WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Pentecost – Receive to Release Publishing Date: 2020-05-31T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/pentecost-receive-to-release/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.900 Guys, so we continue talking about the year of release, which has been where we've been 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:10.360 parked and where I hope we'll be parked for a while. 00:00:10.360 --> 00:00:17.920 And so what you received, you must release. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.200 What you received, you must release. 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:28.080 The Holy Spirit was given to us and is continuously being poured out into our lives. 00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:32.880 And what we received must be released. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:41.360 Because I've said this before, inflow is prompted by outflow and outflow is provoked by foolishness. 00:00:41.360 --> 00:00:49.280 Inflow of the Spirit of God is prompted by outflow. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:57.680 Meaning, if living waters are flowing into you, Jesus made it very clear in John 7 37 00:00:57.680 --> 00:01:01.680 that living waters were supposed to flow out of you too. 00:01:01.680 --> 00:01:09.360 And so having received the fullness of the Holy Spirit and having him just seek to just 00:01:09.360 --> 00:01:16.160 keep filling us to overflowing every day as we yield to him, inflow of the Spirit of God 00:01:16.160 --> 00:01:18.840 is prompted by outflow. 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:24.520 And so if there's no outflow, you can come for prayer and speak in tongues and have a 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:28.640 few experiences, but nothing really happens because the Spirit of God was not given to 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:33.520 us so that we become fat, spirit-filled Christians. 00:01:33.520 --> 00:01:37.960 But he was given to us so that an inflow will prompt an outflow. 00:01:37.960 --> 00:01:42.360 And the outflow is always provoked by foolishness. 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:45.720 If you're not foolish, there is no outflow. 00:01:45.720 --> 00:01:50.640 If you're not foolish, it's impossible for the Holy Spirit to flow through us if you're 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:52.160 not foolish. 00:01:52.160 --> 00:02:00.000 This is why we need situations like this where we start dancing foolishly or shouting foolishly 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.800 or doing something foolishly because till something unfamiliar and foolish happens, 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:07.200 outflow is limited. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:08.760 Remember that for the rest of your life. 00:02:08.760 --> 00:02:14.920 That till you do something unfamiliar, till you do something foolish, outflow is not provoked. 00:02:14.920 --> 00:02:19.360 You take the Bible and look from the Old Testament or the New Testament, you will find that the 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:25.680 greatest acts of God happened when people took on impossible things and behaved illogically 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.520 and foolishly. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.560 Until they did that, those events would not have transpired. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:37.120 Take any of the guys in Hebrews chapter 11 and you will see that. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:41.320 And if you're hoping that God will send you to Timbuktu first, he would like you to do 00:02:41.320 --> 00:02:42.720 the Timbuktu here. 00:02:42.720 --> 00:02:45.560 And what I did was a Timbuktu. 00:02:45.760 --> 00:02:49.720 That hop that I was doing is called the Timbuktu hop. 00:02:49.720 --> 00:02:58.720 And if you don't do the Timbuktu here, he ain't sending you to Timbuktu. 00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:08.160 So release is always transformative, meaning when the Holy Spirit says, I want you to, 00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:13.960 as a church or churches, begin to step into a year of release where you bring release 00:03:14.160 --> 00:03:18.200 to people, where I am able to release through you. 00:03:18.200 --> 00:03:22.760 Release is always transformative, as in release always transforms. 00:03:22.760 --> 00:03:31.320 And the word transform actually means a change in appearance, a change in form and a change 00:03:31.320 --> 00:03:36.000 in structure. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.920 So when we are talking about the year of release and when we are talking about God's word to 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:45.320 us that, listen, I'm bringing you guys into a place where over the next two and a half 00:03:45.320 --> 00:03:50.880 years I'll show the earth tremendous kindness, I'll restrain evil so that you can practice 00:03:50.880 --> 00:03:51.880 Isaiah 61. 00:03:51.880 --> 00:03:54.520 We are talking about release. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:56.720 Ah, shucks. 00:03:56.720 --> 00:04:04.720 I've got to just pray for, let's just pray for Jackson. 00:04:04.720 --> 00:04:06.920 He just passed away. 00:04:07.920 --> 00:04:13.320 Father, we were praying for life. 00:04:13.320 --> 00:04:15.320 But Jackson just passed away. 00:04:15.320 --> 00:04:20.320 For us it's a loss, for you it's, he was always before you. 00:04:20.320 --> 00:04:24.720 He was before you, before he was placed in his mother's womb, he was there over the last 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.320 twenty-three weeks and he is with you now. 00:04:28.320 --> 00:04:32.320 Wasn't what we were desiring, it wasn't what we were hoping would happen. 00:04:37.320 --> 00:04:44.320 Father, we just pray for Romesh and Quinn right now. 00:04:54.320 --> 00:04:58.320 Father, we pray peace over this family. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:06.720 And we pray that, Father, you were there when we lost our baby. 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:22.720 So you will be there for this family to give comfort that you understand their heart and 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:26.720 that this is not from you. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:35.120 So I pray that they will be able to see you in this tough time and I pray tremendous peace 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.120 over this family in the name of Jesus. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.120 Yeah, Father, so, 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:54.120 give them double recompense, Father. 00:05:54.520 --> 00:05:56.520 Give them double recompense. 00:05:58.520 --> 00:06:03.520 Like you did with Job, restore to them double, Father. 00:06:04.520 --> 00:06:11.520 And so we thank you that there's absolute confidence that we'll see Jackson Cato. 00:06:12.520 --> 00:06:18.520 That he's a person, that he was with you, he came here on earth for a short while and 00:06:18.520 --> 00:06:19.520 he is with you. 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:22.520 And we will see him. 00:06:24.520 --> 00:06:31.520 Teach us how to pray, Father, to see these things come through victoriously. 00:06:31.520 --> 00:06:34.520 Not victoriously, victorious is the wrong word. 00:06:34.520 --> 00:06:37.520 To come to see the will of heaven pass here on earth. 00:06:37.520 --> 00:06:39.520 We'd like to see that. 00:06:39.520 --> 00:06:41.520 We'd like to see that. 00:06:43.520 --> 00:06:47.520 Because somehow in my mind, Jesus, if you were here in real, I don't see any other 00:06:47.520 --> 00:06:51.520 outcomes, so it's very hard to settle for anything else. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:53.920 That's the problem. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:00.920 If you were here and you had to go to Richmond, we see women's and you touch that baby, 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:01.920 the baby would recover. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.920 So that's our struggle. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.920 How can we settle for anything less? 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:11.920 Teach us how to over the next few months and years so that we may bring your life here 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.920 on earth in Jesus' name. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:14.920 Amen. 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:20.320 Change, release always transforms. 00:07:20.320 --> 00:07:22.320 How am I segueing so easily? 00:07:22.320 --> 00:07:25.320 Very intentionally and deliberately. 00:07:25.320 --> 00:07:27.320 So release always transforms. 00:07:27.320 --> 00:07:33.320 The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news 00:07:33.320 --> 00:07:34.320 to the poor. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:38.320 Everything you see in Isaiah 61 is transformative. 00:07:38.320 --> 00:07:40.320 So bring good news to the poor. 00:07:40.320 --> 00:07:41.320 Who are the poor? 00:07:41.320 --> 00:07:43.320 The morally and spiritually poor. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.720 The poor, the morally and spiritually oppressed. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:49.720 To bring, to cause the blind to see, transformative. 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:53.720 To cause prisoners to be free, transformative. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.720 To cause captives to be released, transformative. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:00.720 To bring beauty where there is ugliness, transformative. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:03.720 To bring joy where there is depression, transformative. 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:06.720 Everything about release is transformative. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.720 It transforms. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:18.120 So when you look at Isaiah 61, every outcome of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is transformational. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.120 And in a sense, isn't that what Jubilee is? 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:34.120 Jubilee or release was basically a time when God would cause everything to revert to its original state. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:37.120 As he intended it to be. 00:08:37.520 --> 00:08:43.520 And this is what God is asking us to pronounce over the earth for the next two and a half years. 00:08:43.520 --> 00:08:48.520 Release or Jubilee was transformational because it would revert life to God's intent 00:08:48.520 --> 00:08:52.520 and it was the work of the Holy Spirit where the Holy Spirit would come and he would begin to change things. 00:08:52.520 --> 00:08:54.520 Go to Isaiah 61. Let's read it together. 00:08:54.520 --> 00:08:56.520 Isaiah 61. 00:08:58.520 --> 00:09:00.520 Isaiah 61. 00:09:03.520 --> 00:09:05.520 Isaiah 61. Reading from verse one. 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:11.920 I just want to show you how the idea of release always requires transformation. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:18.920 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:23.920 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, 00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:25.920 release from darkness for prisoners. 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:26.920 Just think of that. 00:09:26.920 --> 00:09:31.920 Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, 00:09:31.920 --> 00:09:33.920 release from darkness for prisoners, 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:37.320 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, the day of the vengeance of our God, 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:41.320 to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who grieve in Zion, 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:44.320 to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.320 the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.320 a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:54.320 All these are exactly changing the appearance, the form and the structure. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.320 Why am I just continuing to bear down on this point? 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.320 Because as we go forward into the year of release, 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:03.320 we cannot settle for that which is just skin deep. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:05.720 It has to be transformational. 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:10.720 What you do and what I do has to actually transform appearance, form and structure. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:14.720 Don't settle for anything less. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:19.720 In your business, when you're praying for someone who's sick, 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:23.720 when you're praying for someone whose baby is 23 months old, 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:25.720 when you're praying for a city, 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.720 when you're praying for anything, 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:28.720 the intent of God is, 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:32.720 can you discover what I really wanted to do when I first made this 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:36.120 and can you cause things to come to a place 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:39.120 where they are released into that stage? 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.120 We'll never see the fullness of it till Christ comes. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:45.120 But my God, we'll give the earth a taste of what it sounds like 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.120 or feels like and tastes like. 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:54.120 One of the words Acts 29 should get used to 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:58.120 without becoming revolutionaries 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:00.120 is this word liberate. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:02.120 Get used to the word liberate. 00:11:02.520 --> 00:11:04.520 Churches rarely use the word liberate 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:07.520 unless they are out on the streets marching. 00:11:09.520 --> 00:11:12.520 But the word liberate is a word that is very special to God 00:11:12.520 --> 00:11:15.520 and very much a part of biblical vocabulary. 00:11:17.520 --> 00:11:19.520 And so, he liberates. 00:11:19.520 --> 00:11:21.520 The Holy Spirit liberates. 00:11:21.520 --> 00:11:23.520 What do you think happened to you? 00:11:23.520 --> 00:11:24.520 What did he do to you? 00:11:24.520 --> 00:11:25.520 He liberated you. 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:29.520 Can you even take stock of what he liberated you from 00:11:29.520 --> 00:11:31.520 and how much more he wants to liberate you? 00:11:32.520 --> 00:11:34.520 Freedom? My God, he dances. 00:11:36.520 --> 00:11:39.520 Every time freedom happens, he dances. 00:11:40.520 --> 00:11:42.520 Because Christ put it this way, 00:11:42.520 --> 00:11:45.520 for freedom I have set you free, Jacob. 00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:48.520 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. 00:11:48.520 --> 00:11:50.520 Liberty from all the past ordinances, 00:11:50.520 --> 00:11:51.520 liberty from legalism, 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:53.520 liberty from the limitations that you put 00:11:53.520 --> 00:11:56.520 through your culture, your soul and body upon yourself. 00:11:56.520 --> 00:11:58.520 Liberty so that you can be free. 00:11:58.520 --> 00:12:00.520 Jesus was the freest man on the face of the earth. 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:04.920 A part of the reason he was free was because he had zero self-regard. 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:06.920 Zero self-regard. 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:09.920 Knowing where he came from and knowing where he was going, 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:11.920 he had zero self-regard. 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:18.920 He liberates. He destroys the enemy. 00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:20.920 This is all part of release. 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:21.920 The Holy Spirit liberates. 00:12:21.920 --> 00:12:24.920 The Holy Spirit destroys the enemy. 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:27.920 The Holy Spirit establishes the ways of God. 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:35.920 In individuals, in church, in your city, in the spirit world and in the environment. 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:39.920 These are important. If you write down all five, good for you. 00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:41.920 The Holy Spirit liberates. 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:44.920 Get used to that word because if the Holy Spirit liberates, 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:47.920 then the church must also liberate. 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:49.920 The Holy Spirit liberates. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:52.920 The Holy Spirit destroys the enemy. 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:55.920 The Holy Spirit establishes the ways of God. 00:12:55.920 --> 00:13:01.920 What has happened to the church is that we receive this with absolute willingness, 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:03.920 but just for our lives. 00:13:03.920 --> 00:13:05.920 But he does this for individual lives. 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:07.920 He does this for the church. 00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:09.920 He does this for your society or your city. 00:13:09.920 --> 00:13:11.920 He does it in the spirit realm. 00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:15.920 And then he does it for the environment or he is ecologically concerned. 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:20.920 Because after all, he was the one who put this world together 00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:22.920 and made it look as beautiful as it presently is. 00:13:23.920 --> 00:13:26.920 So he is really invested in this. 00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:30.920 I cannot choose to stay out of some of these areas 00:13:30.920 --> 00:13:33.920 because when I choose to stay out of some of these areas, 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:36.920 I am not being the church man. 00:13:41.920 --> 00:13:43.920 Any questions? 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:50.920 What we are talking about today, what we are going to attempt today, 00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:56.920 is the most ambitious thing this church has ever attempted. 00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:59.920 I am just priming you because as we get towards the end of this teaching, 00:13:59.920 --> 00:14:03.920 we are going to attempt something that we have never attempted. 00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:07.920 And it will not be done by one or two because it is impossible to do. 00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:10.920 It will have to be all the house churches, the entire church, 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:14.920 working together towards an end that God has in mind for us. 00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:16.920 I have spoken to the leaders about it. 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:19.920 I am looking forward to seeing how it will outwork. 00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:21.920 There will be no one who is not involved. 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:24.920 I was going through the list of vocations you have and I thought, 00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:29.920 my God, how did you get these different people with all these different vocations 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:32.920 together for a time such as this? 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:38.920 I am going to conclude the sermon here and we can... 00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:40.920 No, I am just kidding. 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:53.920 I hate disappointing you with short sermons. 00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:57.920 Red pen. 00:14:57.920 --> 00:14:59.920 Who was it? Just so I know. 00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:01.920 Oh, that was you. 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:06.920 Guys, so what is the Holy Spirit's mission? 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:12.920 His mission is to send the church 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:22.920 to preach, love, serve, to preach, love, serve, heal, 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:27.920 and my most recent favorite word, liberate. 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:32.920 This is the mission of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:36.920 The Holy Spirit's mission is I am going to send the church, 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:39.920 I am going to send Acts 29, into the world 00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:43.920 to love, to serve, to preach, to heal, to liberate. 00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:49.920 Romans 8.21, it says that creation is longing to be set free 00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:54.920 or liberated from the bondage of decay into the freedom 00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:57.920 and the glory of the sons of God. 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:00.920 Just listen to the music of that verse again. 00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:06.920 Creation is longing to be set free or liberated 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:11.920 from the bondage of decay into the freedom 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:14.920 and the glory of the sons of God. 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:19.920 One of the easiest ways to do away with this verse 00:16:19.920 --> 00:16:22.920 is to just say creation, that means trees, mountains, 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:24.920 rivers and waters. 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:29.920 Or to deal with the verse this way. 00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:32.920 Oh, the sons of God, as in when they were born, 00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:34.920 or to deal with the verse this way. 00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:37.920 Oh, the sons of God, as in when we one day become perfect. 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:40.920 Sure, everything will be consummated only then, 00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:43.920 but we've got to start showing it now, man. 00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:46.920 What is the point of being a kingdom people 00:16:46.920 --> 00:16:49.920 if a kingdom people don't show the life of a future kingdom 00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:52.920 in the present earth that is decaying? 00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:58.920 We were left as a taste, a sample, 00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.920 so that others can say, 00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:03.920 if this is what Jesus tastes like, 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:05.920 I'd like two scoops. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.920 His movement, as in the Holy Spirit's movement, 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.920 oops. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.920 Colorado will lose at this rate. 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:27.920 I mean, if you threw it back at me, I'd catch it. 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.920 Okay. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.920 Too much pressure was building up suddenly. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:37.920 His movement, what is the Holy Spirit's movement? 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.920 If you look at the Old Testament and the New Testament, 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.920 especially the New Testament, 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.920 which would be our model to follow, 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:46.920 you would find that the way the Holy Spirit went about 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:49.920 sending the church to preach, love, serve, heal and liberate, 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.920 his movement was by affecting 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.920 strategic cities 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.920 affecting strategic cities 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.920 affecting strategic cities at strategic times, 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:09.920 affecting strategic cities at strategic times. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.920 That's why you have the Holy Spirit going to Antioch. 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:17.920 Then he prevents Paul from entering some places, 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.920 but he allows Paul to go to Philippi. 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:23.920 He knows that Rome is the center of the universe 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.920 and that the Romans had built amazing buildings 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:29.920 and the Romans had built amazing road systems 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.920 at a strategic time. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:33.920 Rome was influenced and from there on it went. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:36.920 Then he figured out that Ephesus was a hub 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:39.920 where things used to happen and so then Ephesus. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.920 These were critical hubs 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.920 established in critical cities 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:48.920 strategically at strategic times by the Holy Spirit 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:52.920 so that the word would spread forth from those places. 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:55.920 This wasn't invented by some businessman 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:58.920 in a dinky little office writing a book. 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:02.920 These strategies came out of the mind of the Holy Spirit long ago. 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:09.920 If that is his movement, what is his method? 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.920 His method differs. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.920 With every city his method would differ. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.920 In Nineveh in the Old Testament, 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:21.920 his way of bringing a city to a place where they recognize Yahweh 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.920 was through preaching. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:25.920 It's said in Jonah chapter 3 verse 4 it says, 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.920 and Nineveh was a large city. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.920 It would take three days to cover it. 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.920 And what did Jonah do? 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:33.920 Jonah traveled one day into the city 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.920 and he stood there and he began to say, 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:38.920 in 40 days the city will be destroyed. 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:41.920 And Nineveh turned. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.920 His way of doing it in Nineveh was preaching. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:46.920 When you look at Lydda, I was fascinated with this. 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.920 I've read this story many times, 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.920 but I never saw these lines. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.920 In a place called Lydda and you're saying, 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.920 really is that a place in the Bible? 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.920 Yes, Acts chapter 9. 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:57.920 Acts chapter 9, here's what happens in Acts chapter 9. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.920 I bet you didn't know it. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:09.920 Acts chapter 9 verse 32, Acts 9, 32. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.920 As Peter traveled about the country, 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.920 he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.920 There he found a man named Aeneas, 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.920 a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:21.920 Aeneas Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.920 Get up and take care of your math. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.920 That part I knew. 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.920 Immediately Aeneas got up. 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:28.920 This is what I didn't know. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.920 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:35.920 and turned to the Lord. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:38.920 I didn't know that all those, all those, 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:43.920 let's assume Luke was exaggerating 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.920 and he counted 10 too many. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:52.920 But all those in Sharon and Lydda saw this miracle 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.920 and they turned to the Lord. 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.920 Sometimes the strategy the Holy Spirit uses is preaching, 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.920 sometimes it's healing. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.920 And then look at what happens in Ephesus, Acts 19. 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:04.920 Acts 19. 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.920 Hey guys, I know you know this, 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.920 but it's worth repeating it. 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:13.920 We cannot aspire for a standard that is lower than Jesus. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:20.920 We cannot aspire for a standard lower than Jesus. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:23.920 Any standard lower than Jesus is pathetic 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.920 for Christians to aspire for. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:39.920 May you die attempting it 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:43.920 than live settling for less. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:54.920 In Ephesus, Acts 19, verse 17 onwards, 00:21:54.920 --> 00:22:00.920 you'll see how what the enemy did became a strategic entry into that city. 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:03.920 Acts 19, verse 17, and here's what happens. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.920 If you read from verse 14, 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:10.920 Seven sons of Skiwa, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.920 They were casting out demons. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:13.920 One day the evil spirit answered them, 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:16.920 Jesus I know and I know about Paul, but who are you? 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:19.920 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:20.920 overpowered them all. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:23.920 He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:27.920 When this became known to the Jews and the Greeks living in Ephesus, 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.920 they were all seized with fear 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:33.920 and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.920 Meaning the city suddenly became aware 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.920 that this Jesus Christ that Paul was preaching in Ephesus 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:41.920 was a city steeped in magic. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.920 There are still scrolls that are called the Ephesus letters 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:50.920 where there are chants and magic spells that you can find in museums. 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.920 Here was a city full of magic 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:55.920 and they suddenly realized that this Jesus that Paul is preaching 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:58.920 is a name that cannot be trifled with. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:02.920 The very thing that the enemy did now becomes a strategy 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.920 that the Holy Spirit uses to open up a city. 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:05.920 Read on. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.920 And then it says, 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:11.920 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.920 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together, 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.920 burned them publicly. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:19.920 When they calculated the value of the scrolls, 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.920 the total came to 50,000 drachmas. 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:25.920 One drachma was a silver coin, so it must be a little expensive. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:30.920 In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.920 I don't know what method he is going to use 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:36.920 with us as we go and speak to the nations. 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:38.920 As we go and cause strongholds to bow. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.920 And I assure you, these are not theory. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.920 This will happen. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:44.920 Why will it happen? Because Jacob said so? 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:48.920 Nope. It will happen because God is bringing us into that place. 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:53.920 Fourteen years he spent laboriously chipping away, 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.920 sculpting us for a time such as this. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.920 Like I said a couple of weeks ago, 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:03.920 the church is the only organization that exists solely for the benefit of its nonmembers. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:09.920 The church is the only organization that exists solely for the benefit of its nonmembers. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:14.920 This is what we've been sculpted for all this time. 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:17.920 My dad used to say to me when I was young, 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:23.920 because he fed me really well and I was growing sideways. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.920 And so I remember him once calling me and saying, 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:30.920 Ramane, meaning dear son, I just want you to know I have fed you so much, 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.920 you better be taller than me. 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:38.920 It was like, because I wasn't growing this way. 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:43.920 I don't know what happened, but once he spoke that, I started growing tall. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.920 I mean this is what I mean by tall. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.920 But you can imagine what short was then. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:52.920 The point was that 14 years he's fed you. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:56.920 Not so that we can be fat cats sitting in the pews. 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:07.920 These cities guys, Antioch, Philippi, Rome, Ephesus, and you can add more to these, 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:13.920 were transformed and yet this isn't very often seen today. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:16.920 We don't see an entire city transformed. 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:21.920 Aren't you itching to know what God is going to do with us? 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:25.920 Say yes, no. Yeah. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:30.920 Okay, so how do we transform cities? 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:32.920 This is a Pentecost message. 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:43.920 This is what the Holy Spirit poured himself onto believers for. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:50.920 Holy Spirit is tired of us teaching ourselves who he is. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:53.920 He's saying, haven't you taught that 14 years now? 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.920 Every Pentecost you talk about who I am. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:00.920 Now will you go and do who I am? 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:12.920 A city will transform only when there is an integration of the good news 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:20.920 and the good works of Jesus. 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:25.920 Because that is ultimately what will bring spiritual transformation or change. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:32.920 And this will bring societal or community transformation or change. 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:35.920 You can't leave out one or the other for some strange reason. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:41.920 Churches are either interested in the spiritual transformation or the spiritual transformation 00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:44.920 or the spiritual transformation of the church. 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:47.920 You can't leave out one or the other for some strange reason. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:52.920 Churches are either interested in the spiritual transformation of people 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:55.920 or interested in the societal transformation of people. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:59.920 But very rarely do you see a church able to do both. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:05.920 And I'm saying why not? 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.920 Any questions? 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.920 Spiritual, societal. 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.920 Which one are you looking at, Heidi? 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.920 The first one? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:19.920 Integration of the good news and the good works of Jesus. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.920 Any questions? 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:26.920 Anything online, guys? 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.920 Ah, I know why there are no questions online. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:34.920 Tuni is here. 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.920 So where does this start? 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:39.920 It starts with what we've always talked about and what we kind of know. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:48.920 The planting, the proclamation, or the progression of the gospel. 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.920 That's where it starts. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.920 So it starts with the planting of churches. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:57.920 It starts with the proclamation and the progression. 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.920 The P3. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.920 Proclamation, penetration, and progression of the gospel. 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.920 That's where it starts. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.920 But it does not stop there. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:09.920 It does not stop there, and that's what I'm excited about. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:13.920 It starts with the gospel. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.920 It starts with the planting of churches. 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.920 It starts with the proclamation. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:21.920 It starts with the penetration and it starts with the progression of the gospel. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:30.920 But it does not stop there. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:34.920 It's a critical part, guys, but it doesn't stop there. 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:42.920 You know, we've learned this part really well. 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.920 So what do we need to do? 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:53.920 The whole church, as in all of us, not a few pastors, not a few leaders, not a few house church leaders, 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:57.920 not a few really passionate young adults or old adults, 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:03.920 the whole church has to take the whole gospel. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.920 What do you mean whole gospel? 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:07.920 Not just a little bit of healing or a little bit of deliverance 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:12.920 or a little bit of preaching the salvation message or a little bit of social work. 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.920 No, no, no, no. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:16.920 The whole church has to take the whole good news. 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:21.920 Jesus was absolutely interested in the entire person. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.920 He was always interested in the entire person. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:28.920 I mean, in the middle of preaching one of his most brilliant sermons, 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:31.920 his thing is, man, these guys haven't eaten. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:36.920 Let's feed them fish sandwiches. 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:39.920 But then the problem is there's not enough bread and fish for the sandwich. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:43.920 So then let's have a miracle done. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:47.920 And after they've eaten our shucks, but there are a lot of people who don't have food enough to take home. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:50.920 So let's make sure that they collect all the scraps. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:55.920 And by the way, there's a demoniac that the Holy Spirit told me is across the waters in Gadrin. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:58.920 And his soul and spirit are being ripped apart. 00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.920 So let's cross the waters. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.920 But you guys go ahead because I'll take care of the crowd being dispersed. 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.920 Because I'm not one of those preachers that comes preachers and leaves. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.920 I want to spend some time with the people. 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:09.920 So he spends time dispersing the people. 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:14.920 But I realize how tired you 12 are because you haven't been doing as much work as I, but you look tired. 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:16.920 So why don't you go ahead? 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:20.920 And as they go ahead, he then decides, hmm, time for me to go through. 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.920 He says, but let me just spend some time with my father. 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:23.920 He spent some time with his father. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.920 And then he decides, how shall I go? 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.920 The boats have left. 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.920 Let's walk across the water. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.920 So he walks across the water, finds them. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.920 They're really panicky. 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:32.920 So he brings peace to their soul first. 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.920 He says, do not fear. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.920 He doesn't calm the waters first. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.920 He brings peace to their soul. 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.920 Why am I going down this route? 00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:42.920 I'm just trying to show you how absolutely interested he is in the entire person. 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:44.920 He brings peace to their soul. 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.920 Then he stills the waters. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:47.920 And then he says, let's go over to the other side. 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:55.920 When they get to the other side, there's a man who's been ravaged by a demon, not one demon, 600 or 6000 demons, a legion. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.920 And they've been destroying him. 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.920 He breaks chains. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.920 If he can break chains, imagine what he's doing to his own body. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.920 And they see him and they fear. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:06.920 And the demons say, why have you come to torment us before our time? 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.920 And Jesus casts out those demons. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:11.920 The man goes completely normal and docile and sits at Jesus's feet. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:13.920 Jesus has raised him up. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:23.920 And now, instead of sending him back to tell his family, instead of calling him and saying, hey, now you can be a disciple of mine and talk about this wonderful testimony and it shall be a great meeting. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.920 He says, no, go back to Decapolis. 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.920 Because they need you there. 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:34.920 The point being, we as a church now have to get interested in much more than the spiritual side of things. 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.920 And you are well equipped for this. 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.920 You are well equipped for this. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.920 You need a wound specialist. 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.920 We have a wound specialist. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.920 You need a nurse. 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.920 We got a nurse. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:50.920 You want to examine the skin under your toenail. 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.920 We got someone who can research that. 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.920 You want to fix a light bulb. 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.920 We've got one engineer who does not know how to. 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.920 You. 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:01.920 No, see there are four of you. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:03.920 So you don't know which one I'm referring to. 00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:20.920 The point being, guys, as we as we as we step into what God has for us, you'll be fascinated at how each of us will have a role. 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.920 Each of us. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.920 Each of us. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.920 So looking forward to it. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:31.920 It's a whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole person. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:36.920 To the whole person in the whole city. 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:50.920 It's a whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole person in the whole city, meaning it's not limited to those that come to Acts 29 or those that come to the house church. 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:55.920 And it ministers to the entire person. 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:03.920 This is God's desire, body, soul, spirit. 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:13.920 So basically, it will be the power of God through the church, which I like calling the community of the spirit. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:17.920 It will be the power of God through the community of the spirit. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:22.920 If we go down this route, guys, then imagine what we're going to have to deal with. 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:26.920 It is easier dealing with getting people saved, casting demons out, healing the sick. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:29.920 But now we'll have to deal with poverty. 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:32.920 We'll have to deal with crime. 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:35.920 You'll have to deal with violence. 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:39.920 You'll have to deal with deal with divorces. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.920 We'll have to deal with. 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.920 Addictions. 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.920 You'll have to deal with gangs. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.920 That's one side of it. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:34:00.920 But on the other side, it will also result in the dramatic increase of mercy. 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:04.920 Dramatic increase of giving. 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.920 The dramatic increase of justice. 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.920 Dramatic increase of beauty. 00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:15.920 Dramatic increase of prosperity, particularly for the poor. 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:21.920 The dramatic increase of compassion. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.920 Hallelujah. 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:31.920 Wouldn't this be beautiful? 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:37.920 Wouldn't it be awesome to set up a model for others to look at and say, 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:40.920 Okay, we'll go do this in our cities across the earth. 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:49.920 Where on one hand, once we decide that the whole church, and this is why the Holy Spirit came. 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:52.920 This is why the Holy Spirit came. 00:34:54.920 --> 00:35:00.920 When the whole church begins to take the whole gospel, which takes care of body, soul and spirit, 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:04.920 to the whole person in the whole city, to the whole community, 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:09.920 to the whole person in the whole city, then the whole church will have to deal with things 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:13.920 that we don't have to deal with within these walls, or have to deal with minimally, 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.920 poverty, crime, violence, divorce, addictions, gangs. 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.920 We don't have to deal with it. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:21.920 The only gangster we have to deal with is Don, and nobody else. 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.920 Oh sorry, not Don, Profo. 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:29.920 I'm kidding, Profo. 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:36.920 And so, on the other hand, there'll be an increase of mercy, of giving, of justice, of beauty, of prosperity, for the poor. 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:41.920 When was the last time you heard about God prospering the church, 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:45.920 and what he meant by prospering the church is God prospering the poor through the church? 00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:50.920 That's a strange prosperity message. 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:58.920 I mean, I would start, I could start drooling right now. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:05.920 I'm glad I'm not getting too much reaction today. 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:13.920 So what will happen when we go down this road, guys, is that in an area that God gives us, 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:19.920 if God says, in and around pilgrim, if we actually did this over a sustained period of time, 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:22.920 you would find two things happening, which lies at the heart of the Gospel. 00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:28.920 People will love the Lord more with their heart, their mind, their soul, their strength, 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:30.920 and people will love their neighbors more. 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:35.920 And in that is the summation of the law and the prophets. 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:42.920 It doesn't happen through a token event, like a barbecue or a food distribution. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:47.920 It happens over a sustained period of time of two and a half years, 00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:52.920 where all your different abilities and skills are brought together. 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:56.920 Time, talent, treasure, strength. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:04.920 Don't leave Acts 29 yet, huh? Leave in 2022. 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:08.920 No, no, no, don't leave, meaning if you leave. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.920 And if you want to bring new people, bring them now. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:18.920 They get all the goodies without doing any work. 00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:34.920 Any questions, guys? Any questions? 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:38.920 So where do we start? Where do we start? 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:45.920 Because this is impossible, we start with Zechariah 4 verse 6. 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:48.920 And Zechariah 4 verse 6 says this, and then the Lord says to Zerubbabel, 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:55.920 it is not by might, it is not by power, but it is by my Spirit, says the Lord. 00:37:56.920 --> 00:38:00.920 This is so impossible to do, that my God, we'll have to lean back so heavily, 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:04.920 which is why I say, the more aware you will become of the Holy Spirit 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:08.920 over the next two and a half years, the more you will be able to depend 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:11.920 and draw from its presence, the more you will be able to be able to do it. 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:15.920 The more you will be able to depend and draw from its presence, 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:19.920 an awareness that it becomes as natural as breathing in a little while. 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:24.920 I mean, when we talk about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:28.920 and the river of God and stuff like that, I mean, when you really look at it, 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:31.920 you look at Revelation 22 verse 2, and what do you see? 00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:36.920 You see in Revelation 22 verse 2, a river that flows from the throne of God 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:40.920 through the main street of the city, bringing healing. 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:43.920 The three scriptures that I'm going to give you right now, 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:47.920 all talk about the Holy Spirit, but in all of the scriptures that I give you, 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:50.920 you will find that the Holy Spirit is saying to Israel, 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.920 or the Holy Spirit is saying to the church, 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.920 or the Holy Spirit is saying to the individual Christian, 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:59.920 listen, the reason I live in you is to make you like Christ, yes, 00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:02.920 and I'm doing that every day, but the other reason I live in you 00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.920 is so that I can flow through you into people around you, 00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:07.920 into the city around you. 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:12.920 So in Revelation 22 verse 2, you see a river that flows from the throne of God 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:16.920 down the center of the street of the main street of the city, 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.920 and it brought healing to the nations. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:25.920 You go to Ezekiel 47 verse 9, and you find a river that flows from the temple of God, 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:29.920 and it flows through the land, and as it flows through the land, 00:39:30.920 --> 00:39:33.920 wherever it goes, it begins to bring life, bring fresh water, 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:35.920 making salt water teem with fish. 00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:39.920 And then you see Jesus during the feast of tabernacles, 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.920 in John chapter 7 verse 38 saying, 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:46.920 come to me all you that are hungry, and I will give you food free of cost. 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.920 And then he goes on to say, hey, by the way, 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:53.920 I want you to know that Jacob, out of you, out of your belly, 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:58.920 out of your insides will flow rivers of living water. 00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:01.920 For what? For the benefit of others. 00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:08.920 Rivers of water flowing from within you, 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:12.920 so that the thirst of people in your city can be slaked. 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:16.920 So that's where we start. We start where? 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.920 Because this is an absolutely impossible task. 00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:23.920 We start with Zechariah 4. 00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:27.920 Now do you see why Acts 10 verse 36 to 38 makes so much sense? 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:32.920 Acts 10, 36 to 38 says that Jesus Christ went about, 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:36.920 so he went about in the area that was appointed to him. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:42.920 Man, he could have started the synagogue and have the Pharisees eat out of his hand. 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:50.920 Instead, he went about doing good and setting free those that were harassed by the devil. 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:54.920 Why? Because the Spirit of God had anointed him for this very purpose. 00:40:54.920 --> 00:40:59.920 Everywhere that the Spirit of God begins to arrive, dwell, abide, 00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:04.920 there's only one purpose. Can I make you witnesses? Can I send you out? 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.920 I have gathered you so that you may be scattered. 00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:16.920 Acts 10, 36 to 38. Acts 10, 36 to 38. 00:41:17.920 --> 00:41:23.920 Then Peter began to speak, and then it goes on to 36. 00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:28.920 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:31.920 telling the good news of peace to Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:34.920 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, 00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:36.920 after the baptism that John preached. 00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:40.920 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:45.920 and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, 00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:48.920 because God was with him. Doing good and healing. 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:53.920 That's the first point. Where do we start? That's what we first do. 00:41:54.920 --> 00:41:58.920 Again, if you want to transform the city that God is appointing to you, 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:01.920 the second thing is you'll have to begin with a burden for the city. 00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:04.920 We don't have that yet, but we will have it. 00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:06.920 You have to begin with a burden for the city. 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:10.920 In Luke chapter 13, verse 34, you find Jesus looking at Jerusalem, 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:16.920 and he says, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I have longed to gather you 00:42:17.920 --> 00:42:20.920 as I would gather children, just like a hen gathers her chicks. 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:23.920 So I have longed to gather you under my wings. 00:42:24.920 --> 00:42:28.920 This is someone who had a burden for a city that he spent 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:31.920 a large part of his ministry in. 00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:36.920 One of the verses that really affected me when I was going through this was Nehemiah. 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:40.920 In Nehemiah, chapter 1, verse 4, Nehemiah gets news, 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:45.920 and here's the news he gets, that the condition of the city is appalling, 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:49.920 that the walls have been torn down, that the gates have been burnt, 00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:51.920 that the people are in distress. 00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:57.080 in distress and Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 4 begins like this and Nehemiah began to 00:42:57.080 --> 00:43:01.520 weep, he began to fast, he could not bear the thought of what had happened to the 00:43:01.520 --> 00:43:07.400 city. This is not something that we can fabricate, this is something that God 00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:11.480 can place. God has done this many many times where he places such a burden on a 00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:15.000 person's heart. I'm not even talking about the Bible, I'm talking about since 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:20.120 the Bible was written. He places such a burden on a person's heart that the 00:43:20.120 --> 00:43:24.440 burden now begins to become a passion. You know you cannot have passion without 00:43:24.440 --> 00:43:33.560 burden, you cannot have a passion without having a burden. Nehemiah started with a 00:43:33.560 --> 00:43:37.320 burden that developed into a passion to rebuild the city. Nehemiah started with a 00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:44.360 burden that developed into a passion to rebuild the city. Once you have the 00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:50.660 passion, passion then gains you favor. Wherever you are, passion will gain you 00:43:50.660 --> 00:43:55.280 favor. Once you have passion, it begins to attract resources. Once you have 00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:59.080 passion, it begins to increase your influence. Once you have passion, it 00:43:59.080 --> 00:44:03.480 begins to fuel your compassion. Once you have passion, you'll see an increase in 00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:06.320 your perseverance where you'll stick through something because you're so 00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:11.800 passionate about it that you will learn it. I've seen kids who suddenly decide 00:44:11.800 --> 00:44:16.480 that they have a passion to learn how to cycle. Never cycled before. Some kids 00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:20.200 give up. My dad had to send three people to train me and I think he fired all of 00:44:20.200 --> 00:44:24.480 them because I didn't have a passion for cycling. Anything that had to do with 00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:32.680 feet, I preferred not to exert. But the point is there were other kids who would 00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:37.460 learn so quickly. I've seen people pick up the guitar, such passion, they learn so 00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:46.180 quickly. Passion gains you favor. Passion attracts resources. Passion increases 00:44:46.180 --> 00:44:55.060 influence. Passion fuels compassion. Passion gives spine to perseverance. But 00:44:55.060 --> 00:45:00.660 to get passion, it can only be developed from a place of burden when it comes to 00:45:00.660 --> 00:45:05.500 transforming a city. I mean you all have heard of William Booth, the guy who 00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:10.340 started the Salvation Army and I read this quote which I thought was such a 00:45:10.340 --> 00:45:18.460 litmus test when volunteers used to come to London to help him with helping the 00:45:18.460 --> 00:45:23.860 cities downtrodden. His question to the volunteers was, can you weep for them if 00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:31.260 you can't weep we cannot use you. Can you weep for them if you can't weep we 00:45:31.260 --> 00:45:35.980 cannot use you. And so I'm praying that today before we leave we begin to ask 00:45:35.980 --> 00:45:40.140 God for a burden that will cause the city that God is giving to us to begin 00:45:40.140 --> 00:45:45.100 to become a heavy thing on our heart because with that will come the passion 00:45:45.100 --> 00:45:47.780 that is necessary. 00:45:52.060 --> 00:45:59.420 The third thing is from Jeremiah 29 7 and Jeremiah 29 7 says seek the peace 00:45:59.500 --> 00:46:06.380 and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. Seek the peace and the 00:46:06.380 --> 00:46:14.020 prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. So when we begin to talk 00:46:14.020 --> 00:46:17.420 about the city that God is saying hey not even a city he'll start us with what 00:46:17.420 --> 00:46:20.940 is manageable. When he gives us the area that we are supposed to now focus on 00:46:20.940 --> 00:46:26.580 seek the peace and the prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. I just 00:46:26.580 --> 00:46:34.140 want to take a detour here because you know what's happening with Floyd George 00:46:34.140 --> 00:46:42.140 and the fallout across the US right. And so it fits in here when we talk about 00:46:42.140 --> 00:46:45.900 seeking the peace and the prosperity of the city to which I've carried you even 00:46:45.900 --> 00:46:49.500 though it's not something that's happening in Canada. Guys with situations 00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:55.980 like Floyd George and his death always remember Psalm 85 10 or Zechariah 8 16 00:46:55.980 --> 00:47:07.220 Psalm 85 10 says peace and justice need to embrace. Peace and justice need to 00:47:07.220 --> 00:47:12.980 embrace. In some versions it says peace and justice need to kiss. Justice and 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:18.140 peace must embrace. And so here's what that means then. If the nature of justice 00:47:18.140 --> 00:47:37.740 if the nature of justice is devoid of truth and mercy then the peace then the 00:47:37.740 --> 00:47:42.300 peace that people are seeking or the nature of peace then the nature of peace 00:47:42.300 --> 00:47:55.820 then the nature of peace will be forced false or seething with fury. 00:47:59.260 --> 00:48:04.700 The reason I'm saying this is because when people ask us what so what do you 00:48:04.700 --> 00:48:10.380 think of what is happening in the US we can't do this dance of yeah you know 00:48:10.420 --> 00:48:13.500 that was a terrible thing had that happened but you know at the same time 00:48:13.500 --> 00:48:18.060 people should not protest because it's not right what they're doing. We can't 00:48:18.060 --> 00:48:21.660 do that sounds that's called diplomacy and it's not a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:48:21.660 --> 00:48:27.100 Yeah so what we need to understand is that at the end of the day God himself 00:48:27.100 --> 00:48:32.180 said that peace and justice need to embrace but peace and justice if they 00:48:32.180 --> 00:48:36.500 need to embrace and it has to have a certain quality if the nature of justice 00:48:36.500 --> 00:48:41.420 is devoid of truth and mercy and the nature of justice for Floyd George was 00:48:41.420 --> 00:48:48.620 devoid of truth and mercy. When that man had the knee of an officer on his neck 00:48:48.620 --> 00:48:55.580 it was devoid of mercy and truth doesn't stand alone truth has always had mercy 00:48:55.580 --> 00:49:01.060 in it. So if the nature of justice is devoid of truth and mercy then the 00:49:01.060 --> 00:49:08.580 nature of peace will be forced will be false or will be seething with fury 00:49:08.580 --> 00:49:15.880 underneath waiting to explode and that has been the condition of the racial 00:49:15.880 --> 00:49:20.880 dialogue in the US and in the West or wherever you see discrimination that has 00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:27.460 been the nature. Strangely enough guess who has a name that incorporates both 00:49:27.460 --> 00:49:39.100 justice and peace it was someone called Melchizedek the king of Shalom or Salem 00:49:39.100 --> 00:49:46.700 and so you have these two words Sedeq and Shalom one means justice the other 00:49:46.700 --> 00:49:54.540 means peace and so forth Sedeq and Shalom to embrace for peace and justice 00:49:54.540 --> 00:49:59.780 to embrace the only guys who actually have an ability to do this are the 00:49:59.780 --> 00:50:09.540 people of God but the people of God choose diplomacy over speaking and so 00:50:09.540 --> 00:50:15.180 what does this look like when the church begins to speak maybe this is I was just 00:50:15.180 --> 00:50:18.380 thinking of so what does it look like Lord do you want me to go and stand out 00:50:18.380 --> 00:50:24.180 and protest no if I were to take this church and this were happening here then 00:50:24.180 --> 00:50:27.260 I pray God that if this were ever to happen in Vancouver that this would be 00:50:27.260 --> 00:50:32.940 a stance that one or two of us would teach about this let's say Jacob would 00:50:32.940 --> 00:50:38.580 teach about it Emily would write about it Diana Panton would actually organize 00:50:38.580 --> 00:50:45.980 a protest and take a stance Heidi would Josh would Dano would Mark would invest 00:50:45.980 --> 00:50:53.740 money into it even would actually act upon it do something to bring justice 00:50:53.780 --> 00:50:58.580 and peace this is what it looks like when an entire community begins to take 00:50:58.580 --> 00:51:05.780 up the need in a city to bring Sedeq and Shalom together it can't be done by one 00:51:05.780 --> 00:51:11.500 person but when I teach you will listen when Emily writes we will read when 00:51:11.500 --> 00:51:16.000 Jeevan acts we will help when Heidi invests we will contribute when Diana 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:21.300 organizes a protest we will go now you begin to see how the only people who 00:51:21.340 --> 00:51:27.020 actually understand Sedeq and Shalom begin to do something in the area that 00:51:27.020 --> 00:51:32.180 they are appointed to the whole gospel going to the whole city so that whole 00:51:32.180 --> 00:51:36.100 persons can be made whole 00:51:38.420 --> 00:51:45.700 this is very difficult to do as long as I have self-regard because when I write 00:51:45.700 --> 00:51:50.380 what if you don't like my writing and you send me 40 comments calling me a 00:51:50.540 --> 00:51:56.900 racist pig now what happens now how am I going to react what happens when you go 00:51:56.900 --> 00:51:59.900 for a protest and you get arrested though you know you're standing for 00:51:59.900 --> 00:52:05.740 Sedeq and Shalom now self-regard becomes a critical issue my god man if you 00:52:05.740 --> 00:52:11.100 write make sure that you have the thick skin to take comments or not take any 00:52:11.100 --> 00:52:17.060 comments both are very not helpful I used to tweet and I used to wake up every 00:52:17.100 --> 00:52:20.860 morning seeing if anyone liked my tweet when I realized that nobody likes my 00:52:20.860 --> 00:52:28.780 tweet I decided this tweeting is not for me and the really bad tweets I used to 00:52:28.780 --> 00:52:33.100 put up used to get circulated and the really intelligent ones would never get 00:52:33.100 --> 00:52:38.260 a comment self-regard bury it 00:52:38.260 --> 00:52:42.220 the only amazing thing about most celebrities is I don't know how they 00:52:42.220 --> 00:52:45.780 handle bad publicity 00:52:50.580 --> 00:52:55.580 and a million people tell you you suck it must hurt man 00:53:01.540 --> 00:53:05.900 I just wanted to take this this is a very difficult issue to deal with 00:53:06.220 --> 00:53:12.420 I just wanted to take this diversion because I don't think what we will be 00:53:12.420 --> 00:53:16.300 doing in the future will be devoid of this 00:53:19.780 --> 00:53:22.780 any questions 00:53:22.780 --> 00:53:24.820 you 00:53:34.820 --> 00:53:41.660 you know Isaiah 58 verse 6 know what it says verse 7 know what it says verse 12 00:53:41.660 --> 00:53:46.540 you know what it says let's turn to it 00:53:47.540 --> 00:53:55.780 Isaiah 61 is the great passage on release but Isaiah 58 6 7 and 12 give us 00:53:55.780 --> 00:54:03.620 the substance or the skeleton on which that passage stands and so if you read 00:54:03.620 --> 00:54:08.860 it as they have 58 were 6 and 7 this is again the whole idea of release and 00:54:08.860 --> 00:54:13.020 transformation of a group is this not the kind of fasting I've chosen to lose 00:54:13.020 --> 00:54:19.180 the chains of injustice untie the cords of the yoke set the oppressed free to 00:54:19.180 --> 00:54:23.060 break every yoke is it not to share your food with the hungry to provide the poor 00:54:23.060 --> 00:54:26.980 wanderer with shelter when you see the naked to clothe him and not turn away 00:54:26.980 --> 00:54:31.460 from your own flesh and blood verse 12 your people will rebuild the ancient 00:54:31.460 --> 00:54:35.700 ruins they will raise up age-old foundations you will be called repairer 00:54:35.700 --> 00:54:43.260 of broken walls the store of streets to dwell in if I could give you a picture 00:54:43.260 --> 00:54:50.140 of the Holy Spirit right now it would be him rubbing his hands that glee saying 00:54:50.140 --> 00:54:54.180 Jacob get to the main point get to the main point 00:55:00.540 --> 00:55:04.100 but then he'll also say but knowing you Jacob you're going to take your own 00:55:04.100 --> 00:55:07.100 sweet time 00:55:09.580 --> 00:55:17.220 as they're 58 6 7 12 is critical to the release that we read about in Isaiah 61 00:55:17.220 --> 00:55:23.780 and and guys when you look at Isaiah 61 do you realize the kind of people that 00:55:23.780 --> 00:55:28.980 the Holy Spirit is going for first he's not going for the learned he's not going 00:55:28.980 --> 00:55:32.820 for the rich he's not going for the educated he's not going for the middle 00:55:32.820 --> 00:55:39.100 class wealthy of acts 29 he's going for categories that are usually the least of 00:55:39.100 --> 00:55:44.540 them you know how you measure progress in a society of progress in racial 00:55:44.540 --> 00:55:49.540 discrimination I heard this from this guy who I don't agree with fully but 00:55:49.540 --> 00:55:53.300 there are some things that he says that really grab me his name is Cornell West 00:55:53.300 --> 00:55:59.420 he's a professor and he said you can always measure progress in any area even 00:55:59.420 --> 00:56:05.140 in racial inequality what happens is we have a tendency to measure progress by 00:56:05.140 --> 00:56:10.260 citing a few cases that have been going well and he says in any society you 00:56:10.260 --> 00:56:19.060 measure progress by measuring how well the least of them are doing and when I 00:56:19.060 --> 00:56:23.540 heard that the first thing I thought was our shucks Holy Spirit when I look at 00:56:23.540 --> 00:56:28.700 Isaiah 61 you're talking about the least of them you're talking about the blind 00:56:28.740 --> 00:56:31.300 you're talking about the prisoner you're talking about the captive you're talking 00:56:31.300 --> 00:56:34.380 about the ugly you're talking about the depressed you're talking about the 00:56:34.380 --> 00:56:38.420 morning you're talking about the ones that are broken-hearted you're always 00:56:38.420 --> 00:56:42.660 taking categories first he's not leaving out anyone but he starts with the least 00:56:42.660 --> 00:56:44.980 of them 00:56:48.060 --> 00:56:52.900 this is why I appreciate what D1 does in Nandigama 00:56:53.700 --> 00:56:58.300 but not everybody can go to Nandigama and not everyone can see what's happening 00:56:58.300 --> 00:57:05.900 in Nandigama on a daily basis so what Nandigama is God releasing to us and if 00:57:05.900 --> 00:57:10.020 we go down this route guys to follow Jesus in the city then would mean 00:57:10.020 --> 00:57:13.660 mean that these are things that I don't want to do I don't want to care about 00:57:13.660 --> 00:57:19.140 but we will have to care about government we will have to care about 00:57:19.900 --> 00:57:26.300 government we will have to care about business we will have to care about the 00:57:26.300 --> 00:57:34.500 welfare of people we will have to care about the conditions that degrade humans 00:57:34.500 --> 00:57:37.100 in a city 00:57:37.100 --> 00:57:47.780 we will have to care about justice we will have to care about fairness my god 00:57:47.780 --> 00:57:54.580 life used to be so easy why go down this route this is a really bad idea 00:57:54.580 --> 00:58:02.700 you'll have to care about the voiceless you'll have to eliminate the conditions 00:58:02.700 --> 00:58:05.020 that degrade people 00:58:08.780 --> 00:58:17.300 like country just ask the question of what is the right way to do it and what 00:58:17.300 --> 00:58:20.300 is the right way to do it 00:58:25.300 --> 00:58:32.300 like country just ask the Holy Spirit to come and make us jump during a service 00:58:32.300 --> 00:58:40.300 isn't that radical enough come on that was difficult you really want to go down 00:58:41.300 --> 00:58:47.300 I can see from your loud amens that this is something you absolutely desire to do 00:58:47.300 --> 00:58:50.300 right 00:58:50.300 --> 00:58:54.300 I noticed the ones who said amen 00:58:57.300 --> 00:59:04.700 the challenges will be huge the time required will be long the cost will be 00:59:04.700 --> 00:59:11.100 heavy and the dark powers that oppose will be strong the challenges will be 00:59:11.100 --> 00:59:18.500 huge because it's unfamiliar stuff or it's stuff that we know how to read and 00:59:18.500 --> 00:59:30.100 write and theorize the challenges will be huge the time required will be long 00:59:30.500 --> 00:59:35.700 because it's not an event the cost will be high both financially and otherwise 00:59:35.700 --> 00:59:45.100 and the powers that we will face in opposition will be strong but citizens 00:59:45.100 --> 00:59:49.900 of the kingdom are supposed to affect the city that they live in according to 00:59:49.900 --> 00:59:55.100 Jeremiah 29 7 and they are supposed to affect the city with the benevolent rule 00:59:55.100 --> 01:00:00.900 and the ways of their king this is when the city on a hill becomes the salt of 01:00:00.900 --> 01:00:07.100 the city this is when the city on a hill becomes the salt in the city the city on 01:00:07.100 --> 01:00:10.100 a hill becomes a salt in the city 01:00:11.100 --> 01:00:14.100 so now for the big reveal 01:00:17.100 --> 01:00:24.500 where shall we start so one of the ways the Holy Spirit dustings is he'll pick 01:00:24.500 --> 01:00:31.700 an area that is manageable and pick an area that is manageable as in he knows 01:00:31.700 --> 01:00:37.300 our strength and our weaknesses he knows what we are capable of and he won't 01:00:37.300 --> 01:00:41.300 cater to that he'll make it a little more difficult than your present ability 01:00:41.300 --> 01:00:45.100 so it'll stretch us but it will pick a he'll pick an area that is manageable 01:00:45.100 --> 01:00:48.100 you'll pick an area that actually needs transformation 01:00:48.100 --> 01:01:03.700 he'll pick an area that is forsaken or abandoned by most systems and people 01:01:03.700 --> 01:01:10.300 and he'll pick an area that requires more faith than we presently have 01:01:10.300 --> 01:01:38.900 and so for the next two and a half years till the end of 2022 we'll be focusing on just one small area in Surrey called Wally 01:01:38.900 --> 01:01:50.000 the next two and a half years God will show us how to transform Wally not just 01:01:50.000 --> 01:01:56.300 spiritually financially physically business-wise with regard to eliminating 01:01:56.300 --> 01:02:02.000 conditions that are degrading with ethnicity with discrimination with 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:08.600 poverty to begin to focus on this area and this area I haven't done any 01:02:08.600 --> 01:02:13.100 statistics or anything of that sort this is not based on any statistical 01:02:13.100 --> 01:02:19.400 data though I've heard stuff but this is an area that the Holy Spirit is giving 01:02:19.400 --> 01:02:23.300 us because he thinks it's manageable he thinks it needs transformation he thinks 01:02:23.300 --> 01:02:27.800 it's forsaken or abandoned and he thinks it requires faith and so for the next 01:02:27.800 --> 01:02:32.100 two and a half years this church and the house churches will do everything in 01:02:32.100 --> 01:02:37.300 their power or a period of 30 months to begin to change their locality by the 01:02:37.400 --> 01:02:45.100 spirit of God it is the most ambitious impossible God thing I have attempted 01:02:45.100 --> 01:02:53.800 or I have asked us to attempt but it is the year of the Holy Spirit part of me 01:02:53.800 --> 01:03:01.600 is so thrilled I've been sitting on this for so long I want to empty my stomach 01:03:01.600 --> 01:03:06.500 so I can eat more it's that kind of a thing like it's like one of those horses 01:03:06.600 --> 01:03:12.000 that knows it's not ready yet but the paddock is too small and you start doing 01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:16.700 this is that kind of a sense and I don't even know how we are going to do this I 01:03:16.700 --> 01:03:20.600 don't know the resources we have I don't know our ability ability all I know is 01:03:20.600 --> 01:03:24.700 my god if we get a burden for this and we begin praying for it today that the 01:03:24.700 --> 01:03:28.200 burden will turn into a passion and that passion will attract resources passion 01:03:28.200 --> 01:03:33.400 will fuel perseverance and compassion passion will translate into favor and 01:03:33.900 --> 01:03:38.500 that we will begin to show the earth and God is giving us favor across the earth 01:03:38.500 --> 01:03:41.200 will begin to show the earth that you can do this in Bahrain you can do this 01:03:41.200 --> 01:03:44.300 in Australia you can do this in India you can do it in different parts of the 01:03:44.300 --> 01:03:49.200 world but finally we know what transformation looks like without 01:03:49.200 --> 01:03:51.900 making a video 01:03:52.000 --> 01:03:54.000 you 01:03:58.400 --> 01:04:04.400 it's like a Luke 19 13 moment where in Luke 19 13 the master comes and gives 01:04:04.400 --> 01:04:08.500 up ten minas to all his servants he calls ten servants gives them a minar 01:04:08.500 --> 01:04:13.200 each and he says to them hey I want you to put this to work I want you to 01:04:13.200 --> 01:04:16.900 operate with this I want you to prove your trustworthiness I've taught you 01:04:17.000 --> 01:04:21.900 enough now go do show me what you can do with your minar 01:04:26.600 --> 01:04:32.200 we'll focus on it till the end of 2022 and God is probably 01:04:34.800 --> 01:04:39.900 what I love about this is I am absolutely helpless about this it's not 01:04:39.900 --> 01:04:46.800 like standing before you an expert now this is I can pray man I can't do this 01:04:47.700 --> 01:04:51.100 but my God I know the time has come 01:04:55.100 --> 01:04:59.900 do you know that feeling where you know that your favorite dishes before you and 01:04:59.900 --> 01:05:03.500 you just want people to go away so that you can't don't even need to use a spoon 01:05:03.500 --> 01:05:07.300 or a fork but you can take your entire hand and just gobble it that is the 01:05:07.300 --> 01:05:08.100 sense 01:05:09.900 --> 01:05:11.300 or you haven't felt that 01:05:17.300 --> 01:05:23.900 this is a Luke 19 13 moment and so focus on it till the end of 2022 God will 01:05:23.900 --> 01:05:27.900 show his kindness God will restrain evil he said he'll do that and God will then 01:05:27.900 --> 01:05:31.700 cause other people and churches that are connected with us to replicate it. 01:05:31.700 --> 01:05:37.500 What is our intent our intent is Psalm 104 verse 4 to 7 Psalm 104 verse 4 to 7 01:05:37.500 --> 01:05:43.000 it says in Psalm 104 4 to 7 says this and there were wanderers who were 01:05:43.000 --> 01:05:46.600 wandering around in distress looking for a city to settle in but they could 01:05:46.600 --> 01:05:50.000 not find a city to settle in they were hopeless they were thirsty they were 01:05:50.000 --> 01:05:54.900 hungry they had nowhere to go and then I God led them to a city and I settled 01:05:54.900 --> 01:05:59.500 them and so the intent of God is can you church by the spirit bring the 01:05:59.500 --> 01:06:03.700 spiritually and physically hungry the thirsty the straggling the exhausted 01:06:03.700 --> 01:06:09.600 the desperate out of trouble to a city that they can settle in this is what God 01:06:09.600 --> 01:06:12.300 is saying Psalm 107 verse 4 to 7 01:06:17.100 --> 01:06:19.100 So how do we start? 01:06:20.100 --> 01:06:24.300 Guys whenever you get an opportunity till we get to understand what we need to do next 01:06:24.300 --> 01:06:30.100 whenever you get an opportunity go to the corner of 108th and 136th 01:06:30.100 --> 01:06:36.100 108th and 136th that's Wally for you it's right at the northwest corner of Surrey 01:06:38.100 --> 01:06:41.700 Whenever you get an opportunity when you're driving to drop off food for 01:06:41.700 --> 01:06:45.200 Derek or stuff like that I'm going to show you how to do that 01:06:45.300 --> 01:06:51.500 or stuff like that just stop at the corner of 108th and 136th 01:06:51.500 --> 01:06:57.000 once you stop there pray the father give me a burden give the church a burden 01:06:57.000 --> 01:07:01.100 father I pray for this area that you are giving to us to transform it by your 01:07:01.100 --> 01:07:06.700 spirit father I begin to open to Psalm 24 verse 4 to 7 01:07:06.700 --> 01:07:11.400 open up your ancient gates lift up your doors for the King of Glory shall now 01:07:11.500 --> 01:07:15.200 come in who is the King of Glory but he who is mighty in battle go stand there 01:07:15.200 --> 01:07:19.500 and read out Zechariah 8 as you read out Zechariah 8 which was given to us in 01:07:19.500 --> 01:07:25.700 September October of 2019 you will see the Zechariah 8 so fits into what God 01:07:25.700 --> 01:07:29.400 wants to do where God is saying hey this was a land where there were no old or 01:07:29.400 --> 01:07:33.900 young that could sit out on the benches and have a good time young men and women 01:07:33.900 --> 01:07:38.100 had stopped dancing and playing around that wages were not being paid there 01:07:38.100 --> 01:07:42.500 was crime on the streets but I want to tell you that the fasts of the 4th 5th 01:07:42.500 --> 01:07:46.600 7th and 11th month are now being changed into the feast and a time will come 01:07:46.600 --> 01:07:51.500 where people from different cities will come and tug on the sleeves of one Jew 01:07:51.500 --> 01:07:56.700 and say take us to your God because we want to see how this is done 01:07:56.800 --> 01:07:58.800 hmm 01:08:00.700 --> 01:08:12.300 that's what we're talking about there is room and a role for each of us a as as 01:08:12.300 --> 01:08:17.500 to your questions what to do next how to counter things how what wells to dig who 01:08:17.500 --> 01:08:21.200 to connect with other people doing this there do we join with them do we not 01:08:21.200 --> 01:08:25.300 join with them what are the powers that need to be dismantled the standard 01:08:25.300 --> 01:08:34.100 answer is don't know but we shall find out the part of Wally is now Surrey City 01:08:34.100 --> 01:08:38.600 Center and but that is not really considered part of Wally it is seen as 01:08:38.600 --> 01:08:43.400 Surrey City Center so we're talking about the rest of Wally so on Pentecost 01:08:43.400 --> 01:08:48.500 2020 here's what I want to say to you I was looking at the lyrics of that song 01:08:48.500 --> 01:08:52.700 there is no one like our God for greater things have yet to come greater things 01:08:52.800 --> 01:09:00.200 are still to be done in this city there is no one like our God greater things 01:09:00.200 --> 01:09:09.600 are yet to come greater things are yet to be done in the city that's what I'm 01:09:09.600 --> 01:09:15.000 looking forward to so here's what we're gonna do as we end one ask for an 01:09:15.000 --> 01:09:19.300 outpouring of the spirit on us for this task so that we can be his witnesses in 01:09:19.300 --> 01:09:21.600 Wally 01:09:23.600 --> 01:09:32.200 yeah and then to ask for a burden and a passion and a weeping for the city yeah 01:09:32.200 --> 01:09:35.400 so let's do that