1 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:15,000 Mark how much I thank you rich. Thank you, thank you, thank 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,300 Simon, bless you for that. Oh it's so good to see you all 3 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,900 on this new year and given that this is the first time that I am 4 00:00:21,900 --> 00:00:24,100 also seeing you all happy New Year to you on behalf of 5 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:26,600 Stephen. I and the kids, it's, we had 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,800 last Sunday off, which was nice, so but it's, you know, have 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,900 Missed being here. So it's it's good to be here 8 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:34,900 with you all and indeed all of you online as well. 9 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,500 I realized that with without kids work and youth work this 10 00:00:38,500 --> 00:00:40,600 morning. Many, many families are at home 11 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,700 at the moment as rich. And Jenna communicated earlier, 12 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,100 it's due to lack of being able to provide those Services, we 13 00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:50,700 all know the place that we're in, at the moment with many 14 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:52,400 people having covid and many in isolation. 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,100 And so do to staff and volunteer absences were unable to do so. 16 00:00:56,100 --> 00:01:01,000 But the idea is that next Sunday, Things will be back to 17 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:02,900 normal. Whatever normal looks like these 18 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:06,100 days and don't answer back, which I don't know about you but 19 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:09,600 I think that's a good thing. I'm not sure my waistline would 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,100 agree but certainly looking forward to Donuts so and of 21 00:01:12,100 --> 00:01:14,400 course kids work next week but worth reminding. 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,600 You all that youth are meeting this evening at 6:30. 23 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:21,700 Well, I got to say that was just such a wonderful time of 24 00:01:21,700 --> 00:01:24,100 worship. It's just so good to be together 25 00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:28,000 and worship God and to hear God's voice because Jenna 26 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,800 reminded us. God is always speaking. 27 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,900 God is a god that is always speaking. 28 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,200 It's not a question of if he speaks. 29 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,900 The question is, are we listening? 30 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,700 And I think it's a healthy reminder at the start of a year, 31 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:45,200 particularly to say, are we listening to what God has for 32 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,300 us? And that is the thread that I 33 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:52,800 want to pick up this morning. I'm just so grateful to richer 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,300 gathered our executive Pastor who just did such a superb job 35 00:01:56,300 --> 00:01:59,000 last week of. Yeah, let's give risk of rich 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,400 and Applause. Bless you, brother, travel was 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,600 down to speak. But blessed, Trevor, he he came 38 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,100 down with covid. So I think you and I had a 39 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:09,100 conversation with probably Friday before the Sunday said 40 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:12,700 rich or up, and we had a quick chat and it was just such a 41 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:18,300 wonderful talk based on Isaiah 43, about the forgetting, the 42 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:21,800 form of things and getting ready for the new things that God has. 43 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,600 And that was, of course, what Paul shared earlier with us as 44 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,100 well. And I would encourage you. 45 00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:29,500 If you missed that told you can of course, watch it. 46 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:34,200 Now in most Two places on YouTube, on Facebook, on our 47 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:38,100 phone, our smartphone app. So if you miss that, do do watch 48 00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:39,600 that. And so, what I'm going to do is 49 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,400 actually continue on from last week as I do, as Richard said, 50 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,400 open up with a new series that has yet to be Untitled. 51 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,300 I think I might give that title, the end of the series, or maybe 52 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:53,700 I'll open up the competition. Give me the name of the time for 53 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:55,500 that on a postcard, and send it through. 54 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:57,500 There we go. And you get a prize. 55 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:00,100 What do you win? Good question, I don't know, 56 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:02,300 maybe lunch with Richard or something, that'd be nice, 57 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:03,400 wouldn't it? There you go Rich. 58 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:10,800 You know, I was really grateful on Thursday, I caught up with 59 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,800 Chris Birch Evans, many of you know, he's a member Katelin, the 60 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,300 family, a member of the church and he leads step as well, which 61 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,100 you might know stepping. Now housed in our building, 62 00:03:20,300 --> 00:03:25,800 which has been so great. And not, not only is Chris, a 63 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,900 very good friend of mine for a long. 64 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,700 But he's a colleague in the ministry and I know I'm going to 65 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,000 embarrass him stay in this. But someone with whom, I respect 66 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,900 greatly is a Godly Man. A lot of wisdom and I was 67 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:42,400 respect his counsel and he and I sat down for the first time in 68 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,200 the year when we talked about what God has been doing and how 69 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,000 we feel about the year ahead. And I rather I don't know 70 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,800 downloaded dumped on him really, how I was feeling. 71 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,200 It's nice to have people that you can do that with and I said, 72 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:01,400 you know what, Chris I feel Funny, if I'm honest, I feel if 73 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,100 I'm honest disorientated, I just don't know where I'm at. 74 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:08,300 Anyone feel a little bit disorientated. 75 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:13,900 There's a few yeses in the room. You know, last year, you know, 76 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:18,700 the first year of covid, it seemed to, you know, we had the 77 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:22,500 lockdown in March, the weather was amazing, that, you know, and 78 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:24,100 then the second year, I don't know where it went, it just 79 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:26,200 disappeared. And I don't know where I'm at. 80 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:28,800 If should feel like I should be in June or something. 81 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:30,100 I don't know, we've just had Christmas. 82 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:34,100 I said I just don't know how I'm feeling and I said to him, I get 83 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:38,000 this sense that we're on the verge of something. 84 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:44,000 It's like I know something's about to happen but I don't 85 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,500 quite know what it is. I kind of know, we've left 86 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:53,400 something but I don't know what we going to, anybody feel that? 87 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,100 I know that normal is not coming back. 88 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:01,600 How many times we heard that phrase, but I don't know what 89 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,900 the new normal is. I mean, isn't that a paradox 90 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:08,000 anyway and you normal I mean this is an oxymoron I think is 91 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,500 the word isn't And I kept just blessed Chris. 92 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:14,900 He's such a good listener. He listened to me going on and 93 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:17,500 on and all of a sudden he got up off the sofa and meter Mark. 94 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,300 Oh, do you have a gun? An offended him? 95 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,900 And he walks to the door and he opens the door and he goes and 96 00:05:21,908 --> 00:05:25,200 steps out on my own grunt. How many years have I known you? 97 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,900 Kristen you, you're just walking out on me and he stops this is. 98 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:32,700 Do you know what this is? And he puts his foot over the 99 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:38,600 doorway. and what I could see was where the two carpets joins 100 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:44,700 the wise I said, oh, it's a seam anyway, No, no, it's not a CE 101 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:46,700 Mark. It's a liminal. 102 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:51,100 This is what, what? What said? 103 00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:54,000 It's called a liminal. It's a threshold. 104 00:05:54,900 --> 00:06:00,200 A liminal is the space in between this place and that 105 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,600 place. And you're talking about the 106 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,600 liminal space. It's like whoa, whoa. 107 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,800 Tell me more I said no. Go Google it. 108 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:15,000 So, I did. Because okay, I don't embarrass 109 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,700 you don't have your hands up if you don't want to how many knows 110 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:23,600 who knows what a liminal is? You see not Sally knows one 111 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,700 person. Right. 112 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:27,800 Come on. You're up your preaching. 113 00:06:30,500 --> 00:06:31,900 I didn't know what a liminal was. 114 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,300 Would you like to know what a liminal is? 115 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:37,000 The definition. Liminal comes from the Latin 116 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,700 lemon. Which means on the threshold. 117 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:47,600 A liminal space is a transitional space. 118 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,500 A space where we move from what we had known to the unknown. 119 00:06:55,200 --> 00:07:01,800 From a place, listen to this of relative Comfort to a place of 120 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:07,000 uncertainty. Moving from a place war from. 121 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:12,100 Well, we used to do it like this to a place of how we're going to 122 00:07:12,108 --> 00:07:18,000 do it now. It's a place of routine and 123 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:22,200 certainty to a place of uncertainty. 124 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:27,000 Who feels like they might be in the liminal space. 125 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:33,200 Welcome. And so much credit and thanks to 126 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,500 Chris Birch Evans for for that liminal word because that really 127 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:42,200 has opened up and given me some language, not just to articulate 128 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:46,100 how I am feeling, but actually to articulate, what I sensed the 129 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:50,000 Lord is doing and saying to us as a church. 130 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,900 Now, Richard did an amazing job last week of giving us a lens 131 00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:57,800 individually of how we see the year ahead and challenging us to 132 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,500 say, you know what, yes, God's got a plan for everybody. 133 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:03,300 But just don't forget, he's also got a plan for you. 134 00:08:04,900 --> 00:08:08,100 And I was so blessed by that talk because it gave me a way in 135 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:09,900 which I could look at this year and say, okay Lord. 136 00:08:09,900 --> 00:08:12,700 What have you got for me? What are those amazing? 137 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:16,400 New things that you've got? But what I'm going to do over 138 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,100 the next few weeks, as is my privilege to do as a senior 139 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:22,000 pastor, is to say where we're going as a church. 140 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:26,300 What is God is doing in this season? 141 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:32,900 And in this moment, and in this time, You know, another good 142 00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:36,500 example, if you're still trying to figure out a liminal space is 143 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:40,600 an airport, did you know that an airport is a liminal space makes 144 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,400 sense, right? You enter the liminal and you 145 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,800 about to get on a flight to another place or you arrive and 146 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,200 you enter the liminal who's here has watched that great Tom Hanks 147 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:58,300 movie Terminal anybody yet what a good movie Tom Hanks enters 148 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:02,600 the liminal space. And what happens? 149 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,100 He arrives from, I think it's some fictitious European country 150 00:09:06,100 --> 00:09:12,300 into New York and they refused his Visa bit like Novak 151 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,200 Djokovic. But for other reasons, this was 152 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:20,500 pre covid. And essentially he didn't put 153 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:23,600 him up in a hotel, he has to stay in the terminal because he 154 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:29,000 refuses to go back. And in that place, he picks up 155 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,200 new skills. He starts Plastering the walls 156 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,400 at night because the workmen have left that stuff. 157 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,300 He decides, he wants to learn English. 158 00:09:36,300 --> 00:09:40,600 And so he goes to the book shops, and, and gets the diction 159 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:42,700 English dictionary and learned the language. 160 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:46,500 And because it's a Hollywood movie at the end of it, he gets 161 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:50,400 the girl. By the way, FYI, I'm not 162 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,100 suggesting for you, single people out there that you're 163 00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:54,700 necessarily going to get the guy or the girl next week. 164 00:09:56,100 --> 00:09:58,800 But you might do this might be your year, if that's what you're 165 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:03,600 looking for, but Tom Hanks, you see exits the liminal space, 166 00:10:03,700 --> 00:10:07,500 very different, man, he speaks a new language. 167 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:12,300 He has new skills. He has a new girl. 168 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,700 He has a completely different future than when he entered the 169 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:21,500 liminal space. FYI, that applies to us as a 170 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:26,200 church, that our future looks very different because of the 171 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,300 liminal space that we have been in. 172 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,900 And so, what I want to do for the remainder of this talk is 173 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:36,000 unpack what that looks like for us and what God has been doing. 174 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:40,900 There's a guy called Andrew Meyers, he's the advisor for 175 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:45,000 spirituality and a parish priest and the Diocese of the tissue of 176 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,500 Chichester. And he writes this In entering 177 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:54,500 liminal space, you leave behind your former ideals and 178 00:10:54,500 --> 00:11:02,300 conventions, that status quo, the ordinary routines inherited 179 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:07,000 mindsets. You also leave behind your 180 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:13,100 safety zone, you exit, your place of security you step out 181 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:17,500 into a space where you will see things differently, where your 182 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:23,600 worldview might be shattered, where your existing priorities 183 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:30,200 might be turned up side down. Who's up for that? 184 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,100 In only a few, I'll give you more time and I won't stay in 185 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:37,200 such a jovial way, who's up for that. 186 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:41,900 Yes, you have you are and some of those words you know I love 187 00:11:41,900 --> 00:11:44,700 Lissa's word. You know doing a new thing. 188 00:11:44,700 --> 00:11:47,300 Are we ready? And she said I felt like this is 189 00:11:47,300 --> 00:11:55,900 a corporate word. Let's look at Israel and that's 190 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:57,900 where Richard took us to last week. 191 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:01,200 And as I said, I want to carry on from looking at Isaiah. 192 00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:05,400 You see, Israel entered the liminal space, many a Time. 193 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,100 Didn't they if you think about it? 194 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:12,800 They escaped for they let go from Egypt. 195 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,700 And they're in the liminal space and they get to what the Red 196 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:22,300 Sea. They are on the cusp of 197 00:12:22,300 --> 00:12:25,900 something. What about when they get past 198 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:28,700 that and they get on to the border of the promised land 199 00:12:28,700 --> 00:12:32,000 there, they are in a liminal space than they about to enter 200 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,500 something new. What about when they mess that 201 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,200 up and they then have to go into the Wilderness for 40 years? 202 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:41,800 The liminal space can be a long time. 203 00:12:42,100 --> 00:12:44,500 I mean, Moses was on the backside of the desert for a 204 00:12:44,508 --> 00:12:46,800 long time. The liminal space. 205 00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:52,500 And then fast forward many years. 206 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:55,200 And Israel are in Exile in Babylon. 207 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,900 Where are they for 70 years in the liminal space. 208 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,900 Now, the liminal space is not a space by accident. 209 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,800 It's a place and a space that God puts you on purpose. 210 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,900 It's a place where he does his deepest work, it's the place of 211 00:13:10,900 --> 00:13:13,800 fruit-bearing. It's the place of preparation, 212 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:19,600 it's the place where we run done in his presence. 213 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:24,800 And so with that, let's let's look at this story of those guys 214 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,200 in Babylon. Let's look at Isaiah 43 when you 215 00:13:28,208 --> 00:13:31,200 turn with me and we're going to look at 16 to 19. 216 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,600 As I said, this is what Richard looked at last week. 217 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:41,900 In fact, I think we do 18 to 19 God said to the Jews. 218 00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:49,500 Remember not the former things nor consider the things of old. 219 00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:53,300 What is, what is God? Fair into he is referring to the 220 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:57,200 amazing things that God did when he got them out of Egypt, when 221 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:02,800 he parted the sea. God is saying, listen, you're in 222 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,600 the liminal space, the exit point is not backwards, it's 223 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,500 forward. The exit point of the liminal 224 00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:14,300 space is not what it used to be. It's what it's going to be next. 225 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,800 Now, God is not saying, hey, forget that. 226 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,100 That was rubbish, actually, sorry, my mistake. 227 00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:20,400 I didn't do a very good job there. 228 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,500 He's not saying, hey, don't praise me for that. 229 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,500 What he's saying is listen. Don't think that. 230 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,500 What comes next is what I did before. 231 00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:36,000 What comes next is a new thing. What comes next is even more 232 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:41,100 amazing. And it goes on, behold. 233 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:50,200 I am doing a worked new thing. Say it again, new thing. 234 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:55,300 Now it Springs forth. Do you not perceive it? 235 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,400 I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the 236 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:00,900 desert. You see, when we're in the 237 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:04,600 liminal space, it looks like we're in the place of wilderness 238 00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:09,100 because all of our comfort all of what our routine, all of us. 239 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:12,100 If T seems to have been Stripped Away. 240 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:14,900 And we feel like we're in the wilderness. 241 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:20,400 And we say what now, God what? Now what now? 242 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:27,000 But God says it's springing forth up saving. 243 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,500 You see, that is an invitation to say, Lord, would you show me? 244 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:38,500 That is an invitation by God to ask. 245 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:44,700 Lord, what are you doing? Do you not perceive it? 246 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:49,000 I have been hanging on this question for over a. 247 00:15:49,008 --> 00:15:51,100 I don't know how long saying Lord. 248 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:53,800 I don't, I'll be honest with you. 249 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:57,800 I am not about to give you the answer to the new thing this 250 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,800 morning. If you wish, you may leave now. 251 00:16:03,700 --> 00:16:05,500 If you're online, maybe you've logged off your nose. 252 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:11,300 But I am telling you that I'm committed to asking the question 253 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:14,400 or answer in that Lord, what is it? 254 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:18,700 What is it that you're doing? And that's what God is looking 255 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:22,100 for us to have a posture of expectancy to say? 256 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:27,800 What does he look like, Lord. And so let's look at Israel 257 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,200 because as I said, there's some things we can learn, you know, 258 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,800 that the church has much in common with Israel, of course, 259 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,400 the church is distinct from Israel. 260 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:41,200 The church. Can I just be clear, has not 261 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,400 replaced Israel. We've been grafted-in. 262 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,700 Yes, we refer to as spiritual Israel, but God said, as a plan 263 00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:50,200 for his people, Israel. There's some very dangerous 264 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,700 theology called replacement theology that says God's 265 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:54,700 forgotten about them. That's not the case. 266 00:16:56,700 --> 00:16:59,700 He has a plan for his church. Has a plan, a dispensation for 267 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:03,600 Israel, but there is much in common with the Israeli Old 268 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,000 Testament that we can learn from and I want to look at that. 269 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:13,000 You see, Israel was on a journey to enter into the promises of 270 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,300 God. We are on a journey to enter 271 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:22,099 into the promises of God. Israel was on a journey, to 272 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:25,800 establish the, what physical kingdom of God. 273 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:32,100 We his church Or on a journey, to establish the spiritual 274 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:34,200 kingdom of God, right there here and not. 275 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,600 Yet our kingdom theology. That we have been called to 276 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,400 extend the kingdom of God, in word and deed. 277 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,400 Yes. This is Vineyard 101, right 278 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:51,100 guys. We are here to bring his light 279 00:17:51,100 --> 00:17:54,000 Into Darkness. We are in a spiritual battle who 280 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,300 knows that to be the case, Good news. 281 00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:58,700 You're on The Winning Side. Well done. 282 00:18:03,100 --> 00:18:06,000 Israel was on a journey to demonstrate the glory of God to 283 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,300 all the surrounding Nations. We are on a journey to 284 00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:13,900 demonstrate the person of Jesus to everyone around us. 285 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:20,300 Israel was on a mission, the church is called to the Great 286 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:26,600 Commission. Listen, Israel wasn't a social 287 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,700 club. The church is not a social club. 288 00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:35,300 The church does not exist for an insular purpose. 289 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:41,200 The church exists for out there. The church exists y to save 290 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,800 Souls. We are on a rescue mission. 291 00:18:43,900 --> 00:18:46,100 You've been great. You've been drafted in by Jesus 292 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:53,000 to rescue lost souls Listen, I want us to have a good time 293 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,900 here. I love it. 294 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:57,700 But if you think that you come to church just to have a good 295 00:18:57,700 --> 00:19:00,700 time then I'm afraid you don't know what church is. 296 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:06,700 The Church of Jesus Christ is on a mission. 297 00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:09,400 The Great Commission to make Christ known to make disciples 298 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,400 of all Nations. Listen, the Titanic is going 299 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,900 down and we got to get people on the Lifeboat. 300 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,100 And that Lifeboat is a person called Jesus. 301 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,900 Let's not play games here, guys. Let's not play games, people's, 302 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,700 Eternal souls are at stake and just as Israel was on a journey. 303 00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:34,900 So, is his church globally on a journey to make Christ known. 304 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,200 I'm blessed to have Chris Lane, Chris and flips are found in 305 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,700 pastures. Why did they leave everything? 306 00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:46,300 Can and decide to set up a new church in their Lounge room. 307 00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:49,900 Because of the call to make Christ known. 308 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,300 We're still on that mission. It hasn't changed. 309 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:59,600 Yes, it will look different. But that's what we're about. 310 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:09,400 To make Christ known. But I believe that we've been in 311 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:14,200 the liminal space Church. We have been in the liminal 312 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,600 space for the past couple of years, not by accident, not by 313 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,500 chance. But because God has placed us 314 00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:25,400 there for a reason because he's about to do something new. 315 00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,700 Because he's saying to us, listen what went before you was 316 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:35,200 amazing but forget it. I'm not going to do that again. 317 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,800 I'm going to do something new. That's not to discredit the 318 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,700 past. That's not to say that doesn't 319 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:47,600 count because God builds upon the victories and the triumphs 320 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:53,400 and the hard worn, one ground that was taken. 321 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,800 But he does something new. God is not the god of the past. 322 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:05,900 Thank you. I used to work in Boots. 323 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,800 The chemist, I'm not talking five years ago. 324 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:15,900 When I was about 17 18, I used to work in EM field in Boots in 325 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:19,100 the camera Department. I loved it there on Saturdays 326 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,700 isil of selling cameras, but I also used to like taking 327 00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:25,500 people's 35 millimeter films and he remembers those. 328 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:28,500 Hey, no digital. Then yes, I am that old. 329 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:33,100 I like to love it because he's taken and people used to come in 330 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:35,300 with their Tans. I've just been on holiday. 331 00:21:35,900 --> 00:21:38,200 I would like to develop my photos, please. 332 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:42,700 No problem. And so we used to put it in the 333 00:21:42,700 --> 00:21:45,900 thing, fill it in and then put it in the tray and then behind 334 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:49,000 us would be the lab. I always wanted to work in the 335 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,700 lab but I wasn't allowed. I just took people's money. 336 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:56,600 And I see you'd have people in the lab illustrative purposes. 337 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,500 I'm going to stand here, this is the lab, this is the counter and 338 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:04,300 the guy would be there with his white gloves on obviously and he 339 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:07,400 would get the film and he would put it into this machine. 340 00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:11,700 It was very large. Very dark in there. 341 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,400 But the dark is where the magic happened. 342 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,800 Because at the end all these photos will come out and yes we 343 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:26,300 do look at your photos. Can I just say we do a good job 344 00:22:26,300 --> 00:22:29,100 for digital cameras now, hey with everyone wants to put them 345 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:31,500 on Facebook so I think more people see them now than ever. 346 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:36,200 But we, you know, at the very end, what was this round thing? 347 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,900 Came out and there was glorious, picture and colors. 348 00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:43,200 Can I just tell you the liminal spaces like that process in 349 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,400 machine? It's the dark place where God 350 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:51,800 does the processing of your lives and what comes out, is 351 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,200 something extraordinary. It is a picture of what God's 352 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,300 going to do next, Who's excited as me. 353 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:06,700 Good to have you. So what I want to do in the oh 354 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:10,400 wow, that was introduction. Would you keep ask my water 355 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,000 there, please? Thank you, just just there. 356 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,200 Thank you. Thanks for the coffee. 357 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:16,800 Thank you very much. What I want to do in the short 358 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,800 amount of space that obviously have left. 359 00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:23,300 I want to look at some specifics around what I feel the Lord has 360 00:23:23,300 --> 00:23:26,000 done to us as a people in the liminal space. 361 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,500 And because I came up with a list of probably more than 10, 362 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,700 you'll be pleased to know. I'm only going to do three this 363 00:23:32,700 --> 00:23:35,500 morning and if you're wondering, I'm going to speak on next week. 364 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:37,300 Well, the liminal space. There you go. 365 00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:41,900 So let's start with my list and we can see this in the life of 366 00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:45,300 Israel, but we can also see this in our life as well. 367 00:23:45,900 --> 00:23:48,300 So let's ask the question. What does God do in the liminal 368 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:52,500 space or more importantly, what has God been doing to us as a 369 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:56,300 church in the liminal space? Here's the first one. 370 00:23:57,100 --> 00:24:03,700 He's been sifting and Gathering. Sifting and Gathering, you know, 371 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:06,200 throughout Israel's Journey. The liminal space always 372 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,800 represented a time where the hearts of men and women were 373 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:15,800 exposed and where God presented individuals with a choice to who 374 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:21,700 they would follow. That was always, The question in 375 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:24,600 front of Israel when they got the liminal space. 376 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,000 Let's look therefore at the Babylonian Babylonian exile. 377 00:24:30,300 --> 00:24:34,400 Due to Disobedience there in the Bap, in Babylon for 70 years as 378 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,200 prophesied. And there comes a time where, 379 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,900 you know, Persia overthrows Babylon. 380 00:24:40,900 --> 00:24:45,700 So we've got now, Persia King, Cyrus, Says right. 381 00:24:45,700 --> 00:24:48,600 You know what, guys? Bang on 70 years. 382 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,500 FYI off you go, you can go go back to Israel. 383 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,000 Now you would expect that everyone below where you can go 384 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,000 back. The church doors are open so I 385 00:24:58,008 --> 00:24:59,300 did I say no, I didn't mean that. 386 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,300 I mean everything go back to normal. 387 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:02,600 I want that. Yes. 388 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,400 Did you know that only 50,000 went back out of tons? 389 00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:10,600 The majority didn't want to go back. 390 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,900 The majority had got comfortable in Exile. 391 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,600 He's quite comfortable, actually, I quite like it. 392 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,200 My week is completely different. Now I can do this so and such I 393 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,900 don't have to serve, I don't have to sacrifice, I don't have 394 00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:30,000 to prioritize God in in this or that way. 395 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:41,900 Because what I can do is I can just be You see in the liminal 396 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:44,800 space, god presents you with the choice. 397 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,500 Do you know me? I love what Chris said earlier. 398 00:25:55,100 --> 00:26:00,700 I've write all of these down. Jesus himself was with them and 399 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:05,600 we sang you or saying you saying online Jesus, that you are 400 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,000 everything, you're all I need. Do we mean that? 401 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,100 Is that is the choice as always presented to us in the liminal 402 00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:17,300 space. And some people have said, I 403 00:26:17,308 --> 00:26:21,000 don't want to go back to Israel. Now, I want to be very careful 404 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,800 in how I position this and say this. 405 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,900 There are some that I'm not talking about physically in this 406 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:30,100 building. By the way I'm talking about 407 00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:33,700 people that said, I'm part of a church and I'm on a mission and 408 00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:35,200 I want to serve and I will get involved. 409 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,300 I know many of you I've spoken to who aren't back yet. 410 00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:41,500 And I understand that for many reasons, it could be the you're 411 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:43,600 isolating, the you're sick, you're not comfortable yet. 412 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,900 That's fine. But you would say, you know 413 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:49,100 what, I'm part of the state of a Vineyard I'm committed. 414 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,400 But I do know many who have fallen away. 415 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:56,700 I'm afraid said, you know what? This liminal space has showed me 416 00:26:56,700 --> 00:27:00,400 that I don't need Church. You know what? 417 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:05,400 I've got YouTube now. We may laugh but this is truth. 418 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,700 Guys church now, it doesn't need to be a place anymore. 419 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:11,400 It doesn't. It doesn't need to be a body of 420 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:13,500 people. I can find amazing worship 421 00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:15,700 online. I can find amazing talks. 422 00:27:17,900 --> 00:27:22,200 That's church for me. And people have said, you know 423 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,600 what, I'm not up for being part of a church that's moving 424 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:29,300 forward and going to make Christ known and people have fallen 425 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:31,200 away. It's true. 426 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,500 I'm reminded as I was worshipping of Gideon. 427 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,300 What happened with the story of Gideon, God said, I want you to 428 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:39,800 go and I wanted to go and do something amazing. 429 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,400 It was Conquering the Philistines I believe and Gideon 430 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,000 had these loads of people around him and I said, Nana Nana, just 431 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:53,300 wait and through a process. Of things like, go get some 432 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:56,700 water and said, write, all those that bent down than or in there 433 00:27:56,700 --> 00:27:59,500 was another and by the end of it, there was less than when he 434 00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:01,500 started. Because now, you're ready. 435 00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:04,900 What was that shifting in the liminal space? 436 00:28:05,500 --> 00:28:10,900 God was looking for those that were committed, but equally God. 437 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:15,000 Gathers in the liminal space. I'm just so grateful to God of 438 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:16,900 the new people that have come to st. 439 00:28:16,900 --> 00:28:20,900 Albans Vineyard because they've been seeking and searching. 440 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,700 You forgot. I'm I found God. 441 00:28:22,700 --> 00:28:25,000 I know many of you have found Us online. 442 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:27,500 And you're saying, you know what? 443 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,200 I never really worked closely with or, but when the liminal 444 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,700 space here or covid here, I realized that I needed God and 445 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:38,600 you see God is sifting and he's Gathering to getting us ready 446 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,700 for the next Conquest, that's about to happen. 447 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,800 Why would he do that? Let me give you a few reasons. 448 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:48,600 Number one to bring Unity, God isn't is looking for a church 449 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,200 that had United under his Spirit. 450 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,900 You know there's a blessing that comes with unity of purpose and 451 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:55,700 of mine. Did you know that? 452 00:28:56,700 --> 00:28:59,400 This is a famous verse. I know I've said it many times 453 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,000 before. Psalm 133, 1 2, 3 behold, how 454 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,700 good and pleasant it is. When Brothers dwell in unity, it 455 00:29:06,700 --> 00:29:09,700 is like the precious oil on the head running down on the bed on 456 00:29:09,700 --> 00:29:12,400 the bed of Aaron, who was a priest running down on the 457 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,400 collar of his robes. It is like the do of Herman 458 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:19,500 which falls on the mountain of Zion for the Lord has commanded 459 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:23,000 the blessing life forevermore there is a blessing in unity. 460 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:26,500 And Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus as well. 461 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:32,400 Say saying be of unity be a one mind Unity under the spirit. 462 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:35,200 God is looking for a church. That is United. 463 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:37,900 And I believe that's part of what happens to the liminal 464 00:29:37,900 --> 00:29:41,900 space. The second thing though, is a 465 00:29:41,908 --> 00:29:47,100 work of Purity, we sang that earlier, we sang, I want to burn 466 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:50,500 for you, only for you. Take my life. 467 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:52,700 Jesus like you on that. Fine. 468 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:53,700 Okay. I'll put you on the liminal 469 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:56,400 space. I'll give you a choice. 470 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,500 Is it really all about me? Is it really? 471 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:02,000 Do you really want to go through the fire? 472 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,600 What did are all say are all earlier had a word saying, you 473 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,600 know, some of you are feeling nervous about that but you see 474 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,800 it's that place where Grace comes, it's that place where 475 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,900 surrender comes. It's that place where he 476 00:30:15,900 --> 00:30:17,500 purifies us. And we're peace. 477 00:30:17,500 --> 00:30:22,000 Comes and so, part of being in the liminal space is a good 478 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:23,500 purifies. Our hearts. 479 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:30,100 That reminds me of that song purify, my heart, that purify My 480 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:33,900 Heart Jim, you know, that song that's a prayer. 481 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:37,700 But you I think if most people knew what the answer to that 482 00:30:37,700 --> 00:30:39,200 prayer was he wouldn't want to pray it. 483 00:30:39,900 --> 00:30:41,700 So, okay, here comes the refiners fire. 484 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:50,000 Welcome to the liminal space. I'll spend some time on that 485 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,200 one, but God says, and he gathers in the liminal space and 486 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:57,400 as a church church, that's what he's done to us. 487 00:30:57,900 --> 00:31:01,000 He has sifted and he has gathered, and he's bringing 488 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:05,000 unity and he's bringing Purity. He's bringing holiness. 489 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:13,600 He's preparing his bride. Does it not say in the 490 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,600 scriptures put on Christ, put on holiness? 491 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,200 Put it on. We need to make a choice. 492 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:22,100 Okay, what else can we learn from the liminal? 493 00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:25,800 Space number two, it exposes our fears. 494 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,100 When Israel was in the liminal space, right? 495 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:37,200 So they come to the Red Sea and they get to the, to the border 496 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,400 of the promised land. This is the moment. 497 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,500 This is it, isn't it? Great and Moses is, right? 498 00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:44,000 We're going to send out 12 spice. 499 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,100 You all know the story. Y-12. 500 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:49,000 One of the of each tribe of Israel. 501 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:53,500 Go in there, come back and let us know what's going on. 502 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:58,200 So off they went and they came back and what what happened? 503 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,200 Well 10 of them said, whoa, okay. 504 00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:03,300 To be fair, it is very nice there. 505 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,600 There was some honey and some milk, but this is what God did 506 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,700 not tell us. There are huge giants. 507 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,500 They are very, very big. There is absolutely, no way I'm 508 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:15,900 going there and then Caleb and Joshua. 509 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:19,700 Like, well guys, hold the phone. Actually want to read out the 510 00:32:19,708 --> 00:32:23,600 scriptures versus give you my, my take on it number, thirteen 511 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,000 Thirty. But Caleb quieted the people 512 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:30,300 before Moses and said, let us go up at once and occupy it for. 513 00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:40,400 We are well able to overcome it. See the promises of God seemed 514 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,100 impossible because of the Giants of the land. 515 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:48,600 They weren't imaginable Giants. This is not an exercise in 516 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,000 ignoring reality. It's an exercise in 517 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:53,800 understanding the greatness of God. 518 00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:59,500 You see Caleb and Joshua got it, they like, yeah they're Giants. 519 00:32:59,500 --> 00:33:01,500 But have you seen our beguiled goddess? 520 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:05,500 And there have been Giants for these past two years, a liminal 521 00:33:05,500 --> 00:33:12,100 space seven, they real giants, real things health, and fear, as 522 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:16,500 come in money issues, the economy jobs. 523 00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:19,100 I mean, I could go on with a long list. 524 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:26,800 There are giants But God. But God Is Bigger. 525 00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:32,900 God was looking for faith in the Israelite and God is still 526 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:37,000 looking for faith in his church. How are we going to respond? 527 00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:40,700 When God says, right? This is it guys, we're moving 528 00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:43,800 out of the liminal space. God is looking for a people that 529 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,400 say, we're all in God. Yeah, there's some Giants out 530 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,100 there. But hey, you're big. 531 00:33:51,900 --> 00:33:55,200 And so, when you're in the liminal space, to get us ready 532 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,900 for that moment, he deals with a fear in our hearts. 533 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,400 He allows them to come to the surface. 534 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:04,400 Why? So that he can deal with it. 535 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:11,699 How by his great love, perfect, love casts out fear, when you 536 00:34:11,699 --> 00:34:15,000 realize that you are. Here's when you realize that you 537 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,900 are eternally, saved and eternally sealed when you 538 00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:20,199 realize that he has a plan and purpose for you, when you 539 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:24,199 realize that God is greater than those things, because of his 540 00:34:24,199 --> 00:34:29,500 great love. You can do what Caleb do, and 541 00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:32,300 quieten the people around you. It's okay. 542 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:36,100 And can I just say in this season you we are called to 543 00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:39,199 quieten the people around us. It's okay. 544 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,500 But God, it's okay. God Is Bigger. 545 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:46,100 Yes, that Giants. I'm not going to ignore that. 546 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,000 You know, the Lost are not looking for a bunch of people 547 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,699 that are unrealistic and not in touch, with reality. 548 00:34:54,699 --> 00:34:57,400 And just want to put a gloss on everything they're looking for 549 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,600 people that can walk alongside and say, you know what, it is 550 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:04,700 rubbish and it does suck but God it's okay, it's okay. 551 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,800 Oh, look at the time. Did someone say keep going? 552 00:35:12,100 --> 00:35:17,200 Well, that's that's dangerous. Anybody got ovens on Wi-Fi Now, 553 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,100 you can just delay it on the time. 554 00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:22,300 I'm just kidding. I'm going to give you the third 555 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:23,700 and then we're going to stop at that point. 556 00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:25,200 Okay? Because I'll save some for next 557 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:26,800 week. This is the third thing. 558 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:32,300 God, does he reveals our need for him and our dependence on 559 00:35:32,300 --> 00:35:36,600 him? He reveals our need for him and 560 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:42,500 our dependence on him. In the liminal space, got strips 561 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:46,200 away our comfort, our security, our routines, which slowly what 562 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,000 you see happens with those is inadvertently. 563 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,800 They become the Rock by which we live. 564 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:54,200 We live our lives. It happens to all of us. 565 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:57,800 It happens to your senior pastor, really? 566 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:59,800 Yes, I'm human too. By the way FYI. 567 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:04,700 Thank you. I agree. 568 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:10,100 You see God gives us by his grace an opportunity to say 569 00:36:10,100 --> 00:36:11,900 those are the rocks that you're living on. 570 00:36:11,900 --> 00:36:13,900 And by the way, they will never stand. 571 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:19,900 When the storm comes, the only rock is Jesus himself, Jesus 572 00:36:19,900 --> 00:36:22,800 himself. Let's look at the story of 573 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,600 Israel then as we as we bring this plane into a land so what 574 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:27,500 happens Joshua and Caleb said we can. 575 00:36:27,500 --> 00:36:31,400 But God is so angry with Israel. In fact, he's about to wipe them 576 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:33,300 out less. Had it not been for the fact 577 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:35,800 that Moses intercedes and say, whoa, for your name's sake. 578 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:38,900 Don't do that. Because as you know what, that 579 00:36:38,900 --> 00:36:41,400 whole generation are not going to enter into the promised land 580 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,700 because of their fear because of their Disobedience. 581 00:36:43,900 --> 00:36:47,700 Everyone above 20 years, old is not going to see it except for 582 00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:51,100 Joshua and Caleb. That's why they went into the 583 00:36:51,108 --> 00:36:53,200 Wilderness for 40 years. By the way, it was judgment as 584 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:56,500 punishment. They the liminal space did not 585 00:36:56,500 --> 00:36:58,700 have to be 40 years. They're about to go into it. 586 00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:01,000 And if you look at the map, what they did was spend 40 years 587 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:03,500 doing this around, the wooden us wonder where the promised land 588 00:37:03,500 --> 00:37:04,900 is not a myth that we go there once. 589 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,800 No? No. 40 Years of liminal space 40 590 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,600 years. But it was in that place that 591 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,400 God said, right? Let me show you who you need to 592 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:17,200 depend on and who you need. I'll give you your food every 593 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,600 day, man. I will come down from heaven, 594 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:24,300 quails And you know what? That shoes and their clothes 595 00:37:24,300 --> 00:37:26,300 never wore out. Do you know that? 596 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:31,400 Deuteronomy 29 5, yet the Lord says during the 40 years that I 597 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:34,000 led you through the Wilderness. Your clothes did not wear out, 598 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,900 nor did the sandals on your feet, I'll show you who's gone 599 00:37:39,100 --> 00:37:43,600 and you see it in the liminal space church when everything is 600 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:45,700 stripped away. Those rocks, those foundations 601 00:37:45,700 --> 00:37:47,900 that we had built our life on those routines. 602 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,400 Those relationships that money in the bank that's security and 603 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:57,900 the job XYZ etc, etc. The girl says, let me show you 604 00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:01,400 that you need me. And lest you think that that is 605 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:03,300 a cruel. God, that is a God full of grace 606 00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:07,100 and mercy because it's in that place that we experience his 607 00:38:07,100 --> 00:38:09,600 love and his grace, why? Because he wants the best for 608 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,500 us. I'm going to end those three 609 00:38:12,500 --> 00:38:18,900 there. As a way of a recap he sits and 610 00:38:18,900 --> 00:38:21,900 he gathers God has been sifting and Gathering his church. 611 00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:23,800 Not just here, by the way, Church Global. 612 00:38:23,900 --> 00:38:26,400 I spend two other senior leaders of churches and they have 613 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:28,600 expressed exactly the same thing. 614 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,300 Number two, exposes our fears. So we can deal with them and 615 00:38:32,300 --> 00:38:35,500 number three. If I can find it, he reveals out 616 00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:38,800 reveals our need for him and our dependence on him like to invite 617 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,900 the band up as I am with some more scripture because what I 618 00:38:41,908 --> 00:38:44,700 want to try and do is focus on what's next. 619 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:51,100 Can we turn to Isaiah 40:8 328? You see in many ways, this is a 620 00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:56,300 parallel to Isaiah 43, we've read the former things, I'm 621 00:38:56,300 --> 00:38:59,700 about to do something new. God actually referenced, is this 622 00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:04,400 again in 48, in a slightly different take, let's read this 623 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,800 together. It's rather long 328 will come 624 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:09,900 up on the screen or if you're at home or be on your screen. 625 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:19,200 Let me read this to you. The former things, remember that 626 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,700 phrase? I declared of old they went out 627 00:39:21,700 --> 00:39:27,400 for a my mouth and I announced them and suddenly I did them and 628 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:31,400 they came to pass. Because I know that you are in a 629 00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:35,100 abstinent and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead 630 00:39:35,100 --> 00:39:37,400 brass. In other words, you're stubborn 631 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:41,300 people, I declare them to you from old before they came to 632 00:39:41,300 --> 00:39:42,900 pass. I announce them to you, why? 633 00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:47,600 Here's the answer, lest you should say my idol, did them, my 634 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,600 carved image, and my mental image. 635 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,300 In other words, God said, I told you what I was going to do so 636 00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:54,300 that when it happened, you didn't say, well, I did that. 637 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:56,700 Look at what my hands did. No, no, no. 638 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,500 But this is very interesting that what happens next. 639 00:40:01,500 --> 00:40:06,700 You have heard now, seal this, and you will not declare it from 640 00:40:06,700 --> 00:40:09,400 the time forth. I announced listen to you new 641 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:14,200 things. Hidden things that you have not 642 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,900 known. They are created. 643 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:22,000 Now not long ago before today you have never heard of them, 644 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:25,600 lest you should say. Behold I knew them. 645 00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:29,000 You have never heard. You have never known from old. 646 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,500 Your ear has not been opened. What is God saying? 647 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:36,700 Listen Church there are seasons where God will declare what he 648 00:40:36,700 --> 00:40:41,700 does first and then they happen and there are seasons where God 649 00:40:41,700 --> 00:40:46,600 doesn't and he just does them. And in the moment he reveals it 650 00:40:46,700 --> 00:40:49,900 in his strength. You see, I believe the new 651 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:53,200 things are going to be that season where we just going to 652 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:58,300 start seeing things. And he's going to start 653 00:40:58,300 --> 00:41:01,400 revealing those things as they happen. 654 00:41:03,700 --> 00:41:07,900 We are moving into a season of Revelation, we're moving into a 655 00:41:07,908 --> 00:41:12,100 season of new things because we are moving out of the threshold 656 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:16,800 into our new destination church, this liminal space that we've 657 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,000 been in, hasn't been an accident. 658 00:41:19,100 --> 00:41:23,300 It has not been wasted. God has been working in us as a 659 00:41:23,300 --> 00:41:27,100 people for the next chapter and I'm put in the church on notice 660 00:41:27,700 --> 00:41:29,400 that it's going to be an exciting chapter. 661 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,200 I'm putting the church on, notice that we've got work to 662 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,500 do. To continue to make Christ 663 00:41:35,500 --> 00:41:37,600 known. I'm putting the church on 664 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:39,200 notice. That it's going to require 665 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:43,100 Sacrifice from us. It's going to require us to dig 666 00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:46,800 deep but in so doing recognizing the God has already prepared us 667 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:49,200 for it. I want to say each one of you 668 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:52,400 here, each one of you online. However you find us being part 669 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:55,300 of this church, you are not here by accident. 670 00:41:55,900 --> 00:42:00,400 You have been called for such a time as this because God is 671 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:03,300 about to do something new in your midst, who's up for that? 672 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:09,200 We're about to see something extraordinary Church.