1 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:08,039 So the title of my message is look up, listen up and shut up. 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,800 So welcome. If you've bought your parents 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,560 here for the first time, it's nice to have you. 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,200 We're going to end by standing and putting our mouths over our 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,200 hands over our mouths and letting God. 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,240 Speak to us. This part of Ecclesiastes is 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,520 teaching us how to live a little bit. 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,480 The school that one of my children go to has just recently 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,600 had a bullying incident and one of the political parties found 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,040 out about it and then bought a whole lot of people and 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,680 petitioned and protested at the gate. 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,520 And I looked at them, I thought, but this is bullying. 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,600 It's a it's threatening everybody else who's. 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,520 Coming to the school. Because something happened in 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:45,760 the school, you think you can do it? 16 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,600 Outside the school and then I was. 17 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,080 Thinking quite a lot about just how schools work. 18 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:51,400 I don't know if you've ever been involved. 19 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,520 In schools. Most of us don't have an 20 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,000 educational degree. Or a sporting degree. 21 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,960 And yet we've. Got incredible perspective on 22 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:04,760 education and sport, don't we? It's the most amazing thing, 23 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,640 especially when we're paying fees. 24 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,160 We feel like the paying of fees give. 25 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,840 Us a right to. Speak into things we know 26 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,280 nothing about, and schools work very simply. 27 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,320 I mean very, very, very unbelievably. 28 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:20,440 Simply, you have a board with the chairman. 29 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,440 He's normally some very highly successful, either very rich or 30 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,080 very qualified guy. On that board. 31 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,280 There will be professors who have got an opinion on 32 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,520 everything, including who plays Lahore for the Springboks. 33 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,640 They also know about Donald Trump and the war between Israel 34 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,680 and Palestine. They are experts in the Russian, 35 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,760 Ukrainian involvement and they are highly educated on the 36 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:42,920 board. They're on the board because 37 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,160 they're successful. Then you have the leadership 38 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,440 team in the life of the school, the headmaster and his deputies 39 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,560 and a few people that go with it and they qualified. 40 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:56,800 Educationalists. Then you have teachers, That's 41 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:02,320 another rare breed who think they they know a lot. 42 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,360 And in the teachers, you have old teachers and new teachers. 43 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:08,759 The old teachers keep the traditions. 44 00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:11,400 The new teachers have just come vastly and vastly, and they want 45 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,280 to change everything. So teachers, that's another 46 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:14,760 whole breed. Then you have the scholars 47 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,400 schools actually for scholars. Then you have the. 48 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,320 Scholars and. Some of them are really clever 49 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,800 and then some of them, like me, are really dwarf and you have RQ 50 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,320 tests and EQ tests and all sorts of tests and there's a whole 51 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,120 different ranks and then you've got the. 52 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,120 Parents, they're a very rare breed. 53 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,360 They are probably the most problematic members. 54 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,520 Of the Church Society. Especially if you go to Whipsaw 55 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,840 Pretoria Boys High and and and then you have the old boys and 56 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:46,440 the. Old girls. 57 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,320 And that's another whole rear bead and then you. 58 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,800 Have what we call. The Department of Education and 59 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:56,200 you think? Schools are simple. 60 00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:01,280 And inside of that school you have the office, Macy's, Skinner 61 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,040 Club. They meet on most mornings in 62 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:05,800 the car. Park. 63 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,600 Or they go to Plato. But but they've got, they've got 64 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,480 a lot to say about a lot of things that happened in that 65 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,240 school. And they are world experts on 66 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,480 relational HR, bullying, discipline matters and the 67 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,760 direction of the school. They're unbelievably good at all 68 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,400 of that. Yes or no? 69 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:26,880 Yeah, you know that. And they stand on the side of 70 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,600 the field. I stood with two people in our 71 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:29,960 church who happened to go to the same. 72 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,000 School a couple. Of weeks ago, we're standing, 73 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,240 this was one of them and we're standing there and, and a guy, I 74 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,560 won't mention his name, but he comes from Sotcliffe School and 75 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,800 he knocked the ball on by two meters from my perspective, 2 76 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,480 meters, from his perspective, 2 meters. 77 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,880 And this guy said? Akhtar 2. 78 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,120 I thought, seriously, he's. He's honestly, he's being 79 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,240 truthful from his. Perspective, it's backwards. 80 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,920 I thought like I'm a Christian, Bruce that didn't go backwards. 81 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:08,200 Very there's no chance, Bruce. I served Jesus and now that same 82 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,240 group of people come into. The church and think. 83 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,200 Ah. The worship and the coffee. 84 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:21,640 The pasta. And the big screen, why they 85 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,360 spend so much? Money on the screen. 86 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:25,960 I was going to say 2 words to you. 87 00:04:32,650 --> 00:04:40,330 Shut up, they still sounds. Too nice. 88 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,880 Let's read. Let's read and see how much we 89 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,600 actually know about God. All you experts in every field. 90 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,320 It's the most amazing thing you can play eight team. 91 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,640 Rugby at school, But decide how the rugby coach who's got a 92 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,160 training degree in physical science should pick his first 93 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,560 team rugby at the school. It's incredible. 94 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,840 Same in the church. So let's read this. 95 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,920 Chapter 5. Verse one guard your. 96 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:16,040 Steps when you go to the House of God. 97 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,520 Go near to listen rather than to office. 98 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,600 Offer the sacrifice of fools we do not know. 99 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,080 That they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth. 100 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:32,880 Do not be. Hasty in your heart. 101 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:34,680 To utter anything. Before God. 102 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:42,720 God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 103 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:49,520 Let me say it again, God is in heaven and you're on earth. 104 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,360 So let your. Words be few as a dream comes 105 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:57,160 when there are many care so the speech of. 106 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:03,480 Fools when there are many words. They say it's better to remain 107 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,240 silent and be thought to fool and to open your mouth and 108 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:13,720 remove all doubt. When you make a vow to God, do 109 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,280 not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure and fools 110 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:20,680 Fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to 111 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,840 make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you 112 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:27,600 into sin and do not protest. To the temple messenger. 113 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,080 My vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry at what 114 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:32,600 you say and destroy the work of your? 115 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,480 Hands much dreaming, and many. Words are meaningless, 116 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,920 therefore. Stand in awe of God. 117 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,160 Say it with me, therefore. Stand in awe. 118 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:54,480 Of God I was. Reading this in my my 119 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,400 preparation, the short film James 3 portrays a family of 120 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,640 four getting ready for church on a Sunday morning. 121 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,200 Even though the viewer cannot hear what the family members are 122 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,200 saying, it is not hard to read their lips, or at least their. 123 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,320 Attitudes they wake. Up sleepy and grumpy, the dad 124 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,360 stumbles over the laundry and kicks it. 125 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,760 The older daughter argues with her mother about what she will. 126 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:25,040 Wear or not wear to church. I can't believe some of your 127 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,280 clothes are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be a lot 128 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:36,060 of it. I. 129 00:07:36,060 --> 00:07:38,380 Wouldn't pay that much money for such a short skirt. 130 00:07:42,660 --> 00:07:47,460 You know the story of a lady in this church whose squirt got 131 00:07:47,460 --> 00:07:49,020 shorter. And shorter and shorter and 132 00:07:49,020 --> 00:07:50,620 shorter in school until it was just. 133 00:07:50,620 --> 00:07:54,380 Very, very, very short. She's here today. 134 00:07:54,940 --> 00:07:57,640 Her dad is also here. And her dad said you must make 135 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,840 your skirt longer. She said no. 136 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,560 So her dad got dressed up in his Speedo. 137 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,600 He bought an ice cream. He drove to school. 138 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,120 He parked outside the front grate. 139 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,720 He leant on his bonnet, eating his ice cream in a Speedo. 140 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,800 He's sitting here today and the next day her skirt was longer, 141 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:20,480 said dad. How long are you going to do 142 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:21,000 that for? He said. 143 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:22,600 Until your skirt changes, darling. 144 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,520 The younger daughter spills her milk and cereal on her clothes. 145 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,240 Angry words are exchanged, especially when the dad slams on 146 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,039 the brakes while the mum is still trying to put her lipstick 147 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:37,799 on in the car as they get ready for church, no one in the family 148 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:40,640 smiles or exchanges even a friendly word until they walk 149 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,600 into church and it is time to put on a happy face. 150 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:46,560 The mum and their dad smile at the first people they meet. 151 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,400 Joyfully, they take their places in the sanctuary. 152 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,240 When they stand to sing, their eyes are closed in reverent 153 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,440 adoration. As the film ends, the sound 154 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,400 begins and we can hear what they are singing. 155 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:01,840 Praise God from whom? All blessings. 156 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,200 Flow friends are with the same people at home as the. 157 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,080 People who walk into the life of the church. 158 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,520 The way God has designed the temple. 159 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:11,200 Was you would come to the temple this. 160 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,080 Is guard your steps when you come to the temple. 161 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,120 Because the temple was very large. 162 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,480 And God wanted us to come from our lives, wherever our lives. 163 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,360 Are. He wanted us to come into the 164 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:23,160 temple and to look at the largeness. 165 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,600 To take the ours off ourselves and to start to look at God. 166 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,520 And the reality is the first thing. 167 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,640 That we do to worship. Is we have to. 168 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,560 Look up and probably every. Problem in this auditory. 169 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:40,880 Of today is because you're looking down or you're looking 170 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,280 around and God says you got to look up. 171 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,680 And the message of. Grace is the most unbelievable 172 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:48,120 message. Because God knows. 173 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,120 That we could never get up there, so he sent his son down. 174 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,840 But if you just concentrate on that, you forget. 175 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,160 The awesomeness of God. He is in heaven. 176 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,480 And we are on earth, and let your words be few. 177 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,720 And so we need to look up. So wherever you are today, and I 178 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:06,880 think we are so. Quick. 179 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,600 To come for prayer. We are so quick. 180 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,920 To come for counselling, we're actually. 181 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:13,720 We should just. Come into the presence of God 182 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,440 and look up. So I'm 121. 183 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,120 I lift my eyes. To the hills where. 184 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:20,880 Does my help? Come from. 185 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,880 I was in Cape Town last week. Some of you know this. 186 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,440 I was in Cape Town last week watching a. 187 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,520 Father Walk. His magnificently beautiful 188 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,760 daughter down the aisle. That father. 189 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,400 His name is Mark. That father only went to church 190 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,160 once in his life and it was when he was 4. 191 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,360 Years old and when he went to church, his grandfather. 192 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:42,880 Put him on his. Lap and he read. 193 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,840 Psalm 121 of him. I look, I lift my eyes to the 194 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,600 hills. Where does my help come from? 195 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:53,800 He never set foot in church. In his life again never and. 196 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,680 One day in his life, after great success, he had a gun on his 197 00:10:57,680 --> 00:10:58,960 desk. And he? 198 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,160 Asked himself a question. Do I live? 199 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,120 Or do I die? And a man in. 200 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,560 England phoned him, phoned him and said you must go to a church 201 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:08,760 in Durban. There's a guy called Rory there. 202 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,280 He'll teach you about God. And when he walked into the 203 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,360 church, the Spirit of God spoke to him, said I lifteth. 204 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,120 Upeth my. Eyes to heaven, where does my 205 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,520 helpeth cometh from it? Because his grandpa read it in 206 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,680 the King James. Bible, it doesn't matter. 207 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,600 What scripture? God reads it in friends 50 208 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,800 something years later when he was about to choose between life 209 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:33,680 and death. Because his grandfather had. 210 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:35,240 Taken him and. Stuck his eyes. 211 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:41,200 Into heaven his situation on earth changed friends if we're. 212 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,240 Going to change? This nation, if we're going to 213 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,440 change this world, don't come in here and just. 214 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,280 Look for the people. Hey hecka, it's nice to. 215 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:48,680 See. Hey, Lecka, it's nice to see. 216 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:49,880 Hey, I saw Rory. Hey, I saw. 217 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,640 Stephen hey, I saw this so. Don't worry about seeing me, I'm 218 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,720 unimportant in this story. Just lift up your eyes, for God 219 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,360 is in heaven and we are on earth. 220 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,080 Amen. The second thing, friends, is. 221 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,280 You and I have. Been caught with our eyes. 222 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,960 We are caught in a screen world. We are spending. 223 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,120 I saw the. Other day, 2 hours a day I spend 224 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,880 on my cell. Phone 2 hours a day. 225 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:15,880 What a. Waste of time. 226 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,200 And that's probably a little compared to you guys. 227 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,440 That includes my emails. If watching News 24 catching up 228 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,560 with two hours a day, I thought, wow, 2 hours a day. 229 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:26,080 There must be people in this. Chair spending six. 230 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,240 Or 8 hours a day you're caught by your eyes. 231 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,120 And So what the church has to do is we've got to. 232 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,120 Keep making. The production look greater to 233 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,160 keep attracting. People. 234 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:35,520 Friends. This thing is not. 235 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,320 Visual, he says. When you come to the House of 236 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:38,880 the. Lord, you must. 237 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:44,520 Open your say it. And so we love the eye and we 238 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,120 love the touch. Hey, it's nice to see you the 239 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,040 relational thing. It's like a de check you. 240 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,240 It's nice to see you, but. Actually, this is not. 241 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:51,800 This is not. The thing, the thing that we 242 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,240 need to open is our these are my friends Nikka and Anita. 243 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,480 I just had dinner with them recently together. 244 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,760 The business is in her name. Because she was. 245 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:05,640 She was. Actually, the clever one. 246 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,280 And he can't do. Anything because of her name. 247 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,400 It's got the signing powers. But they've built a business 50 248 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,160 years. I've watched them have daily 249 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,800 devices 50 years. And then Nikolai said an 250 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,400 amazing. Thing to me, he said. 251 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,280 Rory, I've just got a a transcriber to come and list all 252 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,400 the scriptures that God has given to us as as a couple. 253 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,000 They've built a a. Massive business. 254 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:35,640 Many, many properties international. 255 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,840 Business highly successful, hundreds of millions of rands 256 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:40,320 and they've. Built an unbelievable 257 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,600 educational complex called Eduplex. 258 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,080 And I've watched them. I've I've been his friend for. 259 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:46,680 Years. And he has. 260 00:13:46,680 --> 00:13:48,960 Three daily devotional. Books and he reads his Bible. 261 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,480 Every morning early I don't. Do that but but I. 262 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,240 Said to him so so this transcribe. 263 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:54,880 Of what? What is? 264 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:55,880 He going to do? Nico, he said. 265 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,280 Now he's just going to take the. Scriptures that God has. 266 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,000 Given to us. Over 50 years of daily devotions 267 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,360 and she's going to record them and I'm going to hand them. 268 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:05,920 To my children and to my grandchildren. 269 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:07,440 Because the Bible says the secret. 270 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,640 Things belong to to God, but the things you revealed to me belong 271 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,560 to me and to my SO, I said. How many scriptures? 272 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:18,120 Nikka? 50 years times 3. 165. 273 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,800 Days. How many scriptures have got? 274 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,760 Given to you. He said 45. 275 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:31,120 Said what he said 45. That means God. 276 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:32,480 Has only. Spoken to him once. 277 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:37,800 Every fourteen months and that's enough to build a multi 278 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,280 generational family business and a multi generational educational 279 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:50,160 institution on 45 scriptures. But you know the difference is. 280 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,520 His ears were open. His ears were open. 281 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,600 Is that? But is that all God speaks? 282 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:58,640 God speaks to me often. Be humble, be gracious. 283 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,040 Forgive this the little but but the actual the big. 284 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:07,120 Things that could. 45 scriptures can change generations I met. 285 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,360 His grandson. Yesterday I saw your grandson. 286 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,920 I was at AI, saw your grandson, spoke to him. 287 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,440 He's third year in university. So tell me. 288 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:22,600 About your granny and grandpa, you know given him many gifts, 289 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,880 but the greatest gift you can give your kids is 45 times when 290 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,600 the Lord has spoken. And maybe it'll take you 50 291 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:34,360 years to hear God 45 times, but when you come near, don't come. 292 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,360 He's a lecker building. This is a lecker. 293 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:38,400 This thing this is a lecker. He says you know what? 294 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,720 You sound like the parents at AFIZ Macy's school. 295 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,160 Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. 296 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,480 You see, when we pray, it's not with a microphone shouting at 297 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,240 God, Hey God, please hear my pray. 298 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:54,320 God reaches down the scope into my heart and says, is he? 299 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,560 Is he caught me? Is he gripped me? 300 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,040 Can you put? Isaiah 50 up, please. 301 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,280 The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the 302 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,440 word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning. 303 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,760 He wakens my ear to listen like 1. 304 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:18,920 Being taught, please keep it up there. 305 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,000 He wakens my ear to listen like 1. 306 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,560 Being taught the sovereign. Lord has opened my. 307 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,680 Ears and I've not been rebellious. 308 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,920 I've not drawn back. Just keep it up there. 309 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,560 Friends, you know what amazes me? 310 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,440 I get. Paid to study the Word of God 311 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,000 and to preach. I've been here for 12 years and 312 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,600 in those. 12 years, 90. 5% of the people who come here. 313 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,800 Never ever bring a notebook. Or anything to record. 314 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,960 I'm not doing this. For fun, I'm doing this to teach 315 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,040 you the ways of God, and I can. Tell you I've misguarded. 316 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:49,800 Many occasions. But in 12 years? 317 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,560 There must be at least 20. 5 or 30 times that. 318 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,880 I've actually heard the word of the Lord for you as a. 319 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,000 Church and most of you have not written it down. 320 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,440 I'm not being harsh, I'm just being truthful. 321 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,200 But because he wrote it down, he said. 322 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,880 I've not been rebellious. I've not been rebellious. 323 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:13,480 I've not drawn back. God spoke to him to build a high 324 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,560 school, his wife said. Over my dead body. 325 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:21,440 Unless God writes on the wall, we are not building a school. 326 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,400 Unless God writes on the wall. When did you last see God write 327 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:30,040 on the wall? And then she went to a museum in 328 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,040 America. And at the end of the film, the 329 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,560 hand of God started writing on the wall. 330 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:43,400 We're building a high school. Not rebellious, but but the 331 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,000 economics, the young people are leaving South Africa. 332 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,240 This is the thing. No, no, no, no, no, no. 333 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,400 Together they heard God. Ears are open. 334 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:57,840 You can build a whole high. School in South Africa on one 335 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:03,360 verse of Scripture and God can send your wife to America to 336 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:06,640 watch a film in the Bible museum and at the end of it right on 337 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:10,120 the wall after your wife has said I will not build unless God 338 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:12,160 writes on the wall and then he writes on the wall. 339 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:13,680 How's my memory, Nick? Is that OK? 340 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,360 But that's why God puts people in here to remind us, friends, 341 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:20,920 and sorry for those who don't have. 342 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,880 Notepads, but I want. To say, close your eyes and shut 343 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:29,360 your mouth and open your ears so that God can start speaking to 344 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:33,160 you about things. Amen. 345 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,920 So when you come close to the House of God, be careful, look 346 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:43,920 up and open your ears. It says this in Romans chapter 347 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,760 10. Consequently, faith comes from 348 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,320 hearing the message, and the message is heard through the 349 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,720 word of. Christ I think what happens in 350 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,800 modern day, we go from prophetic conference to prophetic 351 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,200 conference looking for God to. Speak to us and hopefully when a 352 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,800 hotshot. Prophet comes into town. 353 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:03,400 They will prophecy. Over us I sat. 354 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,640 Down. Yesterday at the market, I just 355 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,880 took my Bible and and my pen and my daughter's running a market, 356 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:11,840 and I thought yesterday was the anniversary of my dad's death. 357 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,840 Nine years. And so I thought I need to 358 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,840 prepare. For today and but what would my 359 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,520 dad do? So I thought I know what. 360 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:22,920 My dad would do. My dad would go and sit. 361 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:24,760 At my daughter's mark. And then he'd just sit there 362 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:26,760 just to let her know that he's around. 363 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,200 So I took my Bible and I thought I'd go and. 364 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,120 Prepare at my daughter's mark. I just sat down there. 365 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,720 And I sat there a little. A young girl sat next to me 366 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,240 there, and as he sat next to me, God started to speak to me from 367 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,680 the Bible I just started to write. 368 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,000 I just wrote. The young lady. 369 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:44,400 And I just wrote down some of the. 370 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,000 Scriptures God gave to me. And I just handed her. 371 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,040 Across to her and she opened it and she started to weep. 372 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:51,680 I said, where are you from? She said I'm from Boxburg. 373 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,640 I said I'm from Pretoria. Isn't it? 374 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,680 Amazing that God can bring someone from Boxburg and 375 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,600 Pretoria to a market in Midrand so he can give us his word. 376 00:20:07,770 --> 00:20:11,570 The word comes from the Bible, not from some hotshot prophet 377 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:15,370 walking around the place. Comes from the Bible pieces of 378 00:20:15,370 --> 00:20:18,560 scripture. Pieces of Scripture Open your 379 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,880 ears, you know I am. I thought I was a really good 380 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,640 husband, you know? This most of you, because I've 381 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:32,360 told you I keep telling my wife my dad kept. 382 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:33,960 Saying I'm. Lucky. 383 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,480 I don't know how you got it, but I got it and. 384 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,200 After nine years I was in Australia, I was. 385 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,840 Preaching at a Christian conference and I felt like I 386 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,920 just felt this incredible sense of ordinariness over my life. 387 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,960 That I was an. Ordinary husband I just I had 388 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,440 this overwhelming sense from my wedding day, I. 389 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,920 Just got up in front of all my family and friends and I love 390 00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:59,560 you. I'm going to honor you, I'm 391 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,480 going to serve you, I'm going to bless you. 392 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,640 It's going to be the greatest ride in our lives. 393 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,320 And then we had kids and it was busy and I became negative and I 394 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:12,720 was tired and trying to pay a bond and it just ordinariness. 395 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,040 And I was reading the book of Numbers. 396 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,960 If you can put it up please. I was reading the book of 397 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:20,480 Numbers. This is on the 20th. 398 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,760 Day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted 399 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,480 from above the Tabernacle. Of the testimony, Israel. 400 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,040 Set out from the desert of Sinai and. 401 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,560 Travelled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in 402 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,760 the desert of Pereira. They set out this first time at 403 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:34,160 the. Lord's command through Moses, 404 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,040 the divisions of the camp of Judah say Judah. 405 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,400 As I read that I felt God say this is going to change your 406 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,480 marriage. And I thought. 407 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,920 But God, this doesn't seem like a marriage scripture, but my 408 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,200 ears are open, Lord God, and I don't want to be rebellious. 409 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,680 Judah went first under their standard. 410 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,800 Nashon, son of Amidadeb. Was in command. 411 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:56,960 Nathaniel, son of Zua, was over the. 412 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:00,360 Division of the tribe. Of Issachar, say Issachar and. 413 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:02,000 Iliab, son of Helen, was over the. 414 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,880 Divisions of the tribe of Zebulun and I looked at that and 415 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:10,560 I felt God say there is the key to your marriage now. 416 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,000 Just keep it up. There you think, Flip Lord, 417 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,920 how's that going to work? I'm an ordinary husband. 418 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:21,960 And you? Say Judah Issachar Zebulun. 419 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,160 And I say this with you because the Bible says the secret. 420 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,360 Things belong to God, but the things He revealed to me belong 421 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,200 to me and to you. I want to share this with you. 422 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,480 I want to tell you I've only heard God about 10 times in my 423 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,600 life. This is one of them and I want 424 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,440 to share it with you. And I've done hundreds of 425 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:43,040 marriages. And I only have 3 divorces. 426 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,120 I've less than 1% divorce of all the marriage. 427 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:46,960 I've done the marriage. The divorce rate in this 428 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,880 country. Is 50% the divorce rate from 429 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:51,240 people that have been married by me? 430 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:54,240 Is 1%? Am IA good marriage counsellor? 431 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,240 No I'm not. I'm an ordinary husband that 432 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,120 needed God to break in and that's the scripture he used. 433 00:23:05,120 --> 00:23:06,360 So I thought well let me study it. 434 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:10,520 So I went and looked at Genesis 49 and it says Judah. 435 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,720 If you read your Bibles, if you had a notepad and took it down, 436 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,640 there'd be a little star next to Judah. 437 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,520 It says Judah. Your brothers will praise you. 438 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,200 And your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. 439 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:25,440 Judah means praise, say praise. Can we go to the next verse 440 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:29,560 please? Zebulun will live by the 441 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:33,120 seashore and become a haven for ships. 442 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,840 Say Harbour Issachar is a raw boned donkey lying down between 443 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,920 two saddlebags when he sees our good and pleasant in his 444 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:44,360 resting. Place and our pleasant in his 445 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:46,280 land. He'll bend his shoulder to the 446 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:47,880 burden and submit to forced labour. 447 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:49,160 You can turn it off. Thank you. 448 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,520 So I'm an ordinary husband, I'm sitting in Australia, I'm doing 449 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,280 my devotions through the Book of Numbers and I feel. 450 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,520 God say to me, this is going to change your marriage. 451 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,720 And so I read. Genesis. 49 and God. 452 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,440 Just says 3 things to me. You must praise your wife. 453 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:10,640 I had. Clear picture in my mind on my 454 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,200 50th. Wedding anniversary of me 455 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,400 standing up in front of my children and my grandchildren 456 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,840 and honouring this woman and I felt God say Issachar is like a 457 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,280 raw boned donkey when it sees how good and pleasant is. 458 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,760 Its resting place. It will bend down and carry the 459 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:26,280 load. And I felt God say you must 460 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,320 serve her, you must carry the load, you must get up earlier 461 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,280 than her in the morning, and you must go to bed later. 462 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,000 Than her at night and you must carry the load in. 463 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,040 Prayer and you must serve her practically. 464 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,080 And you must serve her with your words, and you must serve her 465 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,080 with your time. And when she's got Mother's 466 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:40,600 group on the thing, you must serve her. 467 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,760 And yesterday morning. Which was my dad. 468 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,800 'S anniversary of my death when the Bible says we're not the. 469 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,320 Bible says we're the. Only we're thinking there's, 470 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,480 well, my wife must serve me because this is the day that my 471 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:51,120 dad. Died. 472 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,640 I got up early. I went down and made coffee and 473 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,040 I said bless you. I want to serve you for the rest 474 00:24:56,040 --> 00:25:02,040 of my life. And Zebulun is a harbour and the 475 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:03,600 harbour. Protects when shipside. 476 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:07,600 And I felt God say this, if you will praise your wife and serve 477 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,400 your wife and protect your wife, you will live in the promised 478 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,120 land. I don't know how God spoken to 479 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,760 you about your marriage, but that's how God spoke to me about 480 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,720 my marriage. And I did not turn my ear away, 481 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,920 I opened my ear. My children can tell you this 482 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,240 woman lives under my words of life and every person that gets 483 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,640 counseled by me just get told three things. 484 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,960 Praise her, serve her, protect her. 485 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,320 Praise Him, serve Him. Protect him and if your marriage 486 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:35,800 is in trouble, it's. Because your language. 487 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,760 Is gone. Your selfishness has come in and 488 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:40,640 you're exposing them instead of protecting them. 489 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,200 And then I would go and park outside of churches in Durban. 490 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,600 I'd park outside of churches and I would start to praise God for 491 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,240 the church and for the ministry. I still do it. 492 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:53,280 I park outside of Coc. I praise you God for what is 493 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,400 inside you. I praise you for utpost of Lord 494 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,000 God. I want to serve this church and 495 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:58,560 pray. Lord God, I will protect the 496 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:00,720 reputation of these men. I do it at Choose Life. 497 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:01,520 I do. It at in. 498 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:03,680 Clearmoral letter. I do it at the Baptist Church 499 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,800 around the corner. I every single week I stop at 500 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,640 one church and I praise God for the church. 501 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,720 I serve them in prayer and I protect their reputation. 502 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:17,960 What's God said to you? Take it and share it with your 503 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,800 friends. Share it, share it, share it. 504 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:28,000 Are you with me? You know one of the things that 505 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:29,320 you can never. Say in this church. 506 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:32,920 Is that we've hooked your money, I realised. 507 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:34,880 That if I was going to be in the church, my whole. 508 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:36,320 Life. God had to speak to him about 509 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,360 money. He had to open my ear to money. 510 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,600 Because otherwise I'm going. To stand up every. 511 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,440 Sunday with veins popping out of my neck. 512 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,040 Asking people for money. And if you've. 513 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,120 Been in this church any length of time, you've never heard 514 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:50,760 that, You've never seen that. And I want to tell you, I've 515 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,520 been in the full time ministry for 35 years and I've never, 516 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,480 ever, ever, ever, ever been in a church that needs money. 517 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:03,440 That's why we don't have to ask you for it, but I'll tell you 518 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,360 why because God spoke to me. If you can put up Genesis 14 519 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:10,440 please after Abraham. Returned from defeating. 520 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,360 Kita Lama and the King's allied with him. 521 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:13,920 The king of Sodom. Came to meet him in the. 522 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,680 Valley of Shabbos. That is the King's Valley in 523 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,320 Melchizedek. King of Salem brought out. 524 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,960 Bread and wine he was. Priest of God most. 525 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,160 High and he blessed Abraham, saying, blessed be Abraham by 526 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,840 God, most High Creator of heaven and earth and. 527 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:30,120 Blessed be God most High. Who delivered your enemies into 528 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:30,720 your hand? Then? 529 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,160 Abraham gave him a 10th of everything. 530 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,000 Just keep that. Scripture up, don't put my face 531 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:39,920 up. I read that scripture, my ears 532 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:44,640 were open, my eyes were closed and I said, God, would you speak 533 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:46,720 to me from this scripture because. 534 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,480 All I see. In the church is people standing 535 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,000 up and taking 25 minutes. To take. 536 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,720 Money out of people's pockets. So that the church. 537 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:56,880 Can somehow survive. Lord, can you speak to me? 538 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,040 And God said to me, this is how money works in the church. 539 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:15,760 This is how money works. You never have to ask people for 540 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:19,080 money. You just got to bring up the 541 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,960 bread, bring out the wine. You preach about Christ. 542 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:28,320 You set the people free. They will never give 543 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,720 reluctantly. They will never give under 544 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,080 compulsion. They will never give under 545 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:39,160 pressure. And every time that we've needed 546 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:43,480 finances, I just take a glass of grape juice and a piece of 547 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:44,960 bread, and I just stand like this. 548 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:49,680 And I say, Father, 35 years ago, you spoke to me from Genesis 14. 549 00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:59,730 And that belongs to me and to my children, to the people that I 550 00:29:00,090 --> 00:29:04,530 lead. And some of you grew up in 551 00:29:04,530 --> 00:29:06,730 accountants homes, and your father's are accountants. 552 00:29:06,730 --> 00:29:09,170 And you've got a whole perspective on theology and 553 00:29:09,170 --> 00:29:12,890 finances. Shut your eyes, shut your mouth, 554 00:29:13,850 --> 00:29:17,480 and open your ears. And some of you grew up in 555 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:21,440 abstract poverty. You've battled your whole life 556 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,320 to make ends meet. Shut your eyes, shut your mouth 557 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:31,360 and open your ears and let God speak to you about his 558 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:33,520 principles and his processes and his heart. 559 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,560 And I've travelled around the world and every church that 560 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,840 preaches this doesn't have to ask people for money. 561 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,040 He was priest of God most. High say God most. 562 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:04,040 High, I felt God say just give me the capital letters, capital 563 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,440 G, capital M, capital H, just give me the capital letters and 564 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:08,720 everything. Rory, your time, your 565 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,520 relationships, your words, and he blessed Abraham, saying 566 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:15,320 blessed be Abraham by God, most High creator of heaven and 567 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,120 earth. That word Creator means owner. 568 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:20,760 And blessed be God Most High Who? 569 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:22,360 Delivered your enemies into your hand. 570 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,920 And without some pastor. Standing up, pleading people for 571 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:29,800 money, Abraham gave 10% of everything. 572 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:39,080 You with me? I was on an aeroplane the other 573 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,920 day, about six months ago. And I met a. 574 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,960 Man, I think he's popped into the church and. 575 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:46,440 We got chatting, he said. Where you going? 576 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:47,800 I said I'm going to preach in Cape Town. 577 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:50,520 And he said, are we actually moving to the Cape? 578 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:51,480 What church? I told him. 579 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,240 The church, he said. Could we come? 580 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:54,600 I said absolutely, of course you must come. 581 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,240 So I preached the next. Sunday in Cape Town and him and 582 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:00,440 his family were there. I said how's it going? 583 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,840 So no, we had a family business, we relocating to Stellenbosch. 584 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,040 I said this. Is an amazing church. 585 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:07,040 It's. One of our. 586 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:10,400 Friends and Say went there a few times and then he came back up 587 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:11,520 here, popped in here a few times. 588 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,360 I saw him and then about two. Months ago he sent me an SMS. 589 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,400 He said, hey Rory, I want to give money to the church. 590 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:18,960 Should I give it to three CR? Should I give it to the church 591 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:23,720 in Cape Town? What do you think? 592 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:40,320 I said. I'm in communion. 593 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:45,800 I'm I'm after supper. He took the bread and he broke 594 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:51,200 it and he said do this in memory of me for we are one loaf, many 595 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:57,240 parts took the cup said my blood is said for me. 596 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:59,080 You know what my heart. What did he say? 597 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:02,200 My heart want to say, please can you just give it to three CI? 598 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:09,240 But I would be rebellious. I would be fighting the Word. 599 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,000 And now our schools are battling to fill up. 600 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,920 Nico sent me a picture just two weeks ago. 601 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,800 Hey friend. Hey friend, we've just laid the 602 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,720 foundations for eight new classrooms. 603 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,240 Hey friend, for eight new classrooms. 604 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:29,640 Because God spoke to him many years ago. 605 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:33,560 I preached in Stellenbosch 2 weeks ago. 606 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:38,080 That man was sitting there. I said to my. 607 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:40,800 Friend, how's he doing? He said, or you won't believe 608 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:41,640 it. I said what? 609 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,560 He said he's just put a million Rand into our building fund, 610 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:48,720 1,000,000 Rand. I thought, can I just send that 611 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:57,000 SMS again or, or or or is this going to hold me? 612 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:19,680 Is this going to hold me? Put up Matthew 5 please. 613 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,560 Again, you've heard that it was said to the people long ago. 614 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,720 Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the 615 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:30,560 Lord. Guys, I've been in the church 616 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:33,240 long time. Honestly, I'm telling the truth. 617 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:35,280 Honestly. I'm telling the truth. 618 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,640 Well, either you're telling the truth or you're not telling the 619 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:38,360 truth. But honestly? 620 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,360 I'm telling the truth, I swear. To God on my. 621 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,600 Oath, I put it back. My oath to God. 622 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,680 But I tell you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is 623 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,840 God's throne, or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by 624 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:56,960 Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 625 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,040 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one 626 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:04,320 hair white or black. Simply let your yes be yes, and 627 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:15,760 your no no. Look up, listen and speak less 628 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:23,239 vows, promises, threats. Just let your yes be yes and 629 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:25,520 your no no. Can you come Well, what I'll try 630 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,719 and do no. Can you make it? 631 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,400 Yes, Lord God, I'll serve you yes. 632 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:34,360 Well, God, if you heal my daughter, then maybe because if 633 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,080 you and you don't do. It and sitting. 634 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:40,520 In this room are thousands of broken promises and vows, and 635 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:45,239 because of that, Jesus had to come down to fulfill everything 636 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:48,760 that we've bust up so that we can somehow look up and connect 637 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:55,159 with heaven. God is in heaven and we are on 638 00:34:55,199 --> 00:35:00,120 earth. So let your words be few. 639 00:35:01,240 --> 00:35:07,120 Open your ears, close your mouth, and stand in awe of God. 640 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:08,600 Amen.