WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Attrition 3 Publishing Date: 2023-10-08T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/attrition-3/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 I'm not going to be able to do it. 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:08.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:10.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:22.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.000 I'm going to be able to do it. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Okay, can you turn on all the mics? 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Guys, we'll just sing it once, okay? 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.000 You don't have to turn it on. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.000 Evan will turn it on. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.000 Evan, can you do something? 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Okay. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.000 Okay, for all the playing that you've done over the years, this is revenge. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Okay, ready? 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Okay. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.000 Can you... 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.000 Oh, they can't see you. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.000 Come this side. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.000 Two of you on that side. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.000 Oh, okay, all four on this side. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:12.000 And after this, make sure you go for Sunday school, okay? 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:14.000 Okay. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:16.000 Mike, look happy. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.000 Okay. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.000 Happy. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.000 Happy birthday to you. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.000 Happy birthday to you. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Happy birthday to Mike. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Happy birthday to you. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Yeah! 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Thank you, guys. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.000 Thank you, guys. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.000 Thanks a lot. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:56.000 Thank you, thank you. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.000 At least they dropped the cheaper mics. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.000 Yeah, they only dropped the cheaper mics. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.000 All right, good. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 Let's go to the school. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.000 I hope this doesn't become a habit. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Hey, before I go, I want to thank you all for coming. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Thank you. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.000 Thank you. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Thank you. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.000 Hey, before I go into the teaching today, 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:42.000 I was in Vienna on Wednesday, 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:46.000 and can we still throw pictures up on one of these? 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.000 Pardon? 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:50.000 I don't. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:52.000 Oh, then don't worry about it. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:54.000 We'll show it next time. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.000 So, went to Vienna, and there's a family there that I've known for a while. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.000 They introduced us to some of the most important people in the world. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:06.000 They introduced us to some Romanians, 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:10.000 and this Romanian couple, their names are Ruben and Christina. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.000 Really, the kind of couple you bump into, 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.000 and all they need is a little bit of help 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:22.000 to see who they are and what God wants them to do. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:26.000 And they texted me today saying, after all that you said, 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:30.000 we would like to step into this new adventure that you're talking about. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:34.000 These are Romanians who moved to Vienna and live in Vienna, 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.000 and so, God willing, we'll have them starting something in Vienna. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.000 Not immediately, they just want to train first and then see what happens. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.000 So that was Wednesday. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.000 Thursday I went to Salzburg, where the sound of music was shot. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:54.000 The sad thing is you only see the hotel and the meeting place, 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.000 you don't see anything else. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:02.000 So I went there and there was a group of young Mongolians. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:06.000 These are guys who speak French, German, Mongolian and English, 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.000 and I spent two days with them, teaching them. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.000 Because they come from different parts of Europe, 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:18.000 and if you can fire up the nomadic spirit in them, 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.000 they can go out like crazy. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.000 It's just that you have to help them not settle 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:30.000 for what the West will offer in terms of immigration, visa, 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.000 a good job, settle, and then it's done. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:36.000 Because they're not like that when they're at home. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.000 They're ones who love setting up temporary shelter and then moving on. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.000 So hopefully that'll happen. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.000 And there were three or four that really stood out. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.000 So I spoke to the pastor there and asked if we could keep working with them, 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:48.000 and he agreed. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.000 And then a strange thing began to happen. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:55.000 I'm so thankful for what we learn here. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:04.000 Because the pastor felt that God would heal many people and deliver many people. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.000 And I wasn't feeling miraculously at all. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:10.000 I even texted someone saying, 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.000 not feeling inspired or miraculously, but he expects things to happen. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.000 And people started coming. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.000 And one by one, and the only thing I could depend on is what we learn here, 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:24.000 that the presence of God is here, and that he is here to make all things new. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.000 Jane kept repeating that today. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.000 God, you're here to make all things new. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:32.000 And so the first person that came was a person who had cotton in her ear. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 And these guys who are from Bahrain now live in Vienna. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:38.000 They were there when all this happened. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.000 And so it was because there was so much fluid that are collected in her ear 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:48.000 that there's always this noise of a wind in her ear, and she puts cotton, can't hear. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:54.000 And prayed twice, and on the second time we prayed, she said, the fluid is shifting. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:01.000 And she took the cotton thing out, and for the next two days could hear perfectly. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:05.000 Then I met a woman who had been deaf for 15 years. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:12.000 And the last time we met in Linz, which is again a city very close to Vienna, she was prayed for. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.000 And I found out that for the last three and a half years she's been hearing. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.000 Only nobody told me. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 So it was very, very encouraging to hear people actually getting healed. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:31.000 Then there was another lady whose ligament, I don't know whether it's a tendon, ligament or muscle, 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.000 but basically a knee can't bend. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:40.000 And so it had torn and the doctors said it would take time to heal and got healed instantly. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:45.000 And now she went down on her knees and started flexing it, then started doing push-ups. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.000 Mongolians are strong, even the women do push-ups. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:53.000 And so the whole knee began to work instantly. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.000 Then another lady came and she's had perpetual backache. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:01.000 The backache seemed like a small thing after these big things. 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:05.000 And one by one, and it was not... 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:14.000 Sometimes if we can depend on what we learn, sometimes that is enough. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:21.000 That the God is present and he is here to make all things new. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:24.000 And you don't need to be inspired. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000 You don't have to feel like something's going to happen. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.000 But to see five or six of these things happen, one after the other, one... 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:35.000 Another lady came and she hadn't been to church for 15 years. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.000 And the only time she had gone to church 15 years ago was because her dad died 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.000 and she wanted to call someone father. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.000 And they told her that the Christian God is a father. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 So she came to church for a while just so she could call God father. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:54.000 And then because she didn't like how people were behaving with her in church, she left. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:59.000 And she's sitting there telling me this story and she's got these sharp pains in her chest. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.000 Her whole shoulder, it's not... I don't think it's got anything to do with the heart. 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:08.000 But sharp pain, so much so that just a cough or just any movement, 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:11.000 it's like literally like an arrow going into her chest. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.000 And I said, why don't we pray? 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:19.000 And this girl, this woman starts weeping because instantly, instantly it's free. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:25.000 And then there were women with fourth generation shaman curses that were spoken upon them 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:30.000 where evil dreams happen, family diseases just continue. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.000 And one by one, God was just there doing whatever he wanted. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:37.000 And I'm absolutely sure that it's the same God here. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:46.000 That perhaps our inadequacy and our non-feelingness is our greatest strength. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.000 That the same God is here. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:56.000 Just thought I'd share that I had some pictures, but we'll show them next time. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.000 Let's talk about attrition three. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:07.000 We might end up meeting at a place that Karen is arranging for us next week. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:10.000 So the pressure's on, Karen. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.000 If you fail, we'll forgive you. We won't hold it against you. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:19.000 But try not to fail. Yeah. Okay. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Acts 2, 22 is where we started three weeks ago. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:33.000 It says, Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited to you by God with deeds of power, wonders. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:37.000 Shoot, I printed the wrong notes, but that's okay. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.000 Oh no, I've got the right notes. Okay. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.000 Acts 2, 22. Guys, faith for deeds, faith for deeds. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:51.000 Power. Deeds of power. Wonders. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:54.000 Science. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:59.000 Must be practiced. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 In your life. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.000 So in your life first and through your life. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.000 Through your life. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:19.000 So that on a regular basis, on a daily basis. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:36.000 So that you are ready, like it says in 2 Timothy 4, so that you are ready in season and out of season. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.000 And out of season. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:54.000 So faith for deeds of power, for wonders, science, must be practiced in your life and then through your life. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.000 Must be practiced in my own life. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:00.000 These are things that I must practice in my own life before it can work through my life. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.000 And it must be done on a daily basis. And what do you mean practice it on a daily basis? 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:15.000 That's what we're going to talk about. How can we make sure that every day there is enough faith to expect whatever God wants to do in your life and expect whatever God wants to do through your life. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:22.000 And it should be practiced on a daily basis so that you are ready in season or out of season. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:29.000 Here are some ways to cultivate that discipline. Here are some ways. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.000 Here are some ways to cultivate that discipline. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:35.000 Here are some ways to cultivate that discipline. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:42.000 That word is cultivate. Here are some ways to cultivate that discipline. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.000 That's what we look at today. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:55.000 First, this is perhaps the toughest and it doesn't matter how many times we go over this, it keeps coming up. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:03.000 Try affirming belief in, know that affirming belief in God, affirming belief in God is not enough. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.000 Affirming belief in God is not enough. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.000 Affirming belief in God is not enough. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:17.000 What is more important is learning not to doubt his goodness. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.000 Learning not to doubt his goodness. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.000 Learning not to doubt his goodness. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:30.000 Not suspecting his motives. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.000 Suspecting his motives. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.000 Not suspecting his motives. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000 Not weighing his character. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.000 This is more important than affirming belief. 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.000 Anyone can affirm belief. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.000 Anyone can affirm belief in God. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:54.000 But to get to a place where I'm learning not to doubt his goodness, 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.000 it doesn't matter what my circumstances are, it doesn't matter how difficult things are getting, 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.000 it doesn't matter how long things are taking, 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.000 that I do not doubt his goodness, 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:08.000 that I do not suspect his motives, as in maybe he has some reason that he's making me go through this misery. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:15.000 Unless you know that for sure, it is suspecting his motives or weighing his character. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.000 As in he may be good but maybe not always good. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.000 He may heal but he may not always heal. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.000 He may provide but he may not always provide. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:30.000 This is weighing his nature based on our circumstances and coming out with an answer. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.000 Affirming belief is not enough. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:42.000 So some of the ways we can cultivate a discipline where God's expectations in us and God's expectations through us in terms of faith, 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:50.000 how do we cultivate it on a daily basis so that we can be fruitful in season and out of season. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.000 This is one of the ways. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:56.000 So if I want to be like this, where do I start? 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:06.000 Where I start is, can I every day be first the father's child, 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:18.000 second, can I every day focus on one or two things about his heart, so the father's heart, 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:27.000 and third, can I be the father's mature son? 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.000 Unto the child is born unto the son is, 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.000 given. Can I do this? 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:38.000 This is the best way to learn not to doubt his goodness. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:43.000 Starting off with this sense of being a much loved child. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.000 It takes time, it's not the first thing that occurs to you when you get up in the morning. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.000 Sometimes it takes very little time, sometimes it will take a lot of time. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.000 It depends on the kind of day you've had, depends on the kind of problems you might have had. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.000 Am I the father's child? Am I the father's much loved child? 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.000 What does it mean to be a much loved child? 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:07.000 To locate yourself in that spot and then move from there to focusing on one or two things of the father's heart. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:14.000 Is he someone who I actually think is unadulterated in his goodness and intentional in his goodness? 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.000 Is he someone who is exceptional in his goodness? 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:22.000 Is he someone who I actually think is unadulterated in his goodness and intentional in his goodness? 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.000 Is he someone who is extravagantly lavish and embarrassingly generous? 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:30.000 These are things that I said about him, but is that my reality? 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:37.000 And then the third part is, can I say, okay God, now that I know this, I will behave like a mature son. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.000 And come hell or high water, I will stand and show you that I actually trust in you. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:47.000 Maturity is when you show proof that what you learned is actually practiced in your life. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:55.000 Maturity is always measured by practice, not by knowledge. Always measured by practice. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.000 Any questions? 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.000 What if we do this and yet we face disappointment? 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.000 What happens when you live like this and yet are disappointed? 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.000 How do you deal with disappointment? 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.000 How do you deal with disappointment? 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:32.000 Because that's what throws the whole thing into a funk. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.000 How do you deal with disappointment? 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:40.000 How after starting off the day believing that God is your father and you are your father's child? 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:45.000 How after believing that God is extravagant in his generosity? 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:50.000 How after believing all this and trying to walk for the first two hours of the day, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.000 you come across something that is so devastating that it disappoints you? 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.000 So how do you deal with disappointment? 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.000 First thing, ask for peace. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.000 Disappointment comes with confusion. It comes with resentment. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.000 It comes with bitterness. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.000 It comes with hurt. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.000 It comes with anger. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.000 It comes with forgetting. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.000 It comes with all these things. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.000 The first thing you do when you're disappointed is ask for peace. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:31.000 Only he can give it and he gives it willingly without grudging. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:35.000 Father, give me that peace that passes all understanding. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:40.000 Right now my understanding absolutely is disappointed in what has happened. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.000 But give me the peace that passes understanding. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:44.000 Ask for peace. And he's willing to give it always. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.000 He's known as the Prince of Peace. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.000 It's one of his favorite things to give. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.000 This is why Paul would always start his letter saying, 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.000 grace and peace to you or peace and grace to you. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.000 He's writing letters. It wasn't a greeting. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.000 He actually meant it. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.000 Ask for peace. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.000 Ask for peace. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:09.000 Second, when your confidence is shaken, 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.000 when your confidence is shaken, 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.000 when confidence is shaken, 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:21.000 once you ask for peace, immediately go, it is well. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:27.000 Because you, oh God, are good. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.000 Or go. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.000 You are my shepherd. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:38.000 I lack nothing. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.000 Choose which one you want to go with or choose both. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:51.000 How you react in the first few responses to these situations will then direct the rest of it. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.000 The more time you give, the harder it gets. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.000 The hole gets deeper. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:59.000 Ask for peace. Then immediately flip to, 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:02.000 because my confidence is shaken, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:09.000 well then, oh God, I'll sing what that guy sang when his family was killed in the accident at sea. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.000 It is well. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.000 It is well, oh God, because you are good. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.000 I loved what Dane said. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:19.000 It is well, oh God, because you are good. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000 I loved what Dane said today. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Oh God, you are good this minute, and you'll be good three minutes from now, 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.000 and then you'll be good fifth minute from now, 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 you'll be good twenty minutes from now, you'll be good twenty days from now. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.000 This is constant goodness, but it starts at this minute. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000 It is well because you are good. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 Or, Father, you are my manager. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.000 You are the one who shepherds me, and I lack nothing. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000 These are the words that should come out from your spirit, 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.000 and from your spirit it will come out easy, 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.000 because you are born again. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.000 But my God, the flesh and the mind and the heart will struggle against it, 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.000 because that's where disappointment hits. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.000 The third thing we do, 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.000 when you are disappointed, and I'm sure, 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:08.000 if you are someone sitting here who hasn't been disappointed, 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.000 check your pulse, eh? 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Third, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.000 go into conversation with him. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.000 Now that those two steps are over, 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.000 go into conversation. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.000 What do you mean, go into conversation? 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.000 Why is this happening? 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.000 Ask him. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.000 People say, don't ask God. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.000 Not true. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.000 The Book of Job would not exist. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.000 Ask him. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.000 Get into conversation. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.000 Why is it happening, oh God? 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.000 What's next then? 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.000 I mean, I'm just writing down questions. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.000 You can put down your own. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.000 Or how to restart. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.000 Show me how to change, or what to restart. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.000 Converse with him, 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.000 and then if necessary, with others. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.000 Because surprisingly, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.000 I was texting my sister today, 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:05.000 and she was saying how she's tired of asking me for solutions 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 to solve her problems. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000 And I said, it's strange, Reba, 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:12.000 but I always ask you to ask me for solutions. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.000 And I said, it's strange, Reba, 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:17.000 but I always have solutions for other people's problems. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:19.000 I rarely have clarity for my own. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.000 It's the plight of everybody here. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.000 My God, anyone comes and asks you for advice, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.000 and advice is brilliant. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.000 You solve their problems in seconds, 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.000 but when it comes to your own blooming problem, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:33.000 it doesn't matter how much you think, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.000 clarity is a little more difficult. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.000 That's why we need each other. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.000 That's why we need each other. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.000 If I could just converse with God, 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.000 and then converse, if necessary, with others, 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000 I would say converse with others, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.000 because it is necessary. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.000 Because surprisingly, 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.000 others may have quick clarity to your... 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.000 I mean, Davant and I had a conversation. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.000 He was looking so sad that I sat with him, 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.000 and he had a conversation. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.000 Once he had the conversation, it was great clarity, right? 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.000 You'll have to do that for me someday. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:17.000 Next one is praise him. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:20.000 These are one step after the other. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.000 They actually progress. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.000 Praise him for what? 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.000 Not praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.000 Not even if it feels like sawdust in your mouth, 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.000 keep praising him, because eventually 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.000 it'll turn from sawdust to sugar. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.000 Doesn't really work. It's fake. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.000 At least I don't think it should be that way. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.000 I'd say praise him picking stuff, 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.000 for your goodness of God. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:42.000 When we started the service, that's what we were doing. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.000 We were praising him for his goodness, and slowly we caught on. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.000 Praise him for something as simple as salvation. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.000 That song we sang, 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.000 my God, man, he saved us from death, from decay. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:56.000 We are saved. We know God. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.000 We know him as father. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.000 We love his voice. We know his voice. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.000 Can you imagine if suddenly his voice shut down? 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000 Can you imagine if you couldn't communicate with him? 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.000 It's the same thing that Adam felt when he sinned. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.000 He felt it. 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:19.000 Praise him for his goodness, for salvation, 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.000 for love, for fatherhood. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:25.000 And then, as you do, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.000 surprisingly, 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.000 that cloud of disappointment begins to lift, 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.000 and then finally, 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.000 as you begin to make a practice of this, 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.000 you'll find a strange thing happening. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.000 You will learn to hope against hope. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.000 You will learn to hope against hope. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.000 Really? Does this work? 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.000 Yep, it worked for, what's his name? 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:49.000 What's his name? 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Abraham. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:55.000 Hey, Derek, can you see if my phone's anywhere? 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.000 Okay. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:58.000 Here's what it says. Got it, Derek. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.000 Here's what it says. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.000 Listen to this, eh? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:12.000 Romans 4, 17. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.000 I'll read it. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:18.000 Let's just read it from the NLT, just for the fun of it. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:44.000 Abraham did not weaken, even though at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead, and so was Sarah's womb. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.000 In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:53.000 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:25:02.000 If you follow these steps, almost in this order, you will find that when disappointment hits, even though the disappointment is initial, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:06.000 you have the ability to rise up and begin to hope against hope. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.000 Begin to hope against hope. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.000 Begin to hope against hope. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:16.000 That's what Abraham did, eh? 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:21.000 He begins to praise, and he begins to hope against hope. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:28.000 Meaning, the disappointment is so immense that you should not be hoping. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:32.000 It is so concrete that you should not be hoping. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:37.000 To hope against hope is to go against everything that says no. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.000 There's that song that they sing, at least in Kenya. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:47.000 Everybody may say... 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.000 Don't worry about it. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:58.000 Basically, it says that everybody may say yes, no, but God says yes. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.000 It's got a nice rhythm. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.000 I miss James, you know? 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.000 He is touring the world, I think. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:12.000 I know where he is, but... 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:16.000 Yeah, he's having a good time. He's doing well, praise God. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:18.000 Any questions, guys? 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.000 Okay. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:29.000 How else do we cultivate the discipline of faith? 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:34.000 If your mind and your emotions are fixed on your problem... 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:37.000 If your mind and emotions are fixed on your problem... 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:44.000 You will lose. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:51.000 You will lose. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:55.000 Because it will distort the voice of God. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.000 It distorts the voice of God. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:05.000 If your mind and emotions are fixed on the problem... 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:07.000 So what does that mean? What does it mean we should do? 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:11.000 Take captive my thoughts, and I'll take captive my emotions. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:17.000 Take captive my thoughts, and I'll take captive my emotions. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.000 These are really hard things to do, eh? 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:25.000 Because whatever you rehearse inside your mind... 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:30.000 Whatever you rehearse... 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.000 Inside your mind... 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.000 Inside your mind... 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:42.000 Whatever you rehearse inside your mind... 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:45.000 Is what determines your emotion. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:50.000 Is what determines your emotion. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:55.000 Take captive your thoughts. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:58.000 When problems begin to arise, whatever area it be... 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:03.000 He who takes captive his thoughts is able to take captive his emotions. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:06.000 Because whatever you rehearse inside your mind... 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.000 Determines your emotions. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:15.000 I must disengage from internal and external conversations I'm having inside my mind. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:17.000 Because if I don't disengage from them... 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:25.000 It's only a matter of time before my faith is atrophied. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.000 Any questions? 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:34.000 If I don't disengage from the internal and external conversations I'm having in my mind... 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.000 Internal conversations are those that you don't hear. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.000 External conversations are conversations that I begin to... 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.000 You begin to hear me speak. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:45.000 And they're couched in doubt. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.000 They're couched in fear. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.000 They're couched in confusion. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.000 They're couched in not trusting God. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:55.000 If I don't disengage from internal and external conversations... 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.000 It's only a matter of time before my faith gets eroded. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:04.000 And I said this last time. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:09.000 Verbalize your lack of faith and it usually has the power to multiply. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:15.000 And when you try not to verbalize your lack of faith, it usually aborts. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:20.000 It's a feeding cycle, eh? 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:29.000 Thoughts, emotions, words that feed thoughts, emotions, words that feed thoughts, emotions, words. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:31.000 And it keeps growing. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.000 It's like a juggernaut. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:35.000 It keeps collecting more. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:38.000 It comes rolling down the slope. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.000 Any questions? 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:57.000 Because like it or not, all realms, be it the realms of God or satanic realms or human realms, 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:01.000 all realms use sight and sound to their advantage. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:05.000 What you see and what you hear, every realm uses that. 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.000 The enemy uses that. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.000 God uses that. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:10.000 The world uses that. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:18.000 And so when you are threatened, when you are threatened or when you face a crisis, 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:25.000 when you are threatened or you face a crisis, what's your ammo? 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:27.000 What's your ammo? 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:31.000 What's your response? 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:42.000 Because soon as a threat comes, as soon as a crisis comes, what's our response? 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:48.000 I would say many of us begin to engage in internal and external conversations. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:53.000 I begin to examine all the pros and cons. 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:57.000 And here we are not supposed to. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:59.000 When you are threatened or you face a crisis, what's your ammo response? 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:02.000 Look at what happens in Acts chapter 4 verse 28. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.000 Peter and John are beaten up. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:07.000 They're brought to the Sanhedrin and they say, 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:10.000 you will not preach this way again or you'll get into more trouble. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.000 What do they do? 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:15.000 They go and collect some more disciples and here is their statement. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.000 Oh God, you see the threats that are against us. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:19.000 They don't even verbalize their threats. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:21.000 It's not a denial of reality. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:26.000 Abraham did not deny the reality that he was a hundred and he was important. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:33.000 But the way they verb is it is so, it's amazing how people in the Bible verbalize things. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:35.000 They verbalize it through God. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:38.000 They verbalize it through God. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:40.000 They use God as their filter. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:44.000 If you want filters from the Bible, look at Philippians 4, 8. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:47.000 Whatever is noble, whatever is true, whatever is just, whatever is peaceable. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:49.000 They filter things through God. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:53.000 So even when they speak of threats and difficult circumstances, 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:58.000 they say, oh God, you see the threats, you see the circumstances. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.000 This is what they are saying. You know it. 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:05.000 So instead of taking on, oh God, this is what is happening to me, 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:07.000 they immediately place it on God. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:14.000 And placing it on God, they then begin to say, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:17.000 look at their threats and give us the boldness. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:19.000 Look at their threats and give us the courage. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:21.000 Look at their threats and give us this or give us that. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:27.000 They're asking for what they need after filtering it through him. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.000 It's very deliberate. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:37.000 Whatever your situation be, filter it through him. 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:39.000 Oh God, you see my financial situation. 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:41.000 Oh God, you see my relationship. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:43.000 Oh God, you see the crisis I'm facing. 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:46.000 Oh God, you see the struggle that I'm having with sin. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.000 Oh God, you see this huge mountain going to crush me. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:52.000 Oh God, you see. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:58.000 That's the way you take this. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:02.000 And now that you know and you see, could you send me help? 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:04.000 And then you cry out for whatever help you need. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.000 And then you also ask the Spirit, what help would you have me send? 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:10.000 But disengage from internal and external conversations. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:16.000 Our external conversations are just a diluted, 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:21.000 Christianized version of our toxic internal conversation. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.000 Yep. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.000 Of which one? 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000 Yeah. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:38.000 Let me give you something that I could have thought of. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.000 Oh God, you said that you were going to do this. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.000 And now it's been three days. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.000 You said you would do it in three days. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.000 It's been four days now. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.000 It's been five days now. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.000 Haven't I served you properly? 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.000 What have I not done? 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.000 You told me to go, I went. 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.000 I don't know. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:55.000 It's getting a little difficult to walk this. 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.000 I find it very hard to trust. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:58.000 My heart is kind of getting bitter. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:00.000 Why aren't you coming and helping me? 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.000 You told me to go, I went. 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:02.000 I don't know. 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:04.000 It's getting a little difficult to walk this. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:05.000 Why aren't you coming and helping me? 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.000 You helped that person. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.000 You helped this person. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.000 You're not helping me. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.000 Why should I be in this situation? 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.000 I've stood on your promise. 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:13.000 I've told others to stand on your promise. 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:15.000 I teach them how to stand on your promise. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:17.000 But how come, oh God, after doing all this, 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:20.000 when it comes to me, how come you're not there to deliver? 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.000 But now let me show you the Christianized version. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:25.000 You know, I've been really standing for a while, 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:29.000 and I think I'm showing the kind of faith that's necessary. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:30.000 But I don't know. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:33.000 It just doesn't seem like God's responding yet. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:35.000 But I'm going to continue standing in faith. 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:38.000 That's the Christianized version of my toxic version. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.000 Yeah, we are supposed to talk to others. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.000 But filter it through God. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.000 Hey, Nick, guess what? 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:54.000 I've been standing for a long, man, 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:57.000 and I've told God that this is what I'm looking for. 00:34:57.000 --> 00:35:00.000 You filter it through God in your previous conversation, 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:02.000 and then you tell Nick how you filtered it. 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:05.000 He learns, and you are able to present it the right way. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:08.000 Yeah. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:10.000 Because guys, toxicity with God is very simple. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:13.000 It is resentment against God, bitterness against God. 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:16.000 It is believing His promises but not affirming His goodness. 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:21.000 Everybody suffered this. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.000 You're not new to this. 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:23.000 Jeremiah. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:26.000 Jeremiah says, oh God, you're a deceptive brook. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:30.000 And guess what God's reply is? 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:32.000 You would think there would be some sympathy. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:37.000 God's reply is, if you don't start separating the vile from the pure, 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:40.000 if you don't stop speaking nonsense, 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:44.000 if you don't stop casting aspersions and suspicion on my name, 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:47.000 I will not use you as my mouthpiece. 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:48.000 Kalas. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.000 Immediately, Jeremiah changes. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.000 That is focusing on the problem. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:03.000 Yeah. 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:07.000 No, every time you focus on a problem, 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:09.000 your thoughts focus on a problem, 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:11.000 your emotions will come the same way. 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:13.000 You have to take the problem immediately. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.000 Ask for peace. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:16.000 Remember those steps you said, ask for peace. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.000 Begin to go into those steps and begin to have conversations with God. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.000 Yeah. 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.000 If God doesn't give you a solution, do the next best thing you know. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:28.000 Because the steps of righteous man are ordered by God. 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:32.000 When you have no clarity on what to do, 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:36.000 trust that the Spirit of God in you will lead you. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:40.000 Because take any scriptures, take Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.000 You will find that God is the only one who can lead you. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:47.000 You will find that God is the only one who can lead you. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:51.000 Because take any scriptures, take Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6. 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:54.000 Which says, 00:36:56.000 --> 00:37:01.000 Lean on, only trust and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind. 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:05.000 Do not rely on your insight, on your own understanding. 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.000 Do not put your trust in man. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:09.000 But in everything you do, put God first. 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.000 And what will he do? 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:13.000 He will make straight and plain your paths and direct your ways. 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:15.000 Proverbs 16, verse 3 or 4. 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:18.000 Roll your problems on to God and what will he do? 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:20.000 He will make your path straight. 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.000 Some whatever. 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:28.000 The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:32.000 These scriptures come together when we don't know what else to do. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:41.000 Which doesn't mean we use them as our default. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:43.000 Our intent is to find out what God wants. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:44.000 It isn't working. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:47.000 Either because I'm in a bad place and I can't hear. 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:49.000 Or because God isn't saying anything. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:51.000 Know that he can still carry you through. 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:54.000 My God, how many times has he done that without you praying? 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:04.000 1 Samuel 30 is another example where David is threatened. 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:07.000 How does a guy who has 400 people with him, 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:10.000 whose wives and children have all been taken away, 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:12.000 how does he not panic? 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:15.000 They're going to stone him in 1 Samuel 30. 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:17.000 And what's his response? 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:19.000 Not some kind of conversation. 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:21.000 He didn't sit down and write a psalm. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:26.000 Because by the time he finishes, knowing how long his psalms were, 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:28.000 look at what he did with 119. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.000 His wife and kids would be dead. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:31.000 So what does he do? 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:35.000 He immediately runs to God and God says two simple words, man. 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:36.000 Two simple words. 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:39.000 Actually, four simple words. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:43.000 You will recover all. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:45.000 Crazy, eh? 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:47.000 And now he has to stand on that. 00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:50.000 It doesn't matter that the Philistines have taken them. 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:54.000 Oh, by the way, when you pray for Israel, what do you pray for? 00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:58.000 What do you pray for when you pray for Israel? 00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:01.000 Because we all know what's happening. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:04.000 So here are some things that you can add to if you want to. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:06.000 But try this. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:09.000 Because Christians have a tendency to suddenly, 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:11.000 every time something happens to Israel, 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:13.000 we forget that there are other people involved. 00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:16.000 So why don't we go with this? 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 You can add to this, but start with this. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:27.000 You can start with it once I find it. 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:29.000 Shoot. 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:38.000 One of them was pray for Palestinian Christians. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.000 Because whenever such things happen, 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:44.000 they get beat up from all sides. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:45.000 So pray for them. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:46.000 Pray for them. 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.000 Pray for them. 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.000 Pray for them. 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.000 Pray for them. 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.000 Pray for them. 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:51.000 Pray for them. 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:52.000 Pray for them. 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:55.000 They're not the ones who get beat up from all sides. 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:59.000 So pray for them because they get the worst from everybody. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:05.000 One, that the physical sons of Abraham, 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:07.000 as in Ishmael and Isaac, 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:11.000 that the physical sons of Abraham will become spiritual sons of Abraham. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:15.000 Two, that lives are preserved so that they may yet receive Christ. 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:18.000 Three, sorry. 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:22.000 That the physical sons of Abraham become spiritual sons of Abraham. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:25.000 We're not praying... 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:27.000 Yeah. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:30.000 Doesn't matter whether you're physical descendants of Abraham 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:32.000 through Ishmael or through Isaac. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:36.000 At the end of the day, both will perish without Christ. 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:40.000 So we ask for the physical sons of Abraham, 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:45.000 be it descendant from Ishmael or descendant from Isaac, 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:47.000 to become spiritual sons of Abraham. 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:52.000 Second, that lives are preserved so that they may yet receive Christ. 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:57.000 Every person that dies without Christ perishes. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:03.000 That lives may be preserved so that they may yet receive Christ. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:10.000 Third, that believers will pray for both Palestinians and for Israelites. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:15.000 That believers across the earth will cry out for both, 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:17.000 not for one or the other. 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:21.000 The Afghani, Pakistani, Canadian, Israelite, Jewish, non-Jewish, 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:25.000 all need Christ, and so you can't pray for one side. 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:36.000 Four, that Palestinian Christians be protected through this. 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:42.000 Because they'll get hammered from both sides. 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:48.000 Both the Israeli side and the Hamas side, both will hammer off. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:53.000 They always suffer the most, the Arab Christians. 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:56.000 And then you can add to this. 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:06.000 Okay, I'll go for another 10 minutes and stop. 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:10.000 Time, guys, time is used as a weapon. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:15.000 Time is used as a weapon to destroy faith. 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:20.000 Time is used as a weapon to destroy faith. 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:31.000 I've said this before, but if you don't speak, faith will never grow. 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:34.000 So if you're someone who loves being quiet, 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:37.000 if you are someone who does not verbalize things, 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:39.000 if you are someone who thinks but doesn't speak, 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:43.000 then let me assure you, faith that is not spoken is stillborn. 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:46.000 Faith that is not spoken is stillborn. 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:50.000 Faith that is not spoken is stillborn. 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:59.000 And then if you think that's okay, then here's the next line I want to say to you from Hebrews 11, verse 6. 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:02.000 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:05.000 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.000 Faith must speak. 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:12.000 Okay, third one. 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 Time is used as a weapon to destroy faith, 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.000 because we give up when we can't see. 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.000 We give up when we can't see. 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:29.000 We give up when we can't see. 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:36.000 So every time it takes longer, it's best to put your faith into another gear. 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:39.000 Put your faith into another gear. 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:43.000 That's what Abraham did in that scripture we read. 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:45.000 Put your faith into another gear. 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:48.000 How? We need to speak the promise. 00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:57.000 We need to call forth what God said he would do. 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:03.000 Vocalizing it, yeah. 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:05.000 These walls may fall. 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:10.000 Three. 00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:19.000 Rebuke what needs to be rebuked or subdue what needs to be subdued, 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:24.000 be it a situation or be it the enemy. 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.000 Four. 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:37.000 This is really difficult for us who are thinkers and they like to intellectualize things. 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:55.000 Begin to act and speak as if it has already happened. 00:44:56.000 --> 00:44:59.000 Who said this? Jesus. 00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:01.000 Where? Mark. 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:05.000 Which chapter? 11. Which verse? 23. 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:12.000 Refuse to be defeated by time. 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:18.000 Whatever you believe. 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:20.000 Whatever you believe. 00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:23.000 Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have already received it. 00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:25.000 Or go to 1 John 5, 14, 15. 00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:33.000 Whatever you ask, according to my will, know that I, you must have the confidence that it is your present possession. 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:42.000 That you should, and David used to walk like this, Moses walked like this, Joseph walked like this, Jesus walked like this. 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:49.000 Refuse to be defeated by time. 00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:52.000 Wait time often becomes worry time. 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:55.000 Wait time often becomes worry time. 00:45:55.000 --> 00:46:02.000 Whenever wait time becomes worry time, worry time has you quit or has you turn resentful against God. 00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:07.000 One of the things that happens when faith doesn't work is you turn resentful against God. 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:11.000 Resentment is the eventual outcome of faith that is defeated. 00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:16.000 Resentment is the eventual outcome of faith that is defeated. 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:22.000 The other easy way to do, to escape all this is to throw everything on the sovereign will of God. 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:25.000 Just say, oh sovereign will of God. 00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:30.000 In Islam they say, Inshallah, meaning whatever will be will be. 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 In the 60s and 70s there was a song called Kesara Sera. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:39.000 You can choose whichever one you want to. 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:44.000 Any questions? 00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:49.000 Yep. 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:57.000 Will there be peace in all the suffering all the time? 00:46:57.000 --> 00:47:01.000 Will there be peace in all the suffering all the time? 00:47:04.000 --> 00:47:09.000 Sufferings must be categorized under three sections. 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:19.000 One, sufferings caused for the sake of Christ. 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:22.000 Where you suffer because you stood up for Christ. 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:34.000 Then there is suffering that comes because of this sinful world. 00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:42.000 Then there is suffering that comes because of others. 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:49.000 Then let's take a fourth one, suffering that's a result of my sin. 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:55.000 These are the four categories under which the Bible puts sufferings. 00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:59.000 Suffering that comes because for Christ's sake. 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:02.000 Where you take a stand for Christ and you suffer. 00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:08.000 Then there is sufferings that come because of the fallenness of the world. 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:11.000 Death is suffering, sickness is suffering. 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:15.000 Pain is suffering, hurt is suffering, sadness is suffering. 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:21.000 Anything that Adam did not suffer till he sinned is a result of the fall. 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:23.000 No one has spared that. 00:48:23.000 --> 00:48:26.000 Labor pain is suffering. 00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:28.000 So that's the second set. 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:30.000 The third set is suffering caused by others. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.000 Someone else's mistake causes you to suffer. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:41.000 Someone else's debt you take on. 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:46.000 There's a story in Elijah where this woman comes up to Elijah and says to him, 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:50.000 Alas the last master, they're coming to take away my two sons because my husband wasn't. 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:52.000 Debt. Someone else is suffering now. 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:55.000 And the fourth category is suffering because of my own sins. 00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:58.000 Where what I sow I reap. 00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:05.000 So based on these four categories of suffering, we have tremendous peace in this. 00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:07.000 God has chosen. 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:12.000 That's why people can go through it. 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:18.000 We have peace in this because there are promises that God gave and we'll sing it. 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:22.000 I mean today at some point I was thinking boy Christmas is just around the corner. 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:24.000 One of my favorite songs is Joy to the World. 00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:27.000 As far as the curse is found. 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:32.000 As far as the curse is found. 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:34.000 So I'm going to sing it to you. 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:36.000 I'm going to sing it to you. 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:41.000 As far as the curse is found. 00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:43.000 Suffering because of others. 00:49:43.000 --> 00:49:49.000 You can ask for peace to endure. 00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:51.000 And suffering because of my sin. 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:55.000 You can ask for forgiveness and with it comes peace. 00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:57.000 David puts it so brilliantly. 00:49:57.000 --> 00:50:00.000 Oh God, Psalm 51. 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:02.000 Cause my bones to rejoice again. 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:04.000 Give me back that which I lost. 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:08.000 Restore to me the joy of my salvation. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:10.000 Here's the crazy thing. 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:12.000 Four categories of suffering. 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:14.000 All can have peace. 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:17.000 Even though they're caused by four different things. 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:18.000 Why? 00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:23.000 Because in the center of all suffering stands one who suffered and was judged for the earth. 00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:27.000 And now reigns not just there but in your heart and says I am the Prince of Peace. 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:29.000 This is my favorite thing to do. 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:35.000 That's the crazy part of this. 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:37.000 Shoot, I got to stop. 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:47.000 I've been trying to finish this notes for the last three weeks. 00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:49.000 Okay. 00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:53.000 Last one. 00:50:53.000 --> 00:50:58.000 Crystal, I hope you told your dad and aunt that things go long here. 00:50:58.000 --> 00:51:03.000 It's basically because the children sang happy birthday. 00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:10.000 Because of Mike, yeah. 00:51:10.000 --> 00:51:12.000 Last one is be of good cheer. 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:14.000 Not the last one, the last one for today. 00:51:14.000 --> 00:51:17.000 Be of good cheer. 00:51:17.000 --> 00:51:18.000 What do you mean by that? 00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:27.000 In difficult situations, in really difficult situations where faith is being challenged, 00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:35.000 see if you can get to joy before doubt gets to you. 00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:54.000 See if you can get to joy before doubt gets to you. 00:51:54.000 --> 00:51:55.000 It's hard, eh? 00:51:55.000 --> 00:51:59.000 It's hard, but try. 00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:05.000 Or find people that can get you there fast. 00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:06.000 One or the other. 00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:13.000 Because joy and difficult circumstances are not compatible. 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:16.000 Paul and Silas did this. 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:22.000 They went for the jugular joy in prison so that they don't get overwhelmed by their situation. 00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:25.000 Four guards, chains. 00:52:25.000 --> 00:52:26.000 Very hard thing to do. 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:31.000 This is why I said these are practices. 00:52:31.000 --> 00:52:36.000 At the end of the day, my maturity will be known not by what I teach, 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:40.000 but whether I can practice this on a daily basis. 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:45.000 But if I can practice this, then I'll be in a show. 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:48.000 So see if you can get to joy before doubt gets to you. 00:52:48.000 --> 00:52:51.000 Thank God nobody names their children doubt, huh? 00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:02.000 One of the things about joy, why it's important to get to joy, 00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:11.000 is joy has the ability to grasp the outcome. 00:53:11.000 --> 00:53:22.000 Even while it isn't your present reality. 00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:29.000 Where do we see this? 00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:36.000 Though the fig tree shall not blossom, though there be no cattle in the stall, 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:43.000 though the olive trees may not bear fruit, though the stalls be empty, 00:53:43.000 --> 00:53:46.000 yet I will rejoice in the Lord my God. 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:47.000 I will do cartwheels of joy. 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:53.000 He's saying that listen, I'm going to be joyful because I'm going to grasp the outcome that is there. 00:53:53.000 --> 00:53:56.000 This is what pregnancy looks like. 00:53:56.000 --> 00:54:05.000 Where on one hand there is this fact that there's nothing to show and yet you know the outcome. 00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:06.000 You know the outcome. 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:09.000 Joy has the ability to grasp the outcome. 00:54:09.000 --> 00:54:14.000 Sometimes this kind of joy should make you dance at home and nobody is watching. 00:54:14.000 --> 00:54:18.000 And if you're really bad, stay away from mirrors. 00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:20.000 That's my secret. 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:24.000 I just don't dance where mirrors are there because then I stop. 00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:31.000 As long as I don't have to see, I will grasp joy and start dancing. 00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:34.000 My neighbors find it very disturbing, but that's their problem. 00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:38.000 The great thing in my building is you can't come to my floor because they don't have a fog. 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:45.000 Any questions, guys? I'll stop for now. 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:51.000 Doubt and joy are not compatible. 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:54.000 Doubt and joy are not compatible. Any questions? 00:54:57.000 --> 00:54:58.000 All good? 00:54:58.000 --> 00:54:59.000 Cool. 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:06.000 We've got a little more to go and then we'll do that next week. 00:55:06.000 --> 00:55:20.000 Next week we'll try, next week based on what Karen has said, we'll be meeting in the morning at 10.30 or so and at this place that she's getting. 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:32.000 And then after that we will have a potluck lunch and then by 2 or 2.30, because that's how long she's getting it for, we leave. 00:55:32.000 --> 00:55:36.000 And we just want to thank Mike and Karen for sponsoring the whole event. 00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:42.000 In a church, once you clap, it's sealed. 00:55:44.000 --> 00:55:47.000 So if you need prayer, there'll be people here to pray with you. 00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:54.000 Otherwise, say hello to Crystal's aunt and dad and say hello to Larissa and say goodbye to...