1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,640 During worship, I was just reminded about more than a year 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,200 ago, I stood here in an evening service preaching for the first 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,640 time. And I said, morning or evening, 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,000 I'm really happy to be here with you. 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,640 And by happy, I actually meant terrified. 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,040 And I'm pleased to announce that more than a year later, standing 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,800 here now, nothing has changed. I'm still happy to be here with 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,040 you. I want to start with the 9 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:32,080 Proverbs 423. Above all else, guard your 10 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,400 heart, for everything you do flows from it. 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,240 Now I was also reminded after that first preach, a lot of you 12 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,040 came up to me afterwards giving me a lot of compliments and a 13 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,160 lot of words of encouragement, which I really appreciate it. 14 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:50,680 But thinking back, instead of just accepting those compliments 15 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,920 and that acknowledgement, I should have directed that to God 16 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,480 too, because after all, these are His words, not mine. 17 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,800 So for this morning, if this message goes well, give God the 18 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,680 glory. And if it fails, then you can 19 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,720 blame me or Rory because he put me up. 20 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,360 And it's funny how we tend to do the opposite when things go well 21 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,000 and when things are going our way, we are quickly to take 22 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,880 credit. We pat ourselves on the back, 23 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,800 hey, everything's going well, I'm doing so good, things are 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,560 awesome. But when things go wrong and we 25 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,800 faced with hardships, we do the opposite. 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,240 We quickly to point fingers and we quickly to pass the blame and 27 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,560 we come up with excuses. We look at other people and why 28 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,400 things are going wrong and sometimes even God. 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,440 Hey things are going good, I'm doing really well, but if they 30 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,880 go bad, why God? Why didn't you? 31 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,920 How could you? And we are very quick to declare 32 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,240 our innocence and shift the blame to others and even God and 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,040 we reason how we are blameless. Yet the real challenge is to 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,480 take responsibility and to blame less. 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,480 Now for today's preach. As I was preparing, I received 36 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,480 some advice along the way. And one piece of advice I 37 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:06,120 received was to consider wearing a long sleeve shirt just so that 38 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,000 I don't cause offence to anybody that's bothered with my tattoos. 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,040 And I sincerely considered that advice. 40 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,880 And then I chose to completely ignore it because I thought if 41 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,560 anyone is sitting here and they'll focus more on my 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,040 appearance and what's happening on my skin, then what they'll 43 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:23,800 focus on what's coming out of the word. 44 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,640 Then no length of my shirt can help you with that. 45 00:02:35,950 --> 00:02:39,470 If it if it really does bother someone, the next time I'll wear 46 00:02:39,470 --> 00:02:41,830 something different. I'll wear a vase so you can see 47 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:49,920 the rest. And I'm I'm not trying trying to 48 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:53,200 make light of a situation. I'm trying to point out how easy 49 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,440 it is and how it's in our human nature to form opinions of 50 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,600 people based on outward appearance. 51 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,280 And how easy it can be for us to get caught up in judging others 52 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,840 based on those appearances or their actions or what school I 53 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,720 went to. It's easy to form opinions and 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,680 preconceived ideas about people in situations based on what we 55 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,880 see instead of seeking their heart or trying to understand 56 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,720 them or trying to seek God's heart inside of them. 57 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,040 In one Samuel 16, seven, we are reminded of how we sometimes 58 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,480 view people different than what God views us. 59 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:33,560 That says, but the Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his 60 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,600 appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused 61 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,120 him. For the Lord does not see as man 62 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,040 sees. For man looks at the outward 63 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,880 appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart, and this shows us 64 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,920 how God values inner character over outward appearance and that 65 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,440 He prioritizes the condition of the heart over external actions. 66 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,040 I believe we all carry tattoos with us. 67 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,040 Yours might just not be as visible as mine. 68 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,600 But we have things etched in our hearts and our minds, hidden 69 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,480 scars, fears, or faults that we would rather keep secret for 70 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:14,520 fear of judgement. And we keep them secret for fear 71 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,519 of judgement. And even though we know these 72 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:19,600 things inside, we still judge other people without grace. 73 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,400 We fear exposure like Adam and Eve in the garden where they 74 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,720 first realized they were naked and they try to cover up. 75 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,440 And this is where blame started for us. 76 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,680 If we look at Genesis 312, it says Adam blamed Eve and Eve 77 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,000 blamed the serpent when confronted by God about eating 78 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,760 the forbidden fruit. This passage illustrates the 79 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,960 human tendency to shift blame instead of to take 80 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,760 responsibility. So blame, judgment, it's been 81 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,080 there since the beginning of time. 82 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,400 We would rather shift the blame so that we are clear blameless 83 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,560 when what we should focus on is to take responsibility and 84 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,200 blameless. God desires accountability from 85 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,680 us. Now, the reason I'm talking 86 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,320 about blame and judgment and what's in our heart today is it 87 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,320 comes from the series of Titus that we did at the end of last 88 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:13,080 year where Paul tasks Titus to appoint blameless elders to the 89 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,360 church. And that word blameless just 90 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,520 stuck with me. And I thought to myself, if I 91 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:22,280 was Titus, what a monumental task that would be to find these 92 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:25,920 blameless elders. First off, who am I to evaluate 93 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,680 and decide who is blameless and appoint these people? 94 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,840 And secondly, I would think, where in the world do I find 95 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:34,200 blameless people? And we mustn't confuse blameless 96 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,120 with sinless because sinless means being entirely without 97 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,960 sin, something that only Jesus achieves. 98 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,600 While humans cannot be sinless, through faith in Christ, they 99 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,120 can be made righteous and blameless before God. 100 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:52,520 Colossians 1. Blameless refers to living a 101 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,400 life of integrity and uprightness, striving to follow 102 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,400 God's commandments and being above reproach in the eyes of 103 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,840 others. It doesn't mean a person is 104 00:06:00,840 --> 00:06:04,080 without sin, but rather that they are faithful, that they are 105 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,480 repentant and sincere, sincere in their walk with God. 106 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:12,480 Blameless is about faithful living and integrity. 107 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,360 So this also made me think in our purpose in this life with 108 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,880 the people that we share this lifetime with, our purpose to 109 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:24,520 advance the Kingdom of God. If you were tasked today with 110 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,800 finding and appointing blameless people, how challenging would 111 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,120 you find to do that? Not because there aren't any, 112 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:39,480 but because we disqualify people from being blameless because we 113 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,480 don't take the time to get to know them. 114 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,480 We form opinions and judgment about them based on our 115 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,960 preconceived ideas and our notions. 116 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,800 We judge them on these outward appearances, and we disqualify 117 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,160 people on our opinions rather than seeking God's heart inside 118 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,320 of them. So I doubt Titus would have been 119 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,880 able to appoint elders if he judged people on preconceived 120 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,720 opinions rather than getting to know their hearts. 121 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,120 And the thing about judgment and blame is we don't have the right 122 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,000 to pass that on to people. Only God has that right. 123 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,200 In James 412, it says there's only one law giver and judge, 124 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,320 the one who is able to save and destroy. 125 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,680 But you, who are you to pass judgment to your neighbor? 126 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,120 So the Bible reminds us that judgment belongs to God alone, 127 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,360 not to us. We also don't have the right to 128 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,320 hinder God's work through other people based on our personal 129 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,800 opinions because when we focus on other people and we focus on 130 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,600 judging and blaming, that distracts us from the gospel. 131 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,040 John 87 says when confronted with a woman caught in adultery, 132 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,080 Jesus said let any one of you who is without sin be the first 133 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,280 to throw a stone at her. So the focus should be on God's 134 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,840 grace and redemption, not condemnation. 135 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,800 From our point of view, when we look at blame and judgment and 136 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,640 what's in our hearts, everything in between, that creates 137 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,680 distance between US and God. We don't have to separate them. 138 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,120 We don't have to say you do the one, I do the other because they 139 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,120 all carry certain similarities in how they push us further away 140 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,840 from God. So if we look at at the 141 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,960 similarities in how we understand it in a worldly view, 142 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,960 if we look at blame and judgment, they both focus on 143 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,240 negative evaluation. So both judging and blaming 144 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,320 involve assessing someone's actions, character, or decisions 145 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,920 in a critical negative way. They both place emphasis on 146 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,880 fault. They often highlight perceived 147 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,400 flaws, mistakes, or wrongdoings place placing emphasis on what 148 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,080 went wrong. They are subjective. 149 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,000 They are both influenced by the personal opinions, biases, or 150 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,160 values of the person making the judgment and the blame. 151 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:50,520 They both have an emotional impact. 152 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,880 Both can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or defensiveness 153 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,760 in the person being judged or blamed. 154 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,600 They cause power dynamics. Both can be used to assert 155 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,120 authority or superiority over someone, reinforcing power 156 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:08,120 imbalances in relationships, and they have the potential to harm 157 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,760 relationships. So excessive judging or blaming 158 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,880 can damage trust and connection in personal or professional 159 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,720 relationships. Now that's that's the worldly 160 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,720 understanding that we have of blame and judgment. 161 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,600 So if we dive deeper and we see what the word tells us about 162 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:27,360 blaming and judgment and how it keeps us from God, it says this 163 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,800 that blame shows a lack of responsibility. 164 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,640 Proverbs 2813 it says whoever conceals their sins does not 165 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,560 prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them 166 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:40,440 finds mercy. So here it shows that blaming 167 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,640 others instead of admitting fault prevents growth and mercy. 168 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:47,840 Blaming others often comes from pride. 169 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,760 Proverbs 11/2 says when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but 170 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,360 with humility comes wisdom. So blaming others is kind of a 171 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,520 way to protect our ego instead of humbling ourselves. 172 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,800 Blame districts distracts us from God's redemption. 173 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:08,440 Isaiah 4325 says I even I am he who blots out your 174 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,480 transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more. 175 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,360 So when we focus on blaming others, we miss the opportunity 176 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,760 to receive God's forgiveness and healing. 177 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,160 In Matthew 7 verse 3, Jesus taught against casting judgment 178 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,320 on other people. He says Jesus warned against 179 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,880 pointing out the faults in others without addressing your 180 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,240 own sins, saying first take the plank out of your own eye. 181 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,360 Judging others invites judgment on yourself. 182 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,560 Matthew 71 says do not judge or you too will be judged. 183 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,480 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and 184 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,640 with the measure you use, it will be measured against you. 185 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,480 So Jesus warns that the way we judge others will reflect back 186 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,200 on us. Judging others shows a lack of 187 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,760 mercy. James 213 says judgment without 188 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,600 mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. 189 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:06,080 Mercy triumphs over judgment. So God calls for mercy, not 190 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,200 harsh judgment. And then finally, judging others 191 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:14,160 prevents spiritual growth. Luke 637 says do not judge and 192 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,040 you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not 193 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,040 be condemned. Forgive and you will be 194 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,000 forgiven. So judgment hinders the the 195 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,960 transformative power of forgiveness and humility that we 196 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:31,360 can receive from God. I spoke about perceptions and 197 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,040 these preconceived ideas that we come up with people. 198 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,160 If we look at human psychology, perception is reality. 199 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:44,960 When we perceive something to be, we then believe it to be and 200 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,080 our opinions, our thoughts, our understanding, our reasoning, 201 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,320 our preconceived ideas, our self narrative that we come up with 202 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,920 in our head, This becomes our reality. 203 00:11:55,680 --> 00:12:01,160 And then our reactions echo that reality because once we believe 204 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,640 something, we will go to any length to justify that reality. 205 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,640 And two things can play out when we do that, when we create these 206 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,920 false realities in ourselves, when we focus more on people and 207 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,320 on and on man instead of the heart of God. 208 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,920 In one way, we place ourselves on a pedestal and we look down 209 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,640 on people with these preconceived ideas and opinions 210 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,440 that we've come up with them. We look down on them and with 211 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:29,600 our judgment, we tell ourselves that they aren't worthy, and 212 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,360 then we treat them as not worthy. 213 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:33,880 Look at that guy with the tattoos. 214 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,360 Keep him away from my daughter, right? 215 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:41,720 He must, must be a bad seed. Or if you're like Mitch, you 216 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:43,800 just bypass that. You meet the girl, you meet the 217 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,920 parents, you get married, and then you get the tattoo. 218 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,920 So This Is Us looking down on people. 219 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:57,400 The other scenario is with these preconceived ideas, we place 220 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,760 other people on a pedestal. We look up at them and we view 221 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,680 them as these perfect, flawless people without fault. 222 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:08,000 We do this with our elders, with preachers standing here. 223 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,760 We look at these people and we think they are everything and 224 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:14,120 nothing is wrong with them, and to some degree we start 225 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:18,840 worshipping them as man. So in one scenario, we look down 226 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,200 on people, we look down on man, and we are blinded from seeing 227 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,960 the possibility of what God can do through man. 228 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,720 In the other way, we look up at man and we are blinded from 229 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,840 seeing what God is doing through man. 230 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,960 And the reason why we can't see that is because our focus is 231 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,160 misdirected. We're focusing on man and not on 232 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,560 God. And the only way for us to 233 00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:43,800 regain sight of the truth is to free ourselves from focusing on 234 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,640 the man and seeking the heart and the image of God in the 235 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,200 people around us. And the answer to that is not to 236 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,280 open our hearts, it's to free our hearts. 237 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,720 To open our hearts refers to being receptive and willing to 238 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,880 hear God's word and accept His guidance. 239 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:04,680 To free our hearts indicates or implies that we are releasing 240 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:10,240 the heart from bondage, whether it's sin, fear, guilt, jealousy, 241 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:15,520 blame, judgment, anything in between that is hindering our 242 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,640 spiritual growth. I can willfully open the door to 243 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,320 my house to let you inside, but if there are chains and bolts 244 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,560 around that door to which I don't have the key, I can try as 245 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,480 much as I can, but you won't be able to come in. 246 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,640 I have to free that door first before I can open it. 247 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:36,400 So you can walk into it. Now there's a well known tale or 248 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,440 story. I must admit I use those words 249 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,880 well known because I never like it when somebody stands up here 250 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:43,560 and they say we all know the story. 251 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,760 Turn to book so and so chapter so and so we all know the story 252 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,600 because when somebody says that I immediately look down and I'm 253 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,040 like, do I know the story? I should know the story because 254 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,360 he says we all know the story, but I'm not sure. 255 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,400 So I quickly Google do I know the story? 256 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,880 And then when I've looked at the story, I look up and then when I 257 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,960 make eye contact with Steven, I start to panic because I'm like, 258 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,280 he knows he knows I don't know the story. 259 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:15,040 So there's a there's a well known story of a warrior and his 260 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:16,840 trusty steed walking through a forest. 261 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,240 And this warrior turns to his steed and he says, you know that 262 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,720 my kind, we are like onions. To which the steed replies, 263 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:24,760 what? You stink? 264 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,480 And he says, no, we have layers. Onions have layers, right? 265 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,480 And judging on all of your smiles, it's safe to say we all 266 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,800 know this story because I'm talking about Shrek and donkey, 267 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,880 right? Let's see. 268 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,560 The point I'm trying to make is when we live in these false 269 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,720 realities that we've created and we focus on man based on our 270 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,000 preconceived ideas and perceptions, we constantly 271 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,760 project that outwards. We take that out on other 272 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,360 people. And when we do this, we start 273 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,600 forming these layers around our heart layers and walls and 274 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,560 gates. We do this through our actions 275 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:02,440 of blaming and judging and comparing layers that keep 276 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,160 people out and layers that restrict restrict us from 277 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,840 reaching out. Each one of these layers becomes 278 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,240 a barrier to entry for God to get to know our true heart, 279 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:17,920 which is His desire. The only way, or one of the ways 280 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,320 for us to be blameless is to blame less. 281 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,720 And for us to be free of judgement, we have to judge 282 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,120 less. To achieve this, we must peel 283 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,560 away those layers until there's nothing left to keep God from 284 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:34,680 getting. In May of last year I traveled 285 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,480 to Colorado in United States to participate in this 24 hour 286 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,840 challenge. It was a challenge that was led 287 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,400 by an ex general from the US Marines. 288 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,560 He's one of the highest decorated generals there was and 289 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:52,560 in this event we were going to do 24 hours of hard work 290 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,920 non-stop. It was a physical event coupled 291 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,960 with mental growth. He's come up with this way that 292 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,840 he can teach you how to develop mental resilience when you are 293 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,720 faced with adversity, whether it's physical or emotional or 294 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:11,640 psychological. So I was, I was really excited 295 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,359 for this event for personal growth and looking up to the 296 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,160 challenge. But something I was more excited 297 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,560 for was this was a great opportunity for me to spend some 298 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,839 intimate time with God, 24 hours in the middle of nowhere, 299 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:26,720 completely secluded, isolated. So as I boarded my plane, I 300 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,720 said, God, this is a great opportunity. 301 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,760 I'm going to be there alone with my thoughts. 302 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,600 Just connect with me, share with me, show me. 303 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,520 Tell me what it is that you want or that you need from me. 304 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,480 Show me what it is that you want me to do and where you want me 305 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,160 to go. So Fast forward, the event kicks 306 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:46,600 off. I'm sitting on a bike, I'm 307 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,800 looking out on these mountains in the middle of nowhere and I'm 308 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,680 I'm super excited. I'm positive. 309 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,200 I take a deep breath and I'm like, God, here we go. 310 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,560 Let's talk. Nothing. 311 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,800 I'm like, OK, we'll ease into this. 312 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,840 Maybe just see how this goes. The first two hours go by and we 313 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,560 into the thick of this. Things are going hard. 314 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,120 And I'm like, hey God, I'm still here. 315 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,520 Looking good. I'm positive this is going well. 316 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,360 You know what do you want to share with me? 317 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:15,080 I'm here. I'm open talk. 318 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,760 Nothing. The hours rolled by 3456. 319 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,520 And this is wild out in the mountains, like snakes running 320 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,160 across the paths. At one point I turned a corner. 321 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,760 There was a big, big black bear standing in front of me. 322 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,760 I was like, God, this would be a great time to show up right now. 323 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,800 And I think he did. He spoke to the bear, not to me, 324 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,000 because the bear just made his way into the mountains. 325 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:42,680 And the hours rolled by 6789. And by this time I'm I'm tired. 326 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:47,720 I'm hungry, I'm shaped, I'm wet, I'm cold, it's out in the rain. 327 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:51,280 I'm carrying a 25 KG plate in my back in the mountains. 328 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,400 And now I was just keep going and at one point I'm like God, 329 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,200 Chad over here. Just want to check if you got my 330 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,040 previous messages. You know, that's if you want to 331 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,320 connect. I'm open our 18 year olds by in 332 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,800 the middle of the night. I'm out in the woods and I'm 333 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,480 just finished, completely finished. 334 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,760 And at one point I throw down my plate. 335 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,720 I sit down in the middle of the dirt, I switch off my headlamp, 336 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:20,760 complete darkness. And I'm I say I'm done. 337 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,800 Like I don't know how I'm going to complete another six hours, 338 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,440 get through sunrise and do this. And I'm thinking, where's that 339 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:28,760 bear? Just come take me, You know, 340 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:34,200 like I don't care anymore. At that point, God shows up and 341 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,160 he says, hey, I'm here, let's talk. 342 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,360 Now, I won't bore you with the rest of the six hours of the 343 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:45,760 challenge, but what was really remarkable for me on that story 344 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,640 is not what God shared with me, but when he decided to share it 345 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,920 with me. Because see, when I started that 346 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:56,320 challenge, I was full of hopes. I had conditions I had set, Hey 347 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,520 God, come and talk. I'm fresh, I'm ready. 348 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:04,440 But when I got to 18 hours, I was physically exhausted, layer 349 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,920 gone. Emotionally, I was drained. 350 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:10,200 Layer gone. Psychologically, I didn't have 351 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,800 any more plans in my head. I didn't have the the self talk 352 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:16,320 and how I'm going to get through this. 353 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:21,320 I was just, I'm gone. There was no more expectations, 354 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:25,080 no more conditions, no more comparison, no more nothing, 355 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,640 nothing. All my layers were gone and I 356 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:29,600 was just sitting there vulnerable in the middle of 357 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:31,840 nowhere. And that's what God says. 358 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,560 This is what I want to work with. 359 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,240 I had nothing left to keep him from getting in and that's what 360 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,360 God's saying to us. We have to get rid of those 361 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,440 layers so that he can work with our heart directly. 362 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,560 So the Word frequently talks about the heart is the centre of 363 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,120 emotions and that it's central to our relationship with God and 364 00:20:52,120 --> 00:20:54,840 our personal identity and our well-being. 365 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,000 To search the heart according to the Word of God often refers to 366 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:05,520 examining 1's innermost insights and desires and motives. 367 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:09,160 And I believe somewhat we've lost the way in seeking the 368 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,280 heart, seeking our own hearts, seeking the hearts of the people 369 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,040 around us, and seeking God's heart. 370 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:19,080 And not purely to our fault, but how easy the enemy has made that 371 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,560 for us to get distracted from the inner and get caught up in 372 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,640 the outside world. And my message this morning 373 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,720 isn't meant to be a downer and a -1 And I'm not passing blame or 374 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,880 judgment or highlighting faults. I just want to share and 375 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,880 encourage that it's in our best interest to get rid of the 376 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,880 things that are keeping us from getting to know God. 377 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,320 So how do we do this? How do we free our hearts from 378 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,680 judgment and blame so that we may search the heart of God in 379 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,280 other people? Just fly to the middle of 380 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,400 nowhere with some bears and snakes and it'll work out. 381 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,000 This is how we do this through pray. 382 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,880 Pray for God to reveal hidden sins and align your heart with 383 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:05,000 His will. Psalm 139 it says search me O 384 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:10,440 God and know my heart, try me and know my anxieties and see if 385 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,200 there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way 386 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,040 everlasting. So this is a prayer of self 387 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,960 examination asking God to reveal hidden faults and guide us to 388 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:25,720 forgiveness and righteousness. 2 Through Scripture, we use the 389 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,720 Bible as a mirror to reflect our thoughts, motives and actions, 390 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,680 aligning them with God's standards. 391 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,040 Hebrews 412 that says, for the word of God is living and 392 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,440 powerful and sharper than any 2 edged sword, piercing even to 393 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,200 the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is 394 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,440 a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 395 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,840 Scripture reveals and judges the deepest thoughts and motives 396 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,120 that we have and it's a tool that God uses to reveal the true 397 00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:57,920 state of our hearts. We do this through confession 398 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,280 and repentance. We acknowledge areas where your 399 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,280 heart is not aligned with God and we seek for His forgiveness. 400 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,320 1 John 19 says if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to 401 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,560 forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 402 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:16,520 unrighteousness through the Holy Spirit. 403 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:23,280 John 1613 says however, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He 404 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,680 will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own 405 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,920 authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will tell 406 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,120 you the things to come. So allow the Holy Spirit to 407 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:38,840 convict and guide you in truth. And finally, through self 408 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:43,160 examination, Lamentations 340 says let us examine our ways and 409 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,200 test them and let us return to the Lord. 410 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:51,160 So regularly evaluate your motives, ensuring that they 411 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:55,520 honor God. So today I want to charge you 412 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,360 with a task the same way that Titus was tasked by Paul. 413 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:03,240 As we enter into this new year, spend some time alone and 414 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,240 honestly reflect on these questions. 415 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,280 What layers are covering your heart today? 416 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,800 What judgments or burdens are keeping you from fully 417 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,760 experiencing God's love and sharing it with others, whether 418 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,240 that's a friend or a family member or a complete stranger 419 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,480 who you won't give the time of day because you've already 420 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,760 made-up in your mind what type of person he is. 421 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,800 Maybe it's even a loved one or someone that's not even with us 422 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,680 anymore, but we're holding on to blame and judgment, creating 423 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:40,040 layers around our hearts. God doesn't just see us as we 424 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,160 are, He sees us for who we can become. 425 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,840 So my prayer for us as we start this new year is to free our 426 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,920 hearts from passing blame and judgment and to seek the heart 427 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,120 of God in ourselves and in others. 428 00:24:54,760 --> 00:25:00,280 So again, Proverbs 423, above all else, guard your heart, for 429 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:05,720 everything you do flows from it. Let's pray. 430 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,000 Lord, I thank you today that you have a a burning desire to get 431 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,200 to know our hearts. I thank you that your love is 432 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:21,880 unconditional. You love us purely for for who 433 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:27,400 you created us to be, not on preconceived ideas or opinions 434 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,680 or our appearance or our actions. 435 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:34,840 Lord, I pray today that you will help us to free our hearts, free 436 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,200 our heart from anything that is keeping you from getting in and 437 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,320 keeping us from getting to know the hearts of others. 438 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,560 Help us to free our hearts so that we can fulfill our purpose 439 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:50,080 in this lifetime to advance your Kingdom in Jesus name, Amen.