WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Burning Lukewarmness Publishing Date: 2025-04-13T06:04:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/burning-lukewarmness/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:24.560 Okay, guys, let's go. Today the teaching will be from—actually, I don't have a verse or 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:32.560 a passage that I'm drawing from as the primary. I'm drawing from different chapters here. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:47.560 But anyway, the title would be Burning Lukewarmness. Burning Lukewarmness. Yeah. If you remember 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:55.560 Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3, right? It wasn't just a moment of Moses encountering 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:02.560 God. It's more than that, right? As we all know, God came and manifested in the form 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:09.560 of a burning bush that burned, and yet it did not consume the bush, right? So on one 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:16.560 hand, it was the presence, the manifestation of a holy God in the form of a fire, right? 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:26.560 In a burning bush. And because of God's presence, the ground that He was standing became holy. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:36.560 Yeah? So on one hand, the burning bush signifies the presence of a divine God, right? God manifesting 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:42.560 in something physical, right? So that's the first part. And then the second aspect was 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:52.560 the commission of Moses came on that day. Yeah? So those are two significant points 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:58.560 there. One is the manifestation of a holy God in the form of a consuming fire, and the 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:07.560 other is the calling and the commissioning of Moses began on that day. And so we read 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:14.560 that God is a consuming fire, right? Hebrews talks about that. Hebrews 12.29. And for our 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:22.560 God is a consuming fire. And on the other hand, when we read Revelation, we talk about 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:31.560 the church in Laodicea where it's lukewarm. And here is a God who is a consuming fire, 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:36.560 and on the other hand is a church filled up with lukewarm Christians, right? And the Lord 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:48.560 hates it. They cannot go together. You know, the message puts it like this. You are stale. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:58.560 You are stagnant. And you make me want to vomit. Those are not good words, so to say. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:07.560 Yeah? And it says, because you are neither cold nor hot, I'm about to spit you out of 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:15.560 my mouth. Those are the words of Jesus. So Jesus prefers either you are cold or you are 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:22.560 hot, right? And then there's often a misinterpretation of hot and cold, right? Cold is not being 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:29.560 cold for the Lord. Cold is not being like you're citing Satan and you have nothing for 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.560 the things of God, right? You're not interested in anything with God. No, it's not talking 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:42.560 about that. It's much more than that. Hot and cold and lukewarm are often used in different 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:49.560 examples and metaphors that are used. But one of the cultural contexts in this is that 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:58.560 here is a city, a city called Hierapolis, right? Hierapolis. And then in the middle is Laodicea. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:05.560 And then in the southern part is Colosseum, right? Colosseum, right? So these are the 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:13.560 three cities. And the upper one, which is in the northern city, is Hierapolis. And it 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:21.560 is mountainous. And so the waters are believed to flow from these volcanic lavas. And so 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:28.560 as the water trickles down from this mountain, what we receive in this city, in Hierapolis, 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:40.560 is hot water. And it is believed to be used for therapeutic healing, right? And it is 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:51.560 medicinal. But then, by the time it reaches Laodicea, it gets lukewarm. And then if you 00:04:51.560 --> 00:05:00.560 go south, in the city of Colosseum, there are lots of lakes and springs which are refreshing 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:12.560 and cold. So it's not necessarily talking about, sorry, it's talking about more of usefulness 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:20.560 or say utility, right? That if you are cold, you can refresh. You can bring something pure 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:26.560 something refreshing. If you are hot, here in this context, you are used for something healing, 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:33.560 something therapeutic, something medicinal, right? But then lukewarm, it's like you're either 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:42.560 neither this nor this and can't use it. So it's in that kind of context, which I think makes 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:57.560 more sense. So lukewarm is a misplaced priority that God struggles to use you. Because you're 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:06.560 a little bit like the world, but you like God. Yeah? So you're kind of in between. So 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:13.560 number one about lukewarmness is that it's a spiritual indifference. It's a spiritual indifference, 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:21.560 right? Lukewarmness talks about a spiritual complacency. Where people profess that they are 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:30.560 Christians, but you hardly see about their passion. You hardly see there's an urgency for his 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:38.560 kingdom work. There is no total surrender. There are things that they go about with their own 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:44.560 lives, and yet they still want to pursue God. So they are kind of playing with both, right? This is 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:50.560 why the Bible talks about you cannot play, sorry, you cannot serve God and Maimon together, right? 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:56.560 But lukewarm people are the ones who plays with both. Yeah? So there is a spiritual indifference. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:04.560 And lukewarmness is not laziness, guys. It's not laziness. It's an indifference dressed in the 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:15.560 clothing saying, I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm okay. So one might do church, sing songs, show up on Sunday 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:25.560 gatherings, but your soul is asleep. One prays only when it's pushed, right? One worships only when 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:34.560 it is emotionally stirred up. So you do the church thing, you engage in church activities, but 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:42.560 someone always needs to run behind you, push you, encourage you, motivate you. And that's what lukewarmness 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:54.560 is about. Yeah? Lukewarmness doesn't require Satan to kill it. So when we check our own prayer life, 00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:06.560 is there a hunger for God's presence? Is there a boldness to witness? Is there a joy in the Holy Spirit? 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:18.560 Those are good ways, or say, that's the real thermometer, so to say, to measure whether you are lukewarm or not. 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:26.560 And then the second one about lukewarmness is that lukewarmness is always, or say, often clothed in comfort 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:34.560 and self-sufficiency. It's always clothed in comfort and self-sufficiency. You know, the city of Laodicea 00:08:34.560 --> 00:08:46.560 and the people, they were materially wealthy city. So they didn't lack resources. They lacked reliance. 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:54.560 They didn't lack resources, but they lacked reliance. Right? They had, it's possible to have trappings of faith, 00:08:54.560 --> 00:09:03.560 all the trappings of faith without fire. So today, many Christians, they think they are okay, because life looks good 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:14.560 on the outside. But Jesus sees the heart, and they don't even realize their own true condition. 00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:23.560 Because this is what the Church of Laodicea said. They said, in verse 17, if you read there, the Church of Laodicea said, 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:35.560 I am rich, I have prospered, I need nothing. Three words, eh? I am rich, I have prospered, I need nothing. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:47.560 They are comfortable, they need nothing. And then, you know what? Jesus said, you are wretched, you are pitiful, 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:57.560 you are poor, you are blind, and you are naked. Quite the opposite, eh? So there's a big disconnect between the two, right? 00:09:57.560 --> 00:10:08.560 One is how they see themselves, and the other is how God sees them. Right? How they see themselves, and how God sees them. 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:16.560 How are you gauging yourself, right? Are you thinking you are hot for the Lord, but is God saying you are lukewarm? 00:10:16.560 --> 00:10:26.560 Or, how do you gauge yourself, right? This is quite reflective of our society. Because we live in a society where 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:35.560 we think we are okay, we are good, we are okay, we don't need anything, yeah? We are good. And so, often fate is privatized, 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:47.560 personalized, reduced to Sunday attendance, and if we hold good morals, it's good. But it's not life consuming, all consuming, right? 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:55.560 And that is so different. And in this Church of Laudasia, they substitute material prosperity with spiritual vitality. 00:10:55.560 --> 00:11:09.560 And that is quite similar even for us too. And there's no urgency, there's no passion. And so, they did not reject Jesus outright, 00:11:09.560 --> 00:11:19.560 but there's no fire in them. And so, it's possible to say we believe in God. Every Christian say that, I believe in God. 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:30.560 No Christian will deny the existence of God. But it is possible not to exercise faith in God. Hear me again. 00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:42.560 You can believe in God, but not exercise faith in God. And the term for this is practical atheist. Practical atheist, right? 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:50.560 You don't deny the existence of God, but in your practical life, in your everyday life, God's absent. You don't rely on Him. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:12:00.560 So it's possible to live in that place. But hear the response of Jesus. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:10.560 Those whom I love, I rebuke. That's what Jesus said, right? And discipline. So be earnest and repent. 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:20.560 And then this famous verse comes, which we all know. Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:29.560 I will come in and eat with that person and they with me, right? Which we all know that verse. But this came in the context of this. 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:34.560 In the context of lukewarmness, right? In the context of comfort and self-sufficiency. 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:44.560 And this is where Jesus is saying lukewarmness isn't enough. And this is the audience addressed here is not non-believers. 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:54.560 The audience is believers. People who know God. And Jesus saying, I would rather you be cold or hot, right? 00:12:54.560 --> 00:13:04.560 Lukewarmness is something, it's a place where Jesus hates. He says He's about to spit them out, right? 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:14.560 So Jesus isn't knocking here at the door with condemnation. But He is knocking to commune. That's a different thing, right? 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:24.560 He's not knocking to condemn, but He's knocking to commune. Here at Acts 29, we are at a place where nobody can remain lukewarm. 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:34.560 And one of the things that we spoke about during the retreat was that there is no lukewarmness in this house. You cannot be, right? 00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:46.560 We will not allow this to be. And so if you say, just think about this. If you say, some of the best years of my life, especially when it comes to my relationship with God, was I think 2024. 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:54.560 I think it was five years ago. It was six years ago. If you say, I'm going to be a good man, I'm going to be a good man. 00:13:54.560 --> 00:14:04.560 If you think that some of your best spiritual lives, so to say, some of your best lives or when you felt most intimate with God, those moments, those seasons, those years, if it has been the past, then you are lukewarm. 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:10.560 That's hard to swallow though. 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:20.560 I'm not judging. I'm not condemning, but I'm trying to unsettle you and unsettle myself so that we come out of our lukewarmness, right? 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:26.560 So then what's the remedy for this? 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:32.560 If Jesus hates this, how do we deal with this? 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:38.560 So we have to be a little bit more careful. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:44.560 We have to be a little bit more careful. 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:50.560 We have to be a little bit more careful. 00:14:50.560 --> 00:15:00.560 So that's the remedy for this lukewarmness. If Jesus hates this, how do we all come out of this lukewarmness, right? 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:08.560 And then I want to use this metaphor of fire. 00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:16.560 God often comes or manifests in the form of a fire. And he himself said he is a consuming fire. 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:22.560 So if Jesus is saying, I am like fire or I manifest like fire, he is saying, I am the fire. 00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:26.560 I'm the consuming fire. 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:32.560 That's a different interpretation, right? 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:38.560 So at least there are eight, nine metaphorical use of this word fire. 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:44.560 Like for example, the burning bush, right? Where it signifies the presence of God. 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:48.560 We all know that it was a divine guidance, right? 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:56.560 God manifested in a pillar of fire for what? To guide the Israelites so that they can even travel by night. 00:15:56.560 --> 00:16:04.560 And then the third one is refining fire, where God comes and purifies, right? 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:08.560 Which we read in Malachi or in 1 Peter 1. 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:18.560 One is the consuming fire, where the judgment and the wrath of God sometimes falls on his own people, sometimes on the enemy. 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:26.560 And then there's this fire in the bones we read in Jeremiah, right? 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:32.560 So this is a prophetic passion that God comes in the fire in his bones, right? 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:40.560 And then if we go to the New Testament, especially in the book of Acts in chapter 2, it came as tongues of fire. 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:44.560 And that rests on each person, right? 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:48.560 It's the empowerment of the spirit that came, right? 00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:52.560 Because Jesus said, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:56.560 And on the Day of Pentecost, that power was released. 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:58.560 So it came as tongues of fire. 00:16:58.560 --> 00:17:04.560 And then we all know the eternal fire that will come on the final judgment, right? 00:17:04.560 --> 00:17:07.560 So here, these are just a few examples of fire. 00:17:07.560 --> 00:17:14.560 But fire of God can destroy anything that is lukewarm in your life. 00:17:14.560 --> 00:17:18.560 Fire can burn up your religious junks. 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:24.560 Fire can separate you from what is ordinary from the extraordinary. 00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:30.560 Fire can ignite your zeal, your passion for God and for his kingdom affairs. 00:17:30.560 --> 00:17:33.560 Fire of God can purify you. 00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:36.560 Fire of God can prepare you. 00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:48.560 Fire of God can manifest powerfully to bring transformation in your family, in the lives of your neighbors, in the lives of your colleagues, right? 00:17:48.560 --> 00:17:55.560 And as we go to Acts up to 28, fire exposes the snakes, right? 00:17:55.560 --> 00:17:58.560 The habitual sins. 00:17:58.560 --> 00:18:00.560 And that are lurking in proximity, right? 00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:07.560 Because when Paul had shipwrecked and he landed on the island of Malta, he made fire and then the snake came out, right? 00:18:07.560 --> 00:18:11.560 And it bit his hand. 00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:17.560 But as you make fire, it exposes the snakes. 00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:24.560 One pastor said, it exposes the vipers, but it kills them too. 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:26.560 Fire can kill them too. 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:29.560 Yeah? 00:18:29.560 --> 00:18:38.560 And I want to quote this man of God who said, life on fire for God is not a personality trait. 00:18:38.560 --> 00:18:42.560 He said, to be on fire for God is not a personality trait. 00:18:42.560 --> 00:18:45.560 It is not a spiritual gift. 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:49.560 And it is not a calling of the few elites. 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.560 Right? 00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:52.560 And he puts it very simple. 00:18:52.560 --> 00:19:02.560 Life on fire for God is simply being able to overcome excuses. 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:03.560 Yeah? 00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:10.560 If you want to be on fire for God, one thing is, do away with excuse. 00:19:10.560 --> 00:19:11.560 As simple as that, guys. 00:19:11.560 --> 00:19:12.560 Yeah? 00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:21.560 Because excuses will always extinguish the fire in you. 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:24.560 I am too busy right now. 00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:26.560 I don't have time. 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:30.560 I don't think this is the right time to pursue God. 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:32.560 I cannot be passionate at this moment. 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:34.560 There are too many things going on in my life. 00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:35.560 So you procrastinate. 00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:36.560 Past experiences. 00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:39.560 I've had terrible experiences. 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.560 Your present need. 00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:42.560 But my needs are great. 00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:43.560 Right? 00:19:43.560 --> 00:19:47.560 And then some of your prayers have been unanswered. 00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:49.560 So you're disappointed with God. 00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:53.560 And then some say, I need to get a job first, though. 00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:55.560 I need to get married first. 00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:59.560 I need to buy my first home first. 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:02.560 And you're hoping that something will happen and it's not happening. 00:20:02.560 --> 00:20:07.560 So for one or two reasons, we have excuse. 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:09.560 Good excuse, so to say. 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:13.560 And yet, that will extinguish the fire in you. 00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:18.560 And so my focus for today is, how can we keep this fire burning? 00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:26.560 You know, I'm not going to deal so much on lukewarmness, but how can we keep this fire burning? 00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:36.560 And if you look in the Bible, fire doesn't just randomly fall from the sky. 00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:42.560 There's always something that attracts for God to rain down his fire. 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:45.560 And I find that very fascinating. 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:53.560 It's not that God shows up with a fire, with a consuming fire, and then suddenly it consumes something and purifies something. 00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:56.560 No, it doesn't work like that. 00:20:56.560 --> 00:20:59.560 There is something that attracts the fire of God. 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:02.560 Sometimes it's a posture. 00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:05.560 Sometimes it's a sacrifice. 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:10.560 Sometimes it's a realignment, and then the fire of God falls. 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:13.560 So we want to explore five things. 00:21:13.560 --> 00:21:16.560 Like last Sunday I mentioned five sermon points. 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:19.560 Today I want to have another five sermon points. 00:21:19.560 --> 00:21:23.560 And I hope now that makes ten now. 00:21:23.560 --> 00:21:32.560 So the first one is, your life as an offering, sacrifice on the altar. 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:36.560 Your life as an offering, sacrifice on the altar. 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:44.560 You know, if you go to Leviticus, chapter 9, verse 24, let me read it from there. 00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:52.560 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord, and it consumed the burnt offering on the altar. 00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:59.560 Fire falls when something is offered on the altar. 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:01.560 Yeah? Does that make sense? 00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:04.560 Right? The altar cannot be empty. 00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:07.560 Something has to be offered on the altar. 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:12.560 And then God comes and consumes that offering on the altar. 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:15.560 Something has to be laid down. 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:23.560 Is it your pride? Is it your ego? Is it your ambition? Is it your career? Is it your spouse? 00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:25.560 What is it? Right? 00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:30.560 Something has to be offered on the altar so that the fire of God can come and consume that. 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:32.560 Something has to be offered. 00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:34.560 And that's fascinating, guys. 00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:41.560 And if we are not prepared to lay something on the altar, the fire of God cannot come. 00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:46.560 Because the fire never falls on an empty ground. 00:22:46.560 --> 00:22:48.560 Something has to be offered, right? 00:22:48.560 --> 00:22:50.560 So I had seen this. 00:22:50.560 --> 00:22:56.560 Oftentimes, sometimes for someone a career is too important. 00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:58.560 To pursue a career is too important. 00:22:58.560 --> 00:23:02.560 Sometimes a business idea is too important. 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:07.560 Sometimes these are all great promises and great visions, right? 00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:12.560 God gives this. God gives a vision. God gives an idea. 00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:18.560 God gives all of these visions and dreams and prophecies of what you will be, what you will do. 00:23:18.560 --> 00:23:24.560 These are great promises and gifts from God, and yet they cannot overshadow who God is. 00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:29.560 And oftentimes, vision gets bigger than God. 00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:34.560 When ministry begins to explode, the ministry becomes more important. 00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:41.560 When business begins to grow drastically, the business becomes so important. Yeah? 00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:47.560 And so it may still be a dream job. It may be a dream come true. 00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:51.560 It cannot overshadow God, right? 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:57.560 And so something has to be laid on the altar. 00:23:57.560 --> 00:24:00.560 And that's the Old Testament concept. 00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:03.560 The New Testament concept is even better. 00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:10.560 And I find this, when I began to compare this to, it's amazing. 00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:16.560 Because what the Old Testament is teaching is that your Isaac needs to be on the altar, right? 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:23.560 Your Isaac, as in your promise, what's been given, or your vision, what's been given needs to be put on the altar. 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:28.560 In the New Testament, it's no longer your Isaac. 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:31.560 Let me read this from Romans 12, verse 1. 00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:37.560 Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, for this is your spiritual worship. 00:24:37.560 --> 00:24:42.560 Let me hear me again. Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. 00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:44.560 The New Testament is saying this. 00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:50.560 It's not about your pride, it's not about your ambition, it's not about something that you lay on the altar. 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:55.560 You be the offering. 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:57.560 That's different. 00:24:57.560 --> 00:25:01.560 It's challenging you to another level of surrender. 00:25:01.560 --> 00:25:06.560 Now it's not about surrendering your dream, your ambition. 00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:08.560 It's no longer about that now. 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:10.560 Now you become the offering. 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:12.560 You be the Isaac now. 00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:14.560 That's different, guys. 00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.560 Yeah? 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:23.560 So this offering and sacrifice, this concept, nothing has changed, guys. 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:25.560 We think that those days are over. 00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.560 No, not really. 00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:28.560 The concept is the same. 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:36.560 It's just that we don't need to go and slaughter bulls or goats and rams or even cats and dogs. 00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:38.560 They're spared now. 00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:40.560 Yeah? 00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:44.560 But you be the offering now. 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:49.560 That's huge, guys. 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:56.560 And we often think that when we offer ourselves to the service of the Lord or to whatever that God has, 00:25:56.560 --> 00:26:02.560 we think that we are paying the price, the cost of discipleship, so to say, the cost of following Jesus. 00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:04.560 We think that we are giving up. 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:08.560 We're giving up our dreams, our ambitions, and what we want to do. 00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:10.560 We think that we are giving up. 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:16.560 But God said, those who try to save their lives will lose it, but those who lose their lives for his sake will find it. 00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:22.560 And then God said in Jeremiah 29, which we all know, God has a plan to prosper us, to give us hope, future. 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:30.560 Even if you plan, you think that it's the best plan, it cannot, right? 00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:33.560 It doesn't even come close to what God has in store for you. 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:37.560 So we think that we are offering our lives and sacrificing something for the Lord. 00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:38.560 No. 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:48.560 In fact, if you and I can learn how to sacrifice ourselves before the Lord, we will have life in full and in abundance. 00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.560 Yeah? 00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:55.560 Because we are giving our lives to the author, creator, who knows and who has formed us. 00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:59.560 And so we will receive much better than what we have offered. 00:26:59.560 --> 00:27:00.560 Yeah? 00:27:00.560 --> 00:27:02.560 So that's the first one, right? 00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:08.560 Can we offer our life as an offering on the altar? 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.560 Yeah? 00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:12.560 Not just sacrificing your promises or words spoken over your life. 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:15.560 Can you offer yourself as the... 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:17.560 Can you offer... 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:21.560 Can you be the Isaac on the altar, so to say? 00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:24.560 And then the second one. 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:31.560 Fire falls when there's a broken spirit and humility practiced. 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.560 Yeah? 00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:35.560 Let me go to Psalm 51. 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.560 And I really like this verse. 00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:38.560 Psalm 51, verse 17. 00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:40.560 This is the Psalm of David. 00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:41.560 And he said, 00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:47.560 He said, 00:27:58.560 --> 00:28:02.560 God cannot despise a broken spirit and a contrite heart. 00:28:02.560 --> 00:28:03.560 It cannot. 00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:05.560 Yeah? 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:13.560 You know, we read a similar idea even in Matthew 5, where Jesus talks about the Beatitudes, 00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:15.560 where it says that, 00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:18.560 Blessed are the poor in spirit, right? 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:21.560 Then for theirs is the kingdom of God. 00:28:21.560 --> 00:28:22.560 Yeah? 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:28.560 And then another verse is Isaiah 57, verse 15. 00:28:28.560 --> 00:28:30.560 I really love this part. 00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:34.560 Isaiah 57, verse 15, where it says, 00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:40.560 You know, God's saying, I dwell in the high places, in the high and holy places, right? 00:28:40.560 --> 00:28:42.560 God's saying that's where he dwells. 00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:52.560 And yet, he said, but I also dwell in the lowly, in the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. 00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.560 I love that, yeah? 00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:57.560 God dwells in the high and holy place. 00:28:57.560 --> 00:29:04.560 And yet, he also dwells in the one or with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:07.560 And here's this next line. 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:14.560 To revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the spirit of a contrite heart. 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:17.560 Crazy, eh? 00:29:17.560 --> 00:29:22.560 The God who dwells on high places, on a holy place, 00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:27.560 is also dwelling in the midst of a contrite and a lowly spirit, 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:30.560 so that he can revive them. 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:32.560 Amazing, eh? 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:38.560 Fire never falls on the proud. 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:44.560 Fire never falls on who is self-sufficient. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:49.560 Fire never falls on those who try to perform. 00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:57.560 Fire falls on those who are pure, not on those who perform. 00:29:57.560 --> 00:30:05.560 You may not be perfect, but if your worship is pure, it's honest, sincere. 00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:11.560 That's how he accepted Abel's offering, right? 00:30:11.560 --> 00:30:19.560 So, his fire always falls on the lowly, one who is sincere. 00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:23.560 It always moves the heart of God. 00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:28.560 When you think of that prodigal son's story, right? 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:32.560 The day and the moment, yes, he made a blunder, he made a mess. 00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:38.560 But the day and the moment that he said, I will return to my father. 00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:41.560 That's the best decision he has ever made, eh? 00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:43.560 I will return to my father. 00:30:43.560 --> 00:30:48.560 The day and the moment he repents and turns his attention towards the father, 00:30:48.560 --> 00:30:54.560 the father is waiting, embraces him, puts him on a rope, calls on a feast. 00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:58.560 It always gets the attention of the father. 00:30:58.560 --> 00:31:03.560 The moment you say, father, I need you. 00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:07.560 I turn my own ways. I cannot on my own. 00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:09.560 That's what it takes, eh? 00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:14.560 And remember the story in Luke chapter 18, I think, if I'm correct. 00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:17.560 Yeah, Luke chapter 18, verse 9 onwards. 00:31:17.560 --> 00:31:23.560 Jesus is telling about one parable, and he's comparing two guys here. 00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:26.560 One is a Pharisee, the other is a text collector. 00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:31.560 And he's saying, the Pharisee prays like this. 00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:36.560 I thank God I'm not like the other men. 00:31:36.560 --> 00:31:40.560 And then he goes on a self-exaltation mode, right? 00:31:40.560 --> 00:31:44.560 And then the other guy is a text collector. 00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:51.560 And this text collector, he wouldn't even dare to look up to the heavens. 00:31:51.560 --> 00:31:53.560 But he would beat his chest. 00:31:53.560 --> 00:32:01.560 And he said, Lord, I am a sinner. 00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:05.560 It immediately gets the attention of God, right? 00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:11.560 A earnest, sincere, and a humble posture before God always, 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:15.560 and I would say immediately, gets the attention of God. 00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:19.560 So if we admit our lukewarmness, so to say, 00:32:19.560 --> 00:32:25.560 say, Lord, I want to be on fire for God, but why am I inconsistent? 00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:28.560 Some days, some weeks, I am on fire for you. 00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.560 You know that. 00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:36.560 But there are weeks I am lukewarm or even cold. 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:38.560 Why is that so, Lord? 00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:44.560 Why can't I be consistent with my faith, with my walk with you? 00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:46.560 Lord, help me. 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:48.560 Show me. 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:55.560 And as you do that, Isaiah 57 verse 17 immediately kicks into action, right? 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:58.560 Where it says, I dwell in the high holy place, 00:32:58.560 --> 00:33:03.560 but I also dwell with the one who is lowly and contrite in spirit. 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:04.560 For what? 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:13.560 To revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the spirit of a contrite heart. 00:33:13.560 --> 00:33:18.560 He dwells in the lowly so that we can be revived. 00:33:18.560 --> 00:33:20.560 Crazy, eh? 00:33:20.560 --> 00:33:27.560 Number one, desperate and a faith-filled prayer. 00:33:27.560 --> 00:33:31.560 Desperate and faith-filled prayer. 00:33:31.560 --> 00:33:35.560 Fire always falls on this one. 00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:39.560 Let me take you to 1 Kings 18, right? 00:33:39.560 --> 00:33:44.560 Elijah prays at Mount Carmel, and fire falls, which we all know, right? 00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:49.560 Which consumes the sacrifice, the stone, the dust and water. 00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:52.560 So fire didn't just fall like that. 00:33:52.560 --> 00:33:55.560 It was a response to Elijah's prayer. 00:33:55.560 --> 00:33:56.560 Yeah? 00:33:56.560 --> 00:34:02.560 Fire fell as a response to Elijah's prayer. 00:34:02.560 --> 00:34:04.560 Can we pray like this? 00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:09.560 Are we desperate enough? 00:34:09.560 --> 00:34:11.560 We should read how he prayed. 00:34:11.560 --> 00:34:16.560 When I read this, reread this, reread this prayer, it was amazing. 00:34:16.560 --> 00:34:18.560 It blew my mind. 00:34:18.560 --> 00:34:22.560 And I would say I often don't pray like this. 00:34:22.560 --> 00:34:28.560 Hear this prayer from 1 Kings 18. 00:34:28.560 --> 00:34:30.560 Elijah prayed like this. 00:34:30.560 --> 00:34:37.560 Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, 00:34:37.560 --> 00:34:43.560 and I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 00:34:43.560 --> 00:34:49.560 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that these people may know that you are the Lord God, 00:34:49.560 --> 00:34:55.560 and that you have turned their hearts back to you again. 00:34:55.560 --> 00:34:59.560 When we read this, let's dissect this prayer, right? 00:34:59.560 --> 00:35:06.560 See here, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known that you are God in Israel. 00:35:06.560 --> 00:35:08.560 Such faith. 00:35:08.560 --> 00:35:15.560 He's saying that you are the God of this Israel, Isaac, Jacob, and you have to show. 00:35:15.560 --> 00:35:19.560 You have to show that, let it be known that you are the one true God. 00:35:19.560 --> 00:35:25.560 So he's saying, in one way, he's challenging God to manifest, to show up. 00:35:25.560 --> 00:35:27.560 Such faith. 00:35:27.560 --> 00:35:37.560 And then, second part, he says, I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 00:35:37.560 --> 00:35:39.560 Obedience. 00:35:39.560 --> 00:35:41.560 He's not just making it up. 00:35:41.560 --> 00:35:48.560 He's putting all these things so that he's hearing, and he's doing this, right? 00:35:48.560 --> 00:35:56.560 He's God's servant, and he's not trying to experiment with water and try to see if God will show up. 00:35:56.560 --> 00:35:57.560 No. 00:35:57.560 --> 00:36:01.560 He's hearing and he's obeying, even in this, right? 00:36:01.560 --> 00:36:06.560 And then, the third part, hear me, O Lord, hear me. 00:36:06.560 --> 00:36:08.560 Such a humility posture. 00:36:08.560 --> 00:36:13.560 He's bleeding to God to come, right? 00:36:13.560 --> 00:36:20.560 And then, this next part, that these people may know that you are God. 00:36:20.560 --> 00:36:21.560 What's the context? 00:36:21.560 --> 00:36:23.560 The context was that they are competing. 00:36:23.560 --> 00:36:26.560 They're trying to show who the true God is. 00:36:26.560 --> 00:36:36.560 So here is the prophet of Baals and other worshipers, and here is Elijah and God's people. 00:36:36.560 --> 00:36:38.560 So it's a contest. 00:36:38.560 --> 00:36:39.560 There's a war going on here. 00:36:39.560 --> 00:36:41.560 There's a competition going on here. 00:36:41.560 --> 00:36:46.560 And now, Elijah is praying for these guys. 00:36:46.560 --> 00:36:51.560 He is saying that they may know you. 00:36:51.560 --> 00:36:56.560 In the midst of a contest, in the midst of a war, he's praying for the enemy. 00:36:56.560 --> 00:36:58.560 Crazy, eh? 00:36:58.560 --> 00:37:00.560 He cares for them. 00:37:00.560 --> 00:37:02.560 He loves them. 00:37:02.560 --> 00:37:04.560 That they may know you. 00:37:04.560 --> 00:37:05.560 He's praying for them. 00:37:05.560 --> 00:37:07.560 Such a love for these people. 00:37:07.560 --> 00:37:12.560 And then, the last part, that they have turned their hearts back to you. 00:37:12.560 --> 00:37:14.560 He's praying for their salvation. 00:37:14.560 --> 00:37:16.560 He's praying for their conversion. 00:37:16.560 --> 00:37:18.560 That they will turn to you. 00:37:18.560 --> 00:37:20.560 Crazy, eh? 00:37:20.560 --> 00:37:26.560 So when you take this prayer, it is, I would say three things here. 00:37:26.560 --> 00:37:28.560 It is faith-filled. 00:37:28.560 --> 00:37:30.560 It is heaven-focused. 00:37:30.560 --> 00:37:33.560 It is a fire-attracting prayer. 00:37:33.560 --> 00:37:37.560 I find these mind-blowing guys. 00:37:37.560 --> 00:37:42.560 Not sure if most of us can pray this kind of prayer. 00:37:42.560 --> 00:37:52.560 I remember Anil and I going to one meeting where there were church leaders praying for an elder who is seriously sick and in a critical condition. 00:37:52.560 --> 00:37:57.560 And I think it was pretty serious. 00:37:57.560 --> 00:38:00.560 And then, very less chance. 00:38:00.560 --> 00:38:09.560 And so, when we were in the room, as we hear prayers across the room, we couldn't find a prayer that was really serious. 00:38:09.560 --> 00:38:19.560 And so, when we were in the room, as we heard prayers across the room, we couldn't find a single man who prayed a prayer of faith. 00:38:19.560 --> 00:38:24.560 Nobody dared to ask for complete restoration. 00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:26.560 They were crying. 00:38:26.560 --> 00:38:29.560 Like, oh, he was a good friend. 00:38:29.560 --> 00:38:35.560 Lord, if it's your will, please, please heal him. 00:38:35.560 --> 00:38:39.560 And the prayers were ready to let this man go. 00:38:39.560 --> 00:38:44.560 And I remember when Anil prayed, it was a different prayer. 00:38:44.560 --> 00:38:58.560 And I don't know if it was because of our prayer, but that elder got healed. 00:38:58.560 --> 00:39:03.560 Desperate, faith-filled prayer. 00:39:03.560 --> 00:39:07.560 I wish we can pray like this for our revival, that we are longing for. 00:39:07.560 --> 00:39:09.560 The Hebrides 2.0. 00:39:09.560 --> 00:39:14.560 We need men and women who can pray like this, guys. 00:39:14.560 --> 00:39:15.560 Right? 00:39:15.560 --> 00:39:19.560 Lord, if it's your will, let Hebrides 2.0 happen. 00:39:19.560 --> 00:39:22.560 If it's not, it's okay. 00:39:22.560 --> 00:39:25.560 I hope we don't go that route, you know? 00:39:25.560 --> 00:39:27.560 Yeah. 00:39:27.560 --> 00:39:30.560 And then the fourth one. 00:39:30.560 --> 00:39:33.560 Oneness of heart and expectation. 00:39:33.560 --> 00:39:35.560 Oneness of heart and expectation. 00:39:35.560 --> 00:39:38.560 There is power in unity, guys. 00:39:38.560 --> 00:39:50.560 There is, like, when a people of God come together as one, unites their heart and have a common expectation from God, it's powerful, guys. 00:39:50.560 --> 00:39:56.560 On the day of Pentecost, they were together. 00:39:56.560 --> 00:39:57.560 They were together. 00:39:57.560 --> 00:39:58.560 Why? 00:39:58.560 --> 00:40:04.560 Because Jesus instructed them to wait and to not depart from Jerusalem. 00:40:04.560 --> 00:40:07.560 That was the instruction, right? 00:40:07.560 --> 00:40:10.560 So they were waiting. 00:40:10.560 --> 00:40:14.560 And they obeyed what Jesus told them. 00:40:14.560 --> 00:40:19.560 And then on that day, the Spirit fell on each one of them. 00:40:19.560 --> 00:40:26.560 God's fire falls when there is oneness, when there is obedience and a spiritual hunger, right? 00:40:26.560 --> 00:40:35.560 So I've not come across any revival falling on a lone ranger. 00:40:35.560 --> 00:40:48.560 When you look at the across history of how revivals break out, yes, there are people that God used to initiate, but it never falls on one person. 00:40:48.560 --> 00:40:53.560 They were together when the Holy Spirit came, right? 00:40:53.560 --> 00:41:04.560 Oneness of heart always invites the fire of God to fall, and division always repels the fire of God. 00:41:04.560 --> 00:41:09.560 You know, remember in Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel, right? 00:41:09.560 --> 00:41:10.560 The Tower of Babel. 00:41:10.560 --> 00:41:12.560 And I find this very interesting. 00:41:12.560 --> 00:41:16.560 Even in disobedience, there is power of unity. 00:41:16.560 --> 00:41:19.560 God acknowledged that. 00:41:19.560 --> 00:41:24.560 The other day I was reading this and I find it quite fascinating because these are the words that God said. 00:41:24.560 --> 00:41:39.560 God said, verse 6, if as one people speaking the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 00:41:39.560 --> 00:41:40.560 Crazy, eh? 00:41:40.560 --> 00:41:42.560 These are the words of God. 00:41:42.560 --> 00:41:47.560 He's saying they are disobedient and yet they are united. 00:41:47.560 --> 00:41:50.560 And nothing will be impossible for them. 00:41:50.560 --> 00:41:57.560 Even in disobedience, God acknowledged the power of unity. 00:41:57.560 --> 00:42:10.560 If such a rebellious unity can move heaven's attention, what about moving in holy unity? 00:42:10.560 --> 00:42:14.560 Amazing, eh? 00:42:14.560 --> 00:42:24.560 I hope that we can get to this place of oneness of heart where we can tend for the things of God together in one spirit. 00:42:24.560 --> 00:42:29.560 Paul emphasizes about unity again and again and again, right? 00:42:29.560 --> 00:42:34.560 Because there are so many problems, so many divisions in the church. 00:42:34.560 --> 00:42:42.560 And one thing that he continues to emphasize is unity in the church because he knows the power of unity. 00:42:42.560 --> 00:42:47.560 You know, let me take back to 2 Chronicles. 00:42:47.560 --> 00:42:49.560 This is a very interesting story. 00:42:49.560 --> 00:42:54.560 In 2 Chronicles 5, where the glory of the Lord filled the temple, right? 00:42:54.560 --> 00:43:00.560 There were trumpeters, there were other musicians, and then they joined together and they made music, right? 00:43:00.560 --> 00:43:02.560 Giving praise and thanks to God. 00:43:02.560 --> 00:43:10.560 And the temple of the Lord filled with the cloud and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud. 00:43:10.560 --> 00:43:14.560 For the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 00:43:14.560 --> 00:43:17.560 I hope something happens like that even here as well. 00:43:17.560 --> 00:43:22.560 So that here our music team playing and then you cannot see none of the musicians, you know? 00:43:22.560 --> 00:43:26.560 Because of what? Because the glory has filled this house. 00:43:26.560 --> 00:43:28.560 I hope that happens, eh? 00:43:28.560 --> 00:43:34.560 I hope that, you know, the guy next to you, you can hear his voice but you cannot see his face. 00:43:34.560 --> 00:43:37.560 Why? Because the glory of God has filled this house. 00:43:37.560 --> 00:43:40.560 I long for such a day. Yeah? 00:43:40.560 --> 00:43:47.560 I hope that there will be unity, oneness where we come together. 00:43:47.560 --> 00:43:51.560 That we're praying for the same thing. 00:43:51.560 --> 00:43:59.560 That heavens will come true here on earth. Yeah? 00:43:59.560 --> 00:44:11.560 See, because on the day of Pentecost, they were united, they were together, and each one received. 00:44:11.560 --> 00:44:15.560 This is why Paul talks about, don't think that you are a complete individual. 00:44:15.560 --> 00:44:19.560 Think of yourself as a nose, as an eye. 00:44:19.560 --> 00:44:25.560 Because your wholeness comes when you belong to the body. 00:44:25.560 --> 00:44:37.560 So here, on the day of Pentecost, they were together, they are individuals, and yet tongues of fire separated them and rest on each person. 00:44:37.560 --> 00:44:42.560 You will not miss out, guys. Yeah? 00:44:50.560 --> 00:44:54.560 The last one. I really like this one. 00:44:54.560 --> 00:44:57.560 Living for the audience of one. 00:44:57.560 --> 00:45:03.560 Not a new concept, but living for the audience of one. 00:45:03.560 --> 00:45:09.560 Let me take you to Daniel, the life of Daniel, the story of Daniel in chapter 3, right? 00:45:09.560 --> 00:45:12.560 We all know the story, so I'm not going to explain the story. 00:45:12.560 --> 00:45:18.560 But the context was such that King Nebuchadnezzar built a towering statue, right? 00:45:18.560 --> 00:45:25.560 And then an idol symbolizing his power and his empire's pride, right? 00:45:25.560 --> 00:45:33.560 And a royal decree was issued that everybody at the sound of music, everybody should bow down, right? 00:45:33.560 --> 00:45:38.560 And whoever does not will be thrown into the blazing furnace. 00:45:38.560 --> 00:45:43.560 And everyone bows except three of Daniel's friends, which we all know, right? 00:45:43.560 --> 00:45:49.560 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refuse to kneel. 00:45:49.560 --> 00:45:55.560 They will not bend their faith to be an idol. 00:45:55.560 --> 00:46:07.560 And if we think of this, remember, this is their workplace. 00:46:07.560 --> 00:46:10.560 This is where they were serving. 00:46:10.560 --> 00:46:18.560 As in, this is where they get their paycheck. 00:46:18.560 --> 00:46:22.560 This is where they get their provision. This is their workplace. 00:46:22.560 --> 00:46:27.560 This is where they get their paycheck. 00:46:27.560 --> 00:46:30.560 And yet, this is how they responded. 00:46:30.560 --> 00:46:33.560 Our God is able to deliver. 00:46:33.560 --> 00:46:35.560 And the next line is even better. 00:46:35.560 --> 00:46:42.560 Even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of a gold. 00:46:42.560 --> 00:46:45.560 Yeah? On one hand, he said, our God will deliver. 00:46:45.560 --> 00:46:58.560 And on the other hand, he's saying, even if he does not, I like that phrase, even if he does not, unwavering faith, they're not going to compromise, hey? 00:46:58.560 --> 00:47:06.560 Uncompromising faith. Can we say, even if you fire me from my job? 00:47:06.560 --> 00:47:13.560 Say, for example, you work for a company. That's where your main source of livelihood is. 00:47:13.560 --> 00:47:19.560 But there are certain things that you need to bend your morality. 00:47:19.560 --> 00:47:31.560 And it came upon a time where you have to say, even if you fire me, I cannot do that. 00:47:31.560 --> 00:47:36.560 They said, no. It enraged the king. 00:47:36.560 --> 00:47:41.560 And he orders the furnace to increase by seven times hotter, right? 00:47:41.560 --> 00:47:46.560 And then they were thrown into the fire. They bind their hands. 00:47:46.560 --> 00:47:48.560 And the next thing was breathtaking. 00:47:48.560 --> 00:47:56.560 Look, I see a foreman walking around the fire, and the fortman looks like the son of gods. 00:47:56.560 --> 00:48:07.560 Came the fortman in the fire. God doesn't prevent fire. God meets them in the fire. 00:48:07.560 --> 00:48:11.560 We often sometimes take away this pain, take away this problem. 00:48:11.560 --> 00:48:16.560 God sometimes deliberately does not take away your problem. 00:48:16.560 --> 00:48:20.560 Sometimes God doesn't take away your pain, but he meets you in your pain. 00:48:20.560 --> 00:48:23.560 He meets you in your suffering. Yeah? 00:48:23.560 --> 00:48:31.560 Sometimes he does take away, but sometimes he doesn't just prevent. 00:48:31.560 --> 00:48:36.560 Babylon was a place of idolatry. It was a place of intimidation. 00:48:36.560 --> 00:48:40.560 It was a place of assimilation. 00:48:40.560 --> 00:48:44.560 Much like our culture, so to say, right? 00:48:44.560 --> 00:48:48.560 The pressure to conform every time, everywhere. 00:48:48.560 --> 00:48:51.560 The media, politics, personal circles, right? 00:48:51.560 --> 00:48:58.560 But there was a promotion as we go through the refiner's fire. 00:48:58.560 --> 00:49:02.560 There's always a promotion, guys. 00:49:02.560 --> 00:49:08.560 There's always a promotion. I have not come across, as I'm comparing what David went through, 00:49:08.560 --> 00:49:12.560 what Moses went through, like all of these guys, you name it, 00:49:12.560 --> 00:49:18.560 I have not come across any of these men or women in the Bible who had been used powerfully by God 00:49:18.560 --> 00:49:23.560 and who had not gone through a test. 00:49:23.560 --> 00:49:27.560 It took 17 years. David was prophesied that he would be the next king. 00:49:27.560 --> 00:49:29.560 He knew that he's going to be the king. 00:49:29.560 --> 00:49:35.560 What happens was, here's this crazy guy running after him. 00:49:35.560 --> 00:49:42.560 After him. For what? To kill his life. Right? To kill him. 00:49:42.560 --> 00:49:50.560 Furnace did not destroy them. In fact, it liberated them. 00:49:50.560 --> 00:49:56.560 So, faith that refuses to bow, right? 00:49:56.560 --> 00:50:03.560 Faith that refuses to bow will always face the furnace. 00:50:03.560 --> 00:50:08.560 This is the way of the cross, guys. This is the way of the cross. 00:50:08.560 --> 00:50:16.560 Faith that refuses to bow will go through the furnace. 00:50:16.560 --> 00:50:23.560 But the God who you stand for will come and stand with you. 00:50:23.560 --> 00:50:28.560 That's guaranteed, guys. He doesn't abandon us in the fire. 00:50:28.560 --> 00:50:32.560 That's not who our God is. That's not His nature. 00:50:32.560 --> 00:50:35.560 Yeah? 00:50:35.560 --> 00:50:41.560 The fire burned the robes, not the men. 00:50:41.560 --> 00:50:48.560 And, hear this, the world is watching, guys. 00:50:48.560 --> 00:50:51.560 The world is watching. 00:50:51.560 --> 00:50:55.560 When they came out of the fire, King Nebuchadnezzar, who is a pagan king, 00:50:55.560 --> 00:51:00.560 acknowledged who God is. Here is His word. 00:51:00.560 --> 00:51:04.560 There is no other God who can save in this way. 00:51:04.560 --> 00:51:07.560 Daniel 3 verse 29. 00:51:07.560 --> 00:51:15.560 Here's a pagan king declaring there is no other God who can save in this way. 00:51:15.560 --> 00:51:19.560 Crazy, eh? Unshakeable faith under pressure. 00:51:19.560 --> 00:51:25.560 And then it revealed God's reality to the watching world, guys. 00:51:25.560 --> 00:51:28.560 The world is watching, guys. The world is watching. 00:51:28.560 --> 00:51:36.560 It will even cause pagan kings to rethink of their allegiance. 00:51:36.560 --> 00:51:42.560 I hope, as you stand for your faith, it will allow your atheist friend 00:51:42.560 --> 00:51:51.560 or people who have other gods rethink their allegiance. 00:51:51.560 --> 00:51:55.560 I hope that happens. Can you live this way? 00:51:55.560 --> 00:52:03.560 For the world to know your life, see your life, and say, I want to know the God that you serve. 00:52:03.560 --> 00:52:09.560 God's fire is God's fire. As in, you cannot manufacture. 00:52:09.560 --> 00:52:13.560 It has to be from Him, by Him, through Him. 00:52:13.560 --> 00:52:18.560 Yet, you have a... So fire cannot be manufactured on one hand, 00:52:18.560 --> 00:52:22.560 but fire has to be maintained on the other hand. 00:52:22.560 --> 00:52:27.560 And that's your responsibility and my responsibility, to maintain the fire. 00:52:27.560 --> 00:52:32.560 Like, if we read from Leviticus 6 verse 12, 00:52:32.560 --> 00:52:38.560 the fire on the altar must be kept burning. It must not go out, right? 00:52:38.560 --> 00:52:43.560 The fire at the altar must keep burning. It must not go out. 00:52:43.560 --> 00:52:48.560 It's the fire of God, and yet, you can let your fire go out. 00:52:48.560 --> 00:52:55.560 Yeah? God may start the fire, but it is your job to tend the fire. 00:52:55.560 --> 00:53:03.560 You must fuel it with prayer. You must fuel it by consuming the food. 00:53:03.560 --> 00:53:08.560 You must eat the scroll. Yeah? 00:53:08.560 --> 00:53:13.560 You must fuel your fire with obedience to His word. 00:53:13.560 --> 00:53:23.560 Passion fades when... Sorry, passion fades without daily devotion. 00:53:23.560 --> 00:53:27.560 Passion fades without daily devotion. 00:53:27.560 --> 00:53:35.560 The fire of God will awaken your sleep, so to say, a sleeping world. 00:53:35.560 --> 00:53:39.560 Jesus Himself said, you are the light of the world, right? 00:53:39.560 --> 00:53:45.560 Your fire, your life is meant to shine before men. 00:53:45.560 --> 00:53:54.560 And I like this word. A fire hidden is a revival wasted. 00:53:54.560 --> 00:54:01.560 A fire hidden is a revival wasted. Let your fire burn for others to see and find Jesus. 00:54:01.560 --> 00:54:08.560 Your personal fire has public impact. 00:54:08.560 --> 00:54:14.560 Your personal fire has public impact. 00:54:14.560 --> 00:54:20.560 God is not looking for polished Christians. 00:54:20.560 --> 00:54:24.560 He's not looking for polished, refined Christians. 00:54:24.560 --> 00:54:29.560 He's looking for those who are burning, who are without excuses, 00:54:29.560 --> 00:54:32.560 who would leave their nets and boats and follow Christ. 00:54:32.560 --> 00:54:36.560 For us, that might look different for us today. 00:54:36.560 --> 00:54:46.560 But as in, like, can you leave out any excuses that you are ready, whatever it takes? 00:54:46.560 --> 00:54:49.560 Because the world is watching, guys. 00:54:49.560 --> 00:54:56.560 Many have been shipwrecked by the storm. 00:54:56.560 --> 00:55:06.560 Like Paul, it's time to build the fire and shake off the vipers that are lingering and lurking in proximity. 00:55:06.560 --> 00:55:15.560 Because fire will provoke the vipers to come out, but it's the same fire that will burn these vipers as well. 00:55:15.560 --> 00:55:19.560 So here's a final challenge that I want to leave. 00:55:19.560 --> 00:55:26.560 And you can think about this. Are you burning or are you just surviving? 00:55:26.560 --> 00:55:29.560 Right? 00:55:29.560 --> 00:55:38.560 And the second one, are you tending the fire or are you letting it fade? 00:55:38.560 --> 00:55:47.560 And then, will you let God consume the lukewarm areas of your life? 00:55:47.560 --> 00:55:57.560 There are some areas where we are more ready, more ready to surrender, more passionate. 00:55:57.560 --> 00:56:00.560 But there are areas where it has gone cold or lukewarm. 00:56:00.560 --> 00:56:06.560 Can you expose every area of your lukewarmness to God? 00:56:06.560 --> 00:56:08.560 Yeah? 00:56:08.560 --> 00:56:21.560 So Father, I pray that this message in some ways may unsettle each one of us. 00:56:21.560 --> 00:56:27.560 Because the passage is addressed to Christians who are lukewarm, not non-believers. 00:56:27.560 --> 00:56:31.560 And as far as I know, in this house everybody is a believer. 00:56:31.560 --> 00:56:36.560 And so Father, may we not recall five years ago, three years ago, 00:56:36.560 --> 00:56:42.560 when we have had the most passionate years with you and in your kingdom affairs. 00:56:42.560 --> 00:56:52.560 May our best moments, best spiritual experiences and adventures come in this season. 00:56:52.560 --> 00:56:57.560 Expose anything that is lukewarm in our lives, oh God. 00:56:57.560 --> 00:57:00.560 Come with your consuming fire. 00:57:00.560 --> 00:57:07.560 Burn up anything that is religious junk, historical junk in our lives, oh God. 00:57:07.560 --> 00:57:09.560 Because you alone can do that. 00:57:09.560 --> 00:57:11.560 Set us apart, oh God. 00:57:11.560 --> 00:57:16.560 Let your tongues of fire rest on each one of us, oh God. 00:57:16.560 --> 00:57:26.560 And like Jane said, Father, today what we have received, let this joy of God be so contagious, oh God. 00:57:26.560 --> 00:57:29.560 May our fire never go out. 00:57:29.560 --> 00:57:33.560 May it only increase, oh God. 00:57:33.560 --> 00:57:36.560 We bless your name, Father. 00:57:36.560 --> 00:57:39.560 And we thank you for this.