1 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,440 So Matthew 631 to 33, it says this, do not worry then saying 2 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,760 what will we eat or what will we drink or what will we wear for 3 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,760 clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek 4 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,360 all these things. The Luke translation says all 5 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,520 the nations seek these things, OK? 6 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,920 For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, 7 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:46,000 but seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these 8 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,640 things will be added to you. Let's pray. 9 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,080 Father, we love you and we honor you. 10 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,520 We thank you for the Holy Spirit. 11 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,120 We thank you that He is here with us. 12 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,680 We thank you that first we house the Holy Spirit, us that are 13 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,480 born of God. We are the temple of the Holy 14 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:04,800 Ghost. He bears witness with our 15 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,240 spirit. We are children of God, but He's 16 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,480 not in there just to bear witness with our spirit that 17 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,040 we're children of God and that when we pass from this life to 18 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:14,560 the next, we'll be present with the Lord. 19 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,040 We'll be called up and be in heaven with him. 20 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,800 But he actually came on an assignment that when Jesus first 21 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,160 introduced him, said that when he comes, that is the spirit of 22 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:26,480 truth. He's going to cause things to 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,120 come to our remembrance. He's going to teach us all 24 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:30,560 things. He's going to guide us into all 25 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:35,720 truth and he'll disclose things to come and so be before he 26 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,080 introduced him as one bearing witness. 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,560 We are children of God is that he had an assignment to renew 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,640 our mind to change our thinking so that we could discover who we 29 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,520 are and how God originally intended man to be. 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,440 And so with that we accept and receive the ministry of the Holy 31 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Spirit this morning to renew our minds so that we can walk out 32 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,880 this Kingdom in the earth while we remain in the earth and that 33 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,520 his Kingdom would come his will would be done on earth as it is 34 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,479 in heaven through our lives in Jesus name and all God's people 35 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:13,320 said Amen. So this passage of Scripture 36 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:21,000 comes from what the Bible has or theologians have pinned as the 37 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,960 Sermon on the Mount. And this is Jesus's famous 38 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,440 message that is recorded within the Gospels. 39 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,520 And he has he is ministering to people and we're right in the 40 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:39,680 middle of it here in Matthew 6, 3331 to 33. 41 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,760 It's it includes chapters 5-6 and seven. 42 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,920 And so again, when Jesus ministered this, he did not 43 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:49,320 minister it from the book of Matthew. 44 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,920 Matthew was writing this, OK, He was just ministering this to the 45 00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:56,600 people. And this is right in the midst. 46 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,240 Now this whole sermon has so much that we could preach till 47 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:08,000 Jesus returns just out of these three chapters alone and never 48 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,040 touch another book. It's amazing all you we can't 49 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,880 even mine out all the truths that our king spoke in these 50 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,080 three chapters alone. But right here in the middle of 51 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:25,960 it he says listen, don't worry. Do not put your pursuit on what 52 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,280 the world puts on that puts their pursuit on you need 53 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,880 Matthew 633. Seek first the Kingdom of God 54 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,960 and his righteousness. Now I know we hear the Scripture 55 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,080 often, but let's look at it in the amplified classic. 56 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,320 We want to break this down a little bit. 57 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:49,160 It says, but seek, aim at, strive after first of all, his 58 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,200 Kingdom and his righteousness, His way of doing and being 59 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,680 right, and then all these things taken together will be given. 60 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,480 Besides, in essence, if we'll seek first the Kingdom and his 61 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,800 righteousness, then what everyone's trying to do without 62 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,360 the Kingdom, the Kingdom will just bring it to us. 63 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,560 Just bring it to us. Now it's January, it's our first 64 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,680 Sunday service here at Anchor Faith Church and as I was 65 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,320 ministering to the Lord and and and praying saying, Lord, what 66 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,680 do you want to say? Because there was a few things 67 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:26,960 that I was, you know, mulling over in my spirit, rolling over 68 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,440 in my spirit. And then the Lord brought this 69 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,680 along this Sikh. Now I'm going to define Jesus's 70 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:40,760 words because in the, in our, in cultures across the globe, but 71 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,760 specifically in the Western world, you know, we've said this 72 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:49,320 through many through for many years now, because God is the 73 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,560 word in the beginning was the word and the word was with God 74 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:53,240 and the word was God. That's John 11. 75 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,760 He has the right to define the word. 76 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:01,160 And you understand as we are further away from the event of 77 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,760 the cross and the resurrection, moving and hastening ourselves 78 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:13,160 towards His return, humanity and how the world function is vying 79 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:21,280 for our attention and wants us to define terms based upon how 80 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:25,480 we feel or what, as we mentioned in Morning Prayer, seems good to 81 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,680 us. But when you literally take time 82 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:34,000 to just let the scripture interpret itself, well, then 83 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,840 your expectation should be what God has said. 84 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,760 You know, a lot of times ministries can be wrongly 85 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,720 portrayed as desiring something or expecting something. 86 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,920 But the reality is, if we're just preaching the word, we're 87 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,560 just having an expectation of what God is saying. 88 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,000 Amen. Now for those who have red 89 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,960 letter Bibles, is this red letter conversation. 90 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,200 For those who do not have red letter Bibles, that just means 91 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,000 that Jesus is the one talking. If you, you know, if you have 92 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,640 the printed page with some translations still do this as 93 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,960 well, even in your electronics is that they'll show it in red 94 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,520 and that means Jesus is talking. Well, if Jesus is talking for 95 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,360 sure we should be listening right now. 96 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,240 We should listen to all scripture because it's inspired 97 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,040 by the Holy Ghost and Jesus is speaking by the Spirit. 98 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,000 Jesus is not speaking on his own accord. 99 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,320 Jesus is not giving his own interpretation. 100 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,600 He is led by the Spirit in the earth and he speaks the things 101 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:37,760 that he's hearing from his Father. 102 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:42,040 OK, but these are the words of the King, the one whom all of us 103 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,520 who say we're born again. We are born again because we've 104 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:52,360 said we follow him. OK, Again, Jesus will define 105 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,360 what following is. So you need to get your 106 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,800 definition of following Jesus from the Scripture, not from 107 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,800 your personal definition. But let's focus on what Jesus 108 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,560 says here. He said, but seek first. 109 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Now before we go to 1st, let's go to seek because seek by 110 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,760 definition is a really powerful word. 111 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,640 This is the attitude that you are to have. 112 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:25,560 This is God's expectation of those who are His disciples. 113 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,280 This is what he is saying to his disciples. 114 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:36,000 He says you need all this effort that is going on in the world 115 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,160 about what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, the cares 116 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,200 of life. I'm telling you, don't even 117 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:49,200 worry about it or seek it, pursue it, put effort towards 118 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:53,760 it. What I'm saying is seek first 119 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,840 the Kingdom. All right? 120 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,480 This word seek means this. It means to seek in order to 121 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,760 find. So you understand you're not 122 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,480 seeking with this attitude. Well, I'm looking, but man, I 123 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,600 don't know if I'll ever find it. That's not your attitude. 124 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,880 Your attitude is I'm seeking and I will find. 125 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,280 I said I'm seeking and I will find. 126 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,720 What did Jesus say? Seek and you'll find knock and 127 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,200 the door will be open. Ask and it will be given to you. 128 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,360 So this attitude that we have is that there's an expectation when 129 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,400 I seek, I'm going to find in essence the Lord saying to us is 130 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,040 that listen, when you're seeking, have the expectation 131 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:35,520 that I'm answering and as the prophetic word by unction of the 132 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,520 Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is in the church today 133 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,720 and he has gifts that he has, he distributes. 134 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,120 There's 9 gifts in First Corinthians chapter 12 where 135 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,520 he'll move upon Saints to be able to communicate things to 136 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,640 the church body of which he did that through the gift of 137 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,920 prophecy this morning, which is a word to encourage and edify us 138 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,000 and build us up. And that prophetic word was when 139 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,200 God has given you a promise, his word says it is yours that you 140 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:07,120 do not disconnect, you do not abandon, even though you don't 141 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,120 currently see it coming to pass because God's promises are yes 142 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,120 and Amen, and they shall come to pass. 143 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,280 Now in order for you to in that passage that the Lord used this 144 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:26,040 morning in first king is noticed is that the prophet kept sending 145 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:32,120 the servant to seek to see the manifestation. 146 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:37,360 You just go. Now he sent him not wondering 147 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:42,720 would he ever see it's when will he see? 148 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:48,840 It's not will he ever see? It's when he will see. 149 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,280 So he says go back. He come back. 150 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,120 I didn't see anything. First time he says go back 151 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:54,760 again. OK, nothing. 152 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,440 Go back again. All right, nothing. 153 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,760 You know, the Bible even says let everything be confirmed out 154 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,720 of two or three witnesses. Surely we're not getting this 155 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,520 thing. Go again. 156 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,320 Fourth time comes back, not there. 157 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:09,680 Get it again. Fifth time, go seek it. 158 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:13,840 Another time. Sixth time still novel. 159 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:19,760 Go back to the hill and check and he says, you know what? 160 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:25,960 I see a cloud about this. Now it's the size of a man's 161 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,680 hand because he could cover it. But do you know what size that 162 00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:33,800 must be at a distance? And then it built and it blew, 163 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,640 and it came on in By the breath of God. 164 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,800 Hallelujah, the Lord is still moving by a spirit. 165 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,920 The breath of God is still flowing. 166 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,360 His Word is still in manifestation. 167 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,840 But again, you have to have this tenacity to seek. 168 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,520 It says to seek an order to find. 169 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,280 It means to aim at. Here's one definition. 170 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:59,000 It means strive after. It means pursue. 171 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,680 It means endeavor to obtain. Again, it means to seek an order 172 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:08,520 to find, to aim at, strive after, pursue, endeavor to seek. 173 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:13,400 This is an attitude. This is not a sit back casual 174 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,080 like you know, well, you know, if the Lord wants and I'm going 175 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:17,400 to have it. If he doesn't, I don't. 176 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,040 That's not seeking. Well, if he wants me to know 177 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,640 it'd come up. No, you got to go after it. 178 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:24,720 You've got to strive. You've got to move. 179 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,360 You've got to be doing. You got to keep pursuing. 180 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,520 And again, it's an effort not of your own self, but it's by the 181 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,680 grace of God that He's opening access to the Kingdom for you so 182 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:38,920 that you can pursue him, so that you can go after him. 183 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,360 Listen, God is not rewarding the lazy. 184 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,440 It's not doing it. In fact, he is averse to the 185 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,560 lazy. In essence, he's saying, ma'am, 186 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:57,520 when you get a hold of the Kingdom, now when you're in the 187 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,120 earth, you're going to have to do something. 188 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,480 You're going to have to seek it. You got to make an effort. 189 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,280 You're going to have to endeavor to obtain. 190 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,880 How many of us can disconnect and just be satisfied with this 191 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,240 thought? Well, at least I'm going to 192 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,560 heaven now. I find it interesting because 193 00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:20,800 God never asked us to seek for heaven. 194 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:29,880 He didn't say beseek first a place in heaven. 195 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:37,360 He didn't do that because heaven was not the ultimate prize. 196 00:12:38,680 --> 00:12:40,480 I said heaven is not the ultimate prize. 197 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,360 I'm going to say it again, Heaven is not the ultimate 198 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:45,720 prize. It's amazing. 199 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,560 It's going to be incredible. But there will be a new heaven 200 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,280 and a new earth because it's not about a place, it's about a 201 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,600 position. It's about sonship. 202 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:02,600 It's about dominion, Hallelujah. It's about the Kingdom. 203 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,960 He says seek first the Kingdom. My Kingdom is not limited to my 204 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,040 realm. My kingdom's not limited to my 205 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,000 location. My Kingdom was here first. 206 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,920 My Kingdom will return here. My Kingdom will function and 207 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:17,920 operate in here. And I need you to seek it 208 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,760 because it's not readily available to see, but it is an 209 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:28,640 operation if you'll go after it. Now, these are terms that seem 210 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,360 like there's always this push. What did Paul say? 211 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,000 Paul said I forget while I was behind and I press now these are 212 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,320 terms that God uses, that the believers who God does not use 213 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:51,520 terms of sit back, relax, I rest, pursuing and I pursue. 214 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,960 And I'm driven like this not because I'm an apostle, but 215 00:13:55,960 --> 00:14:02,480 because I'm a seeker. I'm a seeker because God did not 216 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:09,360 ask me to seek heaven. However, I do have an 217 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,240 expectation that when I'm absent from the body, I will be called 218 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,040 up into heaven. But I don't seek heaven. 219 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,480 I seek His Kingdom. And in essence, we expect 220 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,480 heaven, but we do not seek it. I said we do not seek it. 221 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,640 So there's something that we need to do with the Kingdom and 222 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,800 that is we need to seek, we need to aim, we need to strive. 223 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:36,360 Now this word is just before the next word, which is seek first. 224 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,600 Now you would think that that word in it of itself is self 225 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,520 identifying. It defines itself. 226 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:55,360 But it's amazing how we have redefined first, and I don't 227 00:14:55,360 --> 00:15:00,560 know if it's the era of participation trophies that, you 228 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,520 know, we're all getting a prize. Whether you win or lose, whether 229 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:05,000 you're first or last doesn't matter. 230 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,080 You all get a trophy. And we brought that into our 231 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,920 concept of Christianity that, you know, I don't have to put 232 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,400 forth the effort. I'm still going to get a trophy. 233 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,960 I'm going to get a pat on the back even if we lose every game, 234 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,040 right? Pastor Joshua and I and a few 235 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,000 others that were on the team that I was on in flag football, 236 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,080 we lost every game. And you didn't see us cheesing 237 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,400 it with the top three, the 2 seeds, right? 238 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,160 The top two teams, the champion, you know, the champion got in 239 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,480 the medal and we who were last place. 240 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:42,360 No, everybody just talks about how they beat us, right? 241 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,680 I, I, I know trophy for that, all right, No trophy for that. 242 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:52,560 You understand that God expects that when you have the life of 243 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:59,240 God in you, there is a pursuit. Now you control the pursuit. 244 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:05,560 God doesn't. And if he tells me to seek, then 245 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,720 I have to ask how am I supposed to seek? 246 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:14,080 Then the next thing when? Because for most believers, if 247 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:20,200 we don't watch out, seeking becomes a later time frame 248 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:25,880 option. I get sick, I first seek Google 249 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,480 about my symptoms, about what's going on and what kind of 250 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,800 treatments, both natural or prescription that I can do to 251 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:39,320 overcome. Same in anyway now I don't have 252 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:40,960 a problem with you going to Google. 253 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,320 I don't have a problem with you going natural or prescription. 254 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:51,440 The problem is is when you go. It's when you go because we are 255 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:57,200 supposed to go to God first. First by definition in the 256 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:03,720 original Greek means first in time or place, chief foremost in 257 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,160 time, place, order or importance. 258 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:13,680 First of all, Well, when you wake up first thing in the 259 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:19,880 morning, when you are conscious that you are awake, what do you 260 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:25,800 do first? But first is not just when you 261 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,800 wake. First can be when a trial hits 262 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,040 you, an issue, who is the first one? 263 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:35,600 You're asking how to deal with it. 264 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:43,920 What's your first response? We call people first responders, 265 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,080 that when the trouble hits, boom, the first responder. 266 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:52,120 Unfortunately, a lot of times, you know, in Christianity, you 267 00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:55,840 know, asking God is later down the line when we've done 268 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:00,040 everything we've done ourselves then and you've heard the joke. 269 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,920 Has it resorted to prayer? Has it got that bad? 270 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,280 We've resorted to prayer. But yeah, a lot of people get 271 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:10,680 way down the list before they're even asking God, how do I deal 272 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,400 with this situation? I'm going to give you this. 273 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:17,040 You are given an opportunity to be promoted and a raise. 274 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:23,840 Now, what do you seek first? Do you seek God's will that you 275 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:28,680 should take the position or do you automatically seek your 276 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,120 financial people and this new place they want you to move? 277 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,520 What's the housing? I mean people will look at job 278 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,800 markets, they'll look at opportunities, they'll look at 279 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,280 all this stuff, but they won't look is there a church in the 280 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,560 community? Is God even asked me to 281 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,360 disconnect from the 1 he assigned me to? 282 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:52,280 Is the devil giving me an alternative that will cause me 283 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:57,480 to abort on the plan and purpose of God 1st is first. 284 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:04,600 I said first is first, first is 1st and Jesus is saying if we'll 285 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:09,440 seek with effort we're striving we're we're passionate we're 286 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:15,880 it's the first thing we do first is seek him his will, his 287 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,720 Kingdom, not only his Kingdom, but his righteousness. 288 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:24,840 God's way of doing things because again, salvation is not 289 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,760 a continual pursuit. This is why the Lord didn't say 290 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:32,920 seek first salvation. He didn't say that. 291 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,880 He says seek first the Kingdom. Now, if you were like Nicodemus 292 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,960 and you started to strive after the things of God, you're going 293 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,400 to find yourself talking to Jesus at 2:00 in the morning, 294 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,880 say, man, we know you from from God, you know. 295 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,880 And Jesus said unless you're born again, you cannot even see 296 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,200 the Kingdom of God or enter it. So the first step is salvation. 297 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,640 However, it's not the end pursuit. 298 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,200 Salvation is not the end of seeking. 299 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,960 Well, if I just make the Lord him the Lord of my life first, 300 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,000 which many of you didn't do it first. 301 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,440 You did it 30s forties, some in your 50s, right? 302 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,160 Some later in life. It wasn't first. 303 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,840 So it can't be salvation. No, this is for the believer to 304 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:20,480 strive. Never let someone make you feel 305 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:25,240 bad because you are putting God at the forefront of all you do. 306 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,840 Oh man, you know this God thing, you're just talking. 307 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,280 He's first, He's first, He's first. 308 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:40,240 He told me to put him first. He didn't say put him last, 309 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,440 didn't put him when it's convenient, didn't put it when, 310 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,920 you know, I'm in trouble and now I need help. 311 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,720 No, he said seek him first. And this was an everyday 312 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:49,800 occurrence. And you know what? 313 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,200 All the stuff that you're putting all that time and effort 314 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,040 in because you understand this. Anytime someone says you're 315 00:20:55,040 --> 00:21:00,480 doing too much, they're doing something somewhere. 316 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:07,880 So at least your effort is in the priority that God says that 317 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:12,880 honestly will free you up from things that you are currently 318 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,960 putting a lot of time in because if you'll put that time in the 319 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,000 Kingdom got to just bring the rest to you. 320 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:26,080 He redeems the time again, there's a there's leaders all 321 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:27,720 over the world saying, you know what? 322 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,840 There's only one thing you can't buy back and that's time. 323 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,920 That's a lie. Jesus redeems the time in the 324 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:35,680 world. You may lose time, but not in 325 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,280 the Kingdom. In the Kingdom, He'll redeem the 326 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:39,960 time. Amen. 327 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,600 If you'll pursue Him, He can elevate you. 328 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:44,400 He can. He can promote you. 329 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,880 He can bring favor. He can do all things in your 330 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,000 life that your own effort and time can never accomplish. 331 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,840 And if you do accomplish, will it burn up in the end? 332 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,640 In essence. And it's difficult because we're 333 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,880 in a world we're not of that. When we get here to January, you 334 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,760 understand, it's the calendar. We live by God's and eternity 335 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,560 times in Him. So he's not looking at Tom, 336 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:16,760 we're looking at time. And I don't have a problem with 337 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,040 a reset. I don't have a problem with 338 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:19,200 goals. I don't have a problem with all 339 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,680 that. As long as your goals came out 340 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,320 of your prayer life. You're seeking first. 341 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,040 What do you want me to do this year? 342 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,600 God, how do you want to use me? What do you need to change in 343 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,360 me? What do I, how do I? 344 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:34,240 I'm seeking you before I put anything down of goals. 345 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:38,160 What's your goal for my life this year? 346 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:43,080 I mean, if we're asking those should be your spiritual growth 347 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:48,840 and development should be your first goals, not your family, 348 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,440 but God. Hallelujah. 349 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,560 See, the Kingdom is contrary to the things of the world, and the 350 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:05,560 world says a lot of stuff that sounds good, but it violates the 351 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:10,000 seat first principle. It violates it. 352 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,600 OK, Look what it says in First Chronicles 1611. 353 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,920 It says it this way. Seek the Lord and his strength. 354 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:26,440 Seek his face continually. How often continually. 355 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,280 So first for us is anything we're ever doing. 356 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:30,720 We're like, Lord, what do you want me to do? 357 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:33,760 How do you want? I remember when I was seeking 358 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,920 another house because the Lord said, you're done in this house, 359 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:39,600 it's time for you to move. And I had only bought that 360 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,160 house. It was the first house I ever 361 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,560 bought. And so I said, OK, Lord, what do 362 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:49,280 you want? Because in one side, it seemed 363 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:53,680 right to me that now that I, my wife and I are empty nesters, 364 00:23:54,960 --> 00:24:00,160 that, man, we could downsize. And, you know, basically what I 365 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,560 paid here, I could maybe spend a little bit more and we could get 366 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:08,800 a condo on the beach and wake up to a cup of coffee in the 367 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:13,560 morning looking at the ocean. Roll in, right? 368 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,400 A nice little condo with somebody else cuts the grass. 369 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:20,520 You know, I'm going to, I'm going to, Lord, You want me to 370 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,880 redeem the time, right? We're going to, I don't have to 371 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,840 cut grass. We don't have to do lawn 372 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,240 maintenance. You know, we're just going to 373 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,480 have to fix up the house. And you know, we'll do that and 374 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,640 then, you know, five years later, do it again because we'll 375 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:33,160 get bored with it. But it's outside. 376 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,840 You know, we pay for that to be taken care of. 377 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,120 It's just part of the package. We'll downsize because, Lord, I 378 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,920 don't care, you know, when this tiny livings, you know, was, you 379 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:43,560 know, kind of a rage for a little while. 380 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:45,200 And I had no problem with that, you know. 381 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:47,520 But yeah, you want to ask, but I'll never forget the Lord says 382 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,040 no, son, you're going to buy something larger because I'm 383 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,360 going to have other ministers come and stay with you. 384 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:59,920 Well, now the minute he said that, I was done looking at the 385 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:03,160 other alternative because now I sought him. 386 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,400 Where do you want me to go? What do you want me to do? 387 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,880 Then at that point I said, well, I didn't even ask the bank what 388 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:12,440 my budget was. I just said, Lord, you leave me 389 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,320 'cause it doesn't matter how much it costs. 390 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,000 If it's the house for me, you'll make a way. 391 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:18,760 And you know what? I didn't have a cap. 392 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,080 And I'm thankful for godly people that were in the church 393 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:26,680 that did not look at my wallet to determine the showings that I 394 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:33,640 went to, did not make sure that the bank would qualify me. 395 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,400 I didn't even have qualification. 396 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,240 I just went and it didn't matter the price. 397 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,840 Don't care because my dad owns the planet anyway. 398 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,720 See, I'm seeking him. Where is the location? 399 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,560 What is the place? What is the house? 400 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,240 Because again, it's just a vessel. 401 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,280 It's just something to be used of God. 402 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:55,400 And because of that, I purchased where I am today, of which I 403 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,000 have an upstairs suite of which I've had multiple ministers now 404 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:04,960 stay in our home and God, and I'm doing exactly what God has 405 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,680 said to do. But yet people can come by and 406 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,480 say, wow, look at your home. And while you have this, well, I 407 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,040 only have it because God, I didn't seek the house for me. 408 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,800 I saw him and he said, this is the house. 409 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,160 Now that's different than seeking house for yourself, 410 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,840 seeking cars, planes, all these things. 411 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:27,800 Because again, that's what the Gentiles do. 412 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:33,960 I saw God and he added a location to me, Glory to God, 413 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:38,520 and he added it to me before the, you know, economy went 414 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,960 crazy after COVID. I got in before all that and 415 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:46,480 then my house basically doubled in equity. 416 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,200 Hallelujah. Glory to God. 417 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,120 If I can only pull the equity out to pay off my house and it 418 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:58,760 would be free be paid for. We're working on it. 419 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,480 Amen. The Lord is good, but look at 420 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,800 Matthew chapter 5 because if we're seeking, you got to 421 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,720 understand Jesus is making a statement right in the middle of 422 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,040 his sermon that is in context of something else he's already said 423 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,560 in his sermon in the beginning. Now what's interesting about 424 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:18,360 this is that in Matthew chapter 5, verse one that Jesus said and 425 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:20,320 let me read that. I don't have that verse there, 426 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,600 but let me just go over to it real quick and read that 427 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,560 particular verse to you. And by the time I get to it, 428 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:26,760 they'll probably have it as well. 429 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,680 Matthew chapter 5, verse one, it says when Jesus saw the crowd, 430 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:40,040 He went up on the mountain. So there's a crowd in the 431 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:46,440 valley, but before he's going to preach, he goes up the mountain. 432 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,280 I wonder how many people didn't go up the mountain with him 433 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,840 because in order to go up a mountain it takes effort. 434 00:28:01,060 --> 00:28:07,060 You have to exert something. They had to demonstrate they 435 00:28:07,060 --> 00:28:11,260 wanted to hear. He didn't come and preach on 436 00:28:11,260 --> 00:28:15,140 their level, he said. I have something to say, but I'm 437 00:28:15,140 --> 00:28:17,520 going to go up here. He saw the crowd. 438 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,640 This is the crowd. This is where we can preach 439 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,240 right here. I'm going up now you can say, 440 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,160 well, he went up to get a a, a different vantage point so that 441 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:32,560 it's says as he they would echo, but the disciples came to him. 442 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:37,920 So he's preaching to those who are up with him, those who put 443 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:42,960 forth the effort, who are like, I got to follow this guy 444 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:49,720 wherever he goes and I'm willing to climb this mountain to hear 445 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,560 what he has to say. So there's no indication that 446 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:58,560 the all the crowd went up, but whoever went up are starting to 447 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:03,840 be identified as disciples. And then he begins to say this 448 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,280 huge word that blew their mind. And he said blessed. 449 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:12,480 And he begins to expound on this word blessed for a time, But 450 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:17,200 then we get to verse six. It says this blessed are those 451 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:24,840 who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be 452 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,880 satisfied. Now let's define the word hunger 453 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:32,640 and thirst because again, the Bible is identifying to us. 454 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:37,160 Are we what God expects of us? When God says seek first, the 455 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:41,480 word identifies and you can say am IA seeker, is he first? 456 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:44,440 It doesn't take long for you. And this is not condemnation. 457 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,960 No one's trying to put a guilt trip on you. 458 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,080 I'm just saying this is what the Bible tells us we ought to do 459 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:55,520 and are to do. And you can determine am I doing 460 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:56,880 that? Now? 461 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,680 If you're not, guess what? God's giving you the ability 462 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,320 correct it. You know, I'm not doing that. 463 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:03,920 I need to do that. And it's that simple. 464 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,320 I said it's that simple. If you're like, man, that's hard 465 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:13,160 to put him first. Well, it's not hard to put TV or 466 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,360 social media is the first thing you do when you wake up. 467 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:22,480 Look at your Instagram. Is it the I don't know. 468 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,080 I'm just saying, you know what your first is and I'm saying 469 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,880 consistently now what is your first? 470 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,800 What is your first? When a situation arise, you know 471 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,680 how you're responding. What's your first? 472 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,400 Are you calling someone? Are you telling them about the 473 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:42,200 problem? I mean, what is your first? 474 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:46,240 You identify that, but the Lord said make me your first, OK. 475 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:51,040 But then he also says this, that if you want blessed, well then 476 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:55,160 there's an attitude and he says the those that are that hunger 477 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,720 and thirst, these are those who are blessed. 478 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,640 Now that's not the only criteria, but in keeping with 479 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,680 seek and 1st there's a thought process here. 480 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:10,600 Hunger means this, to crave ardently, to seek with eager 481 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,000 desire. I mean, is your Bible reading 482 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:17,560 with eager desire or to check a box? 483 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,320 I mean, you know the attitude of your hunger. 484 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:27,920 Hallelujah. Now we can identify this 485 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:32,600 naturally because if you're not hungry, then you can go buy 486 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,680 bread and be like, whatever, I'm not hungry right now. 487 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:41,480 But now if you're hungry and you haven't eaten for six hours 488 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,680 because This Is Us, you know, we're starving, then we'll eat. 489 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,040 And if we've actually gone all day and not and and we're eating 490 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,880 our first meal, sometimes we can take a bite and go, wow, this is 491 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,520 the best bread I've ever had in my life. 492 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,560 But you know, that's not true per SE, but you are feeling 493 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:02,640 pretty satisfied to take a bite of some food. 494 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,480 So, you know, in the natural what hunger's like, Come on, How 495 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:09,120 many people in this room said I'm starving, I got to get some 496 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,040 food, right? And we know nothing about 497 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:12,360 starvation. We know this. 498 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:15,920 We use this term. We do not really know what 499 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,320 starvation is, But have we been hungry? 500 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,080 Have we been hangry? Right. 501 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:22,800 Go ahead and look at your neighbor and say, Yep, I saw 502 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:26,960 that, right. Come on, spot wives, how many of 503 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,200 you said my husband functions in hangry on more than one 504 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:31,920 occasion? I get you. 505 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,560 I mean, I know this, my wife is saying you're hangry right now. 506 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:36,760 I said, well, let's make some food. 507 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:40,960 I get out of this quick. If it's just one, if just a few 508 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:42,840 bites, we can get rid of this pretty fast. 509 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:48,200 Hunger means to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire, 510 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:51,960 desire earnestly to long for, to hunger after. 511 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,080 Well, what does that person look like that's hungry. 512 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,240 What do they look like? How do they talk? 513 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,200 How do they act? What are they doing? 514 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:05,840 And again, for righteousness, right, for God's way of doing 515 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,400 things. So again, man, I can't wait to 516 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:09,240 get to church. Why? 517 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:11,880 Because I love to seek him. I love to seek his Kingdom. 518 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:13,160 I can't. I mean, it was the first 519 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:14,640 thought, man, we get to go to church today. 520 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:19,240 I am earnestly desiring to be about the Father's business and 521 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:23,560 and hear things concerning. I'm hungry to hear God speak to 522 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:28,640 me today. Now you know your appetite in 523 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:37,800 the Spirit and again, do not let anyone diminish or cheapen your 524 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:40,880 hunger. I mean, it's amazing how 525 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,800 sometimes believers, and again, sometimes I think it's just 526 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:48,160 through ignorance, others is through their own personal 527 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:52,360 conviction is that when someone is striving and hungry and can't 528 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:55,640 wait and full of joy and excited woo, can't wait to hear it, man. 529 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:58,040 I'm so you're like, bro, you're simmered down. 530 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:00,800 You'll get it. I mean, this will wear off. 531 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:05,320 It's never supposed to wear off. It's not supposed to wear off. 532 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,920 It's supposed to be there to get satisfied. 533 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,000 Are you hearing me? So he goes on. 534 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,040 Then thirst means this, to thirst after in spirit, to 535 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:24,719 desire for, to, to desire or long for, ardently, eagerly long 536 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:28,760 for those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and 537 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,440 strengthened. Don't feel bad that you're like, 538 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,040 man, I can't wait to get to church today. 539 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,480 That's an exciting thing because what are you doing? 540 00:34:36,639 --> 00:34:40,719 I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, and I want to hear the Word. 541 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,639 It's righteousness. It wants to train me, It wants 542 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:45,000 to change me. I can't wait. 543 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,440 I can't wait to be in front of those children today and serve 544 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,719 so that I can give them there's food to me. 545 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,920 Because again, when you serve, there's food. 546 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:58,200 Because what did Jesus say? You don't know what food I have 547 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,240 because while you are buying bread, I was delivering bread 548 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,400 and I got satisfied in my serving. 549 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:07,720 Glory to God. Why? 550 00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:09,360 Because he was first the Kingdom. 551 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:14,120 He wasn't first. Like, get your water. 552 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,760 I'm starving. I'm hung. 553 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,560 Can you give me? I mean, I don't want to talk. 554 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:22,920 Just give me some food. My guys have left. 555 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:25,320 Can you give me some of your water now? 556 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:30,160 He was like, you know if you knew who I was, right? 557 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,560 Yeah, right. If you knew who I was. 558 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,280 And he begins to tell her, now he's flowing. 559 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,560 Why? Because he's about the Father. 560 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:47,600 That's just too much Jesus. That's just too much church. 561 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:49,240 That's just too much living for God. 562 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:54,880 How's it too much? There is no too much. 563 00:35:55,960 --> 00:36:00,680 We serve a too much God, a too good God, an abundant God. 564 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,720 Now, if you're doing it out of your own effort, that's one 565 00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:07,480 thing. But when you're doing it as God 566 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,240 designed, because you know what the God who loves you can say, 567 00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:13,880 hey, you did good, you served well, I got another man up, up. 568 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:15,520 You just take a seat on this one. 569 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:16,680 You know what, there's no problem. 570 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:18,360 Why? Because they'll never be a gap. 571 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:21,400 They'll never be a hole. They'll never be an issue with 572 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:23,640 this church. But again, if you're monitoring 573 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:31,000 your firsts with another first and you got to ask yourself that 574 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,880 question, this is January, let's make 2026 the year that every 575 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,520 month we can say he was always first. 576 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:44,400 He was first, He was first, He was first. 577 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,960 I said he was first. Glory to God. 578 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,240 I said glory to God in John chapter 6. 579 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:54,160 Jump over there real quick. I'm going to have to go really 580 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:59,520 quick now in John chapter 6 verse 26, starting in 26, Jesus 581 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,640 says this. Jesus answered them and said 582 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,280 truly, truly. I say to you, you seek me not 583 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:12,440 because of because you saw signs, but because you ate of 584 00:37:12,440 --> 00:37:17,120 the loaves and were filled. He said, Do not work for the 585 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:23,480 food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal 586 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:27,680 life, which is the Son of man. That which the Son of man will 587 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:32,160 give to you. For on Him the Father has set 588 00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:34,720 his seal. Verse 28. 589 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,960 Therefore they said to him, What shall we do so that we may work 590 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:42,600 the works of God? Jesus answered, said to them, 591 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,480 This is the work of God, that you believe in him who He has 592 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,160 sent. Now that is not a one time 593 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:53,560 belief. We are to believe in Him, in 594 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:58,720 everything pertaining to life and godliness, everything. 595 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,360 Because Jesus is saying more than be born again. 596 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:05,880 In fact, be born again was the least thing he said. 597 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:11,560 It's the least thing he said. It's necessary. 598 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,520 You must be born again, but it's the least thing he said. 599 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:21,480 Verse 30 So they said to him, What then do you do for a son, 600 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:22,880 so that we may see and believe you? 601 00:38:23,120 --> 00:38:28,200 What work do you perform? Verse 31 Our fathers ate the 602 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:30,760 manna in the wilderness, as it is written. 603 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,800 He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. 604 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,840 Jesus then said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not 605 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:39,240 Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is 606 00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:41,960 my Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 607 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:45,560 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven 608 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:49,280 and gives life to the world. Then they said to him, Lord, 609 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,480 always give us this bread. Jesus said to him, I am the 610 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:58,880 bread of life. I am the bread of life. 611 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:04,640 He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in 612 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,920 me will never thirst. Now this seems like 613 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:11,480 contradictory. He just said blessed are those 614 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:15,040 who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 615 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:19,240 Now he says if you'll come to him, you'll never be hungry and 616 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:21,560 you'll never thirst. Now that doesn't mean you won't. 617 00:39:21,720 --> 00:39:23,880 It's wise. It's because you're always 618 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:29,040 hungry. And when you're always hungry, 619 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:36,960 he'll always feed you. When you're always thirsty. 620 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,200 It's an attitude. Lord, thank you for that 621 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:42,160 revelation. What else? 622 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:45,440 I'm still seeking you. I'm still striving after you. 623 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,600 I didn't get satisfied with that meal. 624 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:49,560 And now I'm going to relax for a while. 625 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:52,160 And then all of a sudden I'll come and and hook up with you 626 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:54,200 later. No, it's this constant. 627 00:39:54,240 --> 00:39:57,680 Lord, that was so good. Wow, that was so tasty. 628 00:39:57,760 --> 00:40:00,680 What else is on the table? Because here's the thing, you 629 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:02,160 cannot over. Eat God. 630 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:09,400 You cannot get obese with God. In fact, the more I eat of the 631 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:13,840 bread of lie, the more it creates this like hunger in me. 632 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,640 Because all that I know, I realize what I still don't know. 633 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:26,960 So there's this insatiable desire that He does satisfy, but 634 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:31,640 it immediately turns you into what else is there to know? 635 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:40,280 Don't let anyone ever put out your zeal to want to know Him. 636 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:45,560 And in these last days the world is constantly attacking the 637 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:52,640 source by which you can eat and drink and be satisfied. 638 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:59,000 Always, always doing it, always doing it. 639 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,960 So he goes on then and says this. 640 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:05,560 Then Jesus said I am the bread of life. 641 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,640 He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in 642 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:10,640 me will never thirst. Now jump down to verse 48. 643 00:41:10,640 --> 00:41:14,640 He said I'm the bread of life. Your Father's ate the manna in 644 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:18,480 the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes 645 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:22,080 down out of heaven, so that the one may eat of it and not die. 646 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:24,640 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. 647 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,760 If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. 648 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:33,680 And the bread also, which I give for the life of the world is my 649 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:40,600 flesh. Now is Jesus obviously just 650 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:44,360 talking about bread? No, we know in Deuteronomy 651 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:49,080 chapter 8 verse 3, because He references Moses and they 652 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,760 referenced the manna in Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 653 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:58,800 three, it says He humbled you and let you be hungry and fed 654 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:02,200 you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your Father's 655 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:04,040 know. Why? 656 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:07,760 Why did he do this? That he might make you 657 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:14,280 understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man 658 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:18,040 lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of 659 00:42:18,040 --> 00:42:26,000 God. That's how man is to live, not 660 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:29,400 by bread alone. Why is bread necessary? 661 00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:31,400 It's sustained. You're going to need natural 662 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:33,680 things. In fact, that's why Matthew, he 663 00:42:33,680 --> 00:42:36,400 said, invert chapter 6. He said the Father knows that 664 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:39,600 you have needed these things. He's not saying you don't need 665 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:42,240 them and we should never like, well, I don't need to, I don't 666 00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:44,040 need anything. I just have the Lord. 667 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:48,080 That's not scriptural. God knows you need things on the 668 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:50,880 planet and He has no problem giving them to you. 669 00:42:50,880 --> 00:42:54,600 In fact, your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom 670 00:42:54,720 --> 00:42:58,880 and a supply with it. Glory to God, He's amazing. 671 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,760 In fact, he says if you seek me first, everything that everybody 672 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:03,080 else is going after, I'll give you. 673 00:43:03,720 --> 00:43:07,240 Now you're going to get a good portion of it in this life, but 674 00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:09,520 you'll also get it in the one to come. 675 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:13,560 I said in the one to come because we are coming back to 676 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:17,280 the planet for 1000 year, millennial reign and we are 677 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:19,760 going to be in houses we did not build. 678 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:26,680 We're going to be over cities. There's a reward on the other 679 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:30,280 side of things to do with him as well. 680 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:35,760 And this is for those who seek, who strive, who are, as we said 681 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:39,440 in morning prayer about the Father's business, He, Jesus was 682 00:43:39,440 --> 00:43:42,560 consumed. And if the head of the church is 683 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:44,840 consumed, then the body should be consumed. 684 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:50,880 And everything you do is an outflow of that consumption. 685 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:56,880 My job is effective because of what I do in the church, how I 686 00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:02,480 function, grow, seek hunger, thirst, grow, develop and 687 00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:06,120 equipped. My whole life becomes different 688 00:44:06,200 --> 00:44:09,120 and then things get added to me that all my coworkers who know 689 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:12,680 that we're all in about the same dollar figure we all basically 690 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:14,760 have. But yet I'm living a life so 691 00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:16,320 blessed. I do not have sickness and 692 00:44:16,320 --> 00:44:19,240 disease like they do. I mean, God's opening doors and 693 00:44:19,240 --> 00:44:21,120 they're like, what are you doing? 694 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:30,400 Well, I'm just seeking the Lord. She's putting him first, Jesus 695 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:33,400 himself said in Luke 44. Jesus answers said it is written 696 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:34,880 man shall not live on bread alone. 697 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:38,240 So that statement was the reason why you're getting the bread is 698 00:44:38,240 --> 00:44:41,120 to teach you quit just trying to do what you can do and 699 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:47,480 determining how much you want to do what you can do depend on my 700 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:50,760 word. Seek me with everything you 701 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,720 have. Look to me, run after me. 702 00:44:54,200 --> 00:45:00,200 Treat me like you're hungry. Come after me like you're 703 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:02,400 thirsty. Man, I'll never forget, man, 704 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,640 when I played Little League football in Archer, Florida, we 705 00:45:05,640 --> 00:45:09,160 were the Archer Hornets. And so I remember that it was, I 706 00:45:09,160 --> 00:45:11,640 just left my neighborhood and went to the practice field. 707 00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:13,520 I mean, I almost could see it from my house. 708 00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:17,120 And so I was over there and have my jersey on and we were doing 709 00:45:17,120 --> 00:45:19,320 tackling drills. You know, they line us up and we 710 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:22,040 hit each other, you know, And man, I would tackle people. 711 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:25,320 I mean, I was crazy as a person who could tackle. 712 00:45:25,320 --> 00:45:27,200 I was small, but I would tackle you. 713 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:28,840 You know, I'd grab you somewhere. 714 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:30,480 You're going down. I don't care how big you were. 715 00:45:30,480 --> 00:45:33,280 I remember one time I, I tackled one guy, ripped every one of his 716 00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:36,320 shoelaces out. You know, we hit and struggled. 717 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:38,800 I got down at his feet, he started pulled, I grabbed his 718 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:40,480 handful of shoelaces and I ripped in. 719 00:45:40,480 --> 00:45:42,000 The whole shoelace just ripped out. 720 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:47,320 I mean, I was so tenacious at tackling that I ripped people's 721 00:45:47,320 --> 00:45:50,680 jerseys all the time. That one day, you know, the team 722 00:45:50,680 --> 00:45:54,080 decided we're going to RIP Earls jersey off and they ripped. 723 00:45:54,080 --> 00:45:56,080 I got a little hole and they ripped my jersey off because I 724 00:45:56,080 --> 00:45:58,640 would RIP their jerseys. I mean, I'm holding on for dear 725 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:02,400 life, you understand, but you're going down, right? 726 00:46:02,720 --> 00:46:04,560 But I'll never forget one day of practice. 727 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:06,960 It was hot. You know, we're in Florida and 728 00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:09,760 I'm in the center part of the state, North Central part, you 729 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:13,080 know, So it's really hot. No breeze, no ocean breeze 730 00:46:13,080 --> 00:46:16,160 there, no breeze. And these kids are running 731 00:46:16,160 --> 00:46:17,840 around playing. They're not practicing. 732 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:21,760 They're just hanging out. And I'm looking at them and I 733 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:25,760 see that water hose over there and I'm over there listening to 734 00:46:25,760 --> 00:46:27,960 coach. I'm like, my gosh, what is wrong 735 00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:31,400 with those kids? Why are they not over there 736 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:35,200 drinking that water? Oh of you, if I could just go 737 00:46:35,200 --> 00:46:37,040 over there and get a little bit of water right now. 738 00:46:37,240 --> 00:46:40,800 I'm so thirsty and I loved it when the coach blew the whistle. 739 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:46,680 Boom, man, I was out of you're sucking that green hose water. 740 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:49,480 It's like a whole nother class of water right there. 741 00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:54,600 Water that comes out of a green hose is next level. 742 00:46:55,280 --> 00:46:56,840 That's next lever taste right there. 743 00:46:57,000 --> 00:47:00,520 Zephyrhills has nothing on green water, hose water. 744 00:47:01,160 --> 00:47:04,320 You know what I'm talking about. But I'm just like, huh. 745 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:08,480 I mean, I'm like longing. I could not wait for him to blow 746 00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:12,680 that whistle and let us get. I mean, I was so consumed and I 747 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:14,680 did not walk. I, I mean, I was feeling 748 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:17,240 fatigued, but I ran. I aren't. 749 00:47:17,440 --> 00:47:21,160 I pursued with great eager and vigor because I wanted to beat 750 00:47:21,160 --> 00:47:24,680 everybody else to be the first one to the water. 751 00:47:25,240 --> 00:47:28,480 I mean, is that your every time church experience? 752 00:47:28,840 --> 00:47:30,440 Is that your every morning experience? 753 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:32,080 And let me just say this, it should be your whole 754 00:47:32,080 --> 00:47:35,200 relationship with God. It should be your day devotion. 755 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:38,880 It should be a everyday. But you understand there is the 756 00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:42,120 church time and you should want the church time like you have 757 00:47:42,120 --> 00:47:45,400 your own personal time with the Lord because we are a corporate 758 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:47,240 church. You should run to it. 759 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:50,320 You should be hungry for it. You should be passionate about 760 00:47:50,320 --> 00:47:51,960 it. You should be eager about it. 761 00:47:52,040 --> 00:47:55,160 You're like, my gosh, I just can't help but I love doing 762 00:47:55,240 --> 00:48:01,960 doing God's work personally and corporately because I'm in a 763 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:04,160 body. You do not lose your 764 00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:06,560 individuality, but you do lose your independence. 765 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:09,600 And if he's Lord, then you're like, Lord, where can I serve? 766 00:48:09,600 --> 00:48:11,800 What can I do? How can I because this is what a 767 00:48:11,800 --> 00:48:14,200 hungry, thirsty person looks like. 768 00:48:14,360 --> 00:48:21,040 So how they sound Hallelujah. And those who critique that have 769 00:48:21,040 --> 00:48:25,280 lost their hunger, they're losing their thirst, they're 770 00:48:25,280 --> 00:48:28,880 actually being satisfied somewhere else, which is not 771 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:31,960 really satisfying. Now let's close with this in 772 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:35,840 John chapter 6. Let's go on to verse 59 then. 773 00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:41,400 Then these things he said in the synagogue as he taught in 774 00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:43,440 Capernaum. Now I skipped a section where 775 00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:47,200 Jesus starts talking about His blood and His body. 776 00:48:48,640 --> 00:48:50,760 And this created great controversy. 777 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:56,280 OK, so Jesus is saying I'm the bread of life. 778 00:48:57,120 --> 00:48:59,720 You need to be hungry and thirsty for me. 779 00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:02,800 I'm going to satisfy you. This is the pursuit. 780 00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:06,000 You are to pursue me like a meal. 781 00:49:07,320 --> 00:49:10,080 Like when you haven't had something to eat and you haven't 782 00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:14,880 had something to drink, you want it and you'll put everything 783 00:49:14,880 --> 00:49:17,400 else aside to satisfy that hunger. 784 00:49:18,720 --> 00:49:22,720 I want that kind to pursue me. That's what we want. 785 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:24,120 That's what he wants. And you know what? 786 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:27,080 That's what his spirit puts in us when he's Lord. 787 00:49:27,080 --> 00:49:29,000 You're like everyday thinking this deal. 788 00:49:29,520 --> 00:49:31,320 But not everybody could accept that. 789 00:49:32,040 --> 00:49:35,000 In fact, they said it's a hard saying. 790 00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:43,720 See, when you seek God like this, you're going to have many 791 00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:49,960 who don't seek like this say man, that's a hard thing, but 792 00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:53,760 it's not hard. Jesus then verse 6, he says, 793 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:59,080 therefore many say how many, how many, many of his disciples when 794 00:49:59,080 --> 00:50:02,960 they heard this said, this is a difficult statement, who can 795 00:50:02,960 --> 00:50:07,600 listen to it? That's why there are many 796 00:50:07,600 --> 00:50:10,160 congregations that are filled with complacency. 797 00:50:14,240 --> 00:50:22,880 An hour and no more 20 minute sermons, Podcasts at your 798 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:28,600 leisure. YouTube when you get to it. 799 00:50:29,880 --> 00:50:37,640 We'll binge on Netflix seasons, but we do not binge the word. 800 00:50:37,640 --> 00:50:46,280 I mean, if you're watching the bowl games in the College 801 00:50:46,280 --> 00:50:53,160 playoffs, I mean, this past weekend they had a game rain. 802 00:50:54,200 --> 00:50:57,480 I mean, it is raining cats and dogs. 803 00:50:58,800 --> 00:51:01,360 I mean, it's crazy how wet the field is. 804 00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:05,360 Cincinnati. I was watching Cincinnati and 805 00:51:05,360 --> 00:51:08,360 whoever they were playing like Navy was watching. 806 00:51:09,120 --> 00:51:14,600 I mean, it's pouring. You know, that congregation 807 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:22,200 didn't leave. I was blown away by, you know, 808 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:25,840 they showed up even though rain was in the forecast or it was 809 00:51:25,840 --> 00:51:33,800 raining, period. It's game day. 810 00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:39,280 And they're sad. You know, they're sad because 811 00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:43,640 this is the last time they can assemble until the next season. 812 00:51:44,360 --> 00:51:48,280 You understand, the the religion of sports is so big here that 813 00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:51,760 the idolatry of it with the world is that we're no longer 814 00:51:51,760 --> 00:51:54,160 satisfied with just NFL in the fall. 815 00:51:54,160 --> 00:51:56,360 That's why we have a spring league now and we have an arena 816 00:51:56,360 --> 00:51:57,760 league. I mean, we ought to have sports 817 00:51:57,960 --> 00:52:02,760 24/7 so we can keep filling and assembling. 818 00:52:03,440 --> 00:52:05,000 You know what's crazy about the world? 819 00:52:05,080 --> 00:52:10,440 The world lost. Going to hell can be in their 820 00:52:10,440 --> 00:52:19,680 sanctuaries for three hours, letting it rain on them soaking 821 00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:26,160 wet and not lose their praise. And the team that is losing, 822 00:52:27,720 --> 00:52:34,840 those fans still stay. They'll stay until right at the 823 00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:36,280 end. The only thing that moves them 824 00:52:36,640 --> 00:52:38,640 is really not that their team's losing. 825 00:52:38,880 --> 00:52:42,760 They're just like, OK, I'm gonna cut out early so I can get out 826 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:44,560 of the parking lot before everybody else. 827 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:46,680 Much what happens here at the end of service as well. 828 00:52:53,680 --> 00:52:56,120 Yeah, I mean, I know of some games they left at the end of 829 00:52:56,120 --> 00:52:58,400 the third quarter, into the 4th, and that team ended up coming 830 00:52:58,400 --> 00:53:00,400 back and they missed the whole thing because they thought, Nah, 831 00:53:00,400 --> 00:53:01,760 they won't make it. They they won't win. 832 00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:03,720 It's over. Let's just go home now. 833 00:53:03,720 --> 00:53:06,480 I'll need to find out. We missed the biggest comeback 834 00:53:06,480 --> 00:53:09,440 ever, But yet the ones that are winning, they stay. 835 00:53:09,880 --> 00:53:15,720 Not only did they stay, they waited on the ceremony, the 836 00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:19,960 reward at the end of the bowl, the trophy that they're not 837 00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:26,960 getting, but they're getting it in their heart because they have 838 00:53:26,960 --> 00:53:33,480 identified with that team. That's their culture, their 839 00:53:33,480 --> 00:53:40,160 team. They paid to go, they paid to 840 00:53:40,160 --> 00:53:46,480 eat, they paid to get rained on. They paid for the poncho to 841 00:53:46,480 --> 00:53:52,320 where and shouted praises without complaint. 842 00:53:54,200 --> 00:53:55,400 It's a little hot in church today. 843 00:53:55,400 --> 00:54:02,840 It's a little too cold. Well, it's cold in Buffalo, cold 844 00:54:02,840 --> 00:54:07,760 in Pittsburgh, yet no one's saying, hey, how come we don't 845 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:10,240 get space heaters on this? I have season tickets. 846 00:54:10,680 --> 00:54:13,200 I need to get a little booth around my individual seat. 847 00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:20,880 You know, I pay to be here, too. It's a hard saying. 848 00:54:22,280 --> 00:54:26,680 Is it hard? Are you hungry and are you 849 00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:27,360 thirsty?