WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Priests in the City II Publishing Date: 2022-02-06T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/priests-in-the-city-ii/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Hello everyone. We'll get started again. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:15.000 Alright, so towards the end of the teaching we'll have communion as well. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:26.000 So for those of you guys who are at home, prepare the bread and the juice now if you can and be ready for that because we'll have communion at the very end. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:37.000 Alright, so we'll continue with the topic that we were looking at last week which is priests in the city. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:44.000 This idea that Jesus Christ when he walked on earth, he was a priest, he was a prophet, he was a king. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:55.000 And that if we had to pattern our lives after Jesus, it means that as we walk on earth, we walk as priests, as prophets, as kings. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:59.000 Appointed by God for the purposes that God has here on earth. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:05.000 So that's what we're going to be looking at today. This is priests in the city as Jacob titled it last week. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:11.000 But this is part two. We're going to take it further and we're going to look at how does this apply in our lives. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:18.000 How does it apply to the cities we live in? How does it apply to the nations of the world? 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:25.000 So we're going to look at four different scriptures to begin with which will lay foundation for us to look at. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:32.000 And then from there on we'll build pillars so to speak to see how this can be deposited in our hearts. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:36.000 So that the Spirit of God can take it and the Spirit of God can take it out into the world. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:44.000 One of the things we've been talking about the last few weeks is this idea that we are not meant to be inside these four walls. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:51.000 We are meant to go out. We've been called to go out. We've been asked to go out, commanded to go out. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:58.000 And that there is a world that is waiting. A world that is ready. It's mature. It's there. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:03.000 They're waiting. They're groaning. They're yearning for the sons of God, for the daughters of God to go out. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:13.000 So that's what we'll be looking at today. I loved what Emily said earlier on that God wants to put on our feet new shoes. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:20.000 New shoes. It's from Ephesians 6 I think. New shoes. The shoes of the Gospel. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:25.000 So that we can be redeemed because God has given us everything now. He has given us everything we need. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:35.000 We are washed clean. We are as righteous as we can be because the righteousness that is in us is the righteousness of Jesus. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.000 There is nothing limiting us. There is nothing stopping us. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:46.000 And one of the things that's true for Acts 29 is we know ourselves very well as sons and daughters. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:54.000 We know that. God has been kind to us. He has been faithful to us to show us what it is to live like sons of God. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.000 What it is to live like daughters of God. He has shown us that. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:04.000 But now there is a new thing awaiting for us. And in this new thing that God is preparing, 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:10.000 He is saying the new invitation that I have for you is to walk like priests. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Not just as sons. Not just as daughters. To walk like priests. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 To walk in your cities. To walk in your neighborhoods like priests. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:25.000 And that I'm giving my knowledge too much work. I'm walking left and right. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.000 Is that good? You got to work some days bro. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:35.000 Alright. So that's what we are going to look at. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:41.000 Man I'm so excited. I'm very excited because of what God is doing. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:46.000 I'm very excited because there is something God is birthing in our hearts. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.000 I know that you know it. I know it. We know it. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.000 It is this season that God has prepared us for. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.000 And there is a world, a watching world waiting outside. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.000 So from just being sons and daughters, God is adding a new thing. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:07.000 It is be priests. I see you as priests. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:12.000 When you call out to me, I don't just see you as sons and daughters. I see you as priests. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:18.000 That is the robe you are wearing. That is who you are. Your very identity is based on that. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:25.000 So let's look at those four scriptures. The first one is Genesis chapter 14, 18-20. 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:30.000 It's a story where Abram, Abram was still Abram. He wasn't Abraham just yet. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.000 Abram was called out from the land of his fathers. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:41.000 He was asked by God to set apart and to just separate himself from everything. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:48.000 He did that. He just went to fight with 318 of his armed men to save Lot and a few of his possessions. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:53.000 And he has come back. And out of that, he is going to be a priest. 00:04:53.000 --> 00:05:00.000 And he has come back. And out of nowhere, out of nowhere, Melchizedek enters the scene. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.000 There is no reference to Melchizedek. Bible doesn't talk about Melchizedek before. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:10.000 All of a sudden, just as he is returning, Melchizedek enters the scene. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:17.000 We know that story. But what's important is why is Melchizedek at this very point in Abram's life entering the scene? 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:20.000 There is one reason and one reason only. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:24.000 The reason is this is a very pivotal point in Abram's life. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.000 This is the point where he will have to make a decision. You know what? 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:34.000 In the very next line, in the very next verse, the king of Sodom approaches Abram. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:41.000 And Abram needs to be redeemed because what is in Abram and what has to happen through Abram, it has to be pure. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:45.000 It cannot be contaminated. It has to follow God's pattern. 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:50.000 And Melchizedek enters the scene. What does he do? He brings bread and wine. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:56.000 He goes to Abram. He finds Abram. Abram doesn't find him. Melchizedek finds Abram. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.000 He goes to Abram and he says this, 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:03.000 The possessor of heaven and earth blesses you. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:09.000 It's a prayer. It's a two-line prayer. But in the two-line prayer, he is telling Abram, 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:15.000 Just so that you know you belong to the possessor of heaven and earth. 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:20.000 Just so that you know this fighting that just happened and you coming back victoriously, 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.000 these enemies were given to you by your God. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:31.000 That is what Melchizedek does there. He sets the baseline. He tells Abram what just happened. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:36.000 And the next verse, the king of Sodom comes to Abram and he says, 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.000 You know what? You take some of the goods. I'll take some of the people. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:46.000 Now that we have come back victoriously. Abram's response is exactly what Melchizedek said. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:54.000 Abram says, I have lifted my hands to the heaven. I have lifted my hands to the mighty possessor of heaven and earth. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.000 And therefore I don't want what you're giving me. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:02.000 Because what is going to happen in my life and everything that God said will happen, 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.000 I don't need your goods. I don't need what you're giving me. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:11.000 Because I know for a fact that when I lifted my hands to the mighty possessor of heaven and earth, 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.000 He will provide for me. He will provide for everything that's going to happen. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:22.000 Right at the very time when Abram needed, Melchizedek entered the scene. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:28.000 Let's look at the second verse. This is from Hebrews chapter 7, 15 to 17. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:34.000 Hebrews chapter 7, 15 to 17. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.000 I'll read it out loud. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:46.000 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:52.000 who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.000 but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:04.000 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.000 Now, the second verse we just read is about Jesus. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:14.000 We sang the song today, forever. He is the forever priest. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:21.000 He is the Alpha and he is the Omega. He doesn't change. He is who he was then. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:26.000 He is who he is today. He will be who he is tomorrow. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.000 He is everything. He is forever. There is no one who can say forever. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:37.000 See here in this verse, it says that Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek. Why? 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:42.000 Because between Melchizedek and Jesus, there was the levitical priesthood. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:47.000 There was the Aaronic priest and all of them had one thing in common. What is that? 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:52.000 They all lived. They all died. They couldn't be in the office forever. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:58.000 But Jesus then enters the scene and with this entry, everything has changed forever. Why? 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:06.000 Because Jesus is forever the priest. He is after the order of Melchizedek and he is forever our priest. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:12.000 We forever now have Jesus, who is a priest on our behalf unto God. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:21.000 To speak on our behalf unto God. To say that this man, this woman, he was washed clean, she was washed clean by my blood. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:27.000 And therefore, Father, he is clean. He is righteous. It has been established. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:36.000 It has been established. And therefore, when God calls us out, as Emily said, to go out into the world, we have been washed clean. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:41.000 God has cleaned us. We don't need to wait for anything new to happen. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:48.000 We have been given everything that God has for us. We are empowered. We have the Spirit of God living inside us. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:57.000 We have the Spirit of God controlling us, helping us navigate the ways, telling us which way to go, left or right. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:05.000 So we are ready, Church. We are ready. We can't wait for more. We don't need to wait for more. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:15.000 The third verse we look at is Exodus 19, verse 6. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:28.000 Exodus 19, verse 6. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:34.000 I haven't, I've read this verse before, but never read it like this. It never occurred to me. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:43.000 But if you can read this, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. I'll read the first part of that verse. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:51.000 These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. This is God telling Moses after Israelites came out of Egypt. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:59.000 One of the first things he is telling to Moses about Israel. These are the words you, Moses, are to speak to the Israelites. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:09.000 Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:15.000 God is saying, Israel, you're not just supposed to be known for the lineage of Abraham. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:25.000 You're not just the sons of Jacob, the sons of Joseph. Your story is not just about the fact that you were brought out of Egypt. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:31.000 Here is what I have for you. On the earth, you are supposed to be a kingdom of priests. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:38.000 Israel was supposed to be a kingdom of priests. And that's not just the Levitical priests. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:43.000 They were as a whole supposed to be a kingdom of priests. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:48.000 And then let's look at the next verse. Not there. Let's look at another passage. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.000 1 Peter 2, 5. I'll read this one. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:12:05.000 You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:11.000 Now on this side of the cross, we are priests. We are the royal priesthood. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:20.000 We've been given everything we need by our Father so that on earth we can be his priests. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:26.000 Settled. We can be his priests here on earth. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:33.000 So we are not just sons. We are not just daughters. We are priests here on earth. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:44.000 In Vancouver, we are priests. In Surrey, in Wally, in different parts of the world, wherever we are tuning in from, we are priests for that part of the world. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.000 Not just for that part of the world, for the nations. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:13:02.000 So if this is all true, and it is, how do we then apply what God has told us through his word practically so that we can become and walk in it as God wants us to? 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:11.000 Because his heart, just like he wants us to catch him as a father, his heart longs for us to catch him as his priest. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:15.000 Relate to him that way. He longs for that. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:20.000 So we look at a few things in terms of how can we apply this truth? 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:35.000 How do we operate as priests in our homes, in our apartments, in our neighborhoods, in our streets, in the places we work at, at the grocery store, places where we go to? 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:41.000 How do we operate as priests? Not just as sons, not just as daughters, but as priests. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:48.000 So the first thing we look at, there are three or four things I want to touch on today. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:53.000 First thing is incarnate. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:14:02.000 So what does God expect of us as priests? 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.000 First thing is incarnate. What do we mean by that? 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:13.000 Simply that we are living in the midst of a people to display our beliefs and our actions. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:22.000 We are living in the midst of a people to display our beliefs and our actions so that we can convey God to others. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.000 Jesus dwelled amongst men. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:32.000 We are a people who dwells in the middle, in the midst of a people. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:39.000 For what? To display our beliefs, to display our convictions, to display our actions, 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:44.000 so that we can convey to the world who God is. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.000 And here are a few things that we need to look at. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:54.000 First thing is John chapter 1. We don't need to read it, but this is that passage in John. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:15:03.000 There is that passage in John chapter 1 where Jesus is passing by and John the Baptist identifies Jesus. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.000 And he knows this is Jesus the Messiah. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.000 And he tells this to his disciples. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:13.000 And the two disciples there, they cry out and they say, Rabbi, Rabbi to Jesus. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:17.000 And eventually Jesus says, come and see. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.000 That's what Jesus said. He didn't stop there to teach to them. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.000 He didn't stop there to tell them anything. He just said, come and see. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:28.000 Come and see. So that day they went to Jesus' house. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.000 Can you imagine what may have happened? 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:35.000 They just know what this man, John the Baptist, that they admire said about Jesus. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:41.000 But when they walked into that house, you've got to imagine that they probably saw things set up a certain way. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:44.000 Of course, it would have been evident that he's a carpenter. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:50.000 But there would have been certain things that portrayed how Jesus is, what Jesus' beliefs are, 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.000 what he believes about the Father, what he believes about the Kingdom. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.000 It would have been very plain for them to see. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:02.000 Jesus doesn't say, come and see me specifically in my house if there wasn't any reason. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:07.000 Similarly for us, we open our lives. We open our hearts. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:11.000 We open our homes so that people can come and see. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Who are we? Why are we doing things the way we do things? 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:21.000 What is the reason behind our beliefs? What are our beliefs? 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:28.000 Come and see. And the good thing, one thing I like about that passage is a few verses down, 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:34.000 either Philip or Andrew, I think Philip tells this to Nathaniel, come and see. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:42.000 Just a few verses down, whatever was spoken to Philip, Philip responds the same thing or the same way to Nathaniel. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.000 Come and see. Come and see what's happening. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:50.000 Guys, let's be this people who is always inviting, who is always saying, we live in the midst of a people. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:55.000 But through our actions, through our beliefs, through our convictions, through the way we carry ourselves, 00:16:55.000 --> 00:17:01.000 the world around us will know who Jesus is. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:10.000 And when I was thinking about this, one of the things I realized is, I don't know if this applies to you, maybe it does. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:17.000 Christians are known for having good, well put together lives. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:28.000 Just looks clean. But I wonder if we can be as articulative as how God helps us through the days we struggle. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:35.000 I wonder if we can be more articulate about how God is with us even through the difficult times. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:42.000 Because any time, most of the times Christians speak, everything is so good that a watching world thinks, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.000 Oh my goodness, man, I can't even relate to this guy because he is so good. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:52.000 Because nothing seems to be broken. Nothing seems to be, everything is so intact. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:18:02.000 Jesus wept. I know that's taking an extreme position, but he was like others. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:10.000 He was not interested in having a well kept life. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:16.000 Most of the things that we learn, we learn through the good times and the difficult times. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:23.000 And we have to open our hearts, our lives to others so that they can see how the God who carries us, 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:29.000 carries us not just through the good times, he carries us through the difficult times as well. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:35.000 Why? Because there is a world who is going through a difficult time and they need to see that. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:44.000 And convey God, and while we live in the midst of the people, convey God in a manner that impresses them. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:49.000 Because the other thing about the church, and I'm talking about the church overall, 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:57.000 is the world knows the church more for what we stand against than what we stand for. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:04.000 That's a problem. The world knows the church of Jesus Christ more for what we stand against. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:09.000 And less for what we stand for. That has to change. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:15.000 My goodness man, our father's heart is beating so that he can tell the watching world that guess what, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:21.000 there is a people that I have redeemed, there is a people that I have restored, there is a people that I have kept apart, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:25.000 and I'm going to send these people out into the world and you're going to watch them. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:31.000 And when you watch them, you will see that what I stand for is what they stand for. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:37.000 What I stand against, yes they stand against, but the world needs to know what we stand for. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:47.000 May we be the first ones in a room, practically, when there is injustice happening, we have to be the first ones to stand up. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:53.000 We have to be the first ones to speak up when you know that something is not right. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:59.000 When a person is treated in a manner that is not dignified, when someone is put down, 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:04.000 a Christian in the room has to stand up because our God is like that. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:12.000 He is for certain things. We have to be for justice. We have to be for what our father's heart beats for. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:20.000 We cannot just be known for what we are against. We have to be known for what we are for. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:29.000 I pray that the city that we live in, because this has to apply to the places where we live in, 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:36.000 that our neighbors, our neighborhood, our friends, our families will know the things that we stand for. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:40.000 Why? Because we believe certain things, because of our convictions, 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:48.000 and that these people will know why we do what we do, because we stand for what our father's heart stands for. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:54.000 We don't just stand against things. We stand for things. We know how his heart beats. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:58.000 And for those things, we stand with him, for him. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:09.000 So we don't need to impress people, but it is the truth that the church is portrayed a certain way in the world. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:16.000 God doesn't need any impression, but we've got to help people see who God really is. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:19.000 That is required. That is needed. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:26.000 When I was in India, 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:39.000 one of the days, just before the wedding, I tried to meet Iris as many days as I possibly could. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:46.000 So we went on a one-day trip to this place to meet a pastor. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.000 And just before I left the house, my dad said, 00:21:51.000 --> 00:22:00.000 I want you to grab, I need you to buy some duck, because he was feeling like duck curry later that day or the next day. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.000 So I said, yeah, I'll pick it up. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.000 So I remember going to this place with Iris. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:12.000 We met the pastor and on the way back, I said, Iris, you've got to remind me we need to buy this, buy the duck, 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:17.000 because there is about five kilometers of a state highway on either side. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:21.000 There are lots of duck stores, meat, fish, whatever you want. 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.000 It's available, just fresh. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:27.000 And it's very known that area is known for that, because my dad knew that this is where we're heading. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:29.000 So he wanted us to buy it. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:34.000 But as we're driving back, God tells us, you can't just buy duck from any store now. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:40.000 I want you to stop at a specific place, because there is a specific person waiting there. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:42.000 And here is what I want you to do. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.000 So we said, OK, Father, we'll do that. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.000 So as we're driving back, we start seeing the stretch of the road where this is happening. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:53.000 We can start seeing the stores on our left and on our right. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:56.000 And Iris and I are looking. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:59.000 And at one point, we heard God say, that's the store. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.000 And so we, it was just too quick, so we couldn't stop. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:08.000 So we went a little far ahead, pulled over, and we walked back to the store. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:11.000 And we ordered, placed the order for the duck. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:16.000 While we are standing there, we are asking God, Abba, you asked us to come here. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.000 And you said there is a person to show us. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:21.000 And there is this lady standing right next to us. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:23.000 We started conversing with this lady. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:25.000 We don't know her. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:28.000 It's another side of the city. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:33.000 And as we conversed with her, we know that what God had said is for her. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:35.000 And so we talked to her. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:37.000 We do exactly what God asked us to do. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:41.000 And we tell her in the process that we were never supposed to stop here. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:46.000 That we were supposed to go somewhere else and pick up meat from anywhere here. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:50.000 And that God specifically asked us to stop at this store to meet her. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.000 My goodness, man, she couldn't believe it. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:57.000 Because the very reason she was at the store was not to purchase duck. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:59.000 It was for something else. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:02.000 And we were sent there to meet that exact need. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:07.000 And she is sitting there thinking, how can it be that two strangers, they don't even know me. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:13.000 But two strangers have been sent by their God to come and meet my need. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:16.000 Her heart opens up. She wouldn't even leave us. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:19.000 She said, can you come and visit us in our home? We couldn't. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:22.000 But I know for a fact that she wasn't impressed by us. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.000 There is nothing to be impressed by us. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.000 But she was impressed by my God. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:29.000 Because my God said, go there. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.000 My God said, I love this woman. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:34.000 My God said, you do this. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:37.000 And that was exactly what she needed at that point. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:42.000 My goodness, we've got so many people waiting around us. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.000 God knows exactly what they need. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:48.000 And God impresses upon our hearts to do that. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.000 And we can then go out to the watching world and do. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:54.000 Live amongst them and do what he is asking us to do. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.000 Communicate our beliefs. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:59.000 Communicate by our actions what God has impressed in our hearts. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:01.000 Who we are is who we are. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:03.000 We are priests. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:12.000 And to do this, one of the things that must happen is we have to live God-confident lives. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:18.000 Not a man-confidence that will wear away as soon as something tricky happens. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.000 But a God-confidence deep inside us. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.000 Where we know for a fact who we are. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:27.000 Where we know that the calling of God is upon us. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.000 Where we know that there is a world watching. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:34.000 And so when we render into places we don't go with, I'm confident, I'm confident. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:37.000 We go with, deep down inside us there is a confidence. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:39.000 My God is with me. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:41.000 My God has called me. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:45.000 That is what happened to Paul in Acts chapter 27. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:49.000 The ship is facing a storm. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.000 There are people inside it. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:54.000 There is a verse in Acts chapter 27 that says this. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:59.000 When all the hope was lost, there was nothing else remaining. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:05.000 They tried whatever they could for days to at last find out that we are going to die. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.000 These are experienced men. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:10.000 When they know they are going to die, they know that they are going to die. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.000 And out of nowhere, Paul stands up and Paul says, 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.000 You know what? You are not going to die tonight. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:21.000 Why? Because my God told me that you are going to survive. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:25.000 And guess what? I'm going to break some bread and we are going to eat together. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:27.000 Why? Because we are going to survive the night. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.000 We are going to survive the day. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:32.000 We are going to land up somewhere else. Yes? 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.000 And there is a purpose there too. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.000 It is a God-confidence. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 How is it that Paul knows that he will survive? 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.000 It's just a God-confidence that it's not just for him. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:46.000 But it's also for the people because God appeared to him in a dream, 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:49.000 in a vision and showed him what was to happen. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:55.000 So this happens by living a God-confident life. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:02.000 One more or two more verses here and we will move on to the next one. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:10.000 Ezekiel chapter 20, 41 to 42. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:13.000 The last part of it, I'll just read it out. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:20.000 It says, God says, I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.000 God's heart again. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:27.000 I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:32.000 That was Ezekiel chapter 20, 41 to 42. 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.000 Ezekiel chapter 20, 41 to 42. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:41.000 And then another scripture for you to read later on. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.000 It's 2 Kings chapter 17, 24 to 28. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:49.000 2 Kings 17, 24 to 28. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:55.000 That's the passage where the king of Assyria, 00:27:55.000 --> 00:28:00.000 he goes in and removes Israelites from Samaria. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:05.000 And he has people from Babylon and other regions of the world go into Samaria. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:09.000 And soon what happens is there is a lion attack. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.000 It's just spread over amongst that place. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:13.000 People are being killed by lion. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:16.000 And the king of Assyria says, go find one of those priests, 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:21.000 one of them, send them back into this land so that they can stay there, 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:25.000 live with the people and teach them who God is so that this will stop. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:31.000 Priests are people who go into the places they are called to. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:35.000 They go from where God has placed them into the world. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:38.000 What has Jesus done with us? Jesus has done this with us. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:42.000 He has called us out from the world and then he has transformed us. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.000 He has put in us his spirit. He has equipped us. 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:48.000 He has made us ready. And then he says not to stay here. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.000 Go out. Go out. Everything you need is with you. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:55.000 Just like what was done with the priests here. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.000 Go out, live there with them so that they can see who I am. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.000 Next one is invite. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:12.000 Invite. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:21.000 Invite. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:29.000 Before we can invite, the first thing that has to happen is we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:37.000 We can only invite people into this kingdom if we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:44.000 And this gospel of Jesus Christ is about the cross as well. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.000 And the foolishness of the cross as well. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:49.000 Because it's a very foolish thing. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:54.000 Bible says and the word of God says and God knows that it's very foolish for people 00:29:54.000 --> 00:30:00.000 to think that they can just be saved by believing in Jesus' death. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.000 That they don't need to work for it. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:05.000 That it's conferred upon them. Righteousness is given to them 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:09.000 just by believing in Christ and repenting their sins. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:11.000 It's pretty foolish. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:17.000 But the foolishness of the world doesn't stop the gospel. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:24.000 One of the songs, I think it's King of Kings, that says the gospel story will go on. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:27.000 Something like that. It will not kneel down. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:29.000 This is the gospel. 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:32.000 And it's the power of God unto salvation. 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:36.000 We don't have to change it. We don't have to add to it. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.000 We just present the gospel as is. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:44.000 And that in itself is the power of God unto salvation. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.000 We don't need to add extra power to it. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:48.000 We don't need to add extra words to it. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:51.000 We don't need to say it a specific way. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:56.000 It can be a one-liner in an elevator or a three-hour conversation with a friend. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.000 It doesn't matter. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:01.000 The one-liner in the elevator which has God's power in it 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:06.000 and the three-hour conversation with a friend will do the same thing. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:09.000 The gospel proclaimed. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:15.000 Which includes the foolishness that the world perceives it to be. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.000 The foolishness of the cross. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:26.000 And when we say it, once we say it, this is the part where I say invite. 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.000 We have to invite people. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:31.000 If you think this is right, respond to it. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:33.000 They don't have to respond to us. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:35.000 They have to respond to the message. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:37.000 Jesus did this all the time. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:41.000 He asked people to respond to, is it a yeah or a nay? 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:45.000 We've got to have people pick and choose what they want. 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:47.000 That's the way to do it. 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:49.000 We not just proclaim, we invite them. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.000 Hey, do you want to see this? 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:53.000 Hey, do you want to live like this? 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:56.000 Hey, do you want to enjoy this relationship? 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:58.000 Let them choose. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.000 And that's the way Jesus operated. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:03.000 Because our thing is we are just quick to leave perhaps. 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:07.000 And Jesus stays there and he gives them an opportunity to respond to them. 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.000 He gives them an opportunity. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:10.000 What if we are not giving people the opportunity? 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:13.000 We are just saying what we need to say and moving on. 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:15.000 We can't. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:19.000 We've got to stay there and give them the opportunity to respond to the message. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:21.000 To respond to the gospel. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:28.000 I remember the first few times when I would share the gospel with people, 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:30.000 I would always start with this line, 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.000 Do you know Jesus? 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:37.000 And I soon realized that this is the, for the lack of a better word, stupidest thing you can say. 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:40.000 Because all the time they would say yes. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:45.000 And everything that I had in me prepared to say and speak to them is gone. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:48.000 Do you know Jesus? 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.000 Yeah. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:53.000 I thought you didn't so I could present Jesus to you. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.000 It happened few times and then I realized then, 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:00.000 Oh my goodness, this is such a foolish question to ask. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:02.000 Because everyone knows Jesus. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:04.000 They just don't know the Jesus. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:11.000 Asking people, do you know Jesus is just a very poor way of communicating the gospel. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:16.000 Years ago, I heard this message. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:18.000 This pastor was speaking. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:22.000 And in that message he talked about a pastor in Vietnam. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:25.000 His name is Pastor Ha. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:29.000 And this pastor was imprisoned for life I think. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:33.000 He was supposed to be in the prison for a long long time. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:39.000 And obviously he was preaching the gospel before that and he had no other ways now. 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:42.000 He's in the prison cell. He starts praying to God. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:49.000 And one day God just creatively allowed this pastor to see an air duct. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:52.000 And he said, talk into the air duct. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:58.000 And this pastor eventually came out only to realize that this air duct that he was speaking into 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:03.000 was servicing air to each and every cell in the whole building. 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:11.000 And by speaking and by laying flat on the floor and just speaking, speaking, speaking into that one air duct. 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:18.000 The entire prison cell and every single person in the prison, they heard the gospel of Christ. 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:26.000 My goodness man, God has a thousand different ways for me to present the gospel than do you know Jesus. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:29.000 He is very creative. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:32.000 And he will give us the creativity that we need. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:34.000 Not that the gospel requires creativity. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:38.000 But we have to meet people where they are. 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:43.000 And God knows where they are and he'll give us the words that we need to speak that. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.000 Hi. 00:34:53.000 --> 00:35:00.000 I want us to pray into this because while I was writing this, I felt that we are in a season 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:10.000 where I truly believe that Acts 29 is going to be going and sharing this word of God, this gospel of God, 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:12.000 like never before. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:18.000 I believe truly deep in my heart that through very simple people like us, 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:25.000 the gospel is going to be preached in the city, in our neighborhoods like never before. 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:26.000 I believe it. 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:28.000 And here is what will happen when we do that. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:33.000 When all we need to do is not focus on ourselves, but the message that has been given to us. 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:38.000 And having God's confidence that the person we are talking about, Jesus Christ, 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:42.000 he lives and he will act and do whatever he needs to do to make things happen. 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:45.000 And when we do that, here is what will happen. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:47.000 Here is what I believe will happen. 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:55.000 And this is not to add people to Acts 29, but in John chapter 4, Jesus went and met the Samaritan woman. 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:57.000 Just one person. 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:59.000 What happens if you verses down? 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:03.000 The whole village is receiving Jesus. 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:11.000 What happens in Acts chapter 17, I think, where Paul is, he had a rough time in Thessalonica, 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:15.000 he had a rough time in Berea, and finally he lands in Athens. 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:18.000 And when he is in Athens, he doesn't have anything to do. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.000 So what does he do? 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:22.000 His friends are no longer there. He was the only one there at that point. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:24.000 And so he goes to this marketplace. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.000 He just starts talking about Christ. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:28.000 What happens when he talked about Christ? 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:30.000 All of a sudden one person standing there said, 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:33.000 this message is good. This is different. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:37.000 I want you now to come to Areopagus so that you can speak there. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.000 What happens? 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:42.000 Paul then speaks to a whole lot of people because one person said, 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:44.000 this message is interesting. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:50.000 There is spontaneous expansion that follows the proclamation of the gospel. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:53.000 And so I want us to pray into this. 00:36:53.000 --> 00:37:00.000 Because I believe that God has prepared us for a time like this to be this to the world around us. 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:04.000 So one of you guys, if you can come up and pray into this, 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:07.000 Father, there is the gospel. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:13.000 We are being sent out to preach the gospel and to invite people into the kingdom. 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:15.000 That we will do that. 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:19.000 And when we do that, we are not results-based or process-based. 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:22.000 We are just gospel preachers. 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:25.000 And it doesn't have to be done a certain way. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:28.000 It is done whichever way you want it to be done. 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:30.000 And we will faithfully do that. 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:36.000 And we'll leave it there for you to take the work and you to make it whatever you please with it. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.000 Someone please come up and pray into this. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:43.000 Because I really do believe that this is the time for this. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:47.000 That there is an impression upon our hearts by God. 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:49.000 I know we don't know you Jose, man. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:56.000 But you're here because there is something that connected Paavne and Mark and others with you when you were there. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:00.000 I really do. You're seeing it right now. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:03.000 There is something happening in our midst. 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:06.000 Where God is saying this is the time. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:10.000 So let's one of you guys, if you can come up and pray. 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:12.000 We'll continue from there. 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:22.000 That's my brother. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:26.000 Today we will be leading the whole service. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:31.000 Father, I just want to thank you for what you are saying to us through Derek. 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:36.000 And what you have been talking to us over the last little while, Father. 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:41.000 Father, a lot of things in my mind helped me to articulate it well. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:43.000 Father, you have called us for a purpose. 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.000 You changed our names. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:46.000 You changed our identity. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:48.000 And it cannot stay here, Father. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:50.000 It cannot stay with me. 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:54.000 It has to be taken out into the world because this is too precious to be kept for myself. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:56.000 It has to be delivered to others. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:01.000 Because this is the only thing, Father, that if I keep to myself, does not do good. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.000 This has to be shared. 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:04.000 This has to be poured out, Father. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.000 So Father, because you're calling us into this, Father. 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:13.000 And it has always been your calling that your sons and daughters, your priests will go to the temple. 00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:17.000 It has always been your calling that your sons and daughters, your priests will go out into the cities. 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:19.000 That we'll talk about you. 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:26.000 So that what happens, just like Father Paul says in 2 Timothy, there is only one gospel that I can tell you. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:30.000 It's about Jesus, the person who came, who died on the cross. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:32.000 This is my gospel. 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:36.000 Who died on the cross, who rose again, so that you and I can live forever more. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.000 This is the gospel. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.000 Father, this is as simple as that. 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:42.000 We go out and we have pioneers here, Father. 00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:45.000 Derek has done this before with Mark, Pawen, Jose. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:47.000 They've all done this before, Father. 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:54.000 It's just seeing them do this and just being a part of this journey, Father, which is so exciting. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:59.000 So we say yes to what you're calling us, Father, not three or four members of this church, the whole body. 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:01.000 We declare this, Father. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:04.000 We say yes to your calling of priesthood. 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:06.000 Priests are supposed to go out. 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:09.000 Priests are supposed to go into situations they are called into. 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:11.000 Priests are supposed to respond to your calling. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:14.000 Priests are supposed to be unafraid of what's happening around, 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.000 because there is a bigger calling and bigger purpose on us, Father. 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:20.000 So we respond saying yes to whatever you're calling us into. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:23.000 In your precious name, Jesus, I pray. Amen. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:31.000 So Father, we say we become incapable of doing anything by ourselves, Abba. 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:33.000 We're completely incapable, Abba. 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:37.000 We've lived so many years as Christians, and sometimes we have tried, 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:42.000 and it hasn't worked. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:47.000 There is sufficient history to look back and say, is that how it works? 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:49.000 But we refuse, Father. 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:55.000 We refuse to be anything but you ask us to be. 00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:58.000 And so as a church, we respond. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:01.000 And we look at the calling that you've placed upon us. 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:06.000 And we respond to this and say, your gospel transformed us, 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:11.000 made us sons, made us different, Abba. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:15.000 It changed us, transformed our thinking, our ways, cleansed us. 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:18.000 And we live today as your people in this city. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:23.000 We want to give to you what you have given to others, what you have given to us. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:29.000 And we will go out, Abba, with no qualification, with no experience, 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:33.000 because we know nothing, but you know everything. 00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:38.000 And if we listen to you, you will give us the words, one-liners or three-hour conversations, 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:40.000 and you can make it happen. 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:45.000 So, Father, we collectively with our hearts, we respond to what you're asking us to, 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:47.000 and we say yes. 00:41:47.000 --> 00:41:49.000 Abba, we're going to remember this. 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:52.000 We're going to remember that there is this thing that you're inviting us to, 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:56.000 to proclaim the gospel and then to invite people into it. 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:59.000 So we will do that, Father, in Jesus' name. 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:08.000 Next, we look at intercede. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:20.000 So the third thing that God expects of us is to intercede. 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:26.000 And interceding is always on behalf of another. 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:29.000 The only person we need to look to for this is Jesus. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:31.000 He intercedes on our behalf. 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:39.000 Every minute, every second of every hour, every minute of every hour, every day He intercedes for us. 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.000 And so what are we doing? 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:47.000 We first identify God's will for cities, for nations, for peoples, 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:54.000 and then we intercede to God on behalf of cities and people and nations. 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:58.000 So first of all, we identify what it is that God wants for a place, 00:42:58.000 --> 00:43:01.000 what it is that God wants for a people, for a person, 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:06.000 and then we intercede to God on behalf of them. 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.000 In Psalm 2, it says, 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:11.000 ask of me nations and I'll give you nations. 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:14.000 Ask of me and I'll give it to you. 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:17.000 Beginning of this year, I remember God specifically saying, 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:19.000 pray for UAE. 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:22.000 And we were praying for UAE. 00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:24.000 And when we were praying, God said, 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:29.000 He said, pray that there is going to be a physical wind across UAE, United Arab Emirates, 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:32.000 and that this wind, physical wind that will happen, 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:38.000 will cause certain things to happen so that people will turn to me. 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:41.000 When you hear it, you go, okay, physical wind, 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:45.000 and that is something you will use for what you want to do in UAE, 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:47.000 specifically among the Emiratis. 00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:49.000 And so God said that when we prayed. 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:54.000 A day or so later, I felt like I should look up this on my phone, 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000 and I look up and it turns out that the beginning of this year, 00:43:58.000 --> 00:44:06.000 UAE received one and a half years worth of rainfall in three days. 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:10.000 And it was accompanied by severe wind. 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:15.000 I don't know what God did, but God did something. 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:19.000 It happened in UAE, and God said it would happen. 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:22.000 So I do believe that we can be wherever we are, 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:26.000 and God can tell us, here is my will for a place, for a people, for nations, 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:29.000 and if you just do what I ask you to do, 00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:33.000 find out my will and then pray and do that, then do what I ask you to do. 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:36.000 Several miles away, things will happen, 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:39.000 because our God is not just the God of Vancouver, 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:41.000 our God is the God of nations, 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:44.000 and He has a plan for every nation on earth. 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:48.000 He has a plan for every tribe, every tongue, every single life, 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:53.000 and we as His people are supposed to get a hold of what He wants to do, 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:55.000 and then proclaim it and then pray for it. 00:44:55.000 --> 00:45:01.000 Intercessors pray for others. Jesus prays for us. 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:05.000 He intercedes on our behalf to the Father. 00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:09.000 And when you do that, God begins to share His secrets with you 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:12.000 about places, about people, about what's happening. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:16.000 And all of a sudden, that which is invisible to the natural eye 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:19.000 is visible in the spiritual, 00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:22.000 so that we can then pray and do exactly what God is doing, 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:24.000 exactly what God is saying, 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:26.000 because we don't have to work for 50 hours, 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:29.000 there is only one minute or five minutes of what we need to do, 00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:33.000 because God has opened up what needs to happen. 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:35.000 I want to read out a couple of things, 00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:37.000 and this I heard several years ago, 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:42.000 but it has stayed with me all this time, 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:46.000 and it's one of my favorite quotes. 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:48.000 Someone very smart said this, 00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:58.000 prayer is God's way of conferring upon human beings the dignity of causality. 00:45:58.000 --> 00:46:01.000 Big difference. 00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:03.000 You guys are not sleeping. 00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:05.000 That I know now. 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:11.000 Prayer is God's way of conferring upon man the dignity of causality. 00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:17.000 That when we pray, God is conferring upon us, upon simple people 00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:22.000 the dignity of causality to partner with Him in creative things that He is doing. 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:28.000 So God confers upon us as we partner with Him the dignity of causality, 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:33.000 meaning things that He wants to cause on earth, to start on earth, to create on earth, 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:37.000 because we all of a sudden begin to partner with Him in that. 00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:49.000 Prayer is God's way of conferring upon human beings the dignity of causality. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:51.000 And here is what Jesus said. 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:54.000 Jesus said in John chapter 17 verse 19, 00:46:54.000 --> 00:46:57.000 He said, I am consecrating myself for their sakes, 00:46:57.000 --> 00:47:01.000 so that they will be truth consecrated in their mission. 00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:05.000 I set apart myself, Father, so that others can be set apart for you. 00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:09.000 So when I set apart myself and say, Father, I am going to set myself apart. 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:11.000 I am going to intercede on others' behalf. 00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:13.000 I am going to see what you are doing. 00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:15.000 And then I am going to pray into it. 00:47:15.000 --> 00:47:17.000 And then I am going to do what you ask me to do. 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:19.000 God, make sure that He does the rest. 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:23.000 Jesus said this, I consecrate myself for their sake, 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:26.000 so that they will be truth consecrated in their missions. 00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:29.000 And the thing with priests, whenever we intercede, 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:35.000 this is from Hebrews chapter 5 verse 1 and 2. 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:41.000 Priests shared commonality and empathized with those they represent. 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:48.000 Priests shared commonality and they empathized with those they represent. 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:52.000 So I want us to see it this way. 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:54.000 And I hope I can convey this. 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:57.000 When we pray for something, a nation, 00:47:57.000 --> 00:48:01.000 or whatever God wants us to pray for, it's like an open field. 00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:03.000 There is nothing there. 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:08.000 Maybe what you see there are things that are from the devil, from Satan, 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:11.000 things that are wrong, and that's what's there. 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:14.000 But we look at that and we say, God is sovereign. 00:48:14.000 --> 00:48:17.000 God is someone who is controlling the entire world. 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:20.000 And anything that He wants to happen will happen. 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:21.000 And no one can stop it. 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:24.000 A door that He wants to open, He will open it. 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:27.000 A door that He wants to shut, He will shut it. 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:30.000 So all of a sudden, the canvas is free. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.000 And once the canvas is free, then you look at this canvas and you say, 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:36.000 Father, what are you asking of me? 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:38.000 What are you saying is true for this? 00:48:38.000 --> 00:48:41.000 There are a variant of things that could happen. 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:44.000 There are a hundred different things that could happen. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:47.000 But I am going to latch on to just one. 00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:52.000 And that one thing that you are telling me that I should latch on to, 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:58.000 I will latch on to that and that becomes the center of what will happen here. 00:48:58.000 --> 00:49:02.000 So indecisors look at the possibilities that there are. 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:06.000 And they latch on to that one thing that God is asking of them. 00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:10.000 And they say, if this is what you're saying will happen in this city, 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:13.000 I latch on to that. How? By faith. 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:15.000 And I know that this will then happen. 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:18.000 I don't have to think about anything, worry about anything. 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:22.000 I will just believe that this open canvas, which is open, 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:25.000 and I disregard everything else that was there before, 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:27.000 because I know that you are sovereign. 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:29.000 I therefore look at the open canvas. 00:49:29.000 --> 00:49:33.000 I therefore then latch on to just one way of things to occur, 00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:36.000 by faith, because you are asking me to. 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:39.000 And I believe that it will happen. 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:42.000 Just because you are you, Father. 00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:44.000 Just because you are you. 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:46.000 Just because you control everything. 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:48.000 And you're good. And you have a plan. 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:50.000 You haven't stopped working. 00:49:50.000 --> 00:49:52.000 You're just starting. 00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:54.000 And you're continuing through us. 00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:08.000 Great. So the last part. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:22.000 Fourth point is to intervene. 00:50:22.000 --> 00:50:35.000 Intervene. Priests are people who intervene on God's behalf. 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:39.000 In the verse that I want us to read together. 00:50:39.000 --> 00:50:44.000 So take the time to read this on your, with your Bible app or the Bible set here. 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:46.000 Having in your hand, read this with me. 00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:50.000 Isaiah chapter 58, 6 and 7. 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:55.000 Isaiah chapter 58, verses 6 and 7. 00:50:55.000 --> 00:51:05.000 Go there please and we'll read it together. 00:51:05.000 --> 00:51:08.000 Is not this the fast that I choose? 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:09.000 God says. 00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:11.000 To lose the bonds of wickedness, 00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:13.000 to undo the straps of the yoke, 00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:15.000 to let the oppressed go free, 00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:17.000 and to break every yoke. 00:51:17.000 --> 00:51:20.000 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:22.000 to bring the poor to their knees, 00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:24.000 to let the poor go hungry, 00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:27.000 to let 65,000 people go hungry? 00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:30.000 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:32.000 to let 65,000 people go hungry, 00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:35.000 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:38.000 and bring the homeless poor into your house, 00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:40.000 when you see the naked to cover him, 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:43.000 and to not hide yourself from your own flesh? 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:45.000 I'll read it again. 00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:48.000 Priests are those who intervene. 00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:53.000 They see a situation and as God asks them to, they intervene. 00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:55.000 They step in out of nowhere. 00:51:55.000 --> 00:51:57.000 No one is expecting them to, 00:51:57.000 --> 00:52:00.000 but because they are listening to God, they step in and intervene. 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:02.000 And when they intervene, this is what happens. 00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:05.000 They lose the bonds of wickedness, 00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:07.000 undo the straps of the yoke. 00:52:07.000 --> 00:52:09.000 I'm reading out of ESV. 00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:11.000 They let the oppressed go free, 00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:13.000 to break every yoke. 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:15.000 They share their bread with the hungry. 00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:18.000 They bring the homeless poor into their house. 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:20.000 When they see the naked, they cover him. 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:24.000 They do not hide themselves from their own flesh. 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:27.000 And if you want to write it down, 00:52:27.000 --> 00:52:32.000 here are a few things that these verses translated. 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:35.000 You intervene by practicing. 00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:37.000 You break bondage. 00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:40.000 You feed the hungry, 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:42.000 house the homeless, 00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.000 clothe the naked, 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:47.000 not just with clothes, 00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:50.000 but with dignity. 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:52.000 Being sympathetic, 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:56.000 where you are aware and available. 00:52:57.000 --> 00:53:02.000 By not being dismissive. 00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:09.000 And by pouring out yourselves and your resources. 00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:11.000 Breaking bondage, 00:53:11.000 --> 00:53:13.000 feeding the hungry, 00:53:13.000 --> 00:53:15.000 housing the homeless, 00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:17.000 clothing the naked with not just clothes, 00:53:17.000 --> 00:53:19.000 but dignity. 00:53:19.000 --> 00:53:21.000 Becoming sympathetic, 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:23.000 by not being dismissive, 00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:25.000 or having disdain. 00:53:25.000 --> 00:53:29.000 Pouring out resources and yourselves. 00:53:29.000 --> 00:53:32.000 It can be in a relationship or finding something 00:53:32.000 --> 00:53:36.000 where relief is required and stepping in and doing that. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:38.000 And the second thing is, 00:53:38.000 --> 00:53:42.000 it's not just intervening in these situations. 00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:48.000 Priests are ones who intervene to prevent sin among fellow believers. 00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:51.000 That's from 1 John 5, 16, 17. 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:54.000 That as we live as a community, 00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:57.000 if I am one of the people in the community, 00:53:57.000 --> 00:54:00.000 and Marcus operating as a priest, 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:01.000 we'll be able to say, 00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:03.000 Derek, I see this in you, 00:54:03.000 --> 00:54:05.000 and that's not right. 00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:08.000 That is operating as a priest as well. 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:11.000 That is why the Bible talks about encouraging. 00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:13.000 Bible talks about exhorting each other. 00:54:13.000 --> 00:54:18.000 Bible talks about all of the things that believers are to each other. 00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:21.000 You're an instrument for God to intervene. 00:54:21.000 --> 00:54:24.000 So we see ourselves as an instrument for God to intervene. 00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:27.000 We see ourselves as there is a situation 00:54:27.000 --> 00:54:31.000 and God uses us to intervene in that situation. 00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:33.000 And when you intervene for God, 00:54:33.000 --> 00:54:36.000 God intervenes for you. 00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:39.000 When you intervene for God, 00:54:39.000 --> 00:54:42.000 God intervenes for you. 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:46.000 When you wake up and you're like, 00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:50.000 this day, Father, I know that you're asking me to intervene into this situation, 00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:52.000 and you do it, do it. 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:55.000 And everything else for you that need to be taken care of, 00:54:55.000 --> 00:54:56.000 God will do it. 00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:59.000 That day when I talked about the duck story, 00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:03.000 one thing that happened that very day is I did a blunder. 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:05.000 And the blunder was that I picked up Iris. 00:55:05.000 --> 00:55:09.000 She's in the car, and I know that I had to fuel up the car, 00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:11.000 but I completely forgot it. 00:55:11.000 --> 00:55:15.000 And I drive from one end of the city to a completely different place 00:55:15.000 --> 00:55:16.000 through the state highway. 00:55:16.000 --> 00:55:18.000 There are no gas stations in between. 00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:22.000 And some miles into the drive, I realized that I haven't gassed up. 00:55:22.000 --> 00:55:27.000 And it has been blinking for an hour and a half now. 00:55:27.000 --> 00:55:28.000 And it has to stop. 00:55:28.000 --> 00:55:31.000 There is no way this car is running anymore. 00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:34.000 It's good that I didn't see it before because I didn't have to worry about it. 00:55:34.000 --> 00:55:37.000 But now that I've seen it, how is this running? 00:55:37.000 --> 00:55:40.000 And I remember talking to God and saying, 00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:42.000 Father, somehow make this happen. 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:45.000 And this is going to sound strange, but it's okay. 00:55:45.000 --> 00:55:50.000 We go into the city, and we reach there, 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:52.000 and it still takes another three, four kilometers of driving 00:55:52.000 --> 00:55:54.000 to get to this gas station. 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:58.000 We finally get to the gas station, and we pump up fuel in full relief. 00:55:58.000 --> 00:56:01.000 But I'm noticing that the car has a set capacity, 00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:05.000 but the fuel that has gone in is more than the capacity. 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:07.000 I looked up the thing. 00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:08.000 I looked at the manual. 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:11.000 The fuel that went in and the capacity of the car are two different. 00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:13.000 I know that there is always plus minus. 00:56:13.000 --> 00:56:14.000 This is not that. 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:17.000 This was way more than the car could take. 00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:20.000 How? I don't know, and I actually don't care. 00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:24.000 What I do know is that God provided that day 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:26.000 because the very day we were supposed to do something, 00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:29.000 we were supposed to be at a place at a time, 00:56:29.000 --> 00:56:33.000 and God will not, if you're available, God will not stop it. 00:56:33.000 --> 00:56:35.000 He will cover for your mistakes. 00:56:35.000 --> 00:56:39.000 So as we go out, we are not needing to be perfect. 00:56:39.000 --> 00:56:42.000 We will make mistakes, and that is okay. 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:44.000 In our mistakes, God will cover for us. 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:47.000 God will intervene as we intervene for others. 00:56:47.000 --> 00:56:51.000 It's up to Him to come and rescue us, and He's great at it. 00:56:53.000 --> 00:56:56.000 Okay, I said last one. Here is the last one. 00:56:57.000 --> 00:56:59.000 Instruct. 00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:05.000 And with this one, there are just two verses that I want to read. 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:07.000 Malachi chapter 2, verse 7. 00:57:07.000 --> 00:57:10.000 Priests are messengers of God, 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:15.000 and in their lips they should guard knowledge and teach the truth. 00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:18.000 So there is a guarding element of the truth 00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:20.000 and a teaching element of the truth. 00:57:20.000 --> 00:57:23.000 Priests are not just people who teach. 00:57:23.000 --> 00:57:26.000 Priests are people who guard the truth. 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:29.000 They consider the truth precious, 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:32.000 and when the truth is touched, they are bothered. 00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:36.000 When the truth is touched, they will stand up, 00:57:36.000 --> 00:57:40.000 because they are not just people who preach or talk or teach the truth. 00:57:40.000 --> 00:57:42.000 They guard the truth. 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:44.000 That is what Paul asked Timothy to do. 00:57:44.000 --> 00:57:46.000 Timothy, guard this truth. 00:57:46.000 --> 00:57:48.000 Timothy, guard it with everything you've got, 00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:50.000 because what you've been given is precious. 00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:54.000 There are going to be things that try to come in and hybridize it or mutate it. 00:57:54.000 --> 00:57:56.000 Do not let that happen. 00:57:56.000 --> 00:57:59.000 You guard it. You cover it. You protect it. 00:57:59.000 --> 00:58:01.000 And then teach it. 00:58:02.000 --> 00:58:05.000 That's 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 15. 00:58:05.000 --> 00:58:08.000 The other reference was Malachi chapter 2, verse 7. 00:58:08.000 --> 00:58:10.000 So I want to close this way. 00:58:17.000 --> 00:58:19.000 This is our central identity. 00:58:19.000 --> 00:58:25.000 Being priests is not something that's just in the Bible. 00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:29.000 As much as being sons is a central identity in our lives, 00:58:29.000 --> 00:58:32.000 being priests is a central identity. 00:58:32.000 --> 00:58:36.000 And one of my favorite verses recently is, 00:58:36.000 --> 00:58:40.000 As he was and as he is, so will we be. 00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:42.000 It's something along those lines. 00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:44.000 I think it's unreaded. 00:58:51.000 --> 00:58:53.000 1 John 4, 17. 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:55.000 Because as he is, so we are in this world. 00:58:55.000 --> 00:58:57.000 Oh man, that's so good. 00:58:57.000 --> 00:59:00.000 Because as he is, so we are in this world. 00:59:00.000 --> 00:59:03.000 Because as he... 1 John 4, 17. 00:59:03.000 --> 00:59:06.000 1 John 4, 17 in NKJV, it says, 00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:08.000 Because as he is, we are in this world. 00:59:08.000 --> 00:59:11.000 So let's wrap up. Let's close out. 00:59:11.000 --> 00:59:14.000 We are priests. 00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:17.000 We are people who live in the midst of a people. 00:59:17.000 --> 00:59:23.000 And we display through our actions and our deeds and our words who God is. 00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:25.000 That's what Jacob said last week. 00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:27.000 We telescope God to others. 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:31.000 We do not just proclaim the Gospel. 00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:33.000 We invite people into it. 00:59:33.000 --> 00:59:35.000 We invite people to choose. 00:59:35.000 --> 00:59:38.000 And we, God, confidently proclaim it. 00:59:38.000 --> 00:59:41.000 And we expect God to come through. 00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:43.000 We leave the result to Him. 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:45.000 We don't take it upon ourselves. 00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:48.000 We intercede on behalf of people, nations, cities, 00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:50.000 whatever God shows us. 00:59:50.000 --> 00:59:54.000 Remember the thing where whatever is on the table, 00:59:54.000 --> 00:59:59.000 whatever is on the chart, you just blow it all away. 00:59:59.000 --> 01:00:02.000 And you look at it and go, this is plain now. 01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:05.000 When I intercede, I'm going to latch on to one outcome by faith. 01:00:05.000 --> 01:00:08.000 And I will stand on it as God shows me. 01:00:08.000 --> 01:00:12.000 And that will happen because God says, operate like that. 01:00:12.000 --> 01:00:13.000 That's all you need to do. 01:00:13.000 --> 01:00:15.000 Everything else is His thing to take care of. 01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:17.000 We don't worry about that. 01:00:17.000 --> 01:00:19.000 We just hatch on to one as God shows us. 01:00:19.000 --> 01:00:20.000 Intervene. 01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:22.000 Isaiah 58. 01:00:22.000 --> 01:00:25.000 And as you intervene, God intervenes for you. 01:00:25.000 --> 01:00:27.000 Instruct. 01:00:27.000 --> 01:00:30.000 Instructing is not just teaching, but protecting 01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:34.000 by guarding the truth that has been deposited. 01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:37.000 I want to go back to the verse that we read. 01:00:37.000 --> 01:00:44.000 First, Melchizedek, when he approached Abram, 01:00:44.000 --> 01:00:49.000 Melchizedek brought with him bread and wine. 01:00:49.000 --> 01:00:53.000 And Melchizedek blessed Abram. 01:00:53.000 --> 01:00:56.000 The first priest referred to in the Bible, 01:00:56.000 --> 01:00:59.000 Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek. 01:00:59.000 --> 01:01:01.000 As priests, now we're going to take part in communion. 01:01:01.000 --> 01:01:03.000 I'm going to invite May and Dawn to come up 01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:05.000 and then lead us in communion. 01:01:05.000 --> 01:01:07.000 But keep this in mind. 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:09.000 This is who we are. 01:01:09.000 --> 01:01:12.000 This is how God expects us to walk. 01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:17.000 And let's take part in communion in response to what we heard. 01:01:17.000 --> 01:01:20.000 Maybe one of them can talk about how that relates, 01:01:20.000 --> 01:01:24.000 how that verse can be related to practically doing this. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:28.000 So, over to you guys. 01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:30.000 Oh yeah, you want to sing a song? 01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:32.000 Please. 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:34.000 Yeah, yeah, that's great. 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:38.000 So, Emily will come up, lead us in a song. 01:01:38.000 --> 01:01:41.000 We haven't sung this song at Acts 29 before.