WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: GO - God the Sender? Publishing Date: 2024-12-15T05:04:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/go-god-the-sender-dec-15-2024/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.840 Hey, can you just check if my phone is there and if it is there can I grab it? 00:00:14.840 --> 00:00:20.400 You can't follow if you don't go. 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:28.800 Somehow Christianity has been able to separate go from following and we can't do that. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:33.880 And there are different ways we've separated follow and go, one by letting professionals 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:41.800 go while we just stay. 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:46.080 If you look at the New Testament church and we showed how in the book of Acts you can 00:00:46.080 --> 00:00:53.120 literally divide the book of Acts into five panels and each panel is going forward. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:58.680 And yes, not everybody goes to some other place geographically or culturally, but the 00:00:58.680 --> 00:01:04.640 mindset is that I cannot follow Christ if I don't go where he's asking me to go. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.160 And that's what we talked about last time, so you can check that out. 00:01:08.160 --> 00:01:10.080 That was a statement from last time. 00:01:10.080 --> 00:01:33.080 The statement this time around is you can't go if you aren't aware of God as a sender. 00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:42.360 Or you won't go if you are not aware of God as a sender. 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:46.400 So the first statement was you can't follow if you don't go. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:48.840 You can't follow Christ if you don't go. 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:54.960 The second statement is, hey how come it's not showing? 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:55.960 Brandon? 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:01.160 Oh, okay. 00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:03.880 Because I wrote a line and it's not showing. 00:02:03.880 --> 00:02:08.400 The second statement is you won't go if you aren't aware of God as a sender. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:15.960 You won't go if you aren't aware of God. 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:25.760 This is like the book of Daniel. 00:02:25.760 --> 00:02:29.960 You better take this message seriously. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:36.480 Okay, so you won't go if you aren't aware of God as a sender. 00:02:36.480 --> 00:02:41.240 What are we saying here? 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:46.360 That if the church doesn't begin to think that God is a sender, the church won't think 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:49.680 that going is important. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:54.040 If you join Apple, you know Apple is an innovative company. 00:02:54.040 --> 00:02:59.680 If you don't think innovation, you cannot function well at Apple. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:10.120 If you join SpaceX, you know that impossible is a word that they love playing with. 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:15.320 That if you don't think in terms of impossibilities and solutions to impossibilities, you probably 00:03:15.320 --> 00:03:20.520 won't survive at SpaceX. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:26.720 If you join Amazon, you have to understand that logistically they can deliver anywhere 00:03:26.720 --> 00:03:28.440 in the world in one day. 00:03:28.440 --> 00:03:30.520 How they do it, we don't know. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:34.200 There's a way we have to think when we join a company. 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:42.080 This company, which is a non-profit run by a godfather, for profit, this company thinks 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:47.440 like this, that God is a sender and if you're not aware that God is a sender, you won't 00:03:47.440 --> 00:03:49.160 go. 00:03:49.160 --> 00:03:51.840 Any questions on that one? 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.720 Are you aware that your master is a sender? 00:03:55.720 --> 00:04:01.560 And if your master is a sender, as a servant, do you realize that sending is a natural part 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:06.040 of what he does with his servants? 00:04:06.040 --> 00:04:10.360 The first place we see this is in Exodus chapter 3 verse 14. 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:12.240 Exodus 3 verse 14. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.500 What's the statement made there? 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:20.540 The statement made there is, God is saying to Moses, Moses asks God, who shall I say 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:23.540 has sent me? 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:29.340 Right from the get-go in Exodus, before we even had a church, while the Commonwealth 00:04:29.340 --> 00:04:34.820 of Israel existed, the question was, listen, I am sending you. 00:04:34.820 --> 00:04:38.340 Moses asks the question, who shall I say is sending me? 00:04:38.340 --> 00:04:43.260 And God responds and says, tell them that I am is sending you. 00:04:43.260 --> 00:04:49.820 And then he says, I am who I am, which then just makes you even more nervous because 00:04:49.820 --> 00:04:55.980 I am who I am, meaning he can at any moment decide to send you where he wants and if you 00:04:55.980 --> 00:05:00.020 are a servant to the master, then do you have a choice? 00:05:00.020 --> 00:05:02.980 Yes, we do have a choice, but do you really have a choice? 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:04.460 This is not how we think. 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:09.500 And because we do not think like this, we can divide go from follow from send and decide 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:14.500 that only professionals go or we only go when convenient. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:17.500 And I'm not talking about geographical location, relocation. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:20.340 I'm not talking about going to some different culture. 00:05:20.340 --> 00:05:22.700 I'm talking about wherever he tells you to. 00:05:22.700 --> 00:05:28.500 What if it is to sit at McDonald's near your house for the entire day after you take a 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:35.260 day off from your work? 00:05:35.260 --> 00:05:36.500 What if it is that? 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:40.500 And what if it is sitting at McDonald's for an entire day hoping to meet that one guy 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:45.500 you're supposed to meet and at the end of the day, meet him and he's not even responsive? 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:53.500 This is who your God is. 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:58.500 Take Philip who meets the eunuch coming back from going to Ethiopia. 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:04.500 Take Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:13.500 Take David finding a soldier lying by the side who helps him recover his wife and kids 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:16.500 and everybody else from Ziklag. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:23.500 Take Gehazi who's telling a story to the king and invokes the woman who he's talking about. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:32.500 This God is so masterful at coincidences, but coincidences only happen when coincidences 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:34.500 mix with obedience. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:41.500 When obedience and coincidence collide, you have a divine appointment. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:47.500 When obedience and coincidence collide, you have a divine appointment. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:07:00.500 Therefore, it is important that I obey the sender whenever he says go, 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:25.500 even when it doesn't make sense because obedience and coincidence create divine appointments. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:28.500 Any questions? 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:38.500 Next week I'll bring some sweatshirts with this word on the back. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.500 Cool. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:51.500 I'll figure out how to go, what's required for going, but any questions on this? 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:58.500 We talked about the hindrances to going. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:03.500 One of the hindrances we brought up was convenience and stuff like that. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:06.500 You can listen to what we spoke about last time. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:13.500 So the first scripture that we see God beginning this process of who shall I send is in Exodus 3, verse 14. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:17.500 And it says in Exodus 3, 14, who shall I say sent me to the people of Israel? 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:20.500 God says, tell them I am sent you. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:23.500 I am who I am. 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:28.500 I don't need to know the details, guys. 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:41.500 Why? Because he is I am. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:46.500 Second, John 17, verse 18. 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:48.500 John 17, verse 18. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:09:01.500 As you sent me, so I have sent them into the world. 00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:05.500 This is Jesus' prayer to the Father. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:09.500 He and the Father are having a conversation and he's talking about you. 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:15.500 One of the things that the church has done quite skillfully is to limit sending to the apostles, 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:17.500 that he was only talking to the apostles. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:24.500 Yes, that address was to the apostles, but it doesn't mean that none of us are therefore included in that. 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:28.500 In fact, he says this is to you and to the ones that come after you. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:35.500 And so here's John 17, 18, where he's having a conversation with his father and he's saying to the Father, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:39.500 Father, as you sent me, so I'm sending them. 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.500 He always thinks like this, guys. 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:50.500 I must have this attitude every morning that I am one that is meant to be sent, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:53.500 and it could happen today, and I don't know where. 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:58.500 He's not a nilly-dilly God who just decides something at whimsically. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:00.500 He plans things. 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.500 He never sends you if he doesn't think you're ready. 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:09.500 In fact, every time you or I go without being ready, it doesn't work out well. 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:13.500 But he knows what Dilna is ready for. 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:15.500 He knows what Anne is ready for. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:17.500 He even knows the clothes you'll be wearing. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:23.500 He knows the kind of colors that will attract the person that's walking down the street. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.500 He knows your accent. 00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:26.500 He knows your thinking. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:28.500 He knows your circumstances from yesterday. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:31.500 Everything is orchestrated to perfection. 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:38.500 It's just that he still allows me to exert my will. 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:42.500 If he could take away my will, he could get people saved in a day. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:48.500 Take away the will of man, and people get saved in a day. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:56.500 John 17, 18 is his prayer to the Father. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:58.500 In John 20, he changes it. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:10:59.500 He says to his... 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:02.500 In John 20, he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.500 And what does he say to them? 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.500 He says now to the people. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.500 He's not talking to his Father. 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:10.500 Now he's talking to Sen. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.500 Sen. 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:19.500 And he says to Sen that as I have been sent, so now I send you. 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.500 He pushes you out. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:26.500 Settling goes against the very grain of a church. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.500 Any questions? 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:39.500 Guys, don't jump ahead and start thinking of, if I commit to this, then I might end up losing this, 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:43.500 or I might end up spending money, or I might have to take leave, or I'll lose my job. 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.500 You're dealing with a God who cares about all of that. 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.500 So you don't have to be afraid of that. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:54.500 Every time a message like this is spoken, people start regressing or withdrawing, 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:57.500 because they think of, oh shucks, this means this, this, and this. 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.500 No, it doesn't. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:03.500 Like I said last time, you must be decisive about the decision. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:07.500 But the progression of the decision is completely gone. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:10.500 Now that you've decided, he begins to work with you. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:13.500 But till you decide, he cannot work with you. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:17.500 Be decisive about the decision. 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.500 I will. 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:21.500 Once you say, I will, then God will. 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:23.500 But he will prepare you. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:30.500 Never be afraid of agreeing with the sender. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:36.500 Put your heart, your hands, your mind, and your mouth on the line and say, I will. 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:39.500 And then if you fail, you can get up again. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:43.500 But if you don't decide, you cannot fail, nor can you succeed. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:46.500 One must decide to fail or succeed. 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:49.500 You cannot if you don't decide or. 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.500 Any questions? 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:54.500 Can you repeat the question? 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:59.500 Other than the great commission, what is the goal of being sent? 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:03.500 The goal of being sent is to accurately represent him. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:08.500 The goal of being sent is to multiply, is to make disciples. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:11.500 The goal of being sent is to make disciples. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:14.500 The goal of being sent is to make disciples 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:18.500 as a group of people who are not just members of the church, 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:21.500 but also members of the people who are in the church. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:26.280 The goal of being sent is to teach them to observe everything that I have taught you. 00:13:26.280 --> 00:13:29.960 The goal of being sent is to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.960 Spirit. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:36.960 The goal of being sent is because He has all authority, as in He created everything, everything 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:41.820 belongs to Him, they need to know about Him, you know about Him, tell them. 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:46.840 The goal of being sent is how will they hear if someone does not go? 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:51.460 The goal of being sent is so that all the nation's tribes' languages can be gathered 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:54.660 back to Him. 00:13:54.660 --> 00:13:59.500 The goal of being sent is exactly the same goal as Jesus. 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:04.160 The goal of being sent is, Dilna, can you go and show them what the Father looks like? 00:14:04.160 --> 00:14:09.000 Because there's no other way they'll know the Father except through seeing you. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.680 If you have seen Dilna, you have seen the Father. 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:14.400 What an amazing, brilliant claim! 00:14:15.400 --> 00:14:17.320 Yes, Dilna may be a failure. 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:20.560 Yes, Dilna may fail his kids as a father. 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:28.400 Yet, this is a God who thinks that Dilna can be trusted to show someone who He is. 00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.400 It is nuts! 00:14:29.400 --> 00:14:30.400 Why? 00:14:30.400 --> 00:14:31.720 Because the Word has become flesh. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.720 How? 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:40.400 You received Christ, He chose you, and He now thinks that you can increasingly represent Him. 00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:48.400 How does a God of the universe choose a man like this, full of flaws and failures, and 00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:52.160 sets him up before someone and says, show them who the Father is? 00:14:52.160 --> 00:14:53.240 Because I trust you. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.460 Why do I trust you? 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:59.900 Because I know who He is in you. 00:14:59.900 --> 00:15:01.400 This was His intent with Adam. 00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:03.540 Adam, I made you like me. 00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:05.100 You are made in my image. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:11.100 Now you can go reproduce because everything you reproduce will be in my image. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:15.060 And that's the same thing now. 00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:21.420 To everybody here who is a believer, that's his expectation and that expectation is always 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:24.300 at the horizon and he keeps training you towards it. 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:28.100 And as you train, he is able to send you. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:33.100 It's beautiful. 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:45.100 Another reason he sends us is so that as far as the curse is found, he comes to make 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:50.400 us blessings known as far as the curse is found. 00:15:50.400 --> 00:15:53.100 I love that line in Joy to the World. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.100 Why? 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.800 Another reason he sends. 00:15:55.800 --> 00:15:56.800 What a brilliant reason, guys. 00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:58.360 Just think of this. 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.520 During this next three weeks, think of it. 00:16:01.520 --> 00:16:03.520 You are sent to make everything new. 00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:04.520 Why? 00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:05.520 Because you've been made new. 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:06.520 How? 00:16:06.520 --> 00:16:08.520 By the Holy Spirit. 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:12.520 And so now you're being sent to make everything new. 00:16:12.520 --> 00:16:18.520 Go make things new. 00:16:18.520 --> 00:16:19.520 Go meet the guy at McDonald's. 00:16:19.520 --> 00:16:20.520 Go speak to someone. 00:16:20.520 --> 00:16:22.520 Go give $5 a year. 00:16:22.520 --> 00:16:24.520 Go across the waters. 00:16:24.520 --> 00:16:25.520 Go make things new. 00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:26.520 Pray for somebody. 00:16:26.520 --> 00:16:27.520 Make things new. 00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:29.520 Who makes things new? 00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:33.520 You can't even make the itch on your nose new. 00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:37.520 He does. 00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:41.520 What a brilliant mandate we got, man. 00:16:41.520 --> 00:16:42.520 And it's not difficult. 00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:44.520 It's easier than we think. 00:16:44.520 --> 00:16:48.520 It's just a decision that is so blooming difficult. 00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.520 John 20, 21. 00:16:49.520 --> 00:16:52.520 As the Father has sent me, so I send you. 00:16:52.520 --> 00:16:54.520 Here's a crazy thing. 00:16:54.520 --> 00:17:00.520 We were in the world. 00:17:00.520 --> 00:17:10.520 He calls us out of the world and then says, 00:17:10.520 --> 00:17:14.520 you're not of the world. 00:17:14.520 --> 00:17:29.520 And once he says that, he sends us right back into the world. 00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:30.520 That's the crazy thing. 00:17:30.520 --> 00:17:33.520 He sends us right back into the world. 00:17:33.520 --> 00:17:36.520 Okay, Aaron, the budget is going up, man. 00:18:03.520 --> 00:18:10.520 This is how he works, see? 00:18:10.520 --> 00:18:12.520 We were in the world. 00:18:12.520 --> 00:18:15.520 He calls us out, says, you're not of the world, 00:18:15.520 --> 00:18:17.520 says you're not of the world, 00:18:17.520 --> 00:18:23.520 and then he sends us right back into the world. 00:18:23.520 --> 00:18:30.520 But when he sends us out, he wants to make sure that we can 00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:47.520 represent the one born in Bethlehem and crucified at Calvary. 00:18:47.520 --> 00:18:48.520 This is important, eh? 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:57.520 Let's assume Sheldon and Jane were the ambassadors of Russia to Canada. 00:18:58.520 --> 00:19:00.520 Okay, they're both Russian. 00:19:00.520 --> 00:19:10.520 Sheldon Bobrovsky and, yeah, so Sheldon Bobrovsky and, 00:19:10.520 --> 00:19:12.520 what's your name? 00:19:12.520 --> 00:19:14.520 Mrs. Bobrovsky, yeah. 00:19:14.520 --> 00:19:20.520 Mr. and Mrs. Bobrovsky are the Russian ambassadors to Canada. 00:19:20.520 --> 00:19:26.520 And they have this amazing daughter, Olga Phoebe Bobrovsky. 00:19:26.520 --> 00:19:28.520 Yeah, but here's the thing. 00:19:28.520 --> 00:19:35.520 They will not send Phoebe to meet with the Prime Minister of Canada. 00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:38.520 They won't send Phoebe to meet with dignitaries. 00:19:38.520 --> 00:19:39.520 Why? 00:19:39.520 --> 00:19:44.520 Even though she's Russian, even though she belongs to the family 00:19:44.520 --> 00:19:46.520 of the ambassador of Russia, 00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:50.520 she will not have the opportunity to go speak to Trudeau 00:19:50.520 --> 00:19:54.520 because you have to come to a place where you are mature 00:19:54.520 --> 00:19:57.520 enough to represent the nation well. 00:19:57.520 --> 00:19:59.520 And it's the same thing with us. 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:02.520 One of the things God loves doing is can I keep training you 00:20:02.520 --> 00:20:04.520 so that every time I send you out, 00:20:04.520 --> 00:20:07.520 you keep representing me more and more accurately. 00:20:07.520 --> 00:20:09.520 And it never stops, eh? 00:20:09.520 --> 00:20:11.520 Remember the one intent God has. 00:20:11.520 --> 00:20:13.520 I want you to be like Christ. 00:20:13.520 --> 00:20:15.520 That's the intent. 00:20:15.520 --> 00:20:20.520 So Galatians 4 talks about this, 00:20:21.520 --> 00:20:26.520 that till someone comes to maturity, 00:20:26.520 --> 00:20:31.520 one is not able to walk like a sun in the house. 00:20:31.520 --> 00:20:34.520 One can only be under guardians. 00:20:34.520 --> 00:20:38.520 But this doesn't mean there's some kind of an exam that has to be passed. 00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:41.520 Every day you and I are supposed to mature. 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:44.520 And as we do, he keeps sending us out. 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:48.520 And the more we mature, the more he can send us into difficult situations, 00:20:48.520 --> 00:20:50.520 sometimes into a city, sometimes into a nation, 00:20:50.520 --> 00:20:52.520 sometimes into the life of a demoniac, 00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:55.520 sometimes into the life of someone who's paralyzed. 00:20:55.520 --> 00:20:57.520 Different places he sends us into. Why? 00:20:57.520 --> 00:20:59.520 Because you're getting to a place where you think differently 00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:02.520 and function differently. 00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:05.520 Any questions on that one? 00:21:08.520 --> 00:21:13.520 What would we do if we had to face up to someone who's paralyzed? 00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:16.520 What would we do if there was a demoniac that turned up before us? 00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:19.520 What would we do if we were sent to a city or a nation 00:21:19.520 --> 00:21:24.520 where we had to go and wait at the door to speak to someone? 00:21:24.520 --> 00:21:28.520 What would we do if Haman came along and you're Mordecai? 00:21:28.520 --> 00:21:32.520 What would you do if an Esther has to be picked and made queen? 00:21:32.520 --> 00:21:34.520 What would you do? 00:21:34.520 --> 00:21:37.520 And this is what comes with being tested. 00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:41.520 God tests us so that we can be what we need to be. Questions? 00:21:46.520 --> 00:21:49.520 Can we fake it till we make it? Yes. 00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:54.520 But in faking it till we make it, someone else doesn't get the goods. 00:21:56.520 --> 00:21:58.520 We can fake it till we make it. 00:21:58.520 --> 00:22:02.520 Hey, you have a demon and just fast and pray for 21 days 00:22:02.520 --> 00:22:06.520 and on the 21st day around 2 o'clock the demon will go. 00:22:16.520 --> 00:22:19.520 Your national mind says, oh, this is crazy. 00:22:19.520 --> 00:22:21.520 I'm not going to play. 00:22:21.520 --> 00:22:24.520 If it is a demon and you just decide to cast it out, 00:22:24.520 --> 00:22:26.520 but you've never done that before. 00:22:26.520 --> 00:22:27.520 Yeah. Yeah. 00:22:27.520 --> 00:22:31.520 So can you...what's his name is asking, 00:22:31.520 --> 00:22:33.520 what if you had to confront someone who was a demoniac? 00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:35.520 How do you deal with it? 00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:37.520 Yes, it would be wonderful to pray for the person, 00:22:37.520 --> 00:22:40.520 which is I think what anyone in this church would do. 00:22:40.520 --> 00:22:43.520 But the question is, when I do, will he be free? 00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:48.520 Am I walking submitted to authority so that I have authority? 00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:54.520 There is nobody in this room that will not pray for someone who is being oppressed. 00:22:54.520 --> 00:22:57.520 Everybody here, I think, would pray for the person. 00:22:57.520 --> 00:23:00.520 You would be afraid. You would probably pray from a distance, 00:23:00.520 --> 00:23:02.520 but you would still pray. 00:23:02.520 --> 00:23:04.520 But the question is, when I pray, 00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:08.520 do I now have the ability to exert the same authority that... 00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:10.520 Forget Jesus for a while. 00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:12.520 ...that Paul or Peter or John had? 00:23:12.520 --> 00:23:15.520 Am I able to do that? 00:23:15.520 --> 00:23:18.520 Many times I find that I'm not able to do that. 00:23:18.520 --> 00:23:21.520 What do I have to do to keep increasing 00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:24.520 so that in everything I represent Christ accurately? 00:23:24.520 --> 00:23:27.520 Part of the going is to represent him accurately. 00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:30.520 Words matter, but so do actions. 00:23:30.520 --> 00:23:34.520 I love what Jesus says to John, John's followers. 00:23:34.520 --> 00:23:38.520 John the Baptist comes and sends his followers and says this to Jesus. 00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:40.520 Jesus, are you the real deal? 00:23:40.520 --> 00:23:43.520 And Jesus' response is this. 00:23:43.520 --> 00:23:48.520 Go tell John that the Gospel is being preached to the poor, 00:23:48.520 --> 00:23:51.520 the sick are being healed, the dead are being raised, 00:23:51.520 --> 00:23:54.520 lepers are being cleansed, and demons are fleeing. 00:23:54.520 --> 00:23:55.520 Go tell John that. 00:23:55.520 --> 00:23:58.520 What is Jesus doing here? He's doing two things. 00:23:58.520 --> 00:24:01.520 One, he's saying, I am vindicated by the works I do, 00:24:01.520 --> 00:24:05.520 not just the words I speak. 00:24:06.520 --> 00:24:10.520 And therein lies the biggest gap for us as a church. 00:24:10.520 --> 00:24:12.520 The words that we speak are rich, 00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:17.520 but we are not able to match the words with works. 00:24:17.520 --> 00:24:20.520 And Christ be true and every man a liar, 00:24:20.520 --> 00:24:22.520 which means there's something missing. 00:24:22.520 --> 00:24:26.520 There's a missing link. 00:24:26.520 --> 00:24:33.520 And that is what I'm hoping we can make the gap closer. 00:24:35.520 --> 00:24:51.520 When you read that chapter in Luke chapter 9 or John chapter 9, 00:24:51.520 --> 00:24:54.520 where the disciples tried to cast out a demon and they couldn't, 00:24:54.520 --> 00:24:55.520 here's what happens. 00:24:55.520 --> 00:24:58.520 The father comes to Jesus and says, 00:24:58.520 --> 00:25:01.520 Jesus, your guys couldn't cast it out. 00:25:01.520 --> 00:25:06.520 And what he's doing is doubting the efficiency of the master 00:25:06.520 --> 00:25:10.520 because the disciples of the master could not do 00:25:10.520 --> 00:25:14.520 what the master said they could do. 00:25:14.520 --> 00:25:19.520 That's the frightening part in this, about accurate representation, 00:25:19.520 --> 00:25:24.520 that if I say Jesus is this, then Jacob, are you this? 00:25:24.520 --> 00:25:26.520 That's what the father comes and says, 00:25:26.520 --> 00:25:29.520 Jesus, your disciples couldn't cast him out 00:25:29.520 --> 00:25:32.520 because every rabbi was supposed to have students 00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:36.520 that would behave like and do what the rabbi could do. 00:25:36.520 --> 00:25:40.520 And Jesus as a rabbi had disciples that failed. 00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:42.520 That's when Jesus says, bring the boy to me, 00:25:42.520 --> 00:25:44.520 and he looks at his disciples and says, 00:25:44.520 --> 00:25:46.520 fatuous generation, how long should I be with you? 00:25:46.520 --> 00:25:48.520 He's quite frustrated. 00:25:48.520 --> 00:25:49.520 I find that fascinating. 00:25:49.520 --> 00:25:51.520 You're asking them to do the impossible 00:25:51.520 --> 00:25:53.520 and you're quite frustrated with them because they haven't. 00:25:53.520 --> 00:25:55.520 And later on he explains to them, 00:25:55.520 --> 00:26:01.520 this kind comes out by prayer. 00:26:01.520 --> 00:26:04.520 These are the different areas that we... 00:26:04.520 --> 00:26:07.520 The other thing I know, guys, about all of us sitting here 00:26:07.520 --> 00:26:11.520 is you desire this so much. 00:26:11.520 --> 00:26:12.520 You desire this. 00:26:12.520 --> 00:26:15.520 You desire this not even so that you can show off. 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:19.520 You desire this because every day you see people who need help. 00:26:19.520 --> 00:26:22.520 Every day you see people who need help. 00:26:22.520 --> 00:26:27.520 You desire this because you hear the cry. 00:26:27.520 --> 00:26:31.520 I remember a man who tells a story of his friend 00:26:31.520 --> 00:26:33.520 who's a very rich businessman. 00:26:33.520 --> 00:26:36.520 He lives in a gated community, 00:26:36.520 --> 00:26:39.520 goes to work every day taking the car a certain direction. 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:41.520 And then one day the Lord tells him, 00:26:41.520 --> 00:26:43.520 you need to drive the way I'm telling you to. 00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:46.520 And the man is not a guy who hears God and stuff like that. 00:26:46.520 --> 00:26:48.520 So he doesn't even believe what God is saying. 00:26:48.520 --> 00:26:50.520 But God keeps insisting in somewhere inside him. 00:26:50.520 --> 00:26:54.520 He keeps hearing, go down this road, go through this community. 00:26:54.520 --> 00:26:59.520 And as he does, he begins to hear the shrieks and the screams 00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:02.520 and the cries and the pain of certain communities 00:27:02.520 --> 00:27:05.520 as he's driving through it. 00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:07.520 And that is what begins to change him. 00:27:07.520 --> 00:27:11.520 Nobody else can hear these shrieks, screams, cries and pain. 00:27:11.520 --> 00:27:13.520 But sometimes you've heard it. 00:27:13.520 --> 00:27:14.520 You've heard it in Wally. 00:27:14.520 --> 00:27:16.520 You've heard it when you travel abroad. 00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:18.520 You've heard it in the sound of your neighbors. 00:27:18.520 --> 00:27:20.520 And you desperately wish you could do something 00:27:20.520 --> 00:27:23.520 more than a prayer or a prophetic word. 00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:27.520 And this is what Christ is for. 00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:28.520 Acts 10.38. 00:27:28.520 --> 00:27:31.520 He came down and was anointed by the Holy Spirit 00:27:31.520 --> 00:27:33.520 to free the oppressed. 00:27:33.520 --> 00:27:35.520 He went about doing good. 00:27:37.520 --> 00:27:39.520 I know you desire this. 00:27:40.520 --> 00:27:44.520 I desire it so badly that the words and the words may come together. 00:27:44.520 --> 00:27:47.520 We are enough people now to make a difference. 00:27:47.520 --> 00:27:52.520 Don't let that desire be something that you pet before you go to bed 00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:56.520 or pet when you wake up like those cats you have. 00:27:57.520 --> 00:28:01.520 They just come and rub past you and then walk away. 00:28:01.520 --> 00:28:03.520 You know how dogs stay there. 00:28:03.520 --> 00:28:04.520 They want to be petted. 00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:07.520 Cats, meow, and then they go off. 00:28:09.520 --> 00:28:12.520 Oh my God, that was a total cat emitting. 00:28:12.520 --> 00:28:17.520 So we are not supposed to be like that. 00:28:17.520 --> 00:28:19.520 This requires work. 00:28:19.520 --> 00:28:23.520 But I think we are getting hungry, desperate enough to work. 00:28:24.520 --> 00:28:27.520 So let's look at some of the things that God will test us with 00:28:27.520 --> 00:28:30.520 so that our maturity may increase. 00:28:30.520 --> 00:28:34.520 One of the ways God increases our maturity is through testing. 00:28:35.520 --> 00:28:37.520 It's through testing. 00:28:37.520 --> 00:28:40.520 And one of the things that God does is He tests us. 00:28:40.520 --> 00:28:41.520 Through testing. 00:28:43.520 --> 00:28:46.520 I think our job as a church is twofold. 00:28:46.520 --> 00:28:50.520 Yes, to go out with the gospel and second, 00:28:51.520 --> 00:29:00.520 may this church go out with the gospel to places where it's not easily accessed 00:29:00.520 --> 00:29:06.520 and go and break the kingdom into places where people would not go. 00:29:06.520 --> 00:29:09.520 May that always be something we remember. 00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:11.520 I was in Bahrain last week. 00:29:11.520 --> 00:29:17.520 But through a strange set of circumstances, I ended up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 00:29:17.520 --> 00:29:20.520 I had no intentions of applying for a visa or anything, 00:29:20.520 --> 00:29:27.520 but the officials got me a visa, a multiple one-year visa to Riyadh. 00:29:27.520 --> 00:29:31.520 And I'm sitting there in Riyadh thinking, why? I didn't even ask for this. 00:29:32.520 --> 00:29:36.520 But it is a place that may be a little more difficult to access 00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:41.520 and where the kingdom may not have broken in the way it may have broken into other places in the Middle East. 00:29:41.520 --> 00:29:43.520 Why am I saying it here? 00:29:43.520 --> 00:29:46.520 Because sometimes these coincidences work to your advantage. 00:29:55.520 --> 00:30:00.520 Any questions before we go on to tests that God brings our way so that we mature? 00:30:03.520 --> 00:30:05.520 Take it to places where access is limited. 00:30:06.520 --> 00:30:08.520 I have a question. 00:30:08.520 --> 00:30:14.520 Here in the world, why do you get sent to places where there are Christians? 00:30:14.520 --> 00:30:18.520 Yeah. Can I have a little more volume? 00:30:18.520 --> 00:30:20.520 There are Christians all around the world. 00:30:20.520 --> 00:30:24.520 Why is it that we get sent to places where there are Christians? 00:30:24.520 --> 00:30:28.520 Let me give you a quick, really shortened story. 00:30:28.520 --> 00:30:35.520 I'm going to India three weeks from now, 00:30:35.520 --> 00:30:41.520 and one day I'm sitting in a samosa shop in Surrey 00:30:41.520 --> 00:30:46.520 and enjoying my papdi chaat, which is a really good thing that you can eat, 00:30:46.520 --> 00:30:52.520 when suddenly I feel the Lord saying, you need to go to the UK this week. 00:30:52.520 --> 00:30:55.520 And I'm saying, I'm going three weeks from now. Why go now? 00:30:55.520 --> 00:31:00.520 But you sometimes know the insistence. 00:31:00.520 --> 00:31:03.520 So I asked him, when shall I go to the UK? 00:31:03.520 --> 00:31:10.520 And as I'm asking this question, a guy in a Mustang pulls alongside my car 00:31:10.520 --> 00:31:16.520 and parks next to my car, and his number plate is UK06. 00:31:16.520 --> 00:31:20.520 So now it becomes a little obvious that I'm supposed to go on the 6th, 00:31:20.520 --> 00:31:23.520 but I still don't know why. 00:31:23.520 --> 00:31:27.520 And so the Lord says, one, you'll meet a girl called Kiara. 00:31:27.520 --> 00:31:29.520 Find her. 00:31:29.520 --> 00:31:32.520 I'm thinking to myself, how do you find a girl called Kiara in the UK? 00:31:32.520 --> 00:31:40.520 Second, you're supposed to go and walk around a place called Grosvenor Square. 00:31:40.520 --> 00:31:42.520 Just go walk around there in London. 00:31:42.520 --> 00:31:46.520 And my immediate response to God was, but you know I don't like walking. 00:31:46.520 --> 00:31:48.520 So that was the second one. 00:31:48.520 --> 00:31:50.520 So I take a plane, go to the UK. 00:31:50.520 --> 00:31:54.520 I get off. His dad was there. I told his dad, can you walk with me? 00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:57.520 And his dad came to London, and we walked around Grosvenor Square. 00:31:57.520 --> 00:32:01.520 And while I'm walking around Grosvenor Square, a guy calls me and says, 00:32:01.520 --> 00:32:04.520 I got your number from a friend in Indonesia. 00:32:04.520 --> 00:32:07.520 Next time you're in London, can I meet you? 00:32:07.520 --> 00:32:10.520 And I said, I'm in London. He said, where? 00:32:10.520 --> 00:32:12.520 I told him the place. He's three blocks away. 00:32:12.520 --> 00:32:16.520 And we sit, we talk. He's been fasting for three days, 00:32:16.520 --> 00:32:18.520 and the Lord gives him the answers he needs. 00:32:18.520 --> 00:32:20.520 The next day there was nothing to do. I slept. 00:32:20.520 --> 00:32:22.520 The third day, I'm returning back, 00:32:22.520 --> 00:32:26.520 because I'm trying to get back here for Sunday service in the afternoon. 00:32:26.520 --> 00:32:31.520 And the next day, I stopped by a church in Wembley, 00:32:31.520 --> 00:32:36.520 just because a guy said, if your flight is late enough, can you come and preach? 00:32:36.520 --> 00:32:39.520 I stopped by the church in Wembley. I still haven't found Kiara. 00:32:39.520 --> 00:32:43.520 And I'm in the church. Worship is going on. 00:32:43.520 --> 00:32:45.520 And I instantly know who Kiara is. 00:32:45.520 --> 00:32:48.520 I go ask the pastor what the name of the worship leader is, 00:32:48.520 --> 00:32:51.520 and the worship leader's name is Kiara. 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:55.520 And I go give her the word that I've written down before I left Vancouver. 00:32:55.520 --> 00:32:57.520 And she's bawling her eyes out. 00:32:57.520 --> 00:33:00.520 Now here's a question that I ask God and that Betty is asking. 00:33:00.520 --> 00:33:07.520 Aren't there at least three million believers in the UK? 00:33:07.520 --> 00:33:10.520 They've got 60 million people. Let's just take three million believers. 00:33:10.520 --> 00:33:13.520 Aren't there three million believers in the UK? 00:33:13.520 --> 00:33:19.520 Why does this God have to get a guy who lives 4,320 miles away 00:33:19.520 --> 00:33:23.520 to fly all the way to another country to find a Kiara 00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:26.520 who he could have easily found through someone next door? 00:33:26.520 --> 00:33:29.520 Why? I'll tell you why. 00:33:29.520 --> 00:33:36.520 Go tell them that I am who I am and I am has sent you. 00:33:36.520 --> 00:33:42.520 He doesn't need you, but he wants you there. 00:33:42.520 --> 00:33:45.520 He doesn't need you to do this. 00:33:45.520 --> 00:33:52.520 It is expensive to fly. What about the cost? 00:33:52.520 --> 00:33:59.520 But when obedience clashes with coincidence, you get divine appointments 00:33:59.520 --> 00:34:04.520 that only I am knows is important to do the way he is doing 00:34:04.520 --> 00:34:06.520 because it will have the results he wants. 00:34:06.520 --> 00:34:11.520 This woman will find it very difficult to stray from the word that was given to her. 00:34:11.520 --> 00:34:15.520 Because why would God send a stranger from 4,000 miles away 00:34:15.520 --> 00:34:17.520 to give me a word that I've been waiting for? 00:34:17.520 --> 00:34:20.520 Because she's bawling her head away, bawling her eyes away 00:34:20.520 --> 00:34:31.520 because she's so overwhelmed by what God has done. 00:34:31.520 --> 00:34:39.520 Who shall I say has sent me? Tell them that I am has sent me. 00:34:39.520 --> 00:34:42.520 Paul, shouldn't he have been sent to the Jews? 00:34:42.520 --> 00:34:45.520 Wasn't he a scholar, a Hebrew scholar? 00:34:45.520 --> 00:34:48.520 Wasn't he a guy who studied under Gamaliel? 00:34:48.520 --> 00:34:50.520 Wouldn't he have been brilliant for the Jews? 00:34:50.520 --> 00:34:54.520 Where does he get sent? To the Gentiles. 00:34:54.520 --> 00:35:01.520 Why? 00:35:01.520 --> 00:35:05.520 Stranger is ways, eh? But brilliant are his ways. 00:35:05.520 --> 00:35:09.520 And when we obey, one of the cool things about this idea of go 00:35:09.520 --> 00:35:18.520 is you get to participate in the adventures of God. 00:35:18.520 --> 00:35:24.520 Somehow if we can separate results. 00:35:24.520 --> 00:35:28.520 Okay. 00:35:28.520 --> 00:35:31.520 How does God bring us to a place? 00:35:31.520 --> 00:35:34.520 So every person is supposed to be like this, eh? 00:35:34.520 --> 00:35:38.520 How does God bring us to a place where we can qualify 00:35:38.520 --> 00:35:42.520 to be ones that represent him accurately every day? 00:35:42.520 --> 00:35:44.520 Next year better, the year after that better. 00:35:44.520 --> 00:35:46.520 How do we do that? 00:35:46.520 --> 00:35:53.520 There are some things he uses to test us. 00:35:53.520 --> 00:35:54.520 Here are those things. 00:35:54.520 --> 00:36:02.520 One, he tests you with purpose. 00:36:02.520 --> 00:36:04.520 He tests you with purpose. 00:36:04.520 --> 00:36:09.520 Question is, are you staying, are you staying the course? 00:36:09.520 --> 00:36:15.520 Are you staying the course? 00:36:15.520 --> 00:36:40.520 Or have you amended or deviated from what God said to you last? 00:36:40.520 --> 00:36:46.520 Have you endured? 00:36:46.520 --> 00:36:54.520 Have you endured with joyful faith? 00:36:54.520 --> 00:36:56.520 Have you endured with joyful faith? 00:36:56.520 --> 00:36:57.520 He tests us with purpose. 00:36:57.520 --> 00:37:00.520 One of the ways he matures you is he gives you an impossible 00:37:00.520 --> 00:37:02.520 or near impossible purpose and says, 00:37:02.520 --> 00:37:05.520 hey, this is what I've asked you to do. 00:37:05.520 --> 00:37:07.520 I told you this three, four years ago. 00:37:07.520 --> 00:37:08.520 I told you this through a dream. 00:37:08.520 --> 00:37:09.520 I told you this through a word. 00:37:09.520 --> 00:37:11.520 I told you this through the word. 00:37:11.520 --> 00:37:13.520 I told you this through circumstances. 00:37:13.520 --> 00:37:15.520 I told you this repeatedly. 00:37:15.520 --> 00:37:17.520 I sent many different people to say this to you. 00:37:17.520 --> 00:37:20.520 My question then is, Jacob, are you staying the course 00:37:20.520 --> 00:37:22.520 or have you amended it? 00:37:22.520 --> 00:37:24.520 Have you deviated from it? 00:37:24.520 --> 00:37:27.520 Have circumstances caused you to shift? 00:37:27.520 --> 00:37:30.520 There's a question that pre-sees this. 00:37:30.520 --> 00:37:32.520 Do you know the purpose? 00:37:33.520 --> 00:37:39.520 Yes, our purpose is to make disciples, to multiply churches, 00:37:39.520 --> 00:37:41.520 to make the Father known, to manifest presence. 00:37:41.520 --> 00:37:45.520 Yes, but in that, what is my little role? 00:37:45.520 --> 00:37:49.520 Have I amended it? 00:37:49.520 --> 00:37:57.520 If I don't know it, can I find it? 00:37:57.520 --> 00:37:59.520 What is Chava's purpose? 00:37:59.520 --> 00:38:01.520 He's finished Saurdhara, right? 00:38:01.520 --> 00:38:03.520 And so what's next? 00:38:03.520 --> 00:38:04.520 Find a job? 00:38:04.520 --> 00:38:06.520 What is Shireen's purpose? 00:38:06.520 --> 00:38:08.520 Why is she here? 00:38:08.520 --> 00:38:10.520 What's next? 00:38:10.520 --> 00:38:13.520 What's Priyanka's purpose? 00:38:13.520 --> 00:38:15.520 Why hasn't he gone back to Calgary? 00:38:15.520 --> 00:38:17.520 Or is he supposed to go back to Calgary? 00:38:17.520 --> 00:38:18.520 What's his purpose here? 00:38:18.520 --> 00:38:20.520 What's Sheldon's with his music? 00:38:20.520 --> 00:38:21.520 What's mine? 00:38:21.520 --> 00:38:22.520 What's Caleb's? 00:38:22.520 --> 00:38:24.520 Why is he here for 19 days? 00:38:24.520 --> 00:38:26.520 I didn't know I was inviting him for 19 days. 00:38:26.520 --> 00:38:28.520 I invite nobody for 19 days. 00:38:28.520 --> 00:38:29.520 I don't know how he slipped that one in. 00:38:29.520 --> 00:38:33.520 But what is supposed to happen while he's here? 00:38:33.520 --> 00:38:36.520 Vivek, what is yours? 00:38:36.520 --> 00:38:39.520 Other than being a brilliant father to two amazing children, 00:38:39.520 --> 00:38:45.520 which is what your wife says about you. 00:38:45.520 --> 00:38:54.520 So it's important to know that and to flesh it out. 00:38:54.520 --> 00:38:57.520 And to flesh it out for our children. 00:38:58.520 --> 00:39:00.520 And then we ask this question. 00:39:00.520 --> 00:39:03.520 Are you staying the course or are you deviating? 00:39:03.520 --> 00:39:07.520 Have you amended it? 00:39:07.520 --> 00:39:09.520 All of us have come from... 00:39:09.520 --> 00:39:11.520 There are very few that are born in Vancouver, 00:39:11.520 --> 00:39:13.520 or born in Canada for that matter. 00:39:13.520 --> 00:39:18.520 As I look around, most of us came here many, many years ago. 00:39:18.520 --> 00:39:20.520 30, 40, 50 years ago. 00:39:20.520 --> 00:39:22.520 Except for Wayne and Bernice. 00:39:22.520 --> 00:39:26.520 I don't think anybody else was born here. 00:39:27.520 --> 00:39:34.520 Except for Wayne and Bernice and Mike and Joan and Diana and Rachel and Karen. 00:39:34.520 --> 00:39:36.520 Nobody else was born here. 00:39:36.520 --> 00:39:39.520 That's still only six people, man. 00:39:43.520 --> 00:39:46.520 Put your hands down. 00:39:46.520 --> 00:39:48.520 Oh my God. 00:39:51.520 --> 00:39:54.520 The point being that we all came here. 00:39:54.520 --> 00:39:55.520 We all came here. 00:39:55.520 --> 00:39:57.520 God brought us from different places here. 00:39:57.520 --> 00:39:58.520 Why? 00:39:58.520 --> 00:40:00.520 For a good life? 00:40:03.520 --> 00:40:04.520 No, man. 00:40:04.520 --> 00:40:06.520 There's so much to this. 00:40:09.520 --> 00:40:11.520 And then to stick with it. 00:40:11.520 --> 00:40:13.520 Hey, stay with it. 00:40:13.520 --> 00:40:15.520 We are tested with purpose. 00:40:15.520 --> 00:40:17.520 It matures us. 00:40:17.520 --> 00:40:19.520 Because now there's a set goal, right? 00:40:19.520 --> 00:40:21.520 Do you know that goal? 00:40:21.520 --> 00:40:23.520 And if you don't know that goal, isn't it... 00:40:23.520 --> 00:40:25.520 He wants to tell you. 00:40:25.520 --> 00:40:27.520 It's not that he doesn't want to tell you. 00:40:28.520 --> 00:40:30.520 Take time to find it, guys. 00:40:30.520 --> 00:40:33.520 Take time to find it for your newborn. 00:40:33.520 --> 00:40:36.520 Take time to find it for yourself. 00:40:36.520 --> 00:40:38.520 And then stick to it. 00:40:38.520 --> 00:40:44.520 Let no goods, let no girl, let no guy, let nothing deviate you from it. 00:40:45.520 --> 00:40:49.520 Forehead set like Flint, eyes locked on the prize. 00:40:53.520 --> 00:40:54.520 Next one. 00:40:54.520 --> 00:40:56.520 We won't get through it. 00:40:56.520 --> 00:40:58.520 We'll just go for another nine minutes. 00:40:58.520 --> 00:41:03.520 You won't, you won't, you won't, you won't. 00:41:03.520 --> 00:41:04.520 Okay. 00:41:07.520 --> 00:41:09.520 Tested with the past. 00:41:10.520 --> 00:41:12.520 Tested with the past. 00:41:13.520 --> 00:41:15.520 Have you shaken... 00:41:18.520 --> 00:41:20.520 your past... 00:41:21.520 --> 00:41:27.520 failure, shame, wounds? 00:41:29.520 --> 00:41:31.520 Have you... 00:41:33.520 --> 00:41:35.520 tested with the past? 00:41:35.520 --> 00:41:37.520 Have you shaken it off? 00:41:41.520 --> 00:41:43.520 Feel your shame. 00:41:43.520 --> 00:41:44.520 Wounds. 00:41:44.520 --> 00:41:45.520 Shaken your past. 00:41:45.520 --> 00:41:47.520 Failure, shame, wounds. 00:41:47.520 --> 00:41:49.520 Have you shaken them off? 00:41:49.520 --> 00:41:51.520 David had to shake it off, man. 00:41:51.520 --> 00:41:58.520 He had to shake off the fact that he slept with another man's wife and had a baby with her. 00:41:58.520 --> 00:42:00.520 And the baby dies. 00:42:00.520 --> 00:42:09.520 You can't imagine the enormous weight of the shame and the guilt and the wound of a man after God's heart who fails. 00:42:09.520 --> 00:42:11.520 You can't imagine it. 00:42:11.520 --> 00:42:13.520 You've been through it sometimes. 00:42:13.520 --> 00:42:17.520 Where you thought you were following God, that you were passionate after God. 00:42:17.520 --> 00:42:19.520 And you fail. 00:42:19.520 --> 00:42:21.520 And it breaks you. 00:42:21.520 --> 00:42:22.520 Imagine David. 00:42:22.520 --> 00:42:24.520 This is a man after God's own heart. 00:42:24.520 --> 00:42:26.520 This is a king. 00:42:26.520 --> 00:42:33.520 And he sleeps with another man's wife, sends him to be killed, sleeps with her, has a baby with her, the baby dies. 00:42:33.520 --> 00:42:36.520 Do you know how hard it is to get out of that? 00:42:36.520 --> 00:42:43.520 Psalm 51 must have come from the depths of his soul, but he then has the ability to rise. 00:42:43.520 --> 00:42:45.520 How does Joseph do it? 00:42:45.520 --> 00:42:50.520 See the dream, but years and years and years as a slave. 00:42:50.520 --> 00:43:00.520 If you don't shake off your past, your wounds, your failures, your dad and mom, and how they are. 00:43:00.520 --> 00:43:02.520 Let me put it plainly. 00:43:02.520 --> 00:43:06.520 Some of us are ditto copies of our parents. 00:43:06.520 --> 00:43:08.520 And they have good things in them. 00:43:08.520 --> 00:43:14.520 But my God, there are some things you're not supposed to inherit. 00:43:14.520 --> 00:43:16.520 Or from your culture. 00:43:20.520 --> 00:43:22.520 Shake them off. 00:43:24.520 --> 00:43:30.520 Because there's a God who desperately wants to use you to represent him with people. 00:43:37.520 --> 00:43:43.520 I'm telling you man, as you go further with God, one of the things that will always be thrown at you, 00:43:43.520 --> 00:43:45.520 is guilt and shame. 00:43:45.520 --> 00:43:48.520 You'll feel guilty about something or shame about something. 00:43:48.520 --> 00:43:51.520 And there'll be people sent to remind you. 00:43:51.520 --> 00:43:54.520 You have to learn how to get rid of it quickly. 00:43:54.520 --> 00:44:00.520 Otherwise, it's like being wrapped in that and put in a grave every fourth day. 00:44:00.520 --> 00:44:03.520 Three good days, fourth day in the grave. 00:44:03.520 --> 00:44:06.520 Fifth day, Emily will sing a song and you'll come out. 00:44:06.520 --> 00:44:08.520 And two days you'll survive. 00:44:08.520 --> 00:44:10.520 Eight days back in the grave. 00:44:11.520 --> 00:44:13.520 Not worth it man. 00:44:13.520 --> 00:44:16.520 So my question to you is tested with the past. 00:44:16.520 --> 00:44:21.520 Have you shaken off your past failure, past shame, past wounds? 00:44:21.520 --> 00:44:23.520 I have to do this on a regular basis. 00:44:26.520 --> 00:44:29.520 What is going to be challenged most in your life? 00:44:29.520 --> 00:44:31.520 It is very simple. 00:44:31.520 --> 00:44:33.520 It is whatever God says you are. 00:44:33.520 --> 00:44:38.520 Whoever God says you are is the one thing that Satan will challenge. 00:44:38.520 --> 00:44:39.520 He did that with Jesus. 00:44:39.520 --> 00:44:43.520 If you are, if you are, if you are, you think he'll spare you. 00:44:45.520 --> 00:44:50.520 And he'll take whatever is the sickest, saddest episode in your life 00:44:50.520 --> 00:44:53.520 and show it every time you look in the mirror you'll see that. 00:44:53.520 --> 00:44:55.520 Break that mirror man, get a new one. 00:45:09.520 --> 00:45:14.520 Tested impurity. 00:45:14.520 --> 00:45:17.520 Tested impurity. 00:45:17.520 --> 00:45:20.520 Reminds you of Daniel. 00:45:20.520 --> 00:45:29.520 Have you refused to eat at the king's table? 00:45:29.520 --> 00:45:33.520 Have you stuck to your kosher diet? 00:45:33.520 --> 00:45:35.520 Daniel 1.8. 00:45:36.520 --> 00:45:39.520 Jeremiah 35.5. 00:45:39.520 --> 00:45:41.520 I love this story. 00:45:41.520 --> 00:45:44.520 A bunch of guys called the recobites who were told by their dad 00:45:44.520 --> 00:45:47.520 that you are not to touch any drink or wine. 00:45:47.520 --> 00:45:49.520 Jeremiah tests them. 00:45:49.520 --> 00:45:52.520 He takes a cup of wine, he puts it in front of the recobites and says, 00:45:52.520 --> 00:45:55.520 drink, and he is the prophet. 00:45:55.520 --> 00:45:59.520 And they say to him, our father told us and swore us to an oath 00:45:59.520 --> 00:46:02.520 that we are not to imbibe of any wine. 00:46:02.520 --> 00:46:06.520 And yes, you are a prophet, but we will not touch it. 00:46:06.520 --> 00:46:09.520 You will be tested with purity. 00:46:09.520 --> 00:46:12.520 See the difference between the citizens of the world 00:46:12.520 --> 00:46:14.520 and the citizens of the kingdom is this. 00:46:14.520 --> 00:46:18.520 The citizens of the world can live the way they want and still be successful. 00:46:18.520 --> 00:46:21.520 But the citizens of the kingdom cannot live successfully 00:46:21.520 --> 00:46:24.520 unless purity is a part of their lives. 00:46:24.520 --> 00:46:29.520 Are you living by the standards set by the Bible, set by the church 00:46:29.520 --> 00:46:31.520 that follows the Bible? 00:46:31.520 --> 00:46:33.520 Or are you living by your own standards? 00:46:33.520 --> 00:46:37.520 And if you are living by your own standards and choose to represent Christ, 00:46:37.520 --> 00:46:41.520 then you should not be sent because you are creating your own rules. 00:46:45.520 --> 00:46:47.520 You can volunteer. 00:46:47.520 --> 00:46:51.520 I want to go to Peru, I want to go to Nepal, I want to go to Papua New Guinea, 00:46:51.520 --> 00:46:53.520 I want to go to Saudi Arabia. 00:46:53.520 --> 00:46:58.520 Well then, can you give us as a church this guarantee 00:46:58.520 --> 00:47:04.520 that you are being tested with purity and you are coming out brilliantly 00:47:04.520 --> 00:47:08.520 or are you living by your own standards and saying, 00:47:08.520 --> 00:47:11.520 don't worry, I'll take care of it, I'll take care of it. 00:47:11.520 --> 00:47:13.520 Won't work. 00:47:19.520 --> 00:47:23.520 There is no participation in divine assignments without holiness. 00:47:23.520 --> 00:47:27.520 There is no participation in divine assignments without holiness. 00:47:29.520 --> 00:47:31.520 1 Peter 2, 9. 00:47:31.520 --> 00:47:35.520 You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. 00:47:38.520 --> 00:47:40.520 Psalm 24, verse 3 and 4. 00:47:40.520 --> 00:47:42.520 Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? 00:47:42.520 --> 00:47:46.520 He who has clean hands and a pure heart. 00:47:54.520 --> 00:47:56.520 Tested with allegiances. 00:48:01.520 --> 00:48:03.520 Tested with allegiances. 00:48:07.520 --> 00:48:13.520 If my primary allegiance 00:48:18.520 --> 00:48:20.520 is affected, 00:48:21.520 --> 00:48:28.520 if my primary allegiance to God is affected by Mary, 00:48:31.520 --> 00:48:33.520 Peter, 00:48:34.520 --> 00:48:36.520 Saul, 00:48:37.520 --> 00:48:39.520 Laban, 00:48:42.520 --> 00:48:44.520 clan, 00:48:44.520 --> 00:48:46.520 country, 00:48:47.520 --> 00:48:49.520 tribe, 00:48:51.520 --> 00:48:53.520 then 00:48:55.520 --> 00:48:57.520 I will compromise 00:49:02.520 --> 00:49:04.520 action. 00:49:04.520 --> 00:49:09.520 Guys, the strange thing is these tests will come from God. 00:49:09.520 --> 00:49:13.520 The devil may be used, but these tests will come from God. 00:49:15.520 --> 00:49:17.520 God will test us on this. 00:49:18.520 --> 00:49:23.520 Where the question will be, hey, so Mary's come, she's standing at the door, 00:49:23.520 --> 00:49:26.520 and she wants to take you home because you're beginning to say stuff. 00:49:26.520 --> 00:49:30.520 That's a little too like out there extreme. 00:49:30.520 --> 00:49:32.520 And what does Jesus reply? 00:49:32.520 --> 00:49:34.520 Who is my mother? 00:49:34.520 --> 00:49:36.520 And who are my brothers? 00:49:36.520 --> 00:49:38.520 And then he turns to the crowd and says, 00:49:38.520 --> 00:49:42.520 anyone who does the will of God are my mother, my father, my brother. 00:49:42.520 --> 00:49:44.520 He doesn't say father, my mother, and my brother. 00:49:44.520 --> 00:49:45.520 What's he saying? 00:49:45.520 --> 00:49:50.520 Mary at present is my earthly mother, but she is not following the will of God. 00:49:50.520 --> 00:49:56.520 She's standing there to take me home, and she at this present moment is not walking in the will of God. 00:49:56.520 --> 00:49:58.520 Who is my mother? Who is my brother? 00:49:58.520 --> 00:50:01.520 He's outright saying they are not. 00:50:01.520 --> 00:50:03.520 They may be blood relatives, but they're not. 00:50:05.520 --> 00:50:08.520 What a harsh statement for a son to make, eh? 00:50:10.520 --> 00:50:12.520 Peter, 00:50:12.520 --> 00:50:15.520 he pulls Jesus aside and says, stop talking about the cross. 00:50:15.520 --> 00:50:19.520 Trusted guy, guy who Peter, guy who Jesus depends on, 00:50:19.520 --> 00:50:23.520 guy who Jesus knows will one day lead the kingdom forward. 00:50:23.520 --> 00:50:24.520 And what does he say to Peter? 00:50:24.520 --> 00:50:26.520 These words are strong, eh? 00:50:26.520 --> 00:50:28.520 Thank God we don't have to use these words with each other. 00:50:28.520 --> 00:50:30.520 Satan, get thee behind me. 00:50:36.520 --> 00:50:37.520 Saul. 00:50:38.520 --> 00:50:41.520 Jonathan was supposed to be someone who walked with David. 00:50:41.520 --> 00:50:43.520 He was David's bosom pal. 00:50:43.520 --> 00:50:46.520 He was the guy that would have been David's strongman. 00:50:48.520 --> 00:50:51.520 Same with Michael or Michael, David's wife. 00:50:51.520 --> 00:50:57.520 But David's wife is always known as Saul's daughter, and Jonathan dies with his father. 00:50:57.520 --> 00:51:00.520 When he knows that the Spirit of God has left his dad, 00:51:00.520 --> 00:51:06.520 he still decides not to walk with the anointed king of Israel. 00:51:07.520 --> 00:51:11.520 Allegiances matter. 00:51:11.520 --> 00:51:16.520 If your allegiance is to family, clan, country. 00:51:18.520 --> 00:51:26.520 You know, when I had to bury my mother, I found out that if you don't belong to the church that you were part of, 00:51:26.520 --> 00:51:28.520 that they don't allow you to bury her there. 00:51:28.520 --> 00:51:32.520 So my dad's buried in a certain plot, and there's a family vault. 00:51:33.520 --> 00:51:37.520 But you can't bury my mother there because she decided to get born again. 00:51:37.520 --> 00:51:42.520 So once you get born again, you no longer can be buried in the family vault or in that church. 00:51:42.520 --> 00:51:51.520 Here's the strange thing though, that people decide not to live a born-again life in a church that is vibrant 00:51:51.520 --> 00:51:55.520 because they're concerned about where they will marry and where they will be buried. 00:51:55.520 --> 00:51:57.520 And so they choose not to leave. 00:51:57.520 --> 00:51:59.520 Which is just nuts. 00:51:59.520 --> 00:52:02.520 You're dead. Someone else will take care of it anyways. 00:52:06.520 --> 00:52:13.520 So we decided that we'll go to a particular area, buy a vault, and we have Acts 29 written on it now. 00:52:13.520 --> 00:52:16.520 So anybody here who wants to die in India, you got to pay. 00:52:16.520 --> 00:52:19.520 Yeah, you don't have to worry about it. 00:52:22.520 --> 00:52:26.520 And you don't even have to pay for it because it's all paid for. 00:52:26.520 --> 00:52:31.520 But it is crazy what we'll do to safeguard dignity of allegiance. 00:52:43.520 --> 00:52:47.520 Which was given to them from God. So their allegiance was to God. 00:52:47.520 --> 00:52:51.520 Yeah. If it was something that was tribal, it was different. 00:52:51.520 --> 00:52:53.520 Yeah. 00:52:53.520 --> 00:52:58.520 Yeah. John the Dab was their father. He was given that command. 00:53:01.520 --> 00:53:04.520 Allegiance, break it, eh? Because Jesus put it this way. 00:53:04.520 --> 00:53:07.520 Let it be very clear today, as I say this. 00:53:07.520 --> 00:53:14.520 If your primary allegiance is to anything, if your primary allegiance competes with family, with clan, 00:53:14.520 --> 00:53:19.520 with country, with denomination, with culture, if your primary allegiance competes with that, 00:53:19.520 --> 00:53:25.520 know this, that you are not worthy of following Jesus Christ. 00:53:25.520 --> 00:53:31.520 Jesus' words, Luke 9, 52-59. You are not worthy. 00:53:37.520 --> 00:53:40.520 Last one for now. 00:53:40.520 --> 00:53:44.520 Tested with offense. 00:53:51.520 --> 00:54:04.520 There will be people who will be angry with you, accuse you, who will betray you, offend you, 00:54:04.520 --> 00:54:21.520 who will lie about you, judge you wrongly. 00:54:21.520 --> 00:54:37.520 How do you and I react short term, long term? 00:54:37.520 --> 00:54:44.520 Do you wilt? 00:54:44.520 --> 00:54:48.520 Withdraw? 00:54:48.520 --> 00:54:52.520 Lash out? 00:54:52.520 --> 00:54:55.520 Sulk? 00:54:55.520 --> 00:55:00.520 Remember? 00:55:01.520 --> 00:55:09.520 Or just get a scab that can be notified again. 00:55:13.520 --> 00:55:19.520 You will be tested by offense. It's a marvelous privilege as believers to be tested by offense. 00:55:19.520 --> 00:55:23.520 These are things our Master went through and you will go through it. 00:55:23.520 --> 00:55:27.520 It's a privilege. How is it a privilege? 00:55:27.520 --> 00:55:32.520 It is one thing that really shows who you and I are at the end of the day 00:55:32.520 --> 00:55:37.520 because this is something that when people get angry with you, when people accuse you, 00:55:37.520 --> 00:55:44.520 some accusations are true, some accusations are false, but regardless of true or false, it's not fun. 00:55:44.520 --> 00:55:54.520 So, so, so, okay, yeah, so when people are angry with you, when people accuse you, when people betray you, 00:55:54.520 --> 00:55:59.520 when people offend you, when people lie, when people judge you wrongly, 00:55:59.520 --> 00:56:02.520 how do you and I react short term and long term? 00:56:02.520 --> 00:56:09.520 Do you wilt? Do you withdraw? Do you lash out? 00:56:09.520 --> 00:56:13.520 I mean, I feel like lashing out, but I won't. 00:56:13.520 --> 00:56:16.520 Do you lash out? Do you sulk? Do you remember? 00:56:16.520 --> 00:56:21.520 Do you develop a scab that's waiting to be scratched again? 00:56:24.520 --> 00:56:27.520 We will be tested with offense. 00:56:27.520 --> 00:56:34.520 I've said this before. Many years ago on Christmas, they had an interview with Michael W. Smith, 00:56:34.520 --> 00:56:38.520 the guy who wrote the song we sang today, and they asked him, 00:56:38.520 --> 00:56:41.520 what's one desire you have for the New Year? 00:56:41.520 --> 00:56:44.520 I was very surprised by his answer. His answer was, 00:56:44.520 --> 00:56:52.520 I hope that I will learn not to be offended for the entire year. 00:56:52.520 --> 00:56:57.520 I don't think anyone would ever want something like that, and why don't we want it? 00:56:57.520 --> 00:57:02.520 I hope that I will never be offended for the entire year. 00:57:02.520 --> 00:57:08.520 What a resolution. What a desire. Never to be offended. 00:57:11.520 --> 00:57:14.520 And what was Joseph's reaction? Crazy. 00:57:14.520 --> 00:57:20.520 I mean, Joseph is one guy who had reason to be offended, man. 00:57:20.520 --> 00:57:25.520 He had reason to be offended. It's marvelous, eh? 00:57:25.520 --> 00:57:33.520 God uses these tests. Satan uses tests and trials to fail us. 00:57:33.520 --> 00:57:37.520 God uses them to mature us. He's going to use these tests. 00:57:37.520 --> 00:57:45.520 Look forward to it. We'll stop here. But just look at the tests that God is going to try us through. 00:57:45.520 --> 00:57:48.520 Try us through so that we come out as gold. 00:57:48.520 --> 00:57:53.520 Test you with purpose. Please find it. It really helps, eh? 00:57:53.520 --> 00:57:58.520 It really helps. Test you with purpose. 00:57:58.520 --> 00:58:02.520 Not some great funda purpose, but I'm using all kinds of words today. 00:58:03.520 --> 00:58:07.520 Notify means to scratch. Funda means big. 00:58:07.520 --> 00:58:16.520 So, not some great purpose. Oh God, what are the little things that I can become and do in the year ahead? 00:58:16.520 --> 00:58:20.520 What are the little things that I can become and do in the year ahead? 00:58:20.520 --> 00:58:23.520 Become and do. Never just do. Become and do. 00:58:23.520 --> 00:58:28.520 Because whatever you become will be connected to what God is asking you to do. 00:58:28.520 --> 00:58:34.520 If he says kind and distribute money, he knows that both are connected. 00:58:34.520 --> 00:58:37.520 You have to be kind to be generous. 00:58:39.520 --> 00:58:44.520 Otherwise it's a soulless act. 00:58:44.520 --> 00:58:48.520 When generosity doesn't come from kindness, it's a soulless act. 00:58:48.520 --> 00:58:52.520 It's just a distribution of money because you have excess. 00:58:53.520 --> 00:59:00.520 Think about it. What is it that I need to become and what do I need to do? 00:59:00.520 --> 00:59:05.520 Test it with purpose. Next one. Test it with the past. 00:59:05.520 --> 00:59:09.520 Test it with the past. We talked about it at length. Test it with the past. 00:59:09.520 --> 00:59:13.520 Do you think Peter wasn't częśćed that he'd betrayed Jesus? 00:59:15.520 --> 00:59:18.520 He had been restored. Jesus hugged him at the beat. 00:59:18.520 --> 00:59:21.520 You think it didn't come up again? 00:59:25.520 --> 00:59:28.520 You think David was restored? 00:59:28.520 --> 00:59:31.520 You think he was restored? 00:59:31.520 --> 00:59:35.520 You think he was restored? 00:59:36.520 --> 00:59:39.520 You think David wasn't reminded? 00:59:39.520 --> 00:59:43.520 And the guilt that will come later? 00:59:54.520 --> 00:59:57.520 Test it with purity. Test it in purity. 00:59:58.520 --> 01:00:01.520 All of us will be tested in purity. 01:00:01.520 --> 01:00:04.520 All of us will be tested in purity. 01:00:04.520 --> 01:00:06.520 What does God want? 01:00:06.520 --> 01:00:11.520 Jacob, can you give me clean hands and pure hearts so that I can have you ascend the Holy Mountain, 01:00:11.520 --> 01:00:16.520 spend time with me, go down into the valley and open the gates that are barred? 01:00:16.520 --> 01:00:18.520 Very simple. Beautiful. 01:00:18.520 --> 01:00:23.520 Jacob, can you come up the Holy Mountain so that you can worship? 01:00:23.520 --> 01:00:26.520 Witness comes out of worship. 01:00:27.520 --> 01:00:31.520 You announce what you adore. 01:00:31.520 --> 01:00:34.520 You announce what you adore. 01:00:38.520 --> 01:00:41.520 Witness comes out of worship. 01:00:41.520 --> 01:00:49.520 Worship nights, the intent is, can we adore him so that out of that, whatever God wants to do, let it happen and let us go forth. 01:00:49.520 --> 01:00:53.520 You announce what you adore. You witness what you worship. 01:00:53.520 --> 01:00:59.520 And so, God's intent is, can you come up the mountain? Can you worship? 01:00:59.520 --> 01:01:06.520 Can you then go down into the valley with clean hands and a pure heart and absolute adoration of my awesomeness? 01:01:06.520 --> 01:01:12.520 Can you go down to the valley and in the valley, will you open up the ancient gates and doors that have been barred 01:01:12.520 --> 01:01:16.520 so that the ancient of days can enter in? 01:01:18.520 --> 01:01:19.520 Who's he asking? 01:01:19.520 --> 01:01:21.520 Who's he asking? 01:01:21.520 --> 01:01:24.520 Ordinary Acts 29 people. 01:01:27.520 --> 01:01:29.520 Tested with allegiances, we went over that. 01:01:29.520 --> 01:01:31.520 Please, that's an important one, eh? 01:01:31.520 --> 01:01:34.520 Tested with orphans, we'll stop there. Let's pray. 01:01:39.520 --> 01:01:44.520 Jesus, everybody sitting here wants to become like you. 01:01:45.520 --> 01:01:51.520 As you look at us, I'm not speaking rubbish. 01:01:51.520 --> 01:01:55.520 I'm speaking the thoughts of every person here. 01:01:55.520 --> 01:02:02.520 Every person sitting here, whether they are new, whether they're old, whether they've been Christians for one year or 40 years, 01:02:02.520 --> 01:02:06.520 the desire is, Jesus, I want to really be like you. 01:02:06.520 --> 01:02:09.520 Give me two minutes of a day, two hours in a day, 20 hours in a day. 01:02:09.520 --> 01:02:12.520 I want to be like you. 01:02:15.520 --> 01:02:22.520 Oh God, therefore we say, refine us, test us. 01:02:22.520 --> 01:02:30.520 We want to pass. You won't ever put any burden on us, any test on us that you don't think we can pass. 01:02:30.520 --> 01:02:34.520 You always test us to show that we have the calibre. 01:02:34.520 --> 01:02:38.520 Test us, oh God. Test us, Church. 01:02:38.520 --> 01:02:47.520 Help us to shed our allegiances, our easy offence taking. 01:02:47.520 --> 01:02:53.520 Help us, oh God. We want to be like you. A Church that looks like Christ? Nuts. 01:02:53.520 --> 01:02:56.520 So that's one side. 01:02:56.520 --> 01:03:01.520 The second side, Father, is test us, mature us, send us. 01:03:01.520 --> 01:03:04.520 Sender God. 01:03:04.520 --> 01:03:11.520 Oh God, we talked about Yahweh. You're the God who sends. 01:03:11.520 --> 01:03:16.520 I am who I am. Tell them, I am who sent you. 01:03:16.520 --> 01:03:20.520 As I have been sent, so I now send you out. 01:03:20.520 --> 01:03:29.520 Holy Spirit, you're the fuel, you're the power, you're the one who makes things happen when people go out. 01:03:29.520 --> 01:03:35.520 Jesus, we are trusting that this is what you want to do with us next year. 01:03:35.520 --> 01:03:42.520 We are just absolutely incapable, but we desperately want this. 01:03:42.520 --> 01:03:47.520 We want to go and say what Jesus said. 01:03:47.520 --> 01:03:57.520 Go tell them that the good news is being preached to the poor, that the sick are being healed, demons are being cast out, 01:03:57.520 --> 01:04:05.520 the dead are being raised, the lepers are being cleansed, and blessed is he who is not offended by all this. 01:04:05.520 --> 01:04:14.520 Make this a going Church, make this a sending Church, make this a Church where the words and the works come together. 01:04:14.520 --> 01:04:21.520 We want to be able to say to a much greater extent in December 2025 01:04:21.520 --> 01:04:26.520 that if you don't believe the words I speak, believe the works I do. 01:04:26.520 --> 01:04:30.520 Oh, gosh, Lord, what a statement that will be. 01:04:30.520 --> 01:04:33.520 Two statements that we deeply desire in this Church. 01:04:33.520 --> 01:04:36.520 One, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. 01:04:36.520 --> 01:04:41.520 Second, if you don't believe the words I say, believe the works I do. 01:04:41.520 --> 01:04:50.520 I'm going to say that twice more so that it settles like a canopy, like a cap, like a skull cap on our heads, Father. 01:04:50.520 --> 01:04:56.520 First statement that we want to grow into in 2025 December by that time. 01:04:56.520 --> 01:05:00.520 If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. 01:05:00.520 --> 01:05:05.520 Second statement, if you don't believe the words I say, believe the works I do. 01:05:05.520 --> 01:05:10.520 This is what we ask for in Jesus' name. Amen. 01:05:10.520 --> 01:05:14.520 Thank you, guys. If you need prayer, there'll be someone here to pray with you. 01:05:14.520 --> 01:05:20.520 Besides that, next Sunday, the sermon will be super short because the kids' kit will be super long.