WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Commit Your Ways Publishing Date: 2016-04-23T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/commit-your-ways/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.120 And these are things we can do when days are not going well, when days are evil. 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:17.640 Ephesians 6 verse 13 says that you may, 6, 13, the second part says that you may be able 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:24.060 to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:28.880 So these are ways we can apply when things aren't going well. 00:00:28.880 --> 00:00:34.240 When you are having a rough day, and a rough day can be hostility, a rough day can be persecution, 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:42.760 a rough day can be wrong decisions or choices you made that have found you in trouble, a 00:00:42.760 --> 00:00:46.920 rough day can be obstacles, a rough day can be overwhelming circumstances, a rough day 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:51.160 can be delays in things that are happening where you're praying and nothing is happening, 00:00:51.160 --> 00:00:55.040 a rough day can be sickness, a rough day can be danger. 00:00:55.040 --> 00:00:57.100 All these are rough days. 00:00:57.100 --> 00:01:01.100 We call them rough days, the Bible calls them evil days. 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:02.600 So where do we start? 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:05.140 The first thing we do guys is trust in the Lord. 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:09.900 And I know that sounds terribly simple, but here's the thing, Psalm 20 verse 7, I love 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:19.820 that verse, some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the 00:01:19.820 --> 00:01:20.820 Lord our God. 00:01:20.820 --> 00:01:23.480 So let's put I there and show we. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:31.200 Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but I trust in the name of the Lord my God. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:35.480 Guys, the opposite of faith, and I've said this before, and this is so important, the 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:49.760 opposite of faith is not doubt, is not doubt. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:58.220 The opposite of faith is, may you never forget this guys, may I never forget it, the opposite 00:01:58.220 --> 00:02:03.440 of faith is not doubt, the opposite of faith is self-reliance. 00:02:03.440 --> 00:02:07.920 The opposite of faith is not doubt, the opposite of faith is self-reliance. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:15.860 This is what prevents us from walking on water. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:20.620 The opposite of faith is not doubt, the opposite of faith is self-reliance. 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:26.420 That's why Psalm 20 verse 7 says, some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, because 00:02:26.420 --> 00:02:31.620 surely when you go to war, those are the things that you can be reliant on. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:39.820 You've taught these horses how to war, you've built chariots that can decimate the opposition, 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:46.580 That's where self-reliance comes in. 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:54.380 Doubt is more along the lines of questions like, how is God going to work this out? 00:02:54.380 --> 00:02:58.100 And if he doesn't work it out, then what happens? 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:02.100 Or he didn't do it last time, so what's the guarantee that if I pray that it'll happen 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:03.100 this time? 00:03:03.100 --> 00:03:06.900 Or he's all powerful, why can't he solve this anyways? 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:10.860 Why isn't God just stepping in and changing the situation? 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:12.300 Why couldn't he prevent it? 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:15.260 Or why does God allow these circumstances? 00:03:15.260 --> 00:03:22.140 Or why is it taking so long, he can do this in a second? 00:03:22.140 --> 00:03:27.060 Doubt is questioning the ability of God, but the opposite of faith is self-reliance. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:31.260 Doubt is questioning the ability of God, but the opposite of faith is self-reliance. 00:03:31.260 --> 00:03:38.020 Guys, no one is immune to doubt. 00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:39.860 No one is immune to doubt. 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:43.300 Everybody at some stage begins to doubt. 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:47.660 And what we do with doubt is we try to feel better. 00:03:47.660 --> 00:03:50.780 So when there's a lot of doubt, we try to do things that'll make us feel better, as 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:55.740 in Google an answer or go to somebody who will say exactly what you want. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:56.860 That's how we deal with doubt. 00:03:57.540 --> 00:04:01.580 So today when I was leaving from Wimbledon to Heathrow, I'm trying to ask somebody who 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:04.620 can assure me that don't worry, you'll get there in time. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:09.700 And I want them to say it again and again, that if you take A3 and M25, you will get 00:04:09.700 --> 00:04:10.700 there in time. 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:11.980 Don't worry, the traffic will be fine. 00:04:11.980 --> 00:04:15.700 Ah, we've gotten there in 45 minutes, you should be able to get there too. 00:04:15.700 --> 00:04:18.740 And then I'm reading what God had said on the phone before I left and he said, I am 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:19.740 with you. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:22.620 That's not where I went. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:27.500 I went to the experts who control all the cars on the roads. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:32.340 There's no such expert, eh? 00:04:32.340 --> 00:04:37.420 So whenever you're in doubt, don't try to feel better. 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:40.820 Whenever you're in doubt, go back to faith through the word. 00:04:40.820 --> 00:04:44.560 Whenever you're in doubt, go back to faith through the word. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:47.380 Whenever you're in doubt, go back to faith through the word. 00:04:47.380 --> 00:04:52.500 Because there's only one way to go back to faith. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:55.780 And it's through the word. 00:04:55.780 --> 00:04:56.780 Faith comes by? 00:04:56.780 --> 00:04:57.780 Yeah. 00:04:57.780 --> 00:05:04.700 Any questions on this before we move on? 00:05:04.700 --> 00:05:10.820 Bible is full of stories of self-reliance. 00:05:10.820 --> 00:05:15.500 Where did Saul go when things weren't working out and he couldn't hear God? 00:05:15.500 --> 00:05:16.500 To the witch of Endo. 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:22.460 Where did Abraham go when he couldn't have a baby? 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:23.460 To Hagar. 00:05:23.460 --> 00:05:31.340 Where did King Asa go when his wound was not being healed? 00:05:31.340 --> 00:05:33.340 To a physician. 00:05:33.340 --> 00:05:38.100 Where did Abraham go when there was a famine in Egypt? 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:44.340 Sorry, where did Abraham go when there was a famine in the Ur of Chaldees? 00:05:44.340 --> 00:05:46.740 To Egypt, where he thought he would find provision. 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:48.580 Didn't find any provision there. 00:05:48.580 --> 00:05:50.100 Bible is full of self-reliant stories. 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:52.300 Even Abraham, the father of faith, did this. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:57.980 Any questions on this? 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:00.260 Comes strong against self-reliance, eh? 00:06:00.260 --> 00:06:01.260 That's our problem. 00:06:01.260 --> 00:06:03.980 Especially in the culture that we live in. 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:06.540 Self-reliance is a greater problem. 00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:09.620 Doubt is second, surprisingly. 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:11.900 You would think doubt is first, but doubt is second. 00:06:11.900 --> 00:06:18.580 Because boy do we get a regular dosage of the word on TV or in church or through some 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:19.580 way or the other. 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:22.940 But what we don't have is opposition against self-reliance. 00:06:22.940 --> 00:06:36.220 Okay, the next one, if you have no questions. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:41.540 Anything you want to add to it? 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:42.540 Trust in the law. 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:46.140 The second one was, do good. 00:06:46.140 --> 00:06:48.580 Continuation of the verse. 00:06:48.580 --> 00:06:49.580 Do good. 00:06:49.580 --> 00:06:54.580 Guys, Romans 12-21, I learned it when I first became a Christian. 00:06:54.580 --> 00:06:56.740 And it was a song. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:07:03.620 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:10.060 Do not be overcome by evil. 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:12.060 Do good. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:18.540 Anyways, the point being, Romans 12-21 says, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:19.540 with good. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:27.980 Whenever you're in crisis, you'll find that somehow the enemy has a tendency to set up 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:30.420 traps where you're overcome by evil. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:44.700 And what I mean by evil is anger, irritation, malice, shame, pride, fretting. 00:07:44.700 --> 00:07:50.500 And David recognizes this. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:54.380 What's happening here is this is the time when you really need to be reliant on God 00:07:54.380 --> 00:07:56.460 and not doubt and walk in faith. 00:07:56.460 --> 00:07:58.900 And you may well be able to do that. 00:07:58.900 --> 00:08:05.860 So why not slow the process down by preventing you from walking in good, but instead having 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:08.700 you caught up in evil? 00:08:09.700 --> 00:08:15.780 And so you'll find in the middle of a crisis, you find yourself angry, malicious, proud, 00:08:15.780 --> 00:08:21.740 fretting, not addressed, bitter, resentful, traps that are set and we walk right into 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:22.900 it. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:24.820 And then you're worse off than when you began. 00:08:24.820 --> 00:08:27.120 And now you think it's not true. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.660 But now you actually think that God's not going to come through for you anyways, because 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:36.180 now you're in a cesspool of your own making. 00:08:36.180 --> 00:08:38.100 God operates best in cesspools. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:40.500 That's why you got saved. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:46.500 But that's how we think, eh? 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:52.500 And it's very hard to overcome when you're anxious, angry, irritated, intimidated. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:57.500 In fact, you're giving the enemy more to work with than the Holy Spirit. 00:08:57.500 --> 00:09:03.500 When you're angry, irritated, irritated, malicious, proud, shamed, you're giving the 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:05.500 enemy more to work with. 00:09:05.900 --> 00:09:07.900 You're giving more hate to build. 00:09:18.900 --> 00:09:20.900 I wish that was true for everybody, Gisela. 00:09:20.900 --> 00:09:22.900 I wish that was true. 00:09:22.900 --> 00:09:26.900 Yeah, but I wish that was true for everybody, yeah. 00:09:29.900 --> 00:09:30.900 True, I agree. 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:34.300 But I wish that was true for everybody all the time. 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:36.300 And it is not, unfortunately. 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.300 True. 00:09:41.300 --> 00:09:42.300 True. 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:45.300 Any questions on that one? 00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:46.300 Do good. 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:48.300 Beautiful psalm, eh? 00:09:48.300 --> 00:09:50.300 Verse 21. 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:53.300 Beautiful word. 00:09:53.300 --> 00:09:55.300 First, trust in the Lord. 00:09:55.300 --> 00:09:56.300 Second, make sure you do good. 00:09:56.300 --> 00:10:00.300 It's one of the easiest ways to keep building and give the Holy Spirit more ammo to you. 00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:02.300 Do good. 00:10:03.300 --> 00:10:07.300 And guys, recognize it as a ploy of the enemy next time it happens. 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.300 That's the first step. 00:10:08.300 --> 00:10:12.300 Next time it happens, recognize it as, oh shucks, I know what's happening. 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:15.300 And know that your father works well in sex pools. 00:10:16.300 --> 00:10:25.300 I remember once, I was going on a trip and had a really bad day that day before I stepped 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.300 on the plane. 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:28.300 And wasn't feeling very holy. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:31.700 And I'm thinking to myself, this sure ain't the way I want to go on a trip. 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:37.700 And I'm saying, Father, really sorry about it, but not feeling like God was responding. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:41.700 And then there was this bottle of water that was kept in front of the seat. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:46.700 And it had this Hindi word on it, which simply said, Naya, N-A-Y-A. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:48.700 It's a brand of water. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:50.700 And Naya in Hindi means new. 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:53.700 And I'm reading Naya and immediately one simple word comes to mind. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:58.100 My mercies are new every morning. 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:01.100 Lamentations 3.25. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:04.100 It's the strangest place to find the verse like this. 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:07.100 Every other verse in Lamentations is actually lamentable. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:09.100 Except this one word. 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:12.100 And it says, my mercies are new every morning. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:16.100 I'm reading that thinking, all right, Father, I know I had a really bad day, messed up big time. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:18.100 I don't feel very holy right now. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:20.100 But your mercies are new every morning. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:21.100 And I start again. 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:25.100 He works well in cesspools, especially the ones you create. 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:27.100 Next one. 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:29.100 Dwell in the land. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:35.100 Dwell in the land. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:37.100 That's what David says next. 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:43.100 What he's trying to say there, guys, is there's a tendency not to persevere when things get rough. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:50.100 So we start looking for safer and better places or a quick shortcut to whatever we want. 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:59.100 And David says, no, you need to persevere so that when you've done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:01.100 Hebrews 10.36. 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:09.100 You need to persevere so that when you've done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.100 We have a tendency to look for safer and better places. 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:18.100 Remember the guy, Eli Melek? 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:20.100 No, you don't. 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:21.100 Don't worry. 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:23.100 He wasn't all that famous. 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:33.100 But he was Ruth's husband's father. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:35.100 A time of famine. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.100 Where does he go? 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:38.100 He lives in Bethlehem. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:40.100 What's the meaning of Bethlehem? 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:42.100 House of bread. 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.100 Where does he go? 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:47.100 He goes to the land of Moab. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:52.100 And Moab is a land that is barren, that is fatherless. 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:57.100 He leaves the house of bread to go to the land of Moab so that he can be fed. 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:58.100 He dies there. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:13:00.100 His sons die there. 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:03.100 And now he's got Ruth and Orpah, two daughters-in-law. 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:05.100 Orpah decides to leave. 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:07.100 Ruth comes along with Naomi. 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:14.100 Ruth was a Moabite, and yet the ancestor of Jesus Christ from a physical point of view. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:18.100 The point being, when things get bad, stick with the plan. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.100 Stick with what God has already said. 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.100 Stick with it. 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.100 Stick with it. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.100 Yeah? 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:27.100 Could it be that there's a temple by God somewhere? 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:32.100 Where a man is talking about in today's book would not be there. 00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:34.100 Could it be that there's a temple by God somewhere? 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.100 Could be. 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:44.100 Perhaps another way of looking at it is that whatever man may mess up and mean for even evil, 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:47.100 God has the ability to orchestrate and make right. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:54.100 So perhaps that will accommodate both what you're saying and perhaps that he wasn't sent by God. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.100 Because he is able to orchestrate. 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:58.100 That's his whole orchestration thing. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:00.100 He's able to take everything and bring it together. 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.100 Yeah. 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:07.100 I mean Joseph was sent to Egypt, but it wasn't sent the way he was supposed to be sent. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:11.100 It was a wicked, wicked scheme that God kept interrupting. 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.100 Yeah. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:20.100 So, guys, where the Spirit of the Lord is, is the most prosperous and the most dangerous place to live. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:26.100 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, is the most prosperous and the most dangerous place to live. 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:28.100 Prosperous for you, dangerous for the enemy. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:36.100 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, is the most prosperous place to live and the most dangerous place to live. 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:41.100 As in, it's most prosperous for you, most dangerous for the enemy. 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:47.100 We have a tendency sometimes to abandon ship and run to a place of safety when things don't work out well. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:56.100 Stick with it, persevere, and you will be surprised at how dwelling in the land is advantageous if God has said, do not move. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.100 This happened in the Bible, eh? 00:14:57.100 --> 00:15:03.100 God said, listen, he says to Israel, Babylon is coming, but do not leave this place. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.100 It's a king called Zedekiah. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:09.100 And he says to Zedekiah through prophets, do not leave this place. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:15.100 They will come, they will ravage this place, they'll put up siege mounts, they will take the city, but you don't leave. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:18.100 Because after they've taken the city, they'll treat you well. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:20.100 But Israel wouldn't listen. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:24.100 Chapters dedicated to that. 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:28.100 Or, when he tells them to go into Canaan, they don't. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:31.100 And then when he tells them to stay put, they do. 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.100 Get vanquished. 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:34.100 Dwell in the land. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:40.100 Sometimes a change of location is not good enough because a change of thinking hasn't happened. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:46.100 A change of location does not necessarily mean a change of thinking. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:49.100 All it means is you move geography. 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.100 It's the same thing with repentance. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:55.100 An outward act is not repentance. 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:57.100 Something has to happen inside. 00:15:57.100 --> 00:16:05.100 Recently, I was talking to a guy who isn't having a decent life, so he decided to step down from worship leading. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:09.100 And initially I thought, wow, what a noble action. 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:12.100 And then I realized that's the easiest thing to do. 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.100 Change your location. 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:19.100 Just outwardly say, I don't feel I'm worthy to lead worship. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.100 That is so touching. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:32.100 But before that happens, let the pastor discipline you in that and say, hey, Chris, you can't play the keys anymore because you need to be disciplined or something like that. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.100 Let the pastor do that. 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:36.100 You need a change inside so that you don't have to step down. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:39.100 The stepping down thing is very easy, guys. 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:44.100 Wives really dislike it when husbands come and say, sorry, but there's no change of heart. 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:47.100 Husbands really dislike it too, just so you know. 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.100 Dwell in the land. 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.100 Any questions? 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:54.100 We'll go for 10 minutes more and then I'll stop the show. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:56.100 Any questions? 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:01.100 When you dwell in the land, make sure you feed on its faithfulness. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:04.100 When you dwell in the land, make sure you feed on its faithfulness. 00:17:04.100 --> 00:17:06.100 As in, father, it's really difficult. 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:07.100 Things are not working out. 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:08.100 I've got five days left. 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:09.100 Nothing is happening. 00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:10.100 I trusted you. 00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:11.100 But guess what, father? 00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:13.100 I'll go back to the world and I'll feed on your faithfulness. 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:17.100 And I won't hang out with people who will lament and tell me how things didn't work out for them. 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:20.100 If they can't walk in faith, I refuse to walk in their faithlessness. 00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:25.100 I won't have them mollycoddle me and tell me all the things I need to hear to tickle my ears and make me feel good 00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:27.100 because faith is not about feeling good. 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:30.100 Faith is about moving from doubt to faith through the word. 00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:33.100 And I refuse to associate myself with people who don't do that. 00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:35.100 Because Jesus, you did that too. 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:39.100 You took three people with you to raise that girl who was dead and you sent all the mourners out 00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:42.100 because you didn't want unbelief in that room. 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:45.100 You only wanted people who were willing to walk with you and trust you 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:48.100 and trust that you are able to raise that which is dead. 00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:51.100 That's how it works, guys. 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:56.100 Doesn't matter whether the person is from Acts 29 or from some other greater church. 00:17:56.100 --> 00:18:01.100 If they're not walking in faith, for that period of time, let them be. 00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:16.100 Christian mollycoddling is so prevalent. 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:20.100 Oh, really? Oh, sister, I'll be praying for you. 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:25.100 Got to stop all this. 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:30.100 Comes in the name of compassion, but it's not true. 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:33.100 Compassion that lacks truth is not compassion. 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:41.100 Let's go on to 5.35, six minutes more. 00:18:41.100 --> 00:18:43.100 Next one. Guys, delight in the Lord. 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:45.100 Delight in the Lord. 00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:53.100 I don't know how David got so much in four verses, man. 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:58.100 Guy must have been really inspired when he was writing this song. 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.100 Delight in the Lord. 00:19:02.100 --> 00:19:10.100 Guys, when days are rough, there is nothing as powerful as having your heart aligned with the controller of the universe. 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:20.100 When days are rough, there is nothing as powerful as aligning your heart with the controller of the universe. 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:25.100 Hey, if tomorrow is going to be rough and it began tonight, 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:32.100 get up tomorrow and make sure that you are totally into the controller of the universe. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:36.100 It is the strongest antidote. 00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:43.100 It really bothers the enemy that he's worked so hard to set you up and you're not being set up. 00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:48.100 Just remember that. 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.100 I've read this line before. 00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:56.100 All the great men, this is not my quote, because I don't know too many great men and women, but someone quoted this. 00:19:56.100 --> 00:20:01.100 All the great, except for Dawn and Jeevan, there are no other great men and women I know. 00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:06.100 All the great men and women I have ever known all had one thing in common. 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:08.100 What was that? 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.100 They had faith. 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:16.100 Kind of. 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.100 I wish I knew who quoted this. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:23.100 All the great men and women I have ever known all had one thing in common. 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:28.100 They all lived like much loved children. 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:32.100 They all lived like much loved children. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:34.100 What a beautiful sentence. 00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:39.100 They all lived like much loved children. 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:50.100 When you live like that, it's very hard to shake you. 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:52.100 It's very hard to shake you, man. 00:20:54.100 --> 00:21:00.100 Guys, when I go through difficult circumstances, my immediate question is, 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:02.100 Father, can I see your heart on this? 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:05.100 Can I see your heart on this? 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:06.100 On what I'm going through? 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:08.100 Can I see your heart on what I'm going through? 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:13.100 Because if I can see that, then I can adjust my way of thinking and I can jump into your desire. 00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:17.100 Whenever I go through difficult times, the first thing I do is, 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:20.100 Father, please, can I see your heart on what I'm going through? 00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:24.100 Can I see what you're thinking, what your heart is towards me, 00:21:24.100 --> 00:21:28.100 so that I can adjust my thinking and jump into your desire? 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:33.100 Then it doesn't matter if it prolongs a little, but I just feel safe. 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:36.100 Because now, there's that song, right? 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:38.100 I keep falling in love with Jesus and the verse goes, 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:42.100 In your arms I feel protected, in your arms never disconnected, 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:44.100 in your arms I feel protected. 00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:46.100 It's the best place I could ever, ever be. 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:54.100 Let me put it this way, guys. 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:59.100 Clinical depression aside, if you find delighting in the Lord difficult, 00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:05.100 it may not just be a circumstance, but a character of weakness or a stronghold 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:09.100 that is unable to see or relish the Father as good. 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:11.100 Let me say that again. 00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:15.100 Clinical depression aside, clinical depression aside, 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:20.100 if you find delighting in the Lord difficult, 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:24.100 it may not just be your circumstances, 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:28.100 it may be a character weakness or stronghold 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:31.100 that is unable to see or relish the Father as good. 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:35.100 And it's great to know that, eh, because if I have a character weakness, 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:38.100 I can work on it. 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:41.100 I have character weaknesses. 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:43.100 My mom can give you a long list. 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:49.100 I have only two or three weaknesses, but she thinks I have a few more. 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:53.100 But it's great if I know I have a character weakness. 00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:56.100 Now I can work on it, man. 00:22:56.100 --> 00:23:02.100 I can begin to work on it. 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:05.100 How? 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:09.100 Next week. 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:13.100 Two minutes more. 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:19.100 Next one is, commit your ways to the Lord. 00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:26.100 Commit your ways to the Lord. 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:30.100 The commit is to hand over. 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:34.100 It's this sincere hands-free action 00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:38.100 where I'm saying, okay, oh God, I actually hand this over to you. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:42.100 I may take it back again, but if I take it back again, I'll hand it over to you again. 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:45.100 We may do it 40 times, but I'll keep handing it back to you. 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:50.100 Why? Because I'm confident that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:54.100 So every time I hand something over to you, oh God, 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:57.100 and I take it back, I'll hand it back again. 00:23:57.100 --> 00:24:00.100 Because the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:03.100 And I keep handing it back, to keep taking it back. 00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:05.100 So it goes on. 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:08.100 And that's where you get to where you need to go. 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:12.100 And you find that as you do this on a regular basis, you take it back less often. 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:16.100 Because when you get more confident with somebody's ability to handle things, 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:19.100 it becomes easier, man. 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:23.100 It becomes easier. 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:25.100 So don't plan without God. 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:28.100 The only thing that will keep you from the possibility of worrying 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:32.100 is to bring God into the greatest factor of your planning. 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:34.100 How to stop worrying about something? 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:39.100 Bring God into that factor of your planning. 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:41.100 Bring God in as how? 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:43.100 Father, I'm going to hand it over to you. 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:45.100 And every time I take it back, I'll hand it over to you again. 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:47.100 Bring God into it. 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:49.100 Hey, he's very protective, very possessive. 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:52.100 Proud of every time you hand something over to him. 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:54.100 Loves your reckless dependence on him. 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:56.100 Loves your reliance on him. 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:59.100 Doesn't get put off when you take things back. 00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:01.100 Keeps standing there with open arms, saying, 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:03.100 Hey, I'm going to hand it over to you again. 00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:04.100 He loves it. 00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:10.100 And it is impossible for a God like him to ever, ever turn back on anybody 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:13.100 who makes an attempt to commit things to him and plan with him. 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:18.100 Even if it be such a tiny effort, oh man, he magnifies it this much. 00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.100 This is his nature. 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:27.100 What can he do? 00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:32.100 Don't plan taking into account all the evil and the wrong that could happen. 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:38.100 Don't plan taking into account all the evil and the wrong things that could happen. 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:44.100 Plan with God in mind, not with a rainy day in mind. 00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:47.100 When we plan with a rainy day in mind or all the things that could go wrong, 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:49.100 we become very controlling. 00:25:49.100 --> 00:25:51.100 This could go wrong. 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:52.100 This could go wrong. 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:54.100 Everything has to now be controlled. 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:57.100 You just shake it and it undoes whatever you need to do. 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.100 Now press undo. 00:25:58.100 --> 00:26:01.100 If you can see it, you cannot see it. 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:03.100 Then, just press the start. 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:05.100 Yeah, very good. 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:09.100 Very good. 00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:14.100 I still think it's stuck on 535, so just one more point. 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:15.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:23.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:26.100 Now, guys, sometimes when you see the sign, you must be thinking, 00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:28.100 oh, it means just be peaceful in the Lord. 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.100 No, no, no, no, no. 00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:38.100 Rest in the Lord is to, not pretend, is to in the middle of enemy territory, 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:41.100 realize that God has set up a banqueting table for you. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:48.100 And that if you sit at that table, His protective hospitality is on you. 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:51.100 Rest is the clearest and the strongest indication 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:54.100 that what God is saying or doing is working perfectly. 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:58.100 And I don't need to add or tinker with it. 00:26:58.100 --> 00:27:00.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:02.100 Father, so today you want me to go to London. 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.100 What about tomorrow? 00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:04.100 Can't hear nothing. 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:07.100 Don't tinker with it. 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:12.100 Chiara, don't worry if you can't find it for four days. 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:14.100 Rest in the Lord. 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:15.100 Don't tinker with what God is doing. 00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:17.100 He's doing a perfect job anyways. 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:22.100 Satan's intent is to draw me out of rest into insecurity so that I start flailing. 00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:26.100 They say that when a swimmer is drowning, 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:30.100 the lifeguard usually goes from behind him. 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:35.100 Because if you go straight at him, the guy will drown you too. 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.100 So they go from behind. 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:39.100 And if the guy really starts kicking about first, 00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:43.100 there's only two choices, go under and pull him down or knock him out. 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:46.100 Well, you'll save him and then he'll sue you. 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:48.100 So the best thing is to pull him down. 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:50.100 And then when he stops struggling, you take him in. 00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:53.100 Rest is this place that Satan hates. 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:55.100 He hates it when Christians are at rest. 00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.100 So what does he do? 00:27:56.100 --> 00:28:02.100 He tries to bring in ways where he can draw you out of rest into insecurity and flailing. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:04.100 And boy is he successful at that. 00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:06.100 And what is the one tactic he uses? 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:09.100 He only has one tactic, intimidation. 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:13.100 Only one thing, intimidation. 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:17.100 That he has free rein to do, guys. 00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:19.100 He has free rein to intimidate. 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:24.100 He does not have free rein to attack, but he has free rein to intimidate. 00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:25.100 How does he intimidate? 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:28.100 Through experts, through Google, through your past circumstances, 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:30.100 through what happened, through the fear of repetition, 00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:35.100 through what you read, through what you see on TV, through all the... 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:38.100 You know, every medicine that helps you grow hair 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:45.100 also gives people diarrhea and nosebleeds and things that last for six hours. 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:55.100 So, guys, intimidation is the only tactic he can freely use. 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:58.100 And he uses that to get us out of rest. 00:28:58.100 --> 00:29:04.100 It is such a stark ploy that we fall for every time. 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:06.100 I'm so tired of falling for that. 00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:12.100 His intent is to lure me out to go for shortcuts to get the end goal. 00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:16.100 Hey, Jesus, why don't... I can see how hungry you are. 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:18.100 Why don't you turn these stones into bread? 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:20.100 And you have the power to. 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:30.100 And the last one is wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:32.100 Wait how? 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.100 Don't wait like this. 00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:35.100 This is not godly waiting. 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:39.100 This is resigned expectation. 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:41.100 This is not waiting. 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:43.100 Farhan? 00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:48.100 I didn't hear it. 00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:50.100 This is not waiting. 00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:56.100 Waiting has neck stretched out, craned anticipation. 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:59.100 I don't know, shut. Where is she? Where is she? Where is she? 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:01.100 Ah, there she is. 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:03.100 I was looking for my mom. 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:09.100 So wait with eager expectation, your neck craned out. 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:12.100 And remember guys, delay is not denial. 00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:14.100 Delay is not denial. 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:20.100 And so when things are delayed, keep catching the little foxes that spoil your vineyard. 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:22.100 And tie their tails together. 00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:23.100 And set their tails on fire. 00:30:23.100 --> 00:30:26.100 And send them back into their enemies' fields like Samson did. 00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:27.100 Delay is not denial. 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:29.100 Whenever things are delayed, ask God, what's delaying it? 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:31.100 Catch those little foxes, man. 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:36.100 For evil doers shall be cut off. 00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:40.100 But those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:42.100 Evil doers shall be cut off. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:45.100 But those that wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:50.100 Have you noticed in all these seven verses, there's no mention of, oh, go up against Satan. 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:52.100 There's no spiritual warfare here. 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:56.100 There's no attack the devil. 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:58.100 None of these have attacked the devil. 00:30:58.100 --> 00:31:01.100 None of these have attacked the devil. 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:04.100 Everything here has to do with God. 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:07.100 And you walk in your inheritance. 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:09.100 God is for you. 00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:10.100 God is for you. 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:12.100 God is for you. 00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.100 Bless you guys. 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:14.100 Thank you for staying. 00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:16.100 Oh no, you have no reason not to stay awake. 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:20.100 Thank you for staying a little longer. 00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:24.100 We will have young adults on Thursday at 7 p.m. 00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:27.100 If you need prayer, feel free to come up for prayer. 00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:29.100 Otherwise...