WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Secret Place_2 Publishing Date: 2020-03-15T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/secret-place_2/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.820 Okay, hey guys before I left for the last trip I went on and I'm supposed to go to South Africa tomorrow by the way 00:00:08.280 --> 00:00:16.120 But today in South Africa just this afternoon they brought a law saying you can't have gatherings that are larger than a hundred people 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:18.360 so 00:00:18.360 --> 00:00:21.400 yeah, so before we went we were talking about the secret place because 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.640 Remember what we've been examining? 00:00:25.780 --> 00:00:27.780 We went down the road of 00:00:28.180 --> 00:00:30.180 Does God 00:00:30.340 --> 00:00:34.980 We won't even go there. We just go straight to secret place. Don't want to spend time rehashing what we've done 00:00:35.220 --> 00:00:36.980 We were talking about the secret place 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:40.700 We talked about Psalm 91 and now we continue with that 00:00:40.700 --> 00:00:45.960 And then if you go back and listen to the previous sermons, you will find the context in which we've been 00:00:47.140 --> 00:00:52.140 Placing Psalm 91 and it has nothing to do with kovat. We started that before kovat 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:55.100 So guys when you look at Psalm 91 00:00:55.260 --> 00:00:57.260 most 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:03.660 Hebrew sages suggest that when Moses talked about 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:10.480 The secret place of the Most High he was actually referring to his experience 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:13.700 Shortly after he came down from Mount Sinai 00:01:14.100 --> 00:01:20.360 So when he talks about he that dwells in the shadow of the Almighty is the one who hides in the secret place of the 00:01:20.360 --> 00:01:27.640 Most High the secret place of the Most High was that place that Moses went to for 40 days and nights where he ascended Mount 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:34.440 Sinai and spent his time hidden under the hand of God and in the secret place of the Most High and 00:01:34.800 --> 00:01:39.320 It is out of that experience that it suggested that Moses is writing Psalm 91 00:01:40.440 --> 00:01:43.840 Where he actually was in the midst of the dark cloud? 00:01:44.080 --> 00:01:49.060 Which was a place of holy concealment where he had this face-to-face conversation with God 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:54.660 Far far from the madding crowd below where Aaron and the rest of the Israelites were actually 00:01:55.260 --> 00:02:00.540 Carving a golden calf and out of this experience on Mount Sinai with Yahweh 00:02:00.940 --> 00:02:04.540 Someone no one had ever seen and Moses never sees him fully 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:09.400 He just sees him passing by out of that experience now Moses writes Psalm 91 where he says 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:11.740 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High 00:02:13.220 --> 00:02:15.220 So this is a man who actually 00:02:15.700 --> 00:02:18.180 Experienced something that no human being has experienced since 00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:22.140 Because not even Peter and James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration 00:02:22.940 --> 00:02:25.460 Probably saw what Moses saw 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:29.820 Sure, it was hard to look at Jesus in his divinity 00:02:29.820 --> 00:02:35.260 But this was something else when Yahweh descended on Mount Sinai Exodus 33 and 34 talk about it 00:02:35.260 --> 00:02:39.500 It was so dreadful and dreadful here is not grotesque or ugly 00:02:39.820 --> 00:02:45.380 Dreadful here is something that brings up such fear out of the awe and the reverence of a holy God 00:02:45.660 --> 00:02:48.820 That people begin to back off because a whole mountain began to tremble 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:57.220 Because here's the reality guys the fallen earth cannot handle the glory of God even when he turns up in 00:02:57.620 --> 00:02:59.620 limited 00:03:00.100 --> 00:03:02.580 In limited proportions if I can call it that 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:10.420 The earth if it had not fallen when it was pristine could have handled God and did handle God 00:03:10.820 --> 00:03:17.820 Because God would come and walk in the Garden of Eden having conversations with Adam and yet after the earth has fallen 00:03:17.820 --> 00:03:21.660 The groaning that is induced cannot handle God 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:30.900 Where the whole earth begins to tremble it begins to back off people begin to back off and out of that you can imagine 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:32.900 Why Moses was unafraid man? 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:38.900 He he didn't even I mean when God says I'll hide you behind my back 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:40.620 When God says I'll hide you behind my hand 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:45.980 It's just an anthropomorphic statement where God is compared to a man and so you give him a hand 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:47.900 It wasn't like God was 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:52.300 Chilling him with his hand. It was God saying hey, you cannot see me because you will not survive 00:03:54.900 --> 00:04:01.180 And out of that Psalm 91 comes I'm saying to you that this was an external God because God could not live inside Moses 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:03.980 I'm saying to you that we actually have in dwelling in us 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:07.240 You don't have to climb up a mountain to meet him 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:15.180 But if we can begin to imagine what it is to have the presence of Yahweh in us 00:04:16.020 --> 00:04:20.020 In our midst, which is why sometimes I'm not scared of meeting like this 00:04:21.580 --> 00:04:24.380 It's very hard to be scared with Jesus present here 00:04:26.580 --> 00:04:31.140 And what are we really scared of death really is that a big deal 00:04:31.140 --> 00:04:36.860 It's such an external temporal thing there are things that are far richer eternal and internal 00:04:44.580 --> 00:04:48.500 And so how do you live in this secret place Moses had to ascend somewhere 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:53.060 He ascended it found God in this place and then out of his experience 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:55.060 He begins to write he that dwells in the secret place 00:04:55.060 --> 00:04:57.060 After that he was never afraid 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:02.820 He had seen him in the burning bush, but that experience paled in comparison 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.980 Paled in comparison there. It was an object that was set alight by God 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:13.580 It was still blazing. It was still magnificent, but it was nothing compared to what happened on Sinai 00:05:15.580 --> 00:05:17.580 And so he was in the burning bush 00:05:18.580 --> 00:05:24.020 It was still blazing. It was still magnificent, but it was nothing compared to what happened on Sinai 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:32.840 And so how do you and I now since we don't have a Sinai to climb how do you and I live there the strange thing is 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:38.460 The first thing that needs to happen if you want to live in the secret place of the most high is you have to be invited 00:05:38.460 --> 00:05:40.460 And guess what you are 00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:46.300 Because very clearly God says to Moses in Exodus 34 for listen 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:49.620 I want you to take those two tablets you've hewn with your own hands 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:53.180 I'm gonna inscribe on them again because you broke the first two so here 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:57.900 I want you to come up the mountain so there's an invitation to come up the mountain 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:03.100 And then 00:06:03.820 --> 00:06:09.420 And in our case guys this invitation is very simple you are invited and what you invited to 00:06:09.780 --> 00:06:12.860 entering into what God is doing entering into what 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:16.020 God is doing. That's the invitation 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:23.220 The invitation is not into worship the invitation is not into prayer the invitation is not into some kind of religious 00:06:24.780 --> 00:06:31.260 Activity the invitation is hey. I am constantly at work. Do you want to enter into what I'm doing? 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:39.400 Entering into what he is doing doesn't matter whether it's my notes getting married whether it's even getting a car whether it's 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:44.260 Derek getting married and getting a car it doesn't matter at the end of the day 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:48.300 Getting a car for your brother. That's what I meant. Yeah 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.620 Yes, but the car is for his brother. Yeah 00:06:54.500 --> 00:07:02.420 So at the end of the day guys the strange thing about God is he operates both in extremely ordinary 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:08.700 mundane circumstances and extremely extraordinary divine circumstances, and he doesn't divide them a 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:12.220 Like he is as involved in your washing of dishes and 00:07:13.140 --> 00:07:18.020 You're finding hand sanitizer as he is in the salvation of an entire nation 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:23.460 He's involved in both and in both cases what he's asking is hey you're invited 00:07:23.460 --> 00:07:28.620 But Jacob listen to what I'm inviting you into I'm inviting into entering into what I'm doing 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:37.540 And therein lies the secret place man is the safest place on earth it is the safest place on earth 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:40.700 I 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:45.980 Second 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:54.540 Once he invites you prepare it's good to go prepared. We'll talk about that talk about what preparing looks like 00:07:56.220 --> 00:08:01.240 Once he invites you prepare and this was a common theme in most of Jesus's teachings in parables 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:08.300 Remember when he says and even in the parable where he says many are invited fewer chosen or many are yeah 00:08:08.700 --> 00:08:14.540 Many are called fewer chosen. He talks about this banquet where people are invited and yet people turn out without being prepared 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:20.040 Some people come up with excuses others turn up without being prepared prepare. We'll talk about that third 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:24.580 Exert faith if you want to enter 00:08:25.860 --> 00:08:29.520 The secret place because the secret place is not actually a place guys 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:34.420 It's not in the Old Testament. Everything was a place 00:08:34.780 --> 00:08:38.100 You had to go to the temple in Jerusalem you had to go to Mount Sinai 00:08:38.180 --> 00:08:42.820 You had to go to a certain river, but no longer do we go to places? 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:46.220 Because God isn't found in a place anymore. He's found in a 00:08:47.260 --> 00:08:49.260 people 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:52.100 So we're not talking about 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:59.900 Going to a place therefore. There's an exertion of faith required. We'll talk about that. So that's one. That's two. That's three the fourth 00:09:00.660 --> 00:09:02.660 the fourth one is 00:09:04.420 --> 00:09:06.420 Once you enter dwell 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:09.520 dwell for 40 days and 40 nights 00:09:10.180 --> 00:09:15.180 Whether it be in an ark whether it be in the desert or whether it be in the mountain 00:09:15.380 --> 00:09:21.060 Learn how to dwell learn how to recite learn how to rest in that place that he's invited into you into I 00:09:21.380 --> 00:09:27.580 Mean Noah spent 40 days and 40 nights in a boat Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in a desert 00:09:28.140 --> 00:09:30.140 Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on a 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:33.980 Mountain it doesn't matter which place you went into the 00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:40.420 Desert was full of wild animal serpents the devil temptations and yet guess what? 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:45.220 Every time you go into the wilderness you find God stronger than any other place 00:09:46.260 --> 00:09:53.660 Never write a song about how miserable you were in the wilderness because that wilderness was definitely not God's making any wilderness that God sends 00:09:53.660 --> 00:09:58.300 You into is a place of absolute strength where people find God like they find him no other place 00:10:01.140 --> 00:10:08.100 I'm tired of people telling me how difficult the wilderness God is taking them through is it is false 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:15.340 It's not biblical check any wilderness in the Bible and every wilderness that God takes you into is a place where God is found 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.940 like no other place 00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:21.860 Be Jesus beat Elijah beat Hagar beat Ishmael beat 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.700 Israel every beats Paul 00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:32.420 Every wilderness is a place where you come back stronger because you meet a God who is much more than you ever expected 00:10:34.260 --> 00:10:39.040 And so it doesn't matter where you end up having God take you 00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:42.320 Because he builds a secret places in different places man 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:47.900 So it doesn't matter whether it's an arc whether it's in the wilderness or whether it's in a glorious mountain 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:54.100 Learn how to dwell learn how to rest and the last one is when you come out of there make sure you unveil his glory 00:10:55.020 --> 00:11:02.100 Make sure you unveil what you learned in the secret place unveil what you learned in the secret place 00:11:07.380 --> 00:11:13.300 Make sure you unveil what you learned in the secret place any questions before we go on 00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:16.740 Four is dwell dwell wherever you are 00:11:17.260 --> 00:11:21.140 Wherever God is right now taking you to figure out more of him 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:25.620 Wherever he wants to reveal himself in a way you've never seen him before 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:32.580 Beat in an arc a float in the water beat in the wilderness or beat on a mountain wherever he takes you so that he can show 00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:34.180 You another 00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:38.180 Facet of his nature learn how to dwell there don't don't don't 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:43.220 Don't get out of that place fast if it takes 40 days a night let the process be complete 00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:55.440 Five is unveil what you learn unveil what you learned in the secret place unveil what you learned in the secret place 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.700 unveil what you learned in the secret place 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:02.180 Unveil what you learned in the secret place 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:04.700 Unveil what you learned in the secret place 00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:13.140 Okay, the fourth one let me let me give you a good example when Sheldon first came to this church 00:12:13.300 --> 00:12:18.220 He just wanted to do stuff. Can I do this? Can I do that? Maybe I should lead worship 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.740 Maybe I should play the piano. Maybe I should do and in the end 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:27.940 I remember sitting him down and telling him hey Sheldon. Can you not do anything? Can you just let God iron out? 00:12:28.900 --> 00:12:33.620 Really lousy stuff out of your life and build really good stuff into your life 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:38.740 And it took a while and I used to feel so bad for Sheldon because he was like a frustrated horse 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:46.940 Wanting to run like crazy who asked this question, okay 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:49.660 so 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:55.020 He was like this horse that wanted to run and not a horse that wanted to be trained 00:12:55.220 --> 00:13:01.940 And I know I've said this before but the difference between the horses that run and the horses that pull the Queen's chariot 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:07.580 through the streets of London are very simple the horses that run can gallop through meadows at 00:13:08.140 --> 00:13:14.540 breakneck speed and then they're the horses that train to pull the Queen's chariots and they're put through a series of tests between 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:17.060 cannonball fire and 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:24.740 bullets and car exhausts and crowd noises and through all that they have to learn how to respond to the whispers of the 00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:32.100 Master and once they learn that six of them are picked to pull the Queen's chariot through the streets of London 00:13:33.020 --> 00:13:35.020 And it takes such a long time 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:39.140 And these are thoroughbreds that have now been tamed 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:48.020 They don't lose their strength, but it's meekness it is strength under control and I remember telling 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.420 Sheldon the story and saying hey 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:55.420 Do you really want to get to a place where you can dwell 40 days and 40 nights? 00:13:55.700 --> 00:14:02.700 Learn the process so that after that God can tell you to do anything and you can do anything without thinking or do you 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:07.860 Want to be given a job to do and this is our plight. I'm just using Sheldon because 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:11.300 if he gets upset, it doesn't bother me much, but 00:14:13.260 --> 00:14:15.260 But 00:14:15.260 --> 00:14:19.820 But the point is this that this is the process that all of us have to go through 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:25.820 There's just no shortcut when it comes to the kingdom. Just no shortcut. Does that answer your question Jeevan? 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:28.340 Okay 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:30.580 Any other questions? 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.700 Hey 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:41.020 Moses could have gotten this stuff inscribed by God on the stones and then said all right job is done 00:14:41.260 --> 00:14:48.020 And then said all right job is done new set of Ten Commandments, let's go down. What was he doing there 40 days and nights? 00:14:50.020 --> 00:14:53.380 What was he doing there? I mean why wouldn't you be 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:58.120 Like stunned by the presence of God in a place man 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:04.240 How could you depart I mean he had to depart because I think God said you have to go 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.860 Otherwise who leaves places like that 00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:13.020 I 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:22.180 Enjoy where you are at if you think it is God and wait for God to begin to expand you and push you into the new 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:26.460 Place if you begin to desire things before time 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:31.020 you'll end up having what you want, but you won't be ready for that space and 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:37.460 If you are in a wrong place get out because that place can't handle you 00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:41.380 So it will only do one other thing it will squeeze you back to size 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:49.380 Let me repeat the second part again if you're in a place that you don't fit anymore 00:15:50.380 --> 00:15:52.460 It will squeeze you into shape 00:15:54.020 --> 00:15:56.620 It's like wearing shoes that you've outgrown 00:15:57.460 --> 00:16:00.720 Somehow you can squeeze your feet back in there 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:05.180 But my god, it's gonna hurt even though the shoes look good 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.460 Any questions 00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:15.820 But Jacob how do I find out if the space is good or not if God hasn't already told you because most of you get 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:22.700 An idea before anyone even comes and tells you if God hasn't told you then go sit with someone who you think 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:26.540 Here's God and asks them and if that if you don't have anybody then come to me 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:32.780 And we can talk and see any questions 00:16:32.780 --> 00:16:39.540 Okay, Diane any questions you look like you have a question beginning to gurgle 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.500 Do I 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:51.060 Do you leave where you are not if yeah, I understand your question 00:16:51.380 --> 00:16:53.380 Yeah, I understand your question 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:06.980 Till Denny's closes down we can always meet and talk at Denny's pray that it doesn't close down 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:14.780 Okay, so we talked about invitation I don't I don't know how what's the time 00:17:16.060 --> 00:17:18.740 That clock is actually right. Is it 333? 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:23.060 Okay 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:30.820 Derek did you tell Charlie and his friends that we go on and on forever? Okay 00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:37.460 So guys the first thing is invitation and so invitation is where you enter 00:17:38.020 --> 00:17:44.500 Into what God is doing into what God is doing and you embrace it you enter into what God is doing 00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:48.840 You enter into what God is doing. It's a risky embrace. It's a risky embrace 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:54.760 It's a risky embrace of his action. It's a risky embrace 00:17:56.200 --> 00:18:00.200 It's a risky embrace of his supernatural action 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:06.160 Yeah 00:18:07.760 --> 00:18:11.300 Because at the end of the day even though from a from God's perspective 00:18:11.300 --> 00:18:16.960 It's not at all risky from our perspective. It seems to be a risky embrace of God's supernatural action 00:18:17.520 --> 00:18:23.700 When it's really not so it's a risky embrace to step out of a boat and walk on water, but it's really not 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:31.740 But this invitation thing has to be a thing that I know we've talked about it so many times 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:36.440 But it's worth saying it again and again guys every week every day get up and look for manna 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:43.380 So the question is Jacob what is this manna thing get up and look for what God is saying for that day 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:45.980 Give us this daily bread was way way beyond food 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:49.100 I 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.960 Know you 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.440 Know what I'm saying 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.000 I know the things that are predictable 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:01.600 I know the things that I'm called to I know the things that I have to do because of the fact that I live in 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:06.080 this world, but besides that what is it about and manna just means what is it? 00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:10.960 What is it about that you have for me that I can enter into because I so want to embrace 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:15.400 Embrace the supernatural action that you are involved in today 00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:19.040 Make it a daily habit 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:25.340 And doesn't matter where we are at doesn't matter that you may have sinned yesterday 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:28.280 God has a way of 00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:30.300 new mercies every 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.280 morning and faithfulness every evening guys there is nothing as 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:40.520 Helpful to break away from a life of sin and worldliness as being connected to the living God 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:46.920 You listen to good music you leave bad music you eat good food you leave bad food 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:53.360 You leave it at a better restaurant you leave the sadder restaurant you find a better school you leave the old school 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:56.460 You come to BC you always leave Ontario 00:20:05.800 --> 00:20:07.800 And so 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:14.080 It wasn't that funny Mike 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.960 So 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.640 So here's the thing guys 00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:26.920 Once you enter into this way of living with 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:33.040 God on a daily basis you will find that life becomes a very godly life more easy 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:44.640 And at the end of the day faith is your response to what God has already provided right faith is faith is not stepping into some 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:49.360 Thing that you are actively pursuing faith is stepping into something that God has already provided 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:54.940 It's a risky embrace of what he's already provided. It's appropriating what he's already done 00:20:55.800 --> 00:20:57.800 I'd suggest to you that acts 00:20:58.560 --> 00:21:00.240 Think think of this 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:07.120 In a day how many times do we indulge in acts that require no recognition of God? 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:10.400 That require no faith or reliance on God 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:16.320 And I would suggest to you that when you look at the list of things you do that does not require a recognition of God 00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:21.320 That does not require faith that does not require a dependence or a reliance on God 00:21:21.320 --> 00:21:25.640 I would suggest to you that none of those acts are regarded in heaven and they're not 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:33.080 respected in heaven because the strange thing according to Hebrews 11 4 is that any act or work that does not have in it a 00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:38.740 Reliance or dependence of God is not regarded. How do we know that? Look at what Abel and Cain brought 00:21:39.260 --> 00:21:46.100 God regarded Abel sacrifice because Abel brought it with faith and Cain's was not given with faith 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:53.620 So even in the things that you are good at what if we cultivated a dependence on reliance on God 00:21:54.340 --> 00:21:57.320 See the problem is we think the opposite of faith is 00:21:57.980 --> 00:22:03.700 Doubt or we think the opposite of faith is fear. The opposite of faith is not doubt or fear. It is 00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:06.620 self-reliance 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.740 For 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:13.740 Far too long we've been taught that the opposite of faith is doubt 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:17.900 Hey doubt seems to be natural because ever since the fall of the world 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:24.020 It is natural for the mind to just click into rationale and doubt can always be overcome by going back into the word and finding 00:22:24.020 --> 00:22:25.820 what God says 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:28.980 Fear can be overcome too. But what do you do with self-reliance? 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:31.820 You have become and I have become so self-reliant 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:36.020 Especially in the areas that we are good at that we don't need to depend on him 00:22:36.260 --> 00:22:43.180 What if he learned how to begin to be reliant in the very areas where we are really good at stuff imagine what will happen then 00:22:44.020 --> 00:22:50.720 Let's assume I'm good at worship. What if I became reliant on you on God? Imagine what that will then do to the worship 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:56.020 What if you're good at computers or what if you're good at whatever you do and you become more reliant on him? 00:23:00.060 --> 00:23:02.060 Any questions 00:23:07.020 --> 00:23:12.340 Yeah, watching this is not my specialty so let me choose something else 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:24.400 Mundane things I'll give you a very simple example. This is really dumb. I really didn't want to share it, but you forced me to 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:28.340 When I go and park underground I 00:23:29.300 --> 00:23:31.940 have to go down four levels and 00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:34.740 Every time I go down four levels 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:40.260 I have the option to turn right or to the option to turn left and it's such a silly thing 00:23:40.260 --> 00:23:43.900 You can turn right or left you can do whatever I want, but I've begun to play this game with God 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:46.340 where I say father I 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:48.860 know this is absurd and silly but 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:54.740 Anytime you want me to turn right or left while I go down this can you just begin to tell me how to go? 00:23:54.740 --> 00:24:00.560 I'd like to do it just so I get into the practice of doing really silly things by asking you 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:04.640 And so every time I go down I'll follow my natural path 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:10.240 Which I've taken but every now and then when I come to the turn, I'll just throw this question at him any choices 00:24:10.800 --> 00:24:16.120 Not because turning right or left is going to save my life or not because I'm going to find ten dollars 00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:20.800 On the ground and then stop the car and put it in and then find the car going away because I forgot to put it 00:24:20.800 --> 00:24:22.640 on break the point 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:30.520 The point is by by learning how to listen in the silliest of things you begin to learn how to listen on the 00:24:31.080 --> 00:24:32.960 more important things 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:37.640 So you can begin to bring him into the mundane where you begin to rely on him 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:41.680 Not because of any other reason but because you want to have your ear finely tuned 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:47.320 During times of worship 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:52.360 Like today, I know I knew I was gonna lead worship because Jane is a slave driver 00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:55.340 I've just gotten back from a trip and she asked me to lead worship but 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:58.140 That family is really getting it today 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.580 So 00:25:03.580 --> 00:25:05.580 Yeah, so 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:08.620 I was standing here. My only thing is father. I know how to do this 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:12.540 I've done this for 27 or 28 years, but could you just show me how you want to go? 00:25:13.260 --> 00:25:19.380 So that we ended up skipping songs doing four lines from each song and going from song to song 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:23.060 And suddenly I realized that the worship team was not leading. It was a congregation that was 00:25:23.260 --> 00:25:28.900 Including man in these little things. It's so easy to do this and remember March and April 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:30.900 We're gonna try and figure out God 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:40.260 And his presence so that by May 1st, we are so aware that we miss him when we are not aware 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:46.500 It'd be like couples on a honeymoon where honey, where were you? 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:51.500 It'll be cool man, I believe that's how it happens. What do I know? 00:25:58.820 --> 00:26:00.140 So 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:03.500 Remember the acts or works that do not carry in it really 00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:08.100 It's not a work that you can't do it. It's a work that you can't do it 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:10.100 It's a work that you can't do it 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:12.100 It's a work that you can't do it 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:19.900 So remember the acts or works that do not carry in it reliance or a recognition of God our faith are actually not 00:26:20.020 --> 00:26:22.020 respected in heaven 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:25.560 Very odd a but they're not respected in heaven 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:32.380 Here's the other thing we need to do 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:36.020 Faith always names a journey guys faith always names a journey 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:39.180 faith names a journey as 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.820 In 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:43.900 As soon as you think God is saying something to you 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:49.440 Regardless of whether it'd be how to deal with this present epidemic or how to deal with 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:56.660 Future prospects or how to deal with the situation that you're personally going through faith names a journey 00:26:56.660 --> 00:27:01.420 It doesn't leave things unnamed it puts into words what you expect 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:06.500 The easiest way to hollow out faith is to have low expectations 00:27:09.260 --> 00:27:12.540 Lower your expectations and you will need very little faith 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:22.880 So faith names a journey so name what you are expecting of God based on what God is saying 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:26.580 You're being invited to enter into name what God is 00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:33.820 Expecting you to enter into name it and when you name it you have to voice it you have to voice it 00:27:34.260 --> 00:27:36.260 Name the journey 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:44.460 Once you do that begin to recognize and speak about the impossibility of it recognize the impossibility of it 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:52.140 Recognize the impossibility of it 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:57.860 Once you recognize the impossibility of it dare to trust God 00:27:57.860 --> 00:28:00.140 The impossibility of it dare to trust God 00:28:07.060 --> 00:28:09.060 Dare to trust God 00:28:11.020 --> 00:28:16.300 Once you dare to trust God grasp the outcome as your present possession grasp the outcome as 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:21.420 Your present possession as your present 00:28:22.780 --> 00:28:24.780 possession 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:30.860 And 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:33.300 Then it doesn't matter whether you receive it 00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:38.660 In two minutes or 20 up 20 years 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:43.140 Any questions on oh god, this is such a mess 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.700 Any questions 00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:53.220 Faith names a journey. So first you name the journey 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:55.220 Go ahead 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:06.420 Yeah, if it is time-dependent and it ain't happening go back and ask God why 00:29:09.780 --> 00:29:11.780 This is a very conversational God 00:29:11.780 --> 00:29:17.700 So if you need something by tomorrow and you've been standing and you do not know how it's gonna happen 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:23.420 Go and ask God begin to have conversations like don't you know it's tomorrow father and I still don't have an answer 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.980 What do I do next go ask him? 00:29:27.300 --> 00:29:30.300 Faith must be so chill that there should be no 00:29:30.820 --> 00:29:36.580 Stress in it the moment faith is a matter of stressing. You know that something is missing 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:42.500 It has to be from a place where it is 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:45.060 Relational and conversational 00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:53.180 It is relational and conversational whenever anything with God loses relationality, you know that it ain't pure 00:29:56.300 --> 00:29:58.300 Fear causes a loss in relationality 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:06.380 Doubt causes a loss in relationality as with your spouse if there was fear between you and your spouse 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:10.820 It's impossible to relate the way you can if there's doubt. It's just out of question 00:30:11.020 --> 00:30:14.860 So one of the ways you know whether you are walking in faith or not is 00:30:15.580 --> 00:30:18.100 Is the quality of your relationship? 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:25.100 It is improving it still maintains the same pleasure or increased pleasure that 00:30:25.780 --> 00:30:28.660 Than before and there's no disturbance to it 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.700 Someone asked me this question so 00:30:37.060 --> 00:30:45.020 When you're anxious about something, how do you know whether that anxiety is created by you or whether that anxiety is created by 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:50.300 God in terms of God saying hey, you got to do something you got to do something 00:30:50.300 --> 00:30:55.020 Is it God saying you got to do something do something or is it you saying you got to do something do something at the end of 00:30:55.020 --> 00:30:59.820 The day guys whenever there's fretting involved fretting do not fret 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:04.860 It says in Psalm 37 whenever there's fretting involved you need to go and do something 00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:12.700 Involved you need to go and realize the fact that fretting is evil and it rises from my intent to have my way and 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.740 it usually is a 00:31:16.020 --> 00:31:21.060 Is a symptom of control and it usually happens without planning that involves God 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:23.460 Let me repeat that again whenever I fret over something 00:31:23.780 --> 00:31:29.780 When I'm how do I know whether an anxiety that I have is an anxiety that comes from me or whether it's an anxiety 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:37.900 Where God is prompting me to keep checking how I know it is whenever I fret it is either because I am trying to control 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:40.300 the outcome 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:47.980 Without planning with God whenever I fret it is usually because I want my way and I do not have God involved in it 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:54.100 Jesus never fretted because he did not ever have his plans in mind and he always 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:57.860 Included the Spirit of God in the way he needed to go 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:05.180 Anxiety is usually a direct result of me trying to control stuff and finding out that I'm not able to control stuff 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.980 Hence everybody wants toilet paper 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:16.580 Yeah 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:23.540 Yeah, it's crazy man how much we try to control stuff 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:36.140 So faith names the journey make sure you voice out what your expectations are and if your expectations are not high enough if 00:32:36.300 --> 00:32:40.740 Bill Gates or Steve Job's can meet your needs. You don't need God and 00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:43.820 They can meet most Christians needs 00:32:45.860 --> 00:32:49.500 Between Gates and Job's we could have a new God called Gates Job's 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:53.620 Yeah 00:32:54.460 --> 00:32:55.620 So, yeah 00:32:55.620 --> 00:33:01.460 Jeff throw Jeff Bezos in too and then you'll get things delivered really fast. There'll be no need for faith 00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:06.780 So name a journey may voice it out. May your expectations be so ridiculous 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:13.240 Then recognize the impossibility of it. You must recognize the impossibility of it and speak about it 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:19.420 If you don't speak about how impossible it is, then what's the point? How do we know these things? Is it biblical? 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:22.740 Look at Romans 4 70 to 20 Abraham does this 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:28.260 And once you speak about how impossible it is then dare to trust God 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:35.100 A voice it if you don't tell your story before it happens the story that is told after it happens lacks 00:33:36.260 --> 00:33:38.260 suspense 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:42.860 Tell your story before it happens 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:50.940 We try to hedge our bets by not telling people what we expect so that should it fail we still save face 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:54.220 We say we're trying to save God's face we are trying to save our face 00:33:55.780 --> 00:33:57.060 Fourth 00:33:57.060 --> 00:34:02.980 Grasp the outcome as your present possession if you dare to trust him now you begin to behave like a my name's Abraham 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.740 But I'm changing it to 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:08.280 Abraham because even though I don't have a kid and it's been 20 years now 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:12.260 Guess what? I'm so convinced that I'm grasping the outcome as my present possession 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.980 and then the last one is 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:20.100 Regardless of whether you receive it in two years or 20 years you have learned the first four steps so well that 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:24.780 It's very hard to break you from it 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:29.180 Any questions guys anything you want to add anything you want to challenge? 00:34:37.340 --> 00:34:42.180 Thing is guys faith became a necessity only after Adam fell eight 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:49.660 Adam fell eight it's strange how Adam has never mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 in all the guys mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 00:34:49.660 --> 00:34:54.460 You would think that a guy who came first would be mentioned and Adam has never mentioned 00:34:56.540 --> 00:34:58.540 It goes straight to came 00:34:58.620 --> 00:35:04.940 Sorry, it goes straight to Abel Adam isn't mentioned because he did not need faith. He just needed obedience 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:07.940 Faith was a result of Adam's eyes being open 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:13.300 And so here are the things that you have to recognize comes at you even at a time like this 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:17.940 These are the things that we will struggle with on a daily basis ever since the fall 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:23.140 Adam's eyes were open as Satan said it would be open, but look at what his eyes were open to one 00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:25.780 reasoning 00:35:27.100 --> 00:35:29.100 to 00:35:29.100 --> 00:35:31.100 speculative thinking 00:35:32.020 --> 00:35:34.020 clockwise 00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:42.940 eding 00:35:45.540 --> 00:35:47.540 I 00:35:50.580 --> 00:35:52.580 thought 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:56.460 you 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.820 I 00:36:01.100 --> 00:36:06.100 Leave alone the fact that his eyes open to evil. 00:36:06.100 --> 00:36:10.100 When it came to taking God at his word, 00:36:10.100 --> 00:36:14.100 the moment Adam's eyes opened, these things kicked in. 00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:18.100 And man, do we struggle with this every day. Every day. 00:36:18.100 --> 00:36:22.100 I mean, take the simple thing like COVID that's happening right now, 00:36:22.100 --> 00:36:26.100 and this is what we're battling with, eh? 00:36:26.100 --> 00:36:32.100 Every day, your eyes are open to this idea of reasoning things out. 00:36:32.100 --> 00:36:35.100 Every day you indulge in speculative thinking. 00:36:35.100 --> 00:36:39.100 If this happens, this could happen, and if this happens, then it's speculative thinking, 00:36:39.100 --> 00:36:43.100 where you begin to think about and speculate about what you do not yet know. 00:36:43.100 --> 00:36:46.100 Every day we go into calculated responses, 00:36:46.100 --> 00:36:50.100 as in I have to weigh the pros and cons before I decide. 00:36:50.100 --> 00:36:55.100 Pros and cons weighing is not the way any of those guys would have made it into Hebrews 11. 00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:59.100 None of the Hebrews 11 guys chose this, eh? 00:36:59.100 --> 00:37:02.100 They never made it into Hebrews 11 had they chosen this path. 00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:05.100 And yet this is what confronts us every day. 00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:09.100 Fourth, selective allegiance, as in this I should walk with God, 00:37:09.100 --> 00:37:13.100 this I should go with my boss, this I should walk with God, 00:37:13.100 --> 00:37:16.100 this I should go with my doctor, this I should walk with God, 00:37:16.100 --> 00:37:18.100 this I should go with family traditions. 00:37:18.100 --> 00:37:24.100 It's selective allegiance because the outcome is determined by the allegiance you forge. 00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:28.100 And the last one is sheer rationale, and rationale is a little different from reasoning. 00:37:30.100 --> 00:37:34.100 Diana's going to ask how is it different, so I'm going to answer before she asks. 00:37:34.100 --> 00:37:38.100 Reasoning is reasoning that Diana will ask that question. 00:37:38.100 --> 00:37:44.100 Rational is the ability to have a philosophy that you constantly use as a foundation 00:37:44.100 --> 00:37:47.100 to interpret the world through. It's your worldview. 00:37:47.100 --> 00:37:49.100 Fight this, guys. Fight this. 00:38:07.100 --> 00:38:11.100 Yeah, don't get mad and blame Adam. If he hadn't fallen, you would have. 00:38:11.100 --> 00:38:16.100 Yep. Eyes were open to the knowledge of good and evil. 00:38:16.100 --> 00:38:22.100 So Adam wasn't aware of evil, which is what makes his fall so pathetic 00:38:22.100 --> 00:38:25.100 that he fell even though he didn't know evil. 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:29.100 We guys have a far greater struggle. We have to choose between good and evil. 00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:33.100 He had to choose between obedience and disobedience with no evil. 00:38:33.100 --> 00:38:38.100 I would say it's hiding under his wings and being able to see adversity and evil 00:38:38.100 --> 00:38:42.100 and not be affected by it or not be influenced by it. 00:38:42.100 --> 00:38:48.100 So when Moses talks about hiding under his wings, he's not talking about an escape from adversity. 00:38:48.100 --> 00:38:50.100 He's talking about being in the midst of adversity. 00:38:50.100 --> 00:38:54.100 He's talking about being in the midst of adversity and being able to see it. 00:38:54.100 --> 00:38:57.100 So that's why we have to choose between good and evil. 00:38:57.100 --> 00:39:01.100 He's not hiding under his wings. He's not talking about an escape from adversity. 00:39:01.100 --> 00:39:06.100 He's talking about being in the midst of adversity and still being safe. 00:39:06.100 --> 00:39:10.100 Yeah. So it's not this idea of being raptured. 00:39:10.100 --> 00:39:14.100 Christians want to be raptured. God is not interested. 00:39:14.100 --> 00:39:20.100 No, really. He wants us to be in the midst of adversity and in the midst of adversity, become a safe haven. 00:39:20.100 --> 00:39:25.100 The Ark was a classic example of the midst of adversity and yet a safe haven. 00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:43.100 Yeah, very good. 00:39:43.100 --> 00:39:51.100 Reasoning is this insatiable thirst we have to understand things before we can obey. 00:39:51.100 --> 00:39:55.100 We have to have our reason satisfied. 00:39:55.100 --> 00:40:01.100 And it's overrated, guys. You do not need to understand to obey. 00:40:01.100 --> 00:40:05.100 The obedient believe and the believing obey. 00:40:05.100 --> 00:40:11.100 But to try and understand stuff before you obey is so irrational 00:40:11.100 --> 00:40:15.100 because we are talking about a God who works in the impossible. 00:40:24.100 --> 00:40:28.100 Yeah. Seek wisdom and understanding. 00:40:28.100 --> 00:40:31.100 Seek God's wisdom and understanding. 00:40:31.100 --> 00:40:36.100 Because there's a difference between Sophia, which is worldly wisdom, and then there is God's wisdom. 00:40:36.100 --> 00:40:41.100 God's wisdom is enshrined in the person of Christ and his nature. 00:40:41.100 --> 00:40:46.100 So seeking the wisdom of God, which he gives ungrudgingly, as it says in James chapter 1, 00:40:46.100 --> 00:40:51.100 is very different from trying to reason things with Sophia, which is the wisdom of the world. 00:40:51.100 --> 00:40:55.100 So it's two completely different things. And one will contradict the other. 00:40:55.100 --> 00:41:01.100 Divine wisdom contradicts worldly wisdom. That's a strange thing. It contradicts worldly wisdom. 00:41:02.100 --> 00:41:07.100 And so even when we deal with epidemics like the one we are dealing with, 00:41:07.100 --> 00:41:12.100 remember that faith does not deny reality. 00:41:12.100 --> 00:41:16.100 It faces the facts and then moves to the truth. 00:41:16.100 --> 00:41:22.100 Faith does not deny reality. Faith does not deny reality. 00:41:25.100 --> 00:41:28.100 I think I've told you about this girl I used to work with. 00:41:28.100 --> 00:41:32.100 I used to sit next to her and I would sneeze all over her and she'd say, 00:41:32.100 --> 00:41:35.100 you have a cold? And I'd say, no, I just have symptoms of cold. 00:41:35.100 --> 00:41:41.100 And then I'd sneeze over her face again. So that is an extreme. 00:41:43.100 --> 00:41:50.100 So you cannot deny the reality of your situation, but after you face the facts, 00:41:50.100 --> 00:41:55.100 then you start moving towards the truth. Classic example, Abraham. 00:41:55.100 --> 00:42:00.100 Having looked at his body and realizing the fact that he was absolutely important 00:42:00.100 --> 00:42:05.100 and was incapable of bearing children, he now began to look at the truth 00:42:05.100 --> 00:42:10.100 and was fully persuaded that the one who said that he would become the father of nations 00:42:10.100 --> 00:42:15.100 was fully capable of bringing it to pass. So one must confront facts and reality. 00:42:15.100 --> 00:42:24.100 So if someone were to get this COVID thingy, it is required that we recognize that the person has it. 00:42:24.100 --> 00:42:30.100 After that, it is required that we begin to help the person move towards the truth of healing. 00:42:30.100 --> 00:42:35.100 And then there's another question that rises up. When you move this person... 00:42:35.100 --> 00:42:40.100 Oh, shucks, the thing is on, right? Can you turn it off for a while? 00:42:40.100 --> 00:42:45.100 And then you'll have to turn it on again. And then you'll have to piece it together. 00:42:45.100 --> 00:42:48.100 Yeah. 00:42:48.100 --> 00:42:50.100 Sinserah Mubarak.