WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Presence III Publishing Date: 2013-10-06T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/presence-iii/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.200 Oh, you're good with it? Okay, guys, kids, if you want to go in, now would be the right time. 00:00:15.440 --> 00:00:19.440 What's her name? Kayla. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Okay, guys, we've been talking about presence, huh? And there's, I always, this is a third, this is a third bit on presence, and I think it'll go into seven or eight or nine, and Eddie will be talking about that too. And so, let me start off with what I always say about presence. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:01:22.000 Moses got the hang of it, and he said in Exodus 33, 11 to 17, that what else will distinguish me and your people from all the other peoples on the face of the earth? What else will distinguish me from your people than all the other peoples of the face of the earth? In the sense, guys, that there is nothing else that distinguishes us from the world than this thing called the presence of God. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:44.000 And I don't mind repeating this a hundred times, because we've got to know this. It's not our worship, it's not our buildings, it's not the quality of preaching, it's not the power that we occasionally see in a worship service. No, no, no, no. The one thing that distinguishes us 24-7 from the rest of the world is this thing called the presence of God. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:02:00.000 God to come to grips with that. It's the only thing that distinguishes you, eh? So, my ass will get used to it. It's a way of functioning. Oh, by the way, Elmer and Anna here, say hi to them. Good to see you guys. No, really, I meant that in the nicest way. Yeah. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:29.000 Guys, and we said, the other thing we said is his presence, his presence will do two things. It gives life, abundant life, and it destroys the works of the world. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:40.000 The works of the destroyer. Thank you. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:59.000 So, one, the only thing that distinguishes us from the rest of the world is that God has now chosen to dwell not in our midst, but in us. That's what distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Never been a species like this in whom God lives. Never been a species like this. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:13.000 Six thousand years of human history or more than that, depending on whether you're older or newer. The point is there is no other species that has God living in them. This is what keeps us, makes us different from the rest of the world. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:37.000 And if his presence is in us, then his presence does two things. It gives abundant life and it destroys the work of the destroyer. And so today what we want to do is we want to look at four core factors that are central to understanding and practicing the presence of God. Four core factors that are central to understanding and practicing the presence of God. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:04:00.000 So let's look at it. Turn to Psalm 105. Psalm 105. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:16.000 Guys, get used to this. This is who you are. You're supposed to be life givers and destroyers of the work of the destroyer. How do we go about it? That's what we're going to talk about. Four core factors that help us both grasp and practice the presence of God. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:33.000 If you're a believer, if you have given your life to Christ, this is who you are whether you like it or not. And we said last week that there is the presence of God and then there is this thing called manifesting the presence of God. One is given, you have the presence of God if you are a believer. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:52.000 Not a junior Holy Spirit, not a junior God, but all of God. So that is established. But there's a gap between having the presence of God in me and manifesting his presence. And so what we're trying to do is come up, not come up, examine four core factors central to understanding and practicing his presence. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:05:21.000 Go to Psalm 105.37 onwards. Psalm 105.37. I'm reading from the ESV. Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold. And there was, look at this, just look at this, 600,000 or a million people. Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold and there was none among them, none among his tribes who stumbled. Another way of saying it is there was none among them who was feeble. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:46.000 Now one sick person, just imagine that, a million people and not one sick person. And God wasn't dwelling in them, he was dwelling outside them but in their midst. Not one sick person. People died because of plagues and stuff like that but none died because of being feeble because God sustained them just by his sheer presence outside of them. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.400 And the Old Testament is supposed to be the shadow and we are supposed to live in the substance. And yet there seems to be such a gap. Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. Egypt was glad when they departed for the dread of them had fallen upon it. He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light by night. They asked and he bought a 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:45.000 He brought quail and gave them bread or manna from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock and water gushed out. It flowed through the desert like a river. For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham his servant so he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing and he gave them the lands of the nations. They took possession of the fruit of the people's toil that they might keep his statutes and observe the laws. Praise the Lord. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:07:15.000 Look at Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteron 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:42.220 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 29. Deuteronomy 25. Deuteronomy 20. DeuteronomyP sacrificed 00:07:42.220 --> 00:07:45.580 that you may know that I am the Lord your God. And when you came to this place, 00:07:46.140 --> 00:07:51.180 Sihon, the king of Heshbon and Oed, the king of Bashan, came out against us to battle, but we 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:55.740 defeated them. We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Rubanites, the Gedites, 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:59.580 the half-tribal of the Manesites. Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them 00:07:59.580 --> 00:08:04.860 that you may prosper in all that you do. Guys, why are we reading this? Just to understand that 00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:15.020 His presence in the Old Testament was made known to both Israel and to the nations around by the 00:08:15.020 --> 00:08:24.060 cloud and the fire, by the supply of bread, water out of a rock, by safety from snakes and scorpions, 00:08:24.780 --> 00:08:29.340 by the defeat of heathen armies, clothes and shoes shoes that did not wear out, 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:33.820 feet that did not swell. You know, I forgot that earlier this year one of the things we had said 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:38.780 is that this year is a year where we try to examine this whole idea of no decay. 00:08:40.140 --> 00:08:46.860 And I've forgotten that. And Joan was talking about how houses around her were being, the windows 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:51.660 were being redone. And one of the prayers she was praying was, Father, you had said to us that this 00:08:51.660 --> 00:08:58.860 is a year of no decay. And I pray that the windows be sound. And they checked windows on her right, 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:04.300 on her left. And the one place where there was no decay was her window. And it reminded me again 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:09.580 that this was the year when we had talked about how we'll examine this whole idea of no decay. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:15.580 How do we get to a place of no decay? By beginning to both grasp and practice this thing called the 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:24.380 presence of God because He is a life giver, life giver. She might need help. 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:36.940 Yeah, guys, this is why we need to understand this. No decay. The other thing we need to grasp is 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:45.820 we are so accustomed to the history of God but we're not accustomed with the truth that this God 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:52.380 is supernatural. We are so accustomed to God's history. We love reading the Old Testament. 00:09:52.380 --> 00:09:57.580 I've said stuff like their shoes didn't wear out, their clothes didn't wear out. All that is good. 00:09:57.580 --> 00:10:02.940 We are so accustomed to history and we think He's an awesome God. We sing that in songs but we're 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:10.700 not accustomed to the truth that God is supernatural, that He does supernatural things very naturally. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:14.220 But this isn't necessarily the place where we function. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:23.260 What happens when your windows are not sound? You call the guy who fixes a window. What happens 00:10:23.260 --> 00:10:28.780 when you're running out of money? You find ways to fix it. What happens when someone is lying 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:36.620 outside the church and because he's had some kind of an attack? You begin to call 911. Nothing wrong 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:45.260 with it. Thank God we call 911. But may the first reaction that comes from you not be natural 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:49.580 because it somehow doesn't align with a supernatural God. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:54.380 The first reaction of Jesus was always I serve a supernatural father. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:11:03.180 This is why God was kind of cheesed off with King Hezekiah or Assa. King Assa, he says when you got 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:10.220 sick you resorted to the physicians first and yet he's the one who suggested that he was a great 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:16.620 physician. Paul suggested remedies for Timothy. I'll drive you to the doctor if I need to but 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:23.420 please remember that the first resort is always God. Guys we're trying to become a people. 00:11:23.420 --> 00:11:29.900 We're not trying to be healthy, wealthy and wise. That's not the gospel. But we are trying to become 00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:33.900 a people here. What is God looking for? What has He been looking for from the beginning of the 00:11:33.900 --> 00:11:39.420 earth? Adam, He was looking for a people who would dominate the rest of the earth. Where did He place 00:11:39.420 --> 00:11:44.540 Adam? First He placed him in a garden in Eden and said from here on I want you to go and 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:52.860 multiply, go forth and multiply and dominate the earth. What did He do with Jacob? 12 of them, 00:11:52.860 --> 00:12:00.460 then 70 of them, then a whole nation. He's looking for a people. A people and let me start here man. 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:06.780 Let Acts 29 be a people who understand that God is supernatural. So the first response to anything 00:12:06.780 --> 00:12:12.380 is oh God you are supernatural. What can I first get off you that is supernatural? 00:12:12.380 --> 00:12:17.100 What can I first get off you that is supernatural before I resort to natural means? 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:25.100 Want to live like this man, don't you? That's when they see a supernatural God. Otherwise they see a 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:32.860 people who, I believe Billy Graham said this, 95% of all activities in a church would go on tomorrow 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:33.580 left. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:44.860 95% of all activities in a church would still go on without you even noticing anything missing 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:50.780 if the Holy Spirit left yesterday. We think the Holy Spirit hasn't left because the Antichrist 00:12:50.780 --> 00:12:54.460 shouldn't come in. No, no, no, no, He hasn't left because we haven't gotten it straight yet. 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:02.780 So the same question needs to be asked of us. Okay Jacob, tomorrow the Holy Spirit left. 00:13:02.780 --> 00:13:11.020 How much of your life would be affected? Thank God man that it won't be 90, I mean there'll be 00:13:11.020 --> 00:13:15.580 huge chunks of my life that will be severely crippled in the Spirit of God left yesterday. 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:23.820 But we don't want a Jacob or a Fred or a Chris. Doesn't count for nothing. The days of superstars 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:30.620 are over. We want a people man. We want a people who begin to engage in this. That's what we're 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:35.500 looking for. So begin to think like that and remember what we said in the beginning of the 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:41.980 year. No decay. Begin to work towards it. See guys in the Old Testament, His presence was always 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:51.900 hidden in the cloud. I mean if you read, let's go to Exodus 24 17. Exodus 24 17. Hey if we finish 00:13:51.900 --> 00:14:01.420 late today it's Marcus's fault. You know that right? Yeah we'll forgive him. Exodus 24 17. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:08.220 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:13.020 mountain in the sight of Israel. Moses entered the cloud. There was this cloud that would always 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:18.700 look at another one. Numbers 9 15. Numbers 9 15. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:28.300 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the 10th of the 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:33.740 testimony and at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:39.020 So in the Old Testament, His presence was always hidden by the cloud and I think there was only one 00:14:39.020 --> 00:14:46.700 time when they actually beheld His presence in its full glory. Just once I think. Go to Leviticus 9 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:54.940 23 and you don't see the cloud. I mean everywhere else they say that a cloud entered the tabernacle 00:14:54.940 --> 00:15:01.740 and the priests could not stand in Solomon's time. But there was this one instance perhaps 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:08.220 in Leviticus 9 23 where they actually didn't have a cloud but beheld His glory. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.020 That must have been mind-blowing man. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:20.700 Starting at verse 22. Leviticus 9 22. Then Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:24.860 them and he came down from the offering, the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:29.660 offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and when they came out they blessed the 00:15:29.660 --> 00:15:35.500 people and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people which was not heard of. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:42.060 For once Israel catches a glimpse of the glory of the Lord and there is no cloud to cover it. 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:50.220 This is how it was in the Old Testament. Today it's not a cloud guys but His presence is hidden in us. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:57.340 It's not a cloud anymore. It's veiled in flesh just as it was with Jesus. 00:15:57.420 --> 00:16:05.100 Today the presence of God was veiled in Jesus and the one occasion they actually see it was when He 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:09.500 unzipped His earth suit and they saw Him transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration. 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:18.860 Otherwise how did they see the presence of God in a carpenter? He made it evident man. He made it 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:24.940 evident through external manifestation of the power of God. It's the same thing today. The presence 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:30.860 of God is hidden in Jeff. He can't unzip His earth suit and stand on 00:16:33.260 --> 00:16:36.380 Gals Mountain and show anybody anything because that's not who He is. 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:44.220 So what does Jeff have to do? Now Jeff has to begin to manifest the evidence of the presence of God 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:49.500 through things that he does that makes Jesus evident. This is what people are being called to do. 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:52.220 It also includes the freedom of the spirit. 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:59.180 We'll come there when we go to the next one. Guys external manifestation is what makes evident His 00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:05.660 glory and what's His glory? Splendor, power, weight, magnificence, gladness, strength, 00:17:06.540 --> 00:17:12.460 everything coupled into this one word called Kabod and who contains it now? Jacob. 00:17:12.780 --> 00:17:18.140 Two things that this does say when we begin to manifest the presence of God which is in us, 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:21.340 two things happen. One, people realize that there's a new kingdom in town. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:27.500 The manifestation of the presence is evidence of the kingdom. How will they know there's an 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:34.460 invisible kingdom here when I manifest the presence of God? How will they know the splendor, 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:39.900 the magnificence, the weight, the strength and the gladness of God when I manifest the presence of 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:47.020 strength and the gladness of God when I manifested? This is where we are heading. I have the presence. 00:17:47.020 --> 00:17:52.300 I have to learn to manifest them. Guys let me throw something else at you that might bother you. 00:17:53.020 --> 00:17:58.860 You need to confront your mortality. Some of you are 50, 60, 70. How much time do you have left? 00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:06.300 Let's take out that. Some of you are 30, 40, 50. Why do you think you've got tons of time left? 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:09.340 We must confront our mortality. Sure you got your tickets booked to heaven 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:19.900 but when was that the main thing? I must confront the fact that I'll be 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:24.860 50 in two years. It's not like I got another 50 years to go man 00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:27.980 It's not like I got another 50 years to go man 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:33.180 because I think I'll 00:18:35.260 --> 00:18:37.580 won't have you guys to celebrate my 100th birthday with. 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:42.060 That was just such a kind thought that I had. 00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:49.500 Anyways, some of you might still be around to celebrate my 100th birthday but the point of this 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:57.740 guys, confront your mortality and get with this quickly. Get with this quickly. Some of you are 70, 72. 00:18:59.100 --> 00:19:00.860 When will we get to this? 00:19:04.060 --> 00:19:09.180 Don't you want to leave the earth having manifested the presence of God with the people? 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:16.780 Why else are you here on earth? Two reasons man. To reveal the father and to reveal the father's business. 00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:18.780 What other reason do you have on earth? 00:19:20.780 --> 00:19:25.820 There's only two reasons you're here on earth. If you're a Christian. If not you've got plenty of other reasons. 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:28.780 But there are only two reasons or three. 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.820 To reveal the father. 00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:38.140 To reveal the father's business and to see the Canucks win a Stanley Cup. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:46.140 They played well last night man. They're playing Calgary tonight. 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:53.100 Here's the point guys. Your only reason to be here on earth is to reveal the father and to reveal the father's business. 00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:55.100 You have no other purpose here on earth. 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.980 And it is revealed that you're here on earth. 00:19:58.300 --> 00:20:02.300 To reveal the father's business. You have no other purpose here on earth. 00:20:02.300 --> 00:20:10.300 And it is revealed not through talk but through actual manifestation and that's where this body is heading. 00:20:12.300 --> 00:20:18.300 So that's factor one. Any questions, comments before we move on? 00:20:22.300 --> 00:20:24.300 Any questions? Other than that one? 00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:26.620 Any questions guys? 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:34.620 Okay. 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:40.620 The second core factor to understand and practice his presence is character guys. His character. 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:46.620 Character is basically Christ-likeness and Christ-likeness fosters presence. 00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:50.620 See everybody hungers for miracles and stuff like that eh? 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:56.940 They love the idea of signs and wonders and presence but it cannot be fostered the way it should happen if character is missing. 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.940 We're not talking about gifts here. 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:10.940 We're talking about manifesting the presence of God because he flows through you at different times doing different things. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.940 We're not even talking about gifts right now. 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:14.940 It's just a sheer presence of God. 00:21:15.260 --> 00:21:17.260 It's just a sheer presence of God. 00:21:21.260 --> 00:21:27.260 But for that to happen character is so important because the greater the revelation of Christ in my life, 00:21:27.260 --> 00:21:29.260 the greater the manifestation of his presence. 00:21:29.260 --> 00:21:31.260 Let me say that again. 00:21:31.260 --> 00:21:37.260 The greater the revelation of Christ in my life, the greater the manifestation of his presence and the evidence of the kingdom. 00:21:39.260 --> 00:21:43.260 By the way, what did Jesus say to John the Baptist's disciples when they came and said, 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:45.580 What did he say? 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:47.580 He didn't say I'm the real deal. 00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:49.580 He said go tell John, Luke 7 22, 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:53.580 Go tell John that the sick are being healed, the dead are being raised, the lepers are being cleansed, 00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:57.580 the gospel is being preached, the blind receive sight and the lame walk. 00:21:57.580 --> 00:21:59.580 What did he say about the kingdom of God? 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:05.580 If I cast out demons by the spirit of God, then know that the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:22:07.580 --> 00:22:11.580 Guys, this will happen regardless of whether we partake in it or not. 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:17.900 John 14 declares it very clearly that the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.900 It's going to happen. 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:21.900 It's not wishful thinking. 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:25.900 God didn't wishfully think hmm might be a good idea if my glory covers the earth as the water covers the seas. 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:27.900 No, he said it will. 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:29.900 Buy into it guys. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:35.900 This is where the older you get the faster you got to learn this. 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:40.220 How do we then nurture Christ-likeness so that we become people who manifest the presence of God? 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:44.220 Here are three or four different ways we can do that guys. 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:48.220 One, I love what 1 Chronicles 16, 27 says. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:52.220 David says this and I'm quoting it out of the New King, out of the King James. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:54.220 1 Chronicles 16, 27 says, 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:58.220 Oh God, in your presence, in your presence, 00:22:58.220 --> 00:23:00.220 in your presence, in your presence, 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:02.220 in your presence, in your presence, 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:04.540 1 Chronicles 16, 27 says, 00:23:04.540 --> 00:23:06.540 Oh God, in your presence, 00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:10.540 are honor and splendor, 00:23:10.540 --> 00:23:14.540 and strength and gladness are in your place. 00:23:14.540 --> 00:23:16.540 So let me say that again. 00:23:16.540 --> 00:23:20.540 Honor and splendor are in your presence, 00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:24.540 and strength and gladness are in your place. 00:23:24.540 --> 00:23:26.540 One of the ways you nurture presence, 00:23:26.540 --> 00:23:30.540 before you can manifest presence guys, 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:34.860 is by indulging in the presence of God yourself. 00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:36.860 Hey, you know what I do on Sunday mornings? 00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:40.860 I don't prepare or pray for the service of anything of that sort. 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:43.860 All that has to be happening on Saturday and stuff like that. 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:46.860 I just print out my notes on Sunday morning. 00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:52.860 But the only thing I do on Sunday mornings is get up and indulge in Him. 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:58.860 Because I know that in His presence are honor and splendor, 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:02.180 and in His place are strength and gladness. 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:06.180 And if I can walk aware of His presence, 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:09.180 remember the word for presence is panim in Hebrew. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:13.180 And strangely enough, we talked about this two weeks ago, 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:17.180 that panim is the same word that we use for presence and for face. 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:21.180 So when God says, my presence will go with you, 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:23.180 my face will shine upon you, the word use is the same. 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:25.180 The word for presence is panim, 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:27.180 the word for face is panim. 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:32.500 How do I manifest His presence if I haven't engaged His presence? 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:35.500 I don't think this is just a Sunday thing, 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:38.500 but it's vital on Sundays because there is nothing I can give you 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:42.500 other than a bunch of notes if I haven't indulged in His presence. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:48.500 So most of the things that happen during the service 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:51.500 are not stuff that I'm flying by the seat of my pants, 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:54.500 it's stuff that happens during your time of engaging. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:56.500 Guys, this is how you need to go to work. 00:24:56.820 --> 00:24:58.820 This is how Jesus went to work. 00:24:58.820 --> 00:25:00.820 Don't think Jesus started going up the mountain 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:04.820 when He was 30, because now He had a public ministry. 00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:06.820 As a carpenter, I suggest to you 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:08.820 that He had already cultivated the habit. 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:14.820 Where in the mornings He'd still go up the mountain and engage God. 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:17.820 Because He knew, because David had written it, 00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:19.820 and He was growing up and learning it, 00:25:19.820 --> 00:25:21.820 Mom probably taught Him that. 00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:23.820 Hey Jesus, go check out 1st Chronicles 16, 27. 00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:25.820 And He goes, checks it out, and in there it says, 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:28.140 Honor and splendor are in your presence, 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:30.140 strength and gladness are in your place. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:33.140 Hey, having a miserable week is a great way to start. 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.140 Engage Him, man. 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:37.140 Strength and gladness are in His presence. 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:45.140 If you're having a miserable week, 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:48.140 you're not too prone to going to God and thank Him for life. 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.140 I'm so happy. 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:51.140 So why did Markas go to the hospital? 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:54.140 Why not just be miserable and stay out there on the, 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:56.460 outside the door? 00:25:57.460 --> 00:26:00.460 We have tremendous sense when it comes to earthly things 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:02.460 as to how to solve them when things are wrong. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.460 But when it comes to spiritual, 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:07.460 uh, dizziness, 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.460 we won't call 911. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:14.460 We won't, uh, want to go and have a checkup. 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:17.460 We won't want to go and fix things. 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:20.460 But when it comes to natural things, 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:22.460 boy do we know how it works. 00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:24.780 We got the numbers stuck on our fridge, man. 00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:33.780 I've got to be able to engage God on a, 00:26:33.780 --> 00:26:35.780 uh, here Father, I come to indulge you. 00:26:37.780 --> 00:26:39.780 So does it mean waking up early? 00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:41.780 Yeah. Do I like it? 00:26:41.780 --> 00:26:43.780 Usually not. 00:26:45.780 --> 00:26:46.780 I'm talking about a Sunday. 00:26:46.780 --> 00:26:48.780 Every other day I can wake up whenever I want. 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:52.100 Because that's what pastors do in case you didn't know. 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:58.100 So the first thing is guys, 00:26:58.100 --> 00:27:00.100 and think of this, when is David, 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:03.100 when is David saying these words in 1st Chronicles 16, 27? 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:06.100 Guys, he's just brought the Ark 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:09.100 and he's placing the Ark under the tent in Zion. 00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:12.100 And David is singing. 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:14.100 Now the Ark was the presence of God in those days. 00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:17.100 So he should have said, great, I brought the Ark, 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:19.420 I put it in Zion, good enough. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.420 That's not what he does. 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:24.420 He's placing the Ark there and he's singing. 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.420 Hey Father, even as I place the Ark here, 00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:30.420 I know that in your presence is strength and gladness. 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.420 In your place is honor and splendor. 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:38.420 What a place to start, man. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.420 I so invite you to do that. 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.420 There'll be days when you miss it, so what? 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.420 Get up the next day. 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:46.420 Or do it in the evening, maybe you're a night person. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:49.420 You've got nothing you want to ask God. 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:51.420 You just want to indulge him. 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:57.420 Let me go back to what I was saying. 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:59.420 Guys, God is looking for a people. 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.420 He's looking for a body. 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:04.420 He's not looking for elbows and noses 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.420 and stuff like that to work things out for him. 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:11.420 You cannot be the church sitting at home. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.420 You cannot be the church. 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:15.420 That is not the biblical definition of that. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:17.740 We've already talked about that a million times. 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:21.740 We've talked about that. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.740 Your significance comes from what you're a part of. 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.740 Paul used to travel with three, four, five people. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.740 But he never used to say, I'm having church. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:32.740 He traveled with five, sometimes eight people 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:34.740 when you read some of the accounts and acts. 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.740 He was traveling with eight people 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.740 and at the end of the day he would say, 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:42.740 and when we came to this town, we went to the church. 00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:45.060 As in the place where the body meets. 00:28:47.060 --> 00:28:48.060 Just remember that. 00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:49.060 Coming back to character. 00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:51.060 The second thing we can do, guys. 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:56.060 It is easy to live out of the sovereignty of God. 00:28:57.060 --> 00:29:00.060 It is easy to live out of the sovereignty of God. 00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:02.060 But it's hard to live out of 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:04.060 knowing the voice and the nature of God. 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:10.060 I would recommend that if you want the presence of God 00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:12.060 to be in your heart, 00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:14.380 you want the presence of God to be manifest through you. 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:16.380 Stop living in the sovereignty of God. 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:18.380 And I'll explain what that means. 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:20.380 It is easy to live saying, 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:22.380 oh whatever God does, I'm fine with it. 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:24.380 Kesarasara, whatever will be, will be. 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:26.380 If God does this, great. 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:28.380 If God doesn't do this, great. 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:30.380 If I make a mistake, great. 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:32.380 He'll be loving and He'll correct me. 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.380 And if I get it right, great. Praise the Lord. 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:36.380 Try that with your wife, man. 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:38.380 Try that with your wife after 10 years of marriage. 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:40.380 Even two years of marriage. 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.700 Two years from now, if you don't know her favorite color, 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:44.700 her favorite chocolate, her favorite restaurant, 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:46.700 her favorite shoes, 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:50.700 her favorite handbag, 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.700 it'll be a miserable anniversary. 00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:58.700 But no pressure. 00:29:58.700 --> 00:30:02.700 Just go for some high-funded name like Prada, Gucci, and all this stuff. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.700 It always works. 00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:07.020 Yeah. 00:30:09.020 --> 00:30:11.020 And then go get a second job. 00:30:13.020 --> 00:30:15.020 Guys, the point is this, guys. 00:30:15.020 --> 00:30:17.020 We prefer living out of the sovereignty of God. 00:30:17.020 --> 00:30:19.020 If you want to manifest this presence, 00:30:19.020 --> 00:30:21.020 you cannot live out of the sovereignty of God. 00:30:21.020 --> 00:30:23.020 I would suggest to you, 00:30:23.020 --> 00:30:25.020 don't even learn from people who live out of the sovereignty of God. 00:30:25.020 --> 00:30:33.020 Follow people who know His voice and nature. 00:30:35.020 --> 00:30:37.020 Those are the ones you will learn from. 00:30:37.020 --> 00:30:41.020 Because anybody can do the Ksir-as-sir-a thingy. 00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:45.020 If you want to manifest the presence of God, 00:30:45.020 --> 00:30:47.020 you have to know His voice and nature. 00:30:49.020 --> 00:30:53.020 Walk in the knowledge of Him, not in His sovereignty. 00:30:53.020 --> 00:30:55.020 This whole thing about His ways are higher than mine, 00:30:55.020 --> 00:30:57.020 His thoughts are higher than mine, 00:30:57.020 --> 00:30:59.020 don't even think about Him. 00:30:59.020 --> 00:31:01.020 Just go out and walk in His presence. 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:03.340 The whole thing about His ways are higher than mine, 00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:05.340 His thoughts are higher than mine. 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:07.340 Great. That was in the Old Testament. 00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:09.340 And those guys found it difficult. 00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:11.340 Some of them got it even in the Old Testament. 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:13.340 But what does Romans say? 00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:15.340 We now have the mind of Christ. 00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:17.340 His sheep hear His voice. 00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:19.340 Begin to practice it. 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:23.340 Thirdly, 00:31:23.340 --> 00:31:25.340 if you want to manifest the presence, 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:29.340 practice long obedience in the same direction. 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.660 Practice long obedience in the same direction 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:33.660 when you are hard pressed, 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:35.660 as in squeezed, 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:37.660 when you are perplexed, 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:41.660 as in at a loss in terms of what you should do. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.660 When you are thrown down, 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:47.660 as in struck down. 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:49.660 When you are being attacked spiritually. 00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:55.660 Long obedience in the same direction. 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:57.660 Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 3. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.980 Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 4, 7 onwards. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:01.980 Where he says, 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:03.980 there are times when I am at a loss, 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:05.980 I don't know what to do. 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:07.980 There are times when I have been spiritually terrorized by enemies. 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.980 There are times when I am surrounded 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.980 and there is tremendous pressure on me. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.980 But through this all, 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:15.980 even when I am hunted by my enemies, 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.980 the one thing I know is, 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.980 sure things are difficult, 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:23.980 but that is when the life of Christ in me is revealed more than ever. 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.980 Long obedience in the same direction. 00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:28.300 It doesn't matter whether you are the cause of it. 00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:30.300 Too bad, it is too late to fix that. 00:32:30.300 --> 00:32:32.300 But long obedience in the same direction. 00:32:36.300 --> 00:32:38.300 Because the life of Christ becomes more and more evident. 00:32:38.300 --> 00:32:40.300 And at the end of the day, 00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:42.300 what is the manifestation of the presence? 00:32:42.300 --> 00:32:44.300 The presence of God showing through this flesh 00:32:44.300 --> 00:32:46.300 because it no longer veils what is inside. 00:32:46.300 --> 00:32:48.300 Go ahead. 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:50.620 There are some things that I am going through because I caused them. 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:52.620 It is not some kind of a... 00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:54.620 It is not persecution. 00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:56.620 It is not a satanic attack. 00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:58.620 It is nothing of that sort. 00:32:58.620 --> 00:33:00.620 I made the mistake and I am paying the consequences. 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:02.620 But even in the consequences, 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:04.620 now to stand and say, 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:06.620 okay, I messed up, 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:08.620 but I will continue in long obedience in the same direction. 00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:10.620 And in the process of doing that, 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:12.620 I will continue to do that. 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:14.620 And I will continue to do that. 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:16.620 And I will continue to do that. 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:18.620 And I am going to be in the same direction. 00:33:18.620 --> 00:33:20.620 And in the process, Christ and me will be revealed to people. 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:22.620 And the more my character is formed, 00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:24.620 the more the presence of God flows without problems. 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:30.620 Just as a cloud hit him then, 00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:32.620 this hides him now. 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:36.220 Long obedience in the same direction 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:38.220 causes this jar of clay to no longer hide the treasure. 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:57.620 And it only happens when I am able to go through being struck down, perplexed at a loss, sometimes battered, 00:33:57.620 --> 00:34:02.620 sometimes spiritually tyrannized, sometimes hunted down by enemies. 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:06.620 I still have the ability to maintain long obedience in the same direction. 00:34:06.620 --> 00:34:12.620 It reveals Christ. 2 Corinthians 4, 7 onwards talks about this. 00:34:12.620 --> 00:34:19.620 Tell me one guy in the Hebrews chapter 11 thingy who didn't go through it. 00:34:19.620 --> 00:34:25.620 Anyone in Hebrews chapter 11 who didn't go through it. 00:34:25.620 --> 00:34:31.620 Go ahead Maria. 00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:35.620 Will our character be changed through suffering? 00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:38.620 Will our character be changed through suffering? 00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:46.620 Depends on whether I engage in long obedience in the same direction or long complain and moaning in the same direction. 00:34:46.620 --> 00:34:53.620 Because Israel was tested in the desert and they didn't continue in long obedience in the same direction. 00:34:53.620 --> 00:34:58.620 God had to come to them and say 10 times you have tested me. 00:34:58.620 --> 00:35:04.620 Because character is not necessarily developed because I go through a tough time. 00:35:04.620 --> 00:35:10.620 It depends. 00:35:10.620 --> 00:35:16.620 Any other questions? 00:35:16.620 --> 00:35:24.620 The last point I want to add to this character formation thing is guys, and this is something that we have a deficit in in this church. 00:35:24.620 --> 00:35:27.620 And we've talked about this in the past. 00:35:27.620 --> 00:35:37.620 We need to develop a fearless confidence in voicing the story of God's saving action through Christ. 00:35:37.620 --> 00:35:39.620 Let me repeat that again. 00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:53.620 We have to begin to develop fearless confidence in voicing the story of God's saving action through Christ. 00:35:53.620 --> 00:36:04.620 We have to develop a fearless confidence in voicing the story of God's saving action in and through Christ. 00:36:04.620 --> 00:36:08.620 We prefer not speaking about it. 00:36:08.620 --> 00:36:10.620 Let me put it another way. 00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:12.620 We prefer not preaching the gospel. 00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:19.620 We prefer the other thing that some guy said, which he said it correctly, but we engage in that. 00:36:19.620 --> 00:36:21.620 I don't want to speak words. 00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:22.620 Just look at my life. 00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:27.620 Guys, some of us, our lives don't match up every day to what it should be. 00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:30.620 So we might actually begin speaking to. 00:36:30.620 --> 00:36:32.620 We can't not voice. 00:36:32.620 --> 00:36:36.620 I love Acts 4, 28 and 29. 00:36:36.620 --> 00:36:40.620 They've just been beaten up and they've been sent back. 00:36:40.620 --> 00:36:43.620 They're sitting in this room and here is their prayer. 00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:47.620 Oh God, we've just been beaten up and we're sitting here in this room. 00:36:47.620 --> 00:36:58.620 Now, when you look upon the threats that we have just been issued and when you give us fearless confidence to still preach your word boldly and as we do, 00:36:58.620 --> 00:37:06.620 will you or Jesus, Holy servant of God, stretch out your arm to do miracle signs and wonders? 00:37:06.620 --> 00:37:14.620 And the next verse says, and the place shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:37:14.620 --> 00:37:19.620 Canadians are known for not being able to voice what is within them. 00:37:19.620 --> 00:37:25.620 And Acts 29 has that disease too. 00:37:25.620 --> 00:37:29.620 To voice the story of God saving action. 00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:32.620 Guys, it will always bring the manifest presence of God. 00:37:32.620 --> 00:37:42.620 Remember, we've said this a few times, any manifestation that is not followed by the voice of God can go into deception. 00:37:42.620 --> 00:37:44.620 That's what's happening around the world. 00:37:44.620 --> 00:37:47.620 You see manifestations, there is no voice that follows it. 00:37:47.620 --> 00:37:52.620 And so any manifestation is now accepted as Holy Spirit. 00:37:52.620 --> 00:37:55.620 Every manifestation is followed by the voice. 00:37:55.620 --> 00:37:59.620 Every manifestation is followed by the voice. 00:37:59.620 --> 00:38:03.620 Remember that. 00:38:03.620 --> 00:38:06.620 Burning bush, voice. 00:38:06.620 --> 00:38:12.620 Double lighting on Jesus, voice. 00:38:12.620 --> 00:38:21.620 Clouds above as Jesus is hanging on the cross, voice. 00:38:21.620 --> 00:38:28.620 Saul falls off his donkey or horse, voice. 00:38:28.620 --> 00:38:31.620 Every manifestation is followed by a voice. 00:38:31.620 --> 00:38:37.620 And therefore it's vital that we voice the story of God saving action through Christ. 00:38:37.620 --> 00:38:42.620 If you want to see his presence now begin to break forth in signs, miracles and wonders, why? 00:38:42.620 --> 00:38:45.620 Because he validates the voice. 00:38:45.620 --> 00:38:48.620 He validates the story of Christ. 00:38:48.620 --> 00:38:51.620 Mark 16, last few verses. 00:38:51.620 --> 00:38:54.620 And Jesus endorsed what they said and worked with them. 00:38:54.620 --> 00:38:57.620 I love that, worked with them. 00:38:57.620 --> 00:39:03.620 That's perhaps Mark's way of writing it. 00:39:03.620 --> 00:39:08.620 Any questions before we go on? 00:39:08.620 --> 00:39:13.620 Go ahead, Maria. 00:39:13.620 --> 00:39:17.620 How can I...the best way to do it is the example I always give. 00:39:17.620 --> 00:39:24.620 If you and Jeff come to my house you'll see that it's on the 12th floor right opposite the airport. 00:39:24.620 --> 00:39:32.620 And for about 400 days I would sit with a book on airplanes, with binoculars, 00:39:32.620 --> 00:39:40.620 with a receiver that would listen to planes flying in, the traffic control and the cockpit. 00:39:40.620 --> 00:39:45.620 And some of you from the church bought me a wind sock for my birthday. 00:39:45.620 --> 00:39:49.620 And I put that on my balcony so I know which way the wind is blowing. 00:39:49.620 --> 00:39:53.620 And I spent about 400 days watching these planes. 00:39:53.620 --> 00:39:59.620 Today I can tell you what plane it is just by listening to the engines. 00:39:59.620 --> 00:40:01.620 I don't need to see the plane. 00:40:01.620 --> 00:40:06.620 And if the plane is on time I can even tell you the time without looking at the plane. 00:40:06.620 --> 00:40:14.620 Why? Because I practice getting used to the sound of the engine. 00:40:14.620 --> 00:40:16.620 So how do we hear God? Two ways. 00:40:16.620 --> 00:40:18.620 One, begin to know his nature. 00:40:18.620 --> 00:40:23.620 Two, begin to practice asking and listening. 00:40:23.620 --> 00:40:29.620 Asking and listening. How long will it take? 400 days? 00:40:29.620 --> 00:40:36.620 And then when you get there you'll realize that, okay, another 400 days. 00:40:36.620 --> 00:40:40.620 But you get to a point where you cannot not hear him. 00:40:40.620 --> 00:40:46.620 And secondly you get to a point where you get to know his nature so well that you know when it's not him. 00:40:46.620 --> 00:40:48.620 When there's a harsh word put in. 00:40:48.620 --> 00:40:50.620 When there's something destructive in what you hear. 00:40:50.620 --> 00:40:53.620 When there's something that's slightly crooked. 00:40:53.620 --> 00:40:57.620 You know, this isn't my father. This isn't how my father speaks to me. 00:40:57.620 --> 00:41:01.620 So much so, Mariam, that God deals with each child differently. 00:41:01.620 --> 00:41:05.620 So the way he deals with Matt will be different from the way he deals with Rachel. 00:41:05.620 --> 00:41:08.620 Because he knows Matt's heart and he knows Rachel's heart. 00:41:08.620 --> 00:41:15.620 And he knows how each one needs to be spoken to just as you spoke differently to your two boys. 00:41:15.620 --> 00:41:17.620 That's why we need to know his nature, man. 00:41:17.620 --> 00:41:20.620 His nature and his interaction with you is so different. 00:41:20.620 --> 00:41:25.620 When I assume that he speaks to you like he speaks to me, I do you harm. 00:41:28.620 --> 00:41:34.620 So when I share stories of how he speaks, that may not ever be the way he indulges you. 00:41:34.620 --> 00:41:38.620 Because you're a completely different package that he created. 00:41:45.620 --> 00:41:48.620 The next thing, guys, the next core factor that... 00:41:48.620 --> 00:41:52.620 Fred, I don't know if Matt told you these services go on for a while, eh? 00:41:52.620 --> 00:41:54.620 The preacher is kind of long-winded, so... 00:41:54.620 --> 00:41:55.620 Daddy wants. 00:41:55.620 --> 00:41:56.620 Oh, good. 00:41:57.620 --> 00:41:58.620 What? 00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:04.620 The next thing is... 00:42:04.620 --> 00:42:11.620 The next core factor that helps us both understand and practice the presence of God is rest. 00:42:11.620 --> 00:42:13.620 And we touched on it last time. 00:42:13.620 --> 00:42:19.620 Guys, if you live the life of another, you will display the presence of another. 00:42:19.620 --> 00:42:26.620 If you live the life of another, you will display the presence of another. 00:42:27.620 --> 00:42:31.620 You know, I'm not repeating this because it's some great line. 00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:33.620 It's just because we need to understand this. 00:42:33.620 --> 00:42:37.620 Jacob, if you begin to live the life of another as the one who lives in you, 00:42:37.620 --> 00:42:40.620 you will begin to display the presence of another. 00:42:40.620 --> 00:42:41.620 Go to Ezekiel 44. 00:42:41.620 --> 00:42:43.620 It's been a while since we read the scripture. 00:42:43.620 --> 00:42:45.620 Ezekiel 44. 00:42:46.620 --> 00:42:48.620 Such a strange, amazing scripture. 00:42:48.620 --> 00:42:50.620 Ezekiel 44. 00:42:51.620 --> 00:42:53.620 17. 00:42:58.620 --> 00:43:04.620 Wayne, if you can come up with one of those acronyms or whatever you call that thing to remember this, that'll be cool. 00:43:04.620 --> 00:43:07.620 Ezekiel 44, verse 17. 00:43:08.620 --> 00:43:09.620 Here's what it says. 00:43:09.620 --> 00:43:11.620 And he's talking about priests, see? 00:43:11.620 --> 00:43:13.620 And here's what he says. 00:43:13.620 --> 00:43:20.620 These priests shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall approach my table to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. 00:43:20.620 --> 00:43:25.620 When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments. 00:43:25.620 --> 00:43:30.620 They shall have nothing of wool on them while they minister at the gates of the inner court and within. 00:43:30.620 --> 00:43:32.620 Hey guys, see if you can undo this echo. 00:43:32.620 --> 00:43:33.620 Verse 18. 00:43:33.620 --> 00:43:36.620 They shall have linen turbans. 00:43:37.620 --> 00:43:44.620 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waist. 00:43:44.620 --> 00:43:48.620 They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. 00:43:48.620 --> 00:43:53.620 So, I'm away from the piano. 00:43:53.620 --> 00:43:56.620 If you want it, then hear it on the tape. 00:43:56.620 --> 00:43:58.620 Start at me like that. 00:43:58.620 --> 00:44:00.620 Wayne, see if you can do something. 00:44:00.620 --> 00:44:01.620 Thanks, Matt. 00:44:01.620 --> 00:44:05.620 Mark, this is okay. 00:44:05.620 --> 00:44:07.620 We're doing some more tests. 00:44:07.620 --> 00:44:12.620 Mark, this is okay. 00:44:12.620 --> 00:44:14.620 They're doing some more tests. 00:44:14.620 --> 00:44:15.620 Yeah. 00:44:15.620 --> 00:44:16.620 Yeah. 00:44:16.620 --> 00:44:17.620 Thanks, Wayne. 00:44:17.620 --> 00:44:18.620 Thanks, Matt. 00:44:18.620 --> 00:44:19.620 Okay. 00:44:19.620 --> 00:44:21.620 So guys, here's what the scripture is saying. 00:44:21.620 --> 00:44:26.620 Priests had to wear linen turbans and linen loincloths or underwear. 00:44:26.620 --> 00:44:27.620 Why? 00:44:27.620 --> 00:44:29.620 So that they wouldn't sweat. 00:44:29.620 --> 00:44:35.620 Why would God be concerned with a few priests perspiring during worship? 00:44:37.620 --> 00:44:41.620 And yet, it's part of what God is saying here. 00:44:41.620 --> 00:44:45.620 And the point is this, guys, and I know we talked about this in 2011. 00:44:45.620 --> 00:44:53.620 The turban represents the mind and the loins always represents strength. 00:44:54.620 --> 00:45:02.620 And the one thing that God does not want me to engage in when I am working for him, 00:45:02.620 --> 00:45:05.620 which is 24-7, not because I'm a pastor, because I'm just like you. 00:45:05.620 --> 00:45:07.620 That's what you're doing. 00:45:07.620 --> 00:45:14.620 Is that we are not supposed to perspire or use or exert human wisdom or human strength 00:45:14.620 --> 00:45:16.620 in anything that we do for him. 00:45:16.620 --> 00:45:21.620 We do not usher in his presence with either human wisdom or human strength. 00:45:21.620 --> 00:45:25.620 This is why they were asked to wear linen turbans and linen undergarments 00:45:25.620 --> 00:45:27.620 so that they would not perspire. 00:45:27.620 --> 00:45:32.620 Not because God was afraid of a little perspiration. 00:45:32.620 --> 00:45:35.620 He was concerned with, listen, when you walk before me, 00:45:35.620 --> 00:45:40.620 you will do nothing that comes out of your human wisdom or human strength. 00:45:40.620 --> 00:45:45.620 If we want to manifest presence, the one thing we'll have to let go of 00:45:45.620 --> 00:45:50.620 is we refuse to use human wisdom or human strength 00:45:50.620 --> 00:45:52.620 to manifest the presence of God. 00:45:52.620 --> 00:45:54.620 Let me put it this way, guys. 00:45:54.620 --> 00:45:58.620 You were born again to live the life of another. 00:45:58.620 --> 00:46:03.620 This is why you were born again. 00:46:03.620 --> 00:46:07.620 You weren't born again to live the life you used to live, 00:46:07.620 --> 00:46:10.620 which is your own life, which was crucified and put on the cross. 00:46:10.620 --> 00:46:12.620 We've talked about it in Christ's life. 00:46:12.620 --> 00:46:14.620 You were born again to live the life of another 00:46:14.620 --> 00:46:17.620 so that you may work the works of another. 00:46:17.620 --> 00:46:20.620 This is why you and I were born again, man. 00:46:22.620 --> 00:46:25.620 And this is rest. 00:46:25.620 --> 00:46:29.620 I've got to make up my mind and say I will desist from using human wisdom 00:46:29.620 --> 00:46:31.620 and human strength to usher in the presence of God. 00:46:31.620 --> 00:46:35.620 When I lead worship, we'll do nothing like that. 00:46:35.620 --> 00:46:40.620 When I speak, we'll not try to use words that will impress you. 00:46:40.620 --> 00:46:46.620 Nothing I do will be done to usher in the presence of God 00:46:46.620 --> 00:46:51.620 because that is a sheer work of the Spirit of God. 00:46:51.620 --> 00:46:54.620 And it's the same when you're at work, when you're parenting, 00:46:54.620 --> 00:46:57.620 when you're taking care of your child, when you're with your husband. 00:46:57.620 --> 00:47:00.620 Wherever you are, it's the same thing. 00:47:04.620 --> 00:47:07.620 It's not the same thing when you're at work, when you're at work, 00:47:07.620 --> 00:47:10.620 it must be a work of the Spirit. 00:47:10.620 --> 00:47:15.620 I can do nothing except obey what I hear and do. 00:47:15.620 --> 00:47:17.620 It must be a work of the Spirit. 00:47:17.620 --> 00:47:19.620 I can do nothing except hear and obey. 00:47:19.620 --> 00:47:21.620 Questions, comments? 00:47:26.620 --> 00:47:28.620 Guys, we've got to live this way. 00:47:28.620 --> 00:47:31.620 If you want to manifest the presence of God, we've got to live this way. 00:47:31.620 --> 00:47:37.620 So when Marcus is lying there, usher in the presence of God, 00:47:37.620 --> 00:47:44.620 he is life, speak life, undo death, destroy the works of the destroyer. 00:47:44.620 --> 00:47:47.620 No one's going to die coming to church. 00:47:47.620 --> 00:47:50.620 Place a life. 00:47:53.620 --> 00:47:56.620 I told you about a church that someone died in, right? 00:47:56.620 --> 00:48:00.620 And the 911 guys came and it took them 20 minutes to find out who it was. 00:48:02.620 --> 00:48:04.620 Didn't tell you that one? 00:48:05.620 --> 00:48:07.620 Anyways. 00:48:09.620 --> 00:48:12.620 Got to live the life of another so we can work the works of another. 00:48:12.620 --> 00:48:14.620 Question me on it, guys. 00:48:14.620 --> 00:48:17.620 Do you think it's practical? Can you do it? 00:48:17.620 --> 00:48:20.620 Why you do nothing other than human wisdom and human strength. 00:48:20.620 --> 00:48:24.620 You first hear and obey and then you use your wisdom as he shows you to 00:48:24.620 --> 00:48:26.620 and you use your strength as he shows you to. 00:48:26.620 --> 00:48:28.620 You never start with that. 00:48:34.620 --> 00:48:38.620 Yeah, so part of the whole thing is God is the Spirit. 00:48:38.620 --> 00:48:40.620 God is the Spirit. 00:48:40.620 --> 00:48:42.620 God is the Spirit. 00:48:42.620 --> 00:48:46.620 Yeah, so part of the whole thing is got to learn how to hear, man. 00:48:46.620 --> 00:48:50.620 Because the people who hear walk right. 00:48:58.620 --> 00:49:02.620 Initially, God may use outward signs to lead me because I am so five senses. 00:49:02.620 --> 00:49:05.620 Initially, God may use outward signs to lead me because I am so five senses. 00:49:05.620 --> 00:49:09.620 But his intent is, okay, Jacob, I show you things on outside like I used to do with the Old Testament people. 00:49:10.620 --> 00:49:12.620 But you're not an Old Testament people. 00:49:12.620 --> 00:49:14.620 I want you to be a New Testament person. 00:49:14.620 --> 00:49:20.620 So now he shifts outside signs to perhaps my mind because I still filter things through my mind. 00:49:20.620 --> 00:49:22.620 And he says, Jacob, well, good. 00:49:22.620 --> 00:49:24.620 You're receiving things in your thinking. 00:49:24.620 --> 00:49:27.620 But let's take it one place deeper, Jacob, like my son used to. 00:49:27.620 --> 00:49:32.620 Let me begin to speak in your spirit where you know because I live in your spirit. 00:49:35.620 --> 00:49:37.620 So it might start with externals. 00:49:37.620 --> 00:49:39.620 That is how I started. 00:49:39.620 --> 00:49:42.620 Like I told you, half my messages used to come from billboards. 00:49:42.620 --> 00:49:45.620 I never told you that because that would be terrible. 00:49:47.620 --> 00:49:52.620 But as you progress, you get to know it here, man, in your spirit. 00:49:55.620 --> 00:49:58.620 Guys, it's the only way to live if you want his presence known. 00:49:58.620 --> 00:49:59.620 You know why? 00:49:59.620 --> 00:50:03.620 Because what is it that gets in between God's presence and the world? 00:50:03.620 --> 00:50:05.620 What is it that gets between God's presence and the world? 00:50:05.620 --> 00:50:06.620 My strength. 00:50:06.620 --> 00:50:08.620 I know the things I'm capable of doing. 00:50:11.620 --> 00:50:15.620 Get into both and you begin to function in a way that is so God. 00:50:16.620 --> 00:50:20.620 There's another cool scripture, Deuteronomy 11, 10 to 12. 00:50:20.620 --> 00:50:23.620 Deuteronomy 11, 10 to 12. 00:50:23.620 --> 00:50:26.620 I've been to the Holy See, and I've been to the Holy See. 00:50:26.620 --> 00:50:29.620 I've been to the Holy See, and I've been to the Holy See. 00:50:29.620 --> 00:50:31.620 Deuteronomy 11, 10 to 12. 00:50:31.620 --> 00:50:33.620 Deuteronomy 11, 10 to 12. 00:50:33.620 --> 00:50:35.620 I bet you haven't read this one. 00:50:39.620 --> 00:50:41.620 Or you haven't read this for a while. 00:50:41.620 --> 00:50:44.620 Deuteronomy 11, 10 to 12. 00:50:53.620 --> 00:50:54.620 Here's what it says. 00:50:54.620 --> 00:51:00.620 For the land that you're entering to take possession of is not like the land of Egypt 00:51:00.620 --> 00:51:06.620 from which you've come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it like a garden of vegetables. 00:51:06.620 --> 00:51:11.620 But the land that you're going to possess is a land of hills and valleys 00:51:11.620 --> 00:51:16.620 which drinks water by rain from heaven, a land that the Lord your God cares for. 00:51:16.620 --> 00:51:22.620 The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. 00:51:22.620 --> 00:51:30.620 See, we are still partaking in a life that we seed, we till, we sow, we plant, we water. 00:51:30.620 --> 00:51:35.620 And God is saying, listen, I'm bringing you into a place where I watch over the land, I know how to water it. 00:51:35.620 --> 00:51:39.620 I'll tell you how to co-labor, but just do what I tell you and nothing else. 00:51:41.620 --> 00:51:44.620 What a way to live, guys. Do you see Jesus was a model? 00:51:44.620 --> 00:51:50.620 Remember, he was a carpenter for years, man, and then he did three and a half years as a pastor or a teacher. 00:51:50.620 --> 00:51:54.620 Or a teacher or whatever you want to call him. So he knew both sides of it and he lived this. 00:51:54.620 --> 00:51:58.620 He didn't suddenly shift at 30 years saying, I live a holy life now. 00:51:59.620 --> 00:52:02.620 Because then he wouldn't rise up from the dead. He'd have stayed dead. 00:52:04.620 --> 00:52:11.620 Here is a man who knew that his father tends the garden, waters it, that he's not going to be like he was in Egypt. 00:52:11.620 --> 00:52:14.620 As I'm saying this, some of the thinking this is so impractical. 00:52:15.620 --> 00:52:20.620 It is so impractical because we've been steeped in a culture that demands of us a different lifestyle. 00:52:22.620 --> 00:52:24.620 We don't even know how to think like this, guys. 00:52:27.620 --> 00:52:29.620 Time to start doing it, huh? 00:52:31.620 --> 00:52:35.620 So what is this garden that he's placed in? It's a garden called the kingdom, man. 00:52:35.620 --> 00:52:38.620 He's placed us in the kingdom and he's placed the kingdom in me. 00:52:39.620 --> 00:52:43.620 Order, on one hand God places me in the kingdom, on the other hand he places the kingdom in me. 00:52:45.620 --> 00:52:47.620 That is the garden he's taken care of. 00:52:47.620 --> 00:52:50.620 This gardener called God is tending a garden called the kingdom. 00:52:50.620 --> 00:52:52.620 It's invisible, people can't see it. 00:52:52.620 --> 00:52:55.620 But the day I got born again, I got planted into this kingdom, man. 00:52:56.620 --> 00:52:58.620 And then the strange thing is the king lives in me. 00:52:58.620 --> 00:53:02.620 Therefore not only am I placed in the kingdom, the kingdom is placed in me. 00:53:04.620 --> 00:53:08.620 And how does God water this garden? It's a repeat of Genesis, man. 00:53:08.620 --> 00:53:15.620 Genesis, man, remember there is no plan B. God is always taking us back to plan A. 00:53:15.620 --> 00:53:18.620 And plan A was there was this place called Eden. 00:53:18.620 --> 00:53:22.620 In Eden there was a garden and God took man and plonked him in the garden and said, 00:53:22.620 --> 00:53:24.620 now I'll tell you what to do. 00:53:25.620 --> 00:53:26.620 Just tender as I tell you. 00:53:26.620 --> 00:53:28.620 I'm the guy who takes care of it anyways. 00:53:29.620 --> 00:53:31.620 And so how did he water the garden? 00:53:32.620 --> 00:53:34.620 Beautiful. Genesis 2 verse 6. 00:53:34.620 --> 00:53:40.620 And a mist or a spring would come forth and would water the garden. 00:53:42.620 --> 00:53:46.620 You begin to come into a place of rest and you will find a strange thing happening. 00:53:46.620 --> 00:53:53.620 You will find mists or streams or springs of God rising and flowing over you and flowing out of you, man. 00:53:55.620 --> 00:53:57.620 Because you've gotten out of the way. 00:53:57.620 --> 00:54:04.620 Your life gets watered by God because there are springs obviously from the Holy Spirit. 00:54:04.620 --> 00:54:06.620 But I put it in a different way. 00:54:06.620 --> 00:54:12.620 When you enter into a place of rest, not only do these springs of this mist rise and water you, 00:54:12.620 --> 00:54:14.620 it does flow out of you also. 00:54:17.620 --> 00:54:19.620 I like my mist times, man. 00:54:21.620 --> 00:54:24.620 I get up in the morning and I'm in the morning and I'm in the morning. 00:54:24.620 --> 00:54:25.620 I like my streams, man. 00:54:27.620 --> 00:54:34.620 I get up, one of the things that I look forward to is just to have mists, springs, streams of God flow over me. 00:54:34.620 --> 00:54:39.620 I'm not talking about some soaking time or some listen to some music and go into a trance time. 00:54:39.620 --> 00:54:40.620 No, no, no, no. 00:54:40.620 --> 00:54:48.620 I'm talking about springs and streams are rising because something about the Holy Spirit within you starts coming up, man, 00:54:48.620 --> 00:54:55.060 and begins to water your day, your life, your week, your trip, your month and what you need to meet. 00:54:55.060 --> 00:55:02.460 My reaction perhaps would have been different out there if I hadn't had times of just loving the mist. 00:55:09.120 --> 00:55:12.460 Come back at me. I'm not angry. I'm just excited. 00:55:19.580 --> 00:55:21.580 So what did it look like this morning? 00:55:21.580 --> 00:55:26.380 I mean you should try it. Just look at all that God did in Psalm 105. 00:55:26.380 --> 00:55:33.820 Father you provide water out of a rock and you did that in the Old Testament? 00:55:33.820 --> 00:55:38.220 Father when is the last time you didn't slake my thirst? 00:55:38.220 --> 00:55:43.420 How about you had them walk through deserts where there were scorpions and snakes? 00:55:43.420 --> 00:55:48.220 Yeah that doesn't happen on Main Street but I remember the scripture that you spoke on 00:55:48.380 --> 00:55:53.820 spoke in Mark which said that you've given me authority to trample over serpents and scorpions. 00:55:55.500 --> 00:55:59.420 The Holy Spirit is the most dangerous spirit in the world and he lives in me 00:55:59.420 --> 00:56:01.340 and I trample over serpents and scorpions. 00:56:03.980 --> 00:56:09.340 And then at some point oh shucks father you are shade and you break into a song saying 00:56:10.700 --> 00:56:14.140 Gosh lord you are shade. When was the last time you didn't cover me? 00:56:18.220 --> 00:56:25.020 When was the last time I read this and didn't go over thinking oh shucks I never saw that before. 00:56:27.020 --> 00:56:31.820 When was the last time I got scared that I didn't have money even though there was no money in the bank? 00:56:36.220 --> 00:56:42.540 It just goes on and on and on man. Engage in mistimes. Questions? Comments? 00:56:48.940 --> 00:56:58.140 Okay let's go to the last bit. Faith. The fourth core factor in both understanding and expressing 00:56:59.260 --> 00:57:03.420 or practicing the presence of God is this thing called faith. Why is that important? 00:57:03.420 --> 00:57:09.340 Because it helps us anchor the presence of heaven here on earth. It helps us anchor the presence of 00:57:09.340 --> 00:57:17.900 heaven here on earth. Guys if I am the gateway through which heaven or the will of God is 00:57:17.900 --> 00:57:23.020 to be established here on earth. If I am the gateway through which the will of God in heaven 00:57:23.020 --> 00:57:28.060 is to be established here on earth that faith is the vehicle. Let me say that again. We talked about 00:57:28.060 --> 00:57:35.660 this. Jacob woke up and looked around. He saw after the dream of the ladder and he says oh shucks this 00:57:35.660 --> 00:57:43.020 is the house of God and I was not even aware of it. This is the gateway of heaven. Same principle now. 00:57:43.580 --> 00:57:49.820 Oh shucks this is the house of God and I was not even aware of it. I am the gateway of heaven but 00:57:49.820 --> 00:57:55.180 if you are the gateway of heaven then the vehicle that God uses for the will of God from heaven to 00:57:55.180 --> 00:58:02.940 be established on the earth through you is faith. Hey go listen to this tape. It will begin to make 00:58:02.940 --> 00:58:08.540 sense as you listen to it two or three times. I've repeated this sentence to me about maybe 00:58:08.540 --> 00:58:12.620 14 times in the last 24 hours that if I am the gateway of heaven 00:58:14.540 --> 00:58:20.460 and God establishes his will here on earth through me then the vehicle he uses is faith. 00:58:24.860 --> 00:58:31.420 Remember Matthew 16 19. Listen Jacob listen Matt listen Wayne. 00:58:32.380 --> 00:58:38.460 Whatsoever I have already forbidden in heaven you can go ahead and forbid here on earth 00:58:38.460 --> 00:58:44.700 and whatsoever I've lose or permitted or allowed or called lawful in heaven you can go ahead and 00:58:44.700 --> 00:58:52.940 declare that as lawful permitted and legit here on earth. Just go ahead and do it. It requires faith man. 00:58:52.940 --> 00:58:59.820 He said that in Matthew 16 19. So what is required of me? It is required of me that I establish a 00:58:59.820 --> 00:59:05.100 culture of faith. It's required of me that in my life I establish a culture of faith 00:59:05.900 --> 00:59:10.940 that perceives accurately. That perceives what God is doing in heaven accurately. 00:59:11.420 --> 00:59:15.740 How do we see that? Again it comes back to hearing. About what do you want me to do next? 00:59:16.380 --> 00:59:20.540 Father how do I deal with this? Father this man's lying on the floor. What do you want me to do? 00:59:20.620 --> 00:59:24.780 Father this man's lying on the floor. What do you want me to do? Father what do you want me to say? 00:59:26.220 --> 00:59:31.020 You should just inundate him with questions till he says my god this boy asks too many questions. 00:59:32.780 --> 00:59:34.860 What do you want me to do father? What do you want me to do father? 00:59:36.940 --> 00:59:41.580 So you need to establish a culture of faith so that your perception can be accurate 00:59:41.580 --> 00:59:47.580 because remember this we talked about this two years ago. What you see is what you believe. What 00:59:47.580 --> 00:59:53.820 you believe is what you confess and what you confess is what you do. What you see is what you 00:59:53.820 --> 01:00:01.020 believe. What you believe is what you say and what you say is what you do. Therefore if my perception 01:00:01.020 --> 01:00:08.220 is not accurate if I don't establish this way of functioning where father I will see before I speak 01:00:08.220 --> 01:00:14.780 or do. If that doesn't become a natural way of living then what I see may not be accurate and 01:00:14.780 --> 01:00:19.900 therefore it jaundices everything else because now what I see is not accurate therefore what I 01:00:19.900 --> 01:00:24.780 believe is not accurate therefore what I say is not accurate and therefore what I do is not accurate. 01:00:30.140 --> 01:00:37.020 Challenge me on that. Disagree if you I mean not for the heck of it but if you don't agree. 01:00:37.020 --> 01:00:54.300 It's a way to function man. So in Ranita's situation what does she need to do? Establish an environment 01:00:54.300 --> 01:00:59.260 of faith a culture of faith where she now begins she and Maurice and the kids begin to say okay 01:00:59.260 --> 01:01:04.140 father accurate perception is what we need. We know what's happening around us. We know there are 01:01:04.140 --> 01:01:09.020 documents that come through the mail but accurate perception is what we see so that we begin to 01:01:09.020 --> 01:01:14.220 believe what you're going to do so that we can begin to speak what you're going to you were 01:01:14.220 --> 01:01:23.100 already saying so that we begin to do it. Same with what's her name? Lorian and Ryan. What do 01:01:23.100 --> 01:01:29.500 they see now when they saw their dad and husband on the floor? What do they believe now? What do 01:01:29.500 --> 01:01:36.780 they speak? What do they do? This is not a name it claim it thing. This is accurate perception. 01:01:38.380 --> 01:01:43.260 Name it claim it was never accurate perception. It was ridiculously inaccurate. 01:01:45.180 --> 01:01:48.860 God would be showing them a horse and they would begin to see it roll choice. 01:01:49.340 --> 01:01:53.980 I love Colossians 3 verses 1 and 2 just don't turn to it. Listen to this from the message. 01:01:55.020 --> 01:02:01.500 I sent this to somebody a few days ago. Listen to it. Don't don't turn to it. It's from the message. 01:02:02.460 --> 01:02:08.860 So guys if you're serious about living this new resurrection life that Christ act like it. Let me 01:02:08.860 --> 01:02:15.660 say that again. If you're serious about living this new resurrection life that Christ act like it. Let 01:02:15.660 --> 01:02:23.500 me say that again. If you're serious about living this new resurrection life that Christ act like it. 01:02:24.700 --> 01:02:32.860 Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along eyes to the ground. Absorb 01:02:32.860 --> 01:02:41.340 with the things right in front of you. Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ. 01:02:41.420 --> 01:02:47.580 That's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Let me read the last bit again. Don't 01:02:47.580 --> 01:02:53.500 shuffle along eyes to the ground. Absorb with things right in front of you. Look up and be 01:02:53.500 --> 01:02:59.100 alert to what is going around going on around Christ. That's where the action is. See things 01:02:59.100 --> 01:03:07.900 from his perspective. We're going to learn this man. Once perception is accurate guys then the 01:03:07.900 --> 01:03:13.100 next two steps, the next one step is pretty simple. Not really. 01:03:15.500 --> 01:03:22.940 The expression of faith is joyful obedience. Once you've seen accurately now you have to 01:03:23.900 --> 01:03:31.100 do what you need to do now that you've seen it. But seeing is so vital guys. Hey if you can't 01:03:31.100 --> 01:03:37.020 encourage people into faith don't encourage them into your faithlessness. Just be quiet. 01:03:37.900 --> 01:03:43.180 So go ahead. 01:03:46.540 --> 01:03:53.980 How do you know your perception is right? One good question. How do you know your perception is right? 01:03:53.980 --> 01:04:00.700 Initially I'd go and check with somebody else saying hey this is what I sense God saying. What 01:04:00.700 --> 01:04:06.860 do you think? That's what I would do. But as time goes by I'll find that because I'm getting to know 01:04:06.860 --> 01:04:14.380 the nature of God better through the word I'm getting his heart right. And then if you're getting 01:04:14.380 --> 01:04:23.420 it right it will be borne out by the results. It'll be borne out by the results. Not always but usually. 01:04:24.700 --> 01:04:30.060 I mean Joseph got it right but boy did he think it was wrong for almost 10 years before he became 01:04:30.060 --> 01:04:39.820 Prime Minister. Half the guys in Hebrews chapter 11 didn't see what they were believing for come to 01:04:39.820 --> 01:04:45.500 pass. But that didn't mean they were wrong. So initially I would start by going and checking. 01:04:46.140 --> 01:04:52.220 And not saying can you validate me but do you think I'm wrong? That's why people have got to 01:04:52.220 --> 01:04:57.420 put people in our lives right. Who we can go and check with. But important to get perception right. 01:04:57.420 --> 01:05:02.540 And if you can't encourage me with your faith then be quiet and don't encourage me with your 01:05:02.540 --> 01:05:09.260 faithlessness. Because I am in such a sensitive place in a crisis that if you have faith to speak 01:05:09.260 --> 01:05:14.220 to me speak it. But if you don't have faith to speak to me don't give me platitudes and don't 01:05:14.220 --> 01:05:20.860 tell me what you read on Google. Because I can do that myself. And don't tell me what happened to 01:05:20.860 --> 01:05:23.740 your granddad and your grandmom because that ain't helping either. 01:05:29.180 --> 01:05:32.060 It doesn't help me. It scares the heck out of me. 01:05:33.260 --> 01:05:37.260 That it happened to your granddad so I'm next in line even though I'm not related to you. 01:05:38.780 --> 01:05:43.420 So encourage me with your faith or be quiet. 01:05:44.220 --> 01:05:50.940 Let me conclude. The expression of faith is joyful obedience. The expression of faith is joyful 01:05:50.940 --> 01:06:00.780 obedience. And joyful obedience has this ability to open the heavens and activate the supernatural. 01:06:01.900 --> 01:06:08.220 Joyful obedience. Whenever I engage in joyful obedience I can't think of a time when I engaged 01:06:08.380 --> 01:06:15.180 I can't think of a time when I engaged in joyful obedience and something supernatural 01:06:15.180 --> 01:06:20.060 did not happen even though the demand God was making was ridiculous. 01:06:24.860 --> 01:06:29.740 Joyful obedience opens the heavens and activates the supernatural. 01:06:30.460 --> 01:06:38.140 It's the only way and the thing with obedience guys is we love obeying God but we hate order here 01:06:38.140 --> 01:06:46.220 on earth. We won't talk about that today. But just as God's agency on earth is the Holy Spirit, 01:06:46.220 --> 01:06:48.620 the Holy Spirit's agency on earth is man. 01:06:52.540 --> 01:06:58.220 So obedience and order work through people. I love following God's orders. 01:06:59.820 --> 01:07:03.820 I love following the Holy Spirit but I don't like it when the Holy Spirit says to me 01:07:03.820 --> 01:07:08.540 follow Elmer because he'll teach you what I want you to learn. That I don't like. 01:07:09.340 --> 01:07:13.660 That's why we have these wonderful Christian expressions. I only learn from the Holy Spirit. 01:07:13.660 --> 01:07:16.060 That is the most religious 01:07:16.060 --> 01:07:18.380 um 01:07:21.260 --> 01:07:25.020 poppycock and what's the other word gobbledygook 01:07:26.380 --> 01:07:33.820 Paris fallacy that that I will learn from the Holy Spirit but he is my teacher. 01:07:33.820 --> 01:07:40.300 Nothing like that man. Not true. Any questions before we go ahead? 01:07:40.300 --> 01:07:42.540 Yeah. 01:07:44.940 --> 01:07:46.540 Yeah. 01:07:59.820 --> 01:08:00.540 Yeah. 01:08:02.540 --> 01:08:08.780 Um there is a time for asking others because sometimes what happens is my understanding of 01:08:08.860 --> 01:08:14.940 this is limited and therefore even when I try to correct my perception I'm still getting it wrong 01:08:14.940 --> 01:08:19.660 because I don't understand this and this is why God has placed in our midst equipers, 01:08:19.660 --> 01:08:25.420 apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists and and 01:08:28.780 --> 01:08:34.220 prophets and this doesn't mean some guy who stands at the pulpit. This means many of us 01:08:34.220 --> 01:08:39.660 are sitting here and don't know that we are equipers. This is why God has placed them so 01:08:39.660 --> 01:08:47.260 that we come into a place where we begin to get trained to do it ourselves. The whole idea is 01:08:48.380 --> 01:08:55.500 that you become so adept at hearing God that you do not need a prophet to tell you what to do 01:08:56.380 --> 01:08:59.900 but in the process of training God uses people. 01:09:01.580 --> 01:09:07.420 So when I have doubts about my perception I still call up Eddie man and I say hey Eddie this is what 01:09:07.420 --> 01:09:15.100 I'm thinking of doing. What do you think? Not because I want him to direct my life but because 01:09:15.100 --> 01:09:19.580 I want to sound it off somebody but am I getting better and calling Eddie less? Yes. 01:09:21.420 --> 01:09:25.180 That's there too. If I make you dependent on me you should leave this church. 01:09:26.300 --> 01:09:32.460 I don't want to leave. Really? Because if my intent is to make you dependent on me 01:09:32.460 --> 01:09:35.740 you're in the wrong place. You should leave. It's not a good place. 01:09:41.420 --> 01:09:42.380 Pastors love that eh? 01:09:47.340 --> 01:09:47.740 Questions? 01:09:47.900 --> 01:09:51.060 Please Matt 01:09:53.660 --> 01:09:53.900 Sorry