WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Finishing strong Publishing Date: 2020-12-13T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/finishing-strong/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Today's teaching is called Finishing Strong. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.000 And let me just pray. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Let me just pray for the guys here and the guys at home. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:15.000 Because I think both need to concentrate. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.000 Yes, so let me just pray. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:23.000 Father, one of the things that you said before the service today was 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:32.000 that destinies will be formed here today that will affect the earth. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.000 Destinies will be formed here today. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Destinies will be shaped here today that will affect the earth. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.000 So it's best heard when it's delivered. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:46.000 Father, nothing wrong with hearing it later, but if we are here, then please allow us to hear. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.000 I pray that I hear, Father. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:53.000 I pray that I hear, so that I may be changed. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.000 I pray that I respond to the open heaven above us right now. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:07.000 I pray that I not switch off and or go into teaching mode. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.000 I pray that I follow your lead, Holy Spirit. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:15.000 That I don't create anything, nor do I leave out anything that you want to create. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:20.000 Jesus, I ask this for the guys who are doing tech here. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.000 That we leave tech to minimum right now. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.000 And we focus on what you want to say because of the open heaven above us. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Please ask this about granted. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.000 It would be a shame to miss out. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:38.000 It would be like the shepherd boy who slept when the angels came. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:42.000 Didn't happen, but I've seen skits like that, Father. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.000 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.000 Guys, so today's teaching is called Finishing Strong. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Finishing Strong. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:57.000 Finishing Strong is not a teaching I'm doing because we're at the end of the year and we've got two or three weeks left. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:01.000 Because two or three weeks is not enough to finish strong. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:09.000 Finishing Strong is a teaching I'm doing because I want us to start wise to finish strong by the end of 2021. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.000 I'm not saying start early. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:16.000 I'm saying start wise. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Luke 14 verse 28, Jesus was explaining a parable and he says, 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:31.000 Doesn't a man who wants to build a tower first go and check whether he has the means to complete the tower? 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:38.000 So it's that sense that I'm coming to you with this message. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.000 I'm just relaying it. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.000 And so it does continue from some of the things we learned last week. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.000 So I just want to talk about Finishing Strong and then let's see where we go with that. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.000 Guys, one of the things that happens which causes us not to finish well, 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:59.000 to often finish with a whimper or finish weak or finish with a lot of unfinished business, 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:18.000 is this thing called a gap between what we long to do and exhibit a readiness to do at the beginning of any endeavor, 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:28.000 which is not matched by completion or finishing. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:41.000 There's a gap which is why God wants us to be wise and he wants us to finish strong by starting wise right now in December of 2020 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:47.000 so that we will not have any regrets in 2021. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:57.000 We look at the tower we are supposed to build and we pay the cost and get all the material knowing that we can finish it. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:05.000 There is a gap that most of us have in our lives between what we long to do and the readiness to do it, 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.000 but it's not matched by completion or finishing. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.000 There is a gap. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:32.000 And that gap is usually because of what I call a coup, C-O-U-P, C standing for complacency or mediocrity. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:39.000 These are the things that occupy the gap that prevent me from finishing strong and all these things are real in my life. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:05:00.000 There's a complacency or mediocrity that creeps in either because I'm doing better than most people or because I just settle for doing things not to the best of my ability. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:06.000 God is not interested in excellence, but he is interested in me having a passion in what I do. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.000 The second thing is over commitment. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:16.000 Over commitment and this has happened to me every year for the last many years. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:30.000 Because of over commitment in my enthusiasm, in my initial willingness, in my desire to oblige and sometimes in my desire to actually do good, I over commit. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:43.000 I commit more than I can and what happens with over commitment that is enthusiastic, that is emotional, that dreams at night but finds reality in the morning is that you lose interest after a while. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:58.000 You have over committed and you over commit to people and to causes and you lose interest because you realize suddenly that after the initial enthusiasm and after the initial emotional rush, you do not have what it takes to finish it. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:08.000 But you've committed to it and therefore now there's a gap between the longing to do and the readiness to do and the completion and the finishing. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 The next one is unbelief. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:31.000 Sometimes when God gives us things to do, they are so impossible that initially you think it is doable because you have the faith for it. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:43.000 But the moment faith is challenged by circumstances, because I have not prepared myself to the extent that I should, I flounder in unbelief. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:48.000 I flounder in unbelief. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:59.000 And then the last one is procrastination, which I will define, which you shouldn't simply render as delaying things to tomorrow. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:05.000 That isn't actually the accurate definition of procrastination for most grownups. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:18.000 Procrastination is picking less urgent, far more pleasant tasks and in the process putting off impending tasks. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:24.000 This is what grownup adults do. Kids delay till tomorrow. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:49.000 So grownup adults, especially because we have so many gadgets that are available, we procrastinate by picking less urgent, far placenter tasks at the expense of putting off important impending tasks that we need to. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:08:17.000 So I remember once trying to start a business and I spent days trying to get a business line and getting a name and getting stationary and getting all the unnecessary things that one requires for a business without actually focusing on the business. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:26.000 The number of things that we do as people that is less important, is more pleasant, but is, it's just ridiculous. Stop it. Please stop it. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:35.000 This gap will leave you as someone who is never able to enjoy the pleasure of completing what you really desire to do. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:37.000 It's not a lack of desire. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:56.000 If you have a struggle in this area, be accountable to your spouse or to someone else saying I have this tendency to just spend hours on social media, finding out things about what I'm doing that are absolutely unimportant, pleasant, but unimportant, not urgent. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Four or five hours spent on it. It is a sin. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:09.000 I'm preaching to myself, guys. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:20.000 Second Corinthians 811, Paul had to deal with this problem with the Corinthians in Second Corinthians 811. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:28.000 Second Corinthians 811. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:36.000 It says in Second Corinthians 811, I'll read from NIV or ESV. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:46.000 So now finish doing it as well so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:55.000 So now finish doing it as well so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have been. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.000 This was with regard to financial commitments. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:05.000 Here was a church that had made a financial commitment, but there was a gap between committing to it and actually doing it. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:08.000 And many of us do that. I've had people do this to me. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:13.000 I have done this to people where I'll say, hey, I'll give this to you. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.000 And a day goes by, a second day goes by. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.000 I remember asking Evan to buy me something. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.000 And he bought me something and he gave the bill to me. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:23.000 It was just $40. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.000 And I had every intention of paying him. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.000 I had the money too. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.000 I could have just interacted. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:30.000 But guess what? 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:37.000 I don't know why we are like this, where we choose to delay what we can do immediately. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:43.000 And we don't realize that it creates a gap and that it becomes something that percolates in your life. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:47.000 And so Evan comes again and I say, yeah, yeah, I'll give it to you. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:50.000 And then as he leaves, the Lord says to me, what are you doing? 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:55.000 Why do you commit to someone and say something to someone and you have the means to fulfill it? 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:57.000 Why do you keep delaying it? 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.000 And so before he got home, I apologized to him. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.000 I said, Evan, I'm really sorry. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.000 There's absolutely no need to do this. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.000 And I interact with the money. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:10.000 I've done it to people and it's been done to me. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.000 And it's pathetic. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.000 Got to stop this. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.000 Complacency lowers your goals. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:31.000 Complacency and mediocrity forces you to lower your goal, your aim, your vision, 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:36.000 because you realize that at the rate you're going, it's impossible to reach where you have to reach. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.000 So you'll have to lower your goal. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:41.000 Complacency lowers your goal. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.000 Complacency is a robber. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000 It's violent. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.000 Complacency is violent. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.000 It destroys people. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.000 Proverbs 1, 30 to 32. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:54.000 When you read it, it says the complacency of fools will kill them. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.000 I pray today that because God is saying that I can shape destinies here today, 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:03.000 because God is saying stand up, because God is saying there's an open heaven, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:10.000 that in your homes you will respond and that your heart and life will be changed for the sake of others. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.000 Because others benefit, eh? 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.000 We live for the benefit of others. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.000 And Godly that happens to you must happen for the benefit of others. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.000 Overcommitment forces you to lose interest. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:31.000 If complacency lowers your vision or goals, 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.000 because you know mediocrity will prevent you from getting where you need to, 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:40.000 then overcommitment forces you to lose interest. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.000 I've said this before, but please remember guys, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:47.000 mediocrity is only exposed when you hang out with the passionate. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:54.000 Mediocrity is only exposed when you spend time with those that are more passionate than you. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.000 If you think you're a good singer, 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:02.000 you will continue thinking you're a good singer till you hang out with someone who actually sings. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.000 Do you want examples? 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.000 No, I won't. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.000 Okay. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:17.000 Unbelief, unbelief limits you because of your self-reliance. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:19.000 Unbelief limits you. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:23.000 These are things that prevent us from finishing strong. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:31.000 Unbelief limits me because now my unbelief forces me to be self-reliant on all the gifts, talents, abilities, 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:34.000 degrees, skills, know-hows that I have. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:41.000 Because I do not have the faith required to take on the storm that is ahead of me. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:44.000 So why not choose a path of least resistance, 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:51.000 forget the storm, go into a place where I can be self-reliant and walk in my self-reliance and I do not finish strong. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.000 I might finish, but I do not finish strong. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.000 I might finish, but I do not finish strong. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:08.000 Jehoash, in 2 Kings 13, if you read the passage that I asked you to read last week, 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.000 that king finished, but he did not finish strong. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.000 There's a difference between finishing and finishing strong. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:21.000 The world can finish, but only Christians can finish strong because of the strong one who lives in us. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:28.000 Finishing strong is not scaling a mountain. Finishing strong is not having more money at the end of the year. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:36.000 Finishing strong is the impact and the dent you leave, the god-like dent you leave in lives and cities 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.000 and in the areas of your calling in the previous year. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:47.000 That is why I'm hoping that if we finish, if we start now, we can finish strong, every one of us. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:56.000 This is the beauty of it. Every one of us, whoever's listening to this, every one of us can finish 2021 strong. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:03.000 By strong, I mean it'll be such a pleasant aroma in the nostrils of God. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:07.000 You know how thrilled he is when something is completed? 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.000 Ask a parent, give a child something to do. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:14.000 It doesn't matter that the child may not do it well, but the child does it with passion. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.000 Finishing strong, it blesses the parent's heart. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:24.000 God thrills at it. Strangely enough, at the end of it, he doesn't say, well done, good and faithful son. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:28.000 He says, well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.000 You have been faithful in three cities. Let me give you six. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:36.000 All domain increases simply because of faithfulness. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:41.000 And faithfulness is essential or another word almost for finishing strong. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:52.000 That's the first one that prevents us from finishing strong. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:16:08.000 The next one is you have to define what you are setting as a goal, a vision, a call that you're pressing towards. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:21.000 Philippians 3, 13 and 14. These are all highly practical, doable steps, guys. This is not abstract. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:31.000 Philippians 3, 13 and 14. It is hard work, but it is highly practical. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:37.000 Philippians 3, 13 and 14. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:41.000 For one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:47.000 I press on towards a goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:53.000 Define what you are pressing towards. Define what you are pressing towards. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:57.000 It must be something that Christ has taken a hold of you for. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:00.000 This is why last week I talked about inheritance. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.000 This is why many of you that have met me over the last three weeks, 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:15.000 I've been asking you to find out what it is that God has for you. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:20.000 I have permission to release people into the calling that is theirs. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.000 I have permission to do that, but you have to do the work. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.000 I can help you with it, I can release you into it, but you have to do the work. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:32.000 And doing the work is not sitting for two hours and coming up with something and saying, 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.000 great, done, now Jacob, what do you want to do with this? 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.000 It's not Jacob's destiny, it's yours. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 It involves work. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.000 Define what you are pressing towards. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.000 Sometimes I think to myself, Jacob, why don't you get off this horse 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:57.000 of trying to help people walk in their destiny, release them into the prophetic. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.000 Just forget it. Talk about other things. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:07.000 But do you realize how powerful it is when a man knows his purpose? 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:12.000 Do you know how powerful it is when a woman knows her vision? 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000 Do you know the years that Israel roamed in the wilderness? 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:22.000 Giants like Elijah quit on what they were shown. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:28.000 It's easy to turn away and to let life cause you to meander. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:36.000 What if we had the staying power, the perseverance to stick with something and see it through? 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:42.000 At the end of the day, I say to you, you will enjoy the adventure, 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.000 but God will be glorified through you. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:50.000 And that for me is so much more than me fulfilling my destiny. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:55.000 Guys, strangely enough, the inheritance is not what I'm after. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.000 I'm after the one who gives the inheritance. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.000 If I were after an inheritance, if I were after destiny, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:06.000 if I were after a prophetic word coming to pass, 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:11.000 then I'm like the prodigal who wants what is given rather than the giver. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.000 The reason I want to walk in my inheritance, 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:21.000 the reason you should do anything to walk in what is allotted to you in a time frame by God, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.000 is so that your father, the giver of your inheritance, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:33.000 can work with you and plow the field and bring things to fruition that others can eat and enjoy. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:37.000 You must by now be convinced that surely this is not about you. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.000 What good is it if I preach well? 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.000 You think that makes me a great preacher? 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:48.000 I'll find you a hundred tomorrow that are better than me. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:55.000 But what if I preach well and it affects you and changes your life and your life affects somebody else? 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.000 Domino effect. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Define what you're pressing towards. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:06.000 It is hard work, guys. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:10.000 Like Habakkuk, you have to climb up the watchtower and you have to look out 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 and see what God is saying, how he will answer you. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:20.000 It must be something Christ is laid a hold on you for. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Write and rewrite what God is saying, write and rewrite. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:30.000 This exercise of, okay, Jacob asked me to do it, let me write it down, okay, here it is. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.000 Now, how come God is not doing it? 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.000 It ain't like that! 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:40.000 That would be like me giving you an oil field to drill. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000 And I give you the oil field and you're thrilled that you have an oil field, 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.000 but that's when the real work begins. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:54.000 The happiness of owning an oil field, people who are happy about owning an oil field die poor. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.000 They're buried in the oil field and they turn into oil a hundred years from now. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.000 I think. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:06.000 But the point is that... 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.000 Write and rewrite, go to Joshua 18.4. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.000 Joshua 18.4. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:21.000 Guys, I'm not irritated at all as I preach this. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:25.000 If you see my face grimacing or turning funny, 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:29.000 it's because I have such a deep desire for us to go here. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:35.000 I have this deep desire partly for your sake, but partly for what the Father can achieve through us. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:40.000 I see so much potency in every person at Acts 29. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:48.000 I can't believe that I'm surrounded by such powerful, potent people. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.000 I cannot believe this. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:58.000 But I badly want us to do well for his sake and for the sake of others. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:05.000 And that is why when I say things like this, it is so that you won't look at this as a homework to be done, 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:11.000 but as life work that must be fulfilled for the sake of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:14.000 because they are very passionate about this. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:21.000 Never underestimate the passion of God for the fulfillment of what he has promised or what he has prophesied. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:32.000 Never underestimate the passion of God for the fulfillment of the promise or the prophetic that he has released over you. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.000 He is so itching to do it. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.000 The Holy Spirit is so itching to do it. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:40.000 Because God has always had plans. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.000 Before I was born, my days were numbered, written, authored. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.000 What magnificent writing. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:53.000 Joshua 18.4, Moses tells Israel, 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:58.000 Listen, you guys need to go define what you're looking at and write it down. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:01.000 You need to go define what you're looking at and write it down. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:08.000 Listen, you guys need to go define what you're looking at and write it. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:10.000 Provide three men from each tribe. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.000 And he was talking about the inheritance. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.000 Joshua said to the people of Israel, verse 3, 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:21.000 How long will you put off going in and taking possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers has given you? 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:28.000 Provide three men from each tribe, and I'll send them out that they may set out and go up and down the land. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:33.000 They shall write a description of it with a view to the inheritance and then come to me. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:41.000 It was an idea of writing and rewriting so that eventually what God wants is written on the tablet of your heart, 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:45.000 as it says in Proverbs 7, verse 3, that is written on your heart because of that. 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:53.000 And don't write yourself off because you're 80 or 84. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:59.000 Because that's Caleb's age and Barzilai's age and Gizela is 95. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:09.000 So if you think you're old, go spend some time with Gizela or Dagmar. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:20.000 Once you define what you're pressing towards, 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.000 this is the next stage that is so, so important. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.000 It's like part two. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:30.000 Once you define what you're pressing towards, 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:33.000 as in something that Christ has taken a hold of you for, 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:37.000 once you define it and you write it and rewrite it, 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.000 understand it simply, write it on your heart. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:52.000 Once you define it, you need to render all other priorities lesser or a loss or dogdung. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.000 I'm using scripture. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:58.000 Philippians 3.8. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:01.000 Philippians 3.8. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:11.000 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:17.000 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:22.000 For his sake, I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:26.000 Message says, Philippians 3.8. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.000 Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:34.000 Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my master, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:39.000 first hand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant, dogdung. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:43.000 I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:50.000 Once you know what, once you've defined what Christ has called you for and you begin pressing towards it, 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:57.000 render all other priorities either lesser or a loss. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:12.000 People find it so hard to let go of something that they were doing without making an extra buck on it. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:20.000 Yeah, yeah, I'm willing to let it go, but I just need to make sure that I get a $1.20 for it because I bought it for a dollar. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:26.000 Let it go. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:35.000 No, no, but I did my masters in this and God is calling me as a missionary to Timbuktu, 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:40.000 but they don't have a history department yet. So I'll just wait till a university opens there. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:43.000 Then they have a department of history so that my masters can be put to use. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:46.000 Let it go. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:50.000 God can use everything in your life at the right time. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:59.000 Go ahead. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:10.000 How do we get back to something that needs to be finished? 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:15.000 If we have forgotten slash blocked it from our mind, I'll get there in a short while. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:24.000 Yeah, I'll get there in about, I don't know, I'll get there. I have it here. Yeah. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:33.000 Counted lesser, counted a loss, counted dog dung. I know dog dung doesn't sit well with the other two, but it is what it is. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:36.000 Strangely enough, whenever God wants to do something new in my life, 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:42.000 the resistance I put up because I either have to justify letting go of something I worked hard at 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:53.000 or I have to get my money's worth of what I did that I'm so not willing to make it lesser or make it garbage. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:28:10.000 That in Psalm 81, God says this, this was always bothers me. Psalm 81, Psalm 81, verse 10 to 12. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:13.000 Psalm 81, verse 10 to 12, reading from the NIV. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:19.000 I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:24.000 Some virgins say, but you would not have it. Other virgins say, but my people would not listen to me. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:29.000 Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:37.000 If my people would only listen to me, how quickly I would subdue their enemies, turn my hand against their foes. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:46.000 You would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:29:01.000 I think I've spoken to you about this guy called Ahimaaz. 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:11.000 Many of us suffer the syndrome he suffered. I call it the Ahimaaz syndrome. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:17.000 It's in 2 Samuel 18, 19. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:23.000 The thing with Ahimaaz was, Ahimaaz was the son of Zadok the priest. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:30.000 But he instead of walking before God, which was the call upon his life, wanted to run before David. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:35.000 And insists that, no, no, no, I want to run and give David the news. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:39.000 And it ends disastrously. You should read the story. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:44.000 Why? Because there was something he was supposed to pursue, but he decided that that is not what he wants. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:53.000 This is what he wants. I plead with you, use the three weeks to shed extra weight, 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:59.000 to throw over the side of your boat debris. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:11.000 Because there's no point hanging on to stuff when your boat is going to crash or run aground. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:21.000 It's very difficult guys, but it's absolutely possible. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:29.000 And in all these situations, you know what finally forces us to choose away from God? 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:39.000 Strangely enough, it's that ugly word. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:44.000 In all these things, mammon comes in and starts playing. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:54.000 Mammon decides whether you can do it now or whether you can do it later. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:59.000 Forms its way somehow into all these decisions. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:03.000 Mammon is not money. Mammon is security. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:13.000 Money is a form of security, but it might be something else too. 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:33.000 The next thing if you want to finish strong. I love this next one. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:39.000 The next thing, and guys in most of the things that you're supposed to let go, make lesser, count as lost, 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:43.000 you've already been told that many times over this year alone. 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:47.000 Many times you've been told, but you will not let go. I will not let go. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:53.000 Please, when I say you, please understand it's me too. I struggle with every one of these things. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:59.000 I won't let go because what if I can squeeze another drop out of it? 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:02.000 But it's so much fun. I love doing it. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:07.000 But God said he would. 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:16.000 And we come up with different reasons why we find it so scary to change our priorities. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:22.000 The next thing is if you want to finish strong, see the things you have permission in. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:30.000 See the things you have permission in. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:33.000 See the things that you have permission in. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:42.000 This is what happens in 2 Kings chapter 2, a chapter I asked you to read last week, and I hope you've read it. 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:44.000 See the things that you have permission in. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:49.000 I love the conversation that's happening as Elijah and Elisha walk. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:54.000 What do you want from me, Elisha? What do you want me to do for you? 00:32:54.000 --> 00:33:00.000 Elijah, this is what I want. I want twice the Spirit that is upon you. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:03.000 I want a double portion of the Spirit that is upon you. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:06.000 Wow, you've asked a hard thing, Elisha, but here's the thing. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:14.000 If you see me being taken up in a whirlwind, in a chariot, then it will be granted to you. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:18.000 As in, if you see that, you will have permission. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:24.000 And so they keep walking and just as they've crossed the Jordan, 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:28.000 he sees the chariots come separate Elijah and Elisha. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:35.000 Elijah gets taken away in a chariot, and immediately Elisha knows that he now has permission. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:42.000 What do you have permission in? What do you have permission in? 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.000 Jacob, how do I find it out? 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:50.000 I mean, take ordinary examples. What does your child have permission to do now that you have given the child? 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:53.000 The child does not need to come and ask you anymore. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:59.000 What is it that here at Acts 29, when I give people responsibilities, 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:06.000 they don't have to ask me. They can go ahead and do things because they have permission in it. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:09.000 What do you have permission in? 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:14.000 What is it that God is saying, listen, this was crafted for you, now begin to run in it. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:18.000 And you have sufficient evidence from God that this is a call on your life. 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:25.000 There have been enough words. It's very difficult to accept those words because of our mental way of approach. 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:28.000 I struggle with the things that God has said to me. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:36.000 I find it very hard to come into terms with them. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:41.000 And once you know that you have permission in something, you have to experiment with it. 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:44.000 What does Elisha do? 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:49.000 He picks up the mantle that Elijah had now dropped. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:56.000 And he knows that there are 50 prophets standing on the other side of the shore and they can see him. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:03.000 And he rolls up the mantle and he does something that now experiments with his permission. 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:06.000 And it will prove what is to happen. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:11.000 And he strikes the water and the water parts and he walks back to the 50 waiting on the other shore. 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:25.000 You never know what you have permission in until you experiment with it. 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:29.000 I remember writing down this line when I was preparing this teaching. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:34.000 It says, I call you because of how I see you and because of who I am, not who you are, Jacob. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:52.000 I call you because of how I see you and because of who I am, not because of who you are. 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:57.000 Only once when I know the permission I have, when I begin to experiment with it 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:03.000 and when I begin to believe God that our shucks, even though my reality is very different, 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:07.000 this is how you see it and this is who you are, only then do you start believing. 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:09.000 That is the beginning of believing. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:19.000 If those two steps are not met, there isn't even the avenue to believe. 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:23.000 Guys, don't think that you know what I'm talking about. 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:28.000 Because I would say to you, I've taught like this many times before, 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:37.000 and I don't fully grasp it because it is so hard to take on what God is saying and think of yourself like he is saying. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:42.000 This is why we settle for much lower visions and then strive really hard 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:49.000 and find that we are not achieving it because God allocates his power, his resources, his spirit, his ways 00:36:50.000 --> 00:37:09.000 based on who he has called you to be, not based on who you want to be. 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:17.000 Christians think that by lowering the vision and by reaching for attainable, hardworking things, 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:23.000 things that you have to work hard towards, that now you can make it, you will make it by the sweat of your brow 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:29.000 and how have Adam's children been doing with that for the last 4,000 years? 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:44.000 It is to try and wear what God is saying I am and find it so unfitting in the beginning, 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:50.000 so huge to fill, so overwhelming, so inadequate. 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:58.000 And then trying to fit it every day, trying to muscle up, sometimes fabricating it, 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:02.000 sometimes just saying stuff you don't believe but working with it continuously 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:06.000 till others notice that you are beginning to fill that suit. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:18.000 Because God allocates power, resources, avenues, help based on who he says you are, 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:22.000 not based on who you want to be or think you can be. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:29.000 Stop! Stop not if not for your sake, stop for the sake of God and for the rest of the people 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:32.000 who are missing out on who you are. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:38.000 I go through faces and people at Acts 29 and the ones that are listening that I know of 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:46.000 and I try to find one that cannot rise to ridiculous potency with God and I can't find one. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:50.000 Why is it that I am surrounded by people of such high caliber? 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:08.000 Only then do you believe and once you start believing you can partner with God. 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:12.000 Till you believe you cannot agree and walk with God. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:18.000 Half the work is believing him. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 Not half, I'd say three quarters of the work is believing him. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:28.000 One quarter of the work is obeying him. 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:31.000 One quarter of the work is obeying him. 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:37.000 The rest is just details. 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:43.000 Three quarters is believing that I actually believe what you're saying. 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:47.000 I am not that but my God I believe that. 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:52.000 And then one quarter is obeying. 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:58.000 That's how people in at least in the Bible created history. 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:08.000 Which is why escaping gravity is where the battle is. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:11.000 Escaping the gravity of what you think you are. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:13.000 Escaping the gravity of your physical circumstances. 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:16.000 Escaping the gravity of your lack. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:23.000 Escaping the gravity of your bodily, physical, emotional, relational limitations. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:27.000 Escaping the gravity of those things is where the battle is. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:38.000 Because if like any rocket launch, maximum fuel and thrust is used up in the first four minutes. 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:45.000 After that you escape gravity and you enter an orbit that you have been programmed for. 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:56.000 But my God it is so hard and every time we try we usually fold up or we lower our expectations. 00:40:56.000 --> 00:41:03.000 And so all that has to happen is in the beginning when one bursts off the blocks in a race. 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:09.000 If something can happen that can slow you down, discourage you, remind you of how things haven't changed. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:14.000 Negativity brought in, a few pits and falls, disappointments. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:18.000 Why? So that you may either fold up or you may lower your expectations. 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:38.000 I find it very frustrating when I know God is saying something about someone and I say to them 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:41.000 and then it isn't happening and they're struggling with it. 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:45.000 I feel frustrated because I wanted it to happen for them and I remember God saying to me 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:48.000 listen I've given you permission to release them into it. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:51.000 Can you leave me to work with them to make it happen? 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:55.000 Instead of you taking on the responsibility of now working it in them. 00:41:55.000 --> 00:42:00.000 Can I do it please? And I really don't need your help because I think I'm capable. 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:05.000 Because you want to see, right? If you've sown seeds you want to see fruit. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:17.000 The farmer knows that he has to wait three months, four months and all you have to do is weed, 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:23.000 pull out, I don't know what farmers do but something like that and water maybe and then stuff grows. 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:25.000 You were a farmer. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:33.000 Any questions guys? I'll answer Kevin's question a little later. 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:45.000 The next one that really helps to finish strong and this is such a good question. 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:54.000 The next one that really helps to finish strong and this is such difficult things 00:42:54.000 --> 00:43:01.000 because they're not difficult for any other reason but because our lives are busy and undisciplined. 00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:14.000 The greatest enemy, that's an exaggeration, one of the greatest enemies of Christians today 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:16.000 is social media. 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:31.000 It is robbing them of their destiny by allowing you to spend hours on someone else's protection. 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:37.000 Losing out on what you are supposed to step into. 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:52.000 I killed that Goliath two and a half or three months ago. I killed it. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:55.000 I killed it. I blooming killed it. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:58.000 So that it wouldn't rob me. 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:03.000 I'm blooming 55 man. It's not like I got another 60 years. 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:19.000 The next one is hard because of our busyness and because of our lack of discipline 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:27.000 and it is locating God and learning Christ. 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:37.000 You can word it however you want. These words are not, I like these words because they seem to convey to me what I'm trying to say. 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:43.000 Locating God or if you want to put another word you can put locating presence. 00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:47.000 Locating presence and learning Christ. 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:50.000 Locating presence and learning Christ. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:52.000 Psalm 27 verse 8. 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:55.000 Psalm 27 verse 8. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:13.000 When you said seek my face, my heart said unto you, your face Lord will I seek. 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:15.000 That's what the NKJV. 00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:24.000 When you said seek my face, my heart said unto you, your face Lord will I seek. 00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:32.000 Locating presence and learning God or locating God and learning Christ is a discipline. 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:38.000 So this is something that I do and if it helps so be it. 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:53.000 So every day I try to take what Jesus said in Matthew 11 28 where he invites the disciples to wear his yoke 00:45:53.000 --> 00:46:05.000 and I believe the yoke that Christ has been wearing from the beginning of creation is affection, intimacy, trust. 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:07.000 Trust. 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:20.000 So one of the things I try to do when I wake up as father, so help me to wear this yoke that your son has been wearing since the beginning of creation 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:28.000 and that he said he will teach me to wear. That it is light, that he will walk with me, he will instruct me on how this works. 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:32.000 Help me to enter into the same kind of affection that Jesus had with you. 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:38.000 You and him seem to have a relationship that I haven't scratched. 00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:42.000 He seemed to be so affectionate when he spoke to you. 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:48.000 You seem to be so affectionate when you would sometimes speak loudly, sometimes quietly to him. 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:52.000 I know what it is to be affectionate to one or two people here on earth. 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:54.000 I know how my heart is towards them. 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:58.000 Affection always helps me recognize goodness. 00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:02.000 Affection always helps me release goodness. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:08.000 It is impossible to know the goodness of God without being in an affectionate relationship with God. 00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:18.000 Next one is intimacy. Knowing him. Knowing him. 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:23.000 I seem to be better at that than affection. 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:28.000 Where you know things about God. Just know. 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:31.000 He knows you in and out. He said that. 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:38.000 We are fully known, but we must here on earth get into that place of knowing him. 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:49.000 Knowing how he thinks, knowing his heart, knowing the way the spirit searches his mind and lets you in. 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:55.000 And the last one is trust. We will talk about this another time because I talked about this in 2014 or 2015. 00:47:55.000 --> 00:48:00.000 Trust. How is it that Jesus, you trusted him so implicitly? 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:03.000 How did you trust him like that? I am not able to. 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:07.000 I need faith. You need a trust. 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:13.000 I wish I could trust. I wish I could use less faith and more trust. 00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:18.000 So that is the first place. 00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:25.000 Second place is, I was telling someone about this two days ago. 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:33.000 These are disciplines you can cultivate. Please, these are not formulated for you. 00:48:33.000 --> 00:48:36.000 I am just sharing with you something that helps me. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:39.000 And if you can take one or two out of this and use it, so be it. 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:44.000 One of the things I try and do every day is spend some time speaking in tongues. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:49.000 Be it one minute or twenty. Why? Because the Bible says that tongues edifies you. 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:51.000 That it is charging your battery. 00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:55.000 That you begin to say things that are pure and perfect. 00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:59.000 That you speak directly to God, your spirit speaking directly to God. 00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:03.000 That you begin to say things that God desires for you and you desire for God. 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:09.000 That there is no other form of speech that is more pure and more perfect. 00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:13.000 That it edifies or builds you up. So why not spend some time doing that? 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:17.000 Then go into praise. Pick one song. 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:20.000 And just sing it in your croaky voice. 00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:24.000 Croaky because you just woke up, not because that is your natural singing voice. 00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:31.000 And just praise. I think this morning it was... 00:49:32.000 --> 00:49:35.000 Ah! Oh, echo. 00:49:37.000 --> 00:49:41.000 Do do do do, do do do do do do do do. 00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:46.000 You make royals out of slaves. We proclaim in Jesus name. 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:50.000 That was a song. I didn't know the lyrics so I pulled it out and started singing it. 00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:59.000 The next thing is go over the Rhema word that God has given me over the last one year. 00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:02.000 Different words or prophecies that God has spoken. 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:05.000 Different things that he has said. Go over it. 00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:08.000 The Rhema is a proceeding word of God. It is a current word. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:14.000 It's a relevant word for the season that you are either stepping into or that you are in. 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:20.000 It just is so difficult to handle because it has a prophetic element to it. 00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:24.000 It talks about something that you are not as if you already are. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:29.000 It has in it the potency to bring you into who you are in God's eyes. 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:34.000 Go over it. Writing down a prophetic word and keeping it is not warring with it. 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:38.000 Timothy my son, war with the prophetic word spoken over you. 00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:40.000 What happens when you war with the prophetic word? 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:45.000 The word shapes you. You always lose to the word. 00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:49.000 It is only the traditions that you and I have. 00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:54.000 Mental, spiritual, relational, emotional traditions that can nullify the word. 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:56.000 Jesus said it is the only thing that nullifies the word. 00:50:56.000 --> 00:50:59.000 But if you want to change and are willing to lay down your traditions, 00:50:59.000 --> 00:51:03.000 wrestle with the word and the word will always shape and change you. 00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:06.000 Because it works with your mind first. 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:17.000 And then the last one is Logos which is the Bible. 00:51:17.000 --> 00:51:27.000 Pick some of these guys. Pick some of these. Use them. They are scriptural. 00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:34.000 And the last two things that you don't have to do but I love doing is one, 00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:40.000 search out the mind of God whether there is anything for the day that he wants you to pray for or no. 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:46.000 And then decree things that he has already shown you on the behalf of Acts 29, 00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:51.000 on behalf of people, on behalf of nations, on behalf of ones that you are connected with. 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:56.000 Decree over them. Speak over them. Decree over Acts 29. 00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:01.000 Zechariah 8. Decree over Acts 29. What awaits them in terms of an Elisha year. 00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:06.000 Decree over people. 00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:12.000 I realize that this can take an hour if necessary or even more. 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:16.000 And that not all of us have that luxury. Break it up. 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:21.000 All of us have the luxury of three 20-minute segments during the day. 00:52:21.000 --> 00:52:27.000 It is a discipline. It does not come easy. 00:52:27.000 --> 00:52:36.000 When was the last time anything that required discipline happened easily? 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:40.000 You see the discipline I have when it comes to cleaning my coffee machine, 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:45.000 making sure the grinds are taken out, setting it up again so that when I come the next time, 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:55.000 it's already my God, it's like I'm a Michelin chef when it comes to making coffee. 00:52:55.000 --> 00:53:02.000 What you prioritize, you will find an ability to walk in discipline for. 00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:18.000 I hope that helps. It's not, it's something that you can take and mess around with and modify 00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:25.000 and do as best as you want. And then you can ask to not just search God's mind, 00:53:25.000 --> 00:53:30.000 ask for things for yourself. Father, what about that private jet? Not yet, son. 00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:41.000 Okay. I was talking to Chad and Apple has brought out these AirPod Max, 00:53:41.000 --> 00:53:46.000 like it's like a headphone. And so Chad was talking to me about it and I watched a video 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:52.000 and I said to Chad, you know what, I think I won't buy these AirPod Max. 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:55.000 I'll put the money towards the private jet. And his response was, 00:53:55.000 --> 00:54:00.000 usually people who have to put money towards buying a private jet and give up headphones, 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:03.000 usually don't end up flying in a private jet. Which is true. 00:54:03.000 --> 00:54:06.000 You don't collect 700 bucks towards a private jet. 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:13.000 Gosh, if you just took this excerpt and put it up, can you imagine how it could ruin my life? 00:54:17.000 --> 00:54:26.000 All righty, moving on. Guys, to finish strong you need strength to endure. 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:32.000 To finish strong you need strength to endure and finish. Finishing always requires strength. 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:44.000 And one of the coolest ways to develop strength is to do it through joy. 00:54:45.000 --> 00:54:52.000 Nehemiah 8.10. The joy of the Lord is my strength. 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:57.000 Hebrews 12.2. For the joy that was set before him, he went to the cross. 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:09.000 And so try to make this a priority in 2021. 00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:19.000 One of the first ways you do this is by finding the source, which is Psalm 16.11. 00:55:19.000 --> 00:55:23.000 In your presence is fullness of joy, which takes us back to the last point. 00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:30.000 And then finding both expression and experience. 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:42.000 Guys, this word is the evidence of your faith. 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:44.000 Is the evidence of your faith, eh? 00:55:56.000 --> 00:56:05.000 Joy of the Lord will be my strength. I will not falter, I will not faint. 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:13.000 He is my shepherd, I am not afraid. The joy of the Lord is my strength. 00:56:13.000 --> 00:56:22.000 So try and make it an important habit in your life, joy. 00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:31.000 Source it from Psalm 16.11. Learn how to experience and express it. 00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:35.000 If you experience it and you don't express it, it will die. 00:56:35.000 --> 00:56:38.000 Joy that is not expressed dies. 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:42.000 If you express it without experiencing it, it will die. 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:47.000 Because joy that is not experienced is fake. 00:56:50.000 --> 00:56:59.000 But tying both of them together is faith, because faith allows you to be joyful even though the fig tree does not blossom. 00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:04.000 Even though there are no cattle in the stall. Even though the olive tree has shed its fruit. 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:08.000 Yet I will engage now in cartwheels of joy. 00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:12.000 Habakkuk 3, 17-19 from the message. 00:57:17.000 --> 00:57:21.000 Now we talk about Kevin's question. 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:29.000 What do you do when you forget some of the things that you were supposed to finish? 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:32.000 What do you do when you block it out? 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:35.000 Because you don't want to face it again because it's been a while. 00:57:35.000 --> 00:57:42.000 What do you do when you were told to finish things and you were unable to? 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:50.000 For all the reasons we've mentioned, including complacency or mediocrity, unbelief, overcommitment and procrastination. 00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:52.000 What do you do then? 00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:57.000 I would say, collect the leftovers. 00:57:57.000 --> 00:58:10.000 Because Jesus has a marvelous way of taking things that haven't come to pass either because of your own circumstances or because of your own flaws. 00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:16.000 Whatever it be, Jesus has this marvelous way as in Matthew 14-20. 00:58:16.000 --> 00:58:22.000 After multiplying fish and bread, starting with very little, multiply it. 00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:25.000 Twelve baskets left over. Collect the leftovers. 00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:28.000 Capitalize on your unfinished prophecies. 00:58:28.000 --> 00:58:31.000 Capitalize on your unfinished prophecies. 00:58:31.000 --> 00:58:33.000 Capitalize on them. 00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:35.000 Don't lament them. 00:58:35.000 --> 00:58:38.000 Don't lament, oh but this was said, it hasn't come to pass. 00:58:38.000 --> 00:58:42.000 Really? Collect them. Collect them. Put them in a basket. It's left over. 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:44.000 We can do stuff with them. 00:58:44.000 --> 00:58:48.000 Capitalize on your unfinished prophecies. 00:58:48.000 --> 00:58:53.000 Hosea 6-3 says, I'll send both the latter and the former rains. 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:57.000 God can send the spring rains and the winter rains. 00:58:57.000 --> 00:59:00.000 So what if there's stuff left undone in my life? 00:59:00.000 --> 00:59:07.000 So what if I couldn't even forget undone? I couldn't even wrap my head around some of the things God said. 00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:13.000 What if what I did was a failure? You think I'm going to throw them away? 00:59:13.000 --> 00:59:17.000 God said long ago through a prophetic word to me four years ago, 00:59:17.000 --> 00:59:21.000 Jacob, never worry about things left half finished when I ask you to move on, 00:59:21.000 --> 00:59:26.000 because every block that I have given you to build, I will take and use them. 00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:28.000 So don't worry about it. 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:32.000 This is what has given me the freedom to start something, 00:59:32.000 --> 00:59:36.000 stop it halfway because God is saying go somewhere, and then start something else. 00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:41.000 Do you realize that right now we started a series called Church Central? 00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:45.000 The three of them stopped dead and are off to another tangent. 00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:49.000 Who does that? That's not how pastors should lead a church. 00:59:49.000 --> 00:59:51.000 But who cares? 00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:01.000 Nothing that God has given you as a building block will be unused. 01:00:01.000 --> 01:00:03.000 It will be used. 01:00:03.000 --> 01:00:07.000 Liggy is texting me in between. 01:00:07.000 --> 01:00:10.000 Would you have some time in the coming days for a call? 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:12.000 Liggy, if you're watching, yes. 01:00:12.000 --> 01:00:17.000 But if possible, could we talk about this after the message? 01:00:17.000 --> 01:00:20.000 Just kidding, man. 01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:23.000 Collect leftovers, capitalize on unfinished prophecies. 01:00:23.000 --> 01:00:26.000 This is not my line. I took it from someone else. 01:00:26.000 --> 01:00:28.000 No breakthrough without follow through. 01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:31.000 No breakthrough without follow through. 01:00:31.000 --> 01:00:33.000 No breakthrough without follow through. 01:00:33.000 --> 01:00:36.000 You have to keep following through, keep following through, keep following through. 01:00:36.000 --> 01:00:40.000 Because something hasn't come to pass does not mean it is now rendered useless. 01:00:40.000 --> 01:00:44.000 It does not even mean that it is not an accurate word. 01:00:44.000 --> 01:00:46.000 It means that I have to keep following through. 01:00:46.000 --> 01:00:48.000 I have to collect the leftovers. 01:00:48.000 --> 01:00:51.000 I have to capitalize on my unfinished prophecies. 01:00:51.000 --> 01:00:58.000 One of the things I do as soon as 2021 comes, I'll have a new set on my phone which says 2021. 01:00:58.000 --> 01:01:04.000 And part of it will be things that haven't yet come to pass. 01:01:04.000 --> 01:01:07.000 I remember telling the story of the accident ages ago. 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:10.000 So there was this man caught in a huge storm. 01:01:10.000 --> 01:01:12.000 His wife is pregnant and is about to give birth. 01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:19.000 And he has to take some kind of transport to head home before his wife gives birth. 01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:22.000 But the trains have shut down. The roads are snowy. 01:01:22.000 --> 01:01:23.000 Everything is shut down. 01:01:23.000 --> 01:01:26.000 So he goes to the airport. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:27.000 They say no planes. 01:01:27.000 --> 01:01:34.000 And then someone tells him there's this crazy one-eyed pilot in a small airport down the road. 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:36.000 He flies in crazy weather like this. 01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:40.000 So this guy goes there and there's a crazy pilot with one eye. 01:01:40.000 --> 01:01:43.000 He says, you really want to go in this storm? 01:01:43.000 --> 01:01:44.000 He says yes. 01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:49.000 And so the pilot says, do you have any unfinished prophecies in your life? 01:01:49.000 --> 01:01:51.000 So the guy says, yes, yes, yes. 01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:53.000 I have an unfinished prophecy in my life. 01:01:53.000 --> 01:01:55.000 Well, I'll take you then. 01:01:55.000 --> 01:01:59.000 So they jump into this little plane and they're flying towards the town. 01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:04.000 And suddenly there's this huge strike of lightning and it breaks off one wing. 01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:06.000 And the pilot is now trying to control the plane. 01:02:06.000 --> 01:02:08.000 And he said, you said you have unfinished prophecies in your life. 01:02:08.000 --> 01:02:10.000 He said, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do. 01:02:10.000 --> 01:02:11.000 He says, okay. 01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:12.000 And so he's still flying. 01:02:12.000 --> 01:02:14.000 And then suddenly there's a wind shear and the tail breaks off. 01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:17.000 And now the plane's like wobbling all over the place. 01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:18.000 He says, you lied to me. 01:02:18.000 --> 01:02:20.000 You said you have unfinished prophecies. 01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:21.000 I said, yes, I do. 01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:24.000 And then there's another strike of lightning and the other wing goes off. 01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:25.000 Now the plane is heading towards the ground. 01:02:25.000 --> 01:02:26.000 He said, you lied to me. 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:27.000 I took you on your word. 01:02:27.000 --> 01:02:29.000 You said you had an unfinished prophecy. 01:02:29.000 --> 01:02:31.000 He says, yes, I do have an unfinished. 01:02:31.000 --> 01:02:32.000 He said, what is it? 01:02:32.000 --> 01:02:37.000 He said, this man came and prophesied all my life and said I would be the only survivor in a plane crash. 01:02:37.000 --> 01:02:49.000 And that's the point being that the point being that unfinished prophecies are great, man. 01:02:49.000 --> 01:02:50.000 Work towards them. 01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:52.000 Capitalize on them. 01:02:52.000 --> 01:02:54.000 David was told that he would be king. 01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:56.000 Goliath was told nothing like that. 01:02:56.000 --> 01:03:01.000 Guess who was going to die that day? 01:03:01.000 --> 01:03:03.000 Capitalize on unfinished prophecies. 01:03:03.000 --> 01:03:04.000 Collect them. 01:03:04.000 --> 01:03:05.000 Father, this one, this one, this one. 01:03:05.000 --> 01:03:09.000 And God thrills when you remind him of that. 01:03:09.000 --> 01:03:12.000 If it's a question about how planes crash, I can't... 01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:18.000 Okay. 01:03:18.000 --> 01:03:22.000 Just look at the last one here then. 01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:24.000 Don't go further back. 01:03:24.000 --> 01:03:29.000 Whatever God wants me to remember, he will revive. 01:03:29.000 --> 01:03:31.000 Oh my God, he has... 01:03:31.000 --> 01:03:33.000 That's why he's called the ancient of days. 01:03:33.000 --> 01:03:41.000 He can pull things from very, very long ago. 01:03:41.000 --> 01:03:44.000 Two more points and we're done. 01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:48.000 Work out the course you're running with runners better than you. 01:03:48.000 --> 01:03:51.000 Work out the course you're running with runners better than you. 01:03:51.000 --> 01:03:53.000 Work out the course. 01:03:53.000 --> 01:03:56.000 Guys, this cannot be done on your own. 01:03:56.000 --> 01:03:58.000 You need help. 01:03:58.000 --> 01:04:00.000 I need help. 01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:02.000 I have people that I go to for help. 01:04:02.000 --> 01:04:05.000 These are not people always better than me. 01:04:05.000 --> 01:04:11.000 These are people who in that area may have greater expertise or may have... 01:04:11.000 --> 01:04:14.000 I may have noticed greater faith or perseverance. 01:04:14.000 --> 01:04:16.000 I may have heard something they're saying and I realize, 01:04:16.000 --> 01:04:19.000 gosh, they have an understanding in this area that I don't have. 01:04:19.000 --> 01:04:20.000 I'm talking real. 01:04:20.000 --> 01:04:23.000 These are not examples I'm giving just so you understand. 01:04:23.000 --> 01:04:25.000 I'm talking about real life. 01:04:25.000 --> 01:04:28.000 There are people in this church that I know in certain areas, 01:04:28.000 --> 01:04:31.000 they seem to understand things better than I. 01:04:31.000 --> 01:04:34.000 Even if I may have taught them that, they seem to practice it better. 01:04:34.000 --> 01:04:36.000 And then I go to them. 01:04:36.000 --> 01:04:39.000 Work out the course you're running with runners better than you. 01:04:39.000 --> 01:04:41.000 Galatians chapter 2, verse 2. 01:04:41.000 --> 01:04:45.000 Galatians 2, verse 2 from the passion translation. 01:04:45.000 --> 01:04:49.000 Galatians 2, verse 2. 01:04:49.000 --> 01:04:53.000 And I went up by revelation and communicated unto them the gospel 01:04:53.000 --> 01:04:56.000 which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them, 01:04:56.000 --> 01:05:01.000 which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run or had run in vain. 01:05:01.000 --> 01:05:04.000 So this is Paul who wrote most of the New Testament, 01:05:04.000 --> 01:05:08.000 going and asking people who had seen Christ one-on-one, 01:05:08.000 --> 01:05:10.000 who had personal knowledge, 01:05:10.000 --> 01:05:13.000 hey, this is what I'm preaching, what do you think? 01:05:13.000 --> 01:05:17.000 Work out your course with runners better than you. 01:05:17.000 --> 01:05:20.000 And this is where I go back to the point I was saying. 01:05:20.000 --> 01:05:25.000 So you hear God and you say, all right, here it is, now what? 01:05:25.000 --> 01:05:26.000 No, no, no, no. 01:05:26.000 --> 01:05:32.000 You work on it and then keep coming back for course correction. 01:05:32.000 --> 01:05:36.000 Keep coming back for course correction. 01:05:36.000 --> 01:05:41.000 Keep checking the stars to see if you are still keeping the course 01:05:41.000 --> 01:05:43.000 that you were asked to keep. 01:05:43.000 --> 01:05:45.000 This is not some kind of one-off thing. 01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:49.000 I've done my duty now, oh God, you better get going on your prophetic word. 01:05:49.000 --> 01:05:54.000 No, war with it, struggle with it, wrestle with it so that you are changed. 01:05:54.000 --> 01:05:57.000 I know people who come at the beginning of the year and say, 01:05:57.000 --> 01:05:59.000 this is what God is saying and that's it. 01:05:59.000 --> 01:06:02.000 Really? What about the rest of the year? 01:06:02.000 --> 01:06:05.000 You know, there was a man called Demas. 01:06:05.000 --> 01:06:09.000 Yeah, I'll just call him Demas because that's how he used to pronounce his name. 01:06:09.000 --> 01:06:11.000 So there was this guy called Demas. 01:06:11.000 --> 01:06:17.000 In Philemon, verse 24, it says, Demas used to be a fellow worker with Paul. 01:06:17.000 --> 01:06:22.000 And then it says in 2 Timothy 4.10, Paul is saying to Timothy, 01:06:22.000 --> 01:06:25.000 Timothy, Demas has left. 01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:26.000 He has deserted me. 01:06:26.000 --> 01:06:28.000 He has gone back to the world. 01:06:28.000 --> 01:06:32.000 It was not that Demas backslid and went the way of sinners. 01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:38.000 The truth is that Demas found it so attractive to go back into the ways he used to function 01:06:38.000 --> 01:06:42.000 that he no longer was walking as a fellow worker of Paul. 01:06:42.000 --> 01:06:47.000 You think it's not possible for me to veer off course? 01:06:47.000 --> 01:06:51.000 Course correction is critical. 01:06:51.000 --> 01:06:56.000 Some of you have been told by others, hey, go meet with this person, talk with them. 01:06:56.000 --> 01:06:58.000 No. 01:06:58.000 --> 01:07:02.000 And if you're feeling scolded, this is exactly what I'm trying to do. 01:07:07.000 --> 01:07:10.000 Maybe scold is not the right word that makes it schoolish. 01:07:10.000 --> 01:07:15.000 If you feel admonished, how about a slightly stronger word, rebuked? 01:07:15.000 --> 01:07:19.000 Ah, exactly what I was trying to do. 01:07:22.000 --> 01:07:23.000 Last one. 01:07:23.000 --> 01:07:26.000 Sheldon, sit on the piano. 01:07:32.000 --> 01:07:36.000 Guys, your cause, if you want to finish strong, 01:07:36.000 --> 01:07:42.000 your cause is conveyed and carried by your passion. 01:07:44.000 --> 01:07:49.000 In 1 Samuel 17.29, David, 01:07:49.000 --> 01:07:56.000 sees Goliath coming out every day and everybody hiding the moment Goliath comes out. 01:07:56.000 --> 01:08:00.000 And David says, is there not a cause? 01:08:01.000 --> 01:08:04.000 Your cause is conveyed. 01:08:04.000 --> 01:08:14.000 Your cause is conveyed and carried by your passion. 01:08:14.000 --> 01:08:19.000 One cannot have justice, one cannot have justice. 01:08:19.000 --> 01:08:26.000 Passion that does not have a cause is zealous but is misguided. 01:08:26.000 --> 01:08:34.000 A cause that does not have a passion will neither be conveyed nor be carried. 01:08:34.000 --> 01:08:41.000 In the passage that I asked you to read, I asked you to read the passage that I asked you to read. 01:08:42.000 --> 01:08:45.000 In the passage that I asked you to read last week, 01:08:45.000 --> 01:08:48.000 if you notice I keep saying asked you to read last week, 01:08:48.000 --> 01:08:51.000 just so if you haven't read it, you will this week. 01:08:51.000 --> 01:08:55.000 The passage that I asked you to read last week, 2 Kings 13.18, 01:08:55.000 --> 01:09:03.000 he was a king called Joash and he had a cause, he had to rule Israel, 01:09:03.000 --> 01:09:08.000 but he did not have the passion for it and so, 01:09:08.000 --> 01:09:12.000 you can imagine how after having beaten the army three times, 01:09:12.000 --> 01:09:15.000 because he struck the ground three times, 01:09:15.000 --> 01:09:18.000 you can imagine the day he had to fight his fourth battle, 01:09:18.000 --> 01:09:23.000 what he must have been thinking. 01:09:23.000 --> 01:09:27.000 He knew he would have three victories, but the enemy wasn't wiped out, 01:09:27.000 --> 01:09:31.000 and now it was the dawn and they had to go out and it was a fourth battle. 01:09:31.000 --> 01:09:37.000 What was he thinking? 01:09:38.000 --> 01:09:45.000 Guys, a cause must have passion. 01:09:45.000 --> 01:09:50.000 If it doesn't, you will not be able to convey to others. 01:09:50.000 --> 01:09:53.000 Remember, all our causes are for the sake of others. 01:09:53.000 --> 01:09:55.000 What is David trying to say? Is there not a cause? 01:09:55.000 --> 01:10:03.000 Meaning, come on guys, this un-circumcised Philistine is mocking both the God of Israel and the people of Israel. 01:10:03.000 --> 01:10:06.000 Is there not a cause? 01:10:06.000 --> 01:10:14.000 He was trying to get the army rallied together to stand up against this giant. 01:10:14.000 --> 01:10:16.000 Let me repeat that line again. 01:10:16.000 --> 01:10:23.000 Never underestimate the passion that God has for the fulfillment of what he has promised or prophesied over your life. 01:10:23.000 --> 01:10:31.000 Never underestimate the passion that God has for the prophecy or the promise that he has given you, Jacob. 01:10:31.000 --> 01:10:34.000 Never underestimate it. 01:10:34.000 --> 01:10:38.000 I've shared this with some of the old timers here at Acts 29. 01:10:38.000 --> 01:10:43.000 1994, I've just come to Canada. It's been hardly eight months. 01:10:43.000 --> 01:10:46.000 God had given promises that are coming to pass even now. 01:10:46.000 --> 01:10:48.000 I see them coming to pass even now. 01:10:48.000 --> 01:10:54.000 But then, as a new immigrant who had nothing, who knew very little, who knew very few people, 01:10:54.000 --> 01:10:58.000 there was just no way those promises could come to pass. 01:10:58.000 --> 01:11:05.000 I was looking to find a way to earn a living, to find maybe a newspaper to work at and stuff like that. 01:11:05.000 --> 01:11:09.000 I remember going to this church and there was a little fellow called Mike. 01:11:09.000 --> 01:11:13.000 He was like a TA, like a sub-pastor. 01:11:13.000 --> 01:11:16.000 And so he is conducting the worship. 01:11:16.000 --> 01:11:20.000 And he says, how many here think they'll serve the Lord in some capacity? 01:11:20.000 --> 01:11:21.000 A lot of people go up. 01:11:21.000 --> 01:11:26.000 How many here think that they'll serve the Lord once their jobs are over, some go back, a few stay? 01:11:26.000 --> 01:11:33.000 Finally, he asks the question, how many here know that they are called to serve the Lord without doing anything else? 01:11:33.000 --> 01:11:37.000 And that is what I was struggling with. 01:11:37.000 --> 01:11:40.000 But I stood there and he comes and before he can even lay hands on me. 01:11:40.000 --> 01:11:43.000 And this is anecdotal, okay? Don't make theology out of it. 01:11:43.000 --> 01:11:48.000 I'm just sharing this with you to show nothing else but the passion that God has 01:11:48.000 --> 01:11:52.000 or the prophetic that he has spoken over you and the promises that he has given you. 01:11:52.000 --> 01:11:59.000 There is nobody more passionate over my life and the promises that he has given me that God himself. 01:11:59.000 --> 01:12:06.000 And I stand there and before he can even touch me, I fall and I'm lying there on the ground and I'm absolutely conscious. 01:12:06.000 --> 01:12:11.000 But here's the thing, guys. I can't get up off the ground. 01:12:11.000 --> 01:12:20.000 It's like my legs are moving, my hands are moving, my head is moving, but my back refuses to get up. 01:12:20.000 --> 01:12:26.000 I'm just worshipping God as this worship leader called Shannon plays the piano. I'm just singing. 01:12:26.000 --> 01:12:31.000 I didn't have a car then Shannon and her husband Kevin brought me to church. 01:12:31.000 --> 01:12:39.000 People are leaving, some are standing there and they think I'm like knocked out, I can't hear anything. 01:12:39.000 --> 01:12:46.000 But I'm absolutely conscious. And they're saying stuff like, I think the guy has gone to sleep. 01:12:46.000 --> 01:12:51.000 I can hear a little bit of laughter and giggles and stuff like that. 01:12:51.000 --> 01:12:57.000 I want to tell them no and I'm just singing songs and every time I sing a song, 01:12:57.000 --> 01:13:03.000 God will pick an area in my life that I don't believe fully in and say, do you believe this? 01:13:03.000 --> 01:13:08.000 And I'm struggling with it as I'm singing. Finally, Kevin comes and says to me, hey Jacob, Shannon needs to go home. 01:13:08.000 --> 01:13:12.000 We've got to lock up the church. Do you think you can come? 01:13:12.000 --> 01:13:17.000 And I'm saying to him, Kevin, I'd love to. Nobody feels more foolish right now than me. 01:13:17.000 --> 01:13:23.000 But I can't. People try to help me, I can't. 01:13:23.000 --> 01:13:28.000 And so Kevin says, okay. And they lock the church. 01:13:28.000 --> 01:13:34.000 And I'm lying there on a stage like this with the lights above, I can't move. 01:13:34.000 --> 01:13:42.000 And then after everyone had gone, God reminded me of the promise that he has been so faithful to bring to pass. 01:13:42.000 --> 01:13:47.000 So faithful. Plumbing impossible, man. 01:13:47.000 --> 01:13:55.000 Neither had the ability nor the resources, nothing to accomplish what has been accomplished over the last 26 years. 01:13:55.000 --> 01:13:59.000 And he said, reminded me of the promises. 01:13:59.000 --> 01:14:06.000 And it reminded me of a scene from this book written by Demos Shakerian called The Happiest People on Earth. 01:14:06.000 --> 01:14:11.000 Where something like this happens to this guy called Demos Shakerian as his wife is playing the piano. 01:14:11.000 --> 01:14:15.000 And God says, will you ever doubt my promise again? And Demos says no. 01:14:15.000 --> 01:14:20.000 Then God asks me the question, will you ever doubt the prophetic and the promise that I've given you? 01:14:20.000 --> 01:14:26.000 And I say no. And as soon as I say no, he says, you can go now. 01:14:26.000 --> 01:14:31.000 I held on to that, man. When times were difficult, I held on to that. 01:14:31.000 --> 01:14:36.000 And I've seen the goodness, the faithfulness of God. 01:14:36.000 --> 01:14:45.000 This is not a story that, I mean, there's nothing that is self-exalting in this story. 01:14:45.000 --> 01:14:47.000 I was just helpless on the ground. 01:14:47.000 --> 01:14:58.000 So this is not so that anything else may be conveyed but the passion of God for the word that he's spoken over you. 01:14:58.000 --> 01:15:02.000 So here's what I want you to do. 01:15:02.000 --> 01:15:07.000 We're going to have dead air for five minutes. 01:15:07.000 --> 01:15:20.000 And if you missed out on this Sunday because you had something else to do, 01:15:20.000 --> 01:15:24.000 dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. 01:15:24.000 --> 01:15:28.000 We'll have dead air but very alive with the spirit. 01:15:28.000 --> 01:15:38.000 I want you to go and pull out some of the prophetic words and the promises that God has spoken over your life. 01:15:38.000 --> 01:15:43.000 I want you to read them. Now, most of you have them on your phone or in your notebooks. 01:15:43.000 --> 01:15:57.000 Go get them. I'm going to read the ones that I'm struggling with that I find impossible. 01:15:57.000 --> 01:16:00.000 So that's what we're going to do for the next five minutes. We're in no hurry. 01:16:00.000 --> 01:16:21.000 There's no Vietnamese church after this. 01:16:21.000 --> 01:16:27.000 Go pull out the prophetic words and promises spoken over your life. 01:16:27.000 --> 01:16:33.000 Don't pull out what you want. Pull out what God said you are. 01:16:33.000 --> 01:16:38.000 Go look at it again. Go look at what God said you will do in certain nations. 01:16:38.000 --> 01:16:42.000 Go look at what God said will be your legacy here on Earth. 01:16:42.000 --> 01:16:44.000 Go look at what God said you have been called for. 01:16:44.000 --> 01:16:47.000 Go look at what you recently heard about next year. 01:16:47.000 --> 01:16:50.000 Go look at what has been left over from last year. 01:16:50.000 --> 01:16:54.000 Go look at all these things that God has said. He knows it is God. 01:16:54.000 --> 01:16:56.000 You don't need any reassurances about that. 01:16:56.000 --> 01:17:00.000 So what if it's only two sentences? Grab those two sentences. 01:17:00.000 --> 01:17:04.000 Take the next five minutes to go over them. Read them. Read them slow. 01:17:04.000 --> 01:17:07.000 You won't be able to finish this process today, but you can start the process. 01:20:50.000 --> 01:21:17.000 Thank you. 01:21:20.000 --> 01:21:47.000 Thank you. 01:21:50.000 --> 01:22:17.000 Thank you. 01:22:17.000 --> 01:22:44.000 Thank you. 01:22:44.000 --> 01:23:12.000 Thank you. 01:23:14.000 --> 01:23:41.000 Thank you. 01:23:44.000 --> 01:23:50.000 When God gives you a word, he is telling you what he has seen. 01:23:50.000 --> 01:24:02.000 When God has given you a word, man, when you look at the words you guys have received, 01:24:02.000 --> 01:24:12.000 one hand you think to yourself, there are so many who desire this and haven't received it and you haven't. 01:24:12.000 --> 01:24:18.000 Then when you look at the word you realize that this is so different from how you see yourself. 01:24:18.000 --> 01:24:23.000 Whenever God gives you a word, he is telling you what he sees. 01:24:23.000 --> 01:24:33.000 I just want to end with a story from Graham Cook and then we'll pray. 01:24:33.000 --> 01:24:43.000 So Graham Cook was in, again this is an anecdote, so don't try to draw theology from it. 01:24:43.000 --> 01:24:49.000 Take it as best as you can and if you don't believe it, agree with it, let it go away. 01:24:49.000 --> 01:24:56.000 Because I'm not espousing him or the story somehow resonated with me. 01:24:56.000 --> 01:25:00.000 So he was in Scotland and I shared this three or four months ago. 01:25:00.000 --> 01:25:02.000 But it's what I want to do tonight. 01:25:02.000 --> 01:25:08.000 He was in Scotland and he was preaching about persevering or something. 01:25:08.000 --> 01:25:14.000 And they happened to talk about that story that we see as our inheritance, Second Kings 2.13, 01:25:14.000 --> 01:25:23.000 where Jehoash the king struck the ground three times and then stopped. 01:25:24.000 --> 01:25:30.000 And so as he is talking about this story and reminding people of the promises and the prophetic 01:25:30.000 --> 01:25:37.000 that has been spoken over their lives and the promises and the prophetic spoken over Scotland, 01:25:37.000 --> 01:25:41.000 hey, it changed. 01:25:41.000 --> 01:25:45.000 The promises and the prophetic spoken over Scotland. 01:25:45.000 --> 01:25:52.000 Then this old man, he must be 90 or 92, he comes up and he kneels down 01:25:52.000 --> 01:25:56.000 and he starts beating the carpet and the platform in front of him 01:25:56.000 --> 01:25:59.000 and starts calling out the promises and the prophetic. 01:25:59.000 --> 01:26:08.000 And then another young man must be in his 20s or wearing leather and a whole lot of chains and stuff like that. 01:26:08.000 --> 01:26:14.000 He comes up too and he kneels right beside the 92-year-old 01:26:14.000 --> 01:26:21.000 and he starts banging the carpet and the ground saying, beginning to pray for Scotland, beginning to pray. 01:26:21.000 --> 01:26:25.000 And they begin to pray stuff like, I will have what you have given me, O God. 01:26:25.000 --> 01:26:27.000 Scotland will become what you have said. 01:26:27.000 --> 01:26:33.000 This is what we have heard you prophesy through people over the last 600, 700 years. 01:26:33.000 --> 01:26:37.000 And we will have it. And they start banging the carpet and the platform in front of them 01:26:37.000 --> 01:26:41.000 and start praying, saying that today I will stand up in faith and receive it. 01:26:41.000 --> 01:26:46.000 And as this old man and the young guy start doing it, others from the congregation come up. 01:26:46.000 --> 01:26:51.000 You have the entire congregation up front beating the ground and striking the ground 01:26:51.000 --> 01:26:53.000 like that king was supposed to with the arrows. 01:26:53.000 --> 01:26:59.000 Only they're using their hands, striking the ground, reminding God of the promises and the prophecies, 01:26:59.000 --> 01:27:05.000 claiming it, saying, I will walk in it. I will see it come to pass. I will stand in faith for it. 01:27:05.000 --> 01:27:09.000 And they keep doing this. Now the entire church is involved. 01:27:09.000 --> 01:27:16.000 And as the entire church is involved, this old man rises, winks at Graham Cook and walks out. 01:27:16.000 --> 01:27:23.000 And the young man rises and he stands at the door and Graham Cook sees him and then he disappears. 01:27:23.000 --> 01:27:27.000 Like disappears, literally disappears as if he was never there. 01:27:27.000 --> 01:27:33.000 What you make out of the story is up to you whether you think it is real or not. 01:27:33.000 --> 01:27:40.000 But I want you to know that God has a passion for bringing to pass the words that have been spoken over your life. 01:27:40.000 --> 01:27:45.000 And I just pray right now that you would kneel where you are right now 01:27:45.000 --> 01:27:49.000 and begin to look at the promises and the prophetic words you have 01:27:49.000 --> 01:27:53.000 and begin to strike the ground with your hand in prophetic action. 01:27:53.000 --> 01:27:57.000 And begin to say, oh God, I believe this. Oh God, I will have it. 01:27:57.000 --> 01:28:01.000 Oh God, these are the nations you've given me. Oh God, you've said this about Wally. 01:28:01.000 --> 01:28:06.000 You've said this about New York. You've said this about Lithuania. Oh God, you have said this about me. 01:28:06.000 --> 01:28:11.000 Oh God, I believe it. I'm going to exert faith. I'm sorry that I have not been able to. 01:28:11.000 --> 01:28:15.000 But today I start again. Today I start again. 01:28:20.000 --> 01:28:25.000 We'll just take a few minutes doing that, guys. If you were here, there would be a noise as we do it together.