WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: If Elijah Doesn't Go Publishing Date: 2015-05-17T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/if-elijah-doesnt-go/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.000 We've been talking about different one-liners that can affect our lives. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:17.000 I mean, over the last few Sundays, we've been taking different topics and coming up with one-liners. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.000 Man, that sounds good. I'm finally hearing myself. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.000 Yeah, so here are some of the one-liners. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:30.000 When I call them one-liners, I don't mean to diminish it. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.000 What I meant is these one-liners help us remember things. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.000 So here's the first one. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.000 Wayne, can you switch this thingy off? 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:58.000 First one was, I seek the same relationship with the Father. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:14.000 I seek the same relationship of trust, intimacy, and affection that Jesus had with the Father. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:23.000 This was one of the teachings about five or six weeks ago, and this was what we drew out of it so that we can carry it home and begin to practice it. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:30.000 We said, Father, I won't settle for anything less than the same relationship that Jesus had with you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:38.000 We figured that Jesus had this amazing relationship of trust, of intimacy, and of affection, and we talked about that. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:44.000 So our intent every day is, Father, I want to seek the same relationship that Jesus had with you. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:49.000 That's the ultimate model of a relationship, and it's possible here on earth. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.000 It's not something that's out there. It's possible here on earth. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:59.000 So the first thing we said was, I seek the same relationship of trust, intimacy, and affection that Jesus had with the Father. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:04.000 So I'm just going over some of the stuff we've done in the past so we can move on to the next thing I want to add to it. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.000 The next thing we said is, I exist to serve. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.000 Do you guys want to complete it? 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:19.000 I exist to. The only reason I exist is to serve and display. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:24.000 Serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Guys, why am I going over this every week? 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.000 Because once we learn it, we can live it. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.000 And the only way to learn truth is through repetition. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:44.000 So that's why, I mean, remember when we used to talk about the body and about Christ's life and all this stuff? 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:51.000 We'd go over things again and again. If I woke you up in the middle of the night, you could say what it meant. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.000 Any question I'd ask you, you would respond even in the middle of the night. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.000 The point being, this should happen the same way. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:07.000 These are such fundamental truths that if they become a part of who I am, life here on earth will become so much easier, man. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:24.000 So the second one is, I exist to serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 This is the only reason I exist, guys. There's no other reason I exist. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:36.000 It's the only reason. It goes back to what we used to teach about four or five years ago when we said that we are supposed to be accurate representatives of Christ. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.000 Not just representatives, accurate representatives. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:47.000 Because the ambassador of Canada to England doesn't send his son to meet the Queen because he won't be able to accurately represent the country. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:57.000 This goes back to that. I exist. The only reason I exist is to serve and display the King and to advance his rule and influence. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:58.000 That was the second one. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:01.000 Third one. This was about three weeks ago. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:09.000 I live by the life of the risen. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:19.000 I live, sorry, I live the risen life of another. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.000 That's one good way to put it. You can put it in many different ways. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:35.000 I live the risen life of another so that I may do the heavenly works of another. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.000 And the another here being Christ. We talked about this three weeks ago. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:43.000 That the only life I presently possess is the life of the risen Christ. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:51.000 The only life I presently possess other than my physical life, which I said, you cut my jugular and the blood runs out and my physical life is gone. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:54.000 But really does Jacob's life end? No. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.000 Because the only life I presently possess as a believer is the risen life of Christ. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:06.000 So the third statement we made was I live the risen life of another so that I may do the heavenly works of another. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:10.000 Live the life of another and you will do the works of another. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.000 And it's not just any life. It's the risen life of another. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:19.000 This is the only thing I possess. It's a life that cannot be dented, cannot be overtaken. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:24.000 It's joyous. It's abundant. It is unsurmountable. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.000 That's the kind of life I really have. And we talked about this about three weeks ago and even last week. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:36.000 Fourth statement. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.000 It's a new table. I don't know where I keep things anymore. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:51.000 Fourth point was I will make righteous choices. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:06:01.000 I will make righteous choices by the power of the Spirit. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:07.000 I will make righteous choices by the power of God's Spirit. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:16.000 Guys, remember the power of sin does not hold a grip on me anymore because the power of sin was broken. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:22.000 Death can't hold me down anymore because the power of death was broken. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:27.000 And I have the risen life of Christ in me. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:31.000 And I'm absolutely capable of making righteous choices. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:37.000 And a man of choices is a man of destiny. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:43.000 So we talked about this some weeks ago. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:47.000 I will make righteous choices by the power of God's Spirit. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:52.000 And if you want to listen to the rest of it, you'll have to ask Wayne and he'll give you the CD. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:57.000 The next thing was, and this was ages ago, not ages ago, maybe at the beginning of the year. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.000 This is such a cool one. I hope you haven't forgotten it. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:07.000 I will place first things of God first. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:15.000 I will place first things of God first. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:24.000 And all other things will fall into place. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:29.000 This is such a simple thing, man. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:37.000 I will search for and place. I will search for and place the first things of God first. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:44.000 And all other things will fall into place. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.000 And all other things will fall into place. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.000 I mean, just think of it, eh? 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 When it comes to money, search and find out what God says about money. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.000 First things first. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:57.000 And it's about your marriage. Search and find out what God says about your marriage. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:07.000 In matters of time, talent, treasure and life, find out what God says about something. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:11.000 Place it first and it is impossible for the rest not to come together. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.000 Put first things first and you will get the second also. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:20.000 C.S. Lewis, put second things first and you will not get the first nor will you get the second. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:25.000 Simple, awesome rule, man. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.000 And you will have to search it out, eh? 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.000 Because all of us come from different cultures. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.000 So in our minds there is a certain way we think. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 But that may not be the biblical way. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.000 So I have to search out the first things of God, then put them first. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:44.000 What if you have grown up in a home that in a reaction against church taking up all their time, 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:49.000 decided that the family comes first and church is secondary? 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:53.000 Sounds like a good principle. Your family comes first. God, family, church. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.000 I've heard it all my life. What if it's not true? 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:02.000 What if it's not true? 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Just think about that. Yeah. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.000 This one is matching the match of six things. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:13.000 Yeah. Seek first. Seek first. Search it out. Search it out. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:16.000 We can't put first things first based on what we think is right, 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:21.000 but what we have to go and look for and then put right. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Yeah, the word of God. Yeah. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.000 Because it supersedes all cultures, right? 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:35.000 So in marriage, in child rearing, in sex, in money, in work, in everything, man. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.000 And all other things fall into place. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:43.000 Okay. Next one. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.000 I love this one. This video that I think two weeks ago. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:58.000 My life must only be about the fame of Jesus. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.000 My life must only be about the fame of Jesus. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:04.000 My life must only be about the fame of Jesus. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:09.000 No other reason. Everything that my life now, I mean, for instance, 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:15.000 when Dagmar was saying, and then Jacob prayed for me and I got healed and thank God for a, 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:18.000 did she say brilliant pastor or great or magnificent? 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.000 I didn't remember the word. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.000 She didn't say any of that. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.000 Humble pastor. Yeah. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:27.000 She said thank God for this humble pastor that we have. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:32.000 So while she's saying that, sure, guys, like it or not, when you do the works of God, 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.000 the Bible, Jesus put it this way, if they don't believe you for the words you do, 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.000 they will believe you for the works you do. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:43.000 So that's fine. But at the end of the day, if it does not deflect back to Jesus, 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:47.000 then it's not about the fame of Jesus, but it's the fame of Jacob. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:52.000 So there's no harm in acknowledging those that have done you good. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:58.000 In fact, I think it's sometimes pride when we don't want to acknowledge human conduits through which blessings have come. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:05.000 But having acknowledged that, may our hearts be such that our lives are about the fame of Jesus. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.000 And then once you become like that, it just deflects naturally, man. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.000 You don't have to say praise the Lord. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:15.000 It just happens naturally. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:22.000 And the last one, which is what we will look at today, not the last one, the last one as of date. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.000 Yeah, or whatever the word is. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:29.000 The last one which we look at today, which I think is so cool, is, 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:38.000 hey, by the way, all these things that I've said, Joan printed it out on some cards and it's on the glass table behind. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:48.000 Only now she'll have to start doing the back also, because we're going to add more. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:51.000 Yeah. There's more to it. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:55.000 I just keep it just so I can keep remembering it. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:00.000 Next one. Today's what we'll be talking about today. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:10.000 I live to make others glad in God. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:14.000 I live to make others glad in God. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 That's what we'll be looking at today. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.000 The phrase glad in God, I borrowed from someone else. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.000 But it covers everything. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:24.000 Guys, we don't use the word glad too often now. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.000 We go for shucks and awesome and stuff like that. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:31.000 But the Bible often used to use the word gladness. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:33.000 It is so encompassing. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:35.000 Remember that song? 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:39.000 Anyone who was born before 1980s remembers that song. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.000 He has made me glad. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.000 He has made me glad. 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.000 I will rejoice for he has made me glad. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.000 No one sings that anymore. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:51.000 Yeah, so gladness is a biblical word. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:56.000 And so today we'll be talking about I live to make others glad in God. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.000 Not I live to make others glad. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.000 No, no, no. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.000 I live to make others glad in God. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:05.000 The in God thing is very important, guys. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:07.000 Because it's one thing to be formed into a people of God. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.000 But why does God form us into a people? 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:12.000 The reason God forms us into a people is for someone else. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.000 Said the same thing about Israel. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 Why did God choose Israel as a nation? 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.000 Because he wanted to display to the rest of the world who God was. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.000 It was always for someone else. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:25.000 Israel was set apart so that I can call a nation unto myself 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:30.000 and display to the rest of the earth what a people in whom God dwells looks like. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.000 It's the same with us. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.000 The only reason we are being set apart as a people of God 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:38.000 is so that we be able to be a part of God's people. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.000 The only reason we are being set apart as a people of God 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:43.000 is so that we become something to someone else. 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.000 Something for whom? 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.000 Something for God to someone else. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.000 Why? 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.000 So that they may be glad in God also just as you are glad in God. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:53.000 Remember the statement we made long ago? 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.000 Two famous guys said it. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:59.000 One, and here was the statement. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:03.000 God is most glorified in you when? 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:07.000 I am most satisfied in him. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.000 Just think of that. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:13.000 God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:15.000 That's what we are trying to do. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.000 We are trying to help people to see who God is 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.000 so that they may be glad in him. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.000 Because when they are glad in him, they will glorify him. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.000 So that's what we'll talk about today. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:31.000 So to make glad is to basically free people. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:42.000 Free people to recognize, rise, recognize, rise, and be satisfied. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:47.000 Recognize and rise and be satisfied in God. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.000 That's what I mean by to make glad. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.000 To make glad is to free people to recognize, rise, and be satisfied in God. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.000 And once they come to a place of being satisfied in God, 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:01.000 they will glorify him. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.000 It's impossible not to glorify or lift up or exalt something that you are satisfied with. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.000 Why do you tell people about your favorite restaurant? 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.000 Why do you tell people about your favorite airline? 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.000 Why do you tell people about your wife? 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:16.000 Why do you not tell people about your wife or your husband? 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:23.000 It's usually because either there's great satisfaction or some minor dissatisfaction. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:30.000 That's how it works. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.000 Yeah, why don't we talk about the Canucks anymore? 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:37.000 22 years of great dissatisfaction and disappointment. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:48.000 But welcome to Vancouver, the home of the 2016 Stanley Cup champions. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.000 That's on tape. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.000 Yes, that's on tape. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.000 It is not a prophetic word. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:58.000 Pardon? 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:00.000 I'm Jason. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:05.000 Guys, it's very natural for God to have us live like this 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:11.000 because isn't he the one who came to seek, save, and serve others? 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000 What is his reason for coming? 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.000 To seek, save, and serve others. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.000 Who are the others? Me. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:19.000 Gosh, I'm grateful. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.000 He didn't come for Israel. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:27.000 He didn't come to establish Israel as a people that are exclusive. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.000 He came to Israel so that through Israel, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:33.000 he could now seek, save, and serve others. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.000 And who were the others? Jacob. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.000 So at the end of the day, I live to make others glad, 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.000 and God is so a part of who God is. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.000 It's part of his nature. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.000 We, as Acts 29, are no longer for ourselves. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.000 We've been formed into a people of God. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.000 That was a process. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.000 It was necessary to be not ingrown, but homebred. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:55.000 But now we live for the sake of someone else. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.000 So here's the thing though. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.000 When you live to make others glad in God, 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.000 know that life will be more demanding. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.000 When you live to make others glad in God, 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.000 know that life will be more demanding, 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.000 risks will be higher, but joy will be fuller. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.000 Let me say that again. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:18.000 When you choose to live a life that makes others glad, 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:21.000 know that life will be more demanding. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:25.000 And as in, there will be greater demands placed on your life. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.000 Because now you're not living for yourself. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.000 There will be greater demands placed on your life. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:31.000 There will be risks that are higher. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:33.000 But with risks that are higher, 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.000 comes this whole aspect of counting the cost 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.000 and launching an adventure. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.000 Hey, half the reason Christianity is not fun 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.000 is because there aren't many people who are interested 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 in the world, it's because there are no risks 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.000 and there is no counting the cost that's involved. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.000 Because the tickets are already booked. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.000 Go to heaven. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.000 There is no risk involved. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.000 That's why Christianity sometimes gets so dull. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.000 And it's very possible to live a dull Christian life 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:02.000 by not making it about others. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:07.000 The moment you do that, God begins to do something else. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:11.000 And joy gets fuller. Joy gets fuller. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:14.000 Joy gets full. Fuller is the wrong word. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:18.000 But the kids are not here anyways. Joy gets fuller. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.000 So no longer is it merely about what God does in me, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.000 it's what God does through me for others. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.000 It's no longer about what God does in me. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.000 And there's a great place for that. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.000 I mean, thank God for the things He does in me and does for me. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.000 But now it's what He does through me for others. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.000 And really guys, I'm telling you based on what I know 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.000 God is about in terms of Acts 29, 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.000 the dad is surely where we are going, 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000 surely where we are heading. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:44.000 Where it's God doing things through me for others, 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.000 through us for others. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.000 When I say me, I mean us. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.000 And remember in 2014 we started with this theme called 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:55.000 World, Meet God? 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.000 Yeah. It's coming back to that. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.000 World, meet God. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:03.000 As in when people meet you, they should see through you 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.000 who the Father is. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.000 Because what was Jesus' primary purpose on earth? 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.000 I have come to show you the Father. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.000 What is Acts 29's primary purpose on earth? 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.000 We have come to show you the Father. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.000 So every time people meet you, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:18.000 they should be able to see some aspect of the Father. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.000 And if we don't go, then who guys? 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.000 If you don't go, then who? 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.000 And if not now, when? 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.000 When you're older. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.000 Not everybody can have a hip that lasts for 30 years. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:39.000 If not us, then who? 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:41.000 If not now, then when? 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.000 I just want to look at the life of Elijah 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:47.000 and see how things would have changed 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.000 had Elijah not responded. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:54.000 How things would have changed had Elijah not responded. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.000 And from there on we'll pick some principles. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.000 Oh, it's only 1140. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.000 Guys, let's start with 1 Kings 18. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.000 1 Kings 18. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:07.000 1 Kings 18. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Any questions thus far? 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.000 Any questions? 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.000 Okay, pick up one of those thingies on the glass table 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.000 and take it home and learn it 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.000 and then give that card away to somebody else. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:21.000 And then when we add a few more, 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:23.000 Jonah will print some more. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.000 1 Kings 18. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.000 1 Kings 18. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.000 So here's the first statement I want to make. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:39.000 If Elijah doesn't rise up, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:49.000 people will not make a decision. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.000 If Elijah does not rise up, 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.000 people will not make a decision. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.000 If Elijah does not rise up, 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.000 if Elijah doesn't rise up, 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.000 people will not decide. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:05.000 people will not decide. If Elijah doesn't rise up, people will not decide. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:10.600 What are we talking about? We are talking about, okay Father, so we are ready to live to make others glad 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:15.000 and if we don't, here are the things that could happen and therefore we will. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:27.400 If Elijah does not rise up and the Bible always calls any time in history that pre what? 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:33.880 What's the word? Precedes. Anytime in history that precedes the arrival of the Messiah, 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:39.480 you always have a John the Baptist or an Elijah type of people. 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:49.880 In Luke it happened before Jesus came there was John the Baptist. Whenever there's rank apostasy 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:54.440 and God wants to bring a new move, he will always raise up an Elijah kind of people, 00:21:54.440 --> 00:22:00.120 which is why the Bible often talks about walking in the spirit of Elijah as in how did he function? 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:04.760 Therefore function there similarly because of what I'm about to do. So one of the things we need to 00:22:04.760 --> 00:22:10.680 understand is if Elijah doesn't rise up, people will not decide. Turn to 1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 18 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:18.440 and go to verse 20, verse 20, 20 to 22 and then 39. 1 Kings 18, verse 20. I'm reading. 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:25.480 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together in Mount Carmel 00:22:26.040 --> 00:22:31.080 and Elijah came near to all the people and said, how long will you go limping between two different 00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:36.920 opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, then follow him. Guys, people today, 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:42.360 especially in the kind of era we live in, are always limping between two opinions. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:48.200 And the odd thing is Bible schools and churches promote this. They never tell you black or white 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:53.480 they always tell you multiple opinions and they leave you to decide what is best for you. 00:22:56.840 --> 00:23:02.200 It's almost this sense of this is what this scholar says, this is what this scholar says, 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:05.400 this is what this school of thought says, this is what this school of thought says, 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:09.080 this is what it says in Greek, this is what it says in Hebrew. And what is your opinion? 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:16.040 That's up to you. You can decide which I mean, I remember doing a paper on Colossians and Ephesians 00:23:16.040 --> 00:23:22.040 and there were 60 opinions on it. And I failed that paper unfortunately because I only had one 00:23:22.040 --> 00:23:28.040 opinion. And so he told me to redo the whole exam. But that's different. 60 different opinions on a 00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:34.440 simple statement. And what is the statement? That our battle is with the rudimentary 00:23:36.040 --> 00:23:42.520 elemental spirits of the world that Colossians talks about. A Greek word called stoichi. 60 00:23:42.520 --> 00:23:49.560 opinions on it. The point being guys, if Elijah doesn't rise up, you and I need to rise up otherwise 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:57.400 people will not decide. It's an odd time we live in. You see it in the media. CNN will call a guy 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:01.400 who believes in God to hear his opinion. But after he speaks about how he believes in God, 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:05.800 now they call a guy who does not believe in God so that we can hear his opinion. Why? Because we 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:14.200 crave for the safe middle. Same thing about homosexuality. Some will say homosexuality is 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:18.680 wrong. Others will say homosexuality is right. And the majority of the church will go back to the old 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:24.360 cliché saying, God loves the sinner but hates the sinner. We don't even know what that means. 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:34.360 Everything is so gray man. If Elijah does not rise, people will not decide. Have an opinion guys. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:37.640 Go ahead. 00:24:40.360 --> 00:24:45.400 Yeah, people will not take a stand. It's fine. People will not stand. Take a stand on one thing 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:51.080 or the other. Guys, I love what Eddie always says. Eddie quotes this line very often. He says, 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:58.680 a person with experience is not at the mercy of a person with an opinion. A person with experience 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:05.560 is not at the mercy of a person with an opinion. A person with experience is not at the mercy 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:12.600 of a person with an opinion. I was listening to a podcast yesterday that was being done by 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:21.560 one highly trained theologian and a pastor here in Vancouver, Abbotsford, and they were discussing 00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:27.560 Satan. And it was odd. This pastor from Abbotsford was talking about at least a thousand demons that 00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:35.560 he had cast out. And the theologian was talking about how Satan is actually an imagination 00:25:36.280 --> 00:25:42.280 that Christians have of how evil is personified. And you could hear both of them and you could 00:25:42.280 --> 00:25:47.320 hear one had an opinion and one had experience. And a person of experience is never at the mercy 00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:54.280 of the person of opinion. And so when I say that Elijah needs to rise up so that people will take 00:25:54.280 --> 00:25:59.960 a stand, people will decide, guys, over the next few months, based on just what we have been 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:06.120 experiencing during our prayer times over the last couple of weeks, I'm telling you, get engaged. 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:11.400 Get engaged at what is what the spirit of God is doing here. Get engaged. Because remember, 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:18.760 we've talked about this before. Engagement or association. I know I've spelled engagement wrong. 00:26:18.760 --> 00:26:24.360 Don't worry about it. Just spell it right. Engagement or association leads to imitation, 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:30.600 and imitation leads to formation of whatever Christ wants to form in you. And formation finally 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:36.360 leads to you being commissioned and sent out to do what you're supposed to do. And any step that 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:41.640 you miss out, you will not end up here. Any step you miss out there, you won't end up here. This is 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:50.680 when this is of great advantage. Engagement. Oh, it is correct. Engagement or association 00:26:51.320 --> 00:26:56.920 will lead to imitation. Meaning, if let's assume that God is doing something at Acts 29 that is 00:26:56.920 --> 00:27:02.440 relatively different from what he's done over the last nine or 10 years, then engage with it, 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:07.080 associate with it. Because as you associate with it, you will begin to imitate or practice it. 00:27:07.080 --> 00:27:11.080 When you imitate or practice it, things will be formed in you. You will become who you need to 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:15.560 become, and then God will commission you. Nobody on earth can stop that from happening. Miss any of 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:21.640 these steps, and you do not end up here. You end up as a maverick who's doing things on his own. 00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:27.320 I'd so suggest, not based on what I'm saying, go check with others who are engaged at present in 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:30.440 the things that are happening at Acts 29 and ask them, is there something different brewing? 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:38.920 Is there something different brewing? And there is, guys. There is. I'd so suggest that you engage. 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:45.000 Because we have to be a people who have God encounters behind us before we express anything, 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:51.240 guys. Got to have God encounters behind us so that we can speak, so that we are never at the mercy of 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:59.560 those with an opinion. And look at what happens in the next verse. This is so odd. So I'm starting 00:27:59.560 --> 00:28:04.840 at verse 21. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, how long will you go limping between two 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:08.920 different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, then follow him. Look at the next 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:17.400 line. And the people did not answer him with a word. He's just placed a choice before them. Hey, 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:21.320 you want to follow Baal or you want to follow God? And what's their response? Silence. 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:28.600 What did it take for these people to move to the next level? Verse 39. Fire fell from the skies, 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:38.040 burnt up the sacrifice. And suddenly you see in verse 39, verse 39. Verse 39 says, 00:28:38.040 --> 00:28:45.400 and when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, the Lord, he is God. The Lord, 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:53.880 he is God. Guys, you can present people with choices and they will yet not respond till they 00:28:53.880 --> 00:29:01.000 see a God encounter that happens through you and me. This is why Jesus had to say this, guys. 00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:07.880 This is the son of God who is saying, if you do not believe me for the words I speak, then believe me 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:16.840 for the works I do. He had to say it, guys. And if he had to say it, then know that our words will 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:21.640 help people to decide some of them. But many will still remain silent when you present them this and 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:31.720 that. Till you see God at work. Any questions before we go on? 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:46.800 You know, that's true. I guess going back to my tooth, I was talking to a couple of people at work and one had definitely told me in the past she does not believe in God. 00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:49.800 Coffee. Sorry, I, yeah. 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:55.800 She told me that she doesn't believe in God and yet she had to acknowledge what the dentist said. 00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.800 Yeah. 00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.800 For her work. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:30:03.880 Guys, it's not that we don't use words, but know that if they don't believe you for your words, they have to believe you for your works. 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:07.880 This is, thanks man. This is how Jesus was. This is how Jesus was. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:18.880 1 Corinthians 420, what does it say? It says, the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but it's a matter of power. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:25.880 1 Corinthians 420. The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, it's a matter of power. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:36.880 And unfortunately, as much as you and I think that the Holy Spirit teaches us, remember he teaches us through a people. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:45.880 I wouldn't be one third of who I am if it were not for the fact that I belong to a church like this. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:51.880 Really. Everything opened up for me only after I came to this church. 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:57.960 Which is not to say that this church is the ultimate church. No, there are at least 7000 other churches like this. 00:30:57.960 --> 00:31:02.960 All I'm saying is, got to be a part of something for something to happen, because that's how God works. 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.960 Second statement. 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:13.960 Guys, don't talk to me because I've got a bias. 00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:21.040 Because I'm a pastor here. Talk to others in this church and ask them, hey, is this true that something's happening? 00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:27.040 And listen to what they say. And if it's not true, just look at what I said as an exaggeration. 00:31:27.040 --> 00:31:32.040 But if it is true, decide if you want to engage, because something is brewing. 00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:36.040 Yeah, something is brewing man. 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:55.120 Next one. If Elijah doesn't go, if Elijah doesn't go, the widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:59.200 The widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal. 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:06.200 If Elijah doesn't go, the widow in Zarephath will cook her last meal. 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:14.200 1 Kings 17, 1 Kings 17, 1 Kings 17, 8 to 13. 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:22.200 So, I'm reading. 00:32:22.280 --> 00:32:24.280 The word of the Lord came to him. 00:32:24.280 --> 00:32:28.280 Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. 00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:30.280 Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. 00:32:30.280 --> 00:32:32.280 So he arose and went to Zarephath. 00:32:32.280 --> 00:32:35.280 And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. 00:32:35.280 --> 00:32:39.280 And he called to her and said, bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink. 00:32:39.280 --> 00:32:44.280 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 00:32:44.280 --> 00:32:50.280 And she said, as the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:55.360 And she said, I have gathered a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. 00:32:55.360 --> 00:33:01.360 If Elijah doesn't rise up and go to Zarephath, the widow will cook her last meal. 00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:13.360 Guys, we are in a place because the Spirit of God has been so gracious in teaching us to listen to God and hear his voice. 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:19.360 We are in a place where we can be like the clouds in Job 37, verse 12. 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:20.440 Job 37, verse 12. 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:24.440 I mean, every time I read that verse, I think to myself, why didn't I discover this long ago? 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.440 Job 37, verse 12. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:28.440 And read it from different versions once you get home. 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:30.440 It is such a cool verse, man. 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:32.440 Job 37, verse 12. 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:42.440 Depending on the version you read, I'll read it from the ESV. 00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.440 Starting at verse 11. 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:48.440 Job 37, verse 11 to verse 13. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.440 Beautiful verse. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.440 Here's what it says. 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.440 Job is before Psalms. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:55.440 I know we hardly read that book. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.440 The message puts it this way. 00:34:14.520 --> 00:34:24.520 He puts these clouds that are loaded with moisture through their paces this way, then that, and commands them to do what he says for discipline or grace or extravagant love. 00:34:25.520 --> 00:34:26.520 This is who we are supposed to be. 00:34:26.520 --> 00:34:31.520 Clouds loaded with moisture that he turns around at his command. 00:34:31.520 --> 00:34:33.520 Sometimes this way, sometimes that. 00:34:33.520 --> 00:34:34.520 Why? 00:34:34.520 --> 00:34:38.520 Because sometimes he may use you to bring correction, sometimes discipline, sometimes extravagant love. 00:34:38.520 --> 00:34:39.520 Doesn't matter. 00:34:39.600 --> 00:34:43.600 If Elijah doesn't go to Zarephath, the woman cooks her last meal. 00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:45.600 And who do you think he wants to send? 00:34:46.600 --> 00:34:47.600 You and I, man. 00:34:48.600 --> 00:34:56.600 Now when you look back at the last nine or ten years, you realize why God has always taught us to operate by hearing and not by policy. 00:34:56.600 --> 00:34:57.600 But by hearing. 00:34:57.600 --> 00:34:58.600 Father, what do you want to do? 00:34:58.600 --> 00:34:59.600 Father, what do you want to do? 00:34:59.600 --> 00:35:00.600 Father, what do you want to do? 00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.600 Where do you want us to go next? 00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:04.600 Use this in our lives, both as a church and as a people. 00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:23.680 Some of you who were here on Monday night heard the story of how Joan, who does not like driving outside of number five and number one in Richmond, was asked to go all the way to Metro Town and to go into chapters to meet a Burmese guy who had backslidden. 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.680 Yeah. 00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:36.760 This is when demand is placed on life, risks get higher, but joy gets fuller. 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:45.760 She goes and meets a guy and he has begun to turn his life around and will be meeting with Joan again in the future to figure things out. 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:52.840 Oh, if he only listened and went out at his command. 00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:54.840 I love this part of the clouds, man. 00:35:54.840 --> 00:36:02.840 I've got this up near the kitchen area in my house because it's an area I never use. 00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:13.920 This guy, Josh, from Vernon, shot this beautiful picture of massive clouds in Vernon loaded with moisture with thunder and lightning and he framed it up. 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.920 And he wrote this on the back of the picture. 00:36:16.920 --> 00:36:18.920 Clouds loaded with moisture. 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:28.000 Sending out lightning, moving according to his command, this way and that, sometimes for grace, sometimes for kindness, sometimes for discipline. 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.000 Sometimes for extravagant love. 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:31.000 That is who you are, man. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:33.000 That is who we are. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:35.000 I look forward to this. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:37.000 See, I look forward to this. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:39.000 I look forward to this. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:41.000 I look forward to this. 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:43.000 I look forward to this. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:46.000 Make this happen. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.000 I look forward to this, eh? 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:55.000 Because how do you become a part of God encounters unless you illogically obey what he is asking you to? 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:57.000 How do you become a part of God encounters? 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:07.000 We said that a people who encounter God do not express opinions anymore, they express black and white truths. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:12.000 And so how do you enter into God encounters? 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:17.000 But through being obedient even when commands are sometimes illogical. 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:25.000 Guys, you know I've lived my life this way and you've seen the adventures in it. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:29.000 I know some of you have lived this way and I've seen the adventures in your life. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:31.000 What when a people begin to live like this? 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:36.000 Snap out of our stupor man because something is afoot. 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:39.000 Something is brewing. 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:44.000 And I don't want, like George Bush said, not one child left behind. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:46.000 All of us in this man. 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:50.000 It would be a shame if anybody misses out on what is afoot. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:02.000 People will be glad in the Lord and the widow will not die but live when you begin to rise up and say, 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:06.000 I know Zarephath, and look at what Jesus said in Luke 4.26. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:12.000 He said, there were many widows in Israel during the time of the famine when for three and a half years the rains were shut up. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.000 Luke 4.25. 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.000 And yet, who did God send Elijah to? 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:25.000 God sent Elijah all the way into Sidon, which is a pagan part of the country, sent him all the way to one widow. 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:31.000 Why? Because that's what God decided was the best thing to do. 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:33.000 And so it happened. 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:37.000 Doesn't make sense man. 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:49.000 I was telling somebody that Acts 29 goes on mission trips or when I travel, I said, Father, of all the places you could choose to have me and Acts 29 live, 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:53.000 Vancouver is the farthest place from the rest of the world. 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:55.000 If you go west, you end up drowning. 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:58.000 If you go east, you fly on forever. 00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:04.000 There is no other place in the world that is as far away from every other place we know than Vancouver. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:06.000 The next place after this is Japan. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:21.000 So the point is guys, God does things illogically and illogically in terms of how we think. 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:28.000 But if Elijah doesn't rise up, the widow in Zarifat will cook her last meal. 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:30.000 God will rise up. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:33.000 We no longer live for ourselves. 00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:37.000 We live to make others glad in God. 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:40.000 We live to make others glad in God. 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:43.000 That's the only reason. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:46.000 Next one. 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:55.000 If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not resurrected. 00:39:55.000 --> 00:40:01.000 The son is not resurrected. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:06.000 If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not raised from the dead. 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:09.000 If Elijah doesn't go, the son is not raised from the dead. 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:11.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:13.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:15.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:17.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:19.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:21.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:23.000 1 Kings 17, 21-23. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:25.000 Love this one. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:31.000 So Elijah begins praying because the woman had a son, the son is dead. 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:38.000 So he prays, Oh Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourned by killing her son? 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:41.000 That was Elijah's flawed understanding of who God is. 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:43.000 But that wasn't the Old Testament. 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:44.000 Let's move on. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:45.000 Verse 21. 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:54.000 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, Oh Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again. 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.000 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah and the life of the child came to him again. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:59.000 And he revived. 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:04.000 Then Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:06.000 And Elijah said, See your son lives. 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:10.000 And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you're a man of God and that the word of the Lord is in your mouth. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:11.000 In your mouth is the truth. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:23.000 Guys, if Elijah doesn't go as in if you and I don't go, then the years of the locusts, the years that the locusts have eaten in the lives of others will not be restored. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:25.000 Guys, do you realize this? 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:36.000 That if someone hadn't gone out, your life would not have been restored. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:49.000 The years that the locusts ate in my life through drugs and all kinds of things were restored because someone decided that they would like to see Jacob made glad in the Lord. 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:51.000 And thank God they did. 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:53.000 And they didn't do it once. 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:54.000 They didn't do it twice. 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:55.000 They didn't do it three times. 00:41:55.000 --> 00:42:02.000 Then it again and again persisting because for some strange reason, they saw in me something that was worth recovering. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:17.000 Nobody sitting here would be here were it not for the fact that someone decided that I have to go out and get this particular person to be glad in the Lord, to be satisfied in the Lord. 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:24.000 I live to make others glad in God, not make others saved. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.000 Forget the word saved for a second. 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:29.000 Don't think of I am here to get people saved. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:32.000 No, I am here to get them to be glad in the Lord. 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:36.000 Once they begin to get glad in the Lord, they will be saved. 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:41.000 When salvation has been getting them to say a sinner's prayer becomes the main objective. 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:42.000 We miss out. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:49.000 Guys, show them the Father and he is so attractive that people surrender their lives to the Son. 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:52.000 There will be times when I have no other. 00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:56.000 I mean, there have been times when the Lord has said forget showing him who I am. 00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:59.000 Just tell him to give his life to the Lord right now and lead him in a sinner's prayer. 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:01.000 And there's a time for that. 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:05.000 What we hear and do, our intent is we will go and make people glad in the Lord. 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:09.000 We will show we will free them to recognize, rise up and be satisfied in God. 00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:11.000 And salvation is a natural outcome. 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:13.000 This is what Jesus did with Zacchaeus. 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:14.000 No, was it Zacchaeus? 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:15.000 Yeah. 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:23.000 He went to his house for tea, had tea with him and Zacchaeus turned around and gave back four times his money. 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:24.000 Was it Zacchaeus or Levi? 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:25.000 One of the guys. 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:27.000 So let's put them both together. 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:28.000 Okay. 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:31.000 This is how it works, guys. 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:38.000 So know this that, guys, does the rest of the world have the Spirit of God dwelling in them? 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.000 No. 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:40.000 Do we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us? 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:41.000 Yes. 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:43.000 The flesh profits nothing. 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:49.000 The Spirit gives life. 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:53.000 You and I can restore the years the locusts have eaten. 00:43:53.000 --> 00:43:56.000 Ezekiel 37, verse 12. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:44:01.000 And God says to Ezekiel, stand in these valley of bones and prophesy. 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:04.000 So he prophesied that the Lord will give you life. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:09.000 And God says to Ezekiel, stand in these valley of bones and prophesy. 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:11.000 So he prophesies and the bones come together. 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:12.000 But they're still dead. 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:14.000 And then God says, now breathe upon them. 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.000 Breathe. 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:17.000 And as you breathe, I'll bring life back. 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:18.000 Prophecy upon them. 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:21.000 And so Ezekiel says, and so I did what the Lord said and I began to prophesy. 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:27.000 And as I prophesied, breath began to enter the valley of bones and they rose up as one large army. 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:30.000 Who? 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:32.000 If not you. 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:34.000 If not, now. 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:41.000 Guys, we've got far too much inside us now to just sit on it. 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:44.000 Far too much inside us. 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:47.000 Who else can do this, guys? 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:49.000 But the people of God. 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:50.000 I'm not saying actually, man. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:52.000 The people of God. 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:54.000 Who else can do this? 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:58.000 Dead sons have to be resurrected. 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:05.000 Thank God for those that came and rose us back to life, man. 00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:07.000 John 5.25 says this. 00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:14.000 A time is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and they will rise up from their graves. 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:18.000 I know I'm taking it out of context, but it's so cool. 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:19.000 John 5.25. 00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:27.000 A time is coming when the dead shall hear the voice of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and they shall rise up from their graves. 00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:32.000 John 5.25. 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:33.000 Persist. 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:36.000 I mean, Elijah goes, lies down on the corpse three times. 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:45.000 Hosea chapter two, verse six has this verse in which it says, by the second day, it says, after two days he will revive us. 00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:47.000 On the third day he will raise us up that we may live with him. 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:53.000 It's almost, you'll find this third day principle in almost every situation where God is going to revive something. 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:59.000 And Elijah goes, lies down on this boy three times and third time he comes back to life. 00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:00.000 Persist, persist. 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:05.000 My God, if people gave up on me after they spoke to me once, I would not be where I am. 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:07.000 It was because people persisted. 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:09.000 People persisted. 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:14.000 And remember, why do you need to, every time you persist, know that you're persisting because you were rejected the first time. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:17.000 There is no need for persistence if there is no rejection. 00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:22.000 Hi. 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:23.000 I'm not doing anything. 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:25.000 I'm just standing here still. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:33.000 Persist, lie down on the corpse three times. 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:35.000 Lie down on the corpse three times. 00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:36.000 Can't give up guys. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:38.000 Lie down on the corpse three times. 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:41.000 And it will revive. 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:48.000 Next one, and we'll end with this. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:58.000 If Elijah does not go back, if Elijah does not go back, Elisha's are not mentored. 00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:02.000 If Elijah does not go back establishing, Elisha's are not mentored. 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:05.000 Jehu's are not anointed. 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:08.000 Jezebel's are not dismant SQL. 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:15.000 If Elijah does not go back, if Elijah does not go back. 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:22.000 Elisha's are not mentored or fathered. 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:23.000 Yeah, use the word fathered. 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:25.000 Elisha's are not fathered. 00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:28.000 Jehu's are not anointed. 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:37.000 And Jezebel's are not dismantled. 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:42.000 Hey guys, remember I'm talking about us as a people who will engage in things like this. 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:48.000 And how do we, when we begin to think like this as a people, then we as individuals begin to function like that. 00:47:49.000 --> 00:47:56.000 So I'm talking about us as a people functioning like this so that individuals, wherever they are, begin to do the same. 00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:00.000 We don't think of individuals doing it together to form a collective. 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:03.000 We don't think of individuals doing it together to form a collective. 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:08.000 We think collective first so that individuals can live out their little piece in the collective. 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:09.000 That's how the body works. 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:24.000 The head decides that at this particular moment, Jacob's second and third finger need to scratch his head right down the middle and keep doing this for a while. 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:27.000 And it's amazing how so many things are working together at the same time. 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:29.000 It's not suddenly that the body is working together. 00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:32.000 It's amazing how so many things are working together at the same time. 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:37.000 It's not suddenly my fingers deciding to scratch your head and my elbows deciding, no, I don't want to scratch your head. 00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:38.000 No, everything works together. 00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:47.000 The point being, we think like this as a people and then as individuals begin to function in our own metron. 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:56.000 So if Elijah does not go back, Elijah's an aunt-mentor, Jehu's aren't anointed, Jezebel's aren't determined. 00:48:56.000 --> 00:49:00.000 Guys, why she's still scared? 00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:01.000 I've stopped doing that thing. 00:49:01.000 --> 00:49:13.000 Guys, one of the things that happens to Christians in churches like Acts 29 is because of perhaps disappointment, 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:21.000 so because of things not working out despite standing in faith, because it's taking long. 00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:30.000 What happens is for Christians who have been Christians for long, you begin to harden your heart in some areas. 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:39.000 One of the things you've got to go home and check is, Father, is there anything about you that I've or anything that you do that I've hardened my heart against? 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:46.000 Have I hardened my heart in the area of healing because I've waited for long and nothing has happened? 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:52.000 Have I hardened my heart in the area of provision because I've waited for long and nothing has happened? 00:49:55.000 --> 00:50:02.000 Have I hardened my heart in the area of real hope because I've trusted you and nothing has happened? 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:06.000 We don't realize this, eh? 00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:10.000 When we talk about the hardening of heart, we think of being resistant to God. 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:14.000 No, when it comes to us Christians, it's not so much resistance to God, 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:21.000 but a certain part of our heart gets callous to certain characteristics of God, 00:50:21.000 --> 00:50:24.000 and in that area, you begin to shut down. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:27.000 And it doesn't matter what you do. 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:31.000 It doesn't matter how many seminars you go for, how many teachings you attend. 00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:34.000 It doesn't matter that the Spirit of God is flowing. 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:37.000 In that area, the hardness has taken over. 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:43.000 And the only way out of it is through repentance, because repentance is a changing of your mind. 00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:46.000 At the end of the day, how do you define changing of your mind? 00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:51.000 The renewing of your mind is beginning to see things the way God sees them again. 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:57.000 The renewing of your mind is beginning to see things the way God sees them again. 00:50:57.000 --> 00:51:01.000 So, yes, the renewing of the mind comes through the reading of the Word, 00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:06.000 but you can read the Word and not see things the way God sees them, and so nothing happens. 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:12.000 I've met Christians in this church and in other churches where there is a hardness of heart in a certain area, 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:13.000 and everybody has it. 00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:16.000 I've got areas in my life where my heart is hardened. 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:22.000 Because I haven't seen the kind of results I expected, despite what I thought was endurance and faith, 00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:26.000 in that area, I'm a little hesitant because that area is hardened. 00:51:26.000 --> 00:51:30.000 You think you don't have it in your life. Of course you do. 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:33.000 And the only way out of it is to repent, saying, 00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:37.000 Father, I'm sorry. I think you don't do such things. 00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:40.000 I've decided that this is an area that you're shut off to. 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:42.000 My heart is not resistant to you. 00:51:42.000 --> 00:51:45.000 I love you, Father, but in this area, I've shut you off. 00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:51.000 And I need now to change the way I think by seeing things the way you see them. 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:58.000 The Word of God is to be seen as a place where God shows you how he thinks, and that is what renews your mind. 00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:05.000 Hey guys, the thing is, wherever your heart is hardened, you become the architect of your own future in that area. 00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:10.000 Wherever your heart is hardened, in that area, you become the architect of your own future. 00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:17.000 And even God can't help you. 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:20.000 That sounds strange, but even God can't help you. 00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:25.000 Because he will not hijack your will. 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:30.000 So, why am I bringing all this up? 00:52:30.000 --> 00:52:34.000 Because Elijah wanted to quit, man. He wanted to resign and get raptured. 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:37.000 Elijah wanted to... 00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:40.000 Hey guys, if you ever want to leave, feel free to get up and leave. 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:45.000 All we'll do when people leave in the middle of the services, we say Joel and Myra are leaving the building. 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:46.000 And that's about it. 00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:49.000 We just embarrass you a little and then that's the end of it. 00:52:51.000 --> 00:52:52.000 Just so you know. 00:52:53.000 --> 00:52:58.000 Because maybe no one told you that this goes on till 1220 or 1230, but usually we end by 1230. 00:52:59.000 --> 00:53:03.000 We should put up a sign saying 1020 till 12, 1230, 1245, maybe. 00:53:05.000 --> 00:53:07.000 Guys, so why am I saying this? 00:53:07.000 --> 00:53:12.000 Because Elijah quit, eh? Elijah hardened his heart in this area where it came to. 00:53:13.000 --> 00:53:14.000 Fear and Jezebel. 00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:15.000 And in the area that... 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:18.000 Here's what he does. He says, I'm the only one left among your prophets. 00:53:19.000 --> 00:53:20.000 He went into self-pity. 00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:24.000 Guys, as we grow older, refuse to lick your wounds. 00:53:25.000 --> 00:53:26.000 Refuse to lick your wounds. 00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:28.000 Get healed. 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:30.000 Refuse to lick your wounds. 00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:31.000 Get healed. 00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:35.000 It doesn't matter what kind of a past you have. 00:53:35.000 --> 00:53:36.000 Maybe you were abused in your past. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:39.000 Maybe your dad was a lousy guy. 00:53:40.000 --> 00:53:43.000 Maybe you lost a child. 00:53:43.000 --> 00:53:45.000 Maybe you lost your house. 00:53:45.000 --> 00:53:47.000 All those things happen. 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:52.000 There is a time when that happens where it hurts like crazy, but God is a God who heals. 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:55.000 I can't keep licking my wounds. 00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:57.000 Doesn't matter what's happened to my marriage in the past. 00:53:57.000 --> 00:54:00.000 I have a future and I will refuse to lick my wounds. 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:04.000 Instead, I'll be someone who gets healed, gets up and starts walking again. 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:08.000 When you lick your wounds, they keep festering. 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:09.000 They don't get cleaned up. 00:54:09.000 --> 00:54:11.000 The only one who can clean up wounds is God, man. 00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:13.000 Lick your wounds and all you get is scabs. 00:54:14.000 --> 00:54:16.000 God heals you, you get scars, man. 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:21.000 Don't lick your wounds. 00:54:21.000 --> 00:54:23.000 I love what Caleb did. 00:54:23.000 --> 00:54:24.000 He's 84. 00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:26.000 He's about Dagma's age. 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:27.000 And what does he do? 00:54:27.000 --> 00:54:29.000 He says, I want my portion of land. 00:54:29.000 --> 00:54:31.000 And could I please have those hills? 00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:33.000 The hill country of Hebron. 00:54:33.000 --> 00:54:34.000 Why, Caleb? 00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:36.000 Because they've got giants from the tribe of Anaheim. 00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:38.000 They've got the whole tribe of Hebron. 00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:39.000 Why, Caleb? 00:54:39.000 --> 00:54:43.000 Because they've got giants from the tribe of Anak and I'd really like to take them on. 00:54:43.000 --> 00:54:44.000 What's wrong with the guy? 00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:49.000 Talk about being illogical. 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:51.000 Talk about Caleb going. 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:54.000 If Caleb didn't go, the Anaks would not have been defeated. 00:54:54.000 --> 00:54:55.000 Crazy. 00:54:56.000 --> 00:55:00.000 If Caleb did not go, the Anaks would not have been defeated. 00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:05.000 Hardships are no match, guys, for the surpassing victory through the one who loves you perfectly. 00:55:05.000 --> 00:55:07.000 Romans 8.37. 00:55:07.000 --> 00:55:11.000 For the surpassing victory of the one who loves you. 00:55:13.000 --> 00:55:15.000 This is the Romans 8.37.38 thing. 00:55:15.000 --> 00:55:18.000 We are more than conquerors through Christ. 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:25.000 And he gives a surpassing victory to the one who loves us perfectly. 00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:26.000 But we'll talk about that another day. 00:55:26.000 --> 00:55:27.000 Let me conclude. 00:55:27.000 --> 00:55:36.000 Guys, it is in the ascension of Elijah's and Jehu's that your life is proven as being beneficial. 00:55:37.000 --> 00:55:38.000 Let me say that again. 00:55:38.000 --> 00:55:39.000 It's in the ascension. 00:55:39.000 --> 00:55:47.000 As in, by the time you leave the earth, why was posterity so important to the Jewish nation? 00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:55.000 I mean, for a woman to be barren in Israel was like the ultimate stigma. 00:55:55.000 --> 00:55:59.000 For a man not to have children was like the end of days. 00:55:59.000 --> 00:56:00.000 Abraham laments. 00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:05.000 But, okay, oh God, if you say, I'm going to have children, I'll call Eliezer my servant 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:08.000 and I'll take him and his son as my children. 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:11.000 It was unbearable not to have a posterity. 00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:14.000 But what about spiritual posterity, man? 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:16.000 Why is that not unbearable? 00:56:16.000 --> 00:56:18.000 Why is that not unbearable? 00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:27.000 The proof of a life lived well on earth is seen in the Jehu's and the Elisha's you leave behind. 00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:36.000 So when you leave the earth, who will say that it was because of his spiritual input that I became who I became? 00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:43.000 Who will say it was his hand that led me to the place that I am right now? 00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:45.000 You think this is the realm of pastors? 00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:47.000 Absolutely not. 00:56:47.000 --> 00:56:50.000 Common priesthood we share with different graces and giftings. 00:56:50.000 --> 00:57:00.000 The proof of a life lived well, lived in a godly fashion here on earth is Elijah's and Jehu's that have been fathered and that have been anointed. 00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:05.000 And that is when you can rest. 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:10.000 You cannot rest till you have somebody else raised on earth who is better than you. 00:57:13.000 --> 00:57:15.000 When did God rest? 00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:18.000 When did God rest? 00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:26.000 God rested when he figured that all things are working well and that seed will perpetuate life forever. 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:31.000 That's when God rested, eh? 00:57:31.000 --> 00:57:33.000 He had set everything up. 00:57:33.000 --> 00:57:37.000 He had given them the command, go, multiply, reproduce, replenish the earth. 00:57:37.000 --> 00:57:41.000 He had planted trees that will bear seeds that will cause more trees to come. 00:57:41.000 --> 00:57:44.000 Having done anything, then he goes into rest. 00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:49.000 Why? Because he had set everything in order so that they would perpetuate after their kind. 00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:56.000 You cannot rest till you have come to a place where you can perpetuate after your kind. 00:57:56.000 --> 00:57:59.000 I'm not talking about biological children, as wonderful as they are. 00:58:01.000 --> 00:58:06.000 But there is a new kind that you are that came from that seed called the immortal seed of 1 Peter 1.23. 00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:10.000 That has to be perpetuated on the earth and you cannot rest till that is done. 00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:17.000 So while you are alive, you have to deputize and steward and after you are dead, you have to make sure that it perpetuates. 00:58:18.000 --> 00:58:20.000 While you are alive, you deputize. 00:58:20.000 --> 00:58:22.000 As in what does deputize mean? 00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:27.000 Deputize means when Chris goes away, Chris deputizes Lynn to play the keyboard. 00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:31.000 You know that's going to happen, right? 00:58:31.000 --> 00:58:33.000 You better learn everything you can over the next few weeks. 00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:38.000 So Chris deputizes her to play the keyboard. 00:58:38.000 --> 00:58:42.000 And then having deputized her, she has to steward Lynn's talents. 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:48.000 So over the next three weeks, Chris stops working at TELUS and spends her entire day helping Lynn to learn the keyboard. 00:58:48.000 --> 00:58:50.000 So that in three weeks she is ready to play. 00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:52.000 While you are alive guys, that is your function. 00:58:52.000 --> 00:58:58.000 At the end of the day, regardless of what your grace or gift is, you are supposed to deputize and you are supposed to steward. 00:58:58.000 --> 00:59:03.000 So that when you die, the seed perpetuates. 00:59:04.000 --> 00:59:06.000 Then you don't have to worry. 00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:09.000 And every generation gets more and more potent. 00:59:09.000 --> 00:59:11.000 I want to end with a very, very sad verse. 00:59:11.000 --> 00:59:15.000 I know that's not the best way to end sermons, but I want to end with a really sad verse. 00:59:15.000 --> 00:59:21.000 I want it to hit you so hard that it will give you trouble sleeping. 00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:28.000 It's in Judges 2, verses 7 to 10. 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:30.000 I read it and I almost started weeping. 00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:32.000 I'm not being dramatic. 00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:35.000 Judges 2, 7 to 10. 00:59:37.000 --> 00:59:46.000 I thought to myself, my Godfather, may our hands be free of blood when Acts 29 days are done. 00:59:46.000 --> 00:59:49.000 Judges 2, 7 to 10. 00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:55.000 Here's what it says. 00:59:57.000 --> 00:59:58.000 Let's start at verse 6. 00:59:58.000 --> 00:59:59.000 Verse 7. 01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:29.000 Verse 10. 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:42.000 One generation, guys. 01:00:45.000 --> 01:00:52.000 Here was a generation that had seen everything, that had seen God dwell in the midst, the elders came. 01:00:52.000 --> 01:00:58.000 But in one generation, that is frightening. 01:00:59.000 --> 01:01:06.000 In one generation, you had a people who did not know the Lord and did not know his works. 01:01:09.000 --> 01:01:12.000 Which means Joshua failed miserably. 01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:13.000 One generation. 01:01:20.000 --> 01:01:21.000 Crazy, eh? 01:01:21.000 --> 01:01:22.000 That's all it takes. 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:26.000 Acts 29 can do that. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:27.000 We can have God in our midst. 01:01:27.000 --> 01:01:29.000 He can turn up and do wonders. 01:01:29.000 --> 01:01:31.000 He can make coolant and oil separate. 01:01:31.000 --> 01:01:34.000 He can make two teeth of oil separate. 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:36.000 He can make a cup of tea. 01:01:36.000 --> 01:01:37.000 He can make a cup of tea. 01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:38.000 He can make a cup of tea. 01:01:38.000 --> 01:01:39.000 He can make a cup of tea. 01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:41.000 He can make coolant and oil separate. 01:01:41.000 --> 01:01:45.000 He can make two teeth disappear and appear. 01:01:45.000 --> 01:01:47.000 He can make hips, replace hips. 01:01:47.000 --> 01:01:53.000 And in one generation, you can have a people who do not know God and do not know his works. 01:01:54.000 --> 01:02:02.000 You must understand how important it is that you go back out there for the sake of your children and for the generations that are out there. 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:05.000 Because otherwise, Jehosh will not be anointed. 01:02:06.000 --> 01:02:08.000 Elisha's will not be raised. 01:02:09.000 --> 01:02:11.000 Jehosh's will not be dismantled. 01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:16.000 And don't take anything granted with your children, eh? 01:02:18.000 --> 01:02:19.000 I want to say this too. 01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:22.000 No, I won't say that now. 01:02:23.000 --> 01:02:25.000 Yeah, let's just pray. 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:30.000 You know, Father, the reason I'm praying is that's a sobering note to end on. 01:02:31.000 --> 01:02:33.000 I wanted to trouble us, Abba. 01:02:33.000 --> 01:02:34.000 I wanted to trouble us. 01:02:34.000 --> 01:02:44.000 How does one generation that saw you in their midst in terms of the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, in terms of the rock that spewed water, in terms of the Red Sea parting, 01:02:45.000 --> 01:02:51.000 that generation, when that generation died, how come the next generation did not know who you were and did not know your works? 01:02:51.000 --> 01:02:52.000 What happened, Father? 01:02:52.000 --> 01:02:53.000 What happened? 01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:57.000 I mean, wasn't Joshua a man with an excellent spirit? 01:02:58.000 --> 01:02:59.000 How come? 01:02:59.000 --> 01:03:12.000 Father, give Acts 29 this pain somewhere inside, like a spiritual kind of ache inside, that we do not live for ourselves. 01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:15.000 We live for at least two generations down the road. 01:03:16.000 --> 01:03:18.000 Would you please cause that ache to develop? 01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:21.000 That we do not live for ourselves. 01:03:21.000 --> 01:03:25.000 We live for Maya's children. 01:03:25.000 --> 01:03:26.000 We do not live for ourselves. 01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:33.000 We live for Maya's children, Tavis's children, Roxanne's children. 01:03:34.000 --> 01:03:36.000 Ah, Jesus, can you please make that happen? 01:03:36.000 --> 01:03:46.000 Spirit of God, only you can bring about these appetites in us, these spiritual appetites, that Roxanne's children will benefit from what we are doing now. 01:03:48.000 --> 01:03:49.000 Could you do that, Lord? 01:03:49.000 --> 01:04:00.000 That becomes important to us, because we want to live to make others glad in you, unborns glad in you, 01:04:01.000 --> 01:04:06.000 ones that are not born yet, left a rich legacy, where they will now say, 01:04:06.000 --> 01:04:15.000 I believe in the God of Rob and Roxanne and someone, or like they used to say of old. 01:04:19.000 --> 01:04:21.000 Grant us these things, only you can do it, Spirit of God. 01:04:21.000 --> 01:04:26.000 I trust that you will make it happen, because I don't have the power to do it. 01:04:27.000 --> 01:04:31.000 But you can, and I trust you, Holy Spirit, for this deep desire. 01:04:34.000 --> 01:04:39.000 And so I ask this for us, and we bless you in Jesus' name. Amen. 01:04:40.000 --> 01:04:46.000 Guys, see you on Tuesday. Otherwise, if you have any need for prayer, feel free to come up, and someone will pray with you.