WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Good-News-Culture-Bonded-By-Blood Publishing Date: 2022-08-21T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/good-news-culture-bonded-by-blood/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 Thank you Father. Thank you Father. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:11.000 Father we thank you for bringing us together as a body. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:17.000 There are some of us Abba who cannot be here who are tuning in now or maybe tuning in later. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.000 But we come together as a people to you now Abba. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.000 We want you to speak to us. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:30.000 We want your words to revive our souls. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.000 We want you to teach us Abba. 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Father the next little while we give it to you. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.000 We give it to you so that you can speak to us Holy Spirit. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:48.000 Abba, my mouth, my mind, my body, our minds, we give it to you Holy Spirit. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:53.000 We thank you that you want to do something in our midst. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:00.000 And we want all of it. We will not leave you without getting all of what you have for us. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.000 We want all of it Holy Spirit. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.000 This is your church. This is your body. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.000 And we come as your people. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:10.000 Have your way in our midst. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:13.000 In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:22.000 Guys over the last little while God has been speaking to us about things that we are to step into. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:27.000 This song that we sang, these are the days of Ezekiel. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:29.000 These are the days of David. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:31.000 These are the days of Elijah. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:34.000 These are the days of great harvest. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:40.000 God has been promising different things to us as a church over the last little while. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.000 He's talking about revival. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000 He's talking about nations opening up for the church. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:56.000 What I want us to think about today, hear today from the Holy Spirit, is none of those things that he promised us, 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:09.000 none of those things that he has ready for us, can we walk in if we do not walk in the fullness of what he is asking us to do. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:12.000 I'm glad Brad talked about obedience today. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.000 What I'm going to be talking about today is there are certain things specific to Acts 29 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:22.000 that I believe God is going to share with us today, that we are to walk together as a body. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:28.000 And if we can't walk together as a body, I'm going to just say this, we can sing as much as we want, 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:37.000 we can think of it as much as we want, but the full obedience that God is expecting of us has to be found in our midst. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:42.000 We talked about a few days ago, the prayer meetings have been great over the last few days. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:49.000 Two or three days ago we said there is a gap sometimes between what we know here and what we experience. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:57.000 And this gap can only be filled when we walk in obedience and are readied by the Holy Spirit for the work that is at hand. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:02.000 So today I want us to listen to what I have to say together as a body. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:09.000 Please don't lose me while I'm speaking today because I know personally the importance of what God wants to talk to us today. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:18.000 I am convinced of it. I am completely convinced of the fact that the Holy Spirit wants us together as a church to march a certain way, 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:23.000 to walk a certain way, to live a certain way. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.000 And this, is there a music playback? That's great. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.000 He wants us to do it his way guys. And that's what we're going to be talking about today. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:38.000 So there is a call, there are promises, there are things that he has already asked us. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.000 And for us to walk in it, we have to walk in the fullness of what he has asked us to. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.000 Not half of it, not three quarters of it. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:53.000 I was reading about this guy, Lewis Hamilton. He's the F1 car racer. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:59.000 They have to go fast of course. When the race happens, everything happens very quickly. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:03.000 But it's interesting what F1 formula drivers do. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:11.000 They can't have too much muscle on their arms and their shoulders because the center of gravity in the car has to be low. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:19.000 During a two hour race, your heartbeat can be 160-170 beats per million. Beats per minute. Million? Yeah. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:25.000 Beats per minute. That much beats. 160-170 times the heart beats. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:31.000 In just a matter of two hours, that's how your heart responds to the crazy fast speed. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:37.000 And when you exercise as an F1 driver, you have to sprint as much as you want to sprint. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.000 Because otherwise you're not prepared for the race ahead. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:45.000 So F1 drivers, they prepare their bodies, their minds for the journey ahead. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:50.000 How much more so we for the journey ahead that God has for us. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:55.000 And the journey ahead is clear. The journey ahead is sure. The journey ahead is here. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:03.000 It is now about us readying ourselves perfectly in the manner that the Holy Spirit wants us to prepare and be ready for. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:08.000 I want to read a verse first. Let's read Acts chapter 20, 28. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:19.000 Acts chapter 20, 28. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:25.000 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:32.000 To care for the church of God which he obtained with his own blood. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:39.000 The church of God which he obtained with what? With his own blood. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:47.000 The title of today's message will continue the series that Jacob started which is... 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.000 What's the CD name again? Sorry, what's it again? 00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:00.000 Just kidding. The Good News Culture. I forgot the name of the title but that's okay. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.000 But I know the name of the message which is bonded by blood. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:09.000 We'll continue that series but this time around we're not going to be looking at outward what's happening. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.000 We're looking inside within the church. Bonded by blood. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:18.000 So the Good News Culture, bonded by blood is what we're going to talk about today. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:23.000 So this church, Acts 29, has been bought by Jesus Christ. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:30.000 And all of us belong to this body because we've been purchased by the blood. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:37.000 And when we operate together, when we walk together, when we live together, when we respond to the call of God that is on us, 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:43.000 we have to then know for a fact that this bond is not an earthly bond. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:49.000 This bond that brings us together, it's not something that happens just by chance. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:54.000 It is a bond that is formed by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:03.000 And I always love talking about this. I want us to look at ourselves and know that my goodness, when Jesus looks at us, 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:12.000 He sees us as a body, as a people placed here, bought by His blood, and He looks at us and cherishes the fact that we are together. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:22.000 Every time I think of how Jesus' heart is to us, not as individuals, but as a body, I go, wow. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:30.000 Even times like this when we come together and we are ready to listen to Him together as a people, it brings such pleasure to His heart. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:38.000 There is nothing more important to Jesus than His people. And we are part of this people. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:45.000 So let's talk about if there is this good news culture that we're talking about and then we're bonded by blood, 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:56.000 what's the culture that Jesus expects within this community and how are we to walk within this community responding to this call? 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:09.000 So everything that we're going to talk about today is us readying ourselves, us preparing ourselves for this next phase, walk, season, call it whatever that God has for us. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:19.000 This is all about us readying and preparing ourselves. I really do believe that God is asking us to get into a new orbit in Him as a church. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:25.000 And only if we move into this new orbit together can we walk in the fullness of what He has for us. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:32.000 The letters that were written to the different churches in the book of Revelation, it wasn't written to a few different people. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:41.000 It was all written to the church. So when the letter to the Church of Philadelphia was written, it doesn't say to a few people in the Church of Philadelphia. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:50.000 It was always written to the entire people that assembled in that physical location in Philadelphia. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:09:03.000 So when Jesus is speaking to Acts 29, when He talks about a new thing that He is doing, when He talks about revival, He is talking to the entire body, not one person left out. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:13.000 He is talking to all of us. And then if we listen to that and listen to what He is saying, the obedience is also a collective obedience. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:23.000 And when the obedience is collective and we hear together and we respond together, that is when the fullness, I know I am saying fullness too many times, but I want you to hear it. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:30.000 The fullness of what He has said will only happen at that point. Otherwise we will see things. I am guaranteeing you. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:34.000 We will see things. We will experience the things that He has asked us to. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:48.000 But my goodness, if we walk together, listen together, respond together, live together in what He is saying, we will see the fullness of what He has promised us. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.000 All of it. Nothing left out. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:57.000 So let's look at what's this good news culture. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:05.000 The first thing I want to talk about is from 1 Corinthians 13. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:19.000 So Acts 29, you may be able to speak in the tongues of angels and men, but if you do not have love, you gain nothing. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:25.000 Acts 29, you may have the faith to move mountains. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:30.000 You may have all the wisdom, all of the understanding. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Anyone stepping inside this building at any given time will benefit from the fact that you can prophesy over them. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:44.000 But if you do not have love, you are nothing. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:54.000 Acts 29, you can talk all about what God wants to do and be all excited about it. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.000 But if you do not have love, you gain nothing. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:07.000 I know I'm paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 13, but this is something God clearly wants to remind us today. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Yes, there are things. Yes, there are promises. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:17.000 But Acts 29, the commandment that I've given you is a commandment of love. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.000 It is a commandment. Jesus said, we'll read that verse. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.000 He said, I give you a new commandment. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:27.000 The commandment that I'm giving you, which is new, is this. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:31.000 You are to love each other as I love you. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:36.000 And if you miss that and you chase after anything, you can be as good as the best in the world. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:40.000 But you are nothing. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.000 You can speak in tongues. You can prophesy. You can have deliverances. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:52.000 But if you do not have love, you gain nothing. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.000 And it's a clear message that the Holy Spirit has for us this morning. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:04.000 So in everything that we do, God is reminding us of the greatest of all, which is love. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:13.000 Faith, hope, love. Love. The greatest of all. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:19.000 I want to read this verse that I spoke out loud, which is John chapter 15-12. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:23.000 Guys, I know today when I speak everything that I have to speak, 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:28.000 it's probably going to sound like a little accusational. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:34.000 It is not. This is really just what God wants to speak to us today. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:38.000 And I don't care. I shared this with Jacob as well. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:42.000 And I know for a fact that God wants us to think differently. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:50.000 I'm telling you, this time we will be able to move into what God has for us if we shift in our thinking. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:58.000 If we see things differently now, if we can look and operate in a way we have never operated in between amongst each other, 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.000 it will change us. It will transform us. It will give us a momentum. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:07.000 It will give us a force, a speed that we haven't experienced before. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:12.000 Once this is there, once what I'm going to talk about today is there in our midst, it's already there. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.000 But God is saying, change it, advance in it, transform in it. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.000 There is more that you can do. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:24.000 Once we are obedient to what God is saying, I know for a fact that there will be a momentum, a change in speed, 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.000 a change in how He works in us that others will recognize. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.000 I want us to read John chapter 15 and 12. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:51.000 This is my new, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:55.000 John 13, 34, 35. I'll just read it loud. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:59.000 John 13, 34, 35. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:07.000 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:14.000 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:23.000 Notice this guys, Jesus is not saying that, hey church, here is my wish list for you, I want you to love one another. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:29.000 Jesus is not saying, guys, I want you to try as much as you can to love one another. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.000 Jesus is saying, I am giving you a new commandment. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:37.000 And this new commandment, Acts 29, is this, love one another. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:43.000 But it doesn't stop there. Love one another as I have loved you. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.000 And that changes everything. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:48.000 That is what God wants us to understand today. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:57.000 Because the love that we sometimes know of, the love that I operate in, the love that you operate in, it can have a greater measure. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.000 Because Jesus' commandment is not to love each other. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:06.000 Jesus' commandment is this, love each other as I have commanded, as I love you. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:11.000 As I have loved you, you therefore, like that, love each other. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:14.000 So how does Jesus love? 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.000 How does Jesus love us? 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:25.000 Because once we know how Jesus loves us, once we understand that, once that is here in our heart and we understand the depth of it, 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:29.000 we are then able to exercise that and give the fullness of it to others. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.000 So let's go through this one by one. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.000 How did Jesus love? 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:40.000 Number one, Jesus loved with the love of the Father. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.000 Jesus loved with the love of the Father. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000 Hear me out. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:50.000 Jesus did not love with an earthly love. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:56.000 Jesus did not wake up and say, today I want to love everyone. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.000 And so I'm going to love everyone. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:04.000 Jesus wasn't just intentional about loving people. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:12.000 Jesus was able to love people the way he loves people because he was soaked, because he is immersed in the love of the Father. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.000 That is why Jesus loved the way he did. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.000 Jesus loved with the love of the Father. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:26.000 So I can only love someone the way Jesus loves when I know fully the love of the Father. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.000 Jesus was immersed in the love of the Father. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:36.000 By loving the Father and being loved by the Father, he was then able to love others like the Father. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:42.000 So for Derek and for you, by loving the Father and by being immersed in the love of the Father, 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:48.000 that is the only way we will be able to love each other like the Father does. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.000 There is no other way. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.000 We can try with the best of our abilities, the best intentions. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:59.000 I can wake up every single day and say, all of Acts 29, I want to love like Jesus does. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:02.000 I can try. I can do as best as I can. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:10.000 I will not be able to do it fully well unless I am soaked in the love that the Father has for us. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:15.000 So for us, guys, can we change our thinking? 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:24.000 Can we challenge what we know and say, Abba, collectively as a people, I'm not happy with how I love. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.000 I'm not loving as you love. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:29.000 I want to love others like you do. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:31.000 I want to love others like you do. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:35.000 This is not something you just said and added as a verse in the Bible. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.000 This is your commandment to me. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:39.000 This is your commandment to us as a people. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:46.000 And when there is a measure of obedience in the church, my goodness, the Holy Spirit takes that and adds that. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.000 And he does something that we can't do with our strength. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:54.000 This is why obedience to what he is saying is important. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.000 And if this obedience is collective, guys, if what we are talking about is collective, 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.000 if the Holy Spirit is truly saying this, and I believe he is, 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:06.000 and if all of us respond to this word and we say, Holy Spirit, we want something new, 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.000 we are ready to move from where we were before. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:11.000 We look at each other and I know we love each other. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:14.000 But no, I'm not satisfied with this measure of love. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.000 My love, I need to change in it. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.000 I want to be so soaked in you, so immersed in you, so all of what I have can be yours. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.000 And I want to love each other like you do. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:32.000 How powerful will we be as a church when we do that? 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:37.000 We won't be, as Jacob talked about it, unstoppable. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:44.000 We won't be, we cannot be stopped when we love with that love. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:52.000 So it is impossible to love people like Jesus did with our best intentions. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:59.000 It is impossible to love people like Jesus did with our best intentions. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:07.000 It is impossible to love people like Jesus did by trying our best and working hard at it. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.000 That's when you burn out, because you are trying too hard. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.000 You are trying with everything you have. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.000 You burn out because you are a human being. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.000 There is only possibly so much you can do. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:24.000 But it is possible to be soaked in Jesus. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:29.000 That the very same power that empowered Jesus can empower you to love. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:37.000 It is possible to be so immersed in Jesus that I can forget my old self. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:41.000 And every day I can be advancing in my love for others. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:48.000 It is possible to move from one measure of love to another measure of love. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.000 As I immerse myself in the love of Jesus. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:59.000 See the thing is when Jesus says, this is important, when Jesus says love others as I love you. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:02.000 He is not just giving a pattern. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:05.000 Because we look at that and we think it is a pattern. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:10.000 No, he is saying there is a pattern which is you love others like I do. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:12.000 But there is also the power factor. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.000 The power to love people comes from me. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.000 Abide in me. Soak yourself in me. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:22.000 Immerse yourself in me. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Then you will be able to love like I do. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:29.000 Unless you do that you can try. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.000 And guys, I know we love each other. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:37.000 I know this church is great at many things. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.000 But I feel the pull of the Holy Spirit saying, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.000 Guys there is a depth that is needed in your midst. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:49.000 This new depth will come when you recognize what I want of you collectively. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.000 Will you respond collectively? 00:20:52.000 --> 00:21:01.000 Will you respond together to what I want to do? 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:06.000 Just by associating with Jesus, for me just in a matter of one year, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:12.000 I have picked up words and mannerisms that Iris has. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:18.000 When we walk together with Jesus every day, 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.000 when we are so willing to be immersed in Jesus, 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.000 how much more? 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:28.000 There will be new depths of love that we can experience. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.000 We will be able to love others like Jesus did. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:35.000 Guys, Jesus doesn't give any commandment that we cannot follow. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Everything that he says is for us to completely run in. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:48.000 And so this commandment is fully ours to follow, to live. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.000 So Acts 29, let's look at Jesus and clearly see two things. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:55.000 One, that we can love like Jesus. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:22:03.000 And it is in fact his command to us. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.000 It does not come from striving. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.000 It does not come from best effort. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:13.000 But it comes from immersing ourselves in Jesus. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:17.000 So that was the first one. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:24.000 Second, Jesus loved by laying down his life. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:31.000 So when Jesus says, Acts 29, love each other like I love you, 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:36.000 that love that Jesus has for us, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:41.000 it led Jesus to dying at the cross for me and you. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:45.000 So I cannot love like Jesus does 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:50.000 if I am not willing to lay down my life for others. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.000 Let's read John chapter 15, 13. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:57.000 We just read for the first point, John chapter 15, 12. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.000 Verse 13 is right after that. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:01.000 John 15, 13. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:05.000 Greater love has no one than this, 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:08.000 that someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:11.000 Greater love has no one than this, 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:15.000 that someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.000 Jesus emptied himself to the point of death. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:22.000 He cared enough, he loved enough to die for us. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:27.000 And so if I am to follow him and I have to follow this commandment that he has given me, 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:31.000 I have to put down my life to love others. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:34.000 When I was writing this I that day, I'll be honest with you guys, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:39.000 I shut down my laptop as soon as I wrote it. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:44.000 And I asked myself, some of these things I just read man, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:54.000 and I just assume that I understand. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:59.000 Jesus is saying, Derek, you want to walk in the fullness of my love? 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.000 You have to lay down your life for others. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:10.000 See the thing is, Remy can take a bullet for Amari and Yahya and Judah right now. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:13.000 He wouldn't mind. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.000 That's just innate in him. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:17.000 God has given men the ability to do that. 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:21.000 Somehow God makes you able to do that. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:25.000 But the question is, can we die for each other? 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:28.000 We can't escape these questions, guys. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:33.000 Can we die for each other? 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:37.000 Because if I read that verse, it has to naturally lead me to this question. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:40.000 Will I die for you? 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Will I die for each other? 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:50.000 So the more I thought about it, I want us to look at it this way. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:56.000 We will not lay down our lives for each other unless we lay down a few things before that. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:01.000 Because life is the thing that's most precious to all of us. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:03.000 Is it not? 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:06.000 Am I saying something that you don't agree with? 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.000 Is it not? 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:10.000 Life is very precious to each of you. Is it not? 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.000 Guys, let's be honest here. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:17.000 So when Jesus says, I will lay down my life for you, 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:23.000 I won't be able to lay down my life for you unless I lay down a few things before that. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:28.000 Once I lay down a few things before I lay my life down, I am prepared. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:34.000 I am getting to a point where, yeah, one day I could lay down my life for you. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:40.000 But without laying down a few things even before that, there is no way I lay down my life for you. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:43.000 That's the good shepherd. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:48.000 He always would lay down his life for others, for us. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.000 So let's just first begin sincerely looking at this and say, 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:57.000 what are the few things that I should lay down, should train myself to lay down 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:03.000 so that I can be at a place where I am fully willing to lay down my life as well. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:11.000 Guys, the last thing I want today is for us to think about something that we're just hearing and are not applying. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:16.000 Everything that I have written down, I have full... 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:18.000 I want to obey. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:22.000 Everything that I am speaking, I hope we can collectively obey. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:33.000 So let's start with five things we lay down first before we get to a point of collectively being able to die for each other if we need to. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:36.000 Number one, lay down your rights. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 Lay down your rights. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:46.000 Lay down your rights. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:52.000 Jesus laid down his rights at the cross. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.000 Jesus laid down everything at the cross. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:01.000 He had the right to do many things there, but he didn't do any of that. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:04.000 He just laid all of his rights down. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:09.000 So for Acts 29, for each of us, can you lay down your rights? 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:19.000 When you truly owed something by someone, can you get to a point where you can say, even if you don't get it, it's okay? 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:29.000 Can you get to a point where you're deserving something, but even if you don't get it, you lay down your rights? 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:42.000 Can you get to a point where you're living and walking in the context of this body where something that you truly are to get from someone, from my brother, Don, I expect something, 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:46.000 and it is my right to get something from Don. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:56.000 But if Don doesn't give that which is due me, can I lay it down because I love him? 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:59.000 Can I lay down my rights? 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:04.000 Can I lay down what I'm deserving of? 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:10.000 Can I lay down my self entitlement, things that are entitled to me? 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:13.000 Can I lay it all down? That's one. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:18.000 Number two, lay down your time. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:23.000 Lay down your time. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.000 Can I lay down my time for others? 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:41.000 And this is not just to meet with each other and have a fun time with each other, but can I know, especially with where this church is going, can I lay down my time to pray for others? 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:48.000 Because the last couple of weeks, as we get together here to pray, it's amazing how God leads us. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:55.000 And if that's the call on this church, can I lay down my time to pray, not for me, but for others? 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:57.000 No one will know, guys. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:03.000 No one will know that you're praying for me, that you're praying for each other, but God knows. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:11.000 And there is a laying down of self that's required if we are to love others like Jesus does. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:17.000 Third, can you lay down your money? 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:24.000 And while I am speaking, I just ask you to ask yourself where you're at with each of these things. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:27.000 Can you lay down your money? 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:32.000 Next, can you lay down your convenience? 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:42.000 The more I thought about it, it's not just being willing to be inconvenienced, because we inconvenience ourselves for each other. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:47.000 But can you have a lifestyle where you're ready for inconvenience? 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:52.000 Where you wake up and are ready for the call of God to say, do this, do that. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.000 You're not just willing. You're ready for it. You're expecting it. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:01.000 That's a different way, guys. That's a completely different way of living. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:08.000 The desire to be inconvenienced is good. The willingness to be inconvenienced is good. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:12.000 It is good, but there is another realm. You are ready to be inconvenienced. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:18.000 And you have told God already, Abba, I'm ready to be inconvenienced for the sake of your body, bought by your blood, 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:23.000 because I'm bonded by blood to this family. I am readied. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:30.000 And God, whenever you put something in front of him, he'll take it and he'll use it. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:36.000 Next. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:46.000 Lay down your personality. Lay down your personality. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:51.000 So you could say, well, my personality is what God gave me. Why would I lay it down? 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:54.000 The good stuff that God has given you, don't lay it down. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:00.000 The bad stuff in your personality and in my personality that doesn't align with how God has laid down. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:09.000 We all have that. If you have any questions, as Jacob always says, just talk to him. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:12.000 You all have that. I have that. You have that. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:17.000 There are things in our personalities that do not align with how God wants us to be. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:25.000 Can you lay it down? 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:28.000 And this is really the meaning of dying to yourself. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:34.000 Otherwise, these verses are verses kept somewhere in our head and we know we die to ourselves. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:43.000 But let's just practically together run in these things so that there is a collective momentum that is there within Acts 29. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:51.000 So we talked about what is the culture that Jesus has prescribed for us at Acts 29. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:32:02.000 We started off with the love commandment and we said we cannot love each other as Jesus asked us to if you don't love with the love of Jesus. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:05.000 And then we started going down that path. 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:13.000 We said love like Jesus did, love like Jesus did by laying your life down. 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:20.000 And the next thing I want us to think about is when Jesus loved, he broke down walls. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:28.000 So you can't love like Jesus does unless you break down walls. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:33.000 Something that I truly treasure at Acts 29 is this. I think we are a full crowd today. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:43.000 If someone steps into Acts 29 right now, I think the last question in our minds collectively is where are they from? 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:48.000 What nationality do they belong to? It's precious. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:55.000 Because in this church, there is really no thinking of nationality, race, ethnicity, 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:03.000 because somehow the Holy Spirit has taught us to know of us as one family, one culture. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:14.000 But there are other walls that God is asking us to think of so that we can excel in being together as a community and walking together. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:22.000 So when Jesus loved, he broke down walls. Those who were discriminated, Jesus held close. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:28.000 Those who were not popular within a group, Jesus considered them in high regard. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:33.000 Listen to me guys. Those who were not popular, Jesus held them in high regard. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:37.000 Those who were discriminated against, Jesus held close. 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:44.000 Those who were outcasts, they belonged in Jesus' crew. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.000 And every time he met someone, he loved them with a purpose. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:34:01.000 And so for me then, I have to ask the question, what are the walls that I have to break down with the power of God so that I can walk knowingfully well, be bonded by blood? 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:15.000 Is it the wall of age? Is it age that is a barrier? Is it the wall of single versus married? 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:24.000 Is it gender? What are the walls that you can think of that the Holy Spirit is asking you to break down? 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:35.000 Then that's how you love each other. So break down also the walls of hurt and past experiences. That's big. 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:44.000 Sometimes there are walls of past experiences. I dealt with this person this way and I don't think I can expect anything different. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:56.000 Or I got hurt because of Nick two years ago. And I kind of like Nick, but can I still be okay with that? 00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:04.000 Am I willing to be breaking this wall between Nick and I because of my past experiences and hurt? 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:12.000 Ask these questions guys. Jesus says the love that he has that flows through us, all walls will be broken. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:18.000 Nick and I are friends, so that's okay. Just in case someone was wondering if that was true. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:30.000 Next, this is just a side note. This is where walking and living life as a son will help us. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:37.000 Because orphans always pull back when there is hurt. And I've been there myself. 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:44.000 Orphans will pull back when there is hurt. Orphans will dwell on past experiences. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:53.000 But if you're a son, if you know that you're a daughter and you're walking in it, this will be so much more easier. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:36:03.000 Because you can't be pulled back by orphan mentality. Because your relationships here horizontally are all governed by the relationship you have with the father. 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:08.000 That's where it all starts. 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:14.000 So we're moving from love to the next one. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:23.000 As a church, God wants us to be an unoffendable church. 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:33.000 I want to write this in... 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:42.000 As a church, God wants us to be an unoffendable church. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:52.000 Guys, here's the thing. Offense is one of the dirtiest traps of the enemy. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:59.000 The word offense comes from... even I am using Greek now, scandalon. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:05.000 I had to look that up, I didn't know. But I looked it up and the word is scandalon. 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:09.000 And it actually means trap. Can you believe it? 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:22.000 The word offense comes from a word, a Greek word, scandalon, which means trap. 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:33.000 Offense is one of the dirtiest traps the devil uses. It is also a very common trap. 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:43.000 It's a very common trap. It's a bait. Devil uses this bait of offense. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:47.000 And if you go for it, you're trapped. 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:55.000 Knowing this and being aware of this is half the victory won. 00:37:55.000 --> 00:38:02.000 Offense, it's a trap. It is a dirty trap. It's a common trap. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:08.000 When you take the bait, you're trapped. Just knowing this is half the victory won. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:12.000 Because sometimes we can go through life thinking... 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.000 See, that's the thing about Christians, right? 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:20.000 Because Christians can look at... I'm not talking about us, but generally, you look at stuff like adultery. 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:26.000 And you go, that's a sin. You look at stuff like homosexuality. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:34.000 That's a sin. And you go look at something like offense, it's a weakness. 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:40.000 You go look at something like unforgiveness, it's a weakness. It's not. It's a sin. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:46.000 When I take offense, it's a sin. It's not a weakness. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:56.000 When I am unforgiving, it's not a weakness. It's a sin. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:04.000 So God is saying, with what he wants to do with us together, he wants us to be an unoffendable church. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:12.000 Guys, this is... all of the stuff I'm talking about can be applied within our homes, within our relationships outside Acts 29. 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:18.000 But this teaching is primarily for us together, how we relate to each other. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:22.000 So there are different types of hurt, there are people... or offenses. 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:30.000 There are people who are... there is a right reason for them to feel hurt, because they were genuinely hurt. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:39.000 And then there is a group where they may think that they got hurt and the problem is with the other person, but it's not. 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:44.000 It doesn't matter which group we belong to in different situations. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:50.000 It's one of the two, because I could be like, Diana was supposed to do this for me, but she did not. 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:58.000 Jill was supposed to... she should never have said this of me, but how come she said this? 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:06.000 That's how it starts. And then I dwell on it, then the root goes deep and I take offense. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:15.000 So it's either stuff people did or did not do, what people said or did not say, that's how it starts. 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:25.000 But once it takes root, one of the things that offense does is it... it poisons your soul. 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:33.000 It truly does. Offense poisons your soul. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:42.000 It's not a small thing. You live in offense for a few days, it can... it can poison you. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:54.000 God can put understanding and wisdom and what he wants you to do right in front of you, but you'll go right over it. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:59.000 Because it has the ability to pull you back. And God is saying, don't do that. 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:03.000 Offense is the exact opposite of what the cross stands for. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:11.000 So that's how we look at Offense Acts 29. Offense is the exact opposite of what the cross stands for. 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.000 Yeah. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:23.000 We'll... I'll get there in... very soon. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:28.000 No, that's so true. Because offense leads to unforgiveness. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:33.000 So offense is the exact opposite of what the cross stands for. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:45.000 And I'd go to the extent of saying, if you are operating in offense, if I am operating in offense and I am unrepentant, 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:50.000 it is idolatry, because I'm replacing God with myself. 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:57.000 If I am offended by Heidi, and for whatever reason, it doesn't matter. 00:41:57.000 --> 00:42:04.000 The reasons don't matter guys, once we give root to stuff. That's the thing. Because the devil doesn't care. 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:15.000 If I am offended by Heidi, and I am unrepentant about it, and I go on like that, really what I am doing is I am replacing the cross. 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:20.000 Because I have been forgiven truly by Jesus. All my sins have been washed away. 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:24.000 But I am not able to extend forgiveness to Heidi. 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:33.000 And I have replaced the cross with myself. And I am rooted in it. And it poisons you. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:36.000 So don't allow that to happen. 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:41.000 Tomorrow, the day after, we will face situations that offend us. 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:48.000 The question is, can I train myself by the power of the Holy Spirit to be unoffended? 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:51.000 Because we won't go from zero to hundred just like that. 00:42:52.000 --> 00:43:00.000 Wherever we are today, can I work with the Holy Spirit to walk in a greater measure of being unoffended by stuff? 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:11.000 And if we can train ourselves to be unoffended people who forgive each other, then it adds so much spiritual clout to how we are. 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 This is why it is all important with respect to the promises God has given us. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:27.000 If we become an unoffendable people, and we walk in forgiveness, accepting the fact that we are unoffended, 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:36.000 and we walk in forgiveness, extending forgiveness, it adds so much spiritual clout to us as a people. 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:49.000 So for all of the stuff we sang about, we talk about, when we do those things, there will be so much more power because we have surrendered ourselves and we have allowed the Holy Spirit to flow through us. 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:52.000 Release people, guys. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:56.000 While I am talking, if you can think of people, you need to release. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:44:04.000 Release people. Be reasonable. Think the best of people, not the worst. 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:07.000 These are all principles. Think the best of people. 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:10.000 Two days ago when we were praying, someone said here, 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:17.000 Father, we ask you for forgiveness for assuming things. 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:21.000 Someone prayed. We ask you for forgiveness for assuming things. 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:25.000 Don't assume something about someone because maybe the assumption is wrong. 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:29.000 Think the best of people. 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:39.000 Release people. I met someone two or three days ago, and this lady, she had very traumatic experiences in her past. 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:50.000 And one of the things that this lady said is, when we talked about Jesus, this lady said, I don't want to believe in a God who forgives child molesters. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:57.000 I don't want to believe in your God if this God forgives people who do really bad stuff to babies. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:59.000 I don't want this God. 00:44:59.000 --> 00:45:06.000 But then that's the beauty of the cross, that it doesn't matter where you've come from, what you've done, He forgives you. 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.000 And I am to extend the same for that's the forgiveness that that brought me here. 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:13.000 And I am supposed to extend the same forgiveness to others. 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:23.000 So don't be like that person and pray for that person so that that person sees the beauty of forgiveness, that the same forgiveness they need is the same forgiveness. 00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:24.000 They are to extend to others. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:27.000 Yes. 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:41.000 I know that. 00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:42.000 Yeah, yeah. 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:47.000 Sometimes that's the thought process, which is how can God forgive someone like that? 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:48.000 So is that OK to do that? 00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:53.000 But then when you really understand what Jesus did, which is he died on the cross, it's not OK. 00:45:53.000 --> 00:46:01.000 It's a sin, but it has been paid for because it has been paid for because he has taken the punishment of sins. 00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:04.000 Therefore, that person can now walk free. 00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:06.000 When they are repentant, they can walk free. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:16.000 Something on the side, guys. 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:21.000 Learn to be a people who know how to tame your tongue. 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:25.000 The people who can tame their tongue. 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:30.000 These are characteristics that God looks at together as a people. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:36.000 When he looks at it, these things that so much clout to us together collectively tame your tongue. 00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:39.000 Tame your tongue. 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:42.000 I'm just going to read out verses for this. 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:49.000 I don't want to talk much, but as I read out verses, I pray that you you hear and that you act on this. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:51.000 Ephesians 4 29. 00:46:51.000 --> 00:47:03.000 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as good as building up as fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear. 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:09.000 Let no corrupting talk come out, but only that which is good for building up. 00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:17.000 A soft answer turns away a wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:27.000 Our tongue must become proficient in giving soft answers that turn away anger instead of a harsh word that stirs up anger. 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:36.000 David said this, and this is a great prayer that we can pray, which is. 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:39.000 I want us to partake in communion together. 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:51.000 But before we do that, can we for a couple of minutes, I want to ask you to please stand up and say a few words of prayer. 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:54.000 I want us to partake in communion together. 00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:16.000 But before we do that, can we for a couple of minutes just think about the stuff we have heard today and lay down stuff at Jesus's feet? 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:19.000 Because he is very serious about us. 00:48:19.000 --> 00:48:21.000 He's very serious about us. 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:25.000 He doesn't give us promises, and he's not wishy washy about them. 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:28.000 He wants us to walk in the fullness of it. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:39.000 I know that the things that I've said today are things that he desires for this body, not just for individuals, but collectively as a people. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:49.000 He wants us to know that there is a certain momentum and force with which we can move and walk into this next thing that God is calling us. 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:54.000 And that happens when we are obedient to his word collectively. 00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:57.000 We are a people bonded by blood. 00:48:57.000 --> 00:49:03.000 And so the culture, the good news culture that he wants amongst us starts with love. 00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:07.000 Love commandment. 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:12.000 I command you to love each other like I love you. 00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:15.000 What does that look like? 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:19.000 That I have to love you like I love you. 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:21.000 You to love each other like I love you. 00:49:23.000 --> 00:49:24.000 What does that look like? 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:31.000 That I have to love others like Jesus does with his power by being immersed in him. 00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:39.000 It means that walls can be broken down, must be broken down with this power. 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:42.000 Stuff that separates me from others. 00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:44.000 You talked about being unoffendable. 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:48.000 That it's a trap, it's a common trap, it's a dirty trap. 00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:57.000 And we can train ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit to be forgiving, extending forgiveness to others like he has extended forgiveness to us. 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:03.000 There is a verse in... 00:50:03.000 --> 00:50:04.000 There is a verse in... 00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:12.000 There is a verse in 1 Peter somewhere, it talks about God wanting to purify his people. 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:24.000 And I believe that this time with what we are doing with these prayer meetings that Jacob has asked us to partake in with what he is speaking today, 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:25.000 with what he has been speaking about, 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:32.000 with what we are doing with these prayer meetings that Jacob has asked us to partake in with what he is speaking today, 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:38.000 with what he will be speaking, I strongly believe that God is purifying us. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:42.000 He wants to purify us. 00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:50.000 He wants a cleansing wind to clean stuff in our midst so that we are ready for the work at hand. 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:54.000 Psalm 133, we prayed along these lines a few days ago. 00:50:55.000 --> 00:51:01.000 Psalm 133 says, it is good and pleasant for brothers and sisters to live together. 00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:04.000 It is good and pleasant. 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:10.000 Good because anything that God does, he looks at that and he creates, he looks at that and goes, that's good. 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:16.000 Pleasant because it's delight for us to walk in it, to walk together. 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:24.000 So as we partake of the bread and the juice today, we are doing that in response to what we heard 00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:30.000 because we remember that we belong to a body, we are bonded by blood. 00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:36.000 And there are principles, commandments that he has given us that we are to walk in. 00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:40.000 So that is how we will do communion today. 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:43.000 So if you guys are ready, you can bring the bread and juice. 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:54.000 Actually, just give it to people. 00:51:54.000 --> 00:52:01.000 While you're waiting guys, think about the stuff you heard today and just speak to God individually. 00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:02.000 Just talk to him. 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:11.000 So, we are going to start with the first one. 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:14.000 So, we are going to start with the first one. 00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:17.000 So, we are going to start with the first one. 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:20.000 Just speak to God individually. Just talk to him. 00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:54.000 I'm going to ask Remy and Dawn to come up and lead us in communion. 00:52:55.000 --> 00:53:03.000 So don't have your bread and juice yet. Remy and Dawn will come up, they'll pray, then we'll have it together. 00:53:17.000 --> 00:53:18.000 Amen. 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:49.000 Amen. 00:54:17.000 --> 00:54:19.000 Amen. 00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:49.000 Amen. 00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:28.000 Father, we thank you for what we heard right now. 00:55:35.000 --> 00:55:42.000 I'm really touched by the fact that Father, the beauty of Gospel is that everyone has a chance. 00:55:43.000 --> 00:55:50.000 I mean, who am I to stand here and talk about communion, the ultimate expression of love? 00:55:52.000 --> 00:56:03.000 Father, every story in the Bible, everything that you did, in one way or the other shows love taking no offense. 00:56:03.000 --> 00:56:14.000 I mean, when you were at the wedding at Cana and you said, my hour has not come, and then you just do what you did, it was love. 00:56:15.000 --> 00:56:20.000 You changed your plans, Father. You changed your time. You changed everything because you loved them. 00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:23.000 When you met the woman at the well, that's what you did. 00:56:25.000 --> 00:56:29.000 You broke the walls of gender. You broke the walls of culture. You broke the walls of religion. 00:56:30.000 --> 00:56:40.000 Because you loved her. When people spat at you, when people said, who are you? You're just the son of a carpenter. 00:56:41.000 --> 00:56:43.000 You didn't take no offense, Father. 00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:45.000 Father, help us teach us to be like you. 00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:52.000 Help us to tame our tongue so that we don't speak things that are not necessary. 00:56:55.000 --> 00:57:04.000 Father, usually when we take communion, we say, we remember what you did on the cross, Father, but today as we remember the things on the cross, 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:07.000 we also remember why you did all of that so that we can be just like you. 00:57:09.000 --> 00:57:16.000 We want to say, Father, there are things in us that make us not so worthy, but then there is this blood that makes us worthy. 00:57:17.000 --> 00:57:23.000 We come to you with this sonship that you have proudly put on us, Father. 00:57:23.000 --> 00:57:25.000 And we say, Father, we want to become more like you. 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:31.000 We say yesterday everything that you talked to us through direct today. 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:41.000 Every single word, everything, love, taking no offense, controlling our tongue, laying our life for each other, laying tight on our tongues, 00:57:41.000 --> 00:57:46.000 laying money, laying our nature, our priorities, everything before you, Father. 00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:56.000 And as we take this prayer, Father, I say thank you for your body that was shed so that I can be like you, 00:57:57.000 --> 00:57:59.000 so that we can be just like you. 00:58:00.000 --> 00:58:06.000 And I say, Father, thank you for your body that was shed so that I can be like you. 00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:11.000 So that we can be like you as a body bonded by your flesh and your blood. 00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:14.000 We love you, Father. 00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:35.000 Yeah, Holy Spirit, we thank you for your body that was shed so that I can be like you. 00:58:37.000 --> 00:58:42.000 Yeah, we say amen to what was spoken here today, Father. 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:59.000 Yeah, Father, thank you for reminding us that who we are and how we operate here on earth, 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:09.000 that we're just not mere people who are following a religion, but that we're representing you and your Son. 00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:22.000 And so, Father, as we remember the act of communion and as we eat the bread and drink juice, Jesus, 00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:28.000 we want to follow your footsteps and we want to model how you lived. 00:59:29.000 --> 00:59:35.000 And just like how John said in the letters, we want to be how Jesus was. 00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:42.000 And so, Jesus, we as a church collectively lay down our rights. 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:47.000 We lay down our time. We lay down our money. 00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:58.000 We lay down our comfort and the culture of convenience, that culture of my space and what benefits me, what's in it for me. 00:59:59.000 --> 01:00:02.000 And we lay down our personality. 01:00:04.000 --> 01:00:13.000 Since we are a new creation, a new Jesus, and our whole life is buried and crucified with Christ, 01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:19.000 as we walk, help us to walk like you. 01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:26.000 And thank you that you've given your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ within us, to live that life. 01:00:26.000 --> 01:00:31.000 So thank you as we drink the juice and the bread. 01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:40.000 Thank you for reminding us that it is possible that we can be like Christ and we want to believe moving forward. 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:42.000 Amen. 01:00:56.000 --> 01:01:09.000 I'm adding myself in here because it ties in really closely. 01:01:10.000 --> 01:01:17.000 Several years ago at Easter, we were, Jacob was singing Via della Rosa, 01:01:18.000 --> 01:01:24.000 and I was having this conversation with God, with Jesus, could you have gotten out of this? 01:01:24.000 --> 01:01:27.000 Could he have gotten out of this? And the answer is no. 01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:33.000 He had his eye on the prize. And what's the prize? And the answer was you. 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:39.000 He had his eye on us so he couldn't get it. He didn't want to get out of it. He had his eye on the prize. 01:01:40.000 --> 01:01:45.000 And just now I was sitting here and thinking, how on earth am I going to do this? 01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:51.000 How am I going to get rid of all of these things? And God said, have your eye on the prize. 01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:55.000 And what's the prize this time? God said, me. 01:02:07.000 --> 01:02:08.000 Thank you, Diana. 01:02:09.000 --> 01:02:14.000 Yeah, so we come. We thank you for the week ahead. 01:02:15.000 --> 01:02:21.000 I pray your protection, your care, your goodness upon every single family, 01:02:22.000 --> 01:02:24.000 people who are here and people who are away. 01:02:25.000 --> 01:02:30.000 We thank you for who you are to us. We want to walk with you in the fullness of what you have for us. 01:02:31.000 --> 01:02:32.000 In Jesus' name, Amen. 01:02:38.000 --> 01:02:40.000 There'll be...