1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:05,640 We have been in our series of the call and we have explored 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,400 what it means to be called by God. 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:13,400 And I hope by now it is very clear that before we are called 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,800 to something, we are called to. Oh, I like the way you can do 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,440 that with the mic. That's good. 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,800 Before we are called to something, we are called to. 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,780 That's it. You see, what we do is not our 8 00:00:26,780 --> 00:00:30,540 priority. It comes out of flows from who 9 00:00:30,540 --> 00:00:35,300 we are in Christ Jesus and I keep reminded us every every 10 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:38,100 Sunday. But you see, we battle against a 11 00:00:38,100 --> 00:00:41,220 culture that says what do you do. 12 00:00:42,260 --> 00:00:48,260 We battle against a culture that says you are defined by what you 13 00:00:48,260 --> 00:00:51,240 do. You are defined. 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,920 Your identity is rooted in what you do. 15 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,200 But as we read in the scriptures, what we actually 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:04,080 find is that who we are. Our identity is not rooted in 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,320 what we do. It's rooted in who we are with, 18 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,410 and that is Jesus. Because if we don't operate out 19 00:01:13,410 --> 00:01:16,890 of a right identity and knowledge that we are sons and 20 00:01:16,890 --> 00:01:19,410 daughters of the Most High, that we are called a royal 21 00:01:19,410 --> 00:01:24,370 priesthood, that we are His, and that no matter what we can do, 22 00:01:24,810 --> 00:01:27,170 we can never be separated from His love. 23 00:01:27,170 --> 00:01:31,810 When we operate out of that place, we operate in an also 24 00:01:31,810 --> 00:01:36,330 different way than we operate out of a place of striving for 25 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:40,610 identity and what we what we're going to do in the moment is 26 00:01:40,610 --> 00:01:44,450 read again the the scriptures that we've been looking out for 27 00:01:44,450 --> 00:01:48,130 this series, which is when Jesus called the first disciples. 28 00:01:48,410 --> 00:01:52,530 And what is very evident in this as we read it is the 29 00:01:52,530 --> 00:01:56,810 progression. First that Jesus was in the boat 30 00:01:56,810 --> 00:02:00,450 with Simon Peter, first Simon Peter was with Jesus. 31 00:02:00,770 --> 00:02:04,570 And I love that intimacy. I love the fact that Jesus 32 00:02:04,570 --> 00:02:08,570 didn't stand on some high mountain and say, oh, you Simon 33 00:02:08,570 --> 00:02:15,050 Peter, get into your boat. Jesus got into the boat with 34 00:02:15,050 --> 00:02:18,490 him. And that is the the, the, the 35 00:02:18,490 --> 00:02:23,490 pursuit of God, that it out out of his love for us, out of his 36 00:02:23,490 --> 00:02:27,850 desire to be with us. And we see that first. 37 00:02:27,850 --> 00:02:30,170 And then what do we see is we looked at this the past couple 38 00:02:30,170 --> 00:02:33,930 of weeks. It is that called to be separate 39 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:37,610 from the world and consecrated to him. 40 00:02:38,290 --> 00:02:40,650 And we see that in the story as Jesus. 41 00:02:40,850 --> 00:02:43,530 They push out a little from the multitude. 42 00:02:44,210 --> 00:02:47,690 That is a picture of the separation, that God is calling 43 00:02:47,690 --> 00:02:53,370 us out of the world and to him. And so you've got being with 44 00:02:53,490 --> 00:02:57,290 Jesus, then being like Jesus, which is the holiness. 45 00:02:57,490 --> 00:03:00,490 And then after you've done all of that, then you get to do the 46 00:03:00,490 --> 00:03:05,610 stuff. Even in church circles, we 47 00:03:06,010 --> 00:03:08,290 forget the first two bits, don't we? 48 00:03:08,570 --> 00:03:12,210 We rushed to the doing. We rushed to the doing when we 49 00:03:12,210 --> 00:03:15,570 should rush to the being. And so we over the next three 50 00:03:15,570 --> 00:03:21,490 weeks are going to transition and look at the 10 hallmarks of 51 00:03:21,490 --> 00:03:25,250 the call of God on our lives for the doing bit 10 hallmarks. 52 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,580 And we're going to unpack that together over the next two to 53 00:03:28,580 --> 00:03:30,540 three weeks. But before we do that, why don't 54 00:03:30,540 --> 00:03:35,260 we just revisit this scripture? You can find it in Luke chapter 55 00:03:35,260 --> 00:03:38,140 51 to 11:00. If you're in the room, it will 56 00:03:38,140 --> 00:03:42,140 be on the screen and if you're online, welcome again. 57 00:03:42,140 --> 00:03:45,180 It's great to have you with us. It will be on your device as 58 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:47,740 well. It is Luke 51 to 11. 59 00:03:50,910 --> 00:03:54,390 On one occasion, while the crowd were pressing in on him, this is 60 00:03:54,470 --> 00:03:57,470 Jesus to hear the word of God. He was standing by the Lake of 61 00:03:57,470 --> 00:04:01,110 Gnessrats, which is also the Sea of Galilee, and he saw two boats 62 00:04:01,110 --> 00:04:03,190 by the lake. But the fishermen had gone out 63 00:04:03,190 --> 00:04:05,430 of them and were washing their Nets. 64 00:04:06,230 --> 00:04:08,670 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's. 65 00:04:08,750 --> 00:04:11,550 He asked him to put out a little from the land. 66 00:04:11,550 --> 00:04:15,350 You see Jesus gets into the boat with with Simon Peter 1st, and 67 00:04:15,350 --> 00:04:18,269 then whilst they're together they push out from the land, 68 00:04:18,269 --> 00:04:22,190 from the multitude. And he sat down and taught the 69 00:04:22,190 --> 00:04:24,350 people from the boat, and when he had finished speaking, he 70 00:04:24,350 --> 00:04:28,990 said to Simon, put out into the deep and let down your Nets for 71 00:04:28,990 --> 00:04:31,870 a catch. This is to the doing bit. 72 00:04:32,310 --> 00:04:35,390 And Simon answered, Master, we toiled all night and took 73 00:04:35,390 --> 00:04:38,590 nothing. But you know at your word I will 74 00:04:38,590 --> 00:04:41,270 let down the Nets. And then when they had done this 75 00:04:41,270 --> 00:04:44,110 thing, closed a large number of fish, and their Nets were 76 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:47,110 breaking. They signaled to their partners 77 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:49,890 in the other boats to come and help them, and they came and 78 00:04:49,890 --> 00:04:52,610 filled both the boats. So they began to sink. 79 00:04:53,530 --> 00:04:57,610 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus's knees, 80 00:04:57,810 --> 00:05:02,130 saying, Depart from me. For I am a sinful man, O Lord. 81 00:05:02,810 --> 00:05:06,170 And we looked last week, didn't we, That it is the revelation of 82 00:05:06,170 --> 00:05:13,330 who God is and his glory. It is the realization of His 83 00:05:13,330 --> 00:05:17,970 magnificence. It is the appreciation of his 84 00:05:17,970 --> 00:05:24,090 goodness and power that causes us to recognize who we are, and 85 00:05:24,090 --> 00:05:28,170 we therefore walk in the holy, healthy fear of the Lord. 86 00:05:28,170 --> 00:05:30,450 And if you miss that, I'd encourage you to get that talk 87 00:05:30,450 --> 00:05:33,690 from last week. For he and all who are with him 88 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:36,370 were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken. 89 00:05:36,370 --> 00:05:39,130 And so also with James and John, sons of Zebedee, who are 90 00:05:39,130 --> 00:05:41,970 partners with Simon. And and Jesus said to Simon, do 91 00:05:41,970 --> 00:05:45,650 not be afraid. From now on you will be catching 92 00:05:45,650 --> 00:05:48,370 men. And when they had brought their 93 00:05:48,370 --> 00:05:50,970 boats to land, they left everything and followed him. 94 00:05:50,970 --> 00:05:56,570 Thank you for your word, Lord. So we're going to look then. 95 00:05:57,850 --> 00:05:59,970 Actually, before I say that, you know what I love about 96 00:05:59,970 --> 00:06:04,690 scripture, and I'm sure you love it too, is that there is so many 97 00:06:04,970 --> 00:06:09,290 aspects and angles, if you like, in depth to his word. 98 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,200 You know, Charles Spurgeon, the great Victorian preacher, used 99 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,600 to tell his students that you need to soak in the word. 100 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,120 I love that. He likes a nice soak in the 101 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,040 bath. Yeah, me too. 102 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:22,600 Really. Yeah. 103 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:23,960 Get some candles. What? 104 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,840 Yeah, I like some candles. Get some bubble bath, whatever 105 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,880 it might be, and soak. And that's what we call to do 106 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,960 with the scriptures. We never soak in the scriptures, 107 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,220 really. We might tap into it, but it's 108 00:06:35,220 --> 00:06:39,140 as you soak into it that it soaks into you and you see the 109 00:06:39,140 --> 00:06:41,660 depth. And Can you believe that in just 110 00:06:41,660 --> 00:06:46,780 that short story, there are 10 hallmarks at least of the call 111 00:06:46,780 --> 00:06:48,500 of God in our lives. And that's what we're going to 112 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:50,500 uncover. Just some general observations 113 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:53,660 before we look at these. And I'm going to attempt to do 3 114 00:06:53,660 --> 00:06:56,300 this morning and then we'll see how we go over the next couple 115 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:59,700 of weeks. First off to say this, this is 116 00:06:59,700 --> 00:07:04,090 not an exhaustive list. Okay this is not an exhaustive 117 00:07:04,090 --> 00:07:07,970 is God the hallmarks of God's calling our lives a myriad, but 118 00:07:07,970 --> 00:07:10,130 I just want to give you 10 that are helpful. 119 00:07:10,290 --> 00:07:13,930 The 2nd observation is this is that when we come to God's 120 00:07:13,930 --> 00:07:18,410 Kingdom principles, they seem as if they are a paradox. 121 00:07:19,530 --> 00:07:21,610 OK? And we often say, don't we, that 122 00:07:21,850 --> 00:07:24,690 this is God's Kingdom is the upside down Kingdom. 123 00:07:26,490 --> 00:07:28,290 I kind of like that, but I kind of don't. 124 00:07:28,290 --> 00:07:29,930 I'll tell you why I don't like that phrase. 125 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,240 We are in the upside down Kingdom world now as a result of 126 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,440 the full God's Kingdom was never upside down. 127 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,320 It was the right way round. Do you know what I mean? 128 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:47,000 So that's why when we hear things like, you know, die once 129 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,960 you die to yourself, then you will truly live. 130 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:50,600 What? That's a bit crazy. 131 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,840 You heard that one. Or those that are last will be 132 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,960 first. That doesn't make sense. 133 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,440 Bless your enemy. Pray for them. 134 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,880 What? And so the principles that we're 135 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,800 going to look at are those kind of really those seemingly 136 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,360 paradoxical principles that the world. 137 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,840 And when I use the phrase the world, I mean the the structures 138 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,400 and the religion of this world that are contrary to God's 139 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,720 truth. It may seem strange to us. 140 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,840 So those are our observations. And with that, we're going to 141 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:27,120 start on the first one, and it is this pause for dramatic 142 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:33,780 effect #1. God calls us at the point where 143 00:08:33,780 --> 00:08:38,580 we feel weak and tired. God often calls us at the point 144 00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:43,220 of which we feel weak and tired. What do we read in this story? 145 00:08:43,220 --> 00:08:48,620 Well, Simon and the rest of his buddies were out all night 146 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:53,480 fishing because that's what professional fishermen did, 147 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,720 because that would be when you get all of the fish, the most 148 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,560 amount of fish you would go out at night. 149 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,880 And in fact, if you were recording the scriptures here in 150 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,600 the story, I read it, he said we toiled all night, toiling is 151 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,080 back breaking work and here they are. 152 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,880 You can just imagine them. Oh, they've just finished their 153 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,710 toiling. I thought, Oh well, we didn't 154 00:09:15,710 --> 00:09:16,710 catch anything. But you know what? 155 00:09:16,710 --> 00:09:20,190 I'm going home to have a shower freshen up, you know, might get 156 00:09:20,190 --> 00:09:23,430 a latte or a Longo or something and just chillax. 157 00:09:23,550 --> 00:09:27,310 So because I am wack toe, wow, I should have been a poet. 158 00:09:27,310 --> 00:09:28,710 That was very impressive. What am I? 159 00:09:31,790 --> 00:09:36,510 And so all of a sudden in this tired, exhausted, toil field 160 00:09:36,510 --> 00:09:42,820 state, Jesus comes along great time in Jesus and says, come on, 161 00:09:42,820 --> 00:09:44,380 let's go. We've got some things to do 162 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:48,620 essentially. And you can imagine in this 163 00:09:48,620 --> 00:09:51,540 story, she's like, right, let's go into the deep and put your 164 00:09:51,540 --> 00:09:54,900 Nets out. And Simon is like, I am so 165 00:09:54,900 --> 00:09:59,780 tired, please, we toiled all night. 166 00:10:00,020 --> 00:10:04,180 I'm exhausted. The last thing I want to do is 167 00:10:04,180 --> 00:10:08,380 do. Quite frankly, I feel weak. 168 00:10:10,060 --> 00:10:12,140 I don't actually feel like a very good fisherman, quite 169 00:10:12,140 --> 00:10:14,900 frankly, because I didn't catch anything last night. 170 00:10:15,460 --> 00:10:19,700 I feel insecure. I'm just not sure I'm cut out 171 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:25,220 for this fisherman thing anyway. And you see, what is true in our 172 00:10:25,220 --> 00:10:29,940 lives is often times when Jesus comes to call us to walk in the 173 00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:32,020 Great Commission. The what do I mean by the 174 00:10:32,020 --> 00:10:34,900 Commission? It's the extending His Kingdom 175 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:39,460 to make Christ known in whatever sphere that you are in. 176 00:10:40,590 --> 00:10:46,710 Wherever God places you, you are cool to make disciples and that 177 00:10:46,710 --> 00:10:49,710 might be that God puts a prompting to go and speak to 178 00:10:49,710 --> 00:10:52,470 that person by the water caller and say, how are you doing? 179 00:10:52,830 --> 00:10:55,710 Can I pray for you that might be to knock on your neighbor's door 180 00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:57,270 and say, you know what? I I know it's been a really 181 00:10:57,270 --> 00:10:59,190 tough time. I've made this cake for you. 182 00:10:59,190 --> 00:11:02,480 I've made dinner for you. These are those doing things 183 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,640 that God will often come to us when we are tired and we're weak 184 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,480 and we're like, oh seriously, you should have seen the last 185 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,240 cake I baked. Lord, it was a terrible and I'm 186 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,920 tired. And we read in the scriptures 187 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,600 that this is a very common way in which God operates. 188 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,640 In fact, I love the The story is in Mark Six. 189 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,080 We haven't got time to look at it now. 190 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,180 We haven't got time. Lock the doors. 191 00:11:27,180 --> 00:11:28,740 I'm preaching for a very long time. 192 00:11:28,740 --> 00:11:30,580 I've decided, so don't let the people out. 193 00:11:30,580 --> 00:11:34,700 No, I'm joking. The the oftentimes when Jesus 194 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:37,100 will send out the disciples he does so when they've just 195 00:11:37,340 --> 00:11:40,550 they're really tired. In fact the feeding of the the 196 00:11:40,550 --> 00:11:43,870 4000, they had just come back from a ministry trip when God 197 00:11:43,870 --> 00:11:46,510 had sent them out and they come back and Jesus says, let me go 198 00:11:46,510 --> 00:11:49,990 and take you to a place where we can rest and get some food. 199 00:11:50,150 --> 00:11:51,950 And all of a sudden the multitude come and he's like, 200 00:11:51,950 --> 00:11:53,230 right. OK I'm going to speak to these 201 00:11:53,230 --> 00:11:56,030 people and then he turns around to disciple say right, go feed 202 00:11:56,030 --> 00:11:58,670 them And like you joking me, I need some food. 203 00:11:58,790 --> 00:12:00,270 I've just been on a ministry trip. 204 00:12:00,390 --> 00:12:03,590 I'm really tired. Don't ask me to do that stuff. 205 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:07,150 And what else do we see it? Weakness and tiredness. 206 00:12:07,150 --> 00:12:12,050 When when God said to Moses, go and speak to Pharaoh and what 207 00:12:12,050 --> 00:12:13,690 does Moses say? I'm not good enough. 208 00:12:14,370 --> 00:12:17,690 I have speech issues, I'm tired and I'm weak. 209 00:12:18,130 --> 00:12:20,450 Please send someone else, he said. 210 00:12:20,850 --> 00:12:22,170 How many of you? You don't put your hands up, he 211 00:12:22,170 --> 00:12:23,370 said. Please send someone else. 212 00:12:23,370 --> 00:12:25,650 God. Someone else can knock on that 213 00:12:25,650 --> 00:12:29,650 door when God called Gideon. We know the story of Gideon, 214 00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:32,650 don't we? I mean Gideon was the weakest 215 00:12:32,650 --> 00:12:36,010 member of the smallest clan in the in the least significant 216 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:40,080 tried doing a job that meant he was hidden from most and yet God 217 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,120 chose him in a place of weakness to go and defeat the 218 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:45,360 Philistines. What? 219 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,160 That does not make sense. What about David? 220 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,040 Samuel is going to appoint Anoint the next king and he goes 221 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,960 to Jesse, David's father says Right line up your sons can 222 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,430 imagine right the tool down to. No, Not that one. 223 00:13:00,430 --> 00:13:01,510 Not that one. Not that one. 224 00:13:01,510 --> 00:13:02,510 Not that one. Not that one. 225 00:13:02,510 --> 00:13:03,510 Not that one. Not that one. 226 00:13:03,630 --> 00:13:05,110 Is this it? Anybody else? 227 00:13:05,270 --> 00:13:07,150 Well, you know, there's little David. 228 00:13:07,830 --> 00:13:10,510 He's just sorting out the sheep. He's a shepherd boy. 229 00:13:10,870 --> 00:13:12,470 Bring him over. That's the one. 230 00:13:12,830 --> 00:13:14,430 What? He's the smallest. 231 00:13:14,630 --> 00:13:17,150 He's the weakest. I know I've called him. 232 00:13:18,070 --> 00:13:22,390 And you see, a hallmark of the call of God is often He will 233 00:13:22,390 --> 00:13:25,790 come to us when we feel like David, when we feel like a 234 00:13:25,790 --> 00:13:28,510 Gideon, when we feel like a Moses. 235 00:13:31,350 --> 00:13:33,390 Now, have you ever wondered why that's the case? 236 00:13:36,310 --> 00:13:37,670 I'm glad you said yes. Me too. 237 00:13:38,190 --> 00:13:39,030 Why? Lord? 238 00:13:39,830 --> 00:13:43,630 Listen, if I was God and I say this with great respect, if I 239 00:13:43,630 --> 00:13:45,790 was God, I would pick you when you're in your strongest. 240 00:13:46,270 --> 00:13:48,270 Yeah. How are you feeling? 241 00:13:48,270 --> 00:13:49,990 I'm feeling really great. Fantastic. 242 00:13:49,990 --> 00:13:51,990 Come with me. It looks like you've just been 243 00:13:51,990 --> 00:13:53,910 into the gym. You must be strong. 244 00:13:53,910 --> 00:13:56,250 Come with me. Looks like you've had a really 245 00:13:56,250 --> 00:13:57,970 good night's sleep. Come with me. 246 00:13:57,970 --> 00:13:59,490 But that's not what God does. Why? 247 00:13:59,890 --> 00:14:02,290 I'm glad you asked. I'm going to give you 2 reasons 248 00:14:02,290 --> 00:14:05,450 why God calls us when we are weak. 249 00:14:05,810 --> 00:14:11,370 You're going to love it, #1. God's glory is revealed through 250 00:14:11,370 --> 00:14:14,850 our weakness. God's glory is revealed through 251 00:14:14,850 --> 00:14:18,650 our weakness. God's divine and perfect plan is 252 00:14:18,650 --> 00:14:20,330 to reveal His glory. Did you know that? 253 00:14:21,270 --> 00:14:24,950 And when I say reveal his glory, what I mean is, is that the 254 00:14:24,950 --> 00:14:29,470 fullness of God's magnificence, his goodness, the truth of who 255 00:14:29,470 --> 00:14:34,590 he is, his loving kindness, the the myriad aspects of his holy 256 00:14:34,670 --> 00:14:38,230 nature is revealed and shown to all. 257 00:14:38,510 --> 00:14:41,710 That is what it means when he reveals His glory. 258 00:14:43,490 --> 00:14:48,370 And I know over 30 verses in the Bible which is very specific 259 00:14:48,610 --> 00:14:52,730 that talks about the divine purposes of God are to reveal 260 00:14:52,730 --> 00:14:54,810 his glory. Let's look at some of them. 261 00:14:55,410 --> 00:14:56,850 You're I'm sure you'll know this one. 262 00:14:56,850 --> 00:15:01,570 Psalm 19, One to four, The heavens declare the glory of God 263 00:15:01,730 --> 00:15:05,370 and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 264 00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:09,090 Whenever you get a an opportunity when the sky is 265 00:15:09,090 --> 00:15:11,690 clear, just look up at those stars. 266 00:15:12,740 --> 00:15:16,700 Look up at those stars and your spirit will hear the declaration 267 00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:22,580 of the glory of God. There is no speech nor are their 268 00:15:22,580 --> 00:15:25,580 words whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all 269 00:15:25,580 --> 00:15:29,260 the earth and their words the end of the world creation. 270 00:15:29,260 --> 00:15:32,220 I mean Jesus when he's going to Jerusalem, said Listen if if 271 00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:36,180 they didn't shout Holy, Holy, holy Hosanna on the highest, the 272 00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:40,290 rocks would have done it because all creation points to the glory 273 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:41,250 of God. What about this? 274 00:15:41,250 --> 00:15:44,850 Isaiah 43. Six or seven bring my sons from 275 00:15:44,850 --> 00:15:46,250 afar. This is God speaking and my 276 00:15:46,250 --> 00:15:49,330 daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by 277 00:15:49,330 --> 00:15:51,450 my name. Are you ready for this whom I 278 00:15:51,450 --> 00:15:59,370 created for my glory? Excuse me, Lord, I thought you 279 00:15:59,370 --> 00:16:01,930 created me for my own glory. Nope. 280 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,320 But surely you created me so I can live my best life. 281 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,360 Well, you know I want you to be blessed, but that's not why I 282 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:13,600 created you. There's nothing like realigning 283 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,320 the truth. The God divine plan is to reveal 284 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,720 his glory, to put us in our rightful place as worshippers of 285 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:27,640 him. Now maybe when I speak to this, 286 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,200 you're thinking, Mark, that sounds like a very narcissistic 287 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,300 God. I mean, let's just say it, 288 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:35,300 right? What kind of God is that? 289 00:16:35,780 --> 00:16:37,300 That just wants to reveal his glory? 290 00:16:37,540 --> 00:16:44,820 He must be 1 egotistical maniac and that. 291 00:16:44,820 --> 00:16:47,500 I've had conversations with people that have been along 292 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:51,540 those lines. I want to defer to John Piper, a 293 00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:53,420 quote from him. He's a well known theologian and 294 00:16:53,420 --> 00:16:55,780 pastor. And he says this no matter how 295 00:16:55,780 --> 00:17:01,020 deep we probe into the motives of God, we will never arrive at 296 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:05,380 a layer which is not love. Shall I say that again, no 297 00:17:05,380 --> 00:17:09,220 matter how deep we probe into the motives of God, we will 298 00:17:09,220 --> 00:17:11,700 never arrive at a layer which is not love. 299 00:17:13,780 --> 00:17:18,420 And so God's motivation, his divine will to reveal his glory 300 00:17:19,859 --> 00:17:23,660 comes out of his nature, which is love. 301 00:17:25,829 --> 00:17:27,390 But the But why is that the case? 302 00:17:27,390 --> 00:17:28,790 There's more to it. Let's drill down into that a 303 00:17:28,790 --> 00:17:32,710 little bit more. Why is it love that he is 304 00:17:32,710 --> 00:17:35,510 revealing his glory? Because we need to understand 305 00:17:35,510 --> 00:17:38,590 the relationship between the glory of God and our deepest 306 00:17:38,590 --> 00:17:40,950 need. And this is where we get into 307 00:17:40,950 --> 00:17:44,950 the crux of it. We need to understand there is a 308 00:17:44,950 --> 00:17:52,110 linkage, a relationship between the revelation of God's glory 309 00:17:53,350 --> 00:17:55,990 and the fulfillment of our deepest need. 310 00:17:56,590 --> 00:18:00,270 To quote John Piper one more time, he says this God's glory 311 00:18:00,510 --> 00:18:03,670 and our happiness at never are never at odds. 312 00:18:05,190 --> 00:18:09,590 His pursuit of His own fame, the revelation of his glory, is a 313 00:18:09,590 --> 00:18:12,310 full commitment to our deepest joy. 314 00:18:14,150 --> 00:18:15,750 Are we? Are we understanding this? 315 00:18:16,590 --> 00:18:21,760 You see, we have been created to feel fulfillment and joy when we 316 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:27,040 bask in His glory. We have been created to worship 317 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:33,600 a God who reveals himself to us. And so rather than look at this 318 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,080 as some narcissistic God that's picking us in our weakest 319 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,740 moments so that he can reveal his glory through us, we should 320 00:18:40,740 --> 00:18:42,740 see it through the lens of truth. 321 00:18:42,740 --> 00:18:46,220 Which is this. When he reveals his glory to us 322 00:18:46,380 --> 00:18:49,580 in those moments where our barriers fall down and we 323 00:18:49,580 --> 00:18:56,140 acknowledge our need to him, then we experience joy, and then 324 00:18:56,140 --> 00:19:01,380 we are fulfilled. But you see, the world will tell 325 00:19:01,380 --> 00:19:03,700 you something different. When you're strong, you're 326 00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:06,660 independent. When you can do it on your own, 327 00:19:06,660 --> 00:19:10,420 you don't need anyone else. We haven't been created to be 328 00:19:10,420 --> 00:19:13,980 independent, we've been created to be dependent on God. 329 00:19:14,940 --> 00:19:18,700 And it's when that linkage is broken and we seek a life of 330 00:19:18,700 --> 00:19:22,820 independence that things start breaking in our world. 331 00:19:23,580 --> 00:19:27,060 The moment you go against the manufacturer's manual and start 332 00:19:27,060 --> 00:19:30,340 putting petrol in a car when it's designed to have diesel, 333 00:19:30,580 --> 00:19:32,900 you will see what happens eventually. 334 00:19:33,420 --> 00:19:35,140 Initially, it'll be like, well, this is fine. 335 00:19:35,260 --> 00:19:39,540 I told you car manufacture. It would be fine 30 miles down 336 00:19:39,540 --> 00:19:41,140 the road. Oh, OK, fair point. 337 00:19:42,140 --> 00:19:44,300 And that's like us with Jesus and you know, isn't it? 338 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:45,500 I don't need you. God. 339 00:19:46,020 --> 00:19:47,740 And the next day, see it's all fine. 340 00:19:47,860 --> 00:19:49,540 Next day it's all fine. Oh, start. 341 00:19:49,540 --> 00:19:50,980 Things are starting to fall apart a bit. 342 00:19:52,220 --> 00:19:58,940 And so here it is. The God is choosing to reveal 343 00:19:58,940 --> 00:20:02,740 his glory through our weakness. That is why. 344 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,400 Well, me to say, well, that wasn't me, that was God. 345 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,880 I'm sure you can recall times in your life right now where God's 346 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:11,920 called you to do something and you've been weak and you 347 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,360 thought, I can't do this and you've done it and it's been a 348 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:19,800 blessing to someone. And you said, wow, God, thank 349 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,440 you. You've revealed his glory. 350 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:26,040 He has revealed his glory through you in that moment. 351 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:34,030 And I think, I think that this speaks to we talked about the 352 00:20:34,030 --> 00:20:37,390 God is calling us into the deep, away from the splash park and 353 00:20:37,390 --> 00:20:43,430 into the deep waters. I think when we allow ourselves 354 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:46,670 to surrender, we get to where Moses got to. 355 00:20:46,710 --> 00:20:50,350 Moses has seen God move them out of Egypt. 356 00:20:50,350 --> 00:20:54,190 They had seen the parting of the of the of the Red Sea. 357 00:20:55,590 --> 00:20:57,350 And do you know what Moses asked him? 358 00:20:57,830 --> 00:21:01,630 The thing he wanted he said in the Exodus 3318. 359 00:21:01,910 --> 00:21:08,070 Now show me your glory. Just show me your glory. 360 00:21:08,950 --> 00:21:11,950 I've seen the things you've done, but I want to see your 361 00:21:11,950 --> 00:21:15,030 glory. Can I ask? 362 00:21:15,030 --> 00:21:18,390 And I'm asking myself this first, How often have I just sat 363 00:21:18,390 --> 00:21:25,510 there and said, God, show me your glory, Show me your glory. 364 00:21:26,910 --> 00:21:31,350 Show me your magnificence. Show me your kindness. 365 00:21:31,510 --> 00:21:35,600 Show me your splendor. Show me your awesomeness. 366 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:41,960 Show me your magnificence. Show me your glory, God, because 367 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,760 that should be the desire of our heart as we respond to the the 368 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,200 waterfall, the deep calling unto deep. 369 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,160 And I want to say this to you, if if you are here in the 370 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:58,160 spirit, say right. I want you to do this, that and 371 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:02,200 the other, whatever it might be. And you say, but I am weak. 372 00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:05,340 How can I suggest to you that you're being called in that 373 00:22:05,340 --> 00:22:09,860 moment? That weakness is not an excuse 374 00:22:10,540 --> 00:22:12,140 and it is not a reason to think that. 375 00:22:12,140 --> 00:22:16,540 Surely I can't be hearing God because God would only call me 376 00:22:16,540 --> 00:22:22,340 when I'm strong. That is not the way it works. 377 00:22:25,100 --> 00:22:29,380 Lastly, we're only going to get to one of the hallmarks today, 378 00:22:29,380 --> 00:22:31,020 so we're in for a long few weeks. 379 00:22:32,420 --> 00:22:35,820 Thank you Sally. Why else does he call us when we 380 00:22:35,820 --> 00:22:38,380 are weak? One more reason, we are made 381 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:45,900 perfect, perfect in our weakness, the apostle Paul says 382 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:49,420 in two Corinthians 12/9. He says, and this is Paul. 383 00:22:49,420 --> 00:22:51,660 He was complaining to God and said she said, look would you 384 00:22:51,660 --> 00:22:53,500 remove this thorn out of my flesh? 385 00:22:55,020 --> 00:22:58,060 And I, I, I'm, I'm rather happy that we don't know what the 386 00:22:58,060 --> 00:23:01,540 thorn is, because it means that we can apply to all, all of our 387 00:23:01,540 --> 00:23:04,220 lives. We all have thorns. 388 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:08,460 We all have those things in our lives that say, Lord God, would 389 00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:11,580 you help me? I feel helpless about this 390 00:23:11,580 --> 00:23:12,820 thorn. Thorn. 391 00:23:13,180 --> 00:23:16,380 I feel weak in the face of this thorn. 392 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:18,940 And what what does God say to Paul? 393 00:23:18,940 --> 00:23:22,060 My grace, Paul is sufficient for you. 394 00:23:22,420 --> 00:23:26,140 For my power is made perfect in your weakness. 395 00:23:27,700 --> 00:23:29,900 And then Paul says, therefore I'm going to boast all more 396 00:23:29,900 --> 00:23:33,940 gladly my weakness. Because when I'm weak I am 397 00:23:33,940 --> 00:23:37,940 strong. And the New Living Translation 398 00:23:37,940 --> 00:23:40,140 puts it this way. My grace is all you need. 399 00:23:40,420 --> 00:23:44,220 My power works best in weakness and grace. 400 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:46,900 We have a sometimes a wrong view of grace. 401 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:50,460 We think grace is there to cover up bad living. 402 00:23:50,940 --> 00:23:53,100 Oh well, God's a go to grace, carry on sinning. 403 00:23:53,780 --> 00:23:57,460 But actually grace is there to empower right living. 404 00:23:57,900 --> 00:24:02,330 Grace is an empowerment. In spite of our difficulties to 405 00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:05,370 walk in that which God has called us to, that is His grace. 406 00:24:05,610 --> 00:24:09,250 It's something we receive that we should not receive. 407 00:24:09,250 --> 00:24:11,610 We we we can't do anything for it. 408 00:24:12,010 --> 00:24:17,010 Mercy is what God holds back. Grace is what He gives us. 409 00:24:18,730 --> 00:24:22,090 And why is God's power made perfect and our weakness? 410 00:24:22,090 --> 00:24:27,730 Because when we are weak, our walls of pride and self-reliance 411 00:24:28,730 --> 00:24:33,850 can't stand. Pride is fueled by our natural 412 00:24:33,850 --> 00:24:38,010 strength. Because what what strength does, 413 00:24:38,410 --> 00:24:43,330 it can often inform the lie that I don't need God, I've got this 414 00:24:43,330 --> 00:24:47,370 on my own. That's the subtlety of pride. 415 00:24:48,090 --> 00:24:52,770 But you see, when we are weak, there is a realization that we 416 00:24:52,770 --> 00:24:57,650 need him and his power, that in fact we can't do it on our own. 417 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,600 And it's in that place that God then moves. 418 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,640 I'm sure you all know that scripture, God opposes the 419 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:10,440 proud, but gives what grace to the what is humility? 420 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,840 It's not a false humility that says I'm lower than the low and 421 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,080 you're amazing. That's false humility. 422 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:20,600 Humility is recognizing that he is God and we are His. 423 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,720 That's simply humility. And so when we get to that place 424 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,620 of humility, of recognizing that we are weak, blessed are the 425 00:25:28,620 --> 00:25:31,940 poor in spirit. What does that mean? 426 00:25:31,940 --> 00:25:34,380 It doesn't mean that you've got no money in your bank account. 427 00:25:35,180 --> 00:25:38,980 It means that you recognize that you are empty and that you need 428 00:25:38,980 --> 00:25:40,860 the power of Christ in your life. 429 00:25:41,860 --> 00:25:45,900 Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are blessed when you come 430 00:25:45,980 --> 00:25:48,260 humbly to Him and say, I am weak and I need you. 431 00:25:49,210 --> 00:25:53,290 And so God can work through us. Therefore with His power, His 432 00:25:53,290 --> 00:25:58,490 grace, when He calls us in that place of our humility, that 433 00:25:58,490 --> 00:26:00,050 weakness brings. Do you hear that? 434 00:26:01,530 --> 00:26:05,370 And humility is a choice. Humility is a choice that we 435 00:26:05,370 --> 00:26:07,690 walk in. And so as I invite the band up, 436 00:26:08,490 --> 00:26:16,930 I want to just summarize. We often think that we should be 437 00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:20,670 called by God too. Extend his Kingdom to pray for 438 00:26:20,670 --> 00:26:24,910 someone that needs prayer to, to to look after someone's kids 439 00:26:24,910 --> 00:26:28,630 when they're in despair, to be bold and courageous and say no. 440 00:26:28,630 --> 00:26:31,710 I think God says this. We often think that God will 441 00:26:31,710 --> 00:26:35,790 call us to do those things when we are feeling wide awake and 442 00:26:35,790 --> 00:26:39,910 strong and capable. But I think what you've seen by 443 00:26:39,910 --> 00:26:41,750 this story is that the opposite is true. 444 00:26:42,470 --> 00:26:46,900 God will call us in a place of potential despondency, of 445 00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:51,380 questioning our own ability, and a place of tiredness and 446 00:26:51,380 --> 00:26:54,340 weakness. But it is in that place, you 447 00:26:54,340 --> 00:27:00,140 see, that God moves. It is in that place of weakness 448 00:27:00,260 --> 00:27:03,460 that He reveals who He is and His glory. 449 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:09,460 It is in that place of weakness that his power comes through us. 450 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:13,820 As we walk in the cool that God has for us. 451 00:27:14,540 --> 00:27:17,140 Let us stand church as I pray. Thank you, Jesus.