WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: The Pleasure of Obedience Publishing Date: 2023-04-23T06:00:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/the-pleasure-of-obedience/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Check, check. Okay, we're starting, guys. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:19.000 So Jacob wanted to speak about the power to keep and preserve people. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:29.000 So from Psalm 121, let's start with verse 5. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:34.000 Psalm 121. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:01:05.000 So God is our keeper, right? No doubt about that. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:20.000 And to keep is originally from the Hebrew root shamar, which means to attend, protect, guard, hedge in, give shade, provide an umbrella. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.000 So many words for shamar, to keep. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:30.000 So keeping us, his shamar, is actually a covenant with us. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.000 From Numbers, the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:46.000 From Genesis, when God said to Jacob, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land, like as his everlasting promise to the Israelites. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:51.000 It is an everlasting covenant to us. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:56.000 And then from Hebrews, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:01.000 So his keeping us is like a promise. It is a covenant. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:11.000 And if you understand as God, God as keeper, you understand that this is the very nature of him to keep us. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:16.000 Then the more you are able to, like Peter, get out of the boat. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.000 And the more you are able to also keep others. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:29.000 So I have, I'm very privileged that I play the anti-life for many kids. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:36.000 And so when parents entrust me with their kids, there's a few things that I've realized. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:45.000 Just as when God entrusts me to watch over his sheep, when the parents entrust me, there is a handing over, right? 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.000 So the children know who's in charge, who is the safe person. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.000 Like Sheldon said to me this morning when he gave me Phoebe. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 Phoebe, he didn't say Auntie Mae, he said Mae Te Te is the boss now. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:04.000 So you have to listen to her, right? So there's a handing over. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:10.000 There is, when God hands us over to his sheep, to his flock, he's empowering us. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.000 He's giving us his authority, right? 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:18.000 And there's order, right? Because the flock also know it. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:22.000 Just like my niece also knows it, right? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:24.000 One of my nieces is kind of a wild one. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.000 She does not listen to me when the parents are around, when her grandparents are around. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.000 But when it's just me, she just suddenly obeys the rules. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.000 There's a switch on, right? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.000 So the flock also recognizes their sheep. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.000 So there is this entrustment. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.000 As keepers, it is not passive, right? 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.000 It is actually very costly. You keep with your life. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.000 It requires you to be very vigilant. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:58.000 I was just telling somebody downstairs, usually after worship, I know my duty with Phoebe is done. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:01.000 I almost turn off and I start talking to people. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:06.000 Today, I was like, no, I can't turn off. I still have to be vigilant about her, right? 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.000 So keeping is costly. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:14.000 So we're vigilant with God, especially when you're keeping his flock, because he gives us the Holy Spirit, right? 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.000 So we need to be so vigilant in what he's telling us so that we can pray for our flock. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.000 We can send a word. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:30.000 We can ask if they need help before they even need to ask for help, because the Holy Spirit gives us that prompting. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.000 And it's a completely dependent relationship. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:40.000 I'm completely dependent on God and the Holy Spirit and with the people I am keeping, right? 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.000 It is a dependency that isn't demanding. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.000 It isn't controlling. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.000 And it doesn't require any obligation. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 It's definitely not about power over people. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:55.000 It is about keeping them, watching over them. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:00.000 And with keeping, you also give away your best. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:08.000 This morning, Phoebe had yogurt and I don't know what else was in there, maybe blueberries and cereal. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.000 But she saw me eating hash browns. 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:14.000 Did she want her yogurt anymore? No. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.000 It's still downstairs in the fridge. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.000 And she had my hash browns instead, right? 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.000 So you give away your best. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:27.000 Just as Jonathan gave David his robe, his armor, his sword, 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:32.000 he was in essence giving away his right to be king, right? 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 And the best example is God gave away his best, right? 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:40.000 He gave us his very best in Jesus. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.000 So keeping is also about giving away your best. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:50.000 And then it's also about knowing your boundaries and the permission that God gives you. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:58.000 So it's interesting because children know their boundaries almost immediately, right? 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.000 Phoebe knows very well she can get chips from Jacob. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:06.000 She also knows very well she has full access to Betty's phone. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:11.000 She knows with me she can go right into the mud, step right into the puddles. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.000 There is no problem there. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.000 But she doesn't do that with certain people, right? 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.000 Even children know their boundaries and what their given permission is. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:26.000 So because I know who is keeping me, I'm also able to keep others well. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:31.000 And that I can step in spiritual warfare for them, 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:35.000 knowing that I will not be harmed because of the one above who keeps me. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:41.000 We can keep each other financially, not worrying about our own security, 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:47.000 and also prioritizing another's affairs without worrying about looking after myself first, 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.000 because I know who keeps me. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:56.000 So one thing I notice about keeping in this house, in this body, is also it's multi-pronged. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:01.000 It's not just me keeping Phoebe, but there's others, right? 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.000 It's not just me keeping those in my house church. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:10.000 I know as we've been growing it's multi-pronged in that there's multiple people keeping each other, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.000 which is what makes it so beautiful. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:18.000 Because God takes pleasure when we are in one accord with one another, 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:26.000 as it says in Psalms, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live in one accord with another. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:31.000 So as we watch over each other, keep each other, 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:38.000 in essence to have exercise, great care over one another, this brings God delight. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:43.000 And he really dwells among his people who are keeping each other. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:47.000 And I know I'm using a very simple example here with children, 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:52.000 but I think many of you guys can relate with your own kids. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.000 But how can God trust us with bigger things if we don't keep well in the smaller things, right? 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:04.000 So when Jesus asked Peter the three times, 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.000 Simon, son of John, do you love me? 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.000 And he said, feed my sheep, right? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.000 Three times he said, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:24.000 I know I missed a little bit about what you guys were sharing earlier when Derek was saying about 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:27.000 he will leave the 99 to go after the one. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.000 That is the intention God has for us, right? 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:33.000 To care and nourish that deep, deep keeping for one another. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:39.000 And it is part of his commission for us that demands our keeping, right? 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:44.000 It's not a request, but it's actually a command from him, 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:49.000 part of his great commission that we be in very keeping relationships that nourish one another. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.000 So I leave you with a question. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 Knowing you are kept sheep by the great shepherd, 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:00.000 how will you go about being entrusted with the flock? 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.000 Thank you, Mae. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:11.000 Any questions for Mae? 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:16.000 And it's so quiet. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.000 You guys okay? 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:23.000 Alright. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:29.000 Okay, I want to talk about the pleasure of obedience. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:10:02.000 So there was a king, and the king had three soldiers, Don, Paven, and Mark. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 Okay, let's keep it interesting. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 So three soldiers, and the king summoned them one morning. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:16.000 And the king said, okay, I need you to go to this river bank tonight, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:21.000 and at night I want you to take a sack with you as well, 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:27.000 and fill your sacks with whatever you find at the river bank. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:31.000 Fill it up, and come next morning before dawn. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:37.000 Not that dawn, like the other dawn. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Before dawn. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:43.000 And then when you come, whoever comes first, you're going to be rewarded. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:47.000 Okay, so Don, Paven, and Mark, they get going. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:50.000 Don and Paven are very competitive, you know that, right? 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.000 So once they get to the river bed, Don and Paven do whatever they can do. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.000 Okay, there's a stone, or whatever, they put it in the sack, they come back. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:01.000 Mark is there, Mark is like, okay, I'm going to take some more time. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.000 Do it slow, do it right, and Mark takes his time. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.000 They come back. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.000 Don and Paven are waiting for Mark to come. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Mark is a few minutes late. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:12.000 They are at the king's palace. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.000 The king is there. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.000 The king says, Don, Paven, what you got? 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.000 They open, and they find out that their sacks are filled with gold. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.000 They thought they were picking up stones, but it was filled with gold. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:30.000 But they did not fill the sacks up, because they were in a rush, and they wanted to compete, and they wanted to get back first. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:34.000 They did not obey fully what was asked of them. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.000 But Mark, on the other hand, look at you, Mark. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:43.000 Mark, on the other hand, Mark took his time, because Mark heard what the king said. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:50.000 The king said, Go, when you're there, make sure you fill the sack with what you find. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.000 And then you come back. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:12:00.000 Mark heard what was said by the king and took the time to obey it to the minutest detail. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 What the king then says is, Mark, you've done well. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.000 What you've gathered is for you. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.000 This is your reward. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.000 It's just a story of obedience. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:15.000 And this happens with us when God says, Hey, Derek, I want you to do something. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.000 I want you to do this. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:22.000 I can do what he's asking me to do, either completely. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:30.000 I can rebel and not do it at all, or I can do a part of it, and then report back to him and say, I've done it. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:38.000 And the thing that we need to be careful, guys, is oftentimes even doing a part of it looks about right. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.000 It looks about right. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:44.000 Look at Don and Paul. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.000 They look about right. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.000 But it doesn't matter how you look, man. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.000 I'm just kidding. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:53.000 But the idea is you've got to do it fully. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.000 You've got to do it completely. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:13:01.000 OK, so we'll spend a few minutes talking about the pleasure of obedience. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:05.000 I want us to first go to a scripture. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:11.000 We'll go to Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, verse 13. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:16.000 Ecclesiastes, chapter 12, verse 13. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.000 The end of the matter all has been heard. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:27.000 Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:30.000 Everything else can be summarized to this. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:37.000 Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:42.000 In Mark chapter 12, a bunch of guys get together, the scribes, they go to Jesus. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:46.000 And they ask Jesus, what is the most important commandment? 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.000 And Jesus responds and he says, the most important commandments, there are two. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:57.000 Number one, love your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, with all your soul. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:02.000 And then he says, love your neighbor like you love yourself. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:10.000 And the scribe, one of the scribes, who is really keen on what Jesus is saying, he responds with a very interesting response. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:15.000 Here's what he said. Mark chapter 12, here is the scribes' response. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:21.000 And to love him, as in God, with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:31.000 and to love one's neighbor as oneself is much more than all whole burned offerings and sacrifices. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:36.000 All of a sudden, this guy who has learned through the Bible, who has read through the Old Testament, 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:44.000 is immediately correlating what Jesus said to a passage in the first Samuel chapter 15. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:49.000 Jesus said, the greatest of commandments is to love. Love God, love people. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:54.000 And the guy who is listening to this immediately goes back to something he has read. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.000 Is my mic doing the same thing again? 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.000 Is it good? 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:10.000 So the guy who is listening and the scribe immediately responds with this. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:20.000 He immediately responds with first Samuel chapter 15, because he says to obey God, to love him means, and it's better than sacrifices. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:23.000 So that story, first Samuel chapter 15, I want to quickly go through it, 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:28.000 and then we'll look at a few things that are practical for us in terms of our living today. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:38.000 In first Samuel chapter 15, Saul is the king, and Saul is commanded by God to go and basically kill all of the Amalekites. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:44.000 God very specifically tells him, go kill all of the Amalekites. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:49.000 You can't have anyone, anyone left. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:56.000 The entire people group, all of them, they have to be killed. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.000 They have to be taken out of the equation. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:12.000 And so Saul goes, and while Saul is out at it, he decides to just leave the king and the sheep and the cattle and kills everything else. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.000 He doesn't kill the king. He doesn't kill the cattle, and he keeps it. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:21.000 And when Samuel confronts him and he asks the question, why did you do it? 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:27.000 He says, well, the sheep and the cattle, all of that I preserved just so that we can do sacrifices later. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:35.000 And God had already told Samuel that this has happened, and Samuel responds with the line that the scribe in Mark chapter 12 says, 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:42.000 which is much better than sacrifices, is obedience. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:47.000 Hearing is better than what? 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:54.000 Sacrifices, when God looks at sacrifice in the Old Testament, they felt like we need to do this. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000 We need to keep doing it. We need to keep doing it. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:01.000 But God's response is much more than sacrifice, much better than that, is obedience. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:11.000 And so for us then, how can we walk a lifestyle where obedience is something that we take pleasure in, that we delight in? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:20.000 Because when I was in my teenage years, because I grew up in a Pentecostal church, 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:29.000 I would often obey things because if I didn't obey it, something will happen. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:34.000 Sorry. You guys are like all good. Maybe it was only me. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:40.000 But yeah, I obeyed a bunch of stuff because if I didn't do it, I was afraid. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.000 And then there was this fear of missing out too, right? Get vaccinated, otherwise you'll... No, just kidding. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:52.000 But the idea is they'll tell you, well, there are things that you take as you go through life and you go, well, if I don't do this, I'll miss out. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.000 And so I'll do it. It's very true, guys. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:18:05.000 If you really check your lives, there may be things that you do because you're doing it, because others are doing it, 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:10.000 or because you fear that if you don't do it, something may happen. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:20.000 It sounds funny when I say it, but there are things sometimes that we do because it seems like if we don't do it, something may happen. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.000 Or it's not right, and therefore we need to do it. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:29.000 But there is a greater way of living, which is you do and you obey out of love. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:37.000 Then it's pleasure-filled. Then it's a lifestyle where you're doing things out of pleasure. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.000 And that's what we want to talk about today, the pleasure of obedience, 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:46.000 where you have this thriving relationship with the Father, with the Son, with the Holy Spirit. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:54.000 And because you have a thriving relationship with God, you then walk through life with this idea, with this mindset, 00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:00.000 with this way of living, which is I want to obey out of love. I want to obey because I want to bring him delight. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.000 I want to obey. What's the next thing I can obey in? What's the next thing I can mature in? 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:09.000 What's the next thing that I can take on? I want to obey. I want to obey. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:12.000 It's a very different way of living. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:19.000 And one of the things that I'd like you guys to look at in your lives is what are the new things that you're obeying God for? 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:24.000 Are you stagnant in it? In that, yeah, you kind of know your life. You know how to live. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:29.000 There are things that we have become experts in, and they're good. They're nice things, good ways of living. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.000 But are you maturing in your obedience? 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:42.000 Are you going from one level of obedience into another level of obedience into another level? 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.000 Jesus actually spoke about this. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.000 Don't I think today I needed help with this, but I'll try to log in again. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.000 Otherwise, you may have to fix this. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.000 So Jesus actually spoke about this. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:02.000 Let's read this verse. It is spoken of Jesus, Philippians chapter two, verse eight. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:10.000 And being found in human form, Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:17.000 Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:21.000 So Jesus's obedience did not start with death. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Jesus's obedience started with whatever he was first obedient with. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:32.000 And as life went on, he matured into a place where he was obedient unto death. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:40.000 And so for me and for you, we've got to ask ourselves, what are the things that I'm maturing in in terms of obedience? 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:45.000 Because it's very easy for us because we are part of a church that's growing, that's moving. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:50.000 There are things that we're doing. It looks like, wow, man, I'm doing these things. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.000 I didn't do it 10 years ago, 15 years ago. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:57.000 I'm doing these things and they look good and they are good things and you are part of something. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:02.000 But you've got to ask yourself, are you progressively obeying? 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:06.000 Are you seeking continually to obey him more and more? 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:10.000 And that's a question that we need to ask. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:13.000 So to obey is better than ministry. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:16.000 To obey is better than sacrifice. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:19.000 To obey is better than serving. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:24.000 And when I say these things, really what I'm trying to say is things that you do because you need to do it. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:29.000 Things that you do because you heard it and you want to obey God and you're just like, yeah, I'll go for it. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:33.000 But there is a greater level of obedience that we are to give him. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:39.000 Where we look at our lives and we go beyond this, I can obey you. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.000 I want to obey you. How can I obey you in this? 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:48.000 If I look at my life, I can very clearly without any second or spend, I can very clearly say, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:53.000 this, this and this, these are three areas that jump right out at me and I need to change in the way I am. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:56.000 Same with you guys. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.000 If you spend time, it will quickly come to your mind. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:02.000 Areas where you're lacking in obedience. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:08.000 You're not rebelling perhaps, but you're not doing it the full way, the complete way, the correct way. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:14.000 You're not a mark yet. You're like a dawn and a pavan. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.000 So think through it as we spend some time looking at this. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:25.000 So obedience is a process and you move from one level of obedience to a deeper level of obedience as you walk with him. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:32.000 You move from one level of obedience to a deeper level of obedience as you walk with him. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:37.000 I want to read Romans chapter 6, 17, but thanks be to God. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.000 This is a very important one, guys. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:43.000 But thanks be to God. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:52.000 That you were you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:57.000 You see the lines there to the standard of teaching to which you are committed. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:06.000 You became obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:12.000 Spend some time on it because it's so easy sometimes to. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:20.000 Oh, Romans 6, 12. 6, 12 is it 6, 17 Romans chapter 6, 17. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:27.000 There is a standard to which that we commit to when it comes to obedience and learning. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:31.000 There is a standard that to which we commit to. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:36.000 And what is that stand? Yes, then. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:46.000 I'm saying in our minds and in the way we live, there is a standard to which we have committed to in terms of walking with him and being obedient to him. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:51.000 And what is said here in 6, chapter 12, sorry, chapter 6, verse 12, 17. 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:59.000 Sorry, it says you become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you committed. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:02.000 So whatever you committed to, to that point, you're becoming obedient. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:09.000 To whatever extent you haven't committed yourself to, you're not obedient yet, in other words. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:17.000 So think about it. What level of teaching have you and I committed to? 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:23.000 One of the things we spoke about in Wally a few days ago is this idea that it's so easy for us, 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:29.000 even when we belong to a people, not to go through the process of discipleship. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:39.000 Because we can be moving from one meeting to the next meeting to the next meeting very quickly, very easily. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:46.000 We are in a hub meeting, then we have a house-touch meeting, and then we have encounter meeting, and then we have Sunday meeting, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:51.000 and then we have the other meeting, and then there are meetings. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:57.000 But we have to commit to a process of obedience, a process of discipleship. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:03.000 And if you hear me and you're like, yeah, I attend and I'm part of these meetings, 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:09.000 but I'm not hooked in to a process of discipleship, you have to. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:20.000 It will change your life. Process of discipleship and you committing yourself to the level of teaching, to the level of discipleship, is so important. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.000 And I want to mention this because as we grow, as there are people coming, 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:30.000 it is possible that you attend things but you haven't committed to discipleship. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:36.000 And it's something that you have to be very aware of. Because very quickly time can go by. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:42.000 If you don't commit to it, you, as per what I just read, Romans 6.17, oh, got it right this time, 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:49.000 Romans 6.17, you obey to the standard to which you've committed yourself. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:58.000 Okay. So the process itself continues on as we live in that we move from one level of obedience to another. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:05.000 Obedience is learned. Hebrews 5 verse 8. That's why discipleship is so important. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:11.000 Because obedience is learned. Jesus had to do this. How? 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:17.000 Hebrews 5 verse 8, although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:25.000 Jesus learned obedience. He went from a level of obedience to the next by learning. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:35.000 I have to, we can grow in our obedience by learning, by submitting, by giving ourselves to the process of discipleship. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:43.000 It's so important, guys. If it's only one person who hears this and you think, that's true, I'm part of this church, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:50.000 but I haven't committed myself to discipleship, do it. It'll be the best decision that you make. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:58.000 Do it. Find your house church leader, find someone and say, I need to, not someone, 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:05.000 find someone in the arrangement that's been set up at Acts 29 and say, I want to learn. I want to disciple myself. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:09.000 Can you? Do it. It'll change your life. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:18.000 One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it. One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:25.000 Well, you can study as much as you want to about forgiveness, about bitterness, about offense. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:35.000 But after all those studies, if you haven't taken a step of progression in obeying, it's really worthless. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:41.000 It's just knowledge. But if you decide, I have heard, I have understood, I want to commit to obeying. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:49.000 One step that's way better than many years spent learning. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:57.000 And as you take that one step, guess what happens? The Holy Spirit takes you to another level in it, to another depth in it. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:28:03.000 So commit yourself to this, that, Father, I want to obey you. I want to obey you well. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:09.000 I want to find these areas in my life which I haven't given you full access to. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:18.000 And I want to do it well. I want to be obedient to until death, like Christ. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:25.000 You could be asking God to do something to, and God may have said, hey, start this, or I want you to do this this way. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:31.000 And if I say speak, it comes to your mind and you haven't done it, it's inaction. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:40.000 And God is saying, do it. I should have had a Nike t-shirt today. Just do it. Just do it. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:46.000 Because there are things that we sometimes commit to, and we say, we will do it. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:51.000 And then the cares of the world or however you want to phrase it, those things take over. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:57.000 And then you find yourself in a space eight months later, twelve months later, where you're like, oh, I didn't do it. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:07.000 May today be a day, as you hear me, if anything jumps out at you, things that you committed to but you couldn't do for whatever reason, 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:13.000 make a decision to do it, to obey him fully. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:22.000 So obedience is fueled by love. Obedience, true obedience is fueled by love. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:29.000 David understood this Psalm 1, 1947, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:35.000 I will lift up my hands towards your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:40.000 David said, I love you, so I will do it. I love your commandments, so I'll do it. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:47.000 It came from that place. So if I go to the father and say, father, I want to love you more. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:53.000 There are days, guys, when I tell him I don't love you enough. And that's true. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:59.000 I'm not saying you should say it like that. But I tell him I don't love you enough. I want to love you more. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:06.000 I don't love you enough. I want to love you more. And because I want to love you more, show me how I can love you more. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:13.000 And it has to, at the end of the day, love is, it has to lead you to obedient action. 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:22.000 Jesus said it, John chapter 14, 15. John chapter 14, 15, it says, anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:29.000 Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:40.000 So joyful obedience is the evidence of our love for Jesus. Joyful obedience is the evidence of our love for Jesus. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:47.000 So if I say from now until the end of the year, man, I love Jesus so much, love Jesus so much, love Jesus so much, 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:57.000 I can speak as much as I want to speak. But if you do not see joyful obedience unto Jesus, my love ain't love. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:08.000 So Jesus said it very clearly. My mom, I may have shared this before, but she grew up in a traditional Christian family 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:15.000 and at one point in her life, she decided that she wants to know God more and commit her life to Him. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:20.000 And she had this question about, oh, is baptism a real thing? Should I get baptized? Should I not? 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:26.000 People are seeing it. I don't really know. And she was cooking one day. And while she was cooking, she's saying, 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:31.000 Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you. And she kept on cooking. And then all of a sudden she heard a voice. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:36.000 It said, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. And so you'll say, oh, what did I just hear? 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:41.000 If you love me, keep my commandments. She felt like she had to go open the Bible. So she runs to the room. 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:49.000 She opens the Bible directly to John chapter 14, 15, where it said, if you love me, you will obey my commandments. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:55.000 Guys, love and obedience, they go hand in hand. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:32:02.000 We can do all of the talking, but unless I am obedient to Him, I ain't loving Him. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:08.000 And what I'm talking about is let's love with pleasure, with delight. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:17.000 May we be a church, as we say, as people come, they interact with us, they spend time with us, may they all say they love God the Father. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:25.000 They love Jesus. They love Holy Spirit. And my goodness, man, these guys, they obey it. 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:34.000 That is something to be told about a church, that we hear and we obey it, obey it fully. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:40.000 First Corinthians chapter 3, 13, there's a message version. I'll read it out loud. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.000 Eventually, there is going to be an inspection. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:51.000 All of the things we're doing, eventually there is going to be an inspection. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:55.000 If you use cheap or inferior materials, you will be found out. 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:01.000 The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You will not get by with a thing. 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:09.000 If your work passes inspection, fine. If it does not, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:14.000 But you won't be torn out. You will survive, but just barely. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:22.000 I'll read that again because it's important. In everything that we do, as I said, we can do it for other reasons too. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:30.000 So if I still haven't matured from how I used to be in that I'm doing it because if someone asks me something and I don't do it, 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:35.000 I know God is also speaking the same thing and I don't do it, I do it because what if I don't? 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:42.000 That's not the right response. I should do it because God is saying do it and I want to love him and do it. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:47.000 And I may not be at that place today, but I can say I want to walk in that direction. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:55.000 When I commit to that, he'll take me there. All I sometimes need to do is commit. I commit, he does the rest. 00:33:55.000 --> 00:34:02.000 I'll read it again because it's important. Eventually, there is going to be an inspection. 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:08.000 If you use cheap or inferior materials, you will be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:13.000 You won't get by with the thing. If your work passes inspection, fine. 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:20.000 If it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over, but you won't be torn out. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:25.000 You will survive, but just barely. 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:33.000 The other thing is, guys, we are not like in Timothy. Paul says to Timothy, be like an athlete who is always training. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:39.000 Our advantage is that our trainer is not outside us. Our trainer is inside us. 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:48.000 And because our trainer is inside us, it's not like the trainer will say, Derek, flick it and then hit it. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:53.000 No, he'll make me do it. He has the power to make me do it. He is inside me. 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:58.000 As a coach, as a trainer who is on the outside, you can only say, well, collect the ball, flick it, hit it. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:04.000 Well, you can keep saying how much ever you want to say, but if the guy doesn't know what it takes to do it, you can only say. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:12.000 But if the coach is living inside you, if the trainer is inside you and you yield it to the trainer, now you can do it. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:18.000 So everything that we're talking about, we are at a great advantage because the Holy Spirit is our trainer. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:24.000 He is inside us. He's a coach and he will have us do things when we come into it. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:34.000 Second thing, obedience accompanies faith. Obedience accompanies faith. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:41.000 If you say you have faith in Jesus, then obedience must accompany your faith. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:45.000 Abraham, you say you believe in this God you heard. Well, you then have to do this. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:53.000 What you have to do this. What you have to take Isaac up the mountain, up Moriah, and you have to sacrifice Isaac. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:36:00.000 You believed that God said, I'm going to make you a father of all nations, of many nations. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.000 Well, then if you believe it, your obedience must go with it. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:09.000 Think of it this way. When Abraham was going up the mountain, two things were going up. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:17.000 On one hand, there was faith. He believed that he will be the father of many nations. 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:25.000 On the other hand, there was obedience. He looked at Isaac and he saw what God promised. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:30.000 And he himself carried obedience with him. So he looked at Isaac, there is faith. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:37.000 I know that God said my generations will become many nations. I know it. He looked at Isaac and he knew it. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:43.000 He looked within himself and he found obedience. So obedience and faith, they go hand in hand. 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:47.000 They absolutely go hand in hand. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:53.000 Iris and I were driving one day and as we were driving, we were praying. 00:36:53.000 --> 00:37:00.000 So praying is faith, hearing God, you're hearing. Anytime I open my mouth, anytime you open your mouth, you're speaking. 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:07.000 And we have faith that he is hearing, that he is there. He's hearing. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:15.000 And so while we were driving, we start praying and as we were praying, God said, take this road this way. 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:23.000 And is that God or no? Well, we are talking with our father. We have faith this is our God. 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:27.000 What is he saying? What is he saying? Go that way. So we start driving that way. 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:33.000 We drive a little bit and we find a lady on the side and she's like the only one on that street and we stop. 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:42.000 And God tells us to do something. And we did exactly what he said to a point where the lady is like, Jesus, I praise you. 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:49.000 Because she has been waiting right there for something, not knowing how it will happen. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:58.000 And two people come by, do something and she's like, I praise Jesus. She doesn't even know we know Jesus. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:07.000 Faith, obedience, they go hand in hand. You cannot have faith and not have obedience. 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:12.000 So every time we open our mouths, we are also hearing what the Holy Spirit wants to do. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:19.000 And then we obey it fully, not like Pavan and Dawn, but like Mark. 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:27.000 I hope you guys repent. It's time for you to repent. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:37.000 Okay, so obedience accompanies faith. Next, because we need to go through this quick, 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:46.000 obeying God will always go against conventional wisdom. Obeying God will always go against conventional wisdom. 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:58.000 Sometimes stories are better to illustrate it, so I'll illustrate it this way. 00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:04.000 At one point in my life, I was working at a company. And when I was working, some of you know the story. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:11.000 I was working at a company and I found myself at a boss and the boss was pretty hard on me. 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:20.000 Trying to find faults anywhere the person could. And it was getting to a point where it was like, oh my goodness. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 You don't need to do it, but you're almost taking it out on me. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:27.000 You're exposing me every day. It was getting pretty difficult. 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:34.000 During the same time, God was teaching me about order. Keep order. Keep order. Keep order. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:38.000 I found myself at a place in my life where on one hand, everything inside me is like, 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:42.000 I really want to just do something because you're not treating me well at all. 00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:45.000 I have all the right reasons to tell you, you ain't treating me well. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:51.000 And then on the other hand, I'm hearing and God is saying, keep order. Keep order. Keep order. 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:54.000 And so order is not just for Acts 29 and things that we do. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:59.000 Order is for every area in life. At work, wherever you are, you keep order. 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:06.000 If God said an order, you keep by it. So I had to learn it, obey it, and then I said, I'll commit to it. 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:09.000 There was a thought in my mind, should I go look for another work? 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:14.000 And then I decided, no, I'll just, I won't. I'll process. I'll go with it. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.000 I'll do what God said I should do. 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:20.000 So a few months went by, almost a year, I think. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:23.000 I found out very quickly that something changed. 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:27.000 All of a sudden, my boss is like, you're my right-hand man. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:30.000 You're the one I like. I need you to come on this. I need you to do this. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:32.000 I'm like, I didn't even do anything. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:35.000 I've been the same guy then. I'm the same guy now. 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:40.000 I didn't do anything differently. All I did is I kept order. 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:44.000 To a point, a couple of days later, she invites me into a meeting. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:48.000 She's like, I'm going to promote you. I'm going to make you this in the company. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:51.000 The only thing I can say is this. 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:58.000 When you obey, and it goes against conventional wisdom, you're obeying God. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:01.000 And he will do the rest. 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:04.000 So obeying God will go against conventional wisdom, 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:07.000 because maybe friends will say, man, there's no need for you to do this. 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:09.000 Why would you even spend another day? 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:13.000 We live in a society now where people are not even paying attention to God. 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:16.000 We live in a society now where if employees aren't treated well, 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:19.000 you should be doing this, you should be doing that. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:26.000 Obeying God goes against conventional wisdom. 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:29.000 So take thrill in it. Take pleasure in it. 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:34.000 Because our whole life is about enjoying this experience with him. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:39.000 Where people may treat you bad, people may talk things. It doesn't matter. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:42.000 If you know you've heard from God, you stick to it. 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:45.000 If you know you've heard from God, you stick to it. 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:48.000 You stick with the process, and he'll do the rest. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.000 Next. 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:58.000 Your obedience is not dependent on other people or your situation. 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:03.000 Your obedience is not dependent on other people or your situation. 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:07.000 Guys, what I'm saying now, this one, it'll help so many of us. 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:14.000 Sometimes in life, we do not obey because we look at the other person 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:18.000 and we say, well, they ain't doing it, so why should I do it? 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:31.000 Your obedience to God is not dependent on others or your situation. 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:34.000 Obedience to God is, he said it, I'll do it. 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:44.000 It's between him and you. There is no one in the vicinity. 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:47.000 It's always between him and you. 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:51.000 If you can live your life like this, it'll set you free. 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:59.000 If you realize that it is always between him and I, first, it'll set you free. 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:09.000 Now, you will not withhold forgiveness to Nick because it doesn't matter what Nick does. 00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:13.000 He said forgive, so I forgive. 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:16.000 Nick can treat me whichever way Nick wants to treat me tomorrow. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:23.000 It's okay. It's ultimately between him and I, and I can obey by listening to God. 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:31.000 Do not hold yourself captive to other people and the way they respond to you. 00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:35.000 I'm telling you, this is so important. So important. 00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:42.000 Do not hold yourself captive to the way others respond. 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:46.000 It's between you and him. 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:53.000 Think about Noah. God says, build an ark. 00:43:53.000 --> 00:43:56.000 What? Build an ark. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:44:01.000 He's about 100 miles away from anything that's watery. 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:04.000 Build an ark. 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:07.000 He says, okay, I'll build an ark. 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:09.000 So what should it be like? 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:13.000 It's about 1.5 times the size of a football field. 00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:16.000 What? Yeah, that's what I want you to do. 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:19.000 Okay. What do you want me to do? 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:22.000 It should be about four stories high. 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:25.000 All right. So how much time do you think it should take me? 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:31.000 Well, I don't know. You go at it. It took only 120 years. 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:33.000 It's important, eh? 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:37.000 Noah, the thing is sometimes when we read these stories, it's like, oh, Noah heard this. Noah did this. 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:40.000 Noah says, 120 years building an ark. 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:43.000 All the time expecting rain. 00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:47.000 And then after he works during the day, he has got to preach. 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:50.000 And he was the best preacher. It was very easy. 00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:53.000 There's only three words. It will rain. 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:57.000 It will rain. That's all he needed to preach back then. It'll rain. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:02.000 So he kept preaching. 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:06.000 So Noah, it took him 120 years to build the ark. 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:08.000 And then he went through that process. 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:17.000 During that time, his obedience was not dependent on how people responded to him. 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:23.000 Your obedience cannot be dependent on others' response. 00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:30.000 Or your situation. Oh, it doesn't even rain here. Why would I build this? 00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:40.000 Shadrach, Meshe, Kabeirnego, Daniel, in Babylon, the easiest thing to do is just do what the king says. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:43.000 But they say no. 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:47.000 It doesn't matter if the other young men in the group are doing this or not. 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:50.000 I won't do it because I've been told something. 00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:56.000 The fact that I'm a captive in this land does not mean that I will have to obey you. 00:45:56.000 --> 00:46:01.000 I will ultimately only obey God. 00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:10.000 So I pray that as I spoke this, some of you will quickly realize areas in your life where you aren't submitting to full obedience because you're looking at others. 00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:14.000 Don't do that. Run away from that place. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:20.000 Run away quickly. Run to him and obey him because it's ultimately between him and you. 00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:23.000 Second Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 5, it says, 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:32.000 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 Take thoughts captive to obey him. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:40.000 Take thoughts captive to obey him. 00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:43.000 Thoughts that come at you, take them captive. 00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:48.000 Because those are the thoughts that make you a certain way, that make you think a certain way. 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:50.000 They don't do it. So why would I do it? 00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:53.000 Take those thoughts captive. 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:57.000 Next. 00:46:57.000 --> 00:47:03.000 Your obedience empowers others to choose righteousness and take their rightful place in God. 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:13.000 Your obedience empowers others to choose righteousness and take their rightful place in God. 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:29.000 In Wall-E, one of these days, probably two weeks ago, we were all praying and we felt like there will be a person we'll meet later on during the day who will be in a wheelchair. 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:31.000 And we were supposed to do something. 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:38.000 So a couple of us, we are driving and while we are driving, we find a person in a wheelchair. 00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:39.000 He's just going the other way. 00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:43.000 So we turn around. We go. We find that he's going inside this building. 00:47:43.000 --> 00:47:47.000 And so we park. We come out and we look at him. He's right at the entrance of that door. 00:47:47.000 --> 00:47:51.000 So that's the entrance and it's like a place where there's a reception. 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:55.000 It's a community housing thing. So you don't have access inside. 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:59.000 And well, I shouldn't say that. Maybe you have access. I don't know. 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:03.000 So there is a gate and we can literally see him right there. 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:06.000 And there are two, three people outside and there is this guy in the wheelchair. 00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:09.000 And God had said, you'll meet a guy in a wheelchair. 00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:14.000 And so we rush. And just as we are there, he goes right in through the door. 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:17.000 And the door closes almost. 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:19.000 There are two, three people outside. 00:48:19.000 --> 00:48:25.000 So there was something that said, that's the guy he said, go after. 00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:31.000 There are two, three other people that you can talk to outside, but that's the guy God said, go talk with. 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:37.000 So we somehow just squeezed in, squeezed in, somehow just made our way in. 00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:40.000 Because we can't leave this guy because God said, go for him. 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:44.000 And so once we are inside, we talk with the reception person. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:46.000 Is it OK for us to be here? 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:48.000 That's OK. You can be here. 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:51.000 And we start talking with this person who is on the wheelchair. 00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:55.000 Start sharing who Jesus is and the gospel. 00:48:55.000 --> 00:49:02.000 And his response was, I've never had anyone chase me and talk to me about Jesus like this. 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:04.000 And I want to know more. 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:09.000 We could have, because the door was closing, why would you just squeeze in through the door? 00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:13.000 Man, the door that's closing, that's exactly when you need obedience. 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:15.000 And you go, no, we won't let that happen. 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:17.000 We will squeeze in through that door. 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:19.000 Because he said the guy in the wheelchair. 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:24.000 So if he said the guy in the wheelchair, we're going after the guy in the wheelchair. 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:31.000 Obedience to the full extent of the guy in the wheelchair. 00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:35.000 Obedience to the full extent of what he is saying. 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:41.000 Remember this line. 00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:46.000 People and nations are waiting for your obedience. 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:53.000 People and nations are waiting for your obedience. 00:49:54.000 --> 00:50:01.000 People and nations are waiting for your obedience. 00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:07.000 If you understand that, then you will know how much your obedience matters. 00:50:07.000 --> 00:50:13.000 Timothy's and Titus's are waiting for Paul to arrive. 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:19.000 Timothy has to know that there is a Paul who is traveling between cities, 00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:23.000 carrying the gospel for him to one day make the decision that, 00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:26.000 yeah, I can leave Lystra and go to Ephesus. 00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:28.000 It is possible. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:30.000 I've never heard it before. 00:50:30.000 --> 00:50:32.000 I've never seen that before. 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:34.000 But it is possible. 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:37.000 Your obedience matters. 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:40.000 People and nations are waiting for your obedience. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:43.000 People and nations are waiting for your obedience. 00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:47.000 I know I'm repeating it, but may that go with you for the rest of your life. 00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:49.000 Your obedience matters. 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:54.000 So we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:57.000 Some we know, some we don't know. 00:50:59.000 --> 00:51:01.000 Today I'm in the mood of sharing stories. 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:08.000 I was probably 12 years, I don't know, sometime around then, 12 years or something. 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:11.000 I remember my mom saying, hey, we need to go to this funeral. 00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:16.000 And so I go to this funeral, and when you're 12 years old and you're at the funeral, 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:20.000 you're not really, maybe I was less older than that, I don't know. 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:21.000 You're not really thinking too much. 00:51:21.000 --> 00:51:25.000 You're going because your mom said go, and you know there is something happening, 00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:28.000 and you're aware of it, but that's about it. 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:34.000 But I remember being at the funeral and really feeling like, wow, this person. 00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:36.000 I don't know him, I don't know the connection. 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:37.000 This person, it's something. 00:51:37.000 --> 00:51:41.000 And later found out that that person was my mom's spiritual father. 00:51:41.000 --> 00:51:45.000 When I could understand who this is, that person was my mom's spiritual father. 00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:47.000 Why am I sharing that story? 00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:51.000 My goodness, you stand on other people's shoulders. 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:53.000 You do. 00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:56.000 Some you know, some you do not. 00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:58.000 And your obedience matters. 00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:06.000 Because there are going to be people who will one day say, I stood on Heidi's shoulders. 00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:13.000 I stood on Mark's shoulders, and they showed me what it was like. 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:17.000 They showed me how to be fully obedient to the call of Christ. 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:20.000 They showed me how to do it. 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:25.000 And so after having seen them, I now do it. 00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:36.000 One of the things to be aware of, guys, when I make this statement is, 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:39.000 remember we talked about Saul? 00:52:39.000 --> 00:52:43.000 One of the things that Saul made a mistake in was not just that he rebelled, 00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:46.000 and he did opposite to what was told him. 00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:50.000 In the same chapter, it talks about Saul this way. 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:54.000 Samuel actually says, here is the verse, I don't want to paraphrase it, here is what he says, 00:52:54.000 --> 00:53:01.000 Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? 00:53:01.000 --> 00:53:04.000 Saul had another problem. 00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:09.000 He was little in his own eyes. 00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:14.000 Which then caused him to do things that he should not have. 00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:15.000 What am I saying? 00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:22.000 I am saying that you must know your rightful place in God. 00:53:22.000 --> 00:53:27.000 It is not a great characteristic to look at yourself and say, 00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:35.000 Oh, I am nothing. I am just the worm. 00:53:35.000 --> 00:53:36.000 It is not. 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:39.000 You see where I am going? 00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:44.000 Somehow false humility has crept into the church and makes us say, 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:46.000 Oh man, I am just so nothing. 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:48.000 No, you are who you are in God. 00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:50.000 Take your place in God. 00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:55.000 If you don't take your place in God, there will be other powers that try to take the place. 00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:58.000 Happen with Ahab. 00:53:58.000 --> 00:54:01.000 Take your rightful place in God. 00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:05.000 Speak of it, think like it, act like it. 00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:11.000 It is not a great quality to say, Oh, I am just so nothing. 00:54:11.000 --> 00:54:14.000 The Bible actually says the other way. 00:54:14.000 --> 00:54:16.000 Take your place. 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:22.000 Saul, if he realized who he was, that he was appointed by God, set in charge over a people, 00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:31.000 he would have fought the Amalekites differently. 00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:35.000 His feelings of inferiority destroyed his kingship. 00:54:35.000 --> 00:54:46.000 His feelings of inferiority destroyed his kingship. 00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:51.000 See, the thing is, when I said your obedience empowers others to choose righteousness 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:54.000 and take after the rightful place in God, one of the things I sometimes, 00:54:54.000 --> 00:55:01.000 I really enjoy this when Pawan is with me and Pawan is talking to sometimes people who have used drugs 00:55:01.000 --> 00:55:03.000 or are actively using drugs. 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:10.000 Sometimes I can almost sometimes take two steps back to listen to his story. 00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:19.000 Because there is no man who is saying, I was using drugs, I was selling drugs, and Jesus changed me. 00:55:19.000 --> 00:55:22.000 And the guy sitting on the ground is listening to the story. 00:55:22.000 --> 00:55:30.000 And God's stories create God's stories. 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:31.000 Your story matters. 00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:36.000 Take it, wear it, own it, speak of it, run with it. 00:55:36.000 --> 00:55:39.000 Don't hide. 00:55:39.000 --> 00:55:41.000 I think I've said enough about it. 00:55:41.000 --> 00:55:45.000 Next, obedience will always attract divine blessings. 00:55:45.000 --> 00:55:51.000 Obedience will always attract divine blessings. 00:55:51.000 --> 00:55:53.000 Because we don't have time, I'll just leave it there. 00:55:53.000 --> 00:55:57.000 If you want scriptural references, you can read the following. 00:55:57.000 --> 00:56:01.000 Deuteronomy chapter 4, 39 to 40. 00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:05.000 Deuteronomy chapter 4, 39 to 40. 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:09.000 Leviticus chapter 26, 3 to 13. 00:56:09.000 --> 00:56:16.000 Deuteronomy chapter 28, one onwards, I think goes on. 00:56:16.000 --> 00:56:17.000 And many other. 00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:21.000 There are so many scriptures that talk about, if you do this, then I'll do this. 00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:24.000 And sometimes, I'm not saying you should do it this way, 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:28.000 but sometimes I like having conversations with God where I say, 00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:31.000 that's your part, this is my part. 00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:34.000 Sometimes, there are certain things you just leave it with him. 00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:37.000 Because he's good at that. 00:56:37.000 --> 00:56:44.000 Next, obedience brings down consuming fire on your enemies. 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:48.000 Obedience brings down consuming fire on your enemies. 00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:53.000 It is a superior form of spiritual warfare. 00:56:53.000 --> 00:57:04.000 It is a superior form of spiritual warfare. 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:08.000 You see Elijah, God is saying, Elijah, for you to defeat Baal. 00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:13.000 We don't really read it in that order, because Elijah did certain things. 00:57:13.000 --> 00:57:15.000 He built the altar. 00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:19.000 He used water three times it was poured. 00:57:19.000 --> 00:57:21.000 The wood was set up a certain way. 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:24.000 All of that was done in a particular order. 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:28.000 And it doesn't say until later that he heard God say these things, 00:57:28.000 --> 00:57:31.000 and he did it exactly like that. 00:57:31.000 --> 00:57:39.000 And when he obeyed to the full extent, exactly what was asked of him, fire came. 00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:45.000 Your obedience will bring down fire on your enemies. 00:57:45.000 --> 00:57:51.000 And by enemies, I mean spiritual powers that try to war against you. 00:57:51.000 --> 00:57:53.000 Your obedience matters. 00:57:53.000 --> 00:57:58.000 Your pleasure-filled obedience matters. 00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:02.000 There was this guy, a farmer living in Germany, 00:58:02.000 --> 00:58:09.000 and he decided that he was going to leave Germany with his family and move to Pennsylvania. 00:58:09.000 --> 00:58:11.000 True story. 00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:14.000 And so he is a rich guy, he's a very wealthy guy. 00:58:14.000 --> 00:58:19.000 So he takes all of his money and he gives it to his eldest son, and he says, 00:58:19.000 --> 00:58:21.000 You go first. 00:58:21.000 --> 00:58:23.000 That's the land that's been bought. 00:58:23.000 --> 00:58:25.000 I'm giving you very clear instructions on what you do there. 00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:28.000 You have to build a barn and a few buildings around it. 00:58:28.000 --> 00:58:30.000 You do it this way, and then we'll come. 00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:32.000 The rest of the family will come. 00:58:32.000 --> 00:58:33.000 The son is so proud. 00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:36.000 Dad just gave him such a great opportunity to go somewhere. 00:58:36.000 --> 00:58:41.000 First time, set everything up, expect father and the rest of the family to come. 00:58:41.000 --> 00:58:43.000 And he's there, and he starts working. 00:58:43.000 --> 00:58:46.000 He looks at the plan, he looks at the documents that were provided to him, 00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:48.000 and he starts building the barn. 00:58:48.000 --> 00:58:54.000 He finds out that the barn, if it faces the north, it's better. 00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:57.000 It looks better, it's easier to access it. 00:58:57.000 --> 00:58:59.000 So he sets up the barn a certain way. 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:02.000 He looks at the documents like, that can be done differently, 00:59:02.000 --> 00:59:05.000 because it just doesn't make sense in terms of what I see here. 00:59:05.000 --> 00:59:09.000 So I'm going to build the barn facing the north so that that's better. 00:59:09.000 --> 00:59:12.000 And then along with the barn, there were a couple of other buildings 00:59:12.000 --> 00:59:14.000 that had to be built very close to it. 00:59:14.000 --> 00:59:18.000 And he looks at that and goes, well, maybe if I just move this teeny little bit 00:59:18.000 --> 00:59:23.000 on this side, it's easier, because more people can come. 00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:25.000 It's easier for me if I build it that way. 00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:27.000 So he builds it differently. 00:59:27.000 --> 00:59:29.000 And then finally, the dad comes with the family. 00:59:29.000 --> 00:59:33.000 They come, they land, back then in a ship, I guess. 00:59:33.000 --> 00:59:38.000 They come to Pennsylvania, they're in the property, and the dad is super angry. 00:59:38.000 --> 00:59:40.000 He's like, what have you done? 00:59:40.000 --> 00:59:44.000 And the son says, well, I built it with the best of my ability. 00:59:44.000 --> 00:59:46.000 I looked at all of the things that could happen, 00:59:46.000 --> 00:59:48.000 and I think I've done a pretty good job. 00:59:48.000 --> 00:59:49.000 Are you not happy? 00:59:49.000 --> 00:59:51.000 Dad says, no. 00:59:51.000 --> 00:59:52.000 He asks why. 00:59:52.000 --> 00:59:56.000 Well, you've severely damaged the value of the property, 00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:00.000 because you built north, all of the animals in the barn 01:00:00.000 --> 01:00:04.000 will now be suffering severe winter. 01:00:04.000 --> 01:00:07.000 If you were facing southeast, it would have been better. 01:00:07.000 --> 01:00:10.000 These other buildings that you did not construct close to the barn, 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:15.000 now every time we have to go fetch something that's more distance to walk. 01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:18.000 And this building that was supposed to be on the hillside, 01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:21.000 which you built on a level ground, 01:00:21.000 --> 01:00:24.000 well, the whole idea was that the back of the building 01:00:24.000 --> 01:00:26.000 could be used for something else. 01:00:26.000 --> 01:00:30.000 All of our money, everything that we built in Germany, 01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:34.000 now I gave it to you, and you've gone ahead and constructed things 01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:37.000 your way, and it's devalued the property. 01:00:37.000 --> 01:00:39.000 True story. 01:00:39.000 --> 01:00:41.000 What's the point? 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:47.000 Sometimes, as I said before, it's more about how you do it 01:00:47.000 --> 01:00:53.000 and the extent to which you obey him, not just doing something. 01:00:53.000 --> 01:00:57.000 The extent of your obedience matters. 01:00:57.000 --> 01:01:00.000 Stay away from presumptions. 01:01:00.000 --> 01:01:03.000 Stay away from presumptions. 01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:05.000 Stay away from presumptions. 01:01:05.000 --> 01:01:09.000 In fact, if you go back to 1 Samuel chapter 15, 01:01:09.000 --> 01:01:11.000 you'll see it talking about presumption. 01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:13.000 Stay away from it. 01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:17.000 The last thing, perhaps, I want to say is, your obedience, 01:01:17.000 --> 01:01:19.000 what is it really doing? 01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:25.000 It is yielding more of yourself to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:31.000 It is yielding more of yourself to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 01:01:31.000 --> 01:01:35.000 I think now, by now, we've come to a place where we recognize 01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:38.000 that we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 01:01:38.000 --> 01:01:41.000 We are not asking for more of the Holy Spirit 01:01:41.000 --> 01:01:44.000 because all of the Holy Spirit has been given to us. 01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:48.000 What we ask for is more of us to be given to him 01:01:48.000 --> 01:01:52.000 so that his fullness can take over. 01:01:53.000 --> 01:01:55.000 And that's what obedience does. 01:01:55.000 --> 01:01:59.000 Obedience yields more of you to him. 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:05.000 And so, like David, may we be people who tell him, 01:02:05.000 --> 01:02:10.000 I delight in obeying you in small things and in big things. 01:02:10.000 --> 01:02:14.000 Don't wait for big decisions and big steps of obedience. 01:02:14.000 --> 01:02:17.000 Start obeying him for small things. 01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:19.000 When you start obeying him for small things, 01:02:19.000 --> 01:02:22.000 you see you accelerate in that path. 01:02:22.000 --> 01:02:24.000 You're ready for the next big decision. 01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:30.000 You have to use the axe to prepare for the winter season. 01:02:30.000 --> 01:02:32.000 Use it when you can. 01:02:32.000 --> 01:02:36.000 Use it, use it, use it, use it, so that when winter comes, you're ready. 01:02:37.000 --> 01:02:41.000 So, pleasure-filled obedience. 01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:45.000 Like David, lift your hands up to him and tell him, 01:02:45.000 --> 01:02:48.000 I delight in obeying you. 01:02:48.000 --> 01:02:52.000 I meditate on you, your words, your commands. 01:02:52.000 --> 01:02:54.000 I delight in obeying you. 01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:56.000 I take pleasure in doing it. 01:02:56.000 --> 01:03:00.000 I want to be a man, I want to be a woman who will obey you. 01:03:00.000 --> 01:03:04.000 I realize that with respect to my relationship with you, 01:03:04.000 --> 01:03:08.000 all of that can be weighed in my obedience to you. 01:03:08.000 --> 01:03:10.000 And so I'll obey you fully. 01:03:10.000 --> 01:03:12.000 I won't be told. 01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:15.000 I won't give you access to the front room and then the kitchen 01:03:15.000 --> 01:03:17.000 and the washroom and the other two rooms. 01:03:17.000 --> 01:03:20.000 I don't know. I'll give you access to everything. 01:03:27.000 --> 01:03:29.000 Remy, do you want to pray in close? 01:03:29.000 --> 01:03:31.000 Father, thank you for your Word. 01:03:31.000 --> 01:03:33.000 Your Word is life to us. 01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:04.000 And Father, I pray that what we heard today, 01:04:04.000 --> 01:04:09.000 that it will plant seed in our hearts 01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:13.000 and that we'll go and cultivate it and let it grow. 01:04:13.000 --> 01:04:19.000 Because Father, we want to be known as people who hears your Word 01:04:19.000 --> 01:04:23.000 and obey, obey diligently. 01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:29.000 And help us to imitate like your son, Jesus, 01:04:29.000 --> 01:04:34.000 that we will go to any extent to obey you. 01:04:34.000 --> 01:04:38.000 Because we take pleasure in obeying our Heavenly Father 01:04:38.000 --> 01:04:41.000 who gives us everything that we need, 01:04:41.000 --> 01:04:45.000 who never leaves us, who never forsakes us. 01:04:45.000 --> 01:04:50.000 So Father, I pray on behalf of the church and the body here 01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:55.000 that we will be your instruments and in our obedience 01:04:55.000 --> 01:04:57.000 that your name will be glorified. 01:04:57.000 --> 01:05:00.000 So Father, we thank you. 01:05:00.000 --> 01:05:03.000 We bless your name. 01:05:05.000 --> 01:05:07.000 And we glorify your name. 01:05:07.000 --> 01:05:09.000 Thank you. Amen. 01:05:13.000 --> 01:05:15.000 Thanks guys. Thanks, Barry.