WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Profitable Servants Publishing Date: 2020-01-19T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/profitable-servants/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.000 The topic would help in terms of having a measure for 2020 to figure out if we are heading that way. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:16.000 If you look at Luke 12.35, Luke 12.35, Luke 12.35, 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:27.000 Luke 12.35. Hey guys, one of the things that sometimes happens when I'm teaching is we go through different scriptures 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:32.000 and then you look at one scripture and you get really interested in it and then you start reading it and thinking 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:38.000 and you miss out on the rest of the teaching. So try not to let that happen because it's wonderful that you get 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:45.000 intrigued with the scripture but perhaps there's a time for it to be dug up when you go home. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:48.000 So don't get caught up here otherwise you miss out on the rest of it. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Luke 12.35.36. Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning like men waiting for their master 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:02.000 to return from a wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:09.000 Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning like men waiting for their master to return from playback 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:13.000 so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:18.000 So the idea of this teaching is, hey, what does it look like to be a profitable servant? 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:27.000 And if we use this measure, we might have a good idea of whether we are actually maturing or growing in 2020. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.000 And as I was looking at it, I could see areas where I haven't grown much in the last few years. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:42.000 And I'm hoping that it'll change. Titus chapter 3 verse 8, Titus chapter 3 verse 8, Titus chapter 3 verse 8. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:55.000 Titus 3 verse 8. Where's Titus? Okay. Titus chapter 3 verse 8. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:02:10.000 It says, this is a trustworthy saying and I want you to stress these things so that those who are trusted in God 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:16.000 may be careful to devote themselves to doing that which is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:24.000 So some of the things we are talking about is very profitable for you if you actually decide to go down this route. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 And it applies to all walks of life. It applies to all vocations. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.000 This is not something that's specific to people who work in a church. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:39.000 This is not something specific to people who are employed or are employers, have jobs or are jobless, single-married. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.000 It applies to all walks of life and to all vocations. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:46.000 And you can use it as a measure of your growth in 2020. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:54.000 Am I really maturing? Am I being profitable? Am I growing? Am I being profitable? 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:01.000 God is a very profitable God. And so in our maturity, he expects us to be profitable. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:08.000 And so the first one, first point that I want to make is if you're profitable, if you are growing, if you're mature, 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:15.000 then one of the things that you will see happening in your life is that you would have embraced your priesthood by now. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:25.000 You would have embraced your priesthood by now. You would have embraced your priesthood by now. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:32.000 If you're maturing, one of the signs of maturing is you embrace your priesthood more and more. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:37.000 As in you no longer can bear the thought of coming to church, sitting and going. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:41.000 You can't bear the thought of that. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:48.000 You can't bear the thought of some people doing things while you sit and just listen and take it in. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:04:02.000 If you go to 1 Peter 2.5, 1 Peter 2.5, and depending on which version you read, 1 Peter 2.5, 1 Peter 2.5. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:07.000 Let's start with the NIV and then go to the message. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:14.000 1 Peter 2.5. Here's what the NIV says. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.000 You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:24.000 offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:29.000 You also like living stones. I remember teaching this ages ago at Acts 29. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:37.000 In Hebrew understanding, a living stone is a stone that is connected to another. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:43.000 And so it didn't matter how brilliant a rock looked like or a brilliant stone looked like. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:46.000 If it stood alone, it wasn't living. It was dead. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.000 To be a living stone, you had to be connected to another stone. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:56.000 And so this idea in 1 Peter 2.5 where it says you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:01.000 to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:09.000 So the idea of embracing a priesthood is to desperately want to be part of constructing this thing called a church. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:14.000 If you go to the message version of the same verse, you'll see how it talks about construction. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.000 Go to the message and here's what it says. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.000 Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary, 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:27.000 vibrant with life in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ approved lives up to God. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:31.000 Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary, 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:37.000 vibrant with life in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ approved lives up to God. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.000 Guys, I'm not talking about roles in church. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:48.000 I'm talking about vibrantly desiring to do things that will build up the church. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:55.000 So it's not leading worship or it's not playing the piano or it's not playing the bass or it's not... 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:59.000 Those are not what God is talking about. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:03.000 That kind of priesthood is an old levitical priesthood where one had to carry the vessels of gold, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.000 one had to carry the ark, one had to carry the tents. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.000 That's not what we are talking about. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.000 This is... 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.000 And it's like an impossible thing to put down. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.000 You are so desperate to keep growing and becoming all that you need to do 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.000 to build up this beautiful thing called the church here on earth. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.000 It's a passion. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:31.000 Embracing the priesthood means that. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:40.000 Pastors must allow it and thank God in this church pastors allow it. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.000 Am I explaining this clearly enough or is it not? 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:46.000 Because when I look at you it sounds like it is not, 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.000 but then that doesn't mean anything because I know you guys well. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:53.000 So, would you... 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Do you want to talk about... Do you understand what I'm saying? 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.000 What's another example? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.000 It would be like... 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.000 My first real job, where I really enjoyed it, 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.000 was with this guy who was a designer. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.000 He still is in Bahrain. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:12.000 And I started working for him. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.000 We used to work out of his study. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.000 I'd go to work at 9, I'd work till midnight, 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.000 because I liked what I was doing. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.000 It was copywriting. We had just started the company. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:29.000 He would sweep the floors, he would deliver material, he would design, 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.000 and I would do the same. Why? 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.000 Because there was something in me that wanted this company to succeed. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.000 I was so not satisfied with doing a role. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.000 All I was supposed to do was write copy. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:43.000 I could easily work from 9 to 5, finish the job he had given me and go. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:47.000 But my God, I didn't want to just write copy, make some money and go. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:51.000 He and I would sit together for hours talking. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:52.000 He was a Muslim, I was a Christian. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.000 We'd talk about different things. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:57.000 But midnight, 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, till the job was done and you would go home. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:01.000 Why? Because there was something inside you that desired that this company 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.000 that he had started from his study would become something that he dreamt of 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.000 and that I would be able to help him do it. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.000 And he didn't increase my salary because I worked double time. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.000 But my God, I wasn't working for a salary, nor was I fulfilling a role. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:22.000 This is what I mean by embracing your priesthood. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:27.000 People who embrace their priesthood cannot be kept down. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:32.000 It is impossible for the capstone and the cornerstone of this church called Christ. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:40.000 It is impossible to become like that and not step into growing roles of construction of the church. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:45.000 I don't want to be a priest who carries golden vessels whenever the church falls and moves. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:48.000 I don't want to be a pianist. I don't want to be a worship leader. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.000 Those are roles. Those are roles I satisfy. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.000 I want so much more than that. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:58.000 I don't even know how big it is because it keeps growing and extending. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:03.000 These are measures of maturity, guys. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.000 Use them to figure out how to do it. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.000 Any questions? 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.000 In this church, this will not be curbed. You will be allowed. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:23.000 Why not use an accurate measure? 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:26.000 Any questions? 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:36.000 In this church, this will not be curbed. You will be allowed. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 And this kind of desire becomes very obvious. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.000 You will be allowed. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:47.000 And you will be asked to go into areas that you are not specialist at. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.000 If you haven't heard this before, then hear it. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.000 God is not into specialization. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.000 It is the world that is into specialization. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:03.000 Where you have a doctor who is a specialist at the pimple on the right ventricle of the left auricle of your heart. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:08.000 Now, that only happens in the world. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.000 But in Christianity, that is not the way. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.000 You are not a specialist at something. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:18.000 You are slaughtered in where the king of the universe wants to slaughter you in. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.000 And he gives you the ability. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.000 That is why it says in 1 Corinthians 14, 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:27.000 the Holy Spirit gives gifts according to his will to each. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:37.000 The second measure of growth is you should be... 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:40.000 We want to aspire to this. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:43.000 When I say you should be, I am not saying if you are not, you are not mature. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.000 No, I am saying this is what we aspire towards. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:51.000 You should be teachers by now. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.000 You should be teachers by now. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:59.000 Paul says that in Hebrews 5, 12-14. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.000 Hebrews 5, 12-14. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:07.000 While we do recognize that there is a grace gift that the Holy Spirit appoints in the church called teachers, 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:11.000 there is also this other thing that all of us are supposed to become. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.000 Hebrews 5, 12-14. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.000 Hebrews 5, 12-14. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:21.000 And it says there, in fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:26.000 you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.000 You need milk, not solid food. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:36.000 So this idea that many of us should by now be able to convey what we have learned 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:42.000 to anybody who comes along the way to be able to teach them well. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.000 To be able to teach them well. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:47.000 And if that is where you are heading, great. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.000 It's a sign of maturity. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:57.000 Paul found when he was writing this letter, he is saying, 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:02.000 listen guys, after all this time you are still fumbling on the fundamentals 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:07.000 and I'm sorry but you should be teachers by now but you are slow in learning. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:16.000 He starts off a little more crudely when he says that, what did I say, chapter 5, verse 12. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:22.000 11 says this, we have much to say about this but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.000 2 Timothy 2, 2. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.000 And when we add both together you get an idea of what maturity should look like. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:35.000 2 Timothy 2, 2. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:39.000 These are measures you must use in 2020 and keep working towards them. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:44.000 2 Timothy 2, 2. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.000 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:52.000 entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.000 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:59.000 entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:04.000 So besides the fact that there is a gift called teachers in the Bible, 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:14.000 as it says in Ephesians 4, there is this idea that all of us should grow in the maturity of understanding the Word 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:20.000 and should be able to convey the truths we have learned easily to the ones that are coming after us 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.000 or the ones who are seeking. 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:27.000 And besides being able to teach, one must be found reliable. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:30.000 One must be found reliable, trustworthy. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.000 One must be found reliable and trustworthy to convey accurately what has been taught. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.000 One of the problems I often run into, which is fascinating, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:44.000 is I'll find people who are able to understand what is being taught and even practice it, 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.000 but they will not teach it faithfully. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:54.000 When they teach it, they'll take some of what they think, add it to the mix and teach it. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:00.000 And so what happens is the next generation gets what you have taught them diluted. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:07.000 So I might teach you that the world is round and you might go and say, it's round like a pear. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.000 And so did you say it is round? Yes. Do you believe it's round? Yes. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:16.000 Do you know you won't fall off the side of the earth once you cross Abbotsford? Yes. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:21.000 But having known that, you still, when you teach it, go and say, 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:24.000 Yeah, the earth is round, but more pear-shaped than really round. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:31.000 And what have you just done? You've taken something that you, for whatever reason, want to add to it. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:37.000 And when that happens, you're no longer reliable or trustworthy to be entrusted with the deposit to teach others. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:41.000 Don't do that. Some very, very fine people do that. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:48.000 I don't know why they do that, but they do that. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:53.000 So it's not enough to understand the teaching. It's also important that you understand the teaching and convey it faithfully. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:15:03.000 If you add anything to it, let it add to it, not dilute it or take away from it or throw in your little pet peeve or hobby horse. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:08.000 Any questions? 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:19.000 Adding something as in adding something that maybe you know that is even better than the teacher, 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:25.000 but may it not be some idea of yours that is not proven, it's just a pet peeve of yours. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:28.000 Guys, when that happens, it doesn't matter how well you understand. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:33.000 It's one of the saddest things in life, when you meet somebody who's understood what you've taught. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:38.000 They even practice it, but they will not teach it faithfully. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.000 You know how difficult that makes it for the one who is teaching? 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:46.000 Because you want to send this person out to do what you have told, equip them. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:52.000 But having understood it and having practiced it, they will not teach it faithfully. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:59.000 And what they produce then is diluted next generations or slightly distorted next generations. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:08.000 You don't want that, man. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:14.000 Any questions? 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:21.000 Third, these are biblical measures for growth. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:25.000 These are not Jacob's measures for growth. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:28.000 And so please don't think I'm imposing a plumb line. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.000 These are from the Bible. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:36.000 Maybe we all try and use this as the plumb line to measure our growth this year. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.000 We won't all become anywhere near it. 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.000 I'm struggling with some of them after all these years. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:48.000 The next one, which is one of my struggles, is the passion to proclaim. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.000 The passion to proclaim. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:59.000 The passion to proclaim, as in passion to proclaim to the lost, passion to proclaim for the lost, passion to proclaim. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:04.000 Second Corinthians 5, second Corinthians 5. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.000 Hey, Mark, there's a string you have to pull and if you pull that string it drains. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:15.000 It's right here, right at the beginning. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.000 How did I know Mark didn't pull that string? 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.000 Well, second Corinthians 5. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.000 No, I know because he texted me. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:30.000 Just in case. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.000 Second Corinthians 5. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.000 You found it? 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:47.000 Okay, just one sec, guys, while we pull the string. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:55.000 So, this will come out so odd when people listen to it. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:58.000 Okay, you can turn it back on. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.000 Okay, the third one is passion that proclaims. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.000 Guys, second Corinthians 5.14. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.000 Second Corinthians 5.14. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:13.000 For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:18.000 Go to verse 20. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:23.000 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as so God were making his appeal through us. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.000 We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:31.000 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as so God were making his appeal through us. 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:35.000 We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:42.000 Guys, one of the signs that shows up in the Bible is that the Bible is the only way to be reconciled to God. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:50.000 One of the signs that shows that I'm growing or I'm maturing is that there's an increasing passion in my life to proclaim the Gospel. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.000 And proclaim to whom? Not to the ones that are saved, proclaim to those that are lost. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.000 And this is something that I find that I'm not growing enough in. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:08.000 I have a passion to teach, I have a passion to plant churches in different places or locally, but my God, I don't have a passion to proclaim like I should. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:17.000 And I find it such a, I mean, if there was a weak link or if there was a low bar, then I find that this passion is missing. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:22.000 I don't know about you, but I'm struggling with this. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:27.000 And yet it is a sign of maturity. It's a sign of growth. 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:34.000 Before anything else, Paul was a proclaimer. He was a herald. He says, I am a herald of the Gospel. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:40.000 And this is something that hasn't become natural for me. I don't know about you. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.000 But it's an area that I would love to increase in. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:50.000 The fourth one is have a clear, let's look at another scripture. Go to Philippians 1.14. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:56.000 Philippians 1.14. Philippians 1.14. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:02.000 Mission accomplished. Who did it? Mark? 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:12.000 Because men usually don't pull strings. I'll just leave it at that. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.000 Philippians 1.14. Philippians 1.14. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:23.000 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:33.000 The reason I picked that verse is because this thing of being courageous and fearless about the proclamation of the word is something that I don't think many of us have gotten. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:42.000 Some of you are very good at it. I am not. And I really want to increase in this because it is a measure of growth and it's an area that hasn't been working clearly in my life. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:53.000 Next one is have a clear, have a clear grasp, have a clear grasp of your giftedness. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:59.000 Have a clear grasp of your giftedness. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:07.000 Ephesians 4.1 says walk worthy of your calling. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:15.000 1 Corinthians 12.7, 12.11 says, hey, all of you have been gifted. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:23.000 How does the Holy Spirit show the activity of God through your life? 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:29.000 Do you have a clear grasp of your giftedness? 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:35.000 What does your life work really involve? What is your life work? It doesn't matter what you do. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:44.000 Pastor, businessman, pauper, prince, plumber, pilot. I'm not talking about occupation. I'm talking about what is your life work? 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:54.000 What is the sum total of all the things that God has put in you that makes you a certain kind of person who does a certain kind of thing, whether you have a job or not? 00:21:54.000 --> 00:22:04.000 Have a clear grasp of your giftedness. If you're not there, we've got 11 months to try and measure up using this plumb line because this is how God created us. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:10.000 You were created a certain way. If you didn't have a job, didn't have a business, didn't have a church, it still wouldn't change. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:20.000 It really has nothing to do with what you're doing. It has everything to do with who you are. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:30.000 Find those gifts, man. I'm talking about spiritual gifts and abilities. And again, I'm not talking about roles. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.000 Any questions on that? 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:47.000 Any questions? And life work evolves. You'll find what you're passionate about evolving. Praise God for that. Sometimes it dovetails. Sometimes it evolves. 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:59.000 Where two or three things dovetail together and you're able to find that niche where you are so uniquely doing two or three things that come together and help you get there. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:09.000 And other times it doesn't dovetail. It follows one after the other, where it keeps evolving. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:22.000 Next one. Stewardship of the season of your life. Stewardship of the season of your life. Stewardship of the season of your life. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:33.000 Stewardship of the season of your life. Stewardship of the season of your life. This catches people by surprise. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:41.000 Where once they used to have jobs and now they don't have jobs, what do you do? Once they used to go to work and now they don't go to work, what do you do? 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:47.000 Once they were single and now they're married, what do you do? Once they were married and didn't have kids and now they have kids, what do you do? 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:55.000 Once you had a two-year-old, a four-year-old and a six-year-old, now they're all 20 and 22. What do you do? 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:03.000 Once you had a cute little baby for a day and then for the next 18 years that cute little baby doesn't leave home, what do you do? 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:07.000 Yeah, just so you know. 18 years. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:16.000 So how do you steward the season of your life? How do you steward the season of your life? 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:22.000 Ephesians 4, 12 and 13. Ephesians 4, 12 and 13. Ephesians 4, 12 and 13. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:29.000 To prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:38.000 Go ahead and read it in the message. Ephesians 4, 12 and 13. Ephesians 4, 12 and 13. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:51.000 I love it. To train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we are all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, 00:24:51.000 --> 00:25:02.000 efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ, beautifully. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:09.000 And so one of the things is we are caught unaware when this happens. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:15.000 The second thing is when that season begins to change, we don't know how to move into the next phase. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:21.000 And we still hold on to the old rhythms when we should be moving on. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:26.000 And sometimes all you need is a push, and when that push comes and someone pushes you, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:37.000 grab the momentum that comes from the push and launch out, because once you launch out, you will find fish on the right side of the boat. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Any questions? It's not abstract at all. Let's assume I am a single dad. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.000 Oh, no, not what I meant is I'm married and I have only one child. That's what I meant by single dad. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:26:03.000 So, sorry. So I am a dad with a single child. Yeah. Sorry, that's what I meant to say. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:11.000 So, and so now I've spent the last 18 years taking care of this child, and now this child has left home. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:19.000 And there's a pattern that has been established in my life. And now that the child has left, I don't know how to step into the new freedom I have. 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:27.000 I just don't know. And when that happens, go. If you don't know how to and you're trying and it doesn't, then you need a push. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:33.000 And then push you and the momentum is enough to get you going. And then cast the net. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:39.000 Once that push happens, cast the net on the right side. Don't keep doing the familiar. Do the unfamiliar. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:47.000 I know I've said this before, but the only way you break into the next place in God is when you are stepping into the unfamiliar. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:55.000 The unfamiliar is so critical to break the mold. The mold does not break without stepping into the unfamiliar. 00:26:55.000 --> 00:27:01.000 The mold is always the same until the unfamiliar happens. Take any guy in the Bible. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:11.000 The unfamiliar had to happen before the person changed. And that's what we're most scared of, right? The unfamiliar. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:19.000 So as much as I hate the word season, it is a real word. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:21.000 The next one. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:35.000 Maturing so that you can be part of the apostolic thrust from Jesus Christ. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:54.000 You can be part of the apostolic thrust from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:28:02.000 Every church that is growing is a church that is outreaching out from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:06.000 It's never Jerusalem, it's never Judea, it's never Samaria, it's never the ends of the earth. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:13.000 It's this continuous outward movement. And so as you mature, the strange thing that happens is regardless of what you do, 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:19.000 as you mature you find that you become part of this apostolic thrust. And what do we mean by apostolic here? 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:30.000 In its essence, apostolic means, not in its essence, one of the easier ways to define apostolic is to say that it is a people that have been set apart 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:38.000 to be sent so that they can represent Christ accurately. A people that have been set apart to be sent so that they can represent Christ accurately. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:48.000 So every church is supposed to be apostolic. A people that are set apart to be sent so that they can represent Christ accurately. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:58.000 So it is expected of every member in a church, because we have a common priesthood now, it's not clergy lady, it's not missionaries and non-missionaries. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:11.000 So part of the process of maturing this year will be, am I preparing myself to be fit and ready when I'm called to be part of that apostolic thrust that this church has? 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:23.000 My God, there are some advantages of being at Acts 29. Will I be called, because I'm readying myself, to be part of the apostolic thrust that this church has 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:32.000 so that should they ask me to go to Jerusalem or Judea or Samaria or the ends of the earth, I will be ready and when they call me, I will go. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:41.000 Ready yourself, guys, the call is from God. Even if I didn't think much of you, eventually God will win. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:50.000 Even if I didn't think much of you, God will remove me out of the way if I stop His plans through you. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:30:01.000 Questions? Use these measures to measure yourself. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:14.000 The next one adds an extra layer to it, where having readied yourself, you join the process. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:34.000 This is something we are just beginning. You join the process by opening homes, shifting cities, relocating, 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:57.000 taking jobs so that in other places churches can be planted, taking jobs, buying homes in places so churches can be planted. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:10.000 So churches can be planted. Not by you becoming a pastor, but by you becoming part of a people that can show that area how God works. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:18.000 So, I don't know whether you know it or don't know it, but Mark and Rhonda will shortly be moving to Vernon. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:29.000 And so they are relocating to Vernon. They are relocating from this beautiful isolated island paradise called, I don't remember the name of the place, Quadra Island, 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:42.000 where they used to eat dolphin burgers and stuff like that. Sorry? Crab burgers and stuff like that. Oh, sorry. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:51.000 Dolphins are single dad dolphins. They are all messed up today. So they used to eat crab burgers and send me photographs of these crab burgers. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:57.000 Amazing island paradise where it was like that's where Castaway was shot. Tom Hanks is the only other inhabitant. 00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:06.000 And so that's the kind of place they relocated from and they came here to learn. And now that they've learned quite a lot, now they move on to Vernon. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:15.000 And this idea of relocating just because God wants to start something new somewhere is not a new idea. It's been in the Bible forever. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:28.000 There was one Babylonian king who did something amazing. He found that when he went and occupied Israel that too many animals were ravaging the land. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:37.000 So he calls one of his generals and says, send the children of Judah back into this land to teach the people there the laws of their God. 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:45.000 And perhaps the beasts will stop attacking. A Babylonian king knew that since the God of Israel was the God of the land, 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:56.000 if he sent a few people from Judah back into the places that we dispossessed from them, maybe they'll teach the law of the God and the lions will stop ravaging the land. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:33:03.000 This was a Babylonian king thinking like that. Why? Because he knew the law of God would help. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:16.000 So this relocation, this is what was happening in Chennai. My God, out of the 700, there must be at least 20 or 30 that are now going to be relocated to different parts of India. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:24.000 Some are leaving for Calcutta, some are leaving for Pune, some are leaving for different, they're leaving the jobs man. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:33.000 They're leaving their homes, they're relocating. And it's not that they'll end up being pastors, they'll start another job in another city. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:41.000 But there are three, four families going and now those three, four families form a hub. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:50.000 In Acts chapter 18, we see this happening, Acts chapter 18. First, if you want a scripture for this one, 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:58.000 maturing so that you can be part of the apostolic team that goes from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and the ends of the earth, read Acts 13, 1-3. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:05.000 Acts 13, 1-3. These were guys who had regular jobs, these were not pastoral staff. 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:07.000 Acts chapter 13, 1-3. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:19.000 In the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, Colnager, Lucius of Cyrene, Mananean, who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:25.000 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:29.000 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:35.000 That is the idea of maturing to a place where suddenly God says, Hey, these guys, you need to take them with you. 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:49.000 Now we're talking about joining the process by opening homes, shifting cities, relocating, taking jobs, buying homes in places so churches can be planted. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:54.000 I remember, what are your names? Josh and Charlene. 00:34:54.000 --> 00:35:01.000 I remember Josh and Charlene, when they were looking for a home, one of the things they wanted was this large hall in their home. 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:12.000 Not a large hall, they wanted space so that that place could be a place where if necessary, a few 20, 30, 40 people could be seated. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 That was one of the desires. They didn't express it in so many words, but they kept saying it. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:28.000 And now when you look at their place, they've still refused to furnish that place downstairs so that there's enough room where you begin to choose your home based on how you want to use it. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:39.000 Acts 18 was 18 and 19. You realize that this is so difficult, and yet these are the measures of maturity. 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:44.000 Acts 18, 18 and 19. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:53.000 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time, then he left his brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:36:00.000 Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Sankray because of a vow he had taken. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:06.000 They arrived at Ephesus where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogues and reasoned with the Jews. 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:12.000 What I wanted to show you here was that Aquila and Priscilla were businessmen who used to make tents. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:22.000 That was their favorite thing to do. And tenting was a big thing then. Everybody wanted tents. It was like wanting Starbucks. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:30.000 Is that the best you could come up with, Derek? So tent making was a profitable business. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:40.000 These guys who used to have a tent making thing in Corinth now sail with Paul to another city called Ephesus, which wasn't going from Delta to Surrey. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:44.000 There's really no division between Delta Surrey and White Rock. It's all Surrey. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:53.000 These guys travel from Corinth to Ephesus, but Delta people and White Rock people hate being called Surrey, by the way. 00:36:53.000 --> 00:37:07.000 So they moved from Corinth to Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla shut down their business in Corinth and relocated to Ephesus to start there again. 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:13.000 I pray God that it will soon happen here. 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:18.000 Where you move cities because you strongly feel God calling you to a particular city. 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:24.000 These are the ways you must decide where you move next, where you buy your house next. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:31.000 Think like this. Any questions? 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:51.000 It will cost you money, by the way. These things cost money. And thus far it still doesn't grow on trees. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:38:03.000 But you'll find that there will be supply. Because after all, the whole nature of the apostolic is the sender is responsible for the one he sends. 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:10.000 The sender is responsible for the one he sends. That's the very nature of an apostolic sending God. 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:13.000 The sender is responsible for the one he sends. 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:19.000 Three more points and we're done. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:24.000 Where's the pen? 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:28.000 The next one is, guys. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:41.000 Dano and I were talking about this last week. Where most of the things that we desire from God, Bill Gates and a low level Steve Jobs could provide. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:47.000 Most of the things we desire from God, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs could easily provide. 00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:54.000 Because most of our desires from God are usually for money or some help with something that is not working. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:57.000 And between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, we could have God. 00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:05.000 But what if God didn't provide anything? Would it be possible to follow him passionately, like Reni was saying before she sang? 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:10.000 Would it be possible to passionately follow him, even if there was nothing else provided? 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:20.000 One of the hardest things for me during this trip was when I was in pain in different parts of the world, in different parts of the body. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:26.000 One thing I decided is, Father, I've got to not cast any suspicion on your name. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:29.000 I've got to approach you not with an attitude of why. 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:34.000 Because initially that's how it's done. Why aren't you doing this? I'm out here doing stuff for you. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:39.000 Or did I do something wrong? And then you take the guilt upon yourself. Did I do this wrong? Did I do that wrong? 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:41.000 And you make God out to be such a monster. 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:45.000 And I remember someone telling me halfway through the journey, 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:51.000 the God you are at present trusting ain't the kind of God you talk about. 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:57.000 And I had to immediately stop and say, Father, but you are good. But you are good. 00:39:57.000 --> 00:40:04.000 You know, there's much strength to the simple word, even though you slay me, yet I will praise you. 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:12.000 In our conversation, the other comment I made was that the young guys in this church are running strong and running well. 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:16.000 But if you were to go and sit with some of the older people in this church, 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:25.000 you will see that the amount of shaking that they have gone through and come out still trusting God is worth listening to. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:32.000 If you young ones went through that shaking, I am not sure you have developed the substance to standard. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:37.000 But some of the older ones here, that's just the noise with the thing draining like crazy now. 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:40.000 Mark, what have you gone and done? 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:50.000 This sermon comes with sound effect. 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:53.000 Some would say this is a mighty rushing wind, but it is not. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:03.000 I was in a church once where there was worship happening. Joan was there when this happened. 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:11.000 And suddenly there was this aroma that began to spread, especially in the back of the church. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:15.000 Everyone thought it was the fragrance of the Lord during worship. 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:19.000 It was just that someone had tilted a eucalyptus bottle by mistake. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:22.000 And so there was a strong smell of eucalyptus. 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:26.000 And it was a little church down in Steveston. 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:28.000 People, Christians are very gullible. 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:31.000 They say that the smell of eucalyptus is very strong. 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:34.000 And I was like, oh, I am going to go and get some eucalyptus. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:37.000 And I was like, oh, I am going to go and get some eucalyptus. 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:40.000 So this is not the mighty rushing wind. 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:46.000 So guys, if you were to take the lives of the older ones here, 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:52.000 you would find that they have withstood great shaking. 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:55.000 And one of the things the younger ones in this church have to learn 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:59.000 is to be able to stand when things are not working out, 00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:01.000 when God seems a mile away, 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:04.000 when the Lord is not around, 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:06.000 when God seems a mile away, 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:09.000 when the mountain is not disappearing, 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:11.000 when things are taking time, 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:13.000 you have to learn how to stand. 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:19.000 Otherwise, all the zeal and the enthusiasm you have will be a roller coaster. 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:22.000 And sometimes I am afraid of that. 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:25.000 Sometimes I am afraid of that. 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:30.000 That it will take very little to cause you to stumble. 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:34.000 I know the stories of some of the older people here. 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:43.000 Wow, this really gets nasty, huh? 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:48.000 I guess that's why they told me to do this after church ends. 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:55.000 I was given specific instructions before you leave the church. 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:58.000 Maybe you should play the sax. 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:04.000 Okay, the next one is... 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:28.000 Internal, eternal versus external, temporal. 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:32.000 Guys, the way I've written it is, 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:37.000 everything that I do in my life 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:42.000 must be from heaven or must be towards heaven. 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:48.000 The prosperity gospel is about using faith, using God, 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:55.000 using scriptures, using promises of God for external, temporal. 00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:59.000 That's what the prosperity gospel basically is. 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:02.000 Amazing, who thought of that? 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:05.000 That's what the prosperity gospel is. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:07.000 The prosperity gospel is, 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:11.000 can I, with God's blessing, 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:15.000 get everything that is external and temporal? 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:18.000 Can I use faith? Can I use the promise of God? 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:21.000 Can I use the word? Can I use the goodness of God? 00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:25.000 Can I use these things to gain external, temporal things? 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:28.000 That's what the prosperity gospel is. 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:31.000 And the true gospel is, 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:35.000 can I use faith, can I use the promises of God, the word of God, 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:42.000 the nature of God to internally focus on those things which are eternal, 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:47.000 at sometimes the expense of those things that are temporal? 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:55.000 Everything that I do here on earth must not be anything but that which comes from heaven 00:44:55.000 --> 00:45:03.000 and that which fulfills the purposes of heaven and that which is sourced from heaven. 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:08.000 So I would go so far as to say that the security of my life, of my family, 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:14.000 monetizing God's promises by using them to create my own security 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:17.000 is not eternal, it is temporal. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:28.000 Once you begin to think like that, then your job, your home and stuff like that becomes less important. 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:36.000 And once those things become less important, 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:41.000 you become highly mature and usable in the hands of the king. 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:51.000 I'm scared of those that are scared of their retirement. 00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:55.000 I'm scared for those that are scared of their retirement. 00:45:55.000 --> 00:45:59.000 I am scared for those that are scared of their retirement. 00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:09.000 I'm scared for those that have private lives that prevents God from telling his story through you. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:20.000 I'm scared for when I do not hate with a passion those things that are temporal 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:23.000 because if I do not hate it, I will tolerate it. 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:41.000 I'm scared when people want to establish security before they will launch out in God 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:47.000 because Satan will keep them insecure throughout their lives so that they never launch out in God. 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:56.000 These are plumb lines and measures of growth, man, and these are things I'm struggling with 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:02.000 because it is so easy to fall into the external, temporal and forget the internal, eternal. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:07.000 Everything that I do in my life must be to fulfill the purpose of heaven 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:10.000 and must come from heaven and must return to heaven. 00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:20.000 Houses I buy, security that I try to create on earth, everything must be God-sourced and returned to God. 00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:32.000 Security that can be given away at the drop of a pin because it is no longer dependent on external temporals. 00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:36.000 Any questions? 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:38.000 Any questions? 00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:42.000 I mean each of these can take a sermon so any questions? 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000 A mind shift will happen, guys. My words are going through. It doesn't matter. 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:51.000 You could fall asleep now and the words would still go through. 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:53.000 Really, I mean that. 00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:58.000 There's something about the way the Holy Spirit is saying things right now that it will go through even if you fall asleep. 00:47:58.000 --> 00:48:02.000 Don't because I only have two points left or one point left. 00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:04.000 Two points left. 00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:14.000 2 Corinthians 4, 17 and 18. 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:32.000 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:36.000 We must fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:40.000 For what is seen is temporal, what is unseen is eternal. 00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:43.000 What is seen is temporal and what is unseen is eternal. 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:45.000 Guys, do this. Do this. 00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:47.000 The church is eternal. 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:51.000 Christ is eternal. 00:48:53.000 --> 00:48:55.000 Souls are eternal. 00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:58.000 The kingdom is eternal. 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:04.000 His promise is eternal. 00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:08.000 Let me tell you what is temporal. 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:15.000 Safety, security, homes, places here on earth, jobs. 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:20.000 These things are so temporal and yet it is what we spend most of our time on. 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:24.000 One last statement before I move on to the next point. 00:49:24.000 --> 00:49:32.000 80% of our life is spent on work when 80% of our life should be spent on life work, not work life. 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:38.000 65 years from now when you retire you will look back and think, 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:44.000 ah shucks, I spent so much time on work and got what I deserved. 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:51.000 What if Don and guys as young as that could stop making the mistake that we are making 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:59.000 by choosing to engage in life work now so that it is continuously storing things in eternity. 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:01.000 Guys, here's the thing. 00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:07.000 You start thinking eternal and internal you will find that treasures are being stored in heaven. 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:13.000 And these treasures are accrued to your account and now you bless the generation after you. 00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:15.000 You bless the generation after you. 00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:17.000 Two more points because we are out of time. 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:20.000 This one everybody is familiar with. 00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:23.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:26.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:31.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:33.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:36.000 Use that as a measure this year. 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:37.000 May you give more. 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:38.000 May you give more. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:42.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:46.000 May you give more and may you get more to give more. 00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:49.000 Giving for the building of the kingdom. 00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:55.740 Acts chapter 2 verse 42 onwards and so they had everything in common they 00:50:55.740 --> 00:51:00.140 shared things together they brought what they sold and laid it at the Apostles 00:51:00.140 --> 00:51:07.140 feet why did they laid at the Apostles feet to show respect no it is from Isaiah 00:51:07.140 --> 00:51:13.260 52 how lovely are the feet of them that bring good news the idea of laying money 00:51:13.260 --> 00:51:17.780 at the Apostles feet was not some kind of ritual or traditional reverence given 00:51:17.780 --> 00:51:23.700 to the head honcho it was here is the money now would you begin to use it to 00:51:23.700 --> 00:51:29.120 shod those that take the good news how lovely are the feet of them that bring 00:51:29.120 --> 00:51:36.260 good news or for that matter Romans 16 2 of all the recommendations that Paul 00:51:36.260 --> 00:51:40.540 could give a person he talks about this woman called Phoebe and he says hey take 00:51:40.540 --> 00:51:45.540 good care of her not only does she help me by taking the gospel across borders 00:51:45.540 --> 00:51:50.740 but she's been a patron she's been someone who gives towards the spreading 00:51:50.740 --> 00:51:59.860 of the kingdom these are measures of maturity and the last one breaking 00:52:00.420 --> 00:52:18.940 breaking yolks breaking yolks and stepping into mark 16 17 and 18 breaking 00:52:18.940 --> 00:52:24.500 yolks is from Isaiah 58 verse 6 is this not the fast that I desire that you 00:52:24.500 --> 00:52:38.140 undo injustice that you undo oppression you know there's a guy called Shalom who 00:52:38.140 --> 00:52:42.900 leads worship at Chad's church he's a main worship leader he and his wife came 00:52:42.900 --> 00:52:48.820 up for prayer they first took my phone and hid it and then they said if you 00:52:48.820 --> 00:52:54.540 want your phone back you'll have to pray for us so I decided to pray for them 00:52:54.540 --> 00:52:58.860 and then as God began to show what he was going to use for them I said I wish 00:52:58.860 --> 00:53:03.980 you hadn't come for prayer because God is going to break your heart and what I 00:53:03.980 --> 00:53:10.900 meant by that was that God was going to send him and his wife to Cambodia and 00:53:11.060 --> 00:53:19.100 places close to Cambodia like Vietnam to deal with brutally abused babies and 00:53:19.100 --> 00:53:25.900 kids and just seeing what would happen I thought to myself it's gonna rip their 00:53:25.900 --> 00:53:30.140 hearts apart rip their hearts apart from seeing what was physically happening 00:53:30.140 --> 00:53:37.380 rip their hearts apart from seeing how God cries I was listening to Ravi 00:53:37.380 --> 00:53:42.780 Zechariah's preaching and he was in a plane with a lady I don't know why I'm 00:53:42.780 --> 00:53:47.100 telling you this maybe it is supposed to stir someone up here to do or become 00:53:47.100 --> 00:53:51.780 something he was in a he was going from one nation to the other sitting next to 00:53:51.780 --> 00:53:55.740 a lady in a plane and both of them were refusing to tell each other what they do 00:53:55.740 --> 00:54:00.180 because they were traveling through certain sensitive areas and so finally 00:54:00.180 --> 00:54:06.020 they find out that they were both committed Christians and her job was 00:54:06.780 --> 00:54:13.020 rescuing young children and she had just come out of this country where there's 00:54:13.020 --> 00:54:20.860 an alley called Snake Alley where men go and drink a mixture of snake venom and 00:54:20.860 --> 00:54:26.780 some drug and she was telling Ravi Zechariah's that the previous night she 00:54:26.780 --> 00:54:35.060 had rescued an 18 month old baby from man who was abusing that child and Ravi 00:54:35.060 --> 00:54:39.260 Zechariah said he wanted to turn and throw up 00:54:41.180 --> 00:54:47.740 there's far too much brutality and injustice and oppression in this world 00:54:47.740 --> 00:54:56.660 that a mature church must begin to stand up against a fat church will not 00:54:56.660 --> 00:55:01.340 mature church will a fat church will collapse like Eli did under his own 00:55:01.340 --> 00:55:07.980 weight but a mature church will have people who begin to undo injustice and 00:55:07.980 --> 00:55:16.340 oppression Isaiah 58 verse 6 breaking yokes that's one side of it and the 00:55:16.340 --> 00:55:21.380 other side of his mark 16 17 and 18 and those that believe in me shall lay hands 00:55:21.380 --> 00:55:27.420 upon the sick they shall cast out demons they shall heal the lepers leprosy was 00:55:27.420 --> 00:55:34.820 uncurable it was like cancer today and so heal the lepers raise the dead these 00:55:34.820 --> 00:55:39.700 are this is the mark 16 movement measure yourself by this standard measure 00:55:39.700 --> 00:55:44.300 yourself by the standard this is what maturity will look like and young guys 00:55:44.340 --> 00:55:53.820 I'm telling you please I love your enthusiasm but show me substance show me 00:55:53.820 --> 00:56:00.020 substance because when storms hit and they will if your tree is rotting from 00:56:00.020 --> 00:56:03.540 within your tree will fall 00:56:07.420 --> 00:56:12.180 I pray God that the things spoken today will really affect you and that if you're 00:56:12.180 --> 00:56:17.220 not there desire it because these are not my measures these are God's measures 00:56:17.220 --> 00:56:22.060 and if you go down this route you're unstoppable you suddenly become the 3% 00:56:22.060 --> 00:56:28.340 and that will be enough yeah let's just pray hey father there's a certain 00:56:28.340 --> 00:56:35.980 sobriety to this message that I didn't expect certain things have been