WEBVTT

NOTE
Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver
Episode: Culture – Household of God Part 2
Publishing Date: 2023-11-19T05:00:44-08:00
Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca
Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/culture-household-of-god-part-2/

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Wendy?

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Wendy?

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Wendy?

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Hello.

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Awesome.

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Well, welcome, guys.

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We had our break.

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Jelena is going to come up.

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She's going to speak for a bit, and then we'll wrap up a little bit after that.

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Yeah?

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What?

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Nope, I'm good.

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So, I want to talk today about priest-shepherds.

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What is...

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This was something that we see in Christ's life.

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It's how he ministered in a city.

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It was Christ...

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What was Christ like ministry in a city, and how can we begin to pattern after Christ,

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earthly ministry in our lives?

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So we see there's three different ways that Christ functioned when he was walking on the

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earth.

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As he ministered, as he lived on the earth, he functioned as a priest-shepherd, a prophet,

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and a king.

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And today I just want to take a little bit of time and talk about priest-shepherds.

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What does it look like to be a priest-shepherd?

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What does it look like to, as we've been talking about over the last couple of weeks, hey,

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we need to remove the old.

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We need to remove the stale.

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We need to step into something new.

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And so I want to start by reading from Mark 5, 34 to 44.

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No, sorry, it's Mark 6.

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Him 몇

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have

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the

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to eat, but he answered them, you give them something to eat.

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And they said to him, what shall we go and buy, 200 denarii worth of bread and give it

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to them to eat?

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And he said to them, how many loaves do you have?

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Go and see.

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And when they had found out, they said, five loaves and two fish.

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And then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.

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So they sat down in groups by hundreds and by fifties.

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And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and he said a blessing.

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He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

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And he divided the two fish among them all.

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And they all ate and were satisfied.

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And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

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And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

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And so if we look at this story, we almost can break it into three different parts.

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First we see that Jesus shows up.

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If we go earlier in the story, we see that his disciples have just come back from ministering.

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And he says to them, hey, let's go away.

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You guys have been busy.

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Let's go away and rest.

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So they've intentionally gone to a desolate place.

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They've gone to this desolate place, but the crowds have seen them going and people begin

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to go and gather there.

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So he's gone to take his disciples to rest and they get to this desolate place and there's

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crowds of people.

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It wasn't their intent.

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It wasn't part of their plan.

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They've gone to get away from people and they show up and there's all these people there

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waiting for him.

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And it says that Jesus had compassion on them.

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He was immediately aware that they were sheep without a shepherd.

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He saw these people.

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They'd gone to get away from people.

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But as he sees this people, his heart shifts because immediately he's aware of what his

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father's heart is.

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And he immediately is filled with compassion.

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Then we see that what does he do?

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He immediately gathers them and begins to teach them the word.

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And then we see that these people are hungry.

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They're in a desolate place.

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There's nothing there.

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They've come and he's all they've come for.

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And then we see him intercede with a radical action.

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His disciples say we should send them away to eat.

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He says no, no, we'll feed them.

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They've come to us and we're responsible not just for them spiritually but we're also responsible

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for them physically.

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His compassion wasn't just for their spiritual well-being but hey, how do I actually take

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care of these people?

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They're lost.

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They have nothing else.

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And we see that he telescopes God physically into their lives.

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This kind of highlights, okay, what was his life as a priest shepherd?

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What did it look like?

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We see three aspects.

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A priest should be a shepherd.

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A priest should be a proclamer.

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And a priest should be a mediator interceder.

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So what is a priest shepherd?

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If we look at Revelation 7, 16 to 17.

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Revelation 7, 16 to 17.

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They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more.

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The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

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For the lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd.

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He will guide them to springs of living water.

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And God will wipe away every tear from their eye.

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We see that hey, what is required of us?

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To carry out Christ's ministry requires that we care for people.

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We have to be Christ incarnate.

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We have to be Christ in flesh to build relationship with the sheep that he sends our way.

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It's only when we begin to say hey, if Christ is the high priest, Derek was talking about

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this earlier.

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Hey, Christ is the high priest and we're supposed to be seated with him.

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But can we move to that place not just when we're here.

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Can we move to that place from every aspect of our life saying hey, I have to be seated

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with him.

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As I'm seated with him, suddenly I have the ability to function as a priest and begin

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to see people as he would as a shepherd.

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This is something that's expected of us.

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This is something that he's saying hey, as you let go of the old, this is something that

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you have to begin to step into.

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It's only when I begin to be Christ in flesh to people that God can enter broken lives

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with mercy and power.

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It's our responsibility.

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It's our responsibility as individuals and it's our responsibility as the body to be

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able to transmit God into the lives around us.

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Then if we look at Malachi 2, 6 to 7, Christ came to proclaim.

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He was a priest who proclaimed.

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I brought my Bible with the tiniest print.

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True instruction was in his mouth and no wrong was found on his lips.

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He walked with me in peace and righteousness and he turned many from iniquities.

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For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge and people should seek instruction from his

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mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

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Here we see that this clearly says hey, this is what a priest is supposed to do.

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A priest is someone who is supposed to guard the knowledge, who is supposed to speak the

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word of God into lives.

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We see this when we look in that verse in Mark 6.

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It says he had compassion on them and he began to teach them.

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How often do we see people and immediately begin to say okay, what good news do they

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need today?

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Hey, what message do they need from Christ today?

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It's not a Christianese message but hey, what do they need to hear?

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What is going wrong in their lives?

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How can I begin to display through my life with words and with actions the good news?

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Am I faithful to the biblical text?

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And do I make the biblical text relevant to the context in which people are living?

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Can I take what I know?

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Can we take, here we have so much knowledge, we've been taught so much, but can we take

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it and apply it to people's lives?

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Do we have the ability to take what we've been taught as we step into what's new, what

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we're this deeper level?

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Christ keeps saying hey, can you come deeper in?

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As we go deeper in, are we so aware of hey, this is what God's saying, now how can I begin

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to speak it into people's lives?

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Priests teach God.

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And then if we look at a priest as a mediator or interceder, if we look at Hebrews 8, 6.

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But as it is in Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old.

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But as it is in Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old.

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As the covenant he mediates is better since it is enacted on by better promises.

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So here that we see hey, when Christ came, he came and said hey, the old was just a shadow,

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step into something new.

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And he's saying this to us again today.

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Hey guys, can you let go of the old?

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Can you let go of the stale?

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Can you step into the new?

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Can you step into the deeper that I have for you?

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And as we begin to step into this deeper that he has for us, we'll be able to see that we

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have the ability to function as mediators and interceders in the lives around us.

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On one hand it goes back to what I was saying at the beginning.

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Hey, can we be actively engaged?

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Can we recognize as we step into a situation that hey, I'm seated with Christ at the right

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hand of God.

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Because of my position, because of how he's placed me, because of this deeper that he's

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calling us into, through the spoken word and through radical actions, we can invite and

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enable people to see and be touched by the saving love of Christ.

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How often is that my intent when I go out?

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It has to be more than when we come here.

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It has to be when I engage with people at work.

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It has to be, hey, does the world actually know what I'm about?

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As I go about my day, do people know what I'm about?

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Do they see me as a shepherd?

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Do they see me as a proclamer?

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Do they see me as someone who can telescope God into their lives and change their realities?

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This is what it looks like to go deeper.

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When people see me, do they just need a touch for me and their lives begin to change?

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It requires all of me.

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For me to be a priest, for me to be able to walk as the priest that God has ordained us

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to be, it requires all of me.

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God walked in a new covenant.

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In Hebrews 8.13, he speaks to this new covenant and he makes the first obsolete.

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Somebody was saying earlier that, hey, we have to shed the old.

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We have to make obsolete that which in our lives, which was good but is old.

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For what is becoming obsolete and old has to begin to vanish from our lives.

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It has to begin to vanish from how we function.

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It has to begin to vanish from, hey, this is how I did this.

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This, it works well.

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Yes, it works well, but what new is Christ giving?

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He came to establish a new covenant and it's always active.

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He's always opening that flower up for us to see more and more.

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If we look at 1 Peter 2.9.

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It says, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his

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own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness

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into his marvelous light.

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You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,

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that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous

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light.

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How often do we think of ourselves this way?

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Can we just take a moment and say, hey, do I actually think of myself this way?

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Do I actually think that I'm chosen?

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Do I actually think that I'm chosen to function as a royal priest within his body, which he

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calls a royal priesthood?

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Do I think that, hey, I'm part of his nation?

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I'm supposed to be different than the world that I walk in?

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I'm purchased by him.

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I'm to be his possession.

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Am I removing all the other things that I let own me?

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He's calling us into his light.

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How much of my day am I aware of his presence?

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How much of my day am I aware of, hey, this is what the Father's saying.

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Now can I begin to walk in that light?

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We have to let go of the old.

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We have to let go of the stale.

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It's only when I'm able to give him my all that I can begin to function in Christ-like

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ministry here on earth.

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And so I want to talk about, hey, what are three things that are required of me?

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One, there has to be an opening in my life to be trained.

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There has to be an opening in my life to be trained to teach, to be trained to be able

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to transmit and telescope God.

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But how am I functioning within this body?

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How am I functioning in my day to day?

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And so first, am I functioning as a dedicated soldier?

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I have to be a dedicated soldier.

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What's a dedicated soldier?

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A dedicated soldier is one who is so committed to what the body is building, what Christ

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is building with his body, that I will suspend my own interests.

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And so I really want to say this.

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This is for us.

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This is for Acts 29.

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Hey, Acts 29, if you're a part of this body, are you a dedicated soldier?

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Is this something you want to be?

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How do we come in into what's happening?

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How do we step into what God's saying, hey, this is about to break forth.

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This is about to break forth.

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Am I a part of it?

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Am I desirous?

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Am I saying, okay, Father, what next?

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Am I willing to suspend my own interests for what he wants to do?

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Am I willing to have those who are leaders or Jacob come and say, hey, I need you to

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do this?

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And am I willing to suspend my own interests?

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This was something that we've been talking about the last two weeks.

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Hey, am I willing to set aside my interests for what the body?

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Am I willing to come under those who have been placed in leaders, who are shepherds

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over us here to say, hey, I'm opening my life.

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I'm willing to do whatever you ask.

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Can I be a disciplined athlete?

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Am I willing to exercise a level of discipline in my choices that are unbalanced like an

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athlete?

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We try to keep everything balanced in our life.

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Hey, if I do a little bit of this and a little bit here and a little bit here, I can keep

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everything balanced.

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I can keep everything happy.

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But an athlete or someone who has one sole purpose, their life becomes unbalanced for

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them to excel at that.

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When somebody's willing, wants to become a runner in the Olympics, he lets go of other

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things.

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His life becomes all about that.

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Is my life all about what is being built here?

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:03.600
Is my life all about this new that we're stepping into?

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:06.320
Is my life all about, hey, I want to go deeper.

00:17:06.320 --> 00:17:07.320
I want to go deeper.

00:17:07.320 --> 00:17:12.160
I want to discover, hey, what does it look like to function in a way I've never functioned

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.800
before?

00:17:15.800 --> 00:17:18.000
And then can I be a diligent farmer?

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:24.160
night or day to get a crop in without compromise or delay?

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.800
And it's not sometimes it's for a season, sometimes it's for a short thing.

00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:32.240
But hey, am I willing to say, hey, take my time?

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.360
Sometimes our time is the thing we hold most precious.

00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:37.280
Oh, but I need to do this and I need to do this and I have a little bit of time here

00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:39.040
and I have time set aside for this.

00:17:39.040 --> 00:17:43.520
God is saying, hey, in this time, are you willing to be a diligent farmer?

00:17:43.520 --> 00:17:47.160
You've sown the seeds, the crop is ready to begin to come in.

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:50.040
Are you willing to work day and night to bring in that crop?

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.720
This is something we have to begin to ask ourselves.

00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:59.880
This is something we have to say, hey, yes, I can come and say I'm all for this, but am

00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:01.880
I willing to shift how I'm walking?

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:05.080
Am I willing to let my entire life change?

00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:07.480
It's not about the service when we gather here.

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:11.800
It's how I'm living my life every day 24-7.

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:14.880
Am I, do I even want to be a dedicated soldier?

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:18.320
Is this something that I see myself?

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:23.360
Am I willing to let others say, hey, you know, in this area, this could be shifted?

00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:25.160
Is my life disciplined?

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:30.560
Is it disciplined for one pursuit?

00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:35.440
Am I willing to work day and night or do I only want to work part time and then leave

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.720
the rest to go about the life I have planned for myself?

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:49.680
If you're here, if you're part of Acts 29, our intent is, hey, can I open my life to

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.840
be a disciple who's being disciplined to be a priest?

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:59.560
Am I opening my life to be discipled?

00:18:59.560 --> 00:19:06.120
It's only a discipled and disciplined priest who can recognize a sheep and as a shepherd

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.560
instantly telescope God in.

00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:11.000
But I have to be trained.

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.000
Am I coming?

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.600
Am I willing to be trained?

00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:19.000
Even those of us who maybe are recognized as shepherds in this house, are we still being

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.000
trained?

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000
Are we still opening our lives?

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:26.840
Are we still saying, hey, what needs to be shifted?

00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:32.840
As a shepherd, if we look at Hosea 2, 2, 23 and 1 Peter 2, 10, they say almost the same

00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:34.080
thing.

00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:37.080
But one is the Old Testament and one is the new.

00:19:37.080 --> 00:19:56.440
In Hosea 2, 23 it says, I will planter for myself in the land.

00:19:56.440 --> 00:20:00.160
I will show my love to the one I called, not my loved.

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.840
I will say to those called, not my people, you are my people.

00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.760
And they will say, you are my God.

00:20:06.760 --> 00:20:10.680
I have planted her for myself in the land.

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:15.040
I will show my love to the one I called, not my loved.

00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:20.440
I will say to those called, not my people, you are my people.

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:25.640
And then if we go to the New Testament, we see the same thing being said.

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:28.800
1 Peter 2, 10.

00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:32.480
Once you were not my people, but now you are the people of God.

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:37.240
Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.520
This should become active.

00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:42.760
If everybody, we have no leaders and followers here.

00:20:42.760 --> 00:20:44.120
Everybody is being raised.

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:49.640
Everybody should be a desire to, what does it look like to begin to function as a shepherd?

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:52.160
This should become active through our lives.

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:55.800
Once you were not a people, now you are the God's people.

00:20:55.800 --> 00:20:59.000
Once you have not received mercy, now you have received mercy.

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:01.160
Is this something we are displaying?

00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:03.280
Is this something we are displaying in this house?

00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:08.120
Is this something we are displaying when we go out?

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:13.280
Because this is the very nature of a good shepherd.

00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:18.900
So I ask us, can we exchange our hearts?

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:25.020
Because we are being disciplined to disciple, if not today, then tomorrow.

00:21:25.020 --> 00:21:26.700
So can we exchange our hearts?

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.180
Can we lay our hearts down?

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:31.780
Can we, what started in worship, hey, I surrender the old.

00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:36.620
Can we begin to lay down our hearts and say, hey, I want to be discipled.

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:43.220
Can I open my life to be trained to be able to transmit, teach, and telescope God in all

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:45.340
that I do?

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:49.500
And am I willing to give my life to Christ and his body?

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:53.980
Can be easy to give my life to Christ, but am I willing to give it to his body, this

00:21:53.980 --> 00:22:02.580
body, as a dedicated soldier, as a disciplined athlete, and as a diligent farmer?

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:05.620
And so I really want us to, this isn't an instant response.

00:22:05.620 --> 00:22:08.900
For some of us, you have to actually think this through.

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:15.620
You have to take time, because this is a life commitment.

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:17.220
Am I willing to open my life?

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:21.340
Do I desire to be trained?

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:27.820
And how much of my life am I willing to give to a physical body, to a physical people that

00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:33.300
will require things of me, that will demand things of me, that will ask things of me?

00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:36.060
Because that's how Christ functioned.

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:43.060
Thanks, Julian.

00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:51.060
I'm thinking.

00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:57.060
How do we respond to what we heard?

00:23:01.060 --> 00:23:08.140
Guys, one thing I want all of us to know is, especially at this time, when we know that

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:14.140
God is asking us and telling us, hey, you're walking in this direction, I need you to walk

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:23.140
in this direction, and he has things for us, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I say

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:27.900
again, please don't sit back and say, okay, you know, I'll catch up later, because you

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:36.260
do have the option to sit back if you want to, or you can jump in sooner, quicker, faster.

00:23:36.260 --> 00:23:37.260
That's up to you.

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:38.380
Yeah?

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.380
Yeah.

00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:52.380
I have a feeling this thing will...

00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:56.380
Oh, it works.

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:59.380
It's 6.52.

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.500
We won't...

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:08.140
I won't take a lot of time, but I want to touch on a few things that I think it's important

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:16.860
for us as a people to look at and measure ourselves personally against as a plumb line,

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:19.840
because the word is a plumb line for us.

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:25.700
It tells us this is how you are to be, and then you and I, anything and everything that

00:24:26.020 --> 00:24:31.780
I speak today, disclaimer, everything that I speak today applies to me, as it applies

00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:38.980
to you, and especially for the guys who are new here, for the first time, if you're wondering

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:44.860
what's going on, it's a different time we are in, because we know that God has told

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:52.260
us, hey, I want this new thing for you, and it also requires us thinking differently,

00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:56.940
asking questions to ourselves, hearing what he has, and then shaping ourselves so that

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.180
we are ready for it.

00:24:58.180 --> 00:25:02.780
So it's a great time to be here.

00:25:02.780 --> 00:25:05.740
I joined Axe 29 about 12 years ago, I think.

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:12.060
That's when I first moved here, and Heidi, Joan, Ruth, Sue, they've been here from, I

00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:13.860
guess, day one.

00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:19.300
One of the things I know in the last little... the 12 years I've been in Axe 29 is we've

00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:22.040
gone through changes.

00:25:22.040 --> 00:25:24.460
We have gone through changes.

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:32.280
If you stepped into Axe 29 in 2014, and you step in again in 2023, it'll look very different.

00:25:32.280 --> 00:25:35.680
Ask Heidi how week one was and how today is.

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:38.320
It looks different.

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:44.060
One of the things I can tell you is because things will change, if you aren't prepared

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:49.960
to change, you will fall back, or fall behind.

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:53.200
So it's not really, hey, you need to change.

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:58.880
This is more so, father, I am part of a bride that you're raising, part of the bride that

00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:00.680
you're raising.

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.840
And so it's, I don't want to miss it.

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.840
That's the mentality.

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:07.160
Yeah, it's not, hey, if you don't change, you're going to miss out.

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:10.680
No, it's more so, I want to.

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:13.480
I want to be involved in what God is doing.

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:16.240
I am part of his bride.

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:19.760
How can I say, yeah, you know, you guys do it.

00:26:19.760 --> 00:26:21.360
I'll jump in later.

00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.360
No.

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:25.120
Yeah, it's super important, guys.

00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:32.400
So listen, even if it's for the next 20, 30 minutes, listen, knowing that this applies

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.400
to you.

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:39.600
And the only thing I ask of you is measure yourself against the plumb line of the word.

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.600
You need to do that.

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.920
I need to do that.

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:47.080
If we don't, then we will have blind spots that will never be addressed.

00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:51.760
The great thing of having a brother or a wife, brother before I got married, wife after I

00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:57.440
got married, is that, man, they'll tell you exactly what's happening with you.

00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:00.400
You'll be the best person ever in your mind.

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:03.000
Just have them speak and they'll tell you the things that you need to change in.

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:09.160
Phoebe is laughing.

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:12.560
There's one person laughing.

00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:14.200
It is true.

00:27:14.280 --> 00:27:18.520
So in your mind, you may be thinking, man, everything is going so well for me.

00:27:18.520 --> 00:27:20.680
All of these things are for someone else.

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:22.280
Then you're going to miss out.

00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:27.600
So listen to this from a place of father, if this is true for me, I want to catch on

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:29.280
to what you're doing.

00:27:29.280 --> 00:27:33.040
So I have five or six things that I want to speak about.

00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:35.680
And for each of those things, do what I said.

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:47.400
So one, you conform as in conform to the image of Christ to the degree by which you are prepared

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:50.800
to pass through the fire, the refiner's fire.

00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:52.440
I'll explain it.

00:27:52.440 --> 00:28:00.360
In Malachi chapter two, there is a verse and it says, the Lord is like a refiner's fire.

00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:03.640
The Lord is like the refiner's fire.

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:06.000
Maybe Brandon, you can bring the picture up.

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:13.360
In that, metals go through the process of refinement and it's hot and it melts.

00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:18.240
And when it melts, draws the thing that's bad will surface.

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:22.400
And when it surfaces, you take those things out, then you have pure metal.

00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:25.000
There is a refining that happens.

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:29.280
And I like how it says in Malachi chapter two, I think it's verse three, because it

00:28:29.280 --> 00:28:34.000
says the Lord sits as a refiner.

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.160
He sits as a refiner.

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:39.840
And I like the verse in the New Testament and Malachi is just before the New Testament

00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:45.080
starts and I also like what we read in the New Testament where it says, Jesus Christ

00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:48.680
sits at the right hand of the Father.

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:50.800
He sits as a purifier.

00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:52.760
He sits as a refiner.

00:28:52.760 --> 00:28:56.260
Man, this is what he is about.

00:28:56.260 --> 00:29:01.700
And so if you have this thing, you can look at all of the black stuff, if you can see

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:08.160
it, on the top as the metal is melted, it's silver, it's gold, it doesn't matter.

00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:12.940
That stuff is the bad stuff that sometimes we aren't aware of.

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:19.780
And those things come out in the open when there is fire, when there is purifying, refining

00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:21.980
happening.

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:26.380
One thing I need you to think about is, is this happening to you?

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:31.340
One, it can happen to you in your time with the Father directly.

00:29:31.340 --> 00:29:37.340
Two, it can happen to you as you open the Word and the Word speaks to you.

00:29:37.340 --> 00:29:42.700
But three, the part that may be a little more difficult for some is it happens when you

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:49.300
sit down and talk with Mark and Mark says, hey, I've seen this thing happen in your life.

00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:50.740
Derek, why so?

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.740
Can you change?

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:59.460
Now, I may not like hearing from Mark and then I lose it if I don't accept it.

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:07.980
I have to hear what others in the body may be bringing up, especially those who are leading

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.980
you.

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.980
It may be a house church.

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.980
It may be Jacob.

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.980
It doesn't matter.

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:16.900
Those around you, when they say, hey, I need you to think about it, you need to take that

00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.060
into account.

00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:21.420
You can look at that and say, well, maybe it's not realistic.

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.880
That may be true.

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.380
Maybe it is true.

00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:27.180
But you do have to think about it.

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:32.040
If you think that, nah, it doesn't really matter, that's wrong.

00:30:32.040 --> 00:30:36.660
If Sue brings something to me, I have to consider it.

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:38.380
Period.

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:44.100
If I think, well, what can Sue teach me or who is Sue to teach me?

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:46.520
It is wrong.

00:30:46.520 --> 00:30:49.680
I need you to really understand this.

00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:56.700
We are part of a body and the body is the most precious thing as far as Jesus is concerned.

00:30:56.700 --> 00:31:02.980
One thing you should never do is play with the church.

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:05.760
You must never do that.

00:31:05.760 --> 00:31:14.240
If there is one thing in Acts chapter 10 verse 20 or 20 verse 10, it says, the church, I

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:16.480
bought it with my precious blood.

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:20.280
You have been kept as overseers because I bought it.

00:31:20.280 --> 00:31:23.960
Jesus bought the church with the precious blood.

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:30.940
Man, if you look at each other and think, yeah, we are all buddies, it is true.

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:33.940
We are part of a family.

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:36.200
We are brothers, sisters, it is all true.

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:42.680
But this person right here is very precious to Jesus.

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:45.360
You have got to get that.

00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:48.000
You cannot play.

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.640
In the grand scheme of things, when it comes to the church and the body, the bride, you

00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:54.920
cannot play.

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:59.440
Yes.

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.040
What does playing look like?

00:32:01.040 --> 00:32:02.800
Thanks, Diana.

00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:06.040
It could be me just saying, I don't really care about eco.

00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:08.800
Whatever eco has to say, well, eco is a certain way.

00:32:08.800 --> 00:32:11.920
I have seen eco and I know eco for the last seven years.

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:16.280
What good can come out of Nazareth?

00:32:16.280 --> 00:32:18.480
What good can come out of Nazareth?

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.040
That is an example.

00:32:20.040 --> 00:32:21.040
It depends.

00:32:21.040 --> 00:32:22.600
It is my heart and my attitude.

00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:27.000
All I want you to know is today I need you to think and understand this.

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:33.760
Every person who is part of this body is a precious child bought by Jesus Christ.

00:32:33.760 --> 00:32:39.800
And therefore, you need to know this, that you have to associate with them as you are

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:42.520
a part of the family.

00:32:42.520 --> 00:32:45.080
They are not an outsider.

00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:47.160
They are not whatever you think they are.

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:49.200
They are sons and daughters.

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:54.800
And more importantly, when there are people who are trying, if you are, again, if you

00:32:54.800 --> 00:33:00.240
belong to a house church, whatever group, whatever leader you have, you have to associate

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:04.640
with them if you are part of the body, knowing that these are people that God has placed

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:06.080
in my life.

00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:10.200
If you do not associate with them like that, you have got to bring it up and let's say

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:12.080
talk to Jacob.

00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:18.240
Because how is it that if I go to May's house church, I am going off script, but that's

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.240
okay.

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:25.720
If I go to May's house church, as an example, and May is the one set as the leader of that

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:30.920
house church, and I go there and I cannot attend the house church, I can attend to what

00:33:31.080 --> 00:33:36.760
May has to speak, but deep down in my heart, if I have made a decision that you know what,

00:33:36.760 --> 00:33:42.920
I am just coming here and the teaching is good, but I don't want to let go of who I

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.920
am.

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:45.720
You know, May is a different person.

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:48.860
May's character and my character are different.

00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:55.480
If that is the attitude that you have, how is it that you can learn from her fully?

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.960
And if that is the attitude you have, one, you can change without telling anyone.

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:02.560
Or two, if you struggle with it, talk about it.

00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:08.880
Otherwise, you're going to waste the next 10 years or five years or three years being

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:11.560
at May's house church without addressing it.

00:34:15.120 --> 00:34:16.760
Make sense?

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:20.760
The best thing you can do is tell May, May, can you help me?

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.400
That takes humility.

00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:29.000
That takes humility to tell May, May, I've been doing this for the last two years.

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:30.000
I know I'm wrong.

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.000
I need help.

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:33.000
That would be a great way to do it.

00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:42.400
So one of the questions I need you to ask yourself is when it comes to going through

00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:49.600
this process of refinement, do you see beginning of the year, January 1st, 2023, and now are

00:34:49.600 --> 00:34:52.200
you two different people or are you the same people?

00:34:52.600 --> 00:34:53.600
Or are you the same?

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.600
You must be another person.

00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:01.800
Because we are being refined, we are being purified.

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:11.000
And the extent to which you submit to this process, to that extent, you will look like

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.800
Jesus.

00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:20.600
The extent to which you submit to this process, to that extent, you will look like Jesus.

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.000
It's as simple as that.

00:35:29.600 --> 00:35:30.200
Number two.

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:38.000
This is, I can get pretty passionate talking about this, so I'll try not to.

00:35:39.600 --> 00:35:45.000
You cannot disciple people if you aren't being discipled.

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:51.600
You cannot disciple people if you aren't being discipled.

00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:56.200
And what does that mean?

00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:03.200
First, let's talk about what discipleship is not.

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:06.400
Discipleship is not just going to the house church.

00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:10.800
Discipleship is not just coming to the Sunday service.

00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:14.600
Discipleship is not leading a house church.

00:36:14.600 --> 00:36:17.800
Discipleship is not teaching.

00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:24.000
Discipleship is not hanging out with your favorite crew within the church.

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.000
Discipleship is not just any of these things.

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:33.000
These things can all be part of it in that it fits into the greater thing called discipleship,

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.600
but it isn't all of it.

00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:40.800
Discipleship primarily is at one point in your life, you made a commitment that for

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:45.400
the rest of my life, I want to be a disciple of Jesus.

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:55.400
And you made a commitment that when I do this, I do this by walking with the body that God has put me in.

00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:58.000
You ain't a disciple.

00:36:59.200 --> 00:37:06.600
You ain't a true disciple if you are walking by yourself, even though you're part of this body.

00:37:06.600 --> 00:37:13.600
And this thing, it's close to my heart because the church is filled with independent people.

00:37:13.600 --> 00:37:16.600
I'm not just talking about Acts, I'm not talking about Acts 29.

00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:23.000
There are people like that at Acts 29, but this is a thing around the world in the global church.

00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:27.600
Discipleship comes with a cost.

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:30.800
Salvation is free, so it's easy.

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:33.600
Salvation is free.

00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:36.600
Discipleship comes with a cost.

00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:40.600
Here is the other thing.

00:37:42.600 --> 00:37:51.600
The package in which God sends people to you, people who are supposed to help you, change you, transform you,

00:37:51.600 --> 00:37:53.600
and again, please listen to this.

00:37:53.600 --> 00:37:57.600
You always have a relationship directly with God.

00:37:57.600 --> 00:38:00.000
You always will hear him through the word.

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:08.600
At the same time, you are supposed to follow Jesus into his body and that is the place.

00:38:08.600 --> 00:38:11.600
There is a quote, someone wise said something like this.

00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:17.600
You cannot have godly mature Christians without other godly mature Christians.

00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:19.200
Paul writes it.

00:38:19.200 --> 00:38:23.000
Hey, teach young women how can they be a Christian?

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:28.000
How can a dude teach young women everything that has to be taught?

00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:30.000
May can help.

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:36.000
May knows more about that than me.

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:45.000
I can try, but there are things that may can help with that you can miss out on if you aren't okay walking with me.

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:48.000
The body is not one person.

00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:52.000
The body is the body that God has put together.

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:55.000
In that body, there are arrangements that God has set.

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:58.000
There is an Acts 29, Jacob.

00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:04.000
All of us come under him in that he is the set man of this house.

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:08.000
And then he has placed people in the house.

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:12.000
Come under him in that he is the set man of this house.

00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:17.000
And then he has placed people over house churches, etc, etc.

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:20.000
That is an arrangement that God has set.

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:32.000
The package in which this comes to you, because the package doesn't align with your likes and dislikes, don't say no to it.

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:36.000
You don't know how many people there are in the world.

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:46.000
Who could have gone much faster in the things God had for them if they did not ignore the package that was sent?

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:49.000
Package is in, I look a certain way.

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:51.000
I talk a certain way.

00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:55.000
I may not be best buddies with Sen as an example.

00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:02.000
Sen may find Mark to be a little more her personality type.

00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:04.000
Guys, these things exist.

00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:14.000
But can I still learn from the person God has put in my life?

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:16.000
It takes humility, man.

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:19.000
But it is good if you can change.

00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:23.000
It is good if you can change.

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:34.000
You don't know how much traction you can get in your life if you can ignore your personality likes and dislikes.

00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:39.000
And there is the other thing.

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:41.000
There is no perfect church.

00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:49.000
If you think that Acts 3.9 is not perfect, go to any other church.

00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:51.000
There is no perfect church.

00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:56.000
There is no church where you'll walk in and you'll go, wow, I like it.

00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:57.000
Everything is great.

00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:59.000
Just wait 10 weeks.

00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:02.000
There will be things that you will be like, oh, that's different.

00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:04.000
So there is no perfect church.

00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:07.000
And there is no perfect people.

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:13.000
But can you in the arrangement that God has set for you, learn?

00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:15.000
Say yes to the process.

00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:16.000
Stick with it.

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.000
This is the other thing, guys.

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:19.000
Don't say yes to it.

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:23.000
And then three months later, because something happens, stop the process.

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.000
Don't do that.

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:26.000
Stick with it.

00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:29.000
If there is one thing I can tell you from my life.

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:33.000
At one point in my life, I made a decision that I want to be a disciple.

00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:36.000
And it does not matter what happens.

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:42.000
I try intentionally to be a disciple every week of my life.

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:45.000
Every day of my life.

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:48.000
There are days when I'm not doing it well enough.

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.000
That's OK.

00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:55.000
But I have made a commitment that it doesn't matter.

00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:57.000
I want to be a disciple.

00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:58.000
It doesn't matter.

00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:00.000
I want to be a disciple.

00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:03.000
Have you made a decision that you want to be a disciple?

00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.000
Can you tell the time you made that decision?

00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:11.000
Can you tell me the before and the after?

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:16.000
If not, can you make that decision now?

00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:23.000
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them.

00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:25.000
How can you do disciple?

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:30.000
How can you disciple people when you yourself haven't given fully to the process?

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:34.000
It's difficult or it's impossible.

00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:37.000
You have to give yourself fully to this.

00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:40.000
And it will be painful.

00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:42.000
It will be costly.

00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:47.000
There will be things where you go, oh, this is uncomfortable.

00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:49.000
That's OK.

00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:51.000
That's exactly how it's supposed to be.

00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:56.000
If it's all easy and you feel no pressure ever,

00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:59.000
you aren't being discipled.

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:02.000
You're friends.

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:12.000
And you may ask the question, well, why is it that I need to go to these people,

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:17.000
if I am part of a house church, can I not be discipled by this person?

00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:21.000
You're part of a body and you will for sure be learning from everyone in the body.

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:26.000
Having said that, there is an arrangement that God has set.

00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:29.000
You've got to know what the arrangement is.

00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.000
And if you don't like that arrangement, you have to ask yourself why?

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:36.000
Don't sit idle.

00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:38.000
Don't let time pass by.

00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.000
Bring it up.

00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:45.000
Why would you waste time and not bring it up?

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:46.000
Why would you do that?

00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:51.000
And I tell you, if you are like that, go talk with Jacob as an example.

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.000
And say, Jacob, this is where I am at.

00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:56.000
I hear you.

00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.000
I understand you.

00:43:57.000 --> 00:43:59.000
I haven't given to this process yet.

00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:00.000
This is why.

00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:01.000
Can you help me?

00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:04.000
Four beautiful words.

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:06.000
Can you help me?

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:12.000
Ask guys, because it changes our lives.

00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:14.000
This is the way Christ commissioned.

00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:18.000
And the church is filled with people also.

00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:25.000
Keep in mind, who haven't gone through the church as in the wider church, who haven't gone through the process of discipleship.

00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:31.000
When they started, things were fine and dandy and all great, great miracles, great this, great that.

00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:40.000
But because they did not follow the process that was set, 10 years later, 15 years later, 12 years later, something happened and it derailed.

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:42.000
It's foolish to do it yourself.

00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:47.000
Now, let me go back to my notes.

00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:04.000
Romans chapter 12, verse 5.

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:06.000
Romans chapter 12, verse 5.

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.000
It says, none of us, hear this, just listen to me.

00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:11.000
What a verse.

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:13.000
Romans 12, verse 5.

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:17.000
None of us exist outside of the body.

00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:21.000
No Christian is an unattached Christian.

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:28.000
We are all members of each other, connected to each other with the purpose of serving each other.

00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:35.000
This is what God intends to do with us on this side of eternity.

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:47.000
And you cannot be a disciple without opening up your life.

00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:49.000
That's the other thing.

00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:55.000
And you need to again, I have to, you have to measure yourself against the plumb line.

00:45:55.000 --> 00:46:04.000
You cannot tell that you are a disciple if you haven't opened up your life to the people you're walking with.

00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:12.000
So for instance, if I, and this is true, I learn from Jacob.

00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:15.000
I have two ways I can do this.

00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:21.000
I can give 80% visibility to Jacob in terms of what's happening in my life.

00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:26.000
Or I can be transparent about what's happening in my life.

00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:29.000
It's not easy.

00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:34.000
But in the long run, it helps.

00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:37.000
I wasn't planning on saying this, but maybe I should.

00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:43.000
I may regret it later, but it's okay.

00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:44.000
I'll see.

00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:50.000
So when, when I was in the university, I was in the university, I was in the university.

00:46:50.000 --> 00:47:03.000
So when, you know, when I was wanting to get married, I had been talking to this girl and I was almost ready and thinking, yeah, you know, this girl is the girl I want to get married.

00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:06.000
And I remember going to Jacob, it was a New Year's Eve thing.

00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:10.000
I was, you know, I said, hey, Jacob, I need you to pray for me.

00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:17.000
I'll tell you, everything inside me was like, Jacob, I pray that this one thing you will not bring up.

00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:19.000
Because I don't want you to bring up this thing.

00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:22.000
Because in my heart, I know exactly what's going on.

00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:23.000
I want to marry this girl.

00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:28.000
I hope you won't say, I heard from God that, hey, you know, you need to, you need to not marry.

00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:29.000
I'm praying.

00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:34.000
I'm praying inside me saying, hopefully this doesn't happen.

00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:37.000
And he starts prophesying over me five minutes, 10 minutes.

00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:38.000
I told you, I may regret this.

00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:39.000
It's okay.

00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:41.000
He prophesies over me for five or 10 minutes.

00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:44.000
And then he pauses for like a good minute.

00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000
My heart is pounding.

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:54.000
And then after that, he says, hey, Derek, the girl you're talking with, I think you should just give it some rest.

00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:57.000
Give it some rest for a week or two weeks.

00:47:57.000 --> 00:48:00.000
And then you pick it up and see what happens.

00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.000
Everything inside me crashed.

00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:09.000
January 1st, 2021 or something.

00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:10.000
And he didn't say anything.

00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:13.000
The only thing he said is just give it some time.

00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:16.000
If after you take the time, you're like, you want to get mad at this girl?

00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:18.000
Get mad at this girl.

00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:26.000
But if after you take this time, you're like, there's something that I missed, then, then that's what it is.

00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:28.000
I remember two days later I'm sleeping.

00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:31.000
I'm taking a nap, which I rarely do.

00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:34.000
And in the, I have a dream, which I rarely have.

00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:38.000
And in the dream, I go to the father and he has something in his hands.

00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:41.000
I go take it and run away.

00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:46.000
And all of a sudden the Holy Spirit told me, is this what's happening to you?

00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:47.000
Are you fast forwarding?

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:49.000
Are you trying to make it happen?

00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:52.000
Because you think this is the time.

00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:54.000
Are you saying, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, this is the time.

00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:56.000
It cannot be any other way.

00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:59.000
Are you trying to take something that isn't yours?

00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:02.000
And I know you may have different interpretations to this.

00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:03.000
That's OK.

00:49:03.000 --> 00:49:09.000
I understood it very clearly in my heart and in my spirit that second.

00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:15.000
And then I went, I had only been like chat, I guess, texting with this girl.

00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:17.000
I can't text guys later.

00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:20.000
I told you I'm running into trouble, but that's OK.

00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:22.000
It's not like we dated for five years.

00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:27.000
That's all I wanted to tell you.

00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:31.000
Thank you.

00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:35.000
The point being, I'm glad I listened.

00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:46.000
I'm glad I listened and I'm glad I opened my life up to hearing because I wouldn't have married this girl if I did not.

00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:49.000
Iris, that is.

00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:55.000
Opening up your life to those you're walking with is costly.

00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:59.000
It won't be comfortable, but it will be good for you.

00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:01.000
That is how it works.

00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:05.000
You can say no to it, but that's your choice.

00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:10.000
You cannot be forced to do anything else because everyone has free will.

00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:16.000
You cannot be controlled to make decisions any which way, but you do have the choice.

00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:28.000
And I'm telling you, as someone who has gone through this process and want to go through this process until I die, this is a good thing for you.

00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:32.000
Number three.

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:36.000
Honor unlocks grace.

00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:41.000
Honor unlocks grace.

00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:44.000
What do I mean by that?

00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:50.000
Again, another thing, a disclaimer, Jacob did not ask me to say these five things.

00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:51.000
I'm just telling you.

00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:55.000
These are things that I believe the Holy Spirit wants you to hear.

00:50:55.000 --> 00:50:58.000
So this isn't Jacob saying, hey, talk about honor.

00:50:58.000 --> 00:51:01.000
No, this is what I believe you guys need to hear.

00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:02.000
I need to hear.

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:04.000
This is what we need to change.

00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:09.000
What do I mean by honor unlocks grace?

00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:10.000
Read with me.

00:51:10.000 --> 00:51:12.000
First Timothy four, verse 14.

00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:15.000
First Timothy chapter four, verse 14.

00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:25.000
It says, do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:31.000
Just an example of what happens in the community that God puts you in.

00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:35.000
This is Paul telling Timothy, Timothy, do not neglect the gift you have.

00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:37.000
How was it given to you?

00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:43.000
Well, it was given to you by prophecy when when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:47.000
There is some grace is something you receive from God.

00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:52.000
But sometimes you receive grace from God through people.

00:51:52.000 --> 00:52:01.000
In other words, let's say Jillian has a grace in her life that is strong in her life.

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:10.000
I can receive that grace from her life if I honor that grace in her life.

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:19.000
You honoring the grace that God has deposited in people's lives.

00:52:19.000 --> 00:52:29.000
And right now I'm going to say in the arrangement that God has set for you, as if you're part of this body, there is an arrangement in that arrangement that God has set for you.

00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:38.000
If you honor the grace that will unlock it for you, the grace will flow from wherever it is into your life.

00:52:38.000 --> 00:52:43.000
It is the way it is.

00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:48.000
But here's the thing, guys. How do I honor someone?

00:52:48.000 --> 00:52:56.000
And this is again in this time, day and age, so important.

00:52:56.000 --> 00:53:00.000
If I want to honor to me, there are multiple ways I can do this.

00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:05.000
I can go to him, look him in his eyes and tell him, thank you.

00:53:05.000 --> 00:53:10.000
I've been blessed by you. Thank you for what you've done for me.

00:53:10.000 --> 00:53:16.000
These conversations, man, must happen in the context of a body.

00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:21.000
You may think whatever you want to think about a person, but you've got to express.

00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:27.000
You've got to learn how to express it with your mouth, with words.

00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:34.000
Look them in the eye and tell them what they have done for you in Christ.

00:53:34.000 --> 00:53:37.000
Tell them how you're blessed because they walk a certain way.

00:53:37.000 --> 00:53:45.000
I tell Jacob often, Jacob, one thing I appreciate about you is the transparency with which you live.

00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:49.000
I have told him I have benefited more from him, not by his teachings.

00:53:49.000 --> 00:53:55.000
I have, but more so from the transparency with which he lives.

00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:58.000
That has taught me more than anything else.

00:53:58.000 --> 00:54:01.000
I can keep that in my mind, in my heart.

00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:08.000
I can maybe send a text message, but there is something when I go to him or to you and say, thank you.

00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:11.000
You've got to practice this.

00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:20.000
It is important.

00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:30.000
We will wrap up at 7.40 or so.

00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:34.000
Yes.

00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:46.000
Yeah, good question.

00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:56.000
I didn't complete that yet, but one of the things I said is we have to learn as a people to talk to people in person

00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:59.000
and express to them how we benefit from them.

00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:05.000
I personally think that sending a text message is good, but not good enough.

00:55:05.000 --> 00:55:08.000
That's my opinion. It's not in the Bible.

00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:15.000
I think there is something about you going to a person and saying thank you.

00:55:16.000 --> 00:55:18.000
There is something about it.

00:55:21.000 --> 00:55:25.000
And so that's on the side, but a couple other things.

00:55:26.000 --> 00:55:29.000
Read 1 Thessalonians 5.12-13.

00:55:29.000 --> 00:55:33.000
1 Thessalonians 5.12-13.

00:55:33.000 --> 00:55:40.000
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.

00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:43.000
You see the words being used there?

00:55:44.000 --> 00:55:59.000
Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:08.000
Guys, one of the things I can tell you is pastoring a church is a very difficult job.

00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:16.000
I personally believe that it is the most difficult job on earth, and I'm convicted by it.

00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:22.000
And so when you have a pastor, again, I promise you, Jacob didn't tell me to tell any of this stuff.

00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:27.000
If you think he texted me to say these things and I'm saying it, I just want to make sure it's not the case.

00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:31.000
It is one of the most difficult things you can do.

00:56:32.000 --> 00:56:36.000
Paul wrote in it, I think in 2 Thessalonians or something.

00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:41.000
It's interesting when you read it. Alexander the coppersmith, he deserted me.

00:56:41.000 --> 00:56:43.000
He did things to me that were harmful.

00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:49.000
No one defended me, but the Lord defended me and the Lord helped me.

00:56:49.000 --> 00:56:51.000
Man, this is Paul writing to Timothy.

00:56:51.000 --> 00:56:55.000
Can you see the anguish with which he is writing?

00:56:55.000 --> 00:56:58.000
This is not a one time thing that happened to Paul.

00:56:58.000 --> 00:57:02.000
These things happen on a much regular basis to pastors.

00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:11.000
And if you belong to the body, you've got to be understanding of the amount of weight they carry on their shoulders.

00:57:11.000 --> 00:57:16.000
And you've got to stand alongside them and say, thank you, and I want to run with you.

00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:21.000
Thank you, and I honor you. Thank you, and we are with you.

00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:25.000
Because if you don't feel that or think that there is something wrong, man,

00:57:25.000 --> 00:57:29.000
at least you've got to go find a place where you can be like that.

00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:39.000
It is important to understand the weight that they carry.

00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:44.000
And I'm telling you, other leaders here carry this weight too.

00:57:45.000 --> 00:57:48.000
So do not think that this is just Jacob.

00:57:48.000 --> 00:58:00.000
It is, you've got to understand that as I walk more and more with Jesus and with the people around me to, again, not be a follower.

00:58:00.000 --> 00:58:04.000
I follow Jesus, but I am supposed to make disciples.

00:58:04.000 --> 00:58:11.000
As I proceed on this path to make disciples, there is a way I need to operate.

00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:14.000
Otherwise, I will not be able to do it.

00:58:14.000 --> 00:58:19.000
I am not a follower of disciples. There is a way I need to operate.

00:58:19.000 --> 00:58:23.000
Otherwise, how can you teach these things to anyone who is following you?

00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:27.000
What will you have to tell them?

00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:30.000
What can you expect of them?

00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:34.000
How will you expect something of them if you haven't done it yourself?

00:58:34.000 --> 00:58:57.000
Another thing, if you hear something about someone you honor, and you know it's not the right thing you're hearing, and there is no one else listening, speak up.

00:58:57.000 --> 00:59:02.000
Be loyal to those who are absent.

00:59:04.000 --> 00:59:12.000
I read that on my third grade notebook, and it has stuck with me all this while. It's not in the Bible either.

00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:16.000
Important.

00:59:17.000 --> 00:59:22.000
Because that's the integrity of your heart. If you know the truth, if you know the truth, speak.

00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:24.000
Don't be neutral.

00:59:24.000 --> 00:59:29.000
Don't be this or that, or I'm not sure. If you know it, you've got to speak it.

00:59:29.000 --> 00:59:31.000
Next.

00:59:32.000 --> 00:59:45.000
So use your words, use your deeds, use Bible, the word actually says that, use creative, ask the Holy Spirit for creative ways in which you can honor.

00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:48.000
Creative ways in which you can love each other.

00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:51.000
You can ask the Holy Spirit for all of this.

00:59:51.000 --> 00:59:53.000
And see what happens.

00:59:53.000 --> 00:59:54.000
Next.

00:59:55.000 --> 00:59:56.000
Number four.

00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:02.000
You, as in us, unify to the extent to which you submit.

01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:09.000
You, as in us, unify to the extent to which you submit.

01:00:09.000 --> 01:00:13.000
I don't want to take too much time here, but real quick.

01:00:13.000 --> 01:00:15.000
First Corinthians 1, chapter 10.

01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:27.000
I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you.

01:00:27.000 --> 01:00:33.000
But that you may be perfectly united in mind and in thought.

01:00:33.000 --> 01:00:36.000
Ephesians chapter 4, 11 to 13.

01:00:36.000 --> 01:00:42.000
I'll give you a second to write it. Ephesians chapter 4, 11 to 13.

01:00:45.000 --> 01:00:53.000
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service.

01:00:53.000 --> 01:01:06.000
So that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

01:01:06.000 --> 01:01:14.000
You unify to the extent to which you submit.

01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:18.000
Again, I like to always think of it this way.

01:01:18.000 --> 01:01:31.000
When the father looks at what's happening here right now and the body of Acts 29, the way he sees it is often different from the way we see it.

01:01:31.000 --> 01:01:34.000
He has things planned for us.

01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:42.000
There are things that he sees that he needs us to address and we have, Jacob and the leaders will have to see it.

01:01:42.000 --> 01:01:48.000
If you see something, you can bring it up and say, hey, I believe this is something God is asking us to think about.

01:01:48.000 --> 01:01:53.000
The whole point being us as a body must be united.

01:01:53.000 --> 01:01:57.000
It is the desire of heaven that his bride is united.

01:01:57.000 --> 01:02:00.000
There is actually nothing more important than this.

01:02:00.000 --> 01:02:05.000
And so here is again measuring yourself against that plumb line.

01:02:05.000 --> 01:02:11.000
I want to ask you, if you have people with whom you're like, man, you know, I don't.

01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:17.000
I don't. I don't really have any big problems, but I'm going to neutral change it.

01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:24.000
Go talk to them. Bible says consider others more significant than yourself.

01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:29.000
So I've got to consider Mohini more significant than myself.

01:02:29.000 --> 01:02:33.000
That is the way of the Lord.

01:02:33.000 --> 01:02:40.000
Unity in the church, the devil doesn't like it and you shouldn't play into it.

01:02:40.000 --> 01:02:50.000
I'll repeat it. Unity in the church, the devil doesn't like it and you shouldn't play into it.

01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:54.000
So there must be unity of vision.

01:02:54.000 --> 01:03:01.000
If I ask you what's Acts 29, you know, someone who is new, if they come and ask you, so what do you guys do?

01:03:01.000 --> 01:03:07.000
Like, what's this all about? You must be able to tell them exactly what's who we are.

01:03:07.000 --> 01:03:12.000
And it's not necessarily learning what's on our website, word to word, so you can tell it that way.

01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:17.000
It's more so you carrying the DNA of the church.

01:03:17.000 --> 01:03:22.000
You must know the DNA of what this church is.

01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:30.000
And you must be able, if you've been here for a year or longer, you must be able to communicate that.

01:03:30.000 --> 01:03:35.000
So submit to the order that God has established. That is one way to unify.

01:03:35.000 --> 01:03:40.000
Submit to the vision of the house and submit to the apostolic teachings.

01:03:40.000 --> 01:03:44.000
We'll stop in 10 minutes.

01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:51.000
Next.

01:03:51.000 --> 01:03:55.000
You must compete with each other to be the least.

01:03:55.000 --> 01:04:00.000
You must compete with each other to be the least.

01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:04.000
You must compete with each other to be the least.

01:04:04.000 --> 01:04:08.000
John Chapter 13.

01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:12.000
Jesus is about to go to Calvary.

01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:16.000
He has spent a good three years with his disciples.

01:04:16.000 --> 01:04:23.000
And after all this time, after three years, he has taught them, he has sent them, they have come back.

01:04:23.000 --> 01:04:26.000
All of the stuff that he had to do, he has done.

01:04:26.000 --> 01:04:30.000
And at the end of it, just before he's going, they're at a meal.

01:04:30.000 --> 01:04:35.000
And the way it works then, when your feet is dirty, you wash it.

01:04:35.000 --> 01:04:37.000
Only then do you get in and eat.

01:04:37.000 --> 01:04:41.000
Because basically your feet is visible to everyone next to you.

01:04:41.000 --> 01:04:48.000
They're all sitting there because typically the servant comes and the servant has to clean the feet.

01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:50.000
But there is no servant in the room.

01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:52.000
You know what all of these guys are thinking?

01:04:52.000 --> 01:04:55.000
Who is going to be the next main guy?

01:04:55.000 --> 01:04:58.000
They're all thinking, I'm the best.

01:04:58.000 --> 01:04:59.000
I'm the greatest.

01:04:59.000 --> 01:05:03.000
I want to be the next guy.

01:05:03.000 --> 01:05:07.000
And there is silence in the room.

01:05:07.000 --> 01:05:09.000
Jesus stands up.

01:05:09.000 --> 01:05:12.000
He starts washing their feet.

01:05:12.000 --> 01:05:17.000
Can you imagine guys, going on a rabbit trail for a second?

01:05:17.000 --> 01:05:21.000
It must have been so difficult not to tell them anything.

01:05:21.000 --> 01:05:24.000
Without telling them anything, he starts washing their feet.

01:05:24.000 --> 01:05:28.000
I would have talked for 15 minutes before I washed the feet.

01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:31.000
I can guarantee you.

01:05:31.000 --> 01:05:36.000
After all this time, after teaching them everything he could teach.

01:05:36.000 --> 01:05:38.000
The guys are competing.

01:05:38.000 --> 01:05:42.000
And then at the end he says, you must be the least.

01:05:42.000 --> 01:05:44.000
Strive to be the least in the room.

01:05:44.000 --> 01:05:49.000
Compete with each other to be the least in the room.

01:05:49.000 --> 01:05:50.000
It is important.

01:05:50.000 --> 01:05:52.000
And guys, here is the thing.

01:05:52.000 --> 01:05:58.000
Sometimes when you do this, it will not make sense.

01:05:58.000 --> 01:06:04.000
Sometimes when you do this, you may question, am I doing it the right way or am I missing the plot?

01:06:04.000 --> 01:06:07.000
Because these things sound good when you speak it.

01:06:07.000 --> 01:06:10.000
But in situations they play out differently.

01:06:10.000 --> 01:06:14.000
But if you're faithful to the way he commissioned you to be.

01:06:14.000 --> 01:06:17.000
And you know that I am to be the least in the room.

01:06:17.000 --> 01:06:20.000
And keep in mind, least in the room does not mean that you talk like,

01:06:20.000 --> 01:06:22.000
Hello, how is it going?

01:06:22.000 --> 01:06:23.000
No.

01:06:23.000 --> 01:06:27.000
Least in the room does not mean that you have drooping shoulders and a head like this.

01:06:27.000 --> 01:06:30.000
No.

01:06:30.000 --> 01:06:35.000
Least means it's a matter of your heart.

01:06:35.000 --> 01:06:40.000
You can have your head held high, your shoulders if you go to the gym like a bishop.

01:06:40.000 --> 01:06:43.000
Like this.

01:06:43.000 --> 01:06:45.000
It's a matter of your heart.

01:06:45.000 --> 01:06:48.000
In your heart.

01:06:48.000 --> 01:06:51.000
How do you perceive each other?

01:06:51.000 --> 01:06:54.000
And that is the only thing you get measured by.

01:06:54.000 --> 01:06:59.000
Because heaven does not measure how others perceive you.

01:06:59.000 --> 01:07:04.000
Heaven measures what is in your heart.

01:07:04.000 --> 01:07:08.000
Heaven does not measure how others perceive you.

01:07:08.000 --> 01:07:10.000
Heaven measures what is in your heart.

01:07:10.000 --> 01:07:13.000
And I can tell you when we go to heaven, when we are there,

01:07:13.000 --> 01:07:17.000
we'll be surprised by the ranking system that you see there.

01:07:17.000 --> 01:07:21.000
Because a whole lot of people you expected to be at the top, won't be at the top.

01:07:21.000 --> 01:07:25.000
And a whole lot of people you thought nothing about will be there.

01:07:25.000 --> 01:07:32.000
Because heaven does not operate the way we see the worldly systems operate.

01:07:32.000 --> 01:07:34.000
You've got to catch it.

01:07:34.000 --> 01:07:39.000
You've got to learn, I've got to learn, how can I be the least in the room?

01:07:39.000 --> 01:07:45.000
How can I put the interests of others above me?

01:07:45.000 --> 01:07:49.000
And these are the kind of things that we don't talk about much.

01:07:49.000 --> 01:07:55.000
You may not understand, you may not get the feeling of I'm doing the right thing.

01:07:55.000 --> 01:07:57.000
Because others may not understand what you're doing.

01:07:57.000 --> 01:07:59.000
But heaven sees.

01:07:59.000 --> 01:08:04.000
Last thing.

01:08:04.000 --> 01:08:11.000
Move from the fringe or the middle to the forefront.

01:08:11.000 --> 01:08:13.000
Move or shift.

01:08:13.000 --> 01:08:18.000
From the fringe or the middle to the forefront.

01:08:18.000 --> 01:08:20.000
Imagine it this way.

01:08:20.000 --> 01:08:23.000
We are in the throne room of God.

01:08:23.000 --> 01:08:27.000
And we all get to assemble around him.

01:08:27.000 --> 01:08:30.000
There are three ways you can do this.

01:08:30.000 --> 01:08:33.000
One, you cannot miss anything.

01:08:33.000 --> 01:08:38.000
You must be in the forefront and you'll compete to be there.

01:08:39.000 --> 01:08:43.000
Compete is the wrong word, but you'll do whatever it takes for you to be there.

01:08:43.000 --> 01:08:48.000
Number two, you'll be on the fringes.

01:08:48.000 --> 01:08:53.000
Or you'll be K-sara-sara somewhere in the middle.

01:08:53.000 --> 01:08:55.000
You've got to ask this question of yourself.

01:08:55.000 --> 01:08:57.000
It has nothing to do with where you sit in the church.

01:08:57.000 --> 01:09:04.000
You can be where Xavier is and be in the forefront of what God is doing.

01:09:04.000 --> 01:09:09.000
You can be here and be on the fringes of what God is doing.

01:09:09.000 --> 01:09:11.000
It has nothing to do with where you sit.

01:09:11.000 --> 01:09:18.000
But it has everything to do with spiritually when it comes to the things that God is doing in and through this body,

01:09:18.000 --> 01:09:22.000
where have you positioned yourself?

01:09:22.000 --> 01:09:24.000
Are you in the middle?

01:09:24.000 --> 01:09:25.000
Are you in the fringe?

01:09:25.000 --> 01:09:29.000
Or are you always on the forefront of what he wants you to do?

01:09:29.000 --> 01:09:30.000
Here is the thing.

01:09:30.000 --> 01:09:33.000
When I say it, you may think in your mind,

01:09:33.000 --> 01:09:39.000
well, I'm not, you know, there are other people who know this more or there are other people who are more skilled or etc.

01:09:39.000 --> 01:09:40.000
etc. etc.

01:09:40.000 --> 01:09:42.000
Here is the deal.

01:09:42.000 --> 01:09:49.000
If there is one thing the Bible shows you, it is that you don't need any ability to do what God needs you to do.

01:09:49.000 --> 01:09:52.000
What you have to give him is availability.

01:09:52.000 --> 01:10:00.000
Because the ability that he can give you is far greater than any ability that you can put together.

01:10:00.000 --> 01:10:02.000
Yeah.

01:10:02.000 --> 01:10:05.000
It does not matter how able you are.

01:10:05.000 --> 01:10:08.000
It matters how available you are.

01:10:08.000 --> 01:10:15.000
Because I can tell you on that graph, if your ability is too low, not there, but your availability is there,

01:10:15.000 --> 01:10:20.000
the Holy Spirit can make you able.

01:10:20.000 --> 01:10:27.000
So don't give the excuse that I am here, I am doing this because I'm not able enough or I'm new or I'm that.

01:10:27.000 --> 01:10:33.000
If you are interested in the things of God, run for it.

01:10:33.000 --> 01:10:34.000
Don't wait.

01:10:34.000 --> 01:10:36.000
Run for it.

01:10:36.000 --> 01:10:37.000
Don't wait.

01:10:37.000 --> 01:10:38.000
Don't look.

01:10:38.000 --> 01:10:39.000
Don't compare.

01:10:39.000 --> 01:10:43.000
Run for it.

01:10:43.000 --> 01:10:45.000
And avoid traps.

01:10:45.000 --> 01:10:48.000
Avoid common traps.

01:10:48.000 --> 01:10:50.000
You know some of the common traps there are?

01:10:50.000 --> 01:10:52.000
Number one, hurt.

01:10:52.000 --> 01:10:55.000
Well, this person said this to me and I'm hurt by it.

01:10:55.000 --> 01:11:00.000
And so I've decided that for the next eight weeks, I'm going to pull myself back.

01:11:00.000 --> 01:11:03.000
And then once I recover, I'll start again.

01:11:03.000 --> 01:11:06.000
Church hurt is a thing.

01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:15.000
You don't know how many Christians there are who have completely squandered their purposes because they got hurt in the church.

01:11:15.000 --> 01:11:18.000
If you're hurt, talk about it.

01:11:18.000 --> 01:11:21.000
Walk with someone so that they can help you.

01:11:21.000 --> 01:11:23.000
Get out of hurt.

01:11:23.000 --> 01:11:26.000
Don't fall for the common trap of hurt.

01:11:26.000 --> 01:11:29.000
I'm not minimizing hurt.

01:11:29.000 --> 01:11:31.000
I'm not saying it doesn't matter.

01:11:31.000 --> 01:11:35.000
I'm saying there is a way out.

01:11:35.000 --> 01:11:45.000
Number two, in terms of things you need to be mindful of, don't fall in the same common traps that others fall into.

01:11:45.000 --> 01:11:49.000
You must have the identity that you're a son servant.

01:11:49.000 --> 01:11:54.000
Christian life is a progression of moving from son to servanthood.

01:11:54.000 --> 01:11:57.000
You must know that you're a son servant.

01:11:57.000 --> 01:12:02.000
If you don't have that identity, guys, you'll always keep looking here and there.

01:12:02.000 --> 01:12:05.000
And you'll always keep thinking, oh, why did it not happen?

01:12:05.000 --> 01:12:08.000
Oh, you know, I can't do this the right way, et cetera, et cetera.

01:12:08.000 --> 01:12:11.000
You've got to know who you are.

01:12:11.000 --> 01:12:14.000
Your identity has to be solid.

01:12:14.000 --> 01:12:21.000
Once your identity is solid and that you know that you are a son, you know that you want to live out as a servant.

01:12:21.000 --> 01:12:22.000
I like to say it this way.

01:12:22.000 --> 01:12:27.000
Wake up as a son, go to bed as a son, but live as a servant.

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Wake up as a son, go to bed as a son, but live your day as a servant.

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Have your identity, but because when you have it, then it will be much easier for you to walk with people around you.

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So let's stop.

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All good, all good, all good.

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I told you it may happen.

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Sorry.

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I know it was working out pretty well.

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I heard that, James.

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So let's pray.

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Aba, we come to you as your people.

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We know that you want us to take to a new place.

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It demands things of us.

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And I say, Father, the things that I spoke from today, things that we heard Gillian speak,

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things that you've been telling us from the first second we stepped in, we want to follow you.

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We want to follow your spirit.

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I'm serious about being part of your body in the way you want me to be.

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I will not.

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This is a priority for me.

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And so I'll think about these things.

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I will use the arrangement that you have placed within Acts 29 to get help if I need help, to talk if I need to talk.

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So help me, Father, help us in Jesus name.

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Amen.

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Oh, one other thing.

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This, no, next week is our last week in this location.

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So come here next week.

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But after that, we have another spot and there will be an email to tell you all about it.

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Thanks, guys.