00:30:42,590 --> 00:30:46,790 and you have a masterpiece and your life becomes a masterpiece. 620 00:30:49,950 --> 00:30:52,910 There's a verse in Proverbs 1320 says 26. 621 00:30:52,910 --> 00:30:55,150 It says the one who walks. With the wires will become 622 00:30:55,150 --> 00:30:58,010 wires, but walk with. Fools and watch your life fall 623 00:30:58,010 --> 00:31:00,250 to pieces. You are. 624 00:31:00,250 --> 00:31:02,610 That's the invitation. Come walk with the wires. 625 00:31:03,330 --> 00:31:04,570 Take a look at that crease pattern. 626 00:31:04,770 --> 00:31:07,170 And this is the second picture that I want to leave you with. 627 00:31:08,450 --> 00:31:12,090 Gives me Hibi Jeebi's this one. I know what you're thinking 628 00:31:12,090 --> 00:31:14,930 about it. For me, this is the most 629 00:31:15,050 --> 00:31:18,050 incredible picture I have ever. Seen in my whole entire life. 630 00:31:19,130 --> 00:31:20,850 It's my wallpaper on my computer. 631 00:31:21,530 --> 00:31:23,210 I want to print it and put it on my wall. 632 00:31:24,290 --> 00:31:29,170 It's taken. Sorry, it's taken by the Voyager 633 00:31:29,170 --> 00:31:29,970 One. It was. 634 00:31:29,970 --> 00:31:35,490 Launched in 1977, In 1990, something, it reached the very 635 00:31:35,490 --> 00:31:39,330 edge of our solar system. And so the engineers had to just 636 00:31:39,330 --> 00:31:43,370 turn over its shoulder. Take one last photo and it was 637 00:31:43,410 --> 00:31:45,330 This photo is called the Pale Blue dot. 638 00:31:45,330 --> 00:31:49,410 Can you see the Pale blue? Dot It's not a broken pixel. 639 00:31:51,050 --> 00:31:55,030 It's planet Earth. Planet Earth. 640 00:31:55,030 --> 00:31:59,870 It looks like a speck of dust. Suspended in a sunbeam 6 billion 641 00:31:59,870 --> 00:32:04,630 kilometers away. Planet Earth. 642 00:32:05,470 --> 00:32:09,470 On that pale blue dot, there's all the. 643 00:32:09,470 --> 00:32:14,030 Decisions you have to make. All the mountains you face, all 644 00:32:14,030 --> 00:32:16,910 the job. Opportunities and promotions. 645 00:32:16,910 --> 00:32:21,510 And it's the lady you one day meet and marry, maybe. 646 00:32:21,510 --> 00:32:23,150 And the children, you. Have to raise. 647 00:32:23,910 --> 00:32:27,110 And that pale blue dot is. Also the miscarriages and the 648 00:32:27,110 --> 00:32:29,310 broken dreams and the broken hearts. 649 00:32:31,550 --> 00:32:34,630 And this is what God says in Jeremiah 33 verse three. 650 00:32:34,950 --> 00:32:38,110 This is what the Lord. Says he Who made the pale blue 651 00:32:38,110 --> 00:32:38,710 dots? Who? 652 00:32:38,710 --> 00:32:43,110 Formed it and established it, says call to me and I will 653 00:32:43,190 --> 00:32:48,430 answer you. Call to me and I will answer you 654 00:32:48,430 --> 00:32:51,150 and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not 655 00:32:51,150 --> 00:32:53,010 know. That that was only at the 656 00:32:53,010 --> 00:32:56,050 outskirts of our solar system. It wasn't even an interstellar 657 00:32:56,050 --> 00:32:58,010 space. It wasn't our Galaxy, our solar 658 00:32:58,010 --> 00:33:01,130 system. The God who created us has 659 00:33:01,130 --> 00:33:02,850 called to. Me and I will answer you, and in 660 00:33:02,850 --> 00:33:06,010 the the message translation it says, Call to me and I'll answer 661 00:33:06,010 --> 00:33:07,970 you. I will tell you marvelous and 662 00:33:07,970 --> 00:33:11,130 wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. 663 00:33:13,010 --> 00:33:16,330 Marvelous and wondrous things you could never figure out on 664 00:33:16,330 --> 00:33:17,610 your own. I've given you the crease 665 00:33:17,610 --> 00:33:20,920 pattern. Not only that, the God who's 666 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,520 created all of this said. I will answer you and I will 667 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,520 show you and I will lead you. And if you still make the dumb 668 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,040 decision, I'll give you a wife who says let's let's try. 669 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,520 Again, let's see if we can mend this bridge, because maybe 670 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:36,480 there's something in our future 3C R and that is my 671 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,480 encouragement to you. That is what we see in the X 672 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,200 chapter 16. We see Paul who puts this to 673 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,120 practice. And we see the outworking me and 674 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:48,400 absolutely gobsmacked unprecedented result if we just 675 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:52,480 get into scripture. We open our hearts to the 676 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,560 Spirit. And the leading of the spirit 677 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,640 surround. Ourselves with strong community 678 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:01,720 and we watch God make. A masterpiece of our lives. 679 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:03,360 Good, Casey. Thank you.