WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Complacency Publishing Date: 2016-06-12T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/complacency/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.260 complacency and 00:00:03.260 --> 00:00:06.860 you're good Wayne? 00:00:06.860 --> 00:00:10.320 and if you can turn up the volume a little on the tape 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:13.020 I ask that every time and I know you don't know 00:00:13.020 --> 00:00:16.040 what to do about it but I'll ask anyways 00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:19.220 guys complacency is the same as 00:00:19.220 --> 00:00:22.300 let me give you some words 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:27.760 another word for complacency mediocrity 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.840 mediocrity 00:00:29.840 --> 00:00:32.400 here's another thing that we don't normally think of 00:00:32.400 --> 00:00:34.120 neutrality 00:00:34.120 --> 00:00:37.800 just being neutral about everything 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:44.800 or maintaining status quo 00:00:44.800 --> 00:00:47.760 or another word that I really like because it kinda 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:49.960 makes sense to me 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:51.300 is averageness 00:00:51.300 --> 00:00:53.680 averageness everything is average 00:00:53.680 --> 00:00:56.440 or another word that we might use 00:00:56.440 --> 00:00:58.760 which again is great to describe it 00:00:58.760 --> 00:01:01.460 is indifferent 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:04.160 all these words 00:01:04.160 --> 00:01:05.040 basically 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:10.720 point towards this one simple word we're talking about today called complacency 00:01:10.720 --> 00:01:14.000 complacency or mediocrity 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:17.260 neutrality or being neutral 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:20.640 maintaining status quo or being averageness 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:24.840 indifference 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:29.920 and I want to start off by saying that when you are spiritually complacent 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.680 you instantly begin to degenerate 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:34.880 when you're spiritually complacent 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:38.300 you instantly begin to degenerate 00:01:38.300 --> 00:01:41.960 Proverbs 132 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:45.240 says that the complacency of fools will destroy them 00:01:45.240 --> 00:01:47.200 the complacency of fools 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.040 will destroy them 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:50.920 I mean there's nothing that is 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.760 passive about complacency 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:58.960 it is a degenerative disease 00:01:58.960 --> 00:02:01.340 and there is nobody sitting here 00:02:01.340 --> 00:02:04.000 that does not spend time 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.160 in this condition 00:02:06.160 --> 00:02:09.520 I definitely have 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:12.280 chunks of complacency in my life 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.200 I'm beginning to catch them faster 00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:19.460 but there's nobody here who isn't suffering from this ailment 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:21.500 and the moment 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:23.460 you are spiritually complacent 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:26.720 you instantly begin to degenerate 00:02:26.720 --> 00:02:29.440 I was listening to someone talk about this on TV 00:02:29.440 --> 00:02:31.940 that sharks 00:02:31.940 --> 00:02:35.520 if they stop moving forward they die 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:37.800 if a shark stops moving forward 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:38.560 they die 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.540 because they have to have motion that allows water 00:02:42.540 --> 00:02:45.220 to go past their gills so they can breathe 00:02:45.220 --> 00:02:49.820 so if a shark stops still it dies 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:52.560 we don't think so when it comes to complacency 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.120 and sometimes 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:55.040 not sometimes 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:58.680 often complacency is learned 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:00.960 it is learned 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.100 and it is learned 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:04.720 in environments that we have grown up in 00:03:04.720 --> 00:03:06.800 it's learned in church environments 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.080 it is learned in family environments 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:11.640 it's learned from our dads and our mums 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:14.120 often from our dads because our mums 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:16.440 don't have a choice sometimes but to be 00:03:16.440 --> 00:03:17.680 industrious 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:19.620 but our dads can be that way 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:24.040 and our children learn it 00:03:24.040 --> 00:03:26.560 it's an environmental thing that catches on 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:30.840 and it spreads into different parts of our life 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.880 problem is guys complacency is rarely viewed as sin 00:03:34.880 --> 00:03:35.940 complacency 00:03:35.940 --> 00:03:39.860 is rarely viewed as sin 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:42.360 it is seen as a condition that's common to man 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.920 and therefore because it's rarely viewed as sin 00:03:44.920 --> 00:03:47.800 one of the things that happens with the sin of complacency 00:03:47.820 --> 00:03:50.340 one of the penalties of the sin of complacency 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:53.200 is that you get used to it 00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:54.940 you get used to it 00:03:54.940 --> 00:03:58.780 and it leads eventually to a hardening of the heart 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:00.860 because as I get complacent I get used to it 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:02.060 I don't see it as sin 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:07.180 I see it as something that's common to man 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:08.600 when did I ever repent? 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:09.940 it's fascinating 00:04:09.940 --> 00:04:13.200 I have never repented of complacency 00:04:13.200 --> 00:04:16.460 I've never said father this morning I just want to repent of complacency 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.800 because I think to myself 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:19.200 but I'm human 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:21.160 these things happen 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:22.960 thank God sharks don't think so 00:04:22.960 --> 00:04:25.480 otherwise we'd have no sharks left 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:31.260 I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing 00:04:31.260 --> 00:04:34.360 over time complacency leads to lukewarmness 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:35.400 over time 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:37.040 complacency leads 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.300 to lukewarmness 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:43.400 and it results in being vomited out of the kingdom 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:47.900 Revelation chapter 3 verse 16 talks about that 00:04:47.900 --> 00:04:48.980 I wish 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:50.740 this is Jesus Christ 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:52.660 saying it to the churches 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:54.140 and not mincing words 00:04:54.140 --> 00:04:57.180 I wish you were hot or you were cold 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:59.020 but because you are lukewarm 00:04:59.020 --> 00:05:01.620 I will spit you out of my mouth 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:04.140 that somehow doesn't harbor well 00:05:04.140 --> 00:05:05.100 for everyone 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:07.460 but I wish you were hot or you were cold 00:05:07.460 --> 00:05:09.620 but I wish you were hot or you were cold 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:11.620 but I wish you were hot or you were cold 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.320 it doesn't harbor well for anybody who it's being spoken to 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:21.320 be it a church or an individual 00:05:21.320 --> 00:05:26.760 any questions before we go on? 00:05:26.760 --> 00:05:33.760 any questions? 00:05:34.880 --> 00:05:36.280 I want you to look at a verse 00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:38.480 in Zephaniah 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:41.680 there's only one verse that most Christians know of Zephaniah 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.980 which is Zephaniah 3.17 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:48.980 but there are other chapters too Zephaniah 1 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:53.280 Zephaniah 1 00:05:53.280 --> 00:05:57.200 Zephaniah is towards the end of the Old Testament 00:05:57.200 --> 00:05:59.400 Zephaniah 1 verse 12 00:05:59.400 --> 00:06:01.800 Zephaniah 1 verse 12 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.600 and here's what it says 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:07.440 at that time I will serve Jerusalem 00:06:07.440 --> 00:06:08.860 with lamps 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:09.840 and punish 00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:11.920 those who are complacent 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.160 and then he compares those who are complacent to this 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.840 who are like wine left on its dregs 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:18.640 who think 00:06:18.640 --> 00:06:20.240 the Lord will do nothing 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:21.320 either good or bad 00:06:21.320 --> 00:06:23.400 doesn't that aptly describe 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:26.360 the condition of the church 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:28.700 he says on that day I'll go around Jerusalem 00:06:28.700 --> 00:06:31.180 in a sense the church is New Jerusalem 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:34.880 I'll go around Jerusalem with what? with a lamp with my word 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:37.840 at the end of the day it's a word that begins to sift and show you 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:39.560 whether you're complacent or whether you're not 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:41.020 it's not the standards of man 00:06:41.020 --> 00:06:42.800 it's not the standards of baptism 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.040 baptism 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.600 Pentecostalism that shows it 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:47.960 it's a word that shows it 00:06:47.960 --> 00:06:49.040 and it says there 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.120 on that day 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.200 hi guys 00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:52.600 on that day 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:53.600 at that time 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:56.040 I will serve Jerusalem with lamps 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:57.280 and I'll punish 00:06:57.280 --> 00:06:58.800 those who are complacent 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.280 as in I'll discipline those who are complacent 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:03.620 nothing about this verse is pleasant here 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:06.180 and it ain't going to get any pleasanter either 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:09.660 who are like wine left on 00:07:09.660 --> 00:07:10.660 the dregs 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:13.820 who are like wine left on 00:07:13.820 --> 00:07:14.660 its dregs 00:07:14.660 --> 00:07:17.260 who think and this is what really got me 00:07:17.260 --> 00:07:19.740 this is why one of the definitions of 00:07:19.740 --> 00:07:20.820 complacency 00:07:20.820 --> 00:07:23.220 is being neutral 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:24.220 it says who think 00:07:24.220 --> 00:07:25.920 the Lord will do nothing 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:28.540 either good or bad 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:31.300 that really got me 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:33.220 that is the present state 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:34.220 for many Christians 00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:37.540 regardless of the denomination we come from 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:38.540 k sirah sirah 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:39.780 whatever will be will be 00:07:39.780 --> 00:07:41.100 if the Lord does it so be it 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:42.660 if he doesn't do it so be it 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:43.900 he will sometimes do good 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:45.060 sometimes do bad 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:46.520 he will sometimes not do good 00:07:46.520 --> 00:07:47.520 nor will he do bad 00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:50.100 God is some neutral person out there 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:56.380 and the Bible calls that complacency 00:07:56.380 --> 00:07:57.820 and rightly so 00:07:57.820 --> 00:07:59.160 between spouses 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:00.700 if the spouse did not know whether 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:01.860 something good is going to come 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:03.900 or something bad is going to come 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.520 that's not called the unpredictability 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:06.620 of being married 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:08.180 that's called not having a relationship 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:14.020 just being mindful of that verse 00:08:14.020 --> 00:08:17.440 because it really brought home something 00:08:17.440 --> 00:08:19.820 guys let me read that again 00:08:19.820 --> 00:08:21.740 at that time I will serve Jerusalem 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.340 with lamps and I'll punish those 00:08:23.340 --> 00:08:24.660 who are complacent 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:27.660 who are like wine left on its dregs 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:30.240 who think the Lord will do nothing 00:08:30.440 --> 00:08:32.800 either good or bad 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:34.480 it kind of reveals a unique definition 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:36.640 of complacency with its neutrality 00:08:36.640 --> 00:08:39.080 which is prevalent a lot in the church 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:40.080 so let me put it this way 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.600 guys complacency is violent 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.940 complacency is violent 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:47.680 we think complacency is passive 00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:51.400 as in it's just we just go into a place of passivity 00:08:51.400 --> 00:08:54.600 and yet the Bible indicates that complacency is violent 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:56.760 complacency destroys 00:08:56.760 --> 00:08:58.160 if I am complacent 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:01.560 Acts 29 will be destroyed bit by bit by bit 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:03.480 and you won't even see it happening 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:05.040 or know that it's happening 00:09:05.040 --> 00:09:07.480 because it's violence that's under the surface 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:12.080 because on the outside it's plain passivity 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.960 there's a violence to complacency 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.200 and here's what it does say 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:20.520 it brings to your life the spirit of poverty 00:09:20.520 --> 00:09:25.100 it brings to your life the spirit of poverty 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:27.960 I'm not talking about blessed are the poor in spirit 00:09:28.760 --> 00:09:30.760 I'm talking about the demonic spirit of poverty 00:09:30.760 --> 00:09:33.960 it brings into your life the demonic spirit of poverty 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:35.600 and we'll talk about it next week 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:37.480 we'll talk about the spirit of poverty 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:40.160 and the spirit of poverty is not limited to money 00:09:41.400 --> 00:09:43.880 a spirit of poverty is something that depletes 00:09:43.880 --> 00:09:46.320 or Diem power issues everything 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:47.800 from the quality of your marriage 00:09:47.800 --> 00:09:50.640 to the money to the ministry that you do 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:54.400 the spirit of poverty is something that impoverishes 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.080 or depletes everything from the quality of your marriage 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:59.640 to money to ministry 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.840 and complacency has the ability 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.360 to bring into your life a spirit of poverty 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:09.560 read Zephaniah 1.13 immediately after 1.12 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:12.200 we read about it and now see what 1.13 says 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.240 they will lose everything they have 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.800 money and house and land 00:10:15.800 --> 00:10:17.440 they'll build a house and never move in 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.440 they'll plant vineyards and never taste it 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:24.440 so I would just define the spirit of poverty for you 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.440 as a teaser for next week 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:28.440 the spirit of poverty 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:34.440 the spirit of poverty uses your culture 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.440 uses your culture 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:41.440 and doesn't matter what culture you come from 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:44.440 doesn't matter what culture you come from 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:46.440 this is prevalent in society in general 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:50.440 uses your culture but some of us have inherited this 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:54.440 from the church cultures we've grown up in 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:57.440 some of us have inherited it from the national cultures 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.440 we've grown up in 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.440 some of us have inherited from the familial cultures 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:03.440 we've grown up in 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:04.440 it just depends on which culture 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:06.440 but all of us have this 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.440 all of us have this 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:12.440 some�� of us inherit it from our parents 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.440 from our friends 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:17.440 some of us inherited it from our parents. 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:25.440 The spirit of poverty uses your culture 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.440 to afflict you 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:35.440 with a mentality 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.440 of scarcity. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:42.440 By dulling your spiritual eyes 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:49.440 to the goodness 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.440 of the Father. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:03.440 The spirit of poverty 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:08.440 is the spirit of poverty. 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.440 That is kind of a teaser for next week. 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:16.440 So looking forward to teaching it next week. 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:24.440 The spirit of poverty 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.440 uses your culture 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.440 to afflict you with a mentality of scarcity. 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.440 With a mentality of scarcity. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.440 By dulling your spiritual eyes 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:39.440 to the goodness of the Father. 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:42.440 What would happen if 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:44.440 while I'm preaching someone comes running in and says 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:46.440 hey guys 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:49.440 they're jacking up the price of gas 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.440 and there's hardly any gas in Vancouver. 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:54.440 Some of us will have reason to leave this 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:56.440 teaching early to go fill up. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:01.440 Scarcity begins to do something to our head. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.440 You don't know how drastic 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.440 next week when we talk about it 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.440 you'll be surprised at how the spirit of poverty 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:11.440 operates so lavishly in our lives 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.440 in different areas. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.440 In different areas. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.440 I mean just think of this 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:21.440 I'm just giving you a simple example. 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:24.440 A poor man who does not have money 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:27.440 goes to a restaurant and he looks for the quantity of food. 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:30.440 A middle income man goes to a restaurant 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:32.440 and he looks for the quality of food. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.440 A rich man goes to a restaurant 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:37.440 and he doesn't care about the quantity or quality 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:39.440 he just likes the presentation. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:41.440 It has to have a few things standing out like this 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.440 and the end of a lobster and a claw of a crab 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:46.440 and it doesn't matter. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:49.440 You've got three different reactions 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:51.440 to a plate of food. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.440 What are we going to talk about that next week? 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:00.440 The spirit of... yeah. 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:02.440 Guys, so here's my question 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:04.440 what's the opposite of complacency? 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.440 What's the opposite of complacency? 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.440 Sorry? 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:15.440 Industriousness. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.440 Zeal. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.440 Zeal, zealous. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:21.440 I can't hear you. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:23.440 Enthusiasm. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.440 I can't hear you. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.440 Expectations, passion. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.440 All of you are right. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:33.440 May I sum it up in one word that makes all of this happen? 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:36.440 The opposite of complacency is first love. 00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:40.440 When you begin to go back into loving something 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:42.440 the way that you need it to 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.440 your expectations increase, the passion comes in 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:47.440 the industriousness comes in, everything changes. 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:52.440 Biblically the opposite of complacency is first love. 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:55.440 He says it to the churches in Revelation. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.440 To one of them he says, hey, you think you are this 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:00.440 but you are poor, wretched and naked. 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:03.440 Come and get new stuff from me again. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.440 To others he says, hey, I want you to know 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:09.440 that you are doing well but your industriousness 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.440 does not mean that you have connected again. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.440 There is a complacency that settled into you 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:16.440 because you have lost your first love. 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:20.440 To another church he says, you are neither hot nor cold. 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:23.440 This is a problem that has been tracking churches 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.440 for more than 2000 years. 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:30.440 The opposite of complacency is first love. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.440 Whenever I walk away from first love 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.440 which happens a few times a day 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.440 indifference and averageness begins to settle in 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:40.440 as in any marriage. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:42.440 Newlyweds surprisingly don't. 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:47.440 Whenever I walk away from first love 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:52.440 complacency and averageness enters my life. 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:55.440 Whenever I walk away from first love 00:15:56.440 --> 00:16:02.440 complacency and averageness begins to enter my life 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:06.440 like in any other married couple that have fallen out of love. 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:08.440 What is the first thing you see 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.440 when a married couple have been married for a few years 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:14.440 and they aren't in love anymore? 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:16.440 What's the first thing that happens? 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:19.440 There is a settledness, there is a complacency 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:24.440 that is so blah that it doesn't inspire young guys like me to get married. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.440 While it doesn't happen with newlyweds 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:31.440 it doesn't happen with them 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.440 because first love is still alive. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:36.440 Complacency comes in when first love is absent. 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.440 Any questions on that? 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.440 Anything you want to add to that? 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.440 Or do you disagree or agree? 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.440 It happened to me a few times a day 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:50.440 and I was very happy to see that. 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.440 It happened to me a few times a day, man. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:57.440 But thank God I'm aware that it happens to me a few times a day. 00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.440 Yep. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.440 It means averageness, it means indifference, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:12.440 it means becoming neutral, 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:17.440 it means becoming blazee. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.440 Blazee? 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.440 Taking for granted. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:27.440 Where it doesn't matter, you don't have to work at it anymore. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.440 It is there, you are married, you are saved, 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:32.440 heaven is guaranteed, what's the big deal? 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:39.440 If that was God's intent, I always say to myself 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.440 He would have saved us and killed us the very next day. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.440 Because we'd be in heaven. 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:49.440 Guys, the trick is to jump back into first love. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.440 The trick is to jump back into first love. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:54.440 Oh shucks, father, I'm really sorry, nuts, I'm really sorry. 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:57.440 Let me get back to connecting with you again. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:01.440 It's the only way you can chip away at complacency. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:03.440 Only thing. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:05.440 Guys, you know one of the things that really swallows up 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.440 our relationship with God? Other things. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:10.440 We'll talk about how to not be complacent, but other things. 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:14.440 Other things, where you get so occupied with them, 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:16.440 and these are good things, these are not bad things. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:19.440 These are advantageous things, these are profitable things. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.440 But you get caught up in them, and suddenly you find 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.440 in the one primary relationship, like Martha, 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:26.440 you've gone completely complacent. 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:29.440 Does complacency conflict with being? 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.440 No. No. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.440 Complacency conflicts with contentment. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.440 We'll talk about that. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:40.440 Complacency does not necessarily conflict with comfortable. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.440 Because you can be in love with somebody 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:44.440 being highly comfortable. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:49.440 But complacency is not necessarily a conflict with being comfortable. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:51.440 It's a conflict with being content. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:55.440 Because you can be in love with somebody being highly comfortable. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:59.440 But complacency conflicts with contentment. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.440 We sometimes think that a person whose content is, 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:04.440 that a person whose complacent is actually content. 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:08.440 No. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:11.440 Contentment without thirst and passion isn't contentment. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:13.440 It is complacency. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.440 Let me say that again. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.440 People may look content, oh, I've got no needs in my life. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:20.440 Whatever the Lord gives. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:22.440 No, no, no, that's not contentment. 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:27.440 That is blooming complacency in its full blown state. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:33.440 Because contentment has in it a continuous thirst. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:41.440 Contentment is never devoid of thirst. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.440 Never devoid of thirst. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:48.440 It drinks, and then it wants to drink more. 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:55.440 Never devoid of thirst, guys. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:04.440 Never devoid of thirst. 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:10.440 Complacency compromises his presence and replaces it with dullness. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:18.440 Complacency compromises his presence and replaces it with dullness. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:21.440 Complacency compromises his presence. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:25.440 Guys, let's assume I become complacent in my marriage. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.440 You know what happens suddenly? 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:31.440 I'm no longer aware of her. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.440 Let me pick on Matt and Rachel. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:37.440 Matt is highly aware of Rachel. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.440 So he's constantly aware of where she is, how she's feeling, 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:43.440 whether she needs to lean her head on her shoulder or not, and all this stuff. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.440 My marriage. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.440 Let's assume that I've become complacent in my marriage. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:51.440 Now what happens is I'm not even aware of her, man. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.440 Complacency compromises his presence. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.440 In a marriage, her presence. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.440 And it dulls you. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.440 It dulls you to her. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.440 In this case, to God. 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.440 It dulls you. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:08.440 This is a serious, serious sin that is eating away at the church 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:11.440 and is present in all our lives. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.440 I've got to jump back into first love three, four, five times a day 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.440 when I find these large chunks of my time taken up in things 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.440 without an awareness of her. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.440 Matt, I'm just picking on him because I've seen this occasionally. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.440 This is not a commentary on his marriage. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:34.440 Matt can be trying to create a 3D printer, and he's still aware of Rachel. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:38.440 Or the apple pie she might be burning in the oven. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:41.440 He's still aware of it. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:46.440 Or a spider in the house. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.440 And he'll say it very gently. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:54.440 I think there's a spider over your head and the pie is burning. 00:21:54.440 --> 00:22:00.440 He'll say it calmly. 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.440 Any questions, Matt? 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:07.440 No. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:16.440 Guys, the other thing that happens is that when spiritual inactivity is normal to my life, 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:20.440 that she buzzes into the scene. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:24.440 Spiritual activity is normal in my life, as in, 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:29.440 when spiritual inactivity, as in, I'm not doing much, Sunday to Sunday, 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:31.440 or occasionally throw in a Tuesday. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:34.440 Spiritual inactivity, when it's common in my life, 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:41.440 will always allow Bath Sheebas to start roaming the neighbor's balcony. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:45.440 Taking a bath, because that's her name. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.440 Always happens. 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:47.440 What do you think David was doing? 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:52.440 It says, when it was time for war, in the time of war, 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:56.440 David was walking up and down his balcony, 00:22:56.440 --> 00:23:00.440 and he sees a beautiful woman taking a bath on the other balcony. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.440 That's where it all begins. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:05.440 Spiritual inactivity always gives rise to Bath Sheebas. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:12.440 Bath Sheebas are distractions that the world says is normal. 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.440 We get caught up in it. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.440 We get caught up in it. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:20.440 Complacency sets perfect ground for these things to happen. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:26.440 What's that famous phrase, something is the devil's workshop? 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.440 Idleness is the devil's workshop. 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:30.440 Idle minds, idle whatever. 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:34.440 Idle hands, idle mind, idle whatever is the devil's workshop. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:38.440 Kind of true, man. 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:41.440 Let me draw this for you. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:56.440 Complacency leads to dullness, 00:23:56.440 --> 00:24:02.440 dullness to his presence, 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:06.440 which leads to striving in the flesh. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:08.440 Because now when you're dull to his presence, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:11.440 you have to do everything in the flesh because you don't have a choice. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:15.440 Because God ain't the one who's behind what you're doing, striving in the flesh. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:17.440 What does striving in the flesh lead to? 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.440 It always leads to decay. 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:22.440 For the flesh profits nothing but the spirit gives life. 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:27.440 Meanwhile Bath Sheebas start trying to get your attention. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:35.440 Bath Sheebas are basically distractions or conditions of the world. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.440 While this is happening, there's only one way out guys, 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:42.440 and that one way is first love. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:52.440 And if you get that right, then you can start a new cycle 00:24:52.440 --> 00:25:00.440 where you are first loved to capture first love. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:10.440 After that you go into an awareness of his presence. 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:18.440 Once you're aware of his presence, then you go into contentment. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:23.440 Because what else do you need than knowing what he wants? 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:29.440 Once you go into contentment, everything you do usually comes from the spirit 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:34.440 who gives life. For the flesh profits nothing but the spirit gives life. 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:39.440 Once that happens, you start thirsting more 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:42.440 because you know man there is nothing as good as this. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:45.440 And as you thirst more, you come back to being first loved. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:48.440 And it just goes on and on and on. 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:03.440 Complacency leads to dullness of his presence. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:06.440 Dullness of his presence leads to striving in the flesh. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:08.440 Striving in the flesh always leads to decay. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:12.440 So what do we then have to do? We have to come up for prayer. 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:15.440 And we pray and God in his mercy takes care of it. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.440 But if we don't deal with the complacency in my life, 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.440 it will always lead to a dullness of his presence. 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:24.440 The dullness of his presence will lead to striving in the flesh. 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:27.440 Striving in the flesh will always produce decay. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:30.440 What is the way out? First love. 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:35.440 How does first love begin? By first recognizing that I am loved. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:38.440 You are a good good father and I am loved by you. 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:42.440 First love always begins by first being loved. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:45.440 What does that lead to? An awareness of his presence. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:47.440 What does the awareness of his presence bring to me? 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:52.440 An odd kind of contentment as in though the mountains be removed, 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:56.440 though the earth shake, I know. Be still. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:59.440 Be still is not... Be still is... 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:05.440 Contentment leads to the spirit who gives life carrying me through everything. 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:08.440 This is such a virtuous cycle that yes you are content, 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:12.440 but it is a contentment full of thirst as in I want more, I want more, I want more 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:16.440 because you are an infinite God and there is no end to you. 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:19.440 And this is the only thing that satisfies my soul. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:23.440 In your presence is fullness of joy. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:26.440 And that then leads back to being first loved again. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:32.440 What a way to live man. And instead this is where most of us spend hours. 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:45.440 In fact I would suggest to you that successful lives breed complacency. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:48.440 When life is successful it breeds complacency. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.440 Things are going well. 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:53.440 Successful ministries breed complacency. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:58.440 Successful mega churches or mini churches breed complacency. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:02.440 I am so glad that every three years we have to move. 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:05.440 Keeps you on your toes man not knowing what's going to happen next. 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.440 Any questions? 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:17.440 Guys, so here's a question I was asking myself. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:20.440 Every day are you thirsty for more of God? 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:25.440 The answer, I wish all of us could say yes. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:29.440 Every day are you more thirsty for God? 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:33.440 Every day are you thirsty for more of God? 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:36.440 Every day are you thirsty for more of God? 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:39.440 Do you need persuasion to make it happen? 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:43.440 Do you need persuasion to make it happen? 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.440 A hungry person does not need to be persuaded. 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:49.440 When someone is hungry or someone is thirsty, 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:52.440 my God when I am thirsty, 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:54.440 you know I am saying Jacob please drink some water. 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:56.440 No Jacob come on. It's really tasty. 00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:01.440 It doesn't look, it has no color in it but it's really tasty. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.440 Have a swig of water. 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:06.440 No, never. When I am thirsty it's hard to hold me back man. 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.440 So here's a question. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:11.440 Do you need to be persuaded to have more of God? 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.440 If you need to be persuaded, if conditions have to be right, 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:19.440 may I suggest to you and I that we are in a place called complacency? 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:25.440 Because it's very hard for any of us to admit that we are complacent, 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.440 that we don't want more of God. 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:30.440 But if we really need more of God, then do you need persuasion? 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:35.440 Some of the external measures, external, very clearly I am saying, 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:39.440 some of the external measures of complacency are, 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.440 when it comes to the word, when it comes to worship, 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:45.440 when it comes to prayer, when it comes to church, 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:48.440 do you have to be persuaded? 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:51.440 When it comes to worship, when it comes to the word, 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.440 when it comes to conversations with God 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:58.440 and when it comes to being part of the corporate gathering, 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:02.440 the body, the church, do you have to be persuaded? 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:05.440 These are external measures. 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:08.440 These are external measures. 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:15.440 This is why we have a job description called worship leader. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:22.440 Because the worship leader is supposed to persuade you into the worship of God. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.440 Are you thirsty for God? 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:34.440 Does it show in greater obedience and godliness? 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.440 Are you thirsty for God? 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:39.440 Does it show in greater obedience and godliness? 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.440 Are you thirsty for God? 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:46.440 Does it show in greater obedience and godliness? 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:49.440 The reason I'm laughing was, I remember a man, 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:53.440 this is not a laughing matter, it's a terribly tragic matter. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:58.440 Remember a man who was having an affair, being confronted by a pastor I knew, 00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:01.440 and he is saying to his wife, 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:04.440 no, I really love you, this is just something on the side, 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:06.440 you don't have to worry about it, I really love you. 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:09.440 I'm thinking to myself, really? 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:13.440 Now when I think of it I'm laughing because it is the most absurd thing you can say. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:18.440 And yet, are you thirsty for more of God? 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:21.440 And does it show in godliness and obedience? 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:25.440 Those are the internal measures. 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:28.440 The other ones I gave you are the external measures. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:30.440 Do I have to persuade you? 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:33.440 Do you have to persuade me to have more of God? 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.440 Then, I guess what we are driving at is, 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:40.440 let's at least admit that we are complacent so that we can move from there. 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:52.440 And plus, when I say are you thirsty for God, it has to go beyond feelings, 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:55.440 because one of the things that happens, especially among young Christians, 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:57.440 and by young I mean anyone younger than me, 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.440 is, you know, if you give Christians this sense of adventure, 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:08.440 or let's do an event or let's produce something or let's do something heroic, 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:10.440 that appeals to Christians a lot. 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:15.440 But if you tell Christians, let's spend the next two years learning obedience and godliness, 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.440 suddenly passion is not there. 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:22.440 Passion is therefore, let's go on a mission trip, let's go on an adventure, 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:26.440 let's do something heroic, let's create an event that will draw people. 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:29.440 Those things everybody can get passionate about. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:33.440 And I would suggest to you that most youth events are full of stuff like that. 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:39.440 But try doing it the other way. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.440 Are you hungry for God or thirsty for God? 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:45.440 Let's train ourselves in obedience and godliness for the next two or three years. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:47.440 Whole different ball game, man. 00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:55.440 Remember the word contentment has to go with thirsty. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:57.440 Thirsty contentment. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:59.440 Contentment that is not thirsty is not contentment. 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.440 It's complacency. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:09.440 With godly contentment you never burp, because you're never full. 00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:13.440 Godly contentment is devoid of burps. 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:19.440 So if a Christian burps after spending time with God, you know that this is just hot air. 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:25.440 If you ask me a question about burping, I won't be able to help you. 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:27.440 Go ahead. 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.440 Striving and? 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.440 Striving and. 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:34.440 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:36.440 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:38.440 I'm not sure if you can hear me. 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:41.440 What's the difference between striving and thirst? 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.440 Striving and? 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.440 Striving and thirst. 00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.440 Okay. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.440 Yeah. 00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.440 Yeah, good question. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:52.440 How do you differentiate between striving and thirst? 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:54.440 If you guys want to answer. 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:58.440 Whenever I do that it's because I don't have the answer and I have to start thinking, so if you can help me. 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:02.440 What's the difference between striving and thirst? 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.440 Or is there a difference? 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:06.440 It's a fine line, but how do you distinguish them? 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:11.440 Striving is words based? 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:13.440 Very good. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.440 Thirst is the need. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:17.440 Striving is the action. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.440 Okay. 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.440 Great. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.440 Striving is the labor. 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.440 Labor. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.440 Labor. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:25.440 Any more? 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.440 Yeah. 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.440 So guys, if we just took those answers, what was yours? 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.440 Words. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.440 Yeah, words. 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.440 Striving is word based. 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.440 Thirst is... 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.440 Desire. 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:41.440 Yeah, there's a desire inside. 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:46.440 The intent is not to produce something. 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:48.440 The intent is to satisfy something. 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.440 That's you, Jake. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.440 It's Mary and Martha. 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:59.440 Martha wanted to produce something that would fulfill her desire for Jesus. 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:04.440 Mary had a thirst for the very presence of Jesus. 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:07.440 She had no desire but to be fulfilled by Him. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:10.440 Martha was to produce something that would fulfill Him. 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:15.440 Hers was not to produce anything but to desire something that would fulfill her. 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:18.440 It's almost selfish, but it's beautiful selfishness. 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:24.440 So it's a fine line, but I know when I'm striving... 00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:27.440 You know, I remember once when Eddie came the first time. 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:32.440 First or second time, I wanted to impress Eddie. 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:36.440 So I'm really leading worship and trying to do a good job. 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:39.440 And for whatever reason, the church wasn't responding the way I expected them to. 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:41.440 So I'm really putting more into it. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:45.440 And so the next day, I receive an email from Bernice. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:48.440 You were really trying hard yesterday, weren't you? 00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:51.440 And I didn't like the email at all, but what can I do? 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.440 It's Bernice. 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:55.440 So I admitted that, yes, I was striving. 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:58.440 But the point was I was so caught up in wanting to produce a result 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:02.440 that I forgot the one I was worshipping. 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:06.440 And my intent was I got to make this church respond the way I wanted to 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:12.440 because Eddie has to see that one, I lead well and that the church is good. 00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:14.440 And neither was happening. 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:19.440 So the only person who got left out of it was Jesus, who was the center of our worship. 00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:22.440 Maybe you did, I didn't. 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:27.440 So how do I prevent complacency? 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:31.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:33.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:35.440 How do I prevent complacency? 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:40.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:44.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:47.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:49.440 Second Timothy 3-6. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:37:03.440 It talks about the soldier, the athlete, the farmer, and someone else. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:14.440 Second Timothy 2-6. 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:19.440 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:24.440 No one serves, no one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs. 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:26.440 He wants to please his commanding officer. 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:30.440 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:33.440 unless he competes according to the rules. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:36.440 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:40.440 Reflect on what I'm saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:43.440 So how do I prevent complacency? 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:48.440 Disciplined life. 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:51.440 A disciplined life. 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:59.440 The only way to stay true is to have disciplined times of staying true to Jesus Christ. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:02.440 Not to Christian work, not even to Christian behavior. 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:09.440 But a disciplined life that stays true to Jesus Christ. 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:12.440 A disciplined life. 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:14.440 We've been talking about this for the last three weeks. 00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:17.440 What we need to do when we get up. 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:19.440 How we need to approach God. 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:21.440 How we need to see how God sees us. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:24.440 We've been going over it again and again for almost two years. 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:30.440 And may I say, even after that, I'm not doing it as disciplinately as I should, 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:32.440 even though I'm the one teaching it. 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:35.440 But I'm improving like crazy. 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:38.440 A disciplined life. 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:44.440 Don't raise your hands, but may I ask a question that I don't want an answer for? 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:46.440 Do you have a disciplined Christian life? 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:50.440 In terms of not Bible reading or daily bread reading, 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:55.440 but in terms of actual quality time spent with the Father, 00:38:55.440 --> 00:39:01.440 that is not a token, but sizable because you have a relationship. 00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:04.440 Don't answer. 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:11.440 You know, about a week or ten days ago, I suddenly felt that I should start exercising. 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:14.440 So what do I do when I want stuff like that? 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:16.440 I want to find company that would help me do. 00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:18.440 So I went down to the 10th floor. 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:23.440 And I knocked on Derek and Dawn's door and I said, I want to start exercising. 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:26.440 So let's go buy an elliptical. 00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:31.440 And Dawn looked at me and said, to do what? To hang your clothes on it. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:34.440 And so I told him he'd be on probation for another three months. 00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:38.440 So we haven't bought it yet. 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:43.440 I went for one long walk and thought, if this is the cost I have to pay, it's very high. 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:51.440 The point being, guys, that Dawn has started going for exercise because he needs to lose some weight. 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:55.440 And so he started doing it. He's even changed his diet. 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:58.440 He doesn't eat as much as he used to. 00:39:58.440 --> 00:40:01.440 He's trying to cajole Derek to do it. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:04.440 And Derek just about makes it grudgingly every week. 00:40:04.440 --> 00:40:10.440 But those guys have put in the work. 00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:13.440 Not much is showing right now, but that's another sad thing. 00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:20.440 But they've put in the work. 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:22.440 I have all these grandiose plans. 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:25.440 I even went to Walmart on Wednesday. 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:31.440 And I thought, this is so boring just to keep doing this on a machine. 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:37.440 So I've decided the next best thing is to buy a bicycle and just bike all over, which I'm going to do tomorrow, of course. 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:39.440 We'll find out next Sunday. 00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:45.440 The point being, it's impossible, guys, without this. 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:48.440 Impossible. 00:40:48.440 --> 00:41:01.440 So don't answer, but do you really have disciplined times of conversation, discoveries, reading with the father? 00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:09.440 If not, it is impossible to cultivate infertile ground for complacency. 00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:18.440 Second, a disciplined life, a disentangled life. 00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:25.440 If you're a soldier, do not get involved in civilian affairs. 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:27.440 A disentangled life. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:31.440 Disentangled life is when you prioritize. 00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:35.440 Disentangled life is a life that prioritizes. 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:39.440 That prioritizes and puts first things first. 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:46.440 And in the process, what you do is you set aside those things that are profitable, those things that are advantages, those things that are good. 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:48.440 You set them aside for one thing alone. 00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:50.440 The best. 00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:52.440 The best. 00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:56.440 A disentangled life. 00:41:56.440 --> 00:42:03.440 When Don started taking this exercising seriously, I started bringing home food for him. 00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:05.440 Because I thought, this is not good. 00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:07.440 He's really taking this seriously. 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:10.440 So one evening I bought him a Baconator, which I know he loves. 00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:13.440 And he's saying, no, I shouldn't eat this Baconator. 00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:14.440 I just lost 600 calories. 00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:15.440 I'll put on 800. 00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:18.440 And I said, no, this is a nonfat Baconator habit. 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:20.440 And so I'm trying to tempt him, and he's resisting. 00:42:20.440 --> 00:42:23.440 Disentanglement. 00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:25.440 Disentanglement. 00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:31.440 How disentangled is your life? 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:36.440 Disentanglement is not the lack of Goliaths and storms in your life. 00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:43.440 Disentanglement is prioritizing. 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:45.440 How much of that is happening? 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.440 Any questions, any comments on this, guys? 00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:52.440 A disentangled life. 00:42:52.440 --> 00:43:04.440 To keep life clear by prioritizing. 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:07.440 I remember a couple coming to AXE 29 long ago. 00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:16.440 And they said they would love to join, but they're not planning to join because there's no Sunday school program. 00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:19.440 And I said to them, right now it's not your child that needs help with God. 00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:21.440 It's you both. 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:28.440 So I would suggest that you join AXE 29 and don't worry about your child. 00:43:28.440 --> 00:43:30.440 The priorities were wrong. 00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:34.440 They needed God more than their child. 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:39.440 And so they joined. 00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:47.440 What is your priority at present based on what you think God has placed on you? 00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:48.440 Disentangled life. 00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:53.440 Third one. 00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:55.440 A detached life. 00:43:55.440 --> 00:43:57.440 Disentanglement is different from detachment. 00:43:57.440 --> 00:44:05.440 Detached life. 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:10.440 Detachment is when my life is detached to God. 00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:15.440 And so anywhere in any surrounding, I'm ready for use. 00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:20.440 Because I present a life to God that is pure and intimate. 00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:22.440 A detached life. 00:44:22.440 --> 00:44:27.440 A life that runs by the rules of God. 00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:29.440 Detached to God. 00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:34.440 And the moment I detach from God, like Jesus said, apart from him I can do nothing. 00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:48.440 A detached life is a life that lives by holy rules. 00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:56.440 And the last one is a discerning life. 00:44:56.440 --> 00:45:02.440 A discerning life. 00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:06.440 Where you have this eagerness to stand up and watch and wait for God. 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:08.440 Like it says in Habakkuk chapter 2.1. 00:45:08.440 --> 00:45:11.440 I've made my complaint known to God. 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:19.440 Now I'm going to stand up on the roof and watch for how God will answer and address what I've said. 00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:23.440 Discernment at the end of the day is right judgment. 00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:25.440 To judge things rightly. 00:45:25.440 --> 00:45:28.440 Discernment is never gooey love and kindness. 00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:31.440 Discernment is not truth without grace. 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:33.440 Discernment is right judgment. 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:34.440 To rightly judge. 00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:36.440 And as it says in Hebrews 5.14, 00:45:36.440 --> 00:45:44.440 Discernment only comes through the practice of distinguishing between good and evil in the presence of others. 00:45:44.440 --> 00:45:51.440 One of the things that happens in churches is we discern what we discerned in our own cloistered situation. 00:45:51.440 --> 00:45:56.440 Hey, anything that is discerned must be discerned in the company of others 00:45:56.440 --> 00:46:00.440 so that others can weigh and see if what you've discerned is right or wrong. 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:08.440 What if I started building a 3D printer? 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:14.440 Spend three months on it and then find out that I did it all wrong. 00:46:14.440 --> 00:46:20.440 Why not do it, discern what is right and wrong in the presence of someone who knows it? 00:46:20.440 --> 00:46:23.440 Any questions? 00:46:23.440 --> 00:46:27.440 Guys, four solid ways to make sure that we don't get complacent. 00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:33.440 If you want to say anything, add anything, take away from it, please feel free to do it right now. 00:46:33.440 --> 00:46:36.440 The first one is super important. 00:46:36.440 --> 00:46:41.440 Complacency requires a disciplined life to destroy. 00:46:41.440 --> 00:46:47.440 Because the very nature of complacency is averageness. 00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:54.440 Second, a disentangled life, as in prioritize. 00:46:54.440 --> 00:47:00.440 Third, a detached life, holy rules. 00:47:00.440 --> 00:47:08.440 Fourth, a discerning life, the ability to watch, wait and figure out what God wants. 00:47:08.440 --> 00:47:12.440 It happens through constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 00:47:12.440 --> 00:47:15.440 It happens through practice. What videos should I watch? 00:47:15.440 --> 00:47:18.440 What games can I play? 00:47:18.440 --> 00:47:22.440 What world views can I adopt? 00:47:22.440 --> 00:47:27.440 What remedies can I subscribe to? 00:47:27.440 --> 00:47:30.440 Because the world is normalizing things. 00:47:30.440 --> 00:47:34.440 Everything evil is good and everything good is evil. 00:47:34.440 --> 00:47:38.440 I've got to figure this out because complacency is always mixed. 00:47:38.440 --> 00:47:44.440 It mixes the world and God together. Everything is ah! 00:47:48.440 --> 00:47:51.440 Questions, comments? 00:47:52.440 --> 00:48:01.440 Hey, are you being quiet because you want this to get over or are you being quiet because it's helping? 00:48:01.440 --> 00:48:06.440 I hope it's because it's helping, guys. 00:48:06.440 --> 00:48:10.440 Complacency is everybody's situation. 00:48:10.440 --> 00:48:14.440 I mean, ever since I started working on this, I'm more and more aware of it. 00:48:14.440 --> 00:48:18.440 I go shucks, father, there I go again. 00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:22.440 When I become complacent, it takes me three hours to finish something, 00:48:22.440 --> 00:48:25.440 which I could do in 20 minutes if I had this. 00:48:25.440 --> 00:48:27.440 20 minutes I could have finished it. 00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:29.440 I would have been aware, I would know how to do it. 00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:35.440 But in my complacency, if God is out and I take three hours to finish something, 00:48:35.440 --> 00:48:40.440 at the end of the three hours I think to myself, really Jacob, how dull are you? 00:48:40.440 --> 00:48:42.440 When will you learn? 00:48:42.440 --> 00:48:47.440 Yeah, last one guys, the last point. 00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:50.440 That's not part of this. It's simply this. 00:48:50.440 --> 00:48:56.440 Live with the passionate. Live with the passionate. 00:48:56.440 --> 00:49:01.440 Live with the passionate. 00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:09.440 Because complacency is not exposed till it is confronted by passion. 00:49:09.440 --> 00:49:19.440 Complacency is not exposed till it is confronted by passion. 00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:29.440 I thought I was a great guitarist till I started playing with some other guitarists. 00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:35.440 My defect was not exposed till I met somebody who was better than me. 00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:39.440 Passion will always expose mediocrity. 00:49:39.440 --> 00:49:42.440 Passion will always expose complacency. 00:49:42.440 --> 00:49:45.440 Hang out with the passionate. 00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:52.440 Hang out with the passionate. 00:49:52.440 --> 00:49:57.440 Romans 1 verse 11 and 12, Paul says to the Romans, 00:49:57.440 --> 00:50:02.440 Hey guys, I long to see you so that I might impart to you 00:50:02.440 --> 00:50:07.440 some spiritual gift to make you strong. 00:50:07.440 --> 00:50:12.440 That you and I may be mutually encouraged with each other's faith. 00:50:12.440 --> 00:50:15.440 I love that. 00:50:15.440 --> 00:50:17.440 Part of the reason during the week, 00:50:17.440 --> 00:50:22.440 the only thing I do during the week other than meetings outside of Acts 29 is meet with people. 00:50:22.440 --> 00:50:26.440 Part of the reason I meet with people is just because I think to myself, 00:50:26.440 --> 00:50:30.440 there are certain areas where I am doing better than you. 00:50:30.440 --> 00:50:36.440 And if you hang out with me, by association, you will be upgraded. 00:50:36.440 --> 00:50:41.440 And I'll try once, I'll try twice, I'll try three times, four times. 00:50:41.440 --> 00:50:43.440 And then I'll wait to see if you respond. 00:50:43.440 --> 00:50:46.440 And if you don't respond, I won't push. 00:50:46.440 --> 00:50:50.440 Because the pursuit is yours, the invitation is mine. 00:51:00.440 --> 00:51:10.440 Jesus said, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for they shall be satisfied of filth. 00:51:10.440 --> 00:51:15.440 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for they shall be filled. 00:51:15.440 --> 00:51:19.440 Any questions? 00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:26.440 Oh, and when I see even the slightest desire to move out of complacency, 00:51:27.440 --> 00:51:32.440 I'll do everything in my power, man. 00:51:32.440 --> 00:51:34.440 You can take a horse to the water. 00:51:34.440 --> 00:51:39.440 You can even put salt in the oats, but you can't make a horse drink. 00:51:39.440 --> 00:51:52.440 That is left to the horse. 00:51:52.440 --> 00:51:57.440 You can switch the tape off, Wayne, but I just want to read out the first five lines.