WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Obedience Matters Publishing Date: 2022-11-20T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/obedience-matters/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:20.160 Okay, guys, James chapter 2 verse 21 to 25. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:25.560 James chapter 2 verse 21 to 25. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:30.240 James chapter 2 verse 21 to 25. 00:00:30.240 --> 00:00:31.440 Couple of quick announcements. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:36.240 One, this Tuesday, Encounter will be the hub that meets on Tuesday. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:37.400 Sorry. 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:38.440 Oh, sorry. 00:00:38.440 --> 00:00:42.040 My bad. 00:00:42.040 --> 00:00:48.160 This Tuesday is Encounter at 3702 in Vancouver. 00:00:48.160 --> 00:00:55.480 So you'll be sent an invite and please turn up for Encounter on Tuesday. 00:00:55.480 --> 00:00:56.760 And that was one announcement. 00:00:56.760 --> 00:01:00.240 Two, ah, the rest, it's okay. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:09.120 James chapter 2 verse 21 to 25. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.480 Let's start at verse 20. 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:19.680 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without works is useless? 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:24.120 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.160 on the altar? 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:31.440 You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:32.440 by what he did. 00:01:32.440 --> 00:01:37.240 And the scripture was fulfilled that says Abraham believed God and it was credited to 00:01:37.240 --> 00:01:41.400 him as righteousness and he was called God's friend. 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:46.240 You see, a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 00:01:46.240 --> 00:01:51.320 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when 00:01:52.320 --> 00:01:55.480 she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.920 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:00.160 One more time. 00:02:00.160 --> 00:02:04.960 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless or faith without 00:02:04.960 --> 00:02:06.920 works is useless? 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:11.800 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.520 on the altar? 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:19.840 You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete 00:02:19.920 --> 00:02:20.920 by what he did. 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:25.080 And the scripture was fulfilled that says Abraham believed God and it was credited to 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:28.720 him as righteousness and he was called God's friend. 00:02:28.720 --> 00:02:32.920 You see, a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 00:02:32.920 --> 00:02:37.240 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:41.000 she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.400 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.200 So guys, we're going to talk about obedience matters. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.840 That's the title for today, obedience matters. 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:57.600 And so the first statement we want to start with is faith apart from works. 00:02:57.600 --> 00:03:06.200 Faith apart from works is useless. 00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:09.520 Faith apart from works is useless. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:14.720 Faith apart from works is useless. 00:03:14.720 --> 00:03:18.640 Works have to be active alongside faith. 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:22.440 Works have to be active alongside faith. 00:03:22.440 --> 00:03:27.080 I know you know this. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:31.280 Let's see where obedience plays a part. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:39.720 So the thing is, works are basically obedient actions. 00:03:39.720 --> 00:03:43.200 Works are obedient actions. 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:44.560 Works are obedient actions. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.400 That's what works really are. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:51.840 So God tells us something or God asks us to step out to do something or God gives us a 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:56.360 dream or God gives us a promise or God just speaks into your heart or God gives you the 00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:00.800 word from the scriptures and he says, this is what the word says. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.520 And so we begin to trust it, we begin to believe it. 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:10.640 But obedient action is what completes faith. 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:14.140 Obedient action is what shows that you actually believe. 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:19.540 So one of the ways we avoid obedient action is by delaying it or by questioning it multiple 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:26.940 times or by waiting for multiple confirmations or waiting for the right time. 00:04:26.940 --> 00:04:31.940 And the right time is usually decided by all the conditions coming together. 00:04:31.940 --> 00:04:36.320 That's what happens. 00:04:36.320 --> 00:04:44.940 And so obedience matters and faith without obedient action is not faith that is complete, 00:04:44.940 --> 00:04:48.940 it's incomplete faith. 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:55.300 Only works or obedient action can show faith. 00:04:55.300 --> 00:05:01.680 That's why Paul, sorry, that's why James goes to the extent of starting verse 20 saying, 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.460 You foolish man. 00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:04.460 As in really? 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:08.900 Duh, are you that dumb? 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:11.400 That's what he's saying. 00:05:11.400 --> 00:05:16.320 Did you really think that by not being obedient in your action, you really have faith? 00:05:16.320 --> 00:05:17.320 You don't. 00:05:17.320 --> 00:05:19.080 That's what he's saying. 00:05:19.080 --> 00:05:20.920 James was a straight shooter, right? 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:31.140 That entire book is so in your face. 00:05:31.140 --> 00:05:35.460 So the absence of works is the absence of faith or dead faith. 00:05:35.460 --> 00:05:41.680 The absence of works, the absence of works and how do we define works? 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:42.880 Go back to this. 00:05:42.880 --> 00:05:52.360 The absence of obedient action is basically dead faith. 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:56.880 And I hope this challenges us because many of us think we are walking in faith. 00:05:56.880 --> 00:06:02.060 Many of us have walked in faith and have new challenges ahead of us. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:04.340 We are hesitant, we are delaying. 00:06:04.340 --> 00:06:08.560 One of the things about the word obedience, and I've said this many times, obedience is 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.600 walking under. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:14.780 Disobedience is walking around. 00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:21.280 The sense of the word in Hebrew is when you're obedient, you're walking under the word. 00:06:21.280 --> 00:06:24.280 When you're disobedient, you're walking around the word. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:25.280 You're not walking under it. 00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:31.640 There are ways you can circumvent it or navigate your way around it but not under it. 00:06:31.640 --> 00:06:37.760 And therefore, the absence of obedient action is basically dead faith. 00:06:37.760 --> 00:06:41.820 Or in other words, just trying to say it in many different ways, whichever way fits, use 00:06:41.820 --> 00:06:42.820 it. 00:06:42.820 --> 00:07:07.980 And dead faith produces obedience to what God has said and is complete in doing what 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:15.220 God has said. 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:22.100 Any questions before we go on? 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:27.460 Living faith produces obedience to what God has said and is complete in doing what God 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:28.460 has said. 00:07:28.460 --> 00:07:32.340 It is also possible to be obedient and yet not do. 00:07:32.340 --> 00:07:37.980 Jesus spoke of a parable of two sons and the father asks one of the sons to go and 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:42.020 do something and the son says yes and he doesn't do it and then the other son says no and he 00:07:42.020 --> 00:07:43.020 does it. 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:47.300 Well, what if the son who said yes and doesn't do it, is his faith complete? 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:52.680 No, because living faith produces obedience to what God has said but is complete only 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:54.360 in doing what God has said. 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:56.640 That is what fulfills the action. 00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:58.540 So what are the things you and I are delaying on? 00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:01.820 What are the things that we are waiting for the right conditions? 00:08:01.820 --> 00:08:06.060 What are the things we need another three confirmations for? 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:10.460 What are the things where action is held back because you are scared? 00:08:10.460 --> 00:08:12.260 And these are real things. 00:08:12.260 --> 00:08:13.700 Being afraid is real. 00:08:13.700 --> 00:08:17.140 So we can't just dismiss it. 00:08:17.140 --> 00:08:26.260 Faith that just walks over fear will only live a day because the fear will come up again. 00:08:26.260 --> 00:08:30.180 Faith that walks over fear, as in I'm not afraid, I'm just going to trample over fear. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:32.860 That's great in a song. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:35.180 But in reality, I have to deal with the fear. 00:08:35.180 --> 00:08:40.260 My fear is the result of not trusting the Father enough in a certain area and that's 00:08:40.260 --> 00:08:41.820 where the healing happens. 00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:45.660 It's not in trampling over it that it's gone. 00:08:45.660 --> 00:08:50.940 And sometimes it may need me to do it again and again but eventually the fear disappears. 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:52.180 So these are valid reasons. 00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:56.620 I mean, we don't want to diss what's happening in our lives but we want to diss what's happening 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:01.220 in our lives. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:04.220 Any questions? 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.420 Okay. 00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:15.420 Look at Genesis 22.1 because we read about Abraham and James chapter 2. 00:09:15.420 --> 00:09:19.460 Now go to Genesis 22.1. 00:09:20.300 --> 00:09:28.580 And it says in Genesis 22.1 that sometime later God tested Abraham. 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:30.740 Why did God test Abraham? 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.860 What is the reason he tested Abraham? 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.820 God tests Abraham in Genesis 22.1. 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:39.020 Why does God test his faith? 00:09:39.020 --> 00:09:45.140 Why does God test Abraham's faith? 00:09:45.140 --> 00:09:51.340 What is God looking for? 00:09:51.340 --> 00:09:54.340 What was God looking for? 00:09:54.340 --> 00:10:05.380 Okay, when God tested Abraham, what he was looking for was obedience. 00:10:05.380 --> 00:10:06.940 It's one thing to count the stars. 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:10.900 It's another to obey the command to offer his son Isaac. 00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:16.460 He was looking for obedience or he was looking for works. 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:23.500 He was looking for obedient action or he was looking for works that would prove Abraham's 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:24.780 faith. 00:10:24.780 --> 00:10:27.780 That would prove Abraham's faith. 00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:32.460 Faith. 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:38.020 It would prove whether it was empty talk or real. 00:10:38.140 --> 00:10:45.220 So know that whenever God gives you a promise, there is the great likelihood of him seeing 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:49.220 you believe the promise, seeing you sing about the promise, seeing you affirm the promise, 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:51.020 seeing you pray the promise. 00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:56.140 And after all that, after he's given you signs and wonders and symbols and you have things 00:10:56.140 --> 00:10:59.340 in your house that remind you of the promise, you write it with lipstick on your mirror 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:01.460 if you're... 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:07.500 And then after all that, God will come and say, okay, now that we've got this done, let 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:12.700 me test your faith because now I want to see if what you believe is what you will do in 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.700 action. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:15.700 And so God tested Abraham. 00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:20.380 He had called Abraham out, shown him the sand on the sea shore, had shown him the stars 00:11:20.380 --> 00:11:24.900 in the sky, and he says to him, this is what is going to happen through you, not through 00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:26.500 Eliezer but through you. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:30.980 I will give you a son who would be called the son of promise and through you nations 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.780 will be blessed. 00:11:32.780 --> 00:11:36.220 But now comes the test. 00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:40.740 Now he wants to see if he really believes and what a test. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:43.020 He's already delayed 25 years. 00:11:43.020 --> 00:11:44.140 The guy is 99. 00:11:44.140 --> 00:11:47.180 You would think that was enough to prove that Abraham was faithful. 00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:51.300 But what has been tested is not whether Abraham can have a son or not. 00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:55.460 What is being tested is, I said to you that you will have a son of promise and through 00:11:55.460 --> 00:12:04.020 Isaac, I will begin to establish the nation that will produce the seed of the woman that 00:12:04.020 --> 00:12:05.780 will crush the serpent's head. 00:12:05.780 --> 00:12:07.700 Now let me see if you believe it. 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.900 How does he test him? 00:12:08.900 --> 00:12:11.620 By saying offer your son Isaac. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:15.460 There's a reason Abraham is called the father of faith. 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:19.020 There's a reason Abraham is called the friend of God. 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:25.300 This man had the ability to put into action, obedient action. 00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:26.860 This is what we are aspiring for. 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:41.900 Abraham did not have the Holy Spirit living in him. 00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:44.720 How does a man do that, man? 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:50.580 How do you take a child this age, grow this child to 16 or 17 and then lay this child 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:55.020 on an altar because you know that God will be faithful? 00:12:55.660 --> 00:12:56.820 This is your own flesh and blood. 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:58.540 This is no longer Ishmael. 00:12:58.540 --> 00:13:04.460 This is not Lot. 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.660 Obedient action. 00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:10.940 This is the demand that is being placed on us, guys. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:20.300 And rightfully so. 00:13:20.380 --> 00:13:25.140 Then because he shows his faith in obedient action, he is called a friend of God. 00:13:25.140 --> 00:13:26.860 He is called a friend of God. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.220 What a title, eh? 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:32.900 It's perhaps the one title we should fight each other for. 00:13:32.900 --> 00:13:35.860 Friend of God. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:40.580 Any questions? 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:43.860 Stagnant works is evidence of stagnant faith. 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:48.860 Stagnant works is evidence of stagnant faith. 00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:52.420 And by stagnant, it means it's stopped moving. 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:53.420 It's still. 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:56.420 The waters have been still for a while. 00:13:56.420 --> 00:14:00.220 Way maker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.220 That is who you are. 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:04.100 And he'll say, great, I'm so glad you say that of me. 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:08.140 But show me your works. 00:14:08.140 --> 00:14:12.300 Any questions? 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:15.300 Stagnant works is when works, obedient action is stagnant. 00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:16.620 It ain't moving. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.620 It's stopped. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:18.700 It's not moving anymore. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:24.740 Or there was a great event in my life in the past which I keep rehashing. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:28.940 And there's no new evidence of faith works. 00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:43.660 Because what should happen is life in God, life in God must lead us, must lead you, 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:52.700 must lead me into impossible circumstances, into impossible circumstances. 00:14:52.700 --> 00:15:05.700 Because it's only in impossible circumstances that faith, uncompromising dependence 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:10.740 and obedience will be demanded. 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:20.740 Life in God must lead you into impossible situations. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.740 Why? 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:26.740 Because it's a God who wants to go around the earth, changing the impossible into possible. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:29.740 He does impossible things. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:34.740 Hebrews 11 is a chapter of impossibility. 00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:37.780 This whole Bible is impossible. 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:41.780 Life in God must lead me into impossible circumstances. 00:15:41.780 --> 00:15:52.780 And by impossible circumstances, God is not meaning a job or some money or a house or 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:54.780 a healing only. 00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:59.780 Those things are important to him because what matters to you matters to him. 00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:00.780 It's important to him. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:03.820 But that's not what he means when he says impossible circumstances. 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:09.820 And the reason impossible circumstances are important is because it's impossible circumstances 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:14.820 that then place a demand on my faith, place a demand on uncompromising dependence and 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:17.820 places a demand on obedience. 00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:20.820 And in obedience, in obedience to action, my faith will be complete. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:27.820 I was writing this and thinking of something that I've been delaying for the last, at least 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.860 the last 10 to 12 days. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:35.860 I'm thinking to myself, how are you going to navigate through this and not do what God 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:37.860 has told you to do? 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:40.860 I'd have a mind to do it while worship was happening. 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:44.860 Then I thought, no, let's just wait till this afternoon and then I'll go home and complete 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.860 what God has said. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.860 I believe it. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.860 I trust him. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.860 I've written it down. 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.860 I carry it on my phone. 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.860 I go over it. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.860 I went over it this morning, but I'm not doing it because I need another confirmation. 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.860 I'm scared of doing it. 00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:56.900 Delay helps. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:21.900 Let's go with the Hebrews 11 way for impossible circumstances. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:35.900 If God tells you, May, to leave Richmond and move to Mongolia, and he said it very clearly 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:39.900 and you know it in your heart, what are you going to do? 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:43.900 You now have to go and live in a nation that you don't want to go to. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:46.900 You don't want to leave your friends, and he's asking you to. 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:51.900 And then kicks in faith, uncompromising dependence and obedience. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:53.900 Let's say that's a going thing. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.940 Let's change that. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:18:03.940 Let's say God wants you to break into a certain institution or organization or job front that 00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:07.940 you are not qualified for, that you cannot get into without connections. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:10.940 But he's saying, this is what I've appointed you to. 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:13.940 I want you to end up in City Hall and I want you to stand for elections. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:16.940 What are you going to do? 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:24.980 Let's say it is to go to a place in Prince George and there's a family there that does not have food 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:29.980 and God expects you to go there and give them a fish and expects a fish to multiply every month. 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:34.980 These are impossible biblical situations. 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:38.980 As I'm saying these, these sound so unreal because they are not part and parcel of our lives. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:42.980 This is not a demand we place on ourselves. 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.980 We'll touch on Elijah now. 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:57.980 Let's say there's a dead boy in an upstairs room and you get a dream saying you're supposed to go to that dead boy 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:03.980 and you're supposed to directly lay down on that boy, mouth to mouth, hand to hand, face to face, 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:06.980 three times and revive him back to life. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.980 Impossible circumstances. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.980 We would not even go here because they're supposed to stay in the Bible. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:20.980 And yet, as the water proceeds from the throne and goes further, 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:24.980 it's supposed to increase in its depth, not decrease in its depth. 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.980 If Acts chapter 2 was knee deep, we must be waist deep now. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.980 These are the impossible biblical circumstances. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:41.980 We focus on job and little things for our own lives and please don't think God despises that. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.980 He loves it. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.980 He thrills to take care of his kids. 00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:47.020 Just like any father does. 00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:53.020 But there's something so far beyond your own personal needs being met. 00:19:56.020 --> 00:19:58.020 I'm not even talking about healing or anything. 00:19:58.020 --> 00:20:01.020 I'm just talking about other impossible circumstances. 00:20:02.020 --> 00:20:07.020 The same God who was present here during worship and who you thoroughly enjoyed is the same God who does this. 00:20:07.020 --> 00:20:09.020 It is absolutely possible. 00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:14.020 That song, Is He Worthy? 00:20:15.020 --> 00:20:16.020 Is creation groaning? 00:20:16.020 --> 00:20:18.020 Is the darkness growing? 00:20:19.020 --> 00:20:22.020 Well then, the conditions are just right for Yahweh. 00:20:22.060 --> 00:20:26.060 Can you step back because Satan works for something? 00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:32.060 How do you tell the difference between something that is Satan because of what you're doing and not doing 00:20:32.060 --> 00:20:37.060 and something that seems to be Satan because of God pulling back for some reason? 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:42.060 So how you find that out is, have you done everything that you have been told to? 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:45.060 That's the easiest way. 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:48.060 Have I finished everything that I have been told to? 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:50.100 That's the easiest way. 00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:52.100 Have I finished everything He has told me to? 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:55.100 And after I have finished it, have I gone back and said, 00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:57.100 Master, is there anything else? 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:02.100 That's what servants do. 00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:04.100 They're given a task, they finish it to the T, 00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:05.100 and then they go and ask the Master, 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:08.100 Master, is there anything else that we can do? 00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:13.100 And if He says no, then they go and wait till the next morning for the next set of commands. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:17.100 So it's not enough to finish what we're doing. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:19.140 It's to finish what we're doing and say, 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.140 I have finished my task. 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:22.140 Is there anything else that you want me to do? 00:21:24.140 --> 00:21:27.140 That's how you keep stepping into the next of God. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:42.140 What happens when we engage in obedient action or works? 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:45.140 Obedient action or works when we engage in it? 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:53.140 It activates the omnipotence of God, 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:57.140 omnipotence of God, 00:21:58.140 --> 00:22:00.140 into your 00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:05.140 importance 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:08.140 and into your 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:11.140 impossible circumstances. 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.140 It does both. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:21.140 Obedient action activates the omnipotence of God 00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:23.140 into your impotency 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:25.140 and into your impossible circumstances. 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.140 That's what activates it. 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:33.140 The Son of Promise is activated when He's offered on the altar. 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:39.140 And it's a playing out on Mount Moriah 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:42.140 of what will happen to the Son of Promise called Christ 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:44.140 who will be laid on an altar 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:45.180 and is as good as dead 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:47.180 because the dagger is raised above 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:49.180 and then He comes back to life. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:56.180 And Abraham didn't lay his son there 00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:58.180 thinking, I'm going to sacrifice my son. 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:00.180 Abraham laid his son there thinking, 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:02.180 even if I kill him, I will get him back. 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:07.180 But it still is an act of faith 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:09.180 because the Father has to believe 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:11.180 that after He's been sacrificed 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:13.220 because the Father has to believe 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:15.220 that after slaughtering His Son, 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:17.220 His Son will come back to life. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.220 This obedience is not outcome based. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:27.220 There's outcome oriented obedience 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:29.220 which is, I will obey you and I will show faith 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.220 because I need this outcome 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.220 and when this outcome happens, 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:33.220 I will trust you and believe you 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.220 and praise you. 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.220 And then there is 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:38.220 obedience that has nothing to do with outcome. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:40.220 It is coming under the word. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:43.220 And saying, I will obey 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:45.220 because it is my pleasure to obey. 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:50.220 Upcome oriented obedience 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:52.220 is highly immature 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:54.220 and if that is who I am as a Christian, 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:56.220 then I'm a highly mature Christian. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:58.220 I'm like any other religion 00:23:58.220 --> 00:24:01.220 that appeases its gods to get its outcome. 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:05.220 I dislike it 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:07.220 when I go to God and say, 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:09.220 but I did this and how come you haven't? 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.220 Or when people come to me and say, 00:24:10.260 --> 00:24:12.260 I did this but God didn't show up. 00:24:12.260 --> 00:24:14.260 Really, why did you do it? 00:24:16.260 --> 00:24:18.260 You did it because you wanted to obey Him. 00:24:18.260 --> 00:24:19.260 Well then you obeyed Him. 00:24:19.260 --> 00:24:20.260 Well done. 00:24:23.260 --> 00:24:25.260 When I go and tell Him stuff like that, 00:24:25.260 --> 00:24:26.260 but I stood up for you, 00:24:26.260 --> 00:24:27.260 I did this, nothing happened. 00:24:28.260 --> 00:24:29.260 Thank God it doesn't go. 00:24:40.260 --> 00:24:42.260 Let's go to 1 Kings 17. 00:24:43.260 --> 00:24:45.260 1 Kings 17. 00:24:53.260 --> 00:24:55.260 1 Kings 17. 00:24:55.260 --> 00:24:57.260 It says there that there was a brook 00:24:57.260 --> 00:25:00.260 that Elijah was supposed to sit next to 00:25:00.260 --> 00:25:02.260 and he would drink water from the brook, 00:25:02.260 --> 00:25:03.260 the brook chariot, 00:25:03.260 --> 00:25:05.260 and then ravens would come 00:25:05.260 --> 00:25:07.260 and they would feed him bread and meat 00:25:07.260 --> 00:25:09.260 in the morning and the evening. 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:11.300 Lunch is overrated. 00:25:11.300 --> 00:25:14.300 So if there's any meal you want to skip, 00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.300 skip lunch. 00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:18.300 So these ravens would come in the morning 00:25:18.300 --> 00:25:19.300 and ravens would come in the evening 00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:21.300 and they would supply him bread and meat 00:25:21.300 --> 00:25:23.300 and he had enough water to drink from the brook 00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:25.300 when there was famine in the land. 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:29.300 And so he goes to the chariot 00:25:30.300 --> 00:25:33.300 but the very place that God tells him to go to 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:35.300 and he obeys and goes to, 00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.300 dries up. 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:40.340 It's fascinating that his reaction is very different. 00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:42.340 When God tells us something, 00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:44.340 and this is why I want to go down this route 00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:45.340 of obedience matters, 00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.340 when God tells us something 00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:49.340 and the something that we are doing begins to dry up, 00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:51.340 what is your reaction usually? 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:54.340 What happens inside you? 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:56.340 He told me this, I did it, nothing happened. 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:59.340 Worse, he told me this, I did it 00:25:59.340 --> 00:26:01.340 and it's turning against me now. 00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:03.340 What's your reaction? 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:05.380 This man goes, sits by a brook 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:06.380 and the very place that he went to 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.380 because God told him to go, 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.380 now begins to dry up. 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:13.380 God directed supply, seizes. 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:16.380 God directed supply, seizes. 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:19.380 God told him, in 17 verse 4, he says 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.380 I will direct, 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:23.380 ravens, I will direct the supply of water, 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.380 I will do it 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:26.380 and you go there and it dries up. 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:28.380 I don't know if it's happened to you 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:30.380 but I will direct the supply of water 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:32.380 and you go there and it dries up. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.420 What has happened to you? 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.420 What has happened to me man? 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.420 Where I have done something God wants to do 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.420 and what he says, 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.420 things begin to happen exactly opposite. 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.420 What do you do then? 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:48.420 And so then he's sent to the next place. 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.420 Where is he sent to? 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.420 He's sent to Zarifat. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.420 It's the wrong place to go. 00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:54.420 It's Gentile, it's pagan. 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.420 And to whom? 00:26:57.420 --> 00:27:00.420 To a woman who's a widow, low status. 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.420 He's the prophet of Israel. 00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:06.420 Even the command to go to that place is so wrong 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:08.420 that he should begin to question it. 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:11.420 But he goes to Zarifat. 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:14.420 Jesus later in Luke chapter 4 talks about it 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:16.420 and says weren't there widows in Israel 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:18.420 that Elijah could have been sent to? 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:20.420 Yet he was sent to someone 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:24.420 in a Gentile land called Sidon 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.420 to a woman in Zarifat. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:28.420 Weren't there enough women in Israel 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:30.420 who were going through the famine 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.460 to whom Elijah needed to be sent? 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:34.460 This is when obedience matters. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:36.460 It is not yours to question. 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:38.460 What gives you the right to? 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:40.460 What gives me the right to question? 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:44.460 Who do you think you are? 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:52.460 When I'm told something, 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:54.460 I must step to it. 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:58.460 But Jacob what if you're not sure God 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.460 is saying it? 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:01.500 Then go and check. 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:06.500 But this desire to be certain 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.500 is wrong. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:13.500 It requires no trust 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:15.500 if certainty is the objective. 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:19.500 If certainty is the objective 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:21.500 it requires no trust. 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.500 How do you overcome 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:27.500 the obstacle of certainty? 00:28:27.540 --> 00:28:29.540 By looking at Him 00:28:29.540 --> 00:28:31.540 who is your Father 00:28:31.540 --> 00:28:33.540 and beginning to embrace 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:35.540 His nature and His safety 00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:37.540 and His love for you. 00:28:37.540 --> 00:28:39.540 He's not a contractual lawyer 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:41.540 who's going to let you down 00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:43.540 or pick you up depending on how you do. 00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:45.540 He's one who surrounds you 00:28:45.540 --> 00:28:47.540 with loving kindness. 00:28:47.540 --> 00:28:49.540 Loyal loving kindness 00:28:49.540 --> 00:28:52.540 who knows how to pick up the pieces 00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:54.540 and put the whole thing back together again. 00:28:54.540 --> 00:28:56.540 It's the only way to overcome 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:58.580 uncertainty because 00:28:58.580 --> 00:29:00.580 certainty will not be given you 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.580 because Jesus is interested 00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:05.580 in making you like Him. 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:11.580 And so he goes to Zarephath 00:29:11.580 --> 00:29:13.580 and he goes to this woman. 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:19.580 I remember 00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:21.580 having 00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:22.580 the Lord saying, 00:29:22.580 --> 00:29:23.580 I need you to go to the UK 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:24.580 and I'm thinking to myself 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.580 I'm going there anyways 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.620 two weeks from now 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.620 so I'll go. 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:30.620 He says, no I need you to go to the UK now 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.620 and I'm thinking to myself 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:35.620 but that's just not reasonable. 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:37.620 But instead of saying 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.620 that's not reasonable 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.620 I say, so when? 00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:41.620 This is third of 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:43.620 I don't remember which month 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:45.620 and the Lord says 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:47.620 I want you to go on the sixth. 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:49.620 I'm thinking that is too close 00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:51.620 and so I'm sitting at 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:53.620 this samosa shop in Surrey 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:55.660 and a car pulls up 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.660 outside where I'm sitting 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:59.660 like I'm sitting right near the window 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.660 and a car pulls up 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.660 a Mustang pulls up 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.660 and it's got a strange number plate 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:05.660 it says UK06 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.660 who has number plates like that? 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:10.660 I have a photograph of that UK06 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.660 now I'm thinking to myself 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.660 what choice do I have? 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.660 So my next question is 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.660 Father, why should I go? 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.660 There's absolutely no reply 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:19.660 it's like I told you to go 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.660 I don't need to give you an explanation 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:22.660 so I jump on a plane 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.700 and go to UK 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.700 but I don't know what to do 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.700 and as I'm landing 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.700 the Lord is saying 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.700 call your brother-in-law 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.700 ask him to come to London 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.700 walk the streets of London 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.700 he knows I don't like walking 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.700 and so now 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.700 land in UK 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:34.700 and I'm walking up and down 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.700 the streets of London 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.700 at a place called 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.700 Grovena Square 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.700 because that's what he told me to do 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.700 so I'm walking up and down 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:41.700 I've never been on a trip like that 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:43.700 but the strange thing is 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.700 that kind of obedience 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:46.700 breaks you for things 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:48.700 that you will now experience in the future 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.700 I'm walking up and down the streets 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.700 and I get a call 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.700 I get a call from a man 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.740 who calls me and says 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.740 I got your number 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.740 from someone in Indonesia 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.740 next time you're in London 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.740 could you please give me a call? 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.740 and so 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.740 I say I'm in London 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.740 he says where? 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.740 I say here 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.740 and he's at Selfridges 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.740 which is not too far away 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.740 and he says can I meet you? 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.740 I said yes 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.740 and he says I've been fasting 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.740 for three days 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.740 and asking the Lord for answers 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.740 and so I meet him 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.740 and he's like a Will Smith 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:15.740 from Ghana 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.740 he's done movies 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.740 and he's in politics 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.740 and all this stuff 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.740 and he comes and meets me 00:31:20.780 --> 00:31:21.780 and we sit together 00:31:21.780 --> 00:31:22.780 and I said don't tell me anything 00:31:22.780 --> 00:31:23.780 and I begin to prophesy on him 00:31:23.780 --> 00:31:26.780 and everything he's asking God 00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:27.780 is answered 00:31:29.780 --> 00:31:30.780 the next day 00:31:30.780 --> 00:31:31.780 I don't know what to do 00:31:31.780 --> 00:31:32.780 and so 00:31:32.780 --> 00:31:33.780 I wake up 00:31:33.780 --> 00:31:34.780 and I ask God 00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:35.780 if there's anything to do 00:31:35.780 --> 00:31:36.780 and the Lord says 00:31:36.780 --> 00:31:37.780 nothing 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:38.780 so I go back to sleep 00:31:38.780 --> 00:31:39.780 and then 00:31:39.780 --> 00:31:40.780 when I wake up from sleep 00:31:40.780 --> 00:31:41.780 the Lord says 00:31:41.780 --> 00:31:42.780 I want you to go 00:31:42.780 --> 00:31:43.780 to the place where 00:31:43.780 --> 00:31:44.780 the Welsh revival was 00:31:44.780 --> 00:31:45.780 and I 00:31:45.780 --> 00:31:47.780 skipped all those classes at Regent 00:31:47.780 --> 00:31:49.780 so I had to 00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:50.820 Wikipedia it 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.820 and I found that it's 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:53.820 a place called 00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:54.820 a church called Moriah 00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:57.820 so we drive to Moriah 00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:58.820 and the Lord says 00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.820 just write a letter for a guy 00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.820 who's going to come to this church 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.820 and leave it at the bust 00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.820 of the guy who started 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.820 the Welsh revival 00:32:03.820 --> 00:32:04.820 and he'll come and pick it up 00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:05.820 that's all we did 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.820 third day nothing to do 00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.820 except 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:11.820 before I left on the flight 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:12.820 the Lord said 00:32:12.820 --> 00:32:13.820 there's a girl called Chiara 00:32:13.820 --> 00:32:14.820 I want you to go 00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:16.820 write something down for Chiara 00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.820 when you meet Chiara 00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:18.820 give her the letter 00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.860 I'm thinking 00:32:19.860 --> 00:32:20.860 how do you go around 00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.860 London asking 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:22.860 if girls with their names 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:23.860 are Chiara 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.860 so that isn't working out 00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:25.860 the third day did nothing 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.860 just enjoyed myself 00:32:26.860 --> 00:32:27.860 the fourth day 00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.860 it was time to fly home 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:29.860 I had to be here 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.860 in church for the service 00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.860 we used to start in the afternoon 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:33.860 so I'm driving 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:34.860 to 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.860 the Heathrow 00:32:35.860 --> 00:32:36.860 and 00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.860 Paul's 00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:39.860 sister's husband 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.860 runs a church 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.860 in Wimbledon 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.860 so I thought 00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.860 let me go stop there 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:45.860 because he asked me 00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:46.860 if I could come and preach 00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.860 so I went there 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.900 and 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.900 I'm about to preach 00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:50.900 and the Lord reminds me 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.900 of Chiara 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.900 and so 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.900 I go and ask Paul 00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:55.900 I said is there a Chiara here 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:57.900 and guess who the worship leader is 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:59.900 I go and ask Paul's 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.900 brother-in-law 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.900 is there a Chiara here 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:03.900 and guess who the worship leader is 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.900 a girl called Chiara 00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:05.900 not this Chiara 00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:06.900 not the Chiara 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.900 and so I give her the words 00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:09.900 that 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.900 God said 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.900 and she's like 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.900 weeping buckets 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.900 because 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.900 these are things 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.900 she's been asking for 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.900 jumped on a plane 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.940 and so she came back here 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:18.940 attended church 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.940 now here's a question 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.940 I want to ask 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.940 at the end of this whole story 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.940 aren't there enough people 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.940 in the UK to do this 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:26.940 does it make any sense 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.940 to fly all the way 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.940 with the UK 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:29.940 for three days 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:30.940 not knowing what you're supposed to do 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.940 spend the kind of money 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.940 you're spending 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.940 go there 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.940 and come back 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:35.940 aren't there 60 million people 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.940 in the UK 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.940 and out of the 60 million 00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.940 can we assume 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.940 that there are at least 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.940 2 million decent Christians 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.940 why can't God get one of them 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.940 it does not make sense 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.980 but obedience 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.980 does not necessarily make sense 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.980 it takes you into places 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.980 because this is how God works 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.980 it's his pleasure 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.980 I mean never get to experiences 00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:57.980 if you don't dare it 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.980 reason and speculative thinking 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.980 kicks in 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.980 so he goes to Zarifat 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.980 and he meets this woman 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.980 look what he does 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.980 the first thing he does is 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.980 he knows his orders from God 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.980 you said the brook has dried up 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.980 you said the bread 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.980 has stopped 00:34:15.020 --> 00:34:16.020 because the ravens 00:34:16.020 --> 00:34:17.020 won't bring it anymore 00:34:17.020 --> 00:34:18.020 so what does he go and do 00:34:18.020 --> 00:34:19.020 he starts off by 00:34:19.020 --> 00:34:20.020 replacing the brook 00:34:20.020 --> 00:34:21.020 he says can I get some water 00:34:21.020 --> 00:34:22.020 because he meets his widow 00:34:23.020 --> 00:34:24.020 he meets her there 00:34:24.020 --> 00:34:25.020 just like I met this guy 00:34:25.020 --> 00:34:26.020 from Ghana 00:34:26.020 --> 00:34:27.020 who's calling me 00:34:27.020 --> 00:34:28.020 saying if you're in London 00:34:28.020 --> 00:34:29.020 next time 00:34:29.020 --> 00:34:30.020 the timing of God 00:34:30.020 --> 00:34:31.020 is perfect if you obey 00:34:31.020 --> 00:34:32.020 the timing of God 00:34:32.020 --> 00:34:33.020 is perfect if you obey 00:34:33.020 --> 00:34:34.020 I don't know how much 00:34:34.020 --> 00:34:35.020 this small delay 00:34:35.020 --> 00:34:36.020 has cost me 00:34:36.020 --> 00:34:37.020 in what I'm supposed to do 00:34:38.020 --> 00:34:39.020 the timing of God is perfect 00:34:40.020 --> 00:34:42.020 he finds her collecting sticks 00:34:42.060 --> 00:34:43.060 and so he asks her 00:34:43.060 --> 00:34:44.060 to bring him water 00:34:44.060 --> 00:34:45.060 why? 00:34:45.060 --> 00:34:46.060 because the chariot 00:34:46.060 --> 00:34:47.060 has to be replaced 00:34:47.060 --> 00:34:48.060 and then when she 00:34:48.060 --> 00:34:49.060 brings him water 00:34:49.060 --> 00:34:50.060 instead of stopping at that 00:34:50.060 --> 00:34:51.060 and he knows she's poor 00:34:51.060 --> 00:34:52.060 she's a widow 00:34:52.060 --> 00:34:53.060 what does he ask next 00:34:53.060 --> 00:34:54.060 bring me bread 00:34:54.060 --> 00:34:55.060 why? 00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:56.060 because the ravens 00:34:56.060 --> 00:34:57.060 have to be replaced 00:34:57.060 --> 00:34:58.060 you have to take God 00:34:58.060 --> 00:34:59.060 at face value 00:34:59.060 --> 00:35:00.060 and expect that 00:35:00.060 --> 00:35:01.060 what he said he will do 00:35:01.060 --> 00:35:02.060 he will do 00:35:02.060 --> 00:35:03.060 and some of it requires 00:35:03.060 --> 00:35:04.060 not waiting 00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:05.060 but the audacity to ask 00:35:05.060 --> 00:35:06.060 because it's going to 00:35:06.060 --> 00:35:07.060 get more audacious 00:35:07.060 --> 00:35:08.060 he asks for bread 00:35:08.060 --> 00:35:09.060 and the woman supplies bread 00:35:09.060 --> 00:35:10.060 but while she's still 00:35:10.100 --> 00:35:11.100 supplying bread 00:35:11.100 --> 00:35:12.100 here's what she's saying 00:35:12.100 --> 00:35:13.100 I just want you to know 00:35:13.100 --> 00:35:14.100 that I have very little 00:35:14.100 --> 00:35:15.100 flour 00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:16.100 that I'm collecting these 00:35:16.100 --> 00:35:17.100 sticks so that I can 00:35:17.100 --> 00:35:18.100 make bread 00:35:18.100 --> 00:35:19.100 and then my son and I 00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:20.100 are going to die 00:35:20.100 --> 00:35:21.100 because the flour is over 00:35:23.100 --> 00:35:24.100 and look at his reaction 00:35:24.100 --> 00:35:25.100 his reaction is 00:35:25.100 --> 00:35:26.100 yes, but bring me 00:35:26.100 --> 00:35:27.100 the bread first 00:35:34.100 --> 00:35:35.100 that's the kind 00:35:36.100 --> 00:35:37.100 we wouldn't dare 00:35:37.100 --> 00:35:38.100 more than that 00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:39.140 we wouldn't dare 00:35:39.140 --> 00:35:40.140 most of us wouldn't dare 00:35:40.140 --> 00:35:41.140 do that 00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:43.140 he asks for him 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.140 to be fed first 00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:46.140 guys always remember 00:35:46.140 --> 00:35:47.140 God is proven 00:35:48.140 --> 00:35:49.140 God is proven 00:35:50.140 --> 00:35:51.140 when, only when 00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:52.140 obedience is tested 00:35:53.140 --> 00:35:54.140 only when obedience 00:35:54.140 --> 00:35:55.140 is tested 00:35:57.140 --> 00:35:58.140 God is proven 00:35:58.140 --> 00:35:59.140 only when obedience 00:35:59.140 --> 00:36:00.140 is tested 00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:03.140 otherwise faith 00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:04.140 can just stay where it is 00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:05.140 God is proven 00:36:05.140 --> 00:36:06.140 when obedience 00:36:06.140 --> 00:36:07.140 is tested 00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:08.180 he asks for 00:36:09.180 --> 00:36:10.180 himself to be 00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:11.180 fed first 00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:12.180 not the woman 00:36:12.180 --> 00:36:13.180 not the son 00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:14.180 the demand is outrageous 00:36:16.180 --> 00:36:17.180 the demand is 00:36:17.180 --> 00:36:18.180 self-centered 00:36:21.180 --> 00:36:22.180 or at least 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:23.180 that's how it sounds 00:36:24.180 --> 00:36:25.180 and yet 00:36:26.180 --> 00:36:27.180 the demand has 00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:28.180 nothing to do with 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:29.180 Elijah 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.180 I was in LA 00:36:30.180 --> 00:36:31.180 the last two days 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:33.180 and 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:34.180 there's this guy 00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:35.180 Jordan 00:36:35.180 --> 00:36:36.180 that I 00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:37.220 met before 00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:39.220 and 00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:40.220 I don't know him 00:36:40.220 --> 00:36:41.220 well enough 00:36:44.220 --> 00:36:45.220 but I'm sitting with him 00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:46.220 and he'll be here 00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:47.220 next week 00:36:47.220 --> 00:36:48.220 and I told him 00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:49.220 I want one year 00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:50.220 of your life 00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:52.220 give me one 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.220 year of your life 00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.220 where 00:36:55.220 --> 00:36:56.220 I'll ask you for 00:36:56.220 --> 00:36:57.220 anything 00:36:57.220 --> 00:36:58.220 and you'll have to do 00:36:59.220 --> 00:37:00.220 if I tell you to go 00:37:00.220 --> 00:37:01.220 somewhere 00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.220 you'll go 00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:03.220 if I tell you to stay 00:37:03.220 --> 00:37:04.220 somewhere 00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:05.220 you'll stay 00:37:06.220 --> 00:37:07.220 and you'll come back 00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:08.220 to me tomorrow 00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.220 and you can let me know 00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:10.220 this was Friday night 00:37:10.220 --> 00:37:11.220 and I said 00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:12.220 let me know by Saturday 00:37:12.220 --> 00:37:13.220 I met him only 00:37:13.220 --> 00:37:14.220 one and a half times 00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:15.220 before for about 00:37:15.220 --> 00:37:16.220 20 minutes 00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:18.220 and his response was 00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:19.220 do I have to wait 00:37:19.220 --> 00:37:20.220 for tomorrow 00:37:20.220 --> 00:37:21.220 can I say yes now 00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:24.220 and look at the 00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:25.220 demand I'm making 00:37:25.220 --> 00:37:26.220 I do not know him 00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:27.220 he does not have a relationship 00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:28.220 trust has not been built 00:37:28.220 --> 00:37:29.220 but I'm saying 00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:30.220 give me one 00:37:30.220 --> 00:37:31.220 year of your life 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:35.220 it sounds 00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:36.260 egotistic 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:37.260 it sounds 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.260 unreasonable 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.260 it sounds outrageous 00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:40.260 and it sounds all that 00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:41.260 and appears all that 00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.260 but I'm telling you 00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:44.260 it is only for his benefit 00:37:46.260 --> 00:37:47.260 sometimes 00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:49.260 that kind of audacity 00:37:49.260 --> 00:37:50.260 is required 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:51.260 to get someone 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.260 to where they 00:37:52.260 --> 00:37:53.260 need to be 00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:54.260 but the question is 00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:56.260 when you do that 00:37:56.260 --> 00:37:57.260 what do you expect 00:37:57.260 --> 00:37:58.260 the reaction to be 00:37:58.260 --> 00:37:59.260 will it be good 00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.260 or will it be bad 00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:01.260 will it be trust 00:38:01.260 --> 00:38:02.260 can the person trust you 00:38:02.260 --> 00:38:03.260 or can the person not 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.260 someone asked me 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.300 George and Anne 00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:06.300 were asking me 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.300 the question 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.300 two weeks ago 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.300 do we listen to people 00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:10.300 when we do not know them 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:11.300 if they give us 00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:12.300 a word that is directional 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.300 a prophetic word 00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:15.300 that is directional 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:16.300 what do we do 00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:17.300 do we listen or don't 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:18.300 we listen 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:20.300 it's a tough call 00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.300 there was one girl 00:38:22.300 --> 00:38:23.300 that I met 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:24.300 and the Lord is saying 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:25.300 tell her to go 00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:26.300 and spend some time 00:38:26.300 --> 00:38:27.300 in Mozambique 00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:28.300 with Heidi Baker Ministries 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:30.300 there's another couple 00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:31.300 that want to 00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:32.300 do a tourism 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.340 business 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:34.340 to Israel 00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:36.340 and the Lord is saying 00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:37.340 go to South America 00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:38.340 because you will work 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.340 among the Incas 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:40.340 and the Mayans 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.340 and the civilizations 00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:42.340 that came out from them 00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:43.340 and you will do really well 00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:44.340 what do you do now 00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:45.340 when you give a word 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:46.340 like that 00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:47.340 and they do not know you 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.340 what should be their reaction 00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:49.340 and I would say 00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:50.340 that if you don't 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:51.340 have a relationship 00:38:51.340 --> 00:38:52.340 it is okay 00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:53.340 not to jump and do it 00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.340 God will understand 00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.340 because trust has to be 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.340 developed 00:38:57.340 --> 00:38:58.340 but then you meet 00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.340 some guys like Jordan 00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.340 who do not know you 00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:01.340 but will jump to it 00:39:02.340 --> 00:39:03.340 and he says 00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:04.340 you do this 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.340 and you will eat 00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.340 for the rest of this family 00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:17.340 so let me not beat around the bush 00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:18.340 sometimes when I ask you 00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:19.340 for stuff 00:39:20.340 --> 00:39:21.340 since you have a family 00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.340 you will ask them 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:23.340 to give you bread 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.340 and bread 00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:25.340 and bread 00:39:25.340 --> 00:39:26.340 and bread 00:39:26.340 --> 00:39:27.340 and bread 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:28.340 and bread 00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:29.340 and bread 00:39:29.340 --> 00:39:30.340 and bread 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.340 and bread 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.380 since you have 00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:33.380 a relationship with me 00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.380 even if it is outrageous 00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:37.380 even if it sounds 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.380 completely self-centered 00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.380 and Jacob 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:40.380 looks like an egotist 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.380 who wants to control you 00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.380 I stand here 00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:45.380 and I tell you 00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:46.380 without a shadow of a doubt 00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:47.380 that the only interest 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:48.380 I have is you 00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:51.380 and I suggest 00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:54.380 that you give it a shot 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:00.380 because the time will come 00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:01.420 and you will have 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.420 to ask that of others 00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:04.420 and if you haven't done it here 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:05.420 you will not be able 00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:06.420 to ask it of others 00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.420 trust me I know 00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:13.420 how it is to be demanded 00:40:13.420 --> 00:40:14.420 of things that are outrageous 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:15.420 and I have done it 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.420 you can ask Eddie 00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:17.420 you can ask Chad 00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.420 you can ask others 00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:19.420 they demand it of me 00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:20.420 and I would do it 00:40:20.420 --> 00:40:21.420 without thinking 00:40:21.420 --> 00:40:22.420 because I knew these 00:40:22.420 --> 00:40:23.420 men and women 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:26.420 had everything that God 00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:27.420 wanted for me at their heart 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:31.420 because if I have 00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:32.420 to jump off a steeple 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:33.420 now to prove 00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:34.420 that for you 00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.420 then I ain't jumping 00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:36.420 off a steeple for you 00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.420 nor should you be 00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:38.420 jumping off 00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:39.420 a steeple for people 00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.420 in the future 00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:41.420 I'm sorry 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:42.420 this is part of the teaching 00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.420 I cannot avoid it 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:44.420 to avoid it 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:45.420 is to skirt away 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.420 from what might sound 00:40:46.420 --> 00:40:47.420 egotistical 00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:48.420 and controlling 00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:49.420 but I'll be doing 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.420 you a disfavor 00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:57.420 this is going to be 00:40:57.420 --> 00:40:58.420 a slightly hard message 00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:01.420 she obeys 00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:02.420 she has no relationship 00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.420 the demand is outrageous 00:41:04.420 --> 00:41:05.420 it is self centered 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:06.420 or sound self centered 00:41:06.420 --> 00:41:08.420 can be perceived that way 00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.420 but she obeys 00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:11.420 though she has no relationship 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:12.420 she doesn't have 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.420 any reason to follow him 00:41:14.420 --> 00:41:15.420 she doesn't even believe 00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:16.420 in his God 00:41:17.420 --> 00:41:18.420 and she obeys 00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.420 she did what was asked 00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:21.420 and as soon as she does 00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.420 what is asked 00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:23.420 in 1715 00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:24.420 you see that the 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:25.420 word of the Lord 00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.420 came to pass 00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:27.420 and guess what 00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:29.420 Elijah stayed with them 00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.460 he didn't do this miracle 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:31.460 and get up and leave 00:41:31.460 --> 00:41:32.460 the guy stayed with them 00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:33.460 and ate and drank with them 00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.460 for the next 00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:35.460 many many many many many 00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.460 many months 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:40.460 it wasn't a one off thing 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.460 the guy actually 00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:42.460 ate and drank with them 00:41:42.460 --> 00:41:43.460 because 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:45.460 the flower would not run out 00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.460 true 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.460 they ate bread 00:41:50.460 --> 00:41:51.460 but 00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:52.460 they ate 00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:00.460 actions like this 00:42:00.460 --> 00:42:01.460 guys sets the stage 00:42:01.460 --> 00:42:02.460 for others 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.460 actions like this 00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:04.460 set the stage for others 00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.460 if you don't go down this route 00:42:05.460 --> 00:42:06.460 others will not follow 00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:08.460 guess who follows him 00:42:08.460 --> 00:42:09.460 Elijah 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:12.460 guess who follows him later 00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.460 Peter 00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:15.460 guess who follows him later 00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:19.460 I'll give you examples 00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:20.460 so now 00:42:20.460 --> 00:42:21.460 something else happens 00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:24.460 this gets even more complicated 00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:26.460 the sun has lived 00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:27.460 the sun was going to die 00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:28.460 and the sun was going to die 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:29.500 the sun was going to die 00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:30.500 now the sun lives 00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:32.500 but shortly after he lives 00:42:34.500 --> 00:42:35.500 the sun dies 00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:40.500 the sun dies 00:42:42.500 --> 00:42:44.500 and the woman is really upset 00:42:45.500 --> 00:42:46.500 there's this turmoil of emotions 00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:49.500 did you come here to expose my sin 00:42:51.500 --> 00:42:53.500 why have you come here to bring 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.500 a misfortune on me 00:42:55.500 --> 00:42:56.500 shift to 2 Kings 4 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.500 and it's the same thing happening 00:42:57.540 --> 00:42:58.540 and it's the same thing happening again 00:42:58.540 --> 00:42:59.540 in 2 Kings 4 00:43:00.540 --> 00:43:02.540 Elisha is now in place 00:43:03.540 --> 00:43:04.540 and there's a woman 00:43:05.540 --> 00:43:06.540 who has a son 00:43:07.540 --> 00:43:08.540 she didn't have 00:43:09.540 --> 00:43:11.540 and because Elisha is favored by the woman 00:43:12.540 --> 00:43:13.540 she says what do you want 00:43:13.540 --> 00:43:14.540 and she says 00:43:14.540 --> 00:43:15.540 I don't have a son 00:43:15.540 --> 00:43:16.540 Gehazi tells Elisha 00:43:16.540 --> 00:43:17.540 she doesn't have a son 00:43:17.540 --> 00:43:18.540 and so a son is born 00:43:19.540 --> 00:43:20.540 and one day 00:43:20.540 --> 00:43:21.540 the son has a headache 00:43:21.540 --> 00:43:22.540 and the son dies 00:43:23.540 --> 00:43:24.540 in both cases 00:43:24.540 --> 00:43:25.540 the women are reacting 00:43:25.540 --> 00:43:26.540 the mothers are reacting 00:43:26.580 --> 00:43:27.580 both mothers are saying the same thing 00:43:28.580 --> 00:43:29.580 you said 00:43:29.580 --> 00:43:30.580 that you would give us a son 00:43:30.580 --> 00:43:31.580 did I come asking for a son 00:43:32.580 --> 00:43:33.580 but now that you've given a son 00:43:33.580 --> 00:43:34.580 why did you take him away 00:43:34.580 --> 00:43:35.580 why are you doing this to me 00:43:36.580 --> 00:43:37.580 with Elijah the woman says 00:43:38.580 --> 00:43:39.580 why have you come to spot out my sin 00:43:40.580 --> 00:43:41.580 couldn't you have left me alone 00:43:43.580 --> 00:43:44.580 this is when 00:43:44.580 --> 00:43:45.580 a word is given 00:43:45.580 --> 00:43:46.580 these are the ultimate prophets 00:43:46.580 --> 00:43:47.580 in the Old Testament 00:43:48.580 --> 00:43:49.580 a word is given 00:43:49.580 --> 00:43:50.580 and the word does not happen 00:43:51.580 --> 00:43:52.580 the way it is supposed to happen 00:43:53.580 --> 00:43:55.580 now everything goes into turmoil 00:43:55.620 --> 00:43:56.620 Elijah and Elisha 00:43:56.620 --> 00:43:57.620 because they are Old Testament people 00:43:58.620 --> 00:43:59.620 themselves begin to blame God 00:43:59.620 --> 00:44:01.620 saying why have you done this 00:44:02.620 --> 00:44:03.620 to the ones that you sent me to 00:44:04.620 --> 00:44:05.620 because they thought 00:44:05.620 --> 00:44:06.620 everything good and everything evil 00:44:06.620 --> 00:44:07.620 comes from Yahweh 00:44:08.620 --> 00:44:09.620 so they are blaming God too 00:44:14.620 --> 00:44:15.620 what is it that happens to you 00:44:16.620 --> 00:44:17.620 when a promise that is given to you 00:44:17.620 --> 00:44:19.620 suddenly turns sour and dies 00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:21.620 what do you do then 00:44:21.660 --> 00:44:22.660 this reaction 00:44:24.660 --> 00:44:25.660 where is God 00:44:25.660 --> 00:44:26.660 how could you 00:44:26.660 --> 00:44:27.660 you are no prophet 00:44:27.660 --> 00:44:28.660 wrong understanding 00:44:28.660 --> 00:44:29.660 guilt 00:44:29.660 --> 00:44:30.660 sin 00:44:30.660 --> 00:44:31.660 blame 00:44:31.660 --> 00:44:32.660 shame 00:44:32.660 --> 00:44:33.660 betrayal 00:44:33.660 --> 00:44:34.660 both the woman and Elijah react 00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:36.660 you see the same thing 00:44:36.660 --> 00:44:37.660 happening with Elisha 00:44:38.660 --> 00:44:39.660 how do you handle it man 00:44:43.660 --> 00:44:44.660 some of you have been waiting 00:44:44.660 --> 00:44:45.660 for a while for something 00:44:46.660 --> 00:44:47.660 and you just think it was going to happen 00:44:47.660 --> 00:44:48.660 and it took a nose dive 00:44:48.660 --> 00:44:49.660 what do you do then 00:44:49.660 --> 00:44:50.660 God says 00:44:50.700 --> 00:44:51.700 on such and such a day 00:44:51.700 --> 00:44:52.700 I will bless you 00:44:52.700 --> 00:44:53.700 and that is the very day 00:44:53.700 --> 00:44:54.700 that you find the worst things 00:44:54.700 --> 00:44:55.700 happening in your life 00:44:55.700 --> 00:44:56.700 what do you do then 00:44:58.700 --> 00:44:59.700 he promised you 00:44:59.700 --> 00:45:00.700 that you would do this 00:45:00.700 --> 00:45:01.700 this and this 00:45:01.700 --> 00:45:02.700 and your whole life is in tatters 00:45:02.700 --> 00:45:03.700 because of things 00:45:03.700 --> 00:45:04.700 that have happened in between 00:45:04.700 --> 00:45:05.700 what do you do 00:45:12.700 --> 00:45:13.700 we got to rise up above this 00:45:13.700 --> 00:45:14.700 and we will talk about 00:45:14.700 --> 00:45:15.700 how to rise up above this 00:45:15.700 --> 00:45:17.700 so that is not how we react 00:45:17.700 --> 00:45:18.700 we definitely don't react 00:45:18.700 --> 00:45:19.700 like these women 00:45:19.740 --> 00:45:20.740 both mothers have promised 00:45:20.740 --> 00:45:21.740 their sons lives 00:45:21.740 --> 00:45:22.740 and both die 00:45:22.740 --> 00:45:23.740 and now both are bitter 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:26.740 so many of us turn on God 00:45:26.740 --> 00:45:27.740 or turn on the messenger 00:45:28.740 --> 00:45:29.740 or turn on the promise 00:45:29.740 --> 00:45:30.740 because what has promised 00:45:30.740 --> 00:45:31.740 is delayed 00:45:31.740 --> 00:45:32.740 so many of us turn on God 00:45:35.740 --> 00:45:36.740 turn on the messenger 00:45:36.740 --> 00:45:38.740 I have experienced this 00:45:39.740 --> 00:45:40.740 where you give a word 00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:41.740 and it doesn't 00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:42.740 happen in time 00:45:42.740 --> 00:45:43.740 or it doesn't happen 00:45:43.740 --> 00:45:44.740 the way you want it 00:45:44.740 --> 00:45:45.740 and you turn on the messenger 00:45:45.740 --> 00:45:46.740 this story 00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:47.780 is a narrative 00:45:47.780 --> 00:45:48.780 of how things should 00:45:48.780 --> 00:45:49.780 actually be worked out 00:45:51.780 --> 00:45:52.780 turn on God 00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:53.780 turn on the messenger 00:45:53.780 --> 00:45:54.780 or you turn on the promise 00:46:02.780 --> 00:46:03.780 and anytime you turn 00:46:03.780 --> 00:46:04.780 on any of these things 00:46:04.780 --> 00:46:05.780 it's like a turtle 00:46:05.780 --> 00:46:06.780 that withdraws its neck 00:46:06.780 --> 00:46:07.780 and everything becomes 00:46:07.780 --> 00:46:08.780 stagnant again 00:46:12.780 --> 00:46:13.780 you know 00:46:13.780 --> 00:46:14.780 I have a story 00:46:14.820 --> 00:46:15.820 you know 00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:18.820 nowadays I get excited 00:46:18.820 --> 00:46:19.820 when the brook dries up 00:46:19.820 --> 00:46:21.820 and the ravens stop coming 00:46:22.820 --> 00:46:23.820 in my mind it is 00:46:23.820 --> 00:46:24.820 oh shucks 00:46:25.820 --> 00:46:26.820 the source that God 00:46:26.820 --> 00:46:28.820 is using has dried up 00:46:28.820 --> 00:46:30.820 what is he up to next 00:46:30.820 --> 00:46:31.820 so that's the first thing 00:46:31.820 --> 00:46:32.820 you need to know 00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:34.820 that when it comes to 00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:36.820 things drying up 00:46:36.820 --> 00:46:37.820 the first thing is 00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:38.820 anticipation 00:46:42.820 --> 00:46:43.820 so 00:46:43.860 --> 00:46:45.860 what's happening Abba 00:46:49.860 --> 00:46:50.860 can I look 00:46:51.860 --> 00:46:52.860 up your sleeve 00:47:01.860 --> 00:47:02.860 can I look up your sleeve 00:47:03.860 --> 00:47:04.860 that doesn't sound 00:47:04.860 --> 00:47:05.860 very biblical 00:47:08.860 --> 00:47:10.860 can I scan the horizon 00:47:10.900 --> 00:47:11.900 Abba Cook 00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:13.900 he says in chapter 2 00:47:13.900 --> 00:47:15.900 I have a complaint 00:47:15.900 --> 00:47:16.900 and I'm going to 00:47:16.900 --> 00:47:18.900 climb up the watch tower 00:47:18.900 --> 00:47:19.900 I'm going to stand there 00:47:19.900 --> 00:47:20.900 and talk to God 00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:21.900 and look for what 00:47:21.900 --> 00:47:22.900 he will say 00:47:22.900 --> 00:47:23.900 to my complaint 00:47:24.900 --> 00:47:25.900 that's what he says 00:47:27.900 --> 00:47:28.900 I'm going to stand here 00:47:28.900 --> 00:47:29.900 and wait to see 00:47:29.900 --> 00:47:30.900 what he'll say to my complaint 00:47:30.900 --> 00:47:31.900 and then God says 00:47:31.900 --> 00:47:32.900 this word is for 00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:33.900 an appointed time 00:47:33.900 --> 00:47:34.900 it will not tarry 00:47:36.900 --> 00:47:37.900 scan the horizon 00:47:37.940 --> 00:47:38.940 scan the horizon 00:47:38.940 --> 00:47:39.940 when the very things 00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:40.940 he's promised 00:47:40.940 --> 00:47:41.940 are beginning to turn 00:47:41.940 --> 00:47:42.940 instead of turning on God 00:47:42.940 --> 00:47:43.940 turning on the messenger 00:47:43.940 --> 00:47:44.940 turning on the promise 00:47:44.940 --> 00:47:45.940 scan the horizon 00:47:47.940 --> 00:47:48.940 there must be 00:47:48.940 --> 00:47:49.940 an anticipation 00:47:49.940 --> 00:47:50.940 and then Elijah 00:47:50.940 --> 00:47:51.940 and Elisha pray 00:47:52.940 --> 00:47:53.940 Elijah and Elisha pray 00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.940 both of them stretched out 00:47:54.940 --> 00:47:55.940 three times on the boy 00:47:56.940 --> 00:47:57.940 no, Elisha seems to 00:47:57.940 --> 00:47:58.940 have only done it twice 00:47:58.940 --> 00:47:59.940 but guess what Elisha does 00:47:59.940 --> 00:48:00.940 he sends his staff 00:48:00.940 --> 00:48:01.940 which is a symbol 00:48:01.940 --> 00:48:02.940 of his authority 00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:03.940 and his power 00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:04.940 and it sends it ahead 00:48:04.940 --> 00:48:05.940 of him 00:48:05.940 --> 00:48:06.940 and he sends it 00:48:06.980 --> 00:48:07.980 and it sends it ahead 00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:08.980 of him with Gehazi 00:48:08.980 --> 00:48:09.980 and Gehazi goes 00:48:09.980 --> 00:48:10.980 puts it on the boy's face 00:48:10.980 --> 00:48:11.980 nothing happens 00:48:11.980 --> 00:48:12.980 and then Elisha comes 00:48:12.980 --> 00:48:13.980 and lays himself 00:48:13.980 --> 00:48:14.980 on the boy twice 00:48:14.980 --> 00:48:15.980 Eureka 00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:16.980 and then 00:48:16.980 --> 00:48:17.980 someone was sleeping 00:48:17.980 --> 00:48:18.980 I just woke them up 00:48:18.980 --> 00:48:19.980 and so 00:48:20.980 --> 00:48:21.980 and so 00:48:22.980 --> 00:48:23.980 sorry 00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.980 I just enjoy that 00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:29.980 Elijah and Elisha pray 00:48:29.980 --> 00:48:30.980 Elijah stretches out 00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.980 on the boy three times 00:48:31.980 --> 00:48:32.980 what an odd thing to do 00:48:33.980 --> 00:48:35.980 what an odd thing to do guys 00:48:36.020 --> 00:48:37.020 I mean it would be so 00:48:37.020 --> 00:48:39.020 so repulsive today 00:48:39.020 --> 00:48:40.020 to think of what is being done 00:48:40.020 --> 00:48:42.020 there's a boy lying dead 00:48:42.020 --> 00:48:43.020 and here is a grown up man 00:48:44.020 --> 00:48:45.020 lying down on top of him 00:48:45.020 --> 00:48:46.020 hand to hand 00:48:46.020 --> 00:48:47.020 mouth to mouth 00:48:47.020 --> 00:48:48.020 face to face 00:48:49.020 --> 00:48:50.020 not once 00:48:50.020 --> 00:48:51.020 not twice 00:48:51.020 --> 00:48:52.020 three times 00:48:57.020 --> 00:48:58.020 sometimes the things 00:48:58.020 --> 00:48:59.020 that are asked of you 00:48:59.020 --> 00:49:00.020 are so absurd 00:49:00.020 --> 00:49:01.020 that it is best to tell 00:49:01.020 --> 00:49:02.020 people to leave the room 00:49:02.020 --> 00:49:03.020 because otherwise 00:49:03.020 --> 00:49:04.020 word will spread 00:49:04.020 --> 00:49:05.020 that you're loco 00:49:06.020 --> 00:49:07.020 and in both cases 00:49:07.020 --> 00:49:09.020 Elijah goes into the upper room 00:49:09.020 --> 00:49:10.020 and he does this quietly 00:49:10.020 --> 00:49:11.020 Elisha must have heard 00:49:11.020 --> 00:49:12.020 about it from Elijah 00:49:12.020 --> 00:49:13.020 or Elisha must have been there 00:49:13.020 --> 00:49:14.020 because Elisha tries 00:49:14.020 --> 00:49:15.020 the same thing 00:49:17.020 --> 00:49:19.020 Peter takes a page out of 00:49:19.020 --> 00:49:20.020 both Elijah and Elisha 00:49:20.020 --> 00:49:21.020 and Jesus 00:49:21.020 --> 00:49:22.020 when he sends everybody out 00:49:22.020 --> 00:49:23.020 in Acts chapter 9 00:49:23.020 --> 00:49:24.020 because he's got to take care 00:49:24.020 --> 00:49:25.020 of Dorcas 00:49:25.020 --> 00:49:26.020 who is again placed 00:49:26.020 --> 00:49:27.020 washed 00:49:27.020 --> 00:49:28.020 in an upper room 00:49:28.020 --> 00:49:29.020 dead 00:49:30.020 --> 00:49:31.020 Paul does something 00:49:31.020 --> 00:49:32.020 very similar 00:49:32.020 --> 00:49:33.020 when he finds 00:49:33.020 --> 00:49:34.020 that Eutychus has fallen 00:49:34.020 --> 00:49:35.020 off the throne 00:49:35.060 --> 00:49:36.060 Eutychus has fallen off 00:49:36.060 --> 00:49:37.060 the balcony 00:49:37.060 --> 00:49:38.060 and he's lying dead 00:49:38.060 --> 00:49:39.060 and the Bible says 00:49:39.060 --> 00:49:40.060 in NIV 00:49:40.060 --> 00:49:41.060 that Paul went 00:49:41.060 --> 00:49:42.060 and threw himself on the boy 00:49:51.060 --> 00:49:52.060 he threw himself on the boy 00:49:54.060 --> 00:49:55.060 other versions 00:49:55.060 --> 00:49:56.060 to make it more palatable say 00:49:56.060 --> 00:49:58.060 he embraced the boy 00:49:58.060 --> 00:49:59.060 no he threw himself on the boy 00:50:02.060 --> 00:50:03.060 some of the things 00:50:03.060 --> 00:50:04.060 asked of us in obedience 00:50:05.060 --> 00:50:06.060 are really 00:50:07.060 --> 00:50:08.060 meant 00:50:08.060 --> 00:50:09.060 to make it so absurd 00:50:09.060 --> 00:50:10.060 that the only one 00:50:10.060 --> 00:50:11.060 who can pull it off 00:50:11.060 --> 00:50:12.060 is God 00:50:13.060 --> 00:50:14.060 I read one commentary 00:50:14.060 --> 00:50:15.060 I'm thinking 00:50:15.060 --> 00:50:16.060 I want to delete 00:50:16.060 --> 00:50:17.060 that commentary 00:50:17.060 --> 00:50:18.060 from my phone 00:50:18.060 --> 00:50:19.060 it says 00:50:19.060 --> 00:50:20.060 the boy was actually 00:50:20.060 --> 00:50:21.060 not dead 00:50:21.060 --> 00:50:22.060 and Elijah was trying 00:50:22.060 --> 00:50:23.060 to warm him up 00:50:23.060 --> 00:50:24.060 so he could have 00:50:24.060 --> 00:50:25.060 his life back 00:50:25.060 --> 00:50:26.060 and I'm thinking 00:50:26.060 --> 00:50:27.060 really? 00:50:32.060 --> 00:50:33.060 and if you were 00:50:33.060 --> 00:50:34.060 thinking that 00:50:35.060 --> 00:50:36.060 what I'm thinking 00:50:36.060 --> 00:50:37.060 is that 00:50:37.060 --> 00:50:38.060 it's not a good thing 00:50:38.060 --> 00:50:39.060 because 00:50:39.060 --> 00:50:40.060 it's a very bad thing 00:50:40.060 --> 00:50:41.020 and it's very 00:50:41.020 --> 00:50:42.020 bad for the 00:50:42.020 --> 00:50:43.020 people around them 00:50:44.020 --> 00:50:45.020 so I'm thinking 00:50:46.020 --> 00:50:47.020 there's another thing 00:50:47.020 --> 00:50:48.020 guys 00:50:48.020 --> 00:50:49.020 if you 00:50:49.020 --> 00:50:50.020 lie down on a dead person 00:50:50.020 --> 00:50:51.020 you render yourself 00:50:51.020 --> 00:50:52.020 unclean 00:50:52.020 --> 00:50:53.020 it's as unclean 00:50:53.020 --> 00:50:54.020 as you can get 00:50:54.020 --> 00:50:55.020 as a Jew 00:50:57.020 --> 00:50:58.020 Jesus did it 00:50:58.020 --> 00:50:59.020 with the son 00:50:59.020 --> 00:51:00.020 of the widow of nine 00:51:02.020 --> 00:51:03.020 but these two prophets 00:51:03.020 --> 00:51:04.020 are rendering 00:51:04.020 --> 00:51:05.020 the son of the widow 00:51:05.020 --> 00:51:06.020 of nine 00:51:06.020 --> 00:51:07.020 be quiet 00:51:07.020 --> 00:51:08.020 repulsive 00:51:10.020 --> 00:51:11.020 how far 00:51:11.020 --> 00:51:12.020 would you go 00:51:12.020 --> 00:51:13.020 with your 00:51:13.020 --> 00:51:14.020 obedience? 00:51:34.020 --> 00:51:39.020 there is something 00:51:39.020 --> 00:51:40.020 to doing it three times 00:51:40.020 --> 00:51:42.020 and in the bible 00:51:42.020 --> 00:51:43.020 there are 00:51:43.020 --> 00:51:44.020 many instances 00:51:44.020 --> 00:51:45.020 where most of the 00:51:45.020 --> 00:51:46.020 things done in the 00:51:46.020 --> 00:51:47.020 old testament in particular 00:51:47.020 --> 00:51:48.020 were repeated 00:51:48.020 --> 00:51:49.020 three times 00:51:49.020 --> 00:51:50.020 whether it be 00:51:50.020 --> 00:51:51.020 the angels singing 00:51:51.020 --> 00:51:52.020 holy, holy, holy 00:51:54.020 --> 00:51:55.020 three and seven 00:51:55.020 --> 00:51:56.020 were a common repetition 00:51:56.020 --> 00:51:57.020 in the bible 00:51:58.020 --> 00:51:59.020 you were supposed 00:51:59.020 --> 00:52:00.020 to sprinkle blood 00:52:00.020 --> 00:52:01.020 upon things 00:52:01.020 --> 00:52:02.020 to cleanse it seven times 00:52:02.020 --> 00:52:03.020 and so 00:52:03.020 --> 00:52:04.020 Elisha says to Nehman 00:52:04.020 --> 00:52:05.020 that I want you to dip 00:52:05.020 --> 00:52:06.020 in the river 00:52:06.020 --> 00:52:07.020 seven times 00:52:08.020 --> 00:52:09.020 it is because you would 00:52:09.020 --> 00:52:10.020 you would sprinkle blood 00:52:10.020 --> 00:52:11.020 upon this bird 00:52:11.020 --> 00:52:12.020 that was going to be sacrificed 00:52:12.020 --> 00:52:13.020 and you would literally 00:52:13.020 --> 00:52:14.020 dip it seven times 00:52:15.020 --> 00:52:16.020 and so many of the 00:52:17.020 --> 00:52:18.020 threes and sevens 00:52:18.020 --> 00:52:19.020 are not repeated attempts 00:52:19.020 --> 00:52:20.020 to make something happen 00:52:21.020 --> 00:52:22.020 but they were deliberate 00:52:22.020 --> 00:52:23.020 attempts because 00:52:23.020 --> 00:52:24.020 it was supposed to be 00:52:25.020 --> 00:52:26.020 numbers that were 00:52:26.020 --> 00:52:27.020 connected with God 00:52:27.020 --> 00:52:28.020 so it wasn't 00:52:28.020 --> 00:52:29.020 let me try this 00:52:29.020 --> 00:52:30.020 till it works 00:52:31.020 --> 00:52:32.020 it was more along the lines 00:52:32.020 --> 00:52:33.020 of this is what is 00:52:33.020 --> 00:52:34.020 asked of me 00:52:35.020 --> 00:52:36.020 yeah 00:52:37.020 --> 00:52:38.020 there are many threes and sevens 00:52:38.020 --> 00:52:39.020 especially in the 00:52:39.020 --> 00:52:40.020 old testament 00:52:43.020 --> 00:52:44.020 the strange thing is 00:52:45.020 --> 00:52:46.020 much later 00:52:46.020 --> 00:52:47.020 in 2 Kings 8 00:52:47.020 --> 00:52:48.020 this happens in 2 Kings 4 00:52:48.020 --> 00:52:49.020 in 2 Kings 8 00:52:49.020 --> 00:52:50.020 Gehazi 00:52:50.020 --> 00:52:51.020 who is now leprous 00:52:51.020 --> 00:52:52.020 because he's got 00:52:52.020 --> 00:52:53.020 Nehman's disease 00:52:53.020 --> 00:52:54.020 is sitting in front of a king 00:52:55.020 --> 00:52:56.020 and his woman has been 00:52:56.020 --> 00:52:57.020 away for seven years 00:52:57.020 --> 00:52:58.020 because Elisha says to 00:52:58.020 --> 00:52:59.020 this woman 00:52:59.020 --> 00:53:00.020 I need you to go 00:53:00.020 --> 00:53:01.020 out of this land 00:53:01.020 --> 00:53:02.020 and live 00:53:03.020 --> 00:53:04.020 somewhere else 00:53:04.020 --> 00:53:05.020 and come back to Israel 00:53:05.020 --> 00:53:06.020 and she comes back after 00:53:06.020 --> 00:53:07.020 seven years but when she 00:53:07.020 --> 00:53:08.020 comes back 00:53:08.020 --> 00:53:09.020 her land has been taken 00:53:09.020 --> 00:53:10.020 the land that she 00:53:10.020 --> 00:53:11.020 used to live in 00:53:11.020 --> 00:53:12.020 has been taken 00:53:12.020 --> 00:53:13.020 and Gehazi 00:53:13.020 --> 00:53:14.020 covered with leprosy 00:53:14.020 --> 00:53:15.020 is sitting in front of 00:53:15.020 --> 00:53:16.020 the king 00:53:16.020 --> 00:53:17.020 and he's telling the 00:53:17.020 --> 00:53:18.020 king about this story 00:53:19.020 --> 00:53:20.020 of this woman who was 00:53:20.020 --> 00:53:21.020 fed miraculously 00:53:22.020 --> 00:53:23.020 by Elisha 00:53:23.020 --> 00:53:24.020 and whose son was raised 00:53:24.020 --> 00:53:25.020 and while they're saying 00:53:25.020 --> 00:53:26.020 guess what happens 00:53:26.020 --> 00:53:27.020 this woman walks into 00:53:27.020 --> 00:53:28.020 the king's presence 00:53:28.020 --> 00:53:29.020 saying I have come here 00:53:29.020 --> 00:53:30.020 to demand my land 00:53:30.020 --> 00:53:31.020 and he's saying 00:53:31.020 --> 00:53:32.020 but this is the woman 00:53:32.020 --> 00:53:33.020 I'm talking about 00:53:33.020 --> 00:53:34.020 and there's no question 00:53:34.020 --> 00:53:35.020 of checking whether 00:53:35.020 --> 00:53:36.020 she's true or not 00:53:36.020 --> 00:53:37.020 the king says immediately 00:53:37.020 --> 00:53:38.020 take your land back 00:53:38.020 --> 00:53:39.020 the timing of God 00:53:39.020 --> 00:53:40.020 when it comes to 00:53:40.020 --> 00:53:41.020 obedience is so amazing 00:53:41.020 --> 00:53:42.020 that that alone 00:53:42.020 --> 00:53:43.020 is worth pursuing 00:53:44.020 --> 00:53:45.020 obedience and timing 00:53:45.020 --> 00:53:46.020 goes so hand in hand 00:53:49.020 --> 00:53:50.020 that's why delay 00:53:50.020 --> 00:53:51.020 doesn't mean that 00:53:51.020 --> 00:53:52.020 you don't get 00:53:52.020 --> 00:53:53.020 what you want 00:53:53.020 --> 00:53:55.020 but timing is critical 00:53:58.020 --> 00:53:59.020 and sometimes it's worth 00:53:59.020 --> 00:54:00.020 waiting for knowing 00:54:00.020 --> 00:54:01.020 the right time 00:54:01.020 --> 00:54:02.020 then jumping ahead 00:54:10.020 --> 00:54:11.020 here's another question 00:54:11.020 --> 00:54:12.020 I had for you 00:54:12.020 --> 00:54:14.020 when Elisha sent the staff 00:54:14.020 --> 00:54:15.020 and it was laid on 00:54:15.020 --> 00:54:16.020 the boy's face 00:54:16.020 --> 00:54:17.020 why didn't the boy revive 00:54:23.020 --> 00:54:24.020 Moses used his staff 00:54:24.020 --> 00:54:26.020 things would begin to happen 00:54:27.020 --> 00:54:28.020 why is it that the greatest 00:54:28.020 --> 00:54:29.020 the guy who got 00:54:29.020 --> 00:54:31.020 the double of what Elijah had 00:54:31.020 --> 00:54:32.020 sent his staff ahead 00:54:32.020 --> 00:54:33.020 and he says to Gehazi 00:54:33.020 --> 00:54:35.020 go lay the staff on the boy's face 00:54:35.020 --> 00:54:36.020 and the boy will revive 00:54:38.020 --> 00:54:39.020 and he goes lays the staff 00:54:39.020 --> 00:54:40.020 and nothing happens 00:54:41.020 --> 00:54:42.020 we may not have 00:54:42.020 --> 00:54:43.020 an explanation for it 00:54:43.020 --> 00:54:44.020 but what do you do 00:54:44.020 --> 00:54:45.020 when God asks you 00:54:45.020 --> 00:54:46.020 to do something 00:54:46.020 --> 00:54:47.020 and nothing happens 00:54:47.020 --> 00:54:48.020 what do you do 00:54:48.020 --> 00:54:49.020 when God asks you 00:54:49.020 --> 00:54:50.020 to do something 00:54:50.020 --> 00:54:51.020 and nothing happens 00:54:53.020 --> 00:54:55.020 guys this is super important 00:54:56.020 --> 00:54:57.020 sometimes 00:54:57.020 --> 00:54:58.020 sometimes 00:55:00.020 --> 00:55:01.020 obedience 00:55:04.020 --> 00:55:05.020 is a progression of steps 00:55:11.020 --> 00:55:12.020 it is not 00:55:14.020 --> 00:55:15.020 a one off 00:55:16.020 --> 00:55:17.020 because we get stuck with this 00:55:17.020 --> 00:55:18.020 but I obeyed 00:55:18.020 --> 00:55:19.020 nothing happened 00:55:19.020 --> 00:55:20.020 well then if you obeyed 00:55:20.020 --> 00:55:21.020 and nothing happened 00:55:21.020 --> 00:55:22.020 go back and say 00:55:22.020 --> 00:55:23.020 father I obeyed 00:55:23.020 --> 00:55:24.020 what's next 00:55:25.020 --> 00:55:26.020 imagine Paul 00:55:26.020 --> 00:55:27.020 in Acts chapter 16 00:55:28.020 --> 00:55:29.020 God says go 00:55:29.020 --> 00:55:30.020 he goes 00:55:30.020 --> 00:55:31.020 he comes to Phrygia 00:55:31.020 --> 00:55:32.020 and the doors are shut 00:55:32.020 --> 00:55:34.020 and he is not allowed 00:55:34.020 --> 00:55:35.020 to go forth 00:55:35.020 --> 00:55:36.020 what does he do now 00:55:36.020 --> 00:55:37.020 he goes back 00:55:37.020 --> 00:55:38.020 and he checks again 00:55:38.020 --> 00:55:39.020 he goes to Mysia 00:55:39.020 --> 00:55:40.020 it's shut there again 00:55:40.020 --> 00:55:41.020 obedience is a progression 00:55:41.020 --> 00:55:42.020 of steps 00:55:42.020 --> 00:55:43.020 it's not a one off 00:55:45.020 --> 00:55:46.020 we are the ones 00:55:46.020 --> 00:55:47.020 who made obedience 00:55:47.020 --> 00:55:48.020 a one off 00:55:48.020 --> 00:55:49.020 and we get so resentful 00:55:49.020 --> 00:55:50.020 when the thing that 00:55:50.020 --> 00:55:51.020 God asks us to do 00:55:51.020 --> 00:55:52.020 we do and nothing happens 00:55:52.020 --> 00:55:53.020 if nothing happens 00:55:53.020 --> 00:55:54.020 start again 00:55:54.020 --> 00:55:55.020 go and ask God 00:55:55.020 --> 00:55:56.020 father I did this 00:55:57.020 --> 00:55:58.020 you told me to do this 00:55:58.020 --> 00:55:59.020 I did this 00:55:59.020 --> 00:56:00.020 your obedience is now 00:56:00.020 --> 00:56:01.020 not outcome oriented 00:56:02.020 --> 00:56:03.020 outcome oriented 00:56:03.020 --> 00:56:04.020 obedience sucks 00:56:05.020 --> 00:56:06.020 it is manipulative 00:56:06.020 --> 00:56:07.020 it is 00:56:08.020 --> 00:56:10.020 it is based on 00:56:10.020 --> 00:56:12.020 something that you want to do 00:56:12.020 --> 00:56:13.020 for yourself 00:56:13.020 --> 00:56:14.020 not something that you want to do for God 00:56:17.020 --> 00:56:19.020 the pleasure of obedience lies 00:56:19.020 --> 00:56:21.020 in pleasing the one 00:56:21.020 --> 00:56:22.020 that you so love 00:56:22.020 --> 00:56:23.020 that's why Jesus said 00:56:23.020 --> 00:56:24.020 if you love me 00:56:24.020 --> 00:56:25.020 you will obey me 00:56:29.020 --> 00:56:30.020 it's not a one off 00:56:31.020 --> 00:56:33.020 it's unquestioning response 00:56:33.020 --> 00:56:34.020 it's unquestioning 00:56:35.020 --> 00:56:36.020 response 00:56:36.020 --> 00:56:38.020 it's unquestioning easy response 00:56:40.020 --> 00:56:41.020 to the assured 00:56:43.020 --> 00:56:44.020 love 00:56:45.020 --> 00:56:46.020 of the father 00:56:48.020 --> 00:56:49.020 and that's why 00:56:49.020 --> 00:56:50.020 of the father 00:56:54.020 --> 00:56:56.020 it is not outcome based 00:56:58.020 --> 00:57:00.020 and it's not reward based 00:57:06.020 --> 00:57:08.020 but it is trust based 00:57:08.020 --> 00:57:09.020 yeah 00:57:16.020 --> 00:57:17.020 yeah 00:57:17.020 --> 00:57:19.020 you shared a super cool story about 00:57:19.020 --> 00:57:22.020 obedience and all of the cool stuff that happened 00:57:22.020 --> 00:57:24.020 can you share a story of obedience 00:57:24.020 --> 00:57:25.020 and nothing happened 00:57:25.020 --> 00:57:26.020 yeah 00:57:26.020 --> 00:57:27.020 yeah 00:57:27.020 --> 00:57:28.020 I'll keep it really short 00:57:28.020 --> 00:57:30.020 because I've said it before 00:57:32.020 --> 00:57:33.020 I came 00:57:33.020 --> 00:57:34.020 I came 00:57:37.020 --> 00:57:38.020 when was 00:57:38.020 --> 00:57:40.020 how long ago was 1989 00:57:40.020 --> 00:57:43.020 1993 was how long ago 00:57:44.020 --> 00:57:45.020 29 years 00:57:45.020 --> 00:57:46.020 29 years ago 00:57:46.020 --> 00:57:47.020 almost to the day 00:57:48.020 --> 00:57:50.020 it was around this time 00:57:50.020 --> 00:57:51.020 I'd come here for a holiday 00:57:51.020 --> 00:57:52.020 I'm supposed to go back to Bahrain 00:57:52.020 --> 00:57:53.020 because I was working in Bahrain 00:57:54.020 --> 00:57:55.020 and to the day 00:57:55.020 --> 00:57:56.020 29 years ago 00:57:56.020 --> 00:57:57.020 I was just thinking of it 00:57:57.020 --> 00:57:58.020 while I was driving 00:57:58.020 --> 00:57:59.020 the Lord gives me dreams 00:57:59.020 --> 00:58:00.020 three nights in a row 00:58:00.020 --> 00:58:02.020 saying you're not to go back right now 00:58:03.020 --> 00:58:04.020 I got a job there 00:58:04.020 --> 00:58:05.020 I got parents there 00:58:05.020 --> 00:58:06.020 I didn't even take my vacation pay 00:58:07.020 --> 00:58:08.020 I had enough money 00:58:08.020 --> 00:58:10.020 just for four weeks that I was here 00:58:11.020 --> 00:58:12.020 and he gives me three dreams 00:58:12.020 --> 00:58:13.020 saying do not go back 00:58:13.020 --> 00:58:14.020 I don't go back 00:58:14.020 --> 00:58:16.020 and I call my boss and tell him 00:58:16.020 --> 00:58:17.020 I can't come 00:58:17.020 --> 00:58:18.020 because the Lord is saying no 00:58:18.020 --> 00:58:21.020 he eventually he canceled my visa 00:58:21.020 --> 00:58:22.020 but now I got a problem 00:58:22.020 --> 00:58:24.020 I can only go back to India 00:58:24.020 --> 00:58:25.020 because I can't go back to Bahrain 00:58:25.020 --> 00:58:26.020 and that's when my papers 00:58:26.020 --> 00:58:28.020 that I had put in for immigration to Bahrain 00:58:28.020 --> 00:58:29.020 to Canada came through 00:58:30.020 --> 00:58:32.020 but now I'm supposed to go to the US Embassy 00:58:33.020 --> 00:58:35.020 to get my interview sorted out 00:58:35.020 --> 00:58:37.020 and the Lord said I'll bring you to this land 00:58:37.020 --> 00:58:38.020 so go 00:58:38.020 --> 00:58:39.020 I go once 00:58:39.020 --> 00:58:40.020 nothing happens 00:58:40.020 --> 00:58:41.020 I go twice 00:58:41.020 --> 00:58:42.020 nothing happens 00:58:42.020 --> 00:58:43.020 I go a third time 00:58:43.020 --> 00:58:44.020 nothing happens 00:58:44.020 --> 00:58:45.020 a fourth time 00:58:45.020 --> 00:58:46.020 nothing happens 00:58:46.020 --> 00:58:47.020 long story short 00:58:47.020 --> 00:58:48.020 every time I went 00:58:48.020 --> 00:58:50.020 they would not let me go across to Seattle 00:58:50.020 --> 00:58:53.020 to get a six minute interview done 00:58:53.020 --> 00:58:54.020 so I could come back 00:58:54.020 --> 00:58:56.020 every time I would go back to God 00:58:56.020 --> 00:58:57.020 and say what do you want me to do 00:58:57.020 --> 00:58:58.020 go back 00:58:58.020 --> 00:58:59.020 I'd go back 00:59:00.020 --> 00:59:01.020 second time 00:59:01.020 --> 00:59:02.020 go back 00:59:02.020 --> 00:59:03.020 third time 00:59:03.020 --> 00:59:04.020 go back 00:59:04.020 --> 00:59:05.020 fourth time 00:59:05.020 --> 00:59:06.020 I didn't want to go back 00:59:07.020 --> 00:59:09.020 the fourth time I'm sitting there 00:59:09.020 --> 00:59:10.020 not wanting to go back 00:59:10.020 --> 00:59:12.020 and instead I go to the border 00:59:12.020 --> 00:59:13.020 thinking those guys will allow me 00:59:13.020 --> 00:59:15.020 because I have an interview 00:59:15.020 --> 00:59:16.020 they said no 00:59:16.020 --> 00:59:17.020 even a Bill Clinton says yes 00:59:17.020 --> 00:59:18.020 we won't allow you 00:59:18.020 --> 00:59:19.020 so I come back 00:59:20.020 --> 00:59:21.020 now I'm done 00:59:22.020 --> 00:59:24.020 a lawyer advises me to go back to India 00:59:24.020 --> 00:59:26.020 or sneak in through Mexico 00:59:28.020 --> 00:59:29.020 honest truth 00:59:30.020 --> 00:59:31.020 but here's the thing 00:59:31.020 --> 00:59:34.020 I had absolute word from God saying 00:59:34.020 --> 00:59:35.020 I will bring you here 00:59:35.020 --> 00:59:37.020 if you don't have that absolute word 00:59:37.020 --> 00:59:39.020 then you're second guessing 00:59:39.020 --> 00:59:41.020 but when you have an absolute word 00:59:41.020 --> 00:59:43.020 then the fifth time I didn't want to go back 00:59:43.020 --> 00:59:44.020 I'm sitting in my 00:59:44.020 --> 00:59:46.020 sitting and the Lord says 00:59:46.020 --> 00:59:48.020 go back in the way in which you came 00:59:49.020 --> 00:59:51.020 and so we go back a fifth time 00:59:51.020 --> 00:59:53.020 and the lady was quite upset with me by now 00:59:53.020 --> 00:59:54.020 and said why are you back 00:59:54.020 --> 00:59:55.020 and I said 00:59:55.020 --> 00:59:56.020 I didn't plan to come back 00:59:56.020 --> 00:59:57.020 lawyers told me not to come back 00:59:57.020 --> 00:59:58.020 but I'm here because 00:59:58.020 --> 00:59:59.020 this morning I was reading the word 00:59:59.020 --> 01:00:00.020 and the word said come back 01:00:00.020 --> 01:00:01.020 and so here I am 01:00:01.020 --> 01:00:04.020 and then after a whole lot of time was over 01:00:04.020 --> 01:00:05.020 she calls me up and she's weeping 01:00:05.020 --> 01:00:06.020 and she's saying 01:00:07.020 --> 01:00:09.020 I don't have the power to stop you 01:00:10.020 --> 01:00:12.020 she's the vice consul of the US embassy 01:00:12.020 --> 01:00:14.020 I do not have the power to stop you 01:00:15.020 --> 01:00:16.020 your God has set me up 01:00:17.020 --> 01:00:18.020 there's nothing I can do to prevent you 01:00:18.020 --> 01:00:20.020 from going into the United States 01:00:20.020 --> 01:00:22.020 and she's weeping as she stamps 01:00:22.020 --> 01:00:24.020 what needs to be stamped and given 01:00:24.020 --> 01:00:25.020 five times 01:00:26.020 --> 01:00:27.020 you keep going back 01:00:27.020 --> 01:00:28.020 why? 01:00:28.020 --> 01:00:30.020 because obedience is not a step 01:00:30.020 --> 01:00:32.020 obedience is a progression of steps 01:00:32.020 --> 01:00:34.020 and when obedience is a progression of steps 01:00:34.020 --> 01:00:35.020 the world begins to watch 01:00:35.020 --> 01:00:36.020 because something is afoot 01:00:36.020 --> 01:00:38.020 and they will see the glory of God 01:00:40.020 --> 01:00:41.020 imagine what would have happened to Moses 01:00:41.020 --> 01:00:43.020 if after the first time he goes 01:00:43.020 --> 01:00:45.020 and asks Pharaoh to let his people go 01:00:45.020 --> 01:00:46.020 nothing happens 01:00:46.020 --> 01:00:47.020 what did Pharaoh do? 01:00:47.020 --> 01:00:48.020 he made it worse 01:00:48.020 --> 01:00:49.020 he said well then 01:00:49.020 --> 01:00:51.020 let me show you how to make bricks without straw 01:00:53.020 --> 01:00:54.020 he makes it harder 01:00:54.020 --> 01:00:55.020 people begin to rebel against Moses 01:00:55.020 --> 01:00:57.020 saying why did you even do this? 01:00:58.020 --> 01:00:59.020 and yet 01:00:59.020 --> 01:01:01.020 there's an entire world now 01:01:01.020 --> 01:01:03.020 that knows the story of Exodus 01:01:03.020 --> 01:01:05.020 that story is only triumphed 01:01:05.020 --> 01:01:07.020 by Jesus rising from the dead 01:01:08.020 --> 01:01:10.020 there's nothing else that can trump that story 01:01:11.020 --> 01:01:13.020 this is why in Psalm 40 it says 01:01:13.020 --> 01:01:15.020 many will see and many will fear 01:01:15.020 --> 01:01:16.020 and put their trust in the Lord 01:01:16.020 --> 01:01:17.020 I waited patiently for the Lord 01:01:17.020 --> 01:01:19.020 he heard my cry 01:01:19.020 --> 01:01:21.020 he lifted me up from the miry clay 01:01:21.020 --> 01:01:23.020 he set my feet on the rock to stay 01:01:23.020 --> 01:01:24.020 now many will see and many will fear 01:01:24.020 --> 01:01:26.020 and put their trust in the Lord 01:01:27.020 --> 01:01:28.020 when you have metal 01:01:28.020 --> 01:01:29.020 M-E-T-T-L-E 01:01:29.020 --> 01:01:31.020 to stand in progressive steps of obedience 01:01:31.020 --> 01:01:33.020 the world begins to watch 01:01:33.020 --> 01:01:35.020 because they see you standing there 01:01:37.020 --> 01:01:39.020 and they know that either 01:01:39.020 --> 01:01:41.020 you will shame your God 01:01:41.020 --> 01:01:44.020 or your God will come in such blazing glory 01:01:44.020 --> 01:01:46.020 that they will not be able to stay neutral 01:01:46.020 --> 01:01:47.020 they will have to reject him 01:01:47.020 --> 01:01:49.020 or they will have to accept him 01:01:50.020 --> 01:01:51.020 I said this before 01:01:51.020 --> 01:01:52.020 I said this before 01:01:52.020 --> 01:01:54.020 when my Muslim neighbor came and said 01:01:54.020 --> 01:01:56.020 and it was such agony in his voice 01:01:56.020 --> 01:01:57.020 when he said 01:01:57.020 --> 01:01:59.020 Joan and Ruth have met the guy 01:01:59.020 --> 01:02:01.020 remember the Bashir that used to come for the 01:02:01.020 --> 01:02:03.020 he came and said to me 01:02:03.020 --> 01:02:04.020 Jacob tell me something 01:02:04.020 --> 01:02:05.020 how does your God speak 01:02:05.020 --> 01:02:07.020 because mine does not 01:02:08.020 --> 01:02:09.020 that is the kind of thing we are talking about 01:02:09.020 --> 01:02:11.020 when it's progressive steps of obedience 01:02:12.020 --> 01:02:14.020 this is what we are called to guys 01:02:21.020 --> 01:02:23.020 then you have the opposite 01:02:23.020 --> 01:02:25.020 in King Saul 01:02:25.020 --> 01:02:27.020 his was outcome oriented obedience 01:02:28.020 --> 01:02:30.020 he is told not to offer a sacrifice 01:02:30.020 --> 01:02:31.020 pressure grows 01:02:31.020 --> 01:02:32.020 he offers a sacrifice 01:02:32.020 --> 01:02:34.020 and then you have that sad verse 01:02:34.020 --> 01:02:36.020 in 1 Samuel 15 01:02:36.020 --> 01:02:38.020 verse 22 or thereabouts 01:02:39.020 --> 01:02:40.020 to obey is better than 01:02:41.020 --> 01:02:42.020 sacrifice 01:02:44.020 --> 01:02:45.020 and submission 01:02:46.020 --> 01:02:47.020 and submission 01:02:48.020 --> 01:02:49.020 and submission 01:02:49.020 --> 01:02:50.020 and submission 01:02:51.020 --> 01:02:52.020 is better 01:02:53.020 --> 01:02:55.020 than the fat of rams 01:03:01.020 --> 01:03:03.020 last thing I want to say is in obedience 01:03:04.020 --> 01:03:05.020 in God's commands 01:03:05.020 --> 01:03:07.020 details are often withheld 01:03:07.020 --> 01:03:08.020 in God's commands to you 01:03:08.020 --> 01:03:10.020 details will often be withheld 01:03:11.020 --> 01:03:13.020 in God's commands to you 01:03:13.020 --> 01:03:15.020 details will often be withheld 01:03:16.020 --> 01:03:18.020 details will often be withheld 01:03:18.020 --> 01:03:20.020 please get used to it 01:03:21.020 --> 01:03:23.020 in God's commands to you 01:03:26.020 --> 01:03:27.020 details 01:03:28.020 --> 01:03:30.020 will often be withheld 01:03:36.020 --> 01:03:37.020 all you will get is 01:03:38.020 --> 01:03:39.020 trust me 01:03:41.020 --> 01:03:42.020 that's all you will get 01:03:42.020 --> 01:03:43.020 trust me 01:03:43.020 --> 01:03:44.020 concerns of 01:03:45.020 --> 01:03:46.020 go where 01:03:47.020 --> 01:03:48.020 how long for 01:03:50.020 --> 01:03:51.020 with whom 01:03:53.020 --> 01:03:54.020 what for 01:03:56.020 --> 01:03:58.020 what about this 01:03:58.020 --> 01:03:59.020 or that 01:04:01.020 --> 01:04:03.020 these all will go 01:04:03.020 --> 01:04:05.020 unanswered often 01:04:08.020 --> 01:04:09.020 if you are in this church 01:04:09.020 --> 01:04:10.020 you will be 01:04:11.020 --> 01:04:13.020 if you are in this church expect this 01:04:16.020 --> 01:04:18.020 if you are in this church expect this 01:04:18.020 --> 01:04:20.020 if this is not your cup of tea start drinking 01:04:30.020 --> 01:04:32.020 another way to rephrase Jehovah Jireh 01:04:33.020 --> 01:04:36.020 God will provide is what we normally say Jehovah Jireh 01:04:37.020 --> 01:04:38.020 but another way to look at it is 01:04:40.020 --> 01:04:43.020 God will provide 01:04:44.020 --> 01:04:45.020 an outcome 01:04:46.020 --> 01:04:47.020 even though I don't see it 01:04:48.020 --> 01:04:49.020 even though 01:04:50.020 --> 01:04:52.020 I don't see the plan 01:04:57.020 --> 01:04:59.020 that's what Jehovah Jireh looks like 01:05:00.020 --> 01:05:01.020 because at the end of the day guys 01:05:01.020 --> 01:05:03.020 obedience is my responsibility 01:05:04.020 --> 01:05:06.020 obedience is my responsibility 01:05:10.020 --> 01:05:11.020 the outcome is god's 01:05:17.020 --> 01:05:19.020 so when he changes his direction 01:05:20.020 --> 01:05:21.020 when he changes his direction 01:05:22.020 --> 01:05:25.020 don't scramble to maintain direction 01:05:26.020 --> 01:05:28.020 when he changes his direction 01:05:29.020 --> 01:05:32.020 don't scramble to maintain direction 01:05:34.020 --> 01:05:35.020 when he changes his vision 01:05:35.020 --> 01:05:37.020 dont scramble to maintain vision 01:05:40.020 --> 01:05:44.660 because you'll miss the story he's writing. 01:05:53.380 --> 01:05:59.980 Because you'll miss the story he's writing. Just be aware of that. One of the 01:05:59.980 --> 01:06:08.460 things God wants to do with this church is make it so highly flexible that we'll 01:06:08.460 --> 01:06:13.980 have to change our name from Ax 29 to Acrobat 29 or something. 01:06:22.100 --> 01:06:30.180 Yeah, highly flexible. Look at Job 37-22. Learn it. Let's read it from both the NIV 01:06:30.180 --> 01:06:38.060 and the message. Job 27 and not 32. Job 27-12. I love this verse. I want to live 01:06:39.020 --> 01:06:43.740 this verse. I don't want to be anything else but this verse for 01:06:43.740 --> 01:06:52.260 his sake. Job 37-12. Let's read it from the NIV first, starting at verse 11. 01:06:52.260 --> 01:07:01.740 Job 37, verse 11 onwards. 11-13. Let's read it from the NIV first. This is what 01:07:01.740 --> 01:07:07.380 God's desire is for us as a church, for each of us individually. He would love 01:07:08.340 --> 01:07:15.300 this. His eyes scan the earth to and fro, looking for those that can be loyal on 01:07:15.300 --> 01:07:19.500 his behalf so that he can be steadfast in his attitude towards us. Look at what 01:07:19.500 --> 01:07:24.260 it says. Job 37, verse 11. He loads the clouds with moisture, meaning you're the 01:07:24.260 --> 01:07:30.240 cloud. He loads the clouds with moisture. He scatters his lightning through them. 01:07:30.240 --> 01:07:35.340 At his direction, they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do 01:07:35.380 --> 01:07:39.380 whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people or to water 01:07:39.380 --> 01:07:44.780 people, water his earth and show his love. Go to the message. It says it really 01:07:44.780 --> 01:07:53.420 well in the message too. Job 37, verse 11-13. Yes, it's God who fills clouds 01:07:53.420 --> 01:07:59.180 with rainwater and he hurls lightning from them every which way. Listen to the 01:07:59.180 --> 01:08:04.980 next verse. He puts them through their paces, first this way, then that, and 01:08:04.980 --> 01:08:09.780 commands them to do what he says all over the world, whether for discipline or 01:08:09.780 --> 01:08:16.980 grace or extravagant love. He makes sure they make their mark. Beautifully, this is 01:08:16.980 --> 01:08:22.000 what this church must become. Where it'll be like at the drop of a hat. Put them 01:08:22.000 --> 01:08:24.980 through paces. Send them here, send them that. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes 01:08:24.980 --> 01:08:30.820 it doesn't. Sometimes it's Zarephath, sometimes it's Bethlehem. But no questions 01:08:30.900 --> 01:08:36.020 asked. You go. Why? So that he can make his mark by using you for discipline or for 01:08:36.020 --> 01:08:42.700 extravagant love, for whatever he wants to. Highly flexible people. Yeah? So if 01:08:42.700 --> 01:08:48.420 this head is in the way, cut it off and replace it with a cabbage and you'll do 01:08:48.420 --> 01:08:53.220 much better. On that note, let us end.