1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,480 Hey welcome to the city point Church podcast. 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,920 Thanks for joining us every day is an opportunity to take hold 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,320 of so we hope this message inspires you and build your 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,400 faith that it helps you have more of a God perspective for 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,520 your day enjoy so we're. In February. 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,120 February. Strange word. 7 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,280 And who has been successful at keeping the New Year's 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:28,360 resolutions? Oh, good. 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:33,320 Very good. My wife and I, we had this 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,680 really deep conversation leading up to New Year's Eve, and she 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,360 said to me, she's like John this year. 12 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,920 This year I want to be more thoughtful about what I say. 13 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:53,160 I really want to watch my words. I want to take people's, like, 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,080 being into consideration before I say anything to them. 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,400 And then she said, and obviously your New Year's resolution 16 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,440 should be to lose weight. That's a joke. 17 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:10,400 She didn't say that, right? Oh, my gosh, just don't send 18 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,920 emails. But the reason why I wanted to, 19 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,720 you know, wake you up was because there is a very big 20 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,280 difference between a New Year's resolution or even a plan for 21 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,840 the year and a cause for your life, because the cause for your 22 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:32,680 life is for your whole life. And can anything good can come 23 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,480 out of Cabo. Of course it can in philosophy. 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,160 Actually, for those who like philosophy. 25 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:41,400 Yeah, I like philosophy. It's pretty great. 26 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,760 Bit weird sometimes. But Doctor William Lane Craig 27 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,800 back in 1979, he made a profound what's called a premise and it's 28 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:55,560 been argued for decades now about it's reality in life. 29 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,200 But this is what this is what he said in his premise. 30 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,160 This is called the Calum cosmological argument. 31 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,480 Alright, for those who like notes, it says this whatever 32 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:09,880 begins to exist has a cause to the universe began to exist. 33 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,480 Therefore the universe has a cause. 34 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:21,960 So then if existence is only by 'cause then your existence, your 35 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:27,480 existence has a cause that you can choose to ignore it. 36 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:30,120 But I'm telling you, you have a cause. 37 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:35,480 And let me tell you, your cause is not to be a passive witness. 38 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,800 People say, you know, oh, in Hebrews 12, it says that we're 39 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,640 surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses. 40 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:47,320 I'm here as an observer. No, OK, that whole Greek, the 41 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,680 whole context actually, actually relates to Hebrews Chapter 11. 42 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,720 Who were the people in Hebrews Chapter 11? 43 00:02:54,880 --> 00:03:00,200 Great men and women of faith who had a cause and who were active. 44 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,080 So that great cloud of witnesses were not a bunch of people just 45 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,280 watching. It was about a bunch of people 46 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,200 who knew there was a cause in their life and they were doing 47 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:15,160 something with it in faith, getting out there and doing it, 48 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:21,640 getting out there and do it. Another thing about 'cause cause 49 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:23,760 is not comfort. Thank you, Pastor Rachel. 50 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,680 Look, I have no problem with comfort, Rachel and I just 51 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,840 bought a Pastor Rachel. I just bought a spa for 52 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,280 Christmas. Sweet. 53 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:38,840 I would much rather be in my spa than I'll be at preaching in the 54 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:44,040 flesh. But there's a problem with that 55 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,680 concept, John. Let's look at Genesis 24, verse 56 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,920 67 very quickly. This is about Isaac. 57 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,840 Isaac, this is Abraham's son. You know, Abraham tried to 58 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,720 sacrifice him. If you look at the Judaic 59 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,120 writings about him, they believe that Isaac went into massive 60 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:10,040 PTSD in Melbourne terms and had a serious childhood trauma. 61 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:11,360 It's like, how was your childhood? 62 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,080 My dad tried to kill me on an altar. 63 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,360 OK, lousy traumatic childhood, right? 64 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,440 Anyhoo, Genesis 24 verse 67 says this. 65 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,600 And Isaac bought her into her mother's Sarah's tent. 66 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,680 OK. This is when he met Rebecca, 67 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,120 married Rebecca, and it says that he took Rebecca and she 68 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,120 became his wife. That's nice, Isaac, Rebecca. 69 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,440 Fantastic. This is the important part, it 70 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:38,520 says. And he loved her. 71 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:44,480 And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death, so he found 72 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,240 his comfort in his mother. And then when he got married to 73 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,920 Rebecca, he placed his comfort in her. 74 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:52,720 Sounds nice. That's lovely. 75 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,240 Great marriage. Except the fact that you do not 76 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:05,080 hear anything from Isaac for 20 years literally was like, I'm 77 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:10,160 good now I've got my spa, I don't need to do this anymore. 78 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,280 I've had a lousy, traumatic childhood. 79 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:17,840 I have an excuse to find comfort and to drop the cause. 80 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,680 This job's too hard. Have you heard that? 81 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:30,880 Interestingly, Abraham, his dad, understood the true 'cause and 82 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,800 he also understood that the cause has a cost and comfort is 83 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:41,360 pretty much cost less, isn't it? Now, two chapters later, Genesis 84 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,440 26, this is what happens. 26 one to 33. 85 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:53,840 In that passage, God fires that back up the cause in Isaac back 86 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:57,200 in his belly. And once again Isaac received 87 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,160 God's appearance and a renewed promise from God of blessing and 88 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:02,480 land. Wonderful. 89 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,840 God fires up the passion back in Isaac. 90 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,840 How does he do it? Well, the bad news and the 91 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:12,080 painful news is that he did it through a famine. 92 00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:17,200 Sometimes God's got to get a famine in your life to get you 93 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:25,360 up off your butt. We're talking about 20 years of 94 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,720 melancholy comfort. Maybe there's a famine in your 95 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,440 life and God's just trying to wake you up. 96 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,240 Maybe look, if you can't think of a 'cause, if you think, well, 97 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,200 what is my 'cause then because I'm in a famine, I need to find 98 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,240 it. I can tell you right now that in 99 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:49,200 Psalms 133 it says that there is blessing in finding and being 100 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,720 part of the unity of the brethren. 101 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:53,880 So if you're thinking to yourself, well, I don't know 102 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,640 what the cause of God is in my life, I can tell you what it is. 103 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:02,360 Get here, get activated, get into unity. 104 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:09,200 If you're causeless, I wonder if your unity with the church is a 105 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:14,320 problem in your life. So .1 I know that was just the 106 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:19,000 intro .1 yes. So everything begins with a 107 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,800 'cause we're going to bring up on the screen our, you know, 108 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,120 Scripture for the year, which is in First Samuel 17, verse 29. 109 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,120 And of course, it's about David. Great passage. 110 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,640 We've been preaching about it for last few weeks. 111 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,720 So there's a battle going on and life is, you know, blaspheming 112 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,080 and going on about Israel and God. 113 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:45,520 And David rocks up to the Big Brothers and he's like, hey, 114 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,240 I've got food. And they're like, go away, you 115 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,480 little creep. And he says this. 116 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,880 He says, and David said, what have I done now? 117 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,920 Is there not a cause? First part? 118 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,440 What have I done now? Is there not a 'cause you can 119 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,760 see there's a correlation between done activity and A 120 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,880 cause, because the cause always has activity. 121 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,400 In fact, cause breathes activity. 122 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,920 In creation. All things are actually moving. 123 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,600 It's like dirt. Dirt's got no 'cause it's not 124 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,960 moving. Have you looked at anything from 125 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:26,440 a subatomic level? Everything is moving, all of it. 126 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,280 When there's a cause and when God spoke the universe into 127 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:36,440 being from a 'cause, you can't help but have activity when you 128 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:43,080 pick the cause up, because every 'cause breathes births activity. 129 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:49,240 And get this, every cause has a corresponding action and every 130 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,280 action has an equal and opposite reaction. 131 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,800 So let's talk about both Goliath and David. 132 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,640 Because you see, both of them had a cause. 133 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:10,800 Goliath believed his cause was to speak against God, to 134 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,520 overcome Israel and to enslave them. 135 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,720 He, he had a cause, wasn't godly, but he had, he had a 136 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,560 cause in his heart that he wanted to do. 137 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:26,320 And then David is like, I've also got a cause because is 138 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,240 there not a cause? What was David's cause? 139 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,160 What's the difference between these two causes? 140 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:36,200 One was selfish intent and one was from the living word of God, 141 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:41,920 the living word of God. Because David could actually go 142 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,400 back to the promise of Abraham. He was like, what was the word 143 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:47,640 here? What was the cause here? 144 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,440 Oh, there's promises from Abraham. 145 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:51,120 What else? What other word was there? 146 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,320 I Balaam. Balaam's prophecy that, you 147 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,400 know, whoever blesses Israel will be blessed and whoever 148 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:01,000 curses Israel will be cursed. Goliath doesn't have a chance 149 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,280 because there's a 'cause there's a word. 150 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,000 In fact, one of the very first words that I learned in Hebrew. 151 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,720 Geez, I was trying to look it up yesterday, how long ago it was. 152 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:11,840 I think it was like 20 years ago. 153 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:14,800 One of the first words I ever learned in Hebrew was the word 154 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,520 devar. Devar means word. 155 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:19,640 I know, pretty silly. Hey, it's true. 156 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:22,040 It's like, yeah, I thought so too. 157 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,880 The first word was word divar. I want to show you something in 158 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,960 this verse in First Samuel 17, verse 29. 159 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,920 All right, It says, and David said, what have I done now? 160 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:38,000 Is there not a 'cause that word, their 'cause is the Hebrew word 161 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,000 divar. People like, Oh yeah, cool, 162 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,480 let's take up purpose. Rah, rah. 163 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,280 That's not what it says. He's staying here. 164 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:54,120 Is there not a word devah? Because on his heart he's like, 165 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,600 I know the word of God. I know the promises of God. 166 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:06,680 I know that Byron, Abraham, patriarchs, promises of God are 167 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:10,440 true and you can stand on the word of God. 168 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:14,240 And I wonder, do you have a word of God for your life? 169 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:21,520 Because whilst Goliath spoke words, Devarim spoke words 170 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,560 against Israel. David just simply stood on the 171 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,680 word. There's a massive difference 172 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:33,800 between the two. And what word are you living 173 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,960 for? I wonder .2 You are the 'cause 174 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,680 you are the cause. Like this in Job 5 verse eight, 175 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,720 Job says in the depths of despair. 176 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:52,920 But As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my 177 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:55,880 'cause. I already mentioned that A cause 178 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,200 has a cost. Abraham saw that there was a 179 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:03,000 true cost in the cause and Job here he paid a high price for 180 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,280 his testimony. If you are the cause, then your 181 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:11,760 testimony is the 'cause as well. Testimony is so powerful. 182 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,480 People can come and hear us preach and do all sorts of 183 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,120 wonderful things. They say healings and say 184 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,000 miracles and they walk out and they're like, great, that was a 185 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,160 wonderful experience. I years ago I had a chat to his 186 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,840 full blown spiritual Satanist dude and he told me that he went 187 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,600 to a Billy Graham's crusade. I thought, that's great. 188 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,000 Yeah, kind of odd that you now worshipping Satan even though 189 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,360 you went to a Billy Graham crusade. 190 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:38,760 I said what what happened to the Billy Graham crusade? 191 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:42,640 And he's like, oh man, we thought the presence of God, he 192 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,760 says on the floor, he's like, oh, amazing feeling. 193 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,680 And so he wanted to keep that feeling up, saying was more than 194 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:52,600 happy to keep giving him that feeling. 195 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,800 But you know what does transform people more than just the 196 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:05,840 feeling? Your testimony, seeing the power 197 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:10,920 of God transforming your life just like we, it's why you're 198 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,000 going to hear a lot. We want to see spiritual and 199 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,120 social transformation in the city. 200 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,920 We don't just want to preach the gospel. 201 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,480 We want to also for it to impact their life and make changes. 202 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,280 That's why that's why I love the internship thing and what you 203 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,800 were saying earlier. We want to see into intentional, 204 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,960 intentional transformation in themselves so that they can 205 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,600 intentionally transform the city. 206 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,240 But the cause of Christ, the cause for Christ is costly. 207 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,840 The cause is not the final destination. 208 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:52,760 It is also a here and now moment of view because the cause can 209 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,240 have these transcendent moments. In Exodus 24, verse 12, I really 210 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:58,440 want you to get this in your heart. 211 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:04,480 In Exodus 24 verse 12, then the Lord said to Moses, come up to 212 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,760 me on the mountain and be there. Weird thing to say, hey, like 213 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,880 where else will I be? Come up to the mountain, the 214 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,760 mountain and be there. The yeshem in Hebrew, the 215 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:20,280 yeshem, and it means this. Come up to the mountain and just 216 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:25,280 exist. Just be there. 217 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,200 Just be there. Didn't they come up on the 218 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,400 mountain? Yes, there was a 'cause yes, God 219 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,440 was about to give him the 10 commandments, but it it's so 220 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:43,640 bizarre, so wonderful that in your 'cause God also just wants 221 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:48,600 you to be there and exist. Be in the moment. 222 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,880 That's literally what it means. Be in the moment. 223 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,600 You know, there's an old saying that says your days feel short 224 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,640 because you are not truly present in any of them. 225 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:05,360 I love what Pastor Dan said just a few weeks ago. 226 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,320 He said you can be a Christian for 50 years, but you're only a 227 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,720 one year old Christian. You've just lived the one year 228 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,760 50 times. Told you I'd write that down. 229 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:19,520 I was like, great, kind of preach that if you're living the 230 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,760 same thing day by day over and over, it's this is actually 231 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,520 psychologically true. If you're living the same thing 232 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,200 over and over and over and over again, you know, your brain 233 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,200 actually deletes it. You know why Think about when 234 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,880 you're driving home and you go on auto pilot and you get home 235 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,240 and you think, how did I get here? 236 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,920 You have done it so many times. Your brain literally deletes 237 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,440 part of it because it's like, well, that's not essential 238 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,280 information anymore. You've learnt that habit. 239 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:47,280 Go for it. And unfortunately, sometimes we 240 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,440 live our everyday like that and we look back and I don't know 241 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,800 where the last year went. You did not leave in the moment. 242 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,240 You did not. But yeah, Sham, you weren't not 243 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:05,320 there to just exist. There's a time and a place when 244 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,280 you're in the 'cause we also need to know how to just remain 245 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,200 in the moment, remain in God's present. 246 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,400 And this might surprise you because whilst the cause is 247 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:18,080 absolutely about other people, the cause is absolutely about 248 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,360 you. I think sometimes we forget that 249 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:27,480 God's relationship is with you. Sometimes I think that no one 250 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,000 else exists. God just loves me. 251 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:30,040 I love what? Yeah. 252 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,360 You feel that way, too. I remember Pastor Rick saying 253 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,880 I'm God's favorite person. It's just like, you know, you're 254 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:40,920 not. Oh, I need God more than all of 255 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,400 you to put together. That's probably why he's so kind 256 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,800 to me. But yeah, there's a duplicity 257 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,960 going on. It's like God treats you like 258 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,640 you are the actually the only person in the world. 259 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,400 At the same time, God sees his whole church and he works it all 260 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,560 together. Even in the Old Testament times, 261 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,120 there was a community sacrifice and a personal sacrifice. 262 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:04,640 It's God. There's a duplicity. 263 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,520 It's like, well, this whole community sacrifice should be 264 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,920 enough with the body of Christ. Yeah, but God wants a personal 265 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,240 relationship. Come up here and just exist with 266 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:20,079 me because your cause is for others, but your cause is also 267 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:22,680 just for you. Sometimes actually God really 268 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,280 does think that. Let your testimony, let your 269 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,720 life be the cause of Christ. But here guys, really important 270 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,240 point. Yes, exists in the moment, but 271 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,280 also realise that the cause has a cost. 272 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:42,080 Your life has a cost. You might not know this, but 273 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,200 Mount Sinai, the word, the Hebrew word Sinai means thorny. 274 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,880 Thorny. Mount Sinai literally means 275 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,480 mountain of like massive thorns. You don't, you don't call a 276 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,760 mountain Mount Thorny unless it's got like some serious 277 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:56,440 thorns. Right. 278 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:01,400 Mount Thorny. Has Pastor Sharon ever shown you 279 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,320 this? The thorns in from Israel? 280 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:05,520 Yeah. The thorns on the thorn trees 281 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:06,560 over there. They're not the little ones. 282 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,320 Hey, Pastor. No, they're like this big hay. 283 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,200 Yeah. So when they when they looked up 284 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,880 at this mountain, they were like them some nasty, nasty thorns. 285 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:20,200 So they called it now thorny. Anyway, massive thorns. 286 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,920 God caused Moses up firstly to spend time in his presence and 287 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:29,960 just exist with him, but also because Moses had a job to do. 288 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:35,560 But here's the thing, on Moses trip up the mountain, he would 289 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,800 have had to slash through a ton of thorns. 290 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,160 Moses knew there was a cost. He looked up and he goes, oh, 291 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,920 that's going to hurt. That's going to hurt a lot. 292 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:52,360 And he fights his way up this mountain of thorns because he 293 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:56,680 knew the goal was to exist in the presence of God. 294 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,600 Now when he gets to the top, you know what he didn't do? 295 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:10,400 He didn't get up there and start rebuking the thorns. 296 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,800 God, I just pray that you remove the thorns. 297 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,320 I pray God that you smite those thorns. 298 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:24,400 Almighty smiter. Sometimes we want to pray away 299 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,480 the cost. We are absolutely allowed to 300 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,960 pray in the Lord's presence in the Lord's Prayer. 301 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,280 Lead us not to temptation. It also means their temptations 302 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,680 and trials. That's fine, but there are some 303 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,840 costs you are just going to have to pay. 304 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,080 Think of Jesus in the garden, right? 305 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:47,600 He says the Godfather. If there's another way, can we 306 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,160 do this a different way? Because that cost is that. 307 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,640 That one's brutal. What does the Father say? 308 00:19:54,120 --> 00:20:01,760 Nope, that's the cost. There's a time and a place to 309 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,960 rebuke the thorns for sure. The other thing he didn't do is 310 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,000 he didn't beg God to look at all these cuts and bruises. 311 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,240 I'm bleeding. What's wrong with you, God? 312 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:12,640 Why would you let me suffer this way? 313 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:17,360 You know you must hate me. Oh, be quiet. 314 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:23,440 So. Because sometimes when it comes 315 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,520 to the cause and the cost, you just simply have to pay it, not 316 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:33,200 pray it. Have you ever wondered why Jesus 317 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,200 wore a crown of thorns? It wasn't for decoration. 318 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,840 It's because that crown of thorns in His head relates 319 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,880 directly to Mount Sinai. He was breaking the bondage, the 320 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:52,040 fear, the condemnation, the pain and the bruises and the death of 321 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:57,040 Mount Sinai. Now look, I'm all for prayer 322 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,160 meetings. Absolutely. 323 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,680 I'm more for breaking down strongholds, buking the enemy of 324 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,400 people's lives, shun the devil down 100%. 325 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,920 In fact, you know, especially since we're having a 630 prayer 326 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:14,000 meeting tomorrow. Yeah, throw, throw your plug in 327 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,600 there, babe. You know, totally, totally for 328 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,840 breaking enemy 100%. I'm also very keen on 329 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,440 petitioning God to see miracles and signs and wonders. 330 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,840 And that is Rachel's course after the prayer meeting. 331 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:36,080 So no problem, babe. The thing is, guys, over my 332 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,400 experience of decades of Christianity, you know, I've 333 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,840 noticed sometimes people come up to me and they say, John, I get 334 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,600 up at 3:30 in the morning and I pray every day, which is great, 335 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,080 keep that up, fantastic. Or they will say to me, you 336 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:50,920 know, I've just been fasting for a whole month. 337 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,040 I think that's great, fantastic. But then I look at them and 338 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,080 their life afterwards, and they've come out of it angrier, 339 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:03,160 more critical, and just worse. I'm thinking, what did you do 340 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,240 for 30 days? I'll tell you what they did. 341 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,760 They spent 30 days jumping up and down, getting angry at the 342 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,840 thorns. And they're getting angrier and 343 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,440 they're getting hungrier. And that's means they're hangry, 344 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:19,520 right? And I just wish that at some 345 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:25,200 point they would just sit in the presence of God and just exist. 346 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:27,640 I love that song. I was telling you that I love 347 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:33,040 that song Empty, just making space. 348 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,200 You know what it says? It says that stop the talking. 349 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,120 Then it says, let my mind be still. 350 00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:50,200 And then we just, we just make a space for God. 351 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:58,000 And when you make a space for God, then you breathe in his 352 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,680 grace and kindness. Over the years, I've also had 353 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,200 people say, you know, and I've heard them pray. 354 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,960 They're like, God show this church the truth. 355 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,920 Like maybe if you spent time actually existing with God, he 356 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,440 would bring out the truth in you that needs to be dealt with. 357 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,960 I've heard people say, yeah, you know, I'm praying that the the 358 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,200 darkness is brought into the light, not expecting for the 359 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,200 darkness to be in their own life, to be watched the light. 360 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,720 Maybe that's why we don't like to quiet with God because he 361 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,600 might just whisper something that we don't like. 362 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,040 Like, you know, that person you really should forgive. 363 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,800 Maybe that person you really need to apologize to. 364 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,600 Oh, I'd rather, I would rather keep praying so the words that 365 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,880 I'm hearing drown out that horrible noise of God. 366 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,080 But there is a time and a place in the cause where we just need 367 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,960 to come into the presence of God and just be. 368 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:04,840 I've been told over the years that I'm not a woman, so I don't 369 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,200 know. You can absolutely like shoot me 370 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,920 down for this. But when it comes to 1st dates, 371 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:15,680 you know, I've been told that the first date for a lady should 372 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:20,640 preferably include lovely things like flowers, candlelight, 373 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,840 dinner, chocolates, maybe music in the background while there's 374 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:26,480 a sunset. Is that OK? 375 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,000 Is that, is that good so far? Yeah. 376 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:29,360 Yeah. It's wonderful. 377 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,360 Do you know what works for a male on the first date? 378 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:54,320 She should just show up. But in my room, guys, you, you 379 00:24:55,080 --> 00:25:00,400 are the love of God's life. He just wants you sometimes just 380 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:09,660 to show up. But, yeah, sometimes showing up 381 00:25:09,660 --> 00:25:11,940 has a cost. And one of my favorite 382 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:14,180 evangelists, actually, her name's Catherine Kuhlman. 383 00:25:14,180 --> 00:25:15,380 Has anyone heard of Catherine Kuhlman? 384 00:25:15,740 --> 00:25:18,920 So good. Yeah, she was such an anointed, 385 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:23,880 amazing woman of God, great preacher, healing evangelist, a 386 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,560 lot of controversy, right? Because like, wait, she's a 387 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:27,480 woman. She's preaching. 388 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,320 God hates that. You know what I've what I've 389 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,240 noticed over the years and I've sowed the Bible a little bit is 390 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,760 I've noticed what's not in the Bible is your opinion. 391 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:40,560 So. So God can just do whatever he 392 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,800 wants and if he wants to annoyed a woman, he's happy for that, 393 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,920 right. Anyway, so Katherine Kuhlman, 394 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,800 right, the reason why I'm bringing her up, not just, not 395 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:53,880 just to make people mad, OK, is because she reconciled the cost. 396 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,840 Really, genuinely, I'm going to read out something from her, OK? 397 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,440 It's not going to be on the screen because it's a little bit 398 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,520 too long, but she reconciled the cost. 399 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:05,320 How did she work out the cost? Because she spent so much time 400 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,320 in the presence of God. They're related. 401 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,480 I'm sorry. Maybe that's why people don't 402 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,680 like spending time in the presence of God because the cost 403 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,240 is the thorns and the pain and the anger and the bitterness. 404 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,680 God dealing with things in your life. 405 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:24,160 This is what she said because she took the words of Jesus very 406 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:28,120 seriously in Luke 1428 where He says before you go on your 407 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:33,840 cause, count the cost. This is what she said when she 408 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,240 found her 'cause it's called the seven prices paid for the 409 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:42,120 anointing. You can look this up, number 410 00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:45,160 one, this is what she said. I paid the price of absolute 411 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,600 surrender. Nothing in my life was mine 412 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:50,480 anymore. Another thing, you're like, oh, 413 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,080 I don't like this cost very much. 414 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:53,680 Where's my spa? I love my spa. 415 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:56,320 But nothing in my life was mine anymore. 416 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:59,600 Not plans, not dreams, not reputation. 417 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:05,840 The anointing cost me the ownership of myself #2 I paid 418 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,440 the price of obedience even when it hurt. 419 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,520 There were instructions from God that broke my heart, but delayed 420 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:18,800 obedience threatens the flow. Three, I paid the price of 421 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,760 loneliness. There were places God took me 422 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,920 when no one could follow or even wanted to. 423 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:31,000 Depth required separation. 4 I paid the price of being 424 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,440 misunderstood. Many judged what they could not 425 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,960 discern. I learned to let God explain for 426 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,880 me and not have an explanation at all. 427 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,800 I like that one. Yeah, because she was. 428 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,520 She was hated on for a fair bit. They're like, get off the stage, 429 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,560 woman. Five. 430 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,880 I paid the price of brokenness. Success did not heal my 431 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,040 brokenness. It deepened it. 432 00:27:55,240 --> 00:28:00,560 Brokenness kept me usable. 6 I know. 433 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:02,120 That's why I wanted to read this amazing stuff. 434 00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:03,800 Look this up. Put it on your wall or 435 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,720 something. All right. 6 I paid the price of 436 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:13,000 discipline, guarding my time, my words, my emotion, and my focus. 437 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:23,040 Carelessness was too expensive. Seven I paid the price of 438 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:28,160 letting God take all the glory. I gave up the right to defend 439 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:29,840 myself. That's a tough one. 440 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:35,400 Or promote myself. If God used me he would be seen 441 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,880 in him alone. And she finishes it with 442 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:44,280 anointing costs everything, but gives you Jesus in return. 443 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,600 Nothing but the name and blood of Jesus. 444 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:51,520 Oh musicians, you should come up. 445 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:55,160 That'd be great. Thank you .3. 446 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,920 Don't clock out. Don't clock out guys. 447 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,600 It's a lifelong cause, a lifelong cost. 448 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:08,520 It's a Great Commission. In Matthew 2819 and 20, it says 449 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,160 go ye therefore, good Lord King James Version, go ye therefore 450 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,280 teach all nations baptized in the name, in the name of the 451 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,480 Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe 452 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:23,760 all things whatsoever I've commanded you and lo, I am with 453 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:28,920 you always, even unto the end of the world, that very first term 454 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:34,440 there where it says go therefore and teach into all teach the 455 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,160 West Fort. Sorry guys, teach all the 456 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,360 nations baptizing them. The Greek word, there's matateo. 457 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:44,160 It it isn't just teaching Matateo is a personal 458 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:48,160 relationship where you interact. We would call it discipleship. 459 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,240 That's why in some translations it says and disciple. 460 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,680 All right, it's probably a better translation than teach, 461 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,000 but it still has a teaching aspect of it. 462 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,840 So people are like, you know, we want to do a discipleship thing, 463 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:01,960 but you know, we don't want it just to be social. 464 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,440 Great. We don't want just social get 465 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:06,200 togethers. Do do that whenever you want. 466 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,960 But discipleship is getting together, having relationships, 467 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,360 then teaching and learning Matthew Teo. 468 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:17,240 But the next one, verse 20 there says teaching them to observe 469 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:19,920 all things. That word there is Didasco. 470 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,680 So yes, to teach Scripture separates the two. 471 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:27,880 The difference between discipleship and teaching is 472 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,040 very clear in these two words, in these two verses. 473 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:35,120 So we do discipleship so that we can build each other in a 474 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,280 personal one-on-one, one on 4, whatever, but a small way. 475 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,520 Yeah. But then we will start teaching 476 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,520 internship, the courses. Next step course, prayer course. 477 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:51,560 Yeah, let's do this. Interestingly though, this is 478 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,840 what I want to go with this. If you ever get a chance to have 479 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,960 a look at this, this passage right way back in the original 480 00:30:58,120 --> 00:30:59,920 Greek, you'll find really weird stuff. 481 00:30:59,920 --> 00:31:03,120 Like for example, there are no gaps in any of the words you 482 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:07,280 know, We have gaps between the words in like really proper 483 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,480 traditional Greek, there aren't any gaps. 484 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:13,840 You have to guess where the what this is from, practice where the 485 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:15,840 words start and finish. Bizarre. 486 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:22,840 There is no punctuation at all. So when Jesus gave this Great 487 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:27,800 Commission, you could read all of this in one context. 488 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,800 Now we always, we always stop a little bit short. 489 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,320 We say, yeah, go into the world, preach the gospel, rah, rah, 490 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:34,880 rah. But what's the last part? 491 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:41,920 Say I am with you always. You're a part of the Great 492 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:49,080 Commission is discipleship that is life long. 493 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:58,040 Discipleship isn't a course that's just 8 weeks. 494 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:02,200 Discipleship is a lifetime journey. 495 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,000 So the Great Commission isn't to I'm going to go out there and 496 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,240 just do a thing and then everyone will be fine. 497 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,480 I'm going to do my Sunday preach and move on. 498 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:14,560 No, no, discipleship is I'm going to be with you through 499 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,520 this journey. We actually see this in 500 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,840 marriage, yes, the vows for better, for worse, for richer, 501 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,160 for poorer. That's discipleship, actually 502 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:31,120 growing together, learning from each other, teaching each other. 503 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:36,000 So for us to take on the challenge of being more Christ 504 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:41,240 like, then we also have to make and take up the promise to never 505 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:46,040 leave or depart the cause of Christ for each other. 506 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:53,240 Preach the gospel, disciple and then create spiritual and social 507 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:59,000 transformation in our city and dedicate yourself to it. 508 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:05,720 This is my lifelong course because discipleship is 509 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:08,000 longevity. The cause is for life. 510 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,440 And if you're alive, you have a cause. 511 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,200 You know Elijah, one of the great prophets of the of the 512 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:23,800 Bible, he was on course till his last breath. 513 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:31,760 It even says in scripture that his final illness did not stop 514 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,400 him. Age was not an excuse. 515 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:41,040 Sickness was not an excuse. So I'm going to read this out to 516 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:41,960 you. Just stay with me. 517 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:48,160 It says this, it's on the screen because 6 verses 14 this is our 518 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:52,520 second kings 1314 and 20 it says this, Elisha had become sick 519 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:56,400 with the illness of which he would die, which is nice way of 520 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,960 saying he was deathly sick. But he was still on purpose with 521 00:33:59,960 --> 00:34:05,320 a 'cause then Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept 522 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,480 over him and said, Oh father, my father, the Chariots of Israel 523 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,800 and the horsemen. Very poetic nice. 524 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:16,560 But Elisha said to him, because Elisha knew what he wanted, he 525 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:22,199 said take a bow and some arrows. So Joash took himself a bow and 526 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:26,560 some arrows. Then Elijah said to the king of 527 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,480 Israel, put your hand on the bow. 528 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,440 So he put his hand on it. And Elijah put his hands on the 529 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,480 King's hands and he said, open the east window. 530 00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:40,360 Then Elijah said him shoot and he shot the arrow of the Lord's 531 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,199 deliverance and the arrow of the deliverance of Syria, for you 532 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:46,239 must strike the Syrians at APEC till you have destroyed them. 533 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,920 He's so, so Elijah, he's so sick. 534 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,880 He's literally dying. He's in his later years and here 535 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:57,320 he is prophesying a great victory over the enemy. 536 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:04,240 So that's exactly what happened. So he then said to the king, 537 00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:06,280 take the arrows, strike it on the ground. 538 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:09,280 So he struck it three times. And then Elijah was angry. 539 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:12,320 He's like, why do you only strike it three times? 540 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,840 If you kept going, you would have defeated everybody. 541 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,360 You can imagine. When you're sick, you know, 542 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,000 you'd get a little bit grumpy. Yeah. 543 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,920 Elijah's like, I'm literally like so sick I'm dying and you 544 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,040 couldn't even take up the 'cause you couldn't even put in the 545 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:33,160 effort to see your enemy overcome. 546 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:40,440 And he says if you struck A5 or six times, Syria would have been 547 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,440 wiped out, but now you'll only strike Syria three times. 548 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:46,840 It says then Elisha died and they buried him. 549 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:53,400 However, a while later there was some raiding, raiding bands like 550 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,800 Enemy from Moab. You know, people got killed and 551 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:00,480 they were burying a man and they actually ended up throwing this 552 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:05,120 guy into the tomb of Elisha. And when they threw the man into 553 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:07,160 Elisha's tomb, guess what happened to the man? 554 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:12,840 He came back to life. Elisha was on course even after 555 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:17,320 his death. What's your excuse? 556 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:23,840 Look, if you haven't taken your last breath, I'm going to let 557 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:25,840 you away. I'm going to be kind. 558 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,960 He's like, if you're dead, maybe you're not Elijah, OK, that's 559 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,400 fine. But if there is lung breath in 560 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,880 your lungs, that's just challenging. 561 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:42,080 Take up the cause, count the cost. 562 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,440 And just like Catherine Kuhlman said, he's like, well, what, You 563 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:48,120 know, what's the reward? It sounds very painful. 564 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:54,600 Your reward is Jesus. You know, people talk about 565 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,480 heaven and I got a mansion, this sports car. 566 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:05,880 I'm like, just give me Jesus. Like genuinely like, like man, 567 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:07,480 God has saved me from me so many times. 568 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:09,920 I'm pretty sure in heaven I've got this little patch of grass. 569 00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:14,360 I'm fine with that. I will sit on that patch of 570 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:23,320 grass and just standing. All of God forever starts with 571 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:26,400 'cause I just want to give everyone an opportunity right 572 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,960 now. Maybe you haven't begun your 573 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:33,960 cause with Christ yet. You've come here first time, 574 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:35,600 10th time, 100th time, doesn't matter. 575 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:44,040 And you're thinking I need something more significant in my 576 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:50,560 life than just the daily go to work or don't go to work life. 577 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:55,680 It's like you need a cause. The best 'cause you will ever 578 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:59,720 pick up is the cause of Christ. I like what Rachel says, Thomas. 579 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:03,920 Sometimes she's like, you know, like not doing this rah rah is 580 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:05,480 hard. You know, there's like life is 581 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:10,800 hard and you get to choose your hard because no matter which you 582 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,280 choose, a causeless life or a life full of 'cause it's still 583 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:17,320 going to be hard. So why not pick up the chords?