1 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:12,840 Let's go and jump into the Word of God. 2 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,880 We're going to launch out tonight and from Ephesians 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,360 chapter 4. And really, my key text for 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:26,920 tonight is going to be Ephesians chapter 4, verse, verse #15 As I 5 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,320 was preparing, though, I'm going to back up and read starting in 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:34,240 verse #11 just to give context from the Word of God. 7 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,880 You know, earlier this year, Pastor had a series called The 8 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:42,080 Fivefold Effect. Most of you were here for that 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,720 series, but it's a great series. You can go back and listen to it 10 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:47,960 online talking about the fivefold ministry, the apostle, 11 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,200 prophet, evangelist, teacher, and pastor. 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,920 And so let's read about them starting in verse #11 of 13 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,160 Ephesians chapter 4. And then we'll really focus in 14 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,560 on verse #15 because tonight I want to talk to you about Max 15 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,760 reps Anybody like to work out? Anybody thought about working 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,080 out? Does anybody have a membership 17 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:17,080 to a gym? OK, so Max reps, it's called 18 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,240 Kingdom growth. That is what is going to be 19 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,040 spoken of tonight. So in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 20 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:31,360 #11 Oh, just by the way, to pastor Tim just texted me and 21 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:36,240 listen, he said take your time. It's it's Nautilus fun night. 22 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:42,120 So we can go a long time. No, I'm not going to keep you 23 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:51,080 too long. 10:00 So it says this, he and he himself, which is 24 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:59,040 Jesus gave some, not all, some. There's no insignificant members 25 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,880 in the body of Christ. Some of the members though have 26 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,200 this gift upon them. And he goes on to say the 27 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,400 apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor and 28 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:12,880 teachers. Why? 29 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,880 Why did he give them? These are Christ, we'll call 30 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,520 love gifts to the church. And he gave the five fold 31 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,440 ministry that are that are those that have been called into full 32 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,800 time ministry and they're called in the full time ministry to 33 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,400 equip the Saints. Number one, you'll see that in 34 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:35,760 verse #12 that means to help supply, furnish and put them in 35 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,880 their fit in the body of Christ. And the reason that's important 36 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,720 is because after that the Saints are going to do the work of the 37 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,400 ministry. It's not that the five fold 38 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,160 ministry is equipped and then they do all the work. 39 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,880 The FIFO ministry helps equip the body so that the work of the 40 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,080 ministry can happen. And the third, the result of 41 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,080 that. The third thing is for the 42 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,640 edifying or the building up of the body of Christ. 43 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,840 It goes on to verse #13 to say, till we all come to the unity of 44 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,560 the faith, and to the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect 45 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:17,320 man we could say this, a mature man to the measure the stature 46 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:21,040 of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children 47 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,120 tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of 48 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,120 doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of 49 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,600 deceitful plotting. And verse 15 is the key verse. 50 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:37,520 But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into 51 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:43,520 him who is the head Christ. Say this with me, grow up in all 52 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,720 things. Say it's the Lord's will that I 53 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:52,160 grow up. Another translation, The 54 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,320 complete Jewish Bible reads verse 15 like this. 55 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,320 Instead speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect 56 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,600 grow up in. Grow up into Him who is the 57 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:09,520 head, the Messiah. The Message Bible reads it like 58 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,200 this. No prolonged, No prolonged 59 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:22,000 infancies among us, please. OK, I'll read that again. 60 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,960 No prolonged infancies among us. And I like this, please. 61 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,560 Will not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are 62 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:38,400 easy prey for predators. God wants us to grow up to know 63 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:44,200 the whole truth and tell it in love, like Christ and 64 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,240 everything. We take our lead from Christ who 65 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:50,080 is the source of everything that we do. 66 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,720 He keeps us in step with each other. 67 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:58,760 His very breath and blood flow through US, nourishing us so 68 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:04,080 that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. 69 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:13,640 The the word grow means to cause, to grow, to increase, to 70 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:21,600 become greater, and to enlarge. Other parallel passages. 71 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,200 I'm going to give you to go along with Ephesians 415 in 72 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,200 Colossians chapter one verse #10 if you're taking notes, you can 73 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,320 write that down. Colossians chapter one verse #10 74 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:38,400 It says that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, 75 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:43,560 being fruitful in every good work, and increasing or growing 76 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:47,240 or enlarging in the knowledge of God. 77 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:54,280 First Thessalonians chapter 3 verse #12 says, May the Lord 78 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:58,920 make you to increase, or to grow, or to enlarge, and abound 79 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:04,440 in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you. 80 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:10,240 First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse #10 says this. 81 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,360 And indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all 82 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,800 Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that 83 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,600 you increase, or you grow more and more. 84 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:28,160 Second Peter chapter 3 verse #18 says this. 85 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:32,520 But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior 86 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,280 Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and 87 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:38,200 forever. Amen. 88 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:43,280 So the Bible encourages and monitors and monitors us to grow 89 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,880 up. And you know what? 90 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:53,560 It takes time to grow. You don't grow up physically 91 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,520 overnight. And you're not going to grow up 92 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,640 spiritually overnight. Educationally, you don't 93 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,920 graduate 12th grade one first through 12th grade and 1 here. 94 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:11,200 It takes time to go through the process of education, right? 95 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:16,560 And you got to pass each grade to get to the next grade to 96 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,880 know. So they know through test to 97 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,280 qualify you that you're able to get to the next level. 98 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:29,280 So there's a lot of parallels between spiritual growth and 99 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,800 natural growth. And, you know, I was just 100 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,400 reflecting on this coming in today. 101 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,600 You know, Abby is 17 now. She only has one more East Coast 102 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:45,560 camp, but she has she's growing up. 103 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,640 Hallelujah. And it's been a great ride in 104 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:55,760 parenting. Zechariah chapter 4 verse #10 105 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,800 says this. Zechariah chapter 4 verse #10 106 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:05,160 says do not despise the day of small beginnings, for the Lord 107 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:13,880 rejoices to see the work begin, to see the Plumb line in 108 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,200 Zerubbla's hand, and God loves to see the work begin in your 109 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,760 life. When you declare that Jesus 110 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:24,240 Christ, you are Lord, you have just entered into His family. 111 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,160 And we're going to talk about stages of spiritual growth, the 112 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,240 characteristics that go along with the stage. 113 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,440 But when you're born again, you're in a babyhood stage. 114 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,919 Now that's an awesome stage, but guess what? 115 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:40,240 God ultimately doesn't want you to stay there. 116 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,920 He expects you to grow up. No prolonged infancies, please. 117 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:54,280 I remember when I gave my life to the Lord in 1997, I literally 118 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:59,040 got the hell scared out of me 'cause I went to a conference by 119 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,000 Mary Baxter called the Divine Revelation of Hell. 120 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,880 And a good friend of mine, Steve Miller, who actually passed 121 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:11,280 away, he was relentless in pursuing me after he gave his 122 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,680 life to the Lord. We ran around in high school, we 123 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:16,920 parted together, We were jocks, you know, we like to lift 124 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,000 weights. We did everything to get. 125 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,000 But he gave his life to the Lord. 126 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,440 And then I kind of stiff armed him, but he would not let up on 127 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,960 me and he kept on calling me and I thank God that he didn't stop. 128 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,400 I thank God that he was persistent. 129 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:31,880 I thank God that he prayed for me. 130 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,360 I thank God that he sowed the seed. 131 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,520 He watered the seed and he would not relent. 132 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,960 And one night really out of him just pestering me, I said, I'll 133 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,000 go to this conference with you. And lo and behold, when we went 134 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,960 to the conference, I had the hell scared out of me. 135 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,560 I was like, I don't want to go there at all after she got done 136 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:51,360 talking about that. So I gave my life to the Lord, 137 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,400 found a great church, and God's been faithful to connect me to 138 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,800 three churches over my journey since 1997 and got plugged in 139 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,560 there and started the process of growth. 140 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,240 But I remember sitting in a church I grew up in a certain, 141 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:12,880 certain religion, I'll call it that was very ritual. 142 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,480 And so, you know, you would go to church, you were going to get 143 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:26,760 in and out in 45 minutes, right? Very methodical, but not really 144 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,080 the relationship or the connection or the truth of the 145 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:30,920 word went forth at that that church. 146 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:35,240 I really was not saved. I was going to that church as a 147 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,240 child into my teen years, but I was not born again. 148 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,680 I just thought I was saved 'cause I was going to church, 149 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,240 never made Jesus Lord. But when I got to Rhema 150 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,320 Christian Center, completely different approach, atmosphere, 151 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,880 reverence for the word, teaching of the Word, completely, 152 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,400 completely different praise than what I was used to. 153 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,480 But I remember sitting there, I had my notebook in my Bible and 154 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,880 I was taking notes and I was like a sponge. 155 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,280 I was so hungry. At that time. 156 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:10,680 We had cassette players. So I'm getting older, 157 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:16,040 Hallelujah. You know, 30 years ago when 158 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,920 somebody talked about something they had in their generator, I 159 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:19,840 was like, they're old. Now I get to talk about cassette 160 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,280 players. So never knew what an 8 track 161 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,960 was, but some of you do. But I know what a cassette 162 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,880 player was. And in that season, man, I, I 163 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:34,400 had my little 1990 Honda Civic and I would just have the, the 164 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,840 pastors tapes playing. Sometimes they'll eat the tapes. 165 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:38,840 So you got to take it out, you got to get your pencil and roll 166 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,320 it up, y'all. And then if, if the, if the 167 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,520 thing broke, that was really a bummer 'cause it's such a good 168 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,560 teaching, you know, but I would, I would put scriptures on my 169 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:49,520 mirror and my car on index cards, you know, and just 170 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:51,160 hungry. But I remember listening to 171 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:54,760 Apostle Scales, who was my pastor at that time, and I would 172 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,400 got really frustrated thinking, man, where has this been? 173 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,400 I want everything and I want it now. 174 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,080 I quit taking notes in the middle of service 'cause it was 175 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,320 so good. But I was like, I want 176 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,400 everything now. And what I'm telling you is that 177 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,200 spiritual growth is a process. I determined that in that 178 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:12,920 moment, man, I'm going to stay connected. 179 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,640 I'm going to stay committed. And I didn't know all these 180 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,280 points or principles that I'm going to give you tonight, but I 181 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,800 just knew I, I'm, I need to be connected. 182 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:23,920 And nobody ever told me go to church. 183 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,040 I just knew, man, I need to go to church. 184 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,800 Nobody begged me, forced me. And that's been part of my 185 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,280 journey in growth. And we'll get to some other 186 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,520 points on that. But God loves to see the work 187 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,600 begin. And that Plumb line is the Word 188 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,160 of God, the truth of His Word, and the work of the Holy Spirit 189 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,760 in your life. See, we were building a life 190 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:48,520 apart from Him before we came to Him. 191 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,400 But God loves when you gave everything to Him. 192 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,600 And now that Plumb line is laid, He said, now let my word and let 193 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,640 the Holy Spirit work. I love to see that work began. 194 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:03,080 God rejoices when somebody comes into His family, into His 195 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,160 Kingdom, and He loves to see the beginning of that. 196 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:10,240 And the process of that change is a constant in life. 197 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:16,680 Learn to enjoy every season and area of life. 198 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:25,440 And back to Abby, I've enjoyed every season of parenting with 199 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,040 her. That's one thing that Andrew and 200 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,400 I have enjoyed. And with Chloe too, it hasn't 201 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,800 gone by too quick. I've enjoyed every moment, have 202 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:37,920 no regrets. We've made great moments and 203 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:42,600 memories and it's it's gone by. It hasn't felt like too quick, 204 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:48,520 but it's been a blessing though every season from her birth to 205 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,800 childhood, you know, in adolescence now we'll call her a 206 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:53,760 young woman. It's been great in every season. 207 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,120 But we need as change as a a constant life, we need to learn 208 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,600 to enjoy every season in every area of life. 209 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:06,160 All life is lived on levels and arrived at in stages or seasons. 210 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,680 There is no growth without change. 211 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,600 The way dead things are differentiated from living 212 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:20,280 things are the amount of changes you're willing to go through. 213 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:24,800 The example of the children of Israel. 214 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:31,000 God called them out to bring them in, but they never changed. 215 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,560 You know, wanderings, we call it the wanderings of the children 216 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,600 of Israel. That's a common theme throughout 217 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,520 Scripture. And number numbers tells us 218 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,000 about the children of Israel. Their wandering journey was full 219 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:50,080 of murmuring and complaining. It was full of movement without 220 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:55,280 progress. They walked around the same 221 00:14:55,280 --> 00:15:02,800 space for 40 years with no progress, no growth. 222 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,320 I don't want to be like that. God has better plans for you, 223 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,640 church. When He delivered you out of 224 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,200 darkness and brought you into His light, He had a wonderful 225 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,840 purpose and plan and pathway for you to grow into. 226 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,760 He doesn't want you being stuck in the same rut, the same 227 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:31,000 habits, the same low level of living as the world, But you got 228 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,320 to be willing to change. You need to be a fully devoted 229 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:37,560 disciple of Jesus Christ that's willing to grow into change. 230 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,960 So let's look at some characteristics in our first 231 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:46,440 stage of development. It's called the babyhood stage. 232 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,400 So we got characteristics on the screen for you. 233 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,280 The positive thing about babyhood is babies are innocent 234 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:58,160 and pure and there's no past with them. 235 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,120 Hallelujah. So when you give your life to 236 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:07,120 the Lord, guess what old things have what passed away. 237 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,560 All things have become new. So in the babyhood stage, you 238 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,400 never want to lose that mindset, that spiritual attitude, that 239 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,600 man, I have a redeemed life. I'm not an ex anything, not an 240 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:25,080 ex alcoholic, not an ex drug addict, not an ex abuser. 241 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,960 Anyone that's in Christ is a brand new creation, old things 242 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:30,560 that passed away. All things have become new. 243 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,960 Psalms 103 says he's able to remove the east as far as the 244 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,960 West, which means your past is under the blood of Christ. 245 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,480 He completely expunges the record as if it never happened. 246 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,320 So we need to keep that mindset as we go on with God as that's 247 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:55,440 pureness, that innocence, realizing that our past has been 248 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,360 redeemed and we now have a future. 249 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,840 Some other things about babies, they live off of milk. 250 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:06,079 They are not developed fully enough to take in solid food. 251 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,760 And because of that, first Peter 22 obviously tells us his 252 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,440 newborn babes desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may 253 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,560 grow thereby. So thank God for milk 'cause 254 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,920 it'll grow you up. What is the baby's primary? 255 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,079 A food source is milk to get them to grow. 256 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,880 But you don't expect them to stay on the bottle forever, 257 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,200 right? It would be weird at camp this 258 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,560 week if my daughters are walking around with a bottle in their 259 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,240 hand. That would not be good. 260 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:44,040 Not at 16 and 17 years old, let alone if you're 60. 261 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,120 I don't care what the world's doing. 262 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:48,760 It's not right to for you to put a pacifier in your mouth. 263 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,880 Yeah, 50 years old. All right. 264 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:58,960 See law. If we go over to Hebrews chapter 265 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:03,200 5, I don't have this verse up there, but it says that babes 266 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,600 are unskilled in the word of righteousness. 267 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,400 That means they're, they have, don't have experience or they're 268 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,080 ignorant of some things when it comes to truth. 269 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,040 They know that they're born again, but now they need to 270 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:17,640 continue. They need to get a knowledge 271 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:22,000 base and an acquaintance with the truth, with the Holy Spirit 272 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,440 so that they can grow. Here's something with babies 273 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,480 too. They will put anything in their 274 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:33,280 mouth. Is that not true? 275 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:38,960 Especially if you had your very first child, you know, you drop 276 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:43,640 the pacifier, you're going to sterilize that by running water 277 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:44,880 over that. The second child, you just stick 278 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,880 it in your mouth and lick it off yourself and give it back to 279 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,680 them 'cause you're a little less worried, but they will take 280 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,640 anything. I remember one time when we were 281 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,040 watching our niece when she was little or nephew, I can't 282 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:57,840 remember if it was Joshua, Jade or no. 283 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,160 It was Joshua. And they came to our apartment 284 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,720 and we had broken a, a glass or a vase or something. 285 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,120 It was on the carpet and he had, he had crawled over there. 286 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:09,200 He was just an infant and Angie's sister had just dropped 287 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:10,440 him off. She's still in the thing. 288 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,600 And he had grabbed that glass. She watched him as a little 289 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,760 piece of glass and was gonna put it in his mouth and thank God 290 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:20,200 she caught him. But as a baby, guess what? 291 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:25,440 We just don't need to be putting any doctrine or teaching. 292 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,240 There is a lot of stuff on the Internet right now and not 293 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,360 saying that all of it's bad. There's some great stuff, but 294 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:34,720 the baby does not have discernment 'cause they don't 295 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,680 know the word of righteousness to understand. 296 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,720 Should I be eating this or not? It could be poisonous. 297 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:45,280 It could be glass that could cut their throat and do much damage 298 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,200 to them, right? But a baby will put anything in 299 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,720 its mouth. So it's important, you know, 300 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,720 that we have some mature people around, some pastors to help 301 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:58,120 make sure they're getting the right nutritional value in their 302 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:00,400 mouth and not something that's going to contaminate them. 303 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,600 Babies are easily irritated and easily spoiled. 304 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,040 Hallelujah. So if you've been walking with 305 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:14,240 the Lord for one year, the next point says when they they will 306 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,200 cry when they're hungry and want to be held. 307 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,400 So that's great if you've been walking with God for six months 308 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,840 or a year, but if you've been walking with God for 10 years 309 00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:27,960 and you want me to come hold you and put a bottle in your mouth, 310 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,200 I'm just Hallelujah. Just giving you examples, right? 311 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,000 After 10 years, you should start to be able to help out babies 312 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,160 grow up. That's the point of the night 313 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,240 we're going to get to it is we should get a mature body that's 314 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:49,000 able to help reproduce strong disciples, a body that's mature, 315 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,640 that looks out for one another, listens, observes, and making 316 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,840 sure we help each other in our spiritual journey. 317 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:03,080 We don't want any sheep to wander off from any kind of fake 318 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:08,120 prophet, fake teaching, bad doctrine, 'cause it's out there. 319 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,240 We want to make sure as much as within us, we keep people on the 320 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:17,680 pathway of progress and truth. So those are some 321 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,440 characteristics of babies. Let's go on to childhood 322 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,400 characteristics. The positive thing about 323 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,160 children. So babies we could say what one 324 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,560 to two, maybe 3 years old at children will will say around 4 325 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,200 years old to about nine years old is in the naturals about 326 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,520 when we would consider that that childhood. 327 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,560 All right, The positive thing about children, they take 328 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:46,680 parents at their word. If you say you're going to do 329 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,560 something, they really believe you're going to do it. 330 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:55,280 I remember my Uncle Jim when I was back in Ohio, he told me he 331 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,400 was taking karate and that he had sparred with, like, Bruce 332 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:04,920 Lee's a karate partner. I believed him, but he was not 333 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:10,480 telling the truth. But children take their parents 334 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,240 or leadership at their word. If you say you're going to do 335 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,160 something, if you say you're going to take them to the Magic 336 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,640 Kingdom, guess what? They are going to remind you of 337 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:24,040 that promise. They will be dogmatic to make 338 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:25,880 sure that you follow through on that word. 339 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,200 And that's a positive trait about a child as they just 340 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,920 believe what their parents or relatives tell them. 341 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:35,320 And they're going to, if you say you're going to get them 342 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:37,080 something for Christmas, they believe it's coming. 343 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,920 And that's a good characteristic to hold onto. 344 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:47,560 And in the childhood stage, 1st Corinthians 1311 says this. 345 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:53,240 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, 346 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,320 I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put 347 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:00,760 away childish things. So the apostle Paul says, 348 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,080 listen, this is a stage of development. 349 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,120 Enjoy every season. You're going to, if you've given 350 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:07,840 your life to Lord, guess what? You're not going to go from an 351 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,760 infant to a mature person. You're going to go through the 352 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:12,600 childhood stage. But when you're a child, you're 353 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,480 going to think like a child. You're going to reason like a 354 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,360 child. You're going to you're going to 355 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:21,640 talk like a child, right? But when you become a man or a 356 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,400 woman of God, you're supposed to put away childish things. 357 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,680 So childish thinking. The Bible encourages childlike 358 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:37,920 faith, but warns of childishness, childish reason. 359 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:44,400 And if a man in a marriage acts like a child, he forces his wife 360 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:52,600 to act like his mother. So we need men and women to grow 361 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,200 up. Hallelujah. 362 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,640 Child is talking. You know kids will just talk, 363 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,520 Talk, talk, talk, talk. Matter of fact, Josh, I didn't 364 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:09,280 get permission and Danny sent us a video of Indy, Indiana giving 365 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:14,320 a 30 minute dissertation, talking just non-stop to them. 366 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,000 They said she just loves to talk. 367 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,520 So she's just rambling on. They sent us a video. 368 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,440 I don't even know all that was saying, but that's what kids 369 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:22,600 are. They just like to talk. 370 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:28,200 But as you grow up, though you understand Proverbs chapter 10 371 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,000 verse 19, it says in the multitudes of words, sin is not 372 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:36,280 lacking, but he will strange as lips, as wise. 373 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,880 So as you grow, you're just not always being gibberish, right? 374 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,480 Talking, talking, talking, talking. 375 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,240 Another characteristic about children is they're curious 376 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,840 children. You have to say no to them at 377 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,240 times because curiosity can get them in trouble. 378 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,280 If they see the electrical outlet and they go to stick 379 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,560 their hand in it, what are you going to say? 380 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,160 No. That makes you a good parent, 381 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,080 not a bad parent. I remember when we were training 382 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,440 our girls and raising them, if Abby or Chloe did reach for 383 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,840 that, we would actually smack their hand and say no, it 384 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:18,280 didn't. It didn't take them long to 385 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,240 understand our no with the pain associated not to do that. 386 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:23,200 Were we? Were we punishing them 'cause we 387 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,000 didn't love them? No, we didn't want a bad outcome 388 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,280 outcome for them if they would have. 389 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,080 Even on a stove, if they would touch a hot stove, that could 390 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,880 burn their hand, right? So as parents, it's our 391 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,760 responsibility to make sure we create safe boundaries for them 392 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,560 and train them up in the way they should go so curiosity 393 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,400 couldn't get them in trouble. Children to throw a temper 394 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,600 tantrum if they don't get their way, they will. 395 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,920 What flail on the floor, pounding their their feet and 396 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:53,440 their hands on the ground and crying if they don't get their 397 00:25:53,440 --> 00:26:00,040 way? In Ephesians chapter 4 verse #14 398 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,720 Another trait of children is it says this, that we should no 399 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:09,120 longer be children tossed to and fro, cared about with every wind 400 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:12,600 of doctrine by the trickery of men and cunning craftiness of 401 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,880 deceitful plotting. So children are unsteady. 402 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:24,200 They can be all over the place pastoring for let's see now. 403 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:35,760 Well, 21 years, I've experienced some congregation members in the 404 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,440 childhood stage and they'll they'll grab a teaching or a 405 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:41,960 doctrine. They'll come to me and say, you 406 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:47,120 know this, listen to this. Or they'll get in like the Book 407 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:51,000 of Revelation and I'll tell them, listen, eschatology is 408 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,600 great. Revelation says Blessed is a man 409 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:59,520 that reads it. But right now, right now, we 410 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,200 need to work on your love walk, your faith walk. 411 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:11,920 We don't need to be thinking about who the Antichrist is, but 412 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,960 children can do that. They could start to run off and 413 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,520 getting all these different doctrines with the slide of men 414 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,360 and the cunning craftiness, and we got to get them back to 415 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:25,720 steadiness on a pathway that's going to lead to progress for 416 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:30,240 them. The next stage of development is 417 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:34,040 adolescence, and here's some characteristics of adolescence. 418 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,440 This period of growth and development is between childhood 419 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,720 and adulthood, typically between 10 and 19 years old. 420 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:49,040 Hallelujah. Hormones are alive and well and 421 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,880 at on a positive side. They feel like they can conquer 422 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,480 the world and that's a great thing. 423 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:00,240 However, guess what? When hormones are alive and 424 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:02,840 well, there becomes a self-awareness. 425 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,760 There becomes a self consciousness. 426 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,880 They can start to try to seek popularity and try to fit in. 427 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,480 Guess what? In adolescents, they're prone to 428 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:24,560 think that they know it all. We've been teenagers before. 429 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:29,760 Come on, you remember when you're 1617? 430 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:36,400 Their decisions can be based off short time desires. 431 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:44,840 It's that's not snot, that's not all those short terms. 432 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:53,120 Desires can be like snot. You need to wipe it off, clean 433 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,520 up your nose and get off not realizing long term results or 434 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:02,480 consequences, right. So out of the spur of the 435 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,720 moment, they'll want to make a decision, but they don't think 436 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:10,000 through what the results or consequences of that decision 437 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,400 may be. Can you put that screen back up? 438 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,560 Are you fixing snot? It's probably my bad. 439 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:19,400 I send them the notes so they just copy and pasted. 440 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,440 And you know what? Spell check didn't catch that 441 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,680 one. So it's not grammatically 442 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:30,920 correct, but there you go. Listen, when you're that age, 443 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,320 they're ready to be independent, not realizing we are built by 444 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:39,760 God to be interdependent. So they're really the center of 445 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:44,080 their own universe. But I'm painting a picture in a 446 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:48,400 pathway for you that enjoy every season, but continue to grow. 447 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,520 This is a self evaluation and examination for you tonight. 448 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,760 Some of you been walking for with the Lord for 30-40 years, 449 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:00,760 some for a month, some for three years, some for six years. 450 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,200 The great thing about the congregation, we got a a great 451 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,360 mixture of growth that's taking place within this body. 452 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:10,440 And guess what, There's always going to be a rotation of 453 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:14,840 different stages and seasons of growth because what when people 454 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,400 come to church, we give an altar call and somebody may come to 455 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,760 Lord tonight and they've just entered into. 456 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:25,560 So we can't expect them to just get it right all the time. 457 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:29,200 Has the Lord been patient with you? 458 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:34,360 Has the Lord showed you mercy? Has the Lord still cared about 459 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,720 you when you've fallen down? But like the proverb says, get 460 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,000 back up. Adjustment falls down, buddy. 461 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,640 What gets back up? But there's also accountability. 462 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,760 On the flip side, if you've been walking with God for 30 years 463 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:52,600 and I see you throwing a spiritual tantrum, we may need 464 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:54,520 to get a little spanking out for you. 465 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:03,200 Say what are you doing? How you can say Amen or owe me 466 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:08,240 or Hallelujah. So let's get on to manhood and 467 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,040 womanhood stage. What are the characteristics of 468 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:16,000 this? When you be, when you are mature 469 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,200 in Christ and that's the aim of God. 470 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,320 He wants us. Ephesians 415 says that we would 471 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:25,160 grow up, no prolonged infancies, no babes in the woods, but that 472 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:27,600 we develop and all that God wants us to be. 473 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:31,760 So when you're a a real man or woman of God and you've matured, 474 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,440 there's a God consciousness that you carry with you every day. 475 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,640 It's not a self consciousness, you have grown and now I'm just 476 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:44,840 aware of God, His presence, the work of the Holy Spirit. 477 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,360 A second thing is you become acquainted and you've got to 478 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:53,880 know the Heavenly Father. When you're a a mature man or 479 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,880 woman of God, you're not in survival mode anymore. 480 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:01,280 Survival means it's not enough. You're full of self and 481 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:04,800 self-interest. You've had success, but you 482 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,440 realize there's a higher calling and a life of significance as a 483 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:14,120 mature man or woman. Mature mature disciples invest, 484 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:20,600 impact and influence. One of the greatest laws and 485 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,800 expectations in the Kingdom of God is the law of reproduction. 486 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:30,480 In Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 through 28, in the creation of 487 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,920 man, God says this. He said let us make man in our 488 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:37,040 image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the 489 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:39,240 fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, 490 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:42,600 over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps 491 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,080 on the earth. So God created man in his own 492 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,040 image, in the image of God. He created him, male and female. 493 00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,720 He created them. Then God bless him, and God said 494 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:55,840 to them, be fruitful, multiply, be fruitful. 495 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,640 What's that? Reproduce, multiply, fill the 496 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,600 earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of 497 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:06,000 the sea, over the bird of the air, birds of the air, over 498 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,120 every living thing that moves on the earth. 499 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,960 So reproduction or the ability to reproduce is a sign of 500 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:20,160 maturity. A mature person understands the 501 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:25,760 principle of succession, Succession. 502 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:28,560 The they understand the law of succession. 503 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:32,800 Succession is the peaceful and orderly transfer of authority, 504 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:36,160 resources, and leadership to the next generation. 505 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:41,040 The goal of succession is perpetual advancement, progress 506 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:44,240 and growth. The mature believer knows I'm 507 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,720 not a success without a successor. 508 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,840 And they have the mentality, the baton mentality, I'm gonna pass 509 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:51,840 off. They have the mentality. 510 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,280 They're not jealous. A mature believer wants you to 511 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:57,120 get your 10 thousands where you got your thousands and is 512 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:01,440 willing to invest and take the time with you to help grow you 513 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:04,640 up so you can do greater things than they ever did. 514 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:11,560 The spirit of Saul got jealous at King David, but a mature 515 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:15,239 person doesn't get jealous. They get excited to see you do 516 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:21,960 greater works. It's exciting to me to know if 517 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:25,639 these youth are at East Coast camp because when I was that age 518 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:31,000 I was not at an East Coast camp. So it's exciting when I started 519 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,440 my journey in my mid 20s. It's exciting to me to know that 520 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:39,120 somebody's starting their journey at 13121110 and I, 521 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:43,639 they're going to be so much further ahead than I was and I 522 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:47,880 get excited about that. And we should get excited about 523 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,520 that and we should come along in collaboration and do everything 524 00:34:51,520 --> 00:35:01,650 we can to see them grow. Maturity does not come with age, 525 00:35:01,650 --> 00:35:04,330 but it comes with the acceptance of responsibility. 526 00:35:05,010 --> 00:35:09,570 You just get old with age. Somebody could be more mature at 527 00:35:09,570 --> 00:35:15,650 25 than somebody is at 60 'cause if you're going to grow up in in 528 00:35:15,650 --> 00:35:18,250 Christ, you need to go ahead and take responsibility for your 529 00:35:18,250 --> 00:35:22,120 actions. When God confronted Adam in the 530 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:28,080 garden, guess what Adam did? He did not take responsibility, 531 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:32,720 which is a sign of immaturity. What did Adam do? 532 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:37,600 He blamed his wife. I believe God was just posing a 533 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:41,960 question to him so a real man could say I missed it. 534 00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:45,920 Please forgive me. The difference with King David 535 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,480 when Nathan confronted King David after failure, David said 536 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:58,200 I am that man. And even when the judgment came, 537 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,120 there was three different judgments and David chose to 538 00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:05,120 give three days to the the mercy of God basically said I want to 539 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,360 fall in the hands of an enemy and even we saw the death Angel 540 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,400 come and David said don't destroy the people. 541 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:13,960 It was me, Lord, it was me. What a man that took 542 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:19,240 responsibility for his actions. And the Bible calls David a man 543 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:22,040 after God's heart. You could be called a woman or a 544 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,720 man after God's heart if you just take responsibility. 545 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:38,560 I'm going to give you 5 M's that we teach at 318 just for a 546 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:44,840 pattern for you of expectation. All right, And these are really 547 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:48,760 5 M's for the mature. So if you've been walking with 548 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:52,840 God sometime, this should be your life number one. 549 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:57,160 You need to model it. You need to model it. 550 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:01,080 First Corinthians 11/1. Paul says follow me or imitate 551 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,760 me or model me as I follow Christ. 552 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:08,160 Paul had the boldness and the confidence say I'm really living 553 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:10,160 this thing out. You shouldn't be one way at 554 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,720 church and nothing at the house. You shouldn't be one way at 555 00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:15,160 church. Another thing at your job. 556 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:18,240 There should be consistency, there should be steadfastness, 557 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:24,280 there should be fruitfulness. Model means that I'm imitating, 558 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,720 I'm living it out. I'm I'm walking it out. 559 00:37:26,720 --> 00:37:32,200 I'm doing this thing even if I fail or falter, I'm mature 560 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:37,440 enough to take responsibility and still walk it out and model 561 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:39,400 it to somebody else 'cause God wants us. 562 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,080 He wants the body of Christ to grow up and be mature so that we 563 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:48,040 could have models or really be salt and light to the world. 564 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,560 If you're modeling it, that qualifies you to mentor. 565 00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:59,920 Mentoring is a relational process in which a mentor who 566 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:04,080 knows and has experienced something transfers that 567 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:10,320 something, whether it's resources, wisdom, information, 568 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:16,360 experience, and insight, to a mentor E at the appropriate time 569 00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:20,000 and manner so that it facilitates development and 570 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,240 growth. That's what a mentorship is. 571 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:29,440 I'm transferring resources, wisdom, insight, experience to 572 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:32,720 another person so they can go on and do the work that God's 573 00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:35,880 called them to do. You see this at the Bible. 574 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:40,480 Paul mentored Silas, right? You see in the Old Testament, 575 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:46,520 Elijah mentored Elijah. Elijah, y'all know what I'm 576 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,200 saying? OK, But you see it throughout. 577 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:54,440 Paul mentored Timothy, right? So there's individual mentorship 578 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:58,520 that could take place, but you need to model it first, qualify 579 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,160 it, then you can mentor after that. 580 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:03,520 You have to monitor those that you're mentoring. 581 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,560 Mediocre men want authority without accountability. 582 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:11,040 Mediocre women want authority without accountability. 583 00:39:12,040 --> 00:39:14,080 You can get online and call yourself whatever you want. 584 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:16,480 Profit so and so, prophetess so and so. 585 00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:19,000 That doesn't make you a model or a mentor. 586 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:24,360 That's why the local body church is so important. 587 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,040 Why 'cause there's accountability that takes place 588 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:31,120 if we see you putting something in your mouth that you shouldn't 589 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,120 be putting in your mouth. If I see you run across the 590 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,760 street spiritually, I'm gonna say stop. 591 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,280 Amen. You can get hurt doing that. 592 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:44,560 So accountability will help you grow. 593 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:46,800 After accountability, guess what? 594 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:50,800 You got to motivate people 'cause sometimes when there's 595 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:55,640 accountability, it could feel like, OK, the Bible says no 596 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:58,760 Chastening for the present seems for the present time seems 597 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:02,080 pleasant. But it yields the peaceable 598 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:05,480 fruit of righteousness. So anytime there's correction, 599 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:07,600 it may not feel good, but if you're doing it in love, it's 600 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,360 for your benefit. And after that you got to 601 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:14,120 motivate to say, come on, you can do this now, but the whole 602 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:17,720 goal is to multiply. The 5th M is to multiply. 603 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:26,360 I want to really for the next the amount of time we have left 604 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:32,000 till 10:00, I want to go over a a plan. 605 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,480 It won't be till 10. Give me 27 minutes. 606 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:38,280 And if Nautilus is still going, you can go have fun with them 607 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:44,000 because it is their fun night. But in all this, as we look at 608 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,040 the characteristics of each stage, I want to give you a plan 609 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:57,320 and a pathway for growth because to grow naturally in training 610 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:00,440 and developing, it's very similar in the spiritual growth 611 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:05,240 and development, there is a plan and a pathway to progress in the 612 00:41:05,240 --> 00:41:10,240 things of God. In First Timothy chapter 4 verse 613 00:41:10,240 --> 00:41:16,360 #8 the Bible says for bodily exercise profits little, but 614 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:21,280 godliness is profitable in all things. 615 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:25,600 Having promise of the life that now is and that which is to 616 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:27,400 come. Glory to God. 617 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:30,240 There's promises that can be fulfilled in this life. 618 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:35,200 We serve a great God who wants to do great things through his 619 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:40,440 great people. First Corinthians Chapter 9 620 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:46,240 verses 24 through 27 from the message says this you've you've 621 00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:49,720 all been to the stadium and you've seen the athletes race 622 00:41:49,720 --> 00:41:59,000 every run. Runs one, wins, run two win all 623 00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:02,240 good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that 624 00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:06,080 tarnishes and fades. You're after one that that's 625 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:08,920 gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm 626 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:10,960 running hard for the finish line. 627 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:13,680 I'm giving it everything I've got. 628 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:19,200 No lazy living for me. I'm staying alert and in top 629 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,720 condition. I'm not going to get caught 630 00:42:21,720 --> 00:42:25,640 napping, telling everyone else all about it, and then missing 631 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:30,080 out myself. What a word of encouragement and 632 00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:34,880 admonition of awareness to live this life for Christ. 633 00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:39,200 I brought up those two verses though, because Paul, it's 634 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:43,600 talking about characteristics of athletes in the natural. 635 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:45,760 How do they get better at what they do? 636 00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:49,880 So I'm going to go over 5 natural things that carry over 637 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:54,040 to the spiritual life. And this is actually what I 638 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:59,880 build my life upon spiritually and then my goals physically 639 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,440 'cause I have gold, spirit, soul, body, family, financially, 640 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,640 socially and ministry. I set goals every year. 641 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:11,840 Ask God, what do you want me to do in 2025? 642 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,920 In October, I'll start praying about 2026. 643 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:16,960 What do you want me to do in 2026? 644 00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:21,400 So this is how I build my plan #1 nutrition. 645 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:25,760 I'm going to name all five and then I'm going to come back and 646 00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:30,680 explain them. Number 2 is rest #3 is 647 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:37,240 anaerobics #4IS aerobics, and #5IS flexibility and mobility. 648 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:42,480 So the very first thing in any successful program that's going 649 00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:47,880 to help you grow in the natural, but more importantly spiritually 650 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:55,720 is nutrition. What are you eating now? 651 00:43:55,720 --> 00:43:57,800 A few months ago, I talked about Steakums. 652 00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:02,600 About two weeks ago, Steak EMS showed up at the church. 653 00:44:05,560 --> 00:44:08,480 You can have what you say. We're sitting in service a 654 00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:11,840 couple Wednesdays ago, and Laura Wade could witness this. 655 00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:14,200 She's waving back there. Somebody delivered groceries 656 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:18,920 during service from Publix, and I asked her next day what was in 657 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:24,640 them. She said some steak EMS, right? 658 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:30,000 I like Tang growing up. Hallelujah. 659 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:35,320 I used to take Tang and sprinkle it on my vanilla ice cream. 660 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:44,040 That would pucker your face up right there, you know? 661 00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:48,160 You realize as you grow up though, no bueno. 662 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:54,800 If I'm really going to get somewhere, you know the seed you 663 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:58,120 sow determines the destiny you reap. 664 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:03,320 You have control through the Word of God to determine what 665 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:06,520 life you're going to live in the Kingdom by the seed that you 666 00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:10,200 sow. I know Twinkies last for 20 667 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:13,800 years. I've heard in the wrapper, don't 668 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,360 get on false theology or doctrines of demons and think 669 00:45:16,360 --> 00:45:18,560 just 'cause I ate Twinkies, it's going to preserve my body. 670 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:25,160 Now I'm being funny. But what are we doing 671 00:45:25,160 --> 00:45:27,840 spiritually? Cause Matthew 4/4 says man shall 672 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:33,080 not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of 673 00:45:33,080 --> 00:45:36,200 my out of the diet, out of God, the mouth of God. 674 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:38,480 Sorry, I was thinking about My fitness Pal. 675 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:41,720 Hallelujah. I started doing My Fitness pal 676 00:45:41,720 --> 00:45:43,840 about 3 weeks ago 'cause I was like, I really wanna see what 677 00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:47,080 I'm eating. And so you gotta type in what 678 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:50,200 your calorie aim is. What's your protein, what's your 679 00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:52,880 carbs, what's your fat? And boy, that does not lie 680 00:45:54,120 --> 00:45:56,520 unless you're lying, entering the data, but then you need to 681 00:45:56,520 --> 00:45:59,640 repent, be a real man or woman of God putting the right data. 682 00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:03,400 But man, that was really eye opening. 683 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:07,160 But how much more? What are you eating spiritually? 684 00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:10,920 Are you eating spiritually 'cause if you're going to grow, 685 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:12,600 guess what? You need nutrition from the Word 686 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:14,480 of God. Are you doing the fundamentals? 687 00:46:14,480 --> 00:46:16,800 Are you reading the Word of God every day? 688 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:20,720 You know, we encourage and pass out a Bible reading plan at the 689 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:23,200 beginning of every year. We keep those stocked throughout 690 00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:25,800 their Why? Because we want you to connect 691 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:27,640 with God the Father so you can grow. 692 00:46:27,800 --> 00:46:29,040 Whether you're an infant, guess what? 693 00:46:29,040 --> 00:46:31,880 You need milk. Whether you're a mature person, 694 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:35,960 Hebrew says that you could have strong meat. 695 00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:42,000 You know a mature person doesn't talk about the deep things of 696 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:43,680 God. I'm not trying to wow you, 697 00:46:43,680 --> 00:46:46,400 impress you with deep things. Really. 698 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:51,120 If you look at Hebrews chapter 5, it says by reason of use they 699 00:46:51,120 --> 00:46:53,240 exercise. Really. 700 00:46:53,240 --> 00:46:56,280 A mature person doesn't think, get up and talk about oh, I know 701 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:59,040 this and I sound the oratories great. 702 00:46:59,040 --> 00:47:03,200 And hermeneutically I'm on point and I know about hermetology, 703 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:08,360 pneumatology, I know about theology, bibliology, you know, 704 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,520 I know about homiletics. I don't care. 705 00:47:10,680 --> 00:47:16,360 Are you applying the word 'cause you're not deep and mature? 706 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:18,640 You're not mature just 'cause you think you're deep. 707 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:20,960 Really deep means you don't know what you're talking about. 708 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:28,480 The Bible says in in Hebrews chapter 5 that really strong 709 00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:32,880 meat belongs to those who by reason of use practice, 710 00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:35,000 exercise. It you look up that word 711 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,240 exercise and strongs, it means to train vigorously. 712 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:41,800 That means I apply the word, that means I mature. 713 00:47:42,880 --> 00:47:45,240 So a mature person applies the word of God. 714 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:50,720 Are you developing and nutrition your prayer life 'cause prayer 715 00:47:50,720 --> 00:47:54,040 is vital to growing up and you know God wants you to connect 716 00:47:54,040 --> 00:47:56,080 with him. It's not always about asking for 717 00:47:56,080 --> 00:47:58,920 things. Do you just take time with him? 718 00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:05,800 Brother Barry was telling me at prayer today about his testimony 719 00:48:06,480 --> 00:48:08,240 and they were needing some money. 720 00:48:08,320 --> 00:48:10,920 I didn't ask if you could share, but I don't think he cares. 721 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:17,680 We good and they were in a tight spot and he said I'm and really 722 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:22,600 he said I'm going to tithe no matter what and they needed 723 00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:26,800 groceries, right? If I mess up the story, people 724 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:28,520 could see you after, but I got the premise of it. 725 00:48:30,080 --> 00:48:31,920 But he said he told his wife, man, we're going to be 726 00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:33,960 committed. We're going to tithe and like 727 00:48:33,960 --> 00:48:36,040 they didn't have nothing. He knew that he could have ran 728 00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:39,840 to his dad who was sitting on the porch close to his house, 729 00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:41,520 'cause I think they live in close connection, right? 730 00:48:41,720 --> 00:48:44,440 He's talking about back in the day they had the fat wallets. 731 00:48:44,840 --> 00:48:47,760 You know, his dad always had hundred $100 bills, $50.00 732 00:48:47,760 --> 00:48:50,240 bills, $20 bills. But he trusted and got his 733 00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:52,480 father. So he tithed. 734 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:55,600 He trusts in Lord. And you know what a mature 735 00:48:55,600 --> 00:48:58,920 person did instead of crying and snotting and throwing a temper 736 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:02,240 tantrum and how we going to make it, he started praising the Lord 737 00:49:02,640 --> 00:49:05,240 so loud his dad came off the porch and said, you OK? 738 00:49:05,240 --> 00:49:08,560 I thought something happened. But you know what? 739 00:49:08,560 --> 00:49:10,880 Somebody came up. Was it a gooseneck when you had 740 00:49:10,880 --> 00:49:12,320 your shop? Was that a gooseneck trailer? 741 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:15,040 They need it fixed and said, Hey, we need you to fix this, 742 00:49:15,040 --> 00:49:18,400 please. And was it the next day? 743 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:23,160 What it was the same day. So they, he, he praised him, 744 00:49:23,360 --> 00:49:27,160 praised God super loud and tithed and didn't have anything. 745 00:49:27,160 --> 00:49:29,320 They pulled up said can you fix? He said, sure. 746 00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:31,320 They said, listen, I know you probably don't need this, but 747 00:49:31,320 --> 00:49:32,520 we're going to give you the head of time. 748 00:49:32,760 --> 00:49:39,680 Pulled out six $100 bills, paid them a percentage upfront. 749 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:41,440 And then I there was another person that came later in the 750 00:49:41,440 --> 00:49:43,000 day that did the same amount, right? 751 00:49:43,480 --> 00:49:47,240 So $1200. And this is back in what year? 752 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:52,520 OK, so that's a lot of money back then. 753 00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:57,400 Hallelujah, no inflation. 1200, still a lot of money, but it was 754 00:49:57,400 --> 00:50:00,720 a lot of money back then. But that's maturity. 755 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:10,680 A baby would have cried snodded right, but he prayed he so it's 756 00:50:10,680 --> 00:50:12,840 not always asking God. It's it's praising him, it's 757 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:15,280 spending time with and it's praying for other people. 758 00:50:15,280 --> 00:50:17,880 It's it's interceding for our nation supplicating for the 759 00:50:17,880 --> 00:50:20,920 Saints. This is what you need as 760 00:50:20,920 --> 00:50:24,240 nutrition right. Church attendance is another 761 00:50:24,240 --> 00:50:30,200 nutrition factor for you man when you come come expecting if 762 00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:32,600 you've heard of scripture, don't think Oh, I've already heard 763 00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:34,480 that. No, I want to get everything 764 00:50:34,480 --> 00:50:37,680 there is to get some will be attentive to what's being said 765 00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:41,000 like it's the first time studying the word of God is 766 00:50:41,000 --> 00:50:44,480 another nutrition factor. Even though you've read you've 767 00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:46,720 prayed, you're attending church. Guess what the Bible says it 768 00:50:46,720 --> 00:50:50,760 doesn't say pastors and apostles and prophecy evangelist 769 00:50:50,760 --> 00:50:52,840 teachers. Only those five study the word 770 00:50:52,840 --> 00:50:55,240 of God to show yourself to prove to God. 771 00:50:55,240 --> 00:50:58,880 No, it's for the body of Christ to study everybody to study. 772 00:50:59,800 --> 00:51:05,360 If you really want to grow, you need nourishment, and the one of 773 00:51:05,360 --> 00:51:11,000 the greatest principles to nourishment wisest to meditate 774 00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:13,600 on the Word. I'll put it this way, meditate 775 00:51:13,600 --> 00:51:19,000 to maturity. A man without an organized 776 00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:22,960 pattern of thought will always be at the mercy of a man with an 777 00:51:22,960 --> 00:51:27,600 organized pattern of thought. If you meditate on the Word, 778 00:51:27,840 --> 00:51:29,720 you're focusing in on the right thing. 779 00:51:31,560 --> 00:51:33,200 There's so many promises in the Bible. 780 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:36,560 Joshua 18 says this book of the law shall not depart out of your 781 00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:38,680 mouth, but you shall meditate in it. 782 00:51:38,680 --> 00:51:41,680 Get the nourishing, the nutrients out of it day and 783 00:51:41,680 --> 00:51:45,040 night to observe, to do all that's written there in for then 784 00:51:45,040 --> 00:51:46,960 you will make your way prosperous, and then you'll have 785 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:49,760 good success. Psalms one one through 3 says, 786 00:51:49,760 --> 00:51:53,480 blessed is a man that walks not in the counsel of ungodly, nor 787 00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:56,480 stands in the way of the Sinner, nor sits in the seat of the 788 00:51:56,480 --> 00:52:00,160 scornful, but his delight. His delight is in the law of the 789 00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:02,680 Lord, and in that law he meditates day and night. 790 00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:05,880 He shall be like a man or a woman of God, that's mature, 791 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:09,120 that's planted by the streams of water, whose leaf does not 792 00:52:09,120 --> 00:52:10,720 wither. In whatever he does, it'll 793 00:52:10,720 --> 00:52:14,760 prosper. First Timothy 4:15 it says, 794 00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:17,880 meditate on these things. Paul told Timothy, Meditate on 795 00:52:17,880 --> 00:52:19,920 these things. Think on these things. 796 00:52:20,360 --> 00:52:24,680 Give yourself wholly or entirely to them, that your progress, 797 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:29,840 your growth would be evident. God wants to show you off. 798 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:36,080 God wants to use you. He wants it to be evident in 799 00:52:36,080 --> 00:52:41,120 your life that you've grown up. And meditation is vital to the 800 00:52:41,120 --> 00:52:44,760 nutrient side of growing up. Second thing is rest. 801 00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:50,960 When my wife and I went away for our anniversary several months 802 00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:55,120 ago, we were laying out by the pool and I had a book that I was 803 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:58,240 reading and the guy said, Hey, I know that guy. 804 00:52:58,920 --> 00:53:01,280 I was reading a Christian book and he knew the author. 805 00:53:01,280 --> 00:53:05,320 And so we got to talking, but we got to talking about lifting 806 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:07,920 'cause I don't even know how we got on that subject of lifting. 807 00:53:07,920 --> 00:53:09,920 We were talking about God first and talked about lifting, but he 808 00:53:09,920 --> 00:53:13,040 told me he just got done speaking at an NFL symposium. 809 00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:17,160 So the guy's a professor at Florida International 810 00:53:17,160 --> 00:53:19,120 University. He used to be a professor at 811 00:53:19,120 --> 00:53:20,760 Bowling Green. He actually lives in Ohio, but 812 00:53:20,760 --> 00:53:25,560 he travels to FIU to teach, but he's kind of well renowned. 813 00:53:25,560 --> 00:53:28,440 But he, we were talking about lifting and growth and 814 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:33,000 everything and he said, you know, right now in the NFL and 815 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:36,520 high level college 1 athletes, they are monitoring their 816 00:53:36,520 --> 00:53:41,000 athletes rest. That's serious. 817 00:53:41,000 --> 00:53:44,120 They put devices on them to make sure you're not only getting 818 00:53:44,120 --> 00:53:48,480 five hours of sleep 'cause they realize that rest is vital to 819 00:53:48,480 --> 00:53:50,840 growth. And if you're out partying, 820 00:53:50,840 --> 00:53:54,640 doing the wrong thing with the wrong people, it's going to 821 00:53:54,640 --> 00:53:58,800 stifle the team. So they're serious about making 822 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:01,440 sure their athletes get rest. But I thought about that 823 00:54:01,440 --> 00:54:05,240 spiritually, and I thought that's important for us to grow 824 00:54:05,240 --> 00:54:07,520 spiritually. You know, Matthew Chapter 11, 825 00:54:08,120 --> 00:54:13,960 verses 28 through 30, it says this, are you tired, worn out, 826 00:54:14,800 --> 00:54:20,200 burned out on religion? Jesus says come to me, get away 827 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:24,120 with me and you'll recover your life. 828 00:54:24,840 --> 00:54:26,680 I'll show you how to take a real rest. 829 00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:30,640 Walk with me and work with me. Watch how I do it. 830 00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:34,200 Learn the unforced rhythm of grace. 831 00:54:34,760 --> 00:54:38,480 I won't lay anything heavy or I'll fitting on you. 832 00:54:38,880 --> 00:54:41,800 Keep company with me. You'll learn to live freely and 833 00:54:41,800 --> 00:54:44,560 lightly. God wants you. 834 00:54:44,720 --> 00:54:50,080 He said My yoke is easy and my burden is light, you know, and 835 00:54:50,080 --> 00:54:53,800 rest. You can laugh at things when 836 00:54:53,800 --> 00:54:56,760 something comes up. You don't have to get anxious, 837 00:54:57,280 --> 00:55:02,680 fretting, worrying. A mature man or woman of God is 838 00:55:02,680 --> 00:55:04,760 going to say ha, ha, ha because why? 839 00:55:04,760 --> 00:55:09,400 They have the strong meat and by practice they understand the 840 00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:12,600 faithfulness of God. Brother Barry has a notch in his 841 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:18,200 belt because he's experienced what a praise life will do. 842 00:55:18,960 --> 00:55:21,480 He's experienced what tithing will do. 843 00:55:25,560 --> 00:55:29,840 You see what I'm saying? So he has confidence in the 844 00:55:29,840 --> 00:55:32,160 midst of any storm. I could rest in the middle of 845 00:55:32,160 --> 00:55:34,000 this thing. Why? 846 00:55:34,000 --> 00:55:38,120 Because if I just keep doing the word, everything is going to 847 00:55:38,120 --> 00:55:40,200 work out. Think about the life of Joseph. 848 00:55:41,200 --> 00:55:46,040 13 years. He had to hold on to that 849 00:55:46,040 --> 00:55:47,120 promise. But guess what? 850 00:55:47,120 --> 00:55:52,240 Everything it worked out well. Hallelujah. 851 00:55:53,000 --> 00:55:56,960 Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 through 7 says this. 852 00:55:57,280 --> 00:56:00,600 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in 853 00:56:00,600 --> 00:56:04,320 everything, every circumstance and situation, by prayer and 854 00:56:04,320 --> 00:56:08,520 petition with Thanksgiving, continue to make your specific 855 00:56:08,520 --> 00:56:11,320 request known to God and the peace of God. 856 00:56:11,320 --> 00:56:14,960 That peace that reassures the heart, that peace which 857 00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:18,600 transcends all understanding, that peace that stands guard 858 00:56:18,600 --> 00:56:22,560 over your heart and your minds is yours in Christ Jesus. 859 00:56:23,120 --> 00:56:26,840 God wants you to rest. He wants you to take all your 860 00:56:26,840 --> 00:56:32,480 cares, all your concerns and cast them over. 861 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:35,840 In first Peter 5 it says cast them once and for all on to Him. 862 00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:43,240 This is something that we need to model, mentor, monitor, 863 00:56:44,040 --> 00:56:46,440 motivate and see multiplied people's life. 864 00:56:46,440 --> 00:56:50,320 We shouldn't have a stressed out freaking out body of Christ. 865 00:56:51,320 --> 00:56:55,080 Listen, Israel and Iran are going back and forth, but in the 866 00:56:55,080 --> 00:57:00,440 middle of it we trust God. Proverbs 3 says he makes he 867 00:57:00,440 --> 00:57:04,640 gives his beloved sleep. Sweet sleep is what it says. 868 00:57:05,240 --> 00:57:09,400 I could lay down knowing there's an assurance of confidence that 869 00:57:09,400 --> 00:57:13,160 I'm with God and God's with me. I don't have to be stressed. 870 00:57:13,160 --> 00:57:15,560 You know, stress is counterproductive. 871 00:57:18,080 --> 00:57:23,040 If you worry too much, it'll, it'll aid you prematurely at a 872 00:57:23,040 --> 00:57:27,200 molecular level. I don't care how many creams, 873 00:57:29,400 --> 00:57:37,120 tucks, sucks, plucks that you get right if if you are stressed 874 00:57:37,120 --> 00:57:39,720 at a molecular level it still effects you it it actually 875 00:57:39,720 --> 00:57:44,880 releases cortisol in your body and cortisol is an inhibitor to 876 00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:48,760 actually healthy hormones. But spiritually speaking, guess 877 00:57:48,760 --> 00:57:51,880 what it does? It can stifle your faith, cause 878 00:57:51,880 --> 00:57:53,680 faith and worry don't go hand in hand. 879 00:57:54,600 --> 00:57:58,920 Faith and peace go hand in hand. Faith and joy go hand in hand. 880 00:58:00,120 --> 00:58:02,160 But if you're stressed and worried, you're not really in 881 00:58:02,160 --> 00:58:06,360 faith, so you got to get over into faith. 882 00:58:07,160 --> 00:58:12,200 Are you with me? Psalms 23 Everybody knows Psalms 883 00:58:12,200 --> 00:58:14,160 23, King David, but I want to see it. 884 00:58:14,160 --> 00:58:17,600 Verse verse 2 and 3, David says he makes me to lie down in green 885 00:58:17,600 --> 00:58:20,080 pastures. He leads me beside the still 886 00:58:20,080 --> 00:58:23,680 waters, the calm waters, the peaceful waters. 887 00:58:23,920 --> 00:58:28,240 He restores my soul. God wants your soul, your mind, 888 00:58:28,640 --> 00:58:30,640 your will, and your emotions to be at rest. 889 00:58:31,280 --> 00:58:35,040 Now you need to plan, you need to prepare, you need to work 890 00:58:35,040 --> 00:58:38,880 hard, but ultimately your trust is in the Lord with all of your 891 00:58:38,880 --> 00:58:40,680 heart. You're not leaning on your 892 00:58:40,680 --> 00:58:42,400 understanding. You acknowledge Him and He's 893 00:58:42,400 --> 00:58:44,560 going to what? Direct your path? 894 00:58:45,360 --> 00:58:47,600 The third thing in a good program is what I call 895 00:58:47,600 --> 00:58:49,560 anaerobics. This is called strength 896 00:58:50,160 --> 00:58:52,640 training. You could call progressive 897 00:58:52,640 --> 00:58:57,200 resistant training. You know God wants you to be 898 00:58:57,200 --> 00:59:00,160 strong, but in order to be strong, guess what? 899 00:59:00,160 --> 00:59:03,720 There's going to be resistance. You're never going to get 900 00:59:03,720 --> 00:59:08,160 stronger without resistance. Matter of fact, you can test the 901 00:59:08,160 --> 00:59:10,920 strength to really test the quality of the strength of an 902 00:59:10,920 --> 00:59:12,640 individual. How much pressure can they 903 00:59:12,680 --> 00:59:16,320 withstand? The Bible says if you if your 904 00:59:16,320 --> 00:59:19,040 strength fails in a day of adversity, it's small. 905 00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:22,760 The good news though is if you are getting spiritually strong, 906 00:59:23,000 --> 00:59:28,520 you're going to have more strength to resist things and 907 00:59:28,520 --> 00:59:32,360 God wants you to get stronger. Ephesians chapter 6 verse #10 908 00:59:32,360 --> 00:59:35,840 says finally, my brother, be strong in the Lord and the power 909 00:59:35,840 --> 00:59:38,640 of His might. God wants you to be strong. 910 00:59:39,880 --> 00:59:45,120 Strength is built internally and it takes some work. 911 00:59:47,760 --> 00:59:50,440 It takes some drop sets, some super sets. 912 00:59:51,440 --> 00:59:54,440 Matter of fact, you really don't grow until you go past failure. 913 00:59:55,840 --> 00:59:57,240 I've learned this in the natural. 914 00:59:58,120 --> 01:00:01,760 This is why gym partners are good for me because they can 915 01:00:01,760 --> 01:00:03,440 help me get past sticking points. 916 01:00:04,320 --> 01:00:06,680 If I'm on the bench press and I'm benching, I get stuck. 917 01:00:06,680 --> 01:00:10,720 All I need sometime is 2 fingers tapping on the bar to get 918 01:00:11,440 --> 01:00:13,720 through the sticking point. But guess what? 919 01:00:13,720 --> 01:00:18,880 If you want breakthrough, we need each other and we need to. 920 01:00:18,880 --> 01:00:23,880 We don't need to resist opportunities that grow. 921 01:00:25,200 --> 01:00:27,840 Sometimes we're like the apostle Paul says, remove this thing 922 01:00:27,840 --> 01:00:30,640 from me. Lord over in Corinthians, 923 01:00:30,640 --> 01:00:34,720 remember chapter 12 and God said, listen, my grace is 924 01:00:34,720 --> 01:00:38,360 sufficient for you. Guess what Joseph learned over 925 01:00:38,360 --> 01:00:40,560 13 years. He learned how to get strong, 926 01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:46,280 did he not? I mean, that was a that was a 927 01:00:47,040 --> 01:00:51,080 intense training program. He could have gotten bitterness, 928 01:00:51,080 --> 01:00:54,920 mad at his brothers, but he got stronger in the things of God, 929 01:00:55,320 --> 01:00:58,320 just like we should get stronger in the things of God. 930 01:00:58,800 --> 01:01:02,640 Joshua chapter 1 verses 6 through 7 says this. 931 01:01:03,000 --> 01:01:07,080 Be strong and of good courage. For this people you shall divide 932 01:01:07,080 --> 01:01:10,280 as an inheritance of language. I swore to your father's to give 933 01:01:10,280 --> 01:01:11,840 them. Only be strong and very 934 01:01:11,840 --> 01:01:16,160 courageous, that you may observe to do everything which Moses my 935 01:01:16,160 --> 01:01:19,720 servant commanded you. So he encourages Joshua to be 936 01:01:19,720 --> 01:01:23,720 strong and of good courage. So what I'm what I'm saying 937 01:01:23,720 --> 01:01:24,960 there's going to be pressure in life. 938 01:01:24,960 --> 01:01:28,640 There's going to be tests in life, but by faith, get a 939 01:01:28,640 --> 01:01:35,280 scripture, stand on it, meditate on it, think on it, decree it. 940 01:01:35,640 --> 01:01:39,760 Go hour by hour, day by day, week after week. 941 01:01:39,760 --> 01:01:45,720 Having done all the stand, stand there for God's word will not 942 01:01:45,720 --> 01:01:48,320 return to him void. Hold on to the word. 943 01:01:48,320 --> 01:01:52,040 Look as an opportunity to get stronger, not to retreat or 944 01:01:52,040 --> 01:01:55,200 retract or get weaker. Say, Lord, I'm going to embrace 945 01:01:55,200 --> 01:01:58,400 this thing. If somebody's done you wrong, 946 01:01:58,400 --> 01:02:03,360 hurt you, forgive them that. That helps you get stronger in 947 01:02:03,360 --> 01:02:07,080 the things of God. You get weaker when you stay in 948 01:02:07,080 --> 01:02:11,280 unforgiveness. Exercise your confession life to 949 01:02:11,280 --> 01:02:14,320 exercise your meditation life. Two more things. 950 01:02:14,320 --> 01:02:17,200 Fourth thing in a good training program is aerobics. 951 01:02:17,960 --> 01:02:23,840 Hallelujah, cardio training. Now we went to go see my niece 952 01:02:23,840 --> 01:02:28,280 graduate from Oklahoma Baptist University in May and I was 953 01:02:28,280 --> 01:02:30,600 impressed with all that long distance running, but that is 954 01:02:30,600 --> 01:02:33,960 not me. It was really cool to watch. 955 01:02:35,160 --> 01:02:40,120 But that's a lot of type 1 fibers long distance. 956 01:02:41,400 --> 01:02:44,920 But everybody needs spiritually cardio training. 957 01:02:45,240 --> 01:02:46,840 What's that mean? Endurance. 958 01:02:47,960 --> 01:02:49,920 Spiritually we need to get endurance. 959 01:02:51,080 --> 01:02:55,640 Galatians chapter 6 verse #9 says let us not grow weary in 960 01:02:55,640 --> 01:02:58,520 well doing, for in due season we shall reap. 961 01:02:58,520 --> 01:03:00,800 If we do not lose heart, don't grow weary. 962 01:03:00,800 --> 01:03:03,200 What's that talking about endurance? 963 01:03:04,080 --> 01:03:06,720 You got to have a good spiritual aerobic program. 964 01:03:07,880 --> 01:03:12,000 Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31 says those that wait on the Lord 965 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:15,400 shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings 966 01:03:15,400 --> 01:03:18,360 like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. 967 01:03:18,360 --> 01:03:21,480 They shall walk and not faint. What does the prophet saying? 968 01:03:21,760 --> 01:03:24,160 Keep going with God to build endurance. 969 01:03:24,560 --> 01:03:27,960 You need a good endurance program spiritually 'cause it's 970 01:03:27,960 --> 01:03:30,440 not just for a short time. You're serving. 971 01:03:30,440 --> 01:03:32,600 God is for the longevity of your life. 972 01:03:33,520 --> 01:03:37,360 When I gave Him my life, I gave Him my whole life. 973 01:03:38,320 --> 01:03:42,200 I'm committed to him until death, which is just a 974 01:03:42,200 --> 01:03:48,720 transition to the eternity. You know the interesting thing 975 01:03:48,720 --> 01:03:51,360 about aerobics too? That Greek word comes from the 976 01:03:51,360 --> 01:03:56,400 word heart. So not only is it endurance, but 977 01:03:56,400 --> 01:04:01,080 it's examined in your heart. So any good spiritual program is 978 01:04:01,080 --> 01:04:03,560 going to have an examination daily examination. 979 01:04:03,800 --> 01:04:06,760 You know, over in Ephesians chapter 4, it says be angry, but 980 01:04:06,760 --> 01:04:08,600 don't sin. Don't let the sun go down on 981 01:04:08,600 --> 01:04:11,320 your anger. What is Paul encouraging the the 982 01:04:11,320 --> 01:04:14,080 church at Ephesus with the heart. 983 01:04:14,800 --> 01:04:17,520 If you're mad at somebody frustrated, he said don't carry 984 01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:21,400 that over day-to-day. Let go of it. 985 01:04:21,880 --> 01:04:25,280 David said in Psalms 26 two, examine me, Oh Lord, examine my 986 01:04:25,280 --> 01:04:27,040 heart. See if there's anything in me 987 01:04:27,040 --> 01:04:30,080 that's unpleasing. So part of this spiritual 988 01:04:30,080 --> 01:04:33,600 aerobics is to search your heart daily and let go of things. 989 01:04:35,120 --> 01:04:40,280 Let go of things. You need to drop it, release it, 990 01:04:40,680 --> 01:04:42,400 let it go. Whether you failed, whether 991 01:04:42,400 --> 01:04:45,440 somebody else failed, whether there's hurt, there's 992 01:04:45,440 --> 01:04:47,880 disappointment. You need to let go of things. 993 01:04:47,880 --> 01:04:50,400 You need to examine your heart. Is your heart attitude right? 994 01:04:51,320 --> 01:04:53,160 Do you feel too edgy with people? 995 01:04:54,560 --> 01:04:56,640 How's your temperament? Do you feel like you're going to 996 01:04:56,640 --> 01:04:59,200 volcanic right? Like you're going to explode? 997 01:04:59,440 --> 01:05:01,800 That's a heart issue. You need a thing called 998 01:05:01,800 --> 01:05:07,080 patience, and that can grow. Last thing is flexibility and 999 01:05:07,080 --> 01:05:12,080 mobility. With the children of Israel, God 1000 01:05:12,080 --> 01:05:15,920 was a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. 1001 01:05:16,440 --> 01:05:18,440 When the cloud lifted, they moved. 1002 01:05:18,880 --> 01:05:20,640 When the cloud settled, they settled. 1003 01:05:21,560 --> 01:05:24,000 I bring up flexibility and mobility because we need to be 1004 01:05:24,000 --> 01:05:27,880 led by the Spirit. A lot of us have agendas, plans, 1005 01:05:27,880 --> 01:05:31,400 goals, but Romans 814 says as many as are led by the Spirit. 1006 01:05:31,600 --> 01:05:33,800 I just want to encourage you with this on flexibility and 1007 01:05:33,800 --> 01:05:38,000 mobility as we close is daily listen to the Holy Ghost. 1008 01:05:38,480 --> 01:05:42,960 Not every, not every interruption is a distraction. 1009 01:05:44,440 --> 01:05:47,120 What I mean by that you may be go to the gas station, you may 1010 01:05:47,120 --> 01:05:51,480 be on a beeline to get somewhere and the Holy Spirit say, may 1011 01:05:51,480 --> 01:05:53,600 say, I need you to minister to this person. 1012 01:05:54,320 --> 01:05:57,280 And in that moment you need to be flexible and mobile to say, 1013 01:05:57,280 --> 01:06:00,520 OK, stop. Because this could be an 1014 01:06:00,520 --> 01:06:03,600 opportunity to plant a seed, water seed or see somebody come 1015 01:06:03,600 --> 01:06:06,560 into the Kingdom. A lot of times when you're a 1016 01:06:06,560 --> 01:06:10,880 person that has an agenda or plans, you don't want to deviate 1017 01:06:10,880 --> 01:06:12,720 from those plans. But we got to have the 1018 01:06:12,720 --> 01:06:16,640 flexibility to listen to what the Holy Spirit is sailing. 1019 01:06:16,640 --> 01:06:21,600 So give room daily for the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide 1020 01:06:21,600 --> 01:06:21,880 you.