1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,480 Hey, welcome to the City Point Church podcast. 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,280 Thanks for joining us. Every day is an opportunity to 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,280 take hold of. So we hope this message inspires 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,560 you and build your faith that it helps you have more of a God 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,920 perspective for your day. Enjoy how? 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,160 Amazing is that? Hey, can we just declare out 7 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:24,720 loud altogether today? My heart is open, my ears are 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:30,400 alert to grow and change. And never be the same. 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,920 Amen, Amen. Please be seated. 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,160 You always know the pastor means business when the glasses go on. 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Thank you Lord, God. So today I've titled the message 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,320 Engage in the vision. Engage in the vision now, quite 13 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,280 simply, people have a vision for their lives and I believe that 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,120 God gives, gives us a vision. I know when I was about 14 15 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,520 somewhere I always say 12. Everything was 12 when I was 16 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,880 younger, but when I was 12. I had a. 17 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,840 Vision for my life and I could see myself on platforms 18 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,480 preaching the gospel, people being healed, people coming to 19 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,200 to Jesus to know Jesus and the name of Jesus just being. 20 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,200 I testified and lifted up just, you know, through ministry that 21 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,640 God had for my life. But at some point in my life I 22 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,720 had to engage in that vision. And if I just looked at the 23 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,120 vision and just prayed for it to be fulfilled, it would never 24 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,960 come to pass Because God requires you and I to have more 25 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,640 than words and even sometimes more than action. 26 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:49,080 But we need to have a confession that lines up with the action. 27 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:56,040 Because you can confess death and look like you live for life. 28 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,080 And the world that is being formed around is the world that 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,120 you're confessing. And the world that will be 30 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,480 realized is the one that you're living. 31 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,640 The Bible says out of the heart, the mouth speaks. 32 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:15,560 So sometimes we have this facade. 33 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,680 In the old days we used to call it, you know, like fake 34 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,240 Christianity and things like that. 35 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,560 But it's got nothing to do with Christianity or being fake or 36 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,800 whatever. It's just about the very fact 37 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:33,080 that broken people give their lives to God and go on a journey 38 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,120 of wholeness. So you and I were those broken 39 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,480 people and some of us still are pretty broken, and that's 40 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,920 completely OK. This is why iron sharpens iron. 41 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,280 In other words, brothers and sisters in the House of God walk 42 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,760 the journey of restoration with other brothers and sisters. 43 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,320 And that's how we end up with a healthy church. 44 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:59,680 We don't, we don't, we don't say I stand for the precepts of God 45 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:04,720 and the things of the Kingdom of God, but not walk or uplift with 46 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,600 our tongue that brother and sister. 47 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,280 We don't curse brothers and says, oh, look at them. 48 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:13,280 Look at their Christianity. They say that they're great 49 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,720 Christians, but look how they talk in their life groups. 50 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,160 You know, that is using our words for cursing and yet we 51 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,000 wear a suit on Sunday. And so your actions and your 52 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,680 confession don't line up. But this church, in this church, 53 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,160 we are a church a healthy. How do I know that we are a 54 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,200 healthy church? Because I'll look at the 55 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,640 confession and I'll look at the action and I go, God, you're 56 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,360 moving. There is health in this place. 57 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:41,840 I love it. I love it. 58 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,560 I love the cafe after churches. Please don't go home straight 59 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,440 after the service. Go out to the cafe. 60 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,760 You'll be full of rich conversation. 61 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,360 If you feel still by the end of this, if you still feel a bit 62 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,520 down or that issue is is still just the number one thought that 63 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,280 you're having, just go out to the conversation. 64 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,840 Sit at the table and just go. People come sit at my table and 65 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,120 talk because that will lift you up. 66 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,360 That will build you up. This is what the church is, 67 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,640 right? It's what it's ought to be, but 68 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:15,000 it's what this Church is. And so engaging in the vision. 69 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,320 Now today I'm specifically talking about why you would be 70 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,160 participate in faith, love, hope two weeks faith, love hope 71 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,760 program. Now what is faith love hope many 72 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,840 would be asking here today. It's it's faith in action, It's 73 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:31,480 love in action and it's hope right. 74 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:36,000 So the idea is, is that as every city point church around the 75 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,280 world, once once a year, we take up this massive offering. 76 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,200 Now what? This offering isn't OK. 77 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,440 There's two things I've got to really tell you. 78 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,280 I've been busting to preach because I've just been wanting 79 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:52,600 to tell you this. It's just so important is is the 80 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,520 offering is our participation in the vision. 81 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,760 What it isn't is you're not giving an offering to Mel and I, 82 00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:03,960 and you're not replacing your weekly ties. 83 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:09,560 With your faith, if you make a pledge over the next 12 months, 84 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,080 we're going to give as a family this much to the faith of hope. 85 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,000 That doesn't mean you do a wave of tithing. 86 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,720 They're two different things in the Bible. 87 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,160 That's why in the church we often we often tie them together 88 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,000 by saying ties and offerings because they're two different 89 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,320 things. OK, so you're so your tithe or 90 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:31,120 your pledge doesn't outdo your your weekly sorry, your offering 91 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,240 doesn't outdo your weekly tithing. 92 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,080 OK. And you're not doing? 93 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,400 To Mel and I, Mel and I won't be here forever. 94 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:40,360 It's pretty sad. I know. 95 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,320 I can see all your faces. You know someone out the back 96 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,000 crying already. Like it's OK, Mel and I won't be 97 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,080 here forever. But this church will get 98 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,040 stronger and stronger and stronger. 99 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,160 So you're not tithing into us. You're tithing into the vision 100 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,120 that God has upon this church. And we are the carriers of it 101 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,920 all the leaders of it in this season of our life, which I hope 102 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,280 will be till Jesus comes. All right, that's, that's my 103 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:09,200 prayer. So Jesus has around 10 years. 104 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,360 I'm not saying I'm leaving in 10 years, but I want to be in my 105 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,480 prime when he comes, all right? So I'm kind of doing that 106 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:21,440 heavenly prayer, you know, I'm praying to the armies in heaven, 107 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,840 the heavenly armies, you know, come on, guys, you know, and I'm 108 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:26,400 sure they're listening to me, right? 109 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,840 And all, anyway, OK, I'm just going, please. 110 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,240 So anyway, the other thing is, is you have to be, this is just 111 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,960 real serious, just for like 10 seconds, OK, and serious. 112 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:43,240 And then I'll say something funny when you do giving 113 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,600 finances. Now, it came out in Rachel's 114 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,080 message this morning, but there's a story in the Bible of 115 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,840 Ananias and Sapphire, if you know that story. 116 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,000 Whenever you pledge, you need. To know who you're pledging 117 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:04,840 before it's the great I am. Please don't pledge beyond your 118 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,920 means mixed with a portion of faith. 119 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,760 Please don't pledge just according to your means. 120 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,000 Mel and I aren't really that interested in people living 121 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,720 according to their means. Mel and I are mostly interested 122 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:25,480 in people who live by faith. So I believe and I always 123 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,240 practice that when it comes to things like that. 124 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:28,920 I've been part of this my whole life. 125 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,880 I've given to church things every year like this forever. 126 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,480 And I remember, you know, when you, when you go from giving 127 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:42,120 like $8000 to $10,000 over the next 12 months, the $8000 you 128 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,800 can do, you just don't feed your children for a year or you give 129 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,760 them minimal survival level, right? 130 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,280 You drink water because it's kind of free from the, you, you 131 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,080 pay your taxes and rates and all that anyway. 132 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:59,840 But so you, you go for water, minimal food in the house and 133 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,640 down to 1 car and you can make 8 grand work, right? 134 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,560 And so we could make 8 grand work, but we can't make 10. 135 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,960 And so we pray about that and we just go. 136 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:16,240 Now I'm just using an example of numbers, OK, it could be for 137 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,080 you. It could be moving from 100 to 138 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:25,040 $200.00 / 12 months. The 200 factor is the faith. 139 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,280 OK God, faith is the currency of heaven. 140 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,440 And whenever we're going to play around faith with money, I 141 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,840 believe you need the heavenly currency. 142 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,520 And so faith is where we go. God, I really believe you spoke 143 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:47,280 to me and my my wife or my husband and we are in agreeance 144 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:52,720 that you want us to move from $50.00 to $100 or 8000 to 10,000 145 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:57,800 or 15 to $20,000 this year. We're in agreeance on this. 146 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,480 But Father God, we can't calculate it on paper. 147 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,480 It's stretching us a bit. It's not silly stretch. 148 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,920 Please don't do silly stretch. Not interested in that. 149 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,000 We want real faith growth to come in this church this year. 150 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:18,680 And so, but God, we, we, we have to say, we commit, we will take 151 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:23,640 the steps as far as we can. But father like Abraham when he 152 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,920 had his son tied up, we'll do the tie, We'll go that hard of 153 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,280 this, we'll even lift the knife. We'll go that hard. 154 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,160 But our faith is what we confess to our son. 155 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,480 That was the key in Rachel's message this morning. 156 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,800 The confession will be my God will provide the sacrifice. 157 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,920 He didn't say that's why you're here son. 158 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,920 See Abraham even till the end of obedience still had the faith 159 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,960 portion which is my God will provide. 160 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,080 He always has. Why wouldn't he now? 161 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,960 He's done it before, I'm pretty sure he's going to do it again. 162 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,440 Has anyone had that level of faith? 163 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,880 It's how I want to encourage you. 164 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:06,640 So this is what Faithful of Hope is. 165 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:11,200 It's a massive stretch. It's literally a season where we 166 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:16,960 call the church to come together with one vision, one vision, 2 167 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,640 visions is division two leaders is a monster. 168 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:25,120 It's 2 heads. There is one, one vision given 169 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:30,040 by God in this church. And the pastors Mark and Lee. 170 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:36,240 And we unify and then we go, I can do this, but I believing, 171 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:41,160 I'm believing for this in faith. And if we do that, we lift up. 172 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,400 Is this OK? Like am I, am I going places not 173 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,560 even on my message? But anyway, we've got the title 174 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:48,240 out. That's pretty good. 175 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:56,080 What's the the Kingdom of God when he's when God stretches us 176 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:59,560 in prayer, Let's use prayer. Just take money aside for a 177 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:02,840 moment. When God is is stretching you 178 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:07,680 and he's calling you to more time in prayer and you like God, 179 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:10,520 I can't. I like I only have so many hours 180 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,080 in the day. I've got kids, I've got family, 181 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,920 I've got work. I don't finish work till 5:30. 182 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,160 I don't even get home till 6:30 as it is. 183 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:23,000 Where do I fit in this prayer? But when you when you go but but 184 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,520 Gods, I say yes. And when you just make it 185 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:31,480 happen, What happens is not only can God stretch time because 186 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,080 he's the. Author of it, right? 187 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:39,320 He will then reward that faith. But he might not reward the 188 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,760 faith by asking for more prayer. But next time you pray for 189 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:50,480 healing, you see a miracle. You're what the Bible calls a 190 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:55,800 trusted person where he can trust you with his presence. 191 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:00,640 You're not a church member that that takes it all for granted, 192 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,000 but you come into the House of God and you're a contributor. 193 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:09,240 You're you're a person that he can trust with his presence, but 194 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,240 you're also a person that he can trust with his power. 195 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,280 How does he know it? Well, maybe put the prayer aside 196 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,000 for a moment and we come back to the finances because he says 197 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,560 this person is about getting into the mission. 198 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:28,800 I gave Graham Mel that vision, the I am grave, Gray and Mel 199 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,480 that vision. And so when we partner with 200 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,600 that, we're not partnering with Gray and Mel. 201 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,640 We're bypassing us and we're going, we're partnering with the 202 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:42,640 call of God on this church and he goes that faith that they 203 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,240 exercise Holy Spirit move on their faith, they've moved 204 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,400 heaven. When we say the word currency, 205 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:52,840 it's not always talking about money. 206 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,720 It's the currency of heavenly release. 207 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,720 It's the currency where where the windows of heaven are. 208 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,760 This is what tied in is weekly this making sense. 209 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,920 And so this is what we are calling you to be part of this 210 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,840 year. Let me use some notes and some 211 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,640 scripture, all right. So engage in the vision now, the 212 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,360 vision of City Point. City Point Church has a vision. 213 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,680 It's clear. It's on the wall out there to 214 00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:26,880 unmistakably influence our world for good and for God. 215 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,600 Who can unmistakably influence their world for God? 216 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,640 If people hate them, Don't lift your hand is a trick question. 217 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,880 We have to do good as a church for people to open their hearts 218 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,040 to the words you have to say. This is what feeding and, and 219 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,160 things like global care that we do at the two locations, Bribie 220 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:54,040 Island and and here global care. We, we TJ is a weapon, right? 221 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,440 We all love TJ, but he gives people food and then shares the 222 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:03,120 gospel and they go thank you with an open heart of receiving 223 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,320 and then boom, Jesus is right in there. 224 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,080 You know, we, we give people food for a purpose, sure to 225 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,840 feed, but Jesus said in his scriptures, the hungry will 226 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,280 always be with you. He actually said the poor, the 227 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,280 poor will always be with you. So it's not about fixing the 228 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:25,160 world crisis of of poor people, but what it is, is God has also 229 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,640 then said to make sure that you feed the poor. 230 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,520 So what does he want? Like he feed the poor, but he's 231 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,240 not going to fix the poor. Like the poor crisis. 232 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,720 You know what I mean? It's like, what do you want from 233 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,480 us, God? Well, when we feed the poor, we 234 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,920 can share Jesus. We don't live on bread alone. 235 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,240 The bread alone doesn't fix it. They need Jesus. 236 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,280 They need the revelation of who the one is. 237 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,880 Is is what? What's happened in the life of 238 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,320 this person that's given them the bread, that's given them the 239 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:58,040 food, the transformation that's happened in their lives, That's 240 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:01,880 what will change our generation and our Shire. 241 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,560 Amen. So it's engaging in this. 242 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,680 So this is our purpose and this is the why we exist as a church. 243 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:14,720 It's the stamp that we want to leave on Morton Shire if we 244 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,920 engage in it. Vision gives meaning to life. 245 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,200 I have spoken to way too many Christians in my life who still 246 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,800 struggle with meaning, who struggle with the waking up 247 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,320 every day and what's what's the reason? 248 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,920 I'm on planet Earth and they're Christians. 249 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:41,400 The reality is, is if you're a Christian today, you have so 250 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,520 much meaning and purpose in your life. 251 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,280 It's absolutely ridiculous because the creator of the 252 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,160 universe now lives in you through the power of his Spirit, 253 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,840 Amen. And your words have the ability 254 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,720 to form what's your meaning? Speak life over someone else. 255 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,720 Reform their the bubble that they live in or called their 256 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,760 life. Help them reshape. 257 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,040 Let's lift up brothers and sisters in Christ. 258 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,640 Let's feed the poor and get the name of Jesus out there. 259 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:17,880 We must leave a stamp on the Shire so we engage in this 260 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,640 vision. Now let me read a scripture of 261 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:26,360 how Jesus brought this to his disciples and the extra people 262 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,080 around. And you'll find it in the book 263 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:32,840 of Matthew, chapter 28, verse 16. 264 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:39,400 It says this, we've titled it in the New King James Version, the 265 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,720 Great Commission, so maybe you've heard it before. 266 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:47,120 It says then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee to the 267 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,800 mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 268 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,480 When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted 269 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,760 and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying that Jesus said 270 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,880 this. All authority has been given to 271 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:06,960 me in heaven and on earth. You know what that means? 272 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:15,000 Nothing has power over your life when you declared Jesus nothing. 273 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:20,079 There is not a thing man the the the enemy. 274 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:25,000 The enemy is so weak. Now I'm going to qualify what 275 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,720 I'm about to say, OK, But he is so weak. 276 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,400 It's shameful. Shame on him. 277 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,840 Like he literally what what we, what we got to understand is 278 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,000 there is no battle. Now we've read the book of 279 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,160 Revelations and we know Armageddon's coming. 280 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,800 There's going to be this great spiritual, but what you got to 281 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:48,800 understand is, is there's no battle in the sense of get your 282 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,840 armies and get their armies and and God's armies are here going, 283 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:54,880 Oh my goodness, that's a big army. 284 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,400 Like I'm not sure we can do this. 285 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,680 Father, are we going to be? Able to do it, yes, Spirit, we 286 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,240 will be able to do it. And Jesus is going, oh guys, I'm 287 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,520 not sure. Like that's a really big army. 288 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,800 They're giants from the book of Genesis. 289 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,760 They're the real giants. It's not like that. 290 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,600 It's absolutely not, not like that. 291 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:19,560 The devil just literally goes, OK, devil armies, let's come 292 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:24,440 together. We got to do it anyway because 293 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,720 we're bad people, so we got to do bad stuff, so let's do it 294 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,560 anyway. But Jesus just goes like that. 295 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:41,440 It's it's just it's we now what? I'm not saying that he's my 296 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,760 qualification, OK if you give. The devil, a foothold in your 297 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,800 life, he'll. Destroy you so the. 298 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,440 Bible says we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but 299 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:58,160 principalities and powers. You are nothing compared to the 300 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,160 devil. He's the real deal. 301 00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:05,600 But he is like that when it comes to God. 302 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,600 God's the real deal, the real deal. 303 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,400 Me and my son, we're just, he goes to kindy and I say, son, 304 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,400 you're big. And he goes, no, daddy, I'm not 305 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,920 big and I say you're bigger, you're bigger big. 306 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,360 He goes, yeah, Daddy, I'm bigger big anyway, so he's the greater 307 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,440 greater anyway, so. What I'm trying? 308 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,440 To get at that's just some personal dialogue. 309 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,080 OK, I just shared it with you. It's all good. 310 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,560 But what we got to what we got to understand is when we can 311 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,720 understand this and we stop fighting in the natural and 312 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:47,200 start fighting in the spiritual, then it's a no joke contest. 313 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:52,000 OK, But while you stay in the natural in your fights, like, 314 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,000 well, how do you fight in the spiritual then? 315 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:58,200 Well, it's actually it's, it's actually pretty simple as well. 316 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,640 But you do have to grow in it. OK, It's and it's your prayer. 317 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:08,840 You can do things like fasting. OK, fasting is a real conqueror. 318 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,240 It's a real deal. It's a real thing in your life, 319 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,360 man. When I fast, what happens? 320 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:17,120 What happens when I fast? When I fast, I winch, but just 321 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:19,720 to my wife. OK, so I winch. 322 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:24,400 I generally like I generally go to bed and I have a good dinner 323 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,200 and I say honey, in the morning I'm going to start fasting and 324 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,880 I'll wake up in the morning. I'm already a mess like and I 325 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,800 haven't really started. It's just a she's like it's all 326 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,160 in your head grave. Although I think it must be like 327 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,680 it's just knowing about them. Like I'm not a good faster. 328 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,760 I've got to be quite honest, but I fast like all the time. 329 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:50,520 OK, And the reason why is I can't really explain what 330 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,920 happens except for I become more of a victorious person. 331 00:20:55,840 --> 00:21:01,200 Clarity comes, OK, so if I'm fasting or just praying like 332 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,480 crazy, like I'm just like this week, I'm just going to pray 333 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,360 absolutely as much as I can. I get clear, man. 334 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:11,720 I just get sharp. Like I, I'm just, I just start 335 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,000 getting words of knowledge. I'm just like, got to settle 336 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,800 myself down, you know? It's like sharpness comes. 337 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:23,920 Clarity comes in your life, purpose comes in your life, but 338 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:31,040 a sense of power comes now it's not powering me, but it's just a 339 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,440 power in knowing who's I am and who I am in Christ. 340 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:40,000 And when I don't do these things in my life, the opposite become 341 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:42,680 starts to happen. Now you know exactly what I'm 342 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,320 talking about. I I actually start to feel 343 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:49,640 weaker. My manhood starts to feel more 344 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,560 wussier. I don't know what the right word 345 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:55,360 is that'll do from it's a council word, so. 346 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,840 It's all right, I'm from towns. Alive, I've got permission. 347 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,280 I, I my manhood. So man, you know what I'm 348 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,520 talking about. OK, you, you just don't feel 349 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,240 like you're the man that you should be. 350 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,000 There's just something. This is because you're not 351 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,360 praying. You're not you're not reading 352 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:19,120 the word of God enough. Now, you might be praying, but 353 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:21,720 praying over dinner, That's a religious prayer. 354 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,360 Oh, man, I want to talk about it right now, but I won't. 355 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:31,360 It just falls into religion. OK, That's not what God says. 356 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:34,720 Pray like I'm saying, get up when your wife falls to sleep. 357 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,320 You hear her fall asleep. Be the man that gets up and goes 358 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,680 and just spends half an hour in the living room and just, hey, 359 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,320 God, here I am. Don't know what to say. 360 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,720 I'm going to practice that heavenly language I got at 361 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,920 church the other week and I'm going to pray in tongues, what 362 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,160 we call tongues. And I'm just going to pray and 363 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,520 just be. Here in your presence or you 364 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:58,000 will do what the pastor exampled on Sunday. 365 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,680 You know, just all this morning at church where he's just got us 366 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,960 all just to be quiet and just to lift our hands. 367 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,560 And he taught me something there, God, even when I don't 368 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,560 know what to say, You're with me because I'm a Christian, so 369 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,320 you're with me. And so Holy Spirit. 370 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:29,680 Holy Spirit, thank you Jesus, and you just invite him into 371 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:36,120 your world, and the dove comes on your shoulder, and you go, 372 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:42,880 God, I want to practice waking up tomorrow with the dove still 373 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,080 on my shoulder. I want to see how long I can go 374 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:52,640 on my day with just this flesh, knowing and understanding that 375 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,800 you're still on my shoulder. Now, what I'm not saying is that 376 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:00,960 he just leaves you, but you do have to cultivate the presence 377 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,800 of God in your life. Anyway, I'm preaching about 378 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:11,040 vision, apparently. So Jesus said all authority. 379 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,800 Has been given to me in. Heaven and on earth, Go there 380 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:17,960 for this Is it ready? Go there for. 381 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:24,120 And make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the 382 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:28,640 name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 383 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:34,320 Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you. 384 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:41,240 And LOL, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 385 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:47,360 What did Jesus just do? When Jesus spoke these words, he 386 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:50,320 gave the people a vision for their lives. 387 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,600 It's a commissioning for their lives. 388 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:59,920 They could now see what their purpose of life is, and it's to 389 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:04,800 carry the presence via power and the authority because Jesus 390 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:10,920 started by saying all authority in heaven and on earth. 391 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,800 Oh, that's where I went off track and and on on earth has 392 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,720 been given to me. And then he gives it to them, to 393 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,880 you church and to me. He gave it to us. 394 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:28,600 The one that carries all answers, all authority has been 395 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:30,920 given to us. Amen. 396 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,160 So it's a vision for you and I to engage in. 397 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:41,720 Vision is the fruit of faith. We have a picture of the future, 398 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:47,520 so that's where we apply our faith to Vision is the fruit of 399 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:51,280 faith. Now that is interesting because 400 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:53,920 most people think it's the other way around. 401 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,520 Most things people think it's faith and then you receive the 402 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:05,440 fruits. But vision is the fruit of 403 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:10,320 faith. When you have faith in your life 404 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,720 in God, you have faith in the vision he puts on you. 405 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,560 When you have faith in the I am and he says you have my 406 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:27,040 authority, then it's fulfilled. So vision is the fruit of faith. 407 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:33,000 Vision is the why we exist, why we can't wait to get out of bed 408 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,520 in the morning. If you're struggling to get up 409 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,520 in the morning, you need more vision in your life because let 410 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,720 me tell you my favorite day honestly, I'm going to just be 411 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:46,480 honest is Sunday. But Monday is like right there 412 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:52,120 because what I Sunday to me is I just get so edified, which means 413 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,920 I get so overwhelmed with the love of God, the presence of 414 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:00,320 God, the company of God and the church, the testimonies, the 415 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:04,000 worship, right? But I, it makes me just buzzing 416 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,920 for Monday. I love my job. 417 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:09,160 I I've got the best job on the earth. 418 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,520 I'm sorry guys, but I really do have the best job on the earth. 419 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,280 And I come to church and I'm like in vision mode, man. 420 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,640 I'm like, how do we change this whole Shire for Jesus? 421 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:22,960 You know what I mean? This is the why we get up out of 422 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,520 bed. Vision gives us goals to achieve 423 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,600 without vision in your. Business, You don't know what 424 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,320 you're going to achieve today, but when you have a. 425 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,760 Clear vision. A clear vision. 426 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:39,680 Not a muddy vision, not an influence by outsiders vision. 427 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,960 When you've got a clear vision, you know what your purpose for 428 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,240 today is, and if you achieve it, then you can achieve tomorrow's. 429 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:48,280 Goal it gives you. Clarity. 430 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,360 Vision is the best friend of momentum. 431 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:58,440 Vision keeps us on track, Vision gives reason for everything, and 432 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:03,480 vision stops us perishing. Now, disclaimer, I want to get 433 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,280 to the end of my message, so I'm going to go really, really fast. 434 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,080 Are you ready? 1.5 speed. 435 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,560 Here we go. When we have a vision, we have 436 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,760 personal value. When we have a vision, we have 437 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,520 direction. When we have a vision, we have a 438 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:23,120 purpose. We have something to engage in 439 00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:27,320 here at City Point Church. Vision is designed to put 440 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:33,040 momentum in our lives and keep us in unity for the great 'cause 441 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:37,760 churches that are out of unity are out of vision or the visions 442 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,280 on the wall, but there's no clarity in the church. 443 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:45,960 Proverbs 2918 says where there is no vision that people cast 444 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,800 off restraints. I view it like this. 445 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,440 Where there is no vision, there is monsters. 446 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:56,200 OK, you don't know what I'm talking about, OK. 447 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:00,120 All right, let's just move on. So Proverbs 2918 in the New 448 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:05,040 Living Translation says when people do not accept divine God 449 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:07,720 guidance, they run. Wild. 450 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,080 So that's the other way to say it. 451 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,920 What was I saying with monsters when there's no clear vision? 452 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,440 The people in the church create their own. 453 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:19,800 What am I talking about? Oh, OK. 454 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,920 Well, why doesn't city point north? 455 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:27,600 Do this program. They should be doing this 456 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:29,480 program. And then your life groups like, 457 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:31,840 yeah, why don't they? Do you know why? 458 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:37,680 No, I don't know why Pastor Gray's never told me, say we 459 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,720 should be doing that. Why don't we put something 460 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,960 together? Now there's another vision 461 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,600 formed. So you've just LED 12 people in 462 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:48,320 your life group down a different vision. 463 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,960 So that's now division. Now, I know no one he has done 464 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,520 that, but I'm just talking about in workplaces, all right? 465 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,280 So yeah, it's OK. I can see everyone just staring 466 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,440 at me just like, my God, I just did that last week. 467 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,320 It hasn't come back to me yet. But don't worry, I'll give you a 468 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:16,040 phone call anyway. But that's that's what happens 469 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,560 when you get division. You've got 2 heads, you've got 2 470 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:27,840 leaders. 2 heads is a monster, two visions is division. 471 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:33,520 So when the vision is clear and plain, the people don't perish 472 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:36,720 or run wild. We stay in one accord. 473 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:41,360 Faith, love, hope is the greatest opportunity for you and 474 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,800 I to get back on the page. If you feel your spirit man 475 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,800 start to wander, or maybe you've been looking at your church and 476 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,320 kind of going, you know, I don't know where we're going. 477 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,000 I don't know what we're doing. This is a good opportunity for 478 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,720 you just to go. But God, this is your church. 479 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,240 I believe that you are still the head. 480 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,920 So I'm going to be part of this vision. 481 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:06,480 Would you give me clarity of what it actually is? 482 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:10,880 Because I'm I'm struggling to see it, but I know that I want 483 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,400 to engage with the vision. And so today is a call. 484 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:17,600 Would you engage in the vision in Wales meant to be going fast. 485 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:22,920 So our vision keeps us unit united and pushes back division 486 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:26,960 for the people of City Point Church world worldwide. 487 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:32,200 We are engaged in the vision to unmistakably influence our world 488 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:37,120 for good and for gone. This vision statement, it's our 489 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:43,920 commissioning as a church. We take it personally, take it 490 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:49,680 personally, we apply it, we work towards it daily. 491 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:55,080 We are City Point Church and we are here for this purpose. 492 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,600 I write that. Here because it's not this is 493 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,960 City Point Church. It's not I go to City Point 494 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:06,160 Church, it's I am City Point Church. 495 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,960 So for the unmistakably influence our wealth for good 496 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:14,880 and for God to be fulfilled. I have to pay my part, play my 497 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,680 part, otherwise there's an element that won't get 498 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,400 fulfilled. We take it personally. 499 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:25,240 We take it upon ourselves. This vision statement is what 500 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:29,960 God has given to our senior pastors, Mark and Lee Ramsey. 501 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:36,320 So run with it, God said in Habitat 22 to three said, write 502 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:41,480 the vision and make it plain on tablets that he may run. 503 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:44,800 Who reads it? Church, Would you run with this 504 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,640 vision? Would we have the problem in 505 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:51,200 this church where Mel and I has to ask people to slow down 506 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:56,800 rather than to get going? Could you be our problem this 507 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,880 year? Could you be the one that is 508 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:04,080 coming up at our staff meetings all the time, which is between 509 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:05,840 me and Mel because we're the only staff? 510 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,680 And so could you be our marriage issue where we're like, how come 511 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:13,640 these people are just running and running? 512 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:17,520 We can't keep up and we can go back to the scriptures and go 513 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:21,240 because it's so clear and they're so full of passion and 514 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,800 hunger. They've owned it for themselves. 515 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,160 We are the ones that need to get running a bit faster. 516 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:31,480 Wouldn't that be a great problem in the life of church health 517 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:35,760 transformation? Good works, the name of Jesus. 518 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,280 I've just said them because I'm about to come to something. 519 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:42,200 In a minute. The key to vision, a vision like 520 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:46,640 this, unmistakably influenced, isn't to just be a statement on 521 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,680 the wall, or a slogan or a sticker. 522 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,480 Our vision needs to get inside of us. 523 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:59,040 People leave churches when they don't know the vision because 524 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:03,720 it's just a slogan on the wall. It's just all, I can take that 525 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,880 even further. This is good bit of gold. 526 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,239 It gets set on the platform but doesn't get exercise through the 527 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:16,159 leader. We can say in our life groups 528 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:19,440 leaders, life group leaders in this House, in whatever 529 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:23,560 department demographic, you can say it, but if you don't do it, 530 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,800 the people. Will will move away from 531 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:28,480 following it. They might follow you, but not 532 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:32,360 the vision. So they can follow you out the 533 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:36,159 door because they don't have the vision. 534 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:39,840 The objective of every. Leader on every level is to get 535 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:44,880 vision into the people and us as the people here today it's to 536 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:49,840 allow the vision to soak into our lives and to say yes, God 537 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:54,560 and Amen, I am part of this thing Amen it's our 538 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:59,160 participation commitment to unmistakably influence our 539 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:01,000 wealth of. Good and God, it's our 540 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:05,200 participation commitment. I commit to participate in this 541 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,280 vision. The vision becomes our why we 542 00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:12,240 are in this church in the 1st place and what we are set out to 543 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:15,440 do as a church army in our community. 544 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,320 Listen to this. In a lifetime, the average 545 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:23,160 person influences 80,000 people in 78 years of life. 546 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,240 And you thought that your life was coming to nothing. 547 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,200 You know, you used to think that before you gave your life to 548 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:35,480 God. You wonder, am I really doing 549 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:38,760 anything in this world? Well, let me tell you, you are 550 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:43,000 definitely doing something in this world, but without vision 551 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:46,520 and clarity. You can be doing something for 552 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,360 evil or doing something for good. 553 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:51,880 You can do. You can be leading people to 554 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:55,160 dysfunction because you're still on your journey. 555 00:35:56,000 --> 00:36:00,880 Or you can be leading people in the same sphere of, of 556 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,480 understanding and maturity that you are. 557 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:08,040 Or you can have a greater vision and you can say, guys, don't 558 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,280 follow me, but follow the vision that's within me. 559 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:16,360 Don't follow the the lifestyle that I'm coming out of because 560 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,600 I'm still on my journey, but follow me to where I'm going. 561 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,880 That's what a vision is. It's a connection point. 562 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:28,920 A vision connects from the now into this great future. 563 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:33,120 In fact, a vision is even greater than you and I Yeah. 564 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:35,920 Are we getting this today? Are we feeling this vision is 565 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,360 greater than us? It's unattainable. 566 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:43,400 It's unachievable. That's why it's vision and not 567 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:45,880 today's goal or task. Amen. 568 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:52,120 We're influencing anyway, so we engage in the vision. 569 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:57,800 Of our lives, the church Mel and I see, and this is where I 570 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,400 wanted to get to. Mel and I have a vision for this 571 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:04,280 church. It's clear because we've done 572 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:09,520 some surveys and you didn't even know about it and we came up 10 573 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:10,720 out of 10. So it's pretty good. 574 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:13,120 Probably 9 out of 10 to be on. I'm just going to be honest, it 575 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:16,640 was 9 out of 10. It's clear. 576 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,480 But we are what's? Called painters. 577 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:22,120 Mel and I are what is called painters. 578 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:27,800 We paint the vision and so everyone can see the painting, 579 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:32,640 but we don't override past the mark and Lee's vision for City 580 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,800 Point churches, It is to unmistakably influence our world 581 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:40,560 for good and for God. So Mel and I under that have 582 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:46,440 painted a picture over the years of what that means to get that 583 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:52,920 into this community, to get that into this community because into 584 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:55,640 Carindale, it's completely different. 585 00:37:56,320 --> 00:38:00,360 You know, you're you're talking about BMWs and two three story 586 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:03,920 houses and you know, lots of money and big business. 587 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,560 And then you come to Caboolt Caboolture. 588 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:11,560 Just try to dodge my own spirit. You come to Caboolture and it 589 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:14,920 needs to be outworked differently, All right? 590 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,560 Then you go to Redcliff, it has to be outworked differently. 591 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:21,240 Then you go in the West differently. 592 00:38:21,240 --> 00:38:23,480 You go over into America differently. 593 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,160 You go to New Zealand. It's differently, but it's the 594 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:30,280 same vision with a different package or a different painting. 595 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:37,560 Mel and I see people from this church having God revelation of 596 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:41,520 how to partner with the mission to reach our community for 597 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:44,480 Jesus. Listen, we don't want you to 598 00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:49,160 just reach our community. I love good works, OK? 599 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:53,280 We should be known for them. But good works without declaring 600 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:57,080 Jesus and seeing transformation in someone's life is just good 601 00:38:57,080 --> 00:39:00,040 works. We, Mel and I, aren't here. 602 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:06,080 Listen, we aren't here for the church to be known for global 603 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:07,920 care. That's not why we're here. 604 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:12,200 We are here and I've been given, if you've ever been in my 605 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,400 office, I've got a big picture of it and God gave me a clear 606 00:39:15,400 --> 00:39:19,480 vision. We are here to see Jesus as the 607 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:23,520 banner of Mortonshire, starting with our community. 608 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,200 And what does that mean? You don't have the banner of 609 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:33,080 Jesus just by declaring Jesus. Declaring Jesus is telling 610 00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:36,400 everyone that we are the church, but they're not. 611 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,560 We've got to go further than just the declaration. 612 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,240 We have to walk with people and see transformation. 613 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:49,360 We have to not transform to us, but transform to the Word of 614 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,960 God. We have to spend the time with 615 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:56,920 our neighbors, our friends, our work colleagues and make sure 616 00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:00,000 that they are being transformed by the gospel. 617 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:03,760 Because there is nothing else on planet earth that matters more. 618 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:05,440 Nothing. Not one thing. 619 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:11,040 Your business, the purpose of your business is to see this 620 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:14,000 vision fulfilled. I got no shame in saying that at 621 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:14,880 all. None at all. 622 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:20,400 We all have our gifts, we all have our purposes, but they're 623 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,080 all for the vision. The Great Commission, I read 624 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:27,200 before, all Pastor Marks vision is statement, is the Great 625 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:29,480 Commission reskinned? That's all it is. 626 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:35,320 It's just reskinned for the outworkings of it that God has 627 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:37,320 put in past the mark in Lee's hearts. 628 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:41,360 All Mel Mel's and my picture painting thing is, which is 629 00:40:41,360 --> 00:40:42,440 weird. I can't even paint. 630 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:45,080 But. All that that is, is it's 631 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:49,720 reskinning directly for our community, all right? 632 00:40:49,720 --> 00:40:51,880 It's just a reskin of the Great Commission. 633 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:56,280 This is where people need to be transformed, not into the good 634 00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:59,000 things that the church does and what we're all known for. 635 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:02,080 If they're not being transformed for Jesus, I don't care how big 636 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:05,480 the church is at all. I want a church full of truth. 637 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:08,640 When people walk in this church, I know this already and I love 638 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:10,480 it about this. I'm so proud of this church. 639 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,480 But when people walk in, we just put our arms around. 640 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:16,520 We don't care what they look like, smell like, where they 641 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:18,000 come from. We don't care at all. 642 00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:21,520 In fact, we just go, man, you're, you're one of us now. 643 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:23,720 Like, you know, what's the difference? 644 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:25,680 I wear a suit. Well, who cares? 645 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,520 Like, I just do that because I've got this funky thing inside 646 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,080 of me. I think I look younger than what 647 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:32,280 I am. It just doesn't matter what 648 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:34,440 people think about me. I feel good. 649 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:37,680 So I wear my jacket. It's not about looks. 650 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:41,080 Does this make sense? It's like this is, this is what 651 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:43,880 it is. This is the transformation of 652 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:47,120 the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyway, I've still got SO. 653 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,160 Many more points the band wants me off. 654 00:41:50,720 --> 00:41:56,400 OK, people from this church are so passionate to see 655 00:41:56,400 --> 00:42:00,600 transformation in our community that sharing the gospel is a 656 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:06,000 must for us. A church so on fire for Jesus 657 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:09,840 and who he is that we worship and we pray. 658 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:14,600 Unreserved, unashamed like we we just when it comes to prayer 659 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:16,760 meetings like we already do Example this. 660 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:19,720 But this is just who we are as a church. 661 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:26,320 New ideas springing out of this place that helps others find 662 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:30,120 wholeness and joy. We want we want you to come up 663 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:32,320 with ideas. It doesn't have to all come from 664 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:34,520 Melani. If you're part of this church, 665 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:37,600 you're empowered. Go in Jesus name and come up and 666 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:41,880 great with great ideas to help people to love on people. 667 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,800 If you're a counselor in this house, let us know. 668 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,440 We'll use you so much. It's unbelievable. 669 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:50,840 But because we want to see wholeness and we want to see 670 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,280 people healed. I want to get healed. 671 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:58,000 We all want to get healed, Amen. We move into the things of God. 672 00:42:58,200 --> 00:43:02,240 We want we see a church where repentance is flooding, this 673 00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:06,800 church where we humbly lay our all down for God. 674 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:11,280 I am not too proud to say I have to repent daily. 675 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:17,640 I have to repent daily because until He gives me a new body, 676 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:21,080 new flesh, and a new mind, I'm not worthy. 677 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:25,640 I'm made worthy by Jesus and I'm grateful for that. 678 00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,160 But I'm still. Conscious of my flesh. 679 00:43:28,720 --> 00:43:30,720 And so I lay it down daily before God. 680 00:43:30,720 --> 00:43:37,160 I go God I'm sorry for my stinky body that I thank you for your 681 00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:41,560 grace. I'm sorry that my mind goes that 682 00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:44,120 way and I lack the self-control so holy. 683 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,000 Spirit. Fill me with that. 684 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:52,320 But I thank you for your grace. I'm sorry that I in the flesh. 685 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:56,640 Sometimes I feel dirty, I really do. 686 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:59,640 I'm sorry for that. I repent of those things that 687 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:04,680 would make me feel that, but I thank you that they never change 688 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:07,560 or diminish my identity in who I am in Christ. 689 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:10,240 Does that make sense? It's the war. 690 00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:14,480 The Bible says that we are the flesh wars against the Spirit, 691 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:17,440 and the Spirit wars against. Engage in the war. 692 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,720 Engage in it. Don't just let it happen and 693 00:44:21,720 --> 00:44:24,080 then wonder what's going on. I feel like I'm a mess going 694 00:44:24,080 --> 00:44:26,960 this way and that way. Engage in it. 695 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:30,880 Acknowledge there is a war between flesh and spirit. 696 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:37,160 And so I engage in that thing and I I get the flesh and I 697 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:42,400 renounce it thin and I thank God for his spirit and tell that 698 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,800 thing to get in line. But it doesn't change who I am 699 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:48,640 or the power I have or the anointing I walk in. 700 00:44:49,120 --> 00:44:52,600 Remember I said right at the beginning, the devil has no 701 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:56,160 power. Your flesh, which is his realm 702 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:00,280 has no power. Anything you feel Christian in 703 00:45:00,280 --> 00:45:04,840 this place, that world does not dictate to this. 704 00:45:05,120 --> 00:45:11,240 This dictates to that if we keep it in submission, we see a a 705 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:15,800 church that flows in finance into this church to see the 706 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:20,040 mission realized where each member of this great church 707 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:23,560 lifting high the banner of Jesus for all to know. 708 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:30,240 An undeniable mark left on our community that testifies Jesus. 709 00:45:30,240 --> 00:45:35,080 Melon. I see a church pursuing and 710 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:42,200 walking in personal health of body, mind, soul and emotions. 711 00:45:42,400 --> 00:45:47,160 Do you know that in this very house we have had around 70 712 00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:50,760 people a year for three years now get professional 713 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:54,040 counselling. Not because they're bad people, 714 00:45:54,480 --> 00:45:56,920 but because they're becoming whole people. 715 00:45:57,800 --> 00:45:59,480 Amen. Can I encourage you? 716 00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:02,120 Why don't you do the same? I'm sure there's an area in your 717 00:46:02,120 --> 00:46:04,720 life we have some contacts we can help. 718 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:08,200 We engage in it ourselves. Our whole leadership team of 719 00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:11,280 this church has done it. Because we're all about getting 720 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:15,120 whole, not just saved. We want to become the best us we 721 00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:17,680 possibly can, not just going to heaven, Amen. 722 00:46:18,320 --> 00:46:22,800 So we want to see health in the body, mind, soul and emotions. 723 00:46:23,240 --> 00:46:28,080 We see a church moved to see our Shire come into relationship 724 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:30,560 with Jesus Christ. Amen. 725 00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:37,360 We see a church who embraces love, who embraces loves and 726 00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:41,040 walks alongside newcomers to Jesus. 727 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:45,920 Jesus for. Our generation Amen. 728 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:49,520 Receive that. We are here to make a difference 729 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:53,920 and faith love hope offering in two Sundays time is a way in 730 00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:56,800 which we can all be involved in this great vision. 731 00:46:57,120 --> 00:47:01,080 This church has a vision to engage with this offering is 732 00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:05,600 hell that we do it together. Engage in the vision received 733 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:09,480 that word today. It's pretty good, pretty good. 734 00:47:10,280 --> 00:47:14,600 Thank you Jesus, Father God, just pray over this great 735 00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:20,000 church. Today, many of us are deciding 736 00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:22,840 in our hearts to engage. Today, we're like, you know 737 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:24,440 what? Being part of this church for 738 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:27,240 too long. Today is the day of engagement. 739 00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:31,280 Father, I just. Pray Holy Spirit, would you give 740 00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:37,200 them clarity and vision, show them how to engage Father with 741 00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:42,240 faith, love, hope, obviously, but just in life, Father, for 742 00:47:42,360 --> 00:47:45,320 everyone that's heard about faith, love, hope, maybe got 743 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:47,400 more understanding than ever before. 744 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:50,880 Holy Spirit, I just pray that you. 745 00:47:53,040 --> 00:47:59,080 Would meet with us stretch our faith this year, but in that 746 00:47:59,440 --> 00:48:04,920 teach us wisdom as well. And Father God, we just thank 747 00:48:04,920 --> 00:48:08,480 you that this year for this church, our faith, love, hope in 748 00:48:08,480 --> 00:48:12,080 this season will be the greatest that we've ever experienced in 749 00:48:12,080 --> 00:48:15,800 this church. But father not just great 750 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:19,200 because of money. But great, because of the 751 00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:23,200 stretch of faith that you have done in our lives, we call this 752 00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:24,440 church to greater faith.