1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,440 What a time of worship it was this morning church. 2 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,520 You know I've been away the last two weeks, away last week with 3 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,800 family. The week before was New Day, my 4 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,040 first one back. What a time. 5 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,520 I'm sure if you want to find out all about it you could come and 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,160 ask me, but I suggest you go ask Grace and Savannah at the end 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,400 and see what they thought of the week. 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,000 But it was a brilliant time. But boy do I miss being in this 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,920 place on a Sunday when we worship together. 10 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:36,960 The Spirit just comes in a in a way unlike. 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,000 And it was so clear this morning that the Lord is moving and 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,600 getting ready for revival to come. 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,560 And he's staring and rather nicely. 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,760 It fits quite well. My title for today is The 15 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,760 Pursuit of Wisdom. But I've actually added to that 16 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,760 because as my mum commented in the week, I like to think quite 17 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,160 deeply. And so out of that comes the 18 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,040 meaning in life and the cool. I'm actually going to start 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,520 though, with last week where Ian spoke and Ian spoke about death 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,320 coming for us all. Maybe that's a sobering, 21 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,400 sobering reality and you've forgotten all about that, that 22 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,560 life is short. But I actually want to start 23 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,280 with the last verses that were in Ian's section. 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,320 Ecclesiastes 9 versus 11 to 12. Reasons I have seen something 25 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:28,520 else under the sun. The race is not to the swift or 26 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,760 the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise, or 27 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,800 wealth to the brilliant, or favour to the learned, but time 28 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,800 and chance will happen to them all. 29 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,280 Moreover, no one knows when that hour will come. 30 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,880 As fish are caught in a cruel net or birds are taken in a 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,360 snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,360 unexpectedly upon them. See none of us know when our 33 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,760 time will come. This has been the whole message 34 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,640 throughout Ecclesiastes up until this point. 35 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,640 Obviously we've been going through it in this series and 36 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,400 the phrase that is repeated over and over again is life is 37 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,040 meaningless. That it will come to an end and 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,280 like a vapour, that's what the the word in Hebrew means. 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,600 It translates more towards vapour that life will disappear. 40 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:21,240 And this can be quite humbling. Leave us in a state of confusion 41 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,520 about what should we do with the world if it's all going to go. 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:25,840 Why does it? Why does it matter? 43 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,600 What is the point of life? But thankfully we have now got 44 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:34,720 to the point in Ecclesiastes where Solomon, the preacher 45 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,280 throughout Ecclesiastes is going to try and give us some help of 46 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,160 how to go through this and how to deal with it. 47 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:42,680 But before I really get going, I'm just going to pray. 48 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,360 Father, may you fall. May my words not be my own, but 49 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,040 be from you. Father, I pray for every ear in 50 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:49,920 this room, every heart. May it listen. 51 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:53,680 Lord, I pray that we turn to you and seek your face more. 52 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,200 May no one leave this room the same as they entered today. 53 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,600 And may this word sit on the heart longer than just a couple 54 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,520 of hours. Lord, may it be one that stays 55 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,920 for time. In your name we pray, Amen. 56 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,840 See this is a big question to answer. 57 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:16,440 Is the meaning of life. I mean, we're here for most of 58 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,320 us, sixty 7080 years. It's quite a long time, it feels 59 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,760 like sometimes, but we have to challenge this meaning of life. 60 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,600 So I'm going to dive straight into my verses. 61 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:33,080 I start in Ecclesiastes 9 chapter, verses 13 to 18. 62 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,920 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly 63 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:40,640 impressed me. There was once a small city with 64 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:44,320 only a few people in it, and a powerful king came against it, 65 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,400 surrounded it, and built huge siege works against it. 66 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,680 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved 67 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,880 the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor 68 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,480 man. So I said, wisdom is better than 69 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,920 strength. But the poor man's wisdom is 70 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,320 despised, and his words are no longer heeded. 71 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,800 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the 72 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,320 shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of 73 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,680 war, but one Sinner destroys much good. 74 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,839 See at this point, Solomon has tried basically everything you 75 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,959 can think of in life to find meaning to to find value, to 76 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:21,480 find worth, but nothing has done it. 77 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,680 And So what we start to see now in the upcoming scriptures that 78 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,920 I'm going to dive through and that but starting right here is 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,800 one thing that can be rest and peace is wisdom. 80 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,560 And it, it, it's described quite weirdly. 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,160 See, in this example, we see a small city. 82 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,680 Maybe it's easy to picture Blackpool. 83 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:46,320 Maybe for others, the comparison to the seas could compare to 84 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,400 Gaza right now. And in this moment, we see a 85 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,800 powerful king has trapped and seized out the city and things 86 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,920 like dull, you know, using knowledge. 87 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,760 If the city seized, there's probably no water, no food, and 88 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,240 they're running out of supplies. It looks really dire. 89 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,960 But a poor, unknown man who had wisdom saved the entire city. 90 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,640 No strong man, maybe. You'd think you'd want a Goliath 91 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:13,440 in your army to go out and fight away this army. 92 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,240 But a poor, unknown, wise man saved the whole city. 93 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Yet he's quickly forgotten. He wasn't seen as memorable. 94 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:28,480 See the end of those verses? Ecclesiastes 9 verse 17 says the 95 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,560 quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of 96 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,120 a ruler of fools. See, often what we find is 97 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,120 wisdom is quite quiet. It's not a shouting loud obvious 98 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,880 word. A couple of years ago during the 99 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,120 lockdown, there was a really popular game that I used to play 100 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,880 with my friends called Among Us. See, in this game, if you're not 101 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:54,600 familiar, you get dropped onto a ship with a team and they're 102 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,400 called the cremates, but there is one or two impostors who are 103 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,560 there to kill the crew mates, and the crew mates job is to 104 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,000 figure out who the impostors are before they've killed the whole 105 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,520 shit. Now the game is great fun, but 106 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,440 often what would happen is you can see something and you know 107 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,640 it's true and it could be wise. And so you a meeting gets called 108 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,560 and you go to say this and all of a sudden somebody with a bit 109 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,000 of misinformation shouts. They're really loud. 110 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,720 They're saying you did it and you know you're not the killer 111 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,160 because you've seen something else. 112 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,680 But often the loud person and the fastest to speak, the 113 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,360 loudest to speak was the one listened to. 114 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,880 But this isn't always where wisdom come from. 115 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,760 Now I want to clear up at this point. 116 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,960 Wisdom can also sometimes be loud. 117 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,280 Wisdom is sometimes obvious. If you go to Blackpool Zoo later 118 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:45,960 today, do not jump in the lines enclosure. 119 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,600 That is a really obvious thing and that's very wise not to do. 120 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:55,000 But often we see that wisdom is quiet and it brings safety and 121 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,280 and a lack of trouble. I've just remembered I forgot to 122 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:01,240 put my timer on. I'm going to do that now just. 123 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,640 But we continue to see that wisdom is what saves strife and 124 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,760 trouble. And this is what Solomon is 125 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,480 really getting at at this point, is that life is meaningless. 126 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,960 So to cope with life being meaningless, we should enact 127 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,960 wisdom. See in the next chapter 128 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,320 Ecclesiastes 10 verses 3 to 4. We read Even as fools walk along 129 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,640 the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they 130 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,080 are. If a ruler's anger rises against 131 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,160 you, do not leave your post. Calmness can lay great offences 132 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,360 to rest. See, in being wise and waiting 133 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:40,440 in confrontation and taking time to think through what you say, 134 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,520 it can often save a whole argument. 135 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:48,840 We see this biblically in One Samuel chapter 25, where Nabal 136 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,720 is being chased by King David and King David goes to to go and 137 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,920 kill Nabal, but Nabal's wife Abigail calms David down. 138 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,160 Abigail sets off, takes some gifts, and goes and sees David. 139 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,400 And in talking and a bit of wisdom and calm, David's anger 140 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,680 against Nabal is laid to rest. And David is so grateful for 141 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,320 Abigail's calmness and wisdom in the situation. 142 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,280 To make it personal. Gus continued to teach me about 143 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,000 this. And while I was at New Day, I 144 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,600 got a pretty good example. See, it was getting towards the 145 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:30,480 back end of the week. We came into the big top and we 146 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,000 had one or two people in our group coming down a little later 147 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,559 on. So we'd save them some space. 148 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,080 And all of a sudden, another youth leader comes up to comes 149 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,919 up to us, and she says you need to move so all my youth can sit 150 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:45,400 down together. And I thought, oh, this is 151 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,200 interesting. Now she at this point was like, 152 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:51,120 you can't save space. You can't have people come sit 153 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,280 down. So Lizzie at this point merely 154 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:57,440 pointed out that there were many other groups with big tarpaulin 155 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,960 sheets down saving space. But the youth leader wasn't 156 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,760 having it. She wanted her youth group to 157 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,600 sit together at the front, which I can understand, but her tone 158 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,000 and her attitude was quite harsh. 159 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:15,520 And in my moment I found myself wanting to say jog on mate, like 160 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:17,760 this is our space, we got here first. 161 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,560 What do you mean move up? But the Lord had been working 162 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,240 and He brought this first to mind actually. 163 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,120 And I was reminded that calmness seizes situations and calms them 164 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,960 down and that also I am not perfect, that throughout the 165 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,920 week, even while serving, I'm not perfect. 166 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,960 Particularly towards the back end of the week, leaders can get 167 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,120 tired and can get Aggie. And so I stepped in and with 168 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,200 grace, I said, we'll move up a little bit. 169 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,040 And all of a sudden that was the last of the problem. 170 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,920 It it died down and we moved up a bit. 171 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,240 They fit in, we fit in. Everybody was happy. 172 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:03,240 We continue to see wisdom coming through in Ecclesiastes 10. 173 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,960 It's compiled if the axis door and it's edge unsharpened. 174 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,920 More strength is needed, but skill will bring success. 175 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:14,760 See in wisdom, before you go and axe down a tree, sharpen it 176 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:16,840 first. Because otherwise if you take a 177 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,120 dull blade and you try and chop down a tree, you're going to 178 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,960 require more strength. So the wise thing to do is spend 179 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,600 a few minutes beforehand sharpening your blade before you 180 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,200 go and do it. Ecclesiastes 10/12 works with 181 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,200 the last example. Words from the mouth are the 182 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,400 wise, like gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. 183 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,560 I'm aware at this point, but I'm rapidly jumping between 184 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:41,360 Scriptures and Ecclesiastes. I've got a rather large and 185 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:46,040 weird cut of Ecclesiastes to talk from today, so I don't have 186 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,520 time to read it all. So I want to urge you go and 187 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,440 read it. Check everything that I say 188 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,720 today from here as being true. Just because I've got a mic by 189 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,200 my mouth doesn't mean that I'm automatically correct. 190 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:01,000 So go and speak to the Lord, spend time in your secret place 191 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,440 and ensure this is true. See again, we see this 192 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,560 gracefulness about wisdom. And as I read through these 193 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:11,120 scriptures, I was touched and moved by wisdom. 194 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,040 See, as we read before a king seizes a city, the foolish aloud 195 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,440 and walked poorly, and there's chaos in every action and 196 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,200 situation. Yet the thing that shines 197 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,000 through every time is wisdom. But it's not loud, it's not 198 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,160 strong. It cuts through with a serenity, 199 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:34,000 with a beauty unlike anything. See, as I walk through my life, 200 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,080 I'm sure I've had conversations with many of you and you tend to 201 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,440 call me a bit young. And I I recognise that I'm 202 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,040 younger than a lot of people in the room, but I find myself 203 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,120 asking the Lord as I walk through my life. 204 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:50,000 Lord, give me more wisdom. I have a heart to pastor sheep 205 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,240 and see people looked after. And so for me, I desire more 206 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,200 wisdom, more knowledge of the Lord. 207 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,840 And this is biblical as well. We see it in Two Chronicles 1 208 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,360 See, God meets with Solomon and he says to Solomon, and bearing 209 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,000 in mind, Solomon is the voice that we've heard through our 210 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,880 Ecclesiastes. And he says, Solomon, ask of me 211 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,960 anything you want and I'll I'll give it to you. 212 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:18,280 I wonder at this point what I'd pick if God asked me. 213 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,040 I'll give you anything you want. What would I pick? 214 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:25,240 I I don't know, and maybe you don't know either, but in this 215 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:30,600 moment, Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's 216 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:35,360 people, and God grants it. See, this should really start to 217 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,920 show the value that comes with wisdom. 218 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:45,200 See being offered anything as any amount Solomon picks wisdom 219 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,720 that should show how valuable it is. 220 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,800 And Solomon even describes it really beautifully in Proverbs 3 221 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,320 and he's he describes wisdom as she is more precious than 222 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,000 Ruby's. Nothing you desire can compare 223 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,400 with her. And it's not just in Solomon and 224 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:07,320 in the in two Chronicles where we see wisdom being applied. 225 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,040 We see it in Hosea, but for the opposite reasons. 226 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,280 We read that God's people are destroyed for a lack of 227 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,400 knowledge. Because you have rejected 228 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,560 knowledge, I also, God says, reject you as my priest. 229 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:24,440 Because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore 230 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,520 your children. This is serious. 231 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,640 Wisdom and knowledge are serious. 232 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,720 We so often can brush them off and think that's not an 233 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,160 important topic. But there's a weight to this. 234 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,840 And this ultimately is what Ecclesiastes is getting at is 235 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,840 what is the meaning of life and how do we walk life well? 236 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,800 So at this point, let's have a discussion about what is wisdom. 237 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,120 See, if you look in the Dictionary of Cambridge or 238 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,680 Roxford, it'll describe wisdom as having or showing experience, 239 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:59,200 knowledge, and good judgement. But in many ways, this doesn't 240 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,880 actually get us where we need to be. 241 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:05,120 See what is experienced knowledge and a good judgement 242 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,640 to me might be different to what is for skip or for you or to the 243 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,040 person that sat next to you. See, it's subjective. 244 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,560 So what we need to do at this point is root ourselves into 245 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:18,880 biblical scripture and anchor ourselves. 246 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:25,600 And so the best place that I can define wisdom is in Proverbs, 247 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,800 the book before Ecclesiastes, and it's also written by 248 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,160 Solomon. I referenced it before, but I'm 249 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,600 actually going to read an extended part of Proverbs 3. 250 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,600 So maybe you want to turn to Proverbs 3 now if you want to 251 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,360 follow along, it will come up on the screen, but it will be quite 252 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,200 small. I'm going to read through 253 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,960 Proverbs 3. But as I read this, I want you 254 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:49,000 to really listen and hear what is being said, what Solomon is 255 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,360 saying, because ultimately this lines up as a checklist for 256 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:59,560 living a life with wisdom. Proverbs 3 says My son, do not 257 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,680 forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they 258 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,680 will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and 259 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,840 prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never 260 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,000 leave you. Bind them around your neck, 261 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:12,880 write them on the tablet of your heart. 262 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,280 Then you will win favour and a good name. 263 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:19,120 Insight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your 264 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:23,480 heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways. 265 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,880 Submit to Him and He will make your pastrate. 266 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,200 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and shun evil. 267 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,520 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your 268 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,840 bones. Honour the Lord with your wealth 269 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,080 with the first fruit of all your crops. 270 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,240 Then your barns will be filled to overflow in, and your vats 271 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:46,560 will be brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the 272 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:50,000 Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the 273 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,760 Lord discipline those he loves as a father, the Son he 274 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,760 delights. Blessed are those who find 275 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,160 wisdom, those who gain understanding. 276 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,960 For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns 277 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,680 than gold. She's more precious than rubies. 278 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,760 Nothing you desire can compare with her long life is in her 279 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,160 right hand. In her left hand that are riches 280 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,760 and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways, and 281 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,880 all her paths are peace. She's a tree of life to those 282 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,560 who take hold of her. Those who hold her fast will be 283 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,800 blessed. By wisdom of the Lord delayed 284 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,720 the earth's foundations. By understanding He set the 285 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,600 heavens in place. By His knowledge the watery 286 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,480 depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the drew. 287 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,880 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight. 288 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,440 Preserve sound judgement and discretion. 289 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,720 There will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 290 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,600 Then you will go on your way in safety. 291 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,400 Your foot will not stumble when you lie down. 292 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:51,880 You will not be afraid when you lie down. 293 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:56,280 Your sleep will be sweet. Have No Fear of sudden disaster 294 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,760 or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at 295 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,320 your side and will keep your foot from being snared. 296 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,560 Now that may be long, but it is a wonderful description with 297 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:12,960 some very practical points of what it is to be wise to live 298 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,400 with wisdom in mind. See, we can see checkpoints. 299 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,079 Do not leave God's teaching. Walk in love and faithfulness. 300 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:22,880 It says bind them around your neck and write them on your 301 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,359 heart. Trust in God with all your 302 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,400 heart, mind and understanding. Fear God and shun evil. 303 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:34,080 See, these are very basic steps if you want to practically live 304 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,720 this out in your day-to-day life, this biblical wisdom, you 305 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,480 should get familiar with this scripture and use it to check 306 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:41,480 back. How am I doing? 307 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:43,760 Am I walking in love and faithfulness? 308 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,200 Am I keeping in line with God's teachings? 309 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,440 Am I keeping in line with His laws? 310 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,480 See, when you do this, what you'll start to notice is you 311 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,200 start to become more Christ like. 312 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,920 You'll start to live like Jesus. And if you still haven't grasped 313 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,400 it yet, that's OK. But the pursuit of wisdom is the 314 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,080 pursuit of Jesus because wisdom and Jesus are the same. 315 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:11,040 And there's a very famous parable that tells us it's 316 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:17,400 Matthew 7 verses 24 to 27. Therefore everyone who hears 317 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,720 these words of mine and puts them into practise is like a 318 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,520 wise man who built his house on the rock. 319 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,520 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and 320 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,000 beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its 321 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,240 foundations on the rock. But everyone who hears these 322 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,440 words of mine and does not put them into practise is like a 323 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,280 foolish man who built his house on the sand. 324 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,720 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and 325 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:50,120 beat against that house and it fell with a great crash. 326 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:55,200 See, to be wise, to live in wisdom, is to do as Jesus has 327 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:59,800 called, to build your life upon the rock, to build your life on 328 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,480 Jesus. See, at this point I want to 329 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:07,240 clarify as well, you are not guaranteed as a Christian to 330 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,920 live without struggle, to live without trial. 331 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:15,160 In fact, this parable guarantees that we will see both. 332 00:19:15,360 --> 00:19:18,080 What is the same for both men who build on the rock and who 333 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,520 builds on the sand is that rain came, winds blew, streams rose, 334 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,200 but what was different was their foundations and where they were 335 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,200 rooted in. And it if we flashback all the 336 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:35,600 way to to last week Ecclesiastes 911 or 12, one or the two says 337 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,680 time and chance happened to them all. 338 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,680 You can't guarantee anything in this life. 339 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:46,080 This is what has been got at. So we are called to anchor 340 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,960 ourselves into the rock, into Jesus. 341 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,080 And there's a specific reason for that. 342 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,800 See, when we anchor into the rock, the life here that is 343 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,120 meaningless. All of a sudden we start to hold 344 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:02,320 less tightly to as we fix our eyes on Jesus. 345 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,160 And This is why it's so important to fix our eyes on 346 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,280 Jesus. Hebrews 12 verses one to three 347 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:10,960 says. Therefore, since we are 348 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,200 surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off 349 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,920 everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, 350 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,360 and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 351 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,960 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of the 352 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,560 faith. For the joy set before him, He 353 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,040 endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right 354 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,240 hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such 355 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,800 opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose 356 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:45,360 heart. See, even in the midst of trial 357 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:50,040 and heartache, we can go on and keep pushing when our eyes are 358 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,520 fixed on Jesus, when we're built on the rock, because he's first 359 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,280 endured. See, that's what is so powerful 360 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,160 about the cross. Not only does He take away our 361 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:02,560 sin, our shame, our guilt, our mistakes, it's also the example 362 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,240 for us to keep on pushing through and to keep our eyes 363 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,360 fixed on him. And that is ultimately what 364 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:14,040 Ecclesiastes is calling for us to do at the start of this 365 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,040 verse. It says let us throw off 366 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,520 everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 367 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,920 It's so easy while we walk in this world to grasp onto things 368 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,920 that we see and to to stay stuck and worry about them. 369 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,680 But we read in Matthew, start to build up. 370 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,080 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where Moss 371 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,840 and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 372 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,880 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where Moss 373 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,720 and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in 374 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,160 and steal. For where your treasure is, 375 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:56,080 there your heart will also be. All of a sudden. 376 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,880 If we start walking out in biblical wisdom, being built on 377 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:04,480 the rock with our eyes fixed on Jesus, things that entangle and 378 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,840 go wrong in this life won't won't start to matter as much. 379 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,360 When stress comes, we won't worry. 380 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,840 When that job promotion doesn't come for you, it'll be OK 381 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,520 because you trust in God's plan. When that that month you're 382 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,320 tight on finances and you don't know how you're going to get by, 383 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:26,680 you stay vision, your eyes are fixed on Jesus and it starts to 384 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,040 fold and see. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, 385 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,280 what starts to happen is we become more like him. 386 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:37,040 We're moulded and sanctified into His image, and we start to 387 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:41,560 walk better. Therefore we do not lose heart. 388 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:46,440 Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being 389 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,760 renewed day by day. For our light and momentary 390 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:54,120 troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs 391 00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:56,840 them all. So we fix our eyes not on what 392 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,440 is seen, but what on what is unseen, since what is seen is 393 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,560 temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 394 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,400 Paul says it. We're all wasting away, our 395 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,680 bodies are decaying, we're all heading towards death. 396 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,160 That much is inevitable. As Ian said, death is coming. 397 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,360 But if we fix our eyes on Jesus, all of a sudden our priorities 398 00:23:20,360 --> 00:23:23,360 are matters. They will change, not us, our 399 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,280 priorities. If it feels like the verses are 400 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,600 saying similar things, good. Because this is what the 401 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,520 instruction to the early church was. 402 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,800 That struggle and these times will come, but if we stay fixed 403 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,640 with our eyes on Jesus that they'll pass by. 404 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,880 See, This is why this series of Ecclesiastes is so important. 405 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,160 It reminds us that life is temporary. 406 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:51,160 It is so important for us to be reminded that one day all of 407 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,040 this will be gone. Everything that you do, your 408 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:57,200 work, your everything will fade away. 409 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,440 But it is a reminder that therefore, if we fix our eyes on 410 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:09,320 Jesus and start building for him, it won't fade and our value 411 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,920 will be placed in eternal glory. We'll start building up heavenly 412 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:17,400 treasures. Paul says it outwardly, wasting 413 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,280 away, and we'll face troubles, but they're achieving in US 414 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,720 eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 415 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:29,880 Church. Last time I spoke, I asked you 416 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,880 about a question about death, and I'm going to do it again. 417 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,840 When you die, what will be said about you? 418 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,840 We had this weird thing in the week. 419 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,560 It's birthdays around about now in our family and to celebrate. 420 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,880 And a tradition that was introduced from our American 421 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:56,240 side of the family was that after singing Happy Birthday, 422 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,840 you go round the table and you say something that you admire 423 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,280 and like about the person whose birthday it is. 424 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:06,800 Because they realise that often far too late, we don't say those 425 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,720 things, that it's often too late. 426 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,280 But in the same way, that was a reminder that one day this will 427 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,880 all be gone. That one day you won't be here 428 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:20,160 and people will only be able to say what you've built and talk 429 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:24,120 about you in the past. And so the question is, church, 430 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,360 what are you building for? What are your eyes fixed on? 431 00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:28,760 Where are your materials going to? 432 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,400 Where's your time and energy going to? 433 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:35,240 Because not only will we pass away, but Matthew 24 even tells 434 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,520 us that heaven and earth will pass away too. 435 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,280 And if we learn that heaven and earth will pass away, then how 436 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:46,200 much more will what we do? So all of a sudden, that game 437 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:50,160 that you want to get, that time you want to spend scrolling 438 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:54,640 social media, it's worthless. Do you know church? 439 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:59,000 A time is coming where Lionel Messi will not be remembered. 440 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,040 A time is coming where Donald Trump will not be remembered. 441 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,640 There's a time coming where the person on your left and your 442 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:12,080 right will not be remembered. You will not be remembered. 443 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,440 IA time is coming where I will not be remembered. 444 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:20,200 My name will be gone and it all have faded. 445 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:26,960 So what are you building for? Some of my favourite pieces of 446 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,680 scripture reference this Acts 2024. 447 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,080 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me. 448 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:39,360 My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the 449 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:42,960 Lord Jesus has given to me, the task of testifying to the good 450 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:48,280 news of God's grace. Philippians 3 verses 8 to 10 451 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,520 says. What is more, I consider 452 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:54,520 everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing 453 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,800 Christ Jesus my Lord, for who's sake I have lost all things. 454 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,600 I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in 455 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,880 Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the 456 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,920 law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the 457 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,240 righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 458 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:17,360 I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of His 459 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:21,760 resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like 460 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:27,040 Him in His death. I edited my slides at the start, 461 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:32,200 the title slide, it changed. Then it said the meaning of 462 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,120 life. I added the meaning of life, the 463 00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:38,520 meaning of life. Church, why we are all here is 464 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:44,960 to serve His Kingdom, to build for His Kingdom and that is what 465 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:48,200 wisdom is. Wisdom is to focus on Jesus. 466 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,600 That is the wise thing to do in every situation. 467 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,040 Now we can break wisdom down into different events, different 468 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,640 times where wisdom has specific points and specific 469 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,000 applications. But I assure you, overall, if 470 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,640 your eyes are fixed on Jesus and that is your wisdom choice, then 471 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:11,560 you're safe. Paul says it for to me, to live 472 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:17,680 is Christ and to die is game. If I'm going to go on living in 473 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,720 the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. 474 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,360 Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. 475 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:27,240 I'm torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with 476 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:28,960 Christ. Which is better? 477 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:34,080 By far. Paul shows it potentially as 478 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:39,680 clear as it possibly can be. As a Christian, we should desire 479 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,280 to be in heaven with Jesus that one day. 480 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,080 That is where our eyes should be fixed. 481 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:49,240 That is the ultimate purpose because even Paul said it, it is 482 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,120 better by far to go and be with Jesus. 483 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,880 But just after these verses Paul says, but you need me, so I'm 484 00:28:57,880 --> 00:28:59,960 going to stay and I'm going to serve. 485 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:04,640 See, it's this fruitful labour part, while this life here is 486 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,280 meaningless, He knows the Lord still has work and still has 487 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,800 things for him to do. So in the midst of the 488 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,280 meaningless, he will serve Jesus fruitfully. 489 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:19,680 This means that we need to be ready like worship charge this 490 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,080 morning us to do, to go out and see. 491 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,760 Sol says to see this town changed. 492 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:30,160 The things that grip this town right now in drugs, alcohol, 493 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:35,560 sex, betting, gambling, they will all fall in Jesus name. 494 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:40,920 But we have to be willing to go out and win it and we can't do 495 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,720 that by power or by might, but only by His spirit. 496 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:51,160 One of my favourite worship songs at the moment has a bridge 497 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:56,000 and I think it it's fitting. If the highest place I reach is 498 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,000 at your feet then I've done it all. 499 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:02,680 If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then I've seen it 500 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,880 all. Your love has changed my life. 501 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:08,360 I'm forever satisfied. God, you are my everything. 502 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:13,680 If one word is the only thing you speak, then I've heard it 503 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,880 all. If I feel your heart and never 504 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,200 see your hand, I've still had it all. 505 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:24,200 So if I just get a taste, a drop of your heart, and I don't even 506 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,800 see your provision and your faithfulness in this life, I've 507 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:33,160 still had everything I need. No treasure of this life could 508 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,520 ever satisfy God. You are my everything. 509 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:42,000 See, the only thing that will bring meaning and worth and the 510 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:47,280 only thing that wisdom can suggest that makes this life 511 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:52,440 bearable is Jesus and keeping your eyes fixed on Him. 512 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,680 So at this moment I want to give an opportunity to respond to 513 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,680 those for who maybe have never accepted Jesus into your heart 514 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:06,760 as Lord and Saviour. Maybe you have realised today as 515 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:10,280 we've been talking that oh wow, everything that I'm doing is 516 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,080 going to go. I'm my treasure, I'm building 517 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,280 treasures on earth and not in heaven, and I want to give my 518 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:20,440 life to Jesus. So I'm going to lead in prayer. 519 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,120 If it's you, follow along. You can pray what I say in your 520 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:27,120 own head, but please then tell somebody afterwards. 521 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:33,680 We want to share in this joy. Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for my sin 522 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:37,240 and my mistakes. Lord, I, I admit that I've done 523 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,000 wrong. Lord, I'm sorry for building up 524 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:44,280 earthly treasure. Father, I, I need you and your 525 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,240 love. Thank you that you died for me. 526 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:52,160 Jesus, I accept your sacrifice for me on the cross, and I turn 527 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:54,960 and fix my eyes on you. But Lord, I need your help. 528 00:31:55,560 --> 00:32:00,680 Help me fix my eyes on you in Jesus name, Amen. 529 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:05,520 But we're not finished there. We've got a challenge church for 530 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,240 for us as Christians. Now, if you've just prayed that 531 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:13,760 prayer, that includes you too. But where can we, like Paul, go 532 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,640 and serve wholeheartedly and fruitfully? 533 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,640 If I am to go on living in this body, this will mean fruitful 534 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,920 labour for me. I think I I want to say that 535 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:28,720 maybe the word labour scares you. 536 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:31,240 Maybe it makes you think about hard work. 537 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:36,680 But that's not what Paul found. Paul was so excited to go and be 538 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:40,880 with Jesus, but he was so excited to serve and see the 539 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:46,160 law's plans come on this earth. What ground can you go and sow 540 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,000 into church? Where is God calling you to and 541 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:51,640 what is he calling for you to give up? 542 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:57,720 See, we're going to spend a minute in a minute praying. 543 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:02,280 And I believe the Lord's going to speak and reveal to everybody 544 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:07,080 what he wants from you. See, maybe it's a sacrifice. 545 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,560 Maybe it's time for you to stop building for earthy treasure and 546 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:13,120 start building for heavenly treasure. 547 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,760 Even if you've accepted Jesus before, maybe this is the moment 548 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:19,360 where the Holy Spirit is going to show you that thing that 549 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,360 needs to lay down. Maybe it's your finances. 550 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,320 Maybe it's what you're spending your money into. 551 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:28,400 Mum shared a couple of weeks ago that we Mum and Dad had a 552 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:32,840 decision to make between Sky TV and sponsoring a child in Africa 553 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,480 and they decided that Sky TV could go. 554 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:39,640 Is that for you? Maybe that's what the Lord is 555 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,360 calling you to with your finances. 556 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:45,120 Maybe it's your time. See, sometimes we forget that 557 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:48,480 time and effort can be invested into the Kingdom as well. 558 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:54,240 Maybe you spent hours a day SAT watching the news, scrolling 559 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:56,720 social media, looking for that next story. 560 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:01,360 Maybe this is the Lord calling you to spend time in your secret 561 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,320 place and with Him, growing in knowledge of Him. 562 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:10,040 Maybe there's a specific person that the Lord is putting on your 563 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:14,040 heart right now. And the Lord is saying, I want 564 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:18,400 to use you to reach them. You know, God doesn't need us to 565 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:21,320 save, but what a blessing it is to be involved in his plans and 566 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:24,000 his ways. So I'm going to pray. 567 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,679 And as I pray, I want you to just sit open hearted. 568 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:31,199 In fact, everybody who's able to put your hands out, put your 569 00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:34,920 hands out and open, because do you know this is a sign that 570 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:39,719 matches heart posture and shows a readiness to receive and 571 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,120 expect him. And I'm going to pray and just 572 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:47,520 sit and listen to the Lord and ask Lord, how do you want to use 573 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:49,560 me? What do you want me to do? 574 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:54,000 How can I execute biblical wisdom so that I start building 575 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:59,800 for heavenly treasure? Lord Jesus, I thank you for the 576 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:02,760 way you spoke today and spoken through this meeting. 577 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,960 Lord, I thank you for the worship and this word. 578 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,080 Lord, we call upon you. Father, will you convict us and 579 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:12,600 show us of how we can live better lives for you, how we can 580 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:16,040 go out impacting this world for you. 581 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:20,720 Jesus, may you reveal to us areas that we can give over, 582 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,280 things that we can let go of to serve You better. 583 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:28,120 Lord, it doesn't mean that those things are wrong, but how can we 584 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:31,880 better serve you? Lord, help us keep our eyes 585 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:35,280 fixed as we go on eternity and on you. 586 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:40,880 Lord, help us let the sin and the things of this world that so 587 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:45,440 easily entangles fall away so that we may run our race with 588 00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:48,040 eyes fully fixed on heaven and on you. 589 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:52,800 Yeah, Jesus, come and show us in your mighty power and grace. 590 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:57,560 We thank you for your death and resurrection from that cross. 591 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:00,800 So we get to go out and serve for you. 592 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,400 In Jesus name I pray. Amen.