WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:05.719 Well, this morning, I've had this word brewing 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.820 for a couple of weeks here, and my process in 00:00:11.820 --> 00:00:16.699 approaching a sermon varies depending on the 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:19.260 type of sermon and what the Holy Spirit is speaking. 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:23.280 But I had felt this, the Holy Spirit speak a 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:27.929 specific thing. And sometimes when I specifically 00:00:27.929 --> 00:00:30.850 am feeling the Holy Spirit wanting to bring a 00:00:30.850 --> 00:00:34.969 word, it can be a difficult process getting that 00:00:34.969 --> 00:00:38.750 out of my spirit and onto the paper. It truly 00:00:38.750 --> 00:00:41.210 is kind of a birthing, and sometimes I get really 00:00:41.210 --> 00:00:45.630 frustrated because I can hear what the Holy Spirit 00:00:45.630 --> 00:00:49.710 is wanting to do and say, and conveying that, 00:00:49.869 --> 00:00:56.630 it's not always easy. But this morning, and if 00:00:56.630 --> 00:00:59.469 I were to title this, which I guess I am for 00:00:59.469 --> 00:01:02.969 Nick, who will appreciate it, it is this, Following 00:01:02.969 --> 00:01:08.390 Jesus into the Greater. And I was thinking a 00:01:08.390 --> 00:01:10.890 couple of weeks ago about the issue of obedience. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:17.239 And often when we think of obedience, things 00:01:17.239 --> 00:01:20.459 that we are called to obey, we did it this morning, 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:23.640 we're called to obey in our giving, we're called 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:27.140 to crucify the flesh, we're called to love our 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.920 neighbor. I don't know, a couple times this week 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:33.400 I was having trouble feeling neighborly with 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:37.780 the noise. We're called to forgive. We're called 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:41.180 to encourage. We're called to prayer. We're called 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:44.459 to gratitude. We're called to hospitality. We're 00:01:44.459 --> 00:01:46.780 called to honoring parents, and sometimes that's 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:50.400 hard to do. We're called to submit to authorities, 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:52.480 and sometimes that's hard to do. I was thinking 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:56.180 of all of the things when we hear called to obedience, 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:01.189 and it seems like it's often hard things. And 00:02:01.189 --> 00:02:04.569 I kept feeling this, but Lord, I feel this call 00:02:04.569 --> 00:02:11.210 to obedience into the greater things. It's the 00:02:11.210 --> 00:02:15.289 only way I know how to convey this. And soon 00:02:15.289 --> 00:02:18.770 the question became, is it really a call to obedience 00:02:18.770 --> 00:02:23.110 that I'm hearing, or is it a call to repentance 00:02:23.110 --> 00:02:28.650 that I'm hearing? And he took me to John chapter 00:02:28.650 --> 00:02:35.259 14. Where Jesus is talking and he says, very 00:02:35.259 --> 00:02:41.280 truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:45.520 do the works I have been doing. And they will 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:49.680 do even greater things than these. Because I'm 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.979 going to the Father. And I will do whatever you 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:59.139 ask in my name. So that the Father may be glorified 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:04.599 in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:10.139 name and I will do it. That's what Jesus stated. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:17.819 And what I didn't want today is an emotionally 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:22.300 driven, he will do anything if you do it in his 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:25.900 name. Let's go. I didn't want, what I feel in 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:30.659 my spirit concerning this message is, In fact, 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:33.460 I remembered years ago at our previous church 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:38.400 a specific service. And I remember I was down 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:42.900 here sitting cross -legged at the altar. And 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:46.979 somebody brought a word about preparing for battle 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:50.659 and we're going into battle. And all around me, 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:53.439 everybody was standing and cheering. I have goosebumps 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:56.810 thinking of that moment right now. I remember 00:03:56.810 --> 00:04:03.409 in my spirit saying, no. You're not, I received 00:04:03.409 --> 00:04:06.969 that word that was given. I knew it to be true. 00:04:07.789 --> 00:04:11.270 But I did not think our response was the right 00:04:11.270 --> 00:04:17.110 response. It was not a, yeah, let's, I felt there 00:04:17.110 --> 00:04:21.290 is some deep battle coming. And we've got to 00:04:21.290 --> 00:04:25.509 be prepared. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, 00:04:25.610 --> 00:04:27.810 it's when they're about to go out to battle and 00:04:27.810 --> 00:04:31.009 they are so few in number, they're calling their 00:04:31.009 --> 00:04:36.209 young boys to battle. And they're talking about 00:04:36.209 --> 00:04:39.689 the fear that is in the camp because of the heaviness 00:04:39.689 --> 00:04:42.329 of the battle. And that was what I felt in that 00:04:42.329 --> 00:04:44.589 moment. We should not be cheering. We need to 00:04:44.589 --> 00:04:48.009 get on our faces because we're going into a battle. 00:04:50.540 --> 00:04:54.160 I kind of felt that same kind of response to 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.660 this word that the Holy Spirit put inside of 00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:02.819 me. And earlier, even when Pastor Ben was talking 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:08.600 about being called to become like Christ and 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:14.879 to walk like Christ, we think about doing that, 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:17.850 yes. as becoming in the character of Christ, 00:05:18.050 --> 00:05:21.889 don't we? When we talk about becoming like Christ, 00:05:21.990 --> 00:05:24.910 we're thinking about his character in light of 00:05:24.910 --> 00:05:28.110 the gifts or the fruit of the Holy Spirit, right? 00:05:28.230 --> 00:05:31.689 Because Jesus had self -control. Jesus was kind, 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:35.589 right? We think of all of those things in becoming 00:05:35.589 --> 00:05:40.199 like Jesus. What I feel Holy Spirit putting inside 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:44.240 of me is that he is calling us to not just be 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.620 like him in character, but to follow him into 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:50.040 becoming what he looked like and what he did. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:57.939 In the works that he did. In fact, the small 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:00.939 group that we just finished in practicing the 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:05.420 way we talk, what we say is that we be with Jesus. 00:06:06.269 --> 00:06:09.490 We become like Jesus, but it doesn't end in the 00:06:09.490 --> 00:06:14.290 becoming like him. We do what Jesus did. And 00:06:14.290 --> 00:06:17.990 often we end where we be with Jesus, we become 00:06:17.990 --> 00:06:22.629 like Jesus, but we have no expectation of doing 00:06:22.629 --> 00:06:26.149 the works that Jesus did, and even beyond that, 00:06:26.310 --> 00:06:30.810 what Jesus said, the greater works. We have no 00:06:30.810 --> 00:06:35.439 expectation of that in our lives. Oh, maybe the 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:40.879 pastor or the elders might do that. No. He's 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:45.100 called for you to be with Jesus, to become like 00:06:45.100 --> 00:06:52.620 Jesus, and to do the things that Jesus did. So 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:57.860 this morning, my call is more of a call to contend 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:03.029 for these things that Jesus has said we ought 00:07:03.029 --> 00:07:08.110 to be operating in. We ought to be doing these 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:11.550 things. We ought to be doing the works he did. 00:07:12.050 --> 00:07:15.470 Well, what did Jesus do? We think of the works 00:07:15.470 --> 00:07:18.170 that he did in hanging out with the sinners. 00:07:18.509 --> 00:07:21.009 Oh yeah, I'll go and hang out with some sinners. 00:07:21.410 --> 00:07:25.610 I'll invite people to my table. We get uncomfortable, 00:07:25.709 --> 00:07:28.389 though, sometimes with the idea that, well, wait 00:07:28.389 --> 00:07:30.889 a minute, he also prayed over blind eyes and 00:07:30.889 --> 00:07:33.509 they were healed. He also cast out demons and 00:07:33.509 --> 00:07:37.230 they were delivered. He also multiplied things 00:07:37.230 --> 00:07:39.850 like wine for the wedding feast in their day 00:07:39.850 --> 00:07:44.129 -to -day lives. And it was last year, I think, 00:07:44.129 --> 00:07:47.269 at some point when we talked about how we should 00:07:47.269 --> 00:07:52.490 live our ordinary life. And see, this was ordinary 00:07:52.490 --> 00:07:57.540 life for Jesus. This was how he did his day -to 00:07:57.540 --> 00:07:59.519 -day. Oh, I'm going to go to a wedding with my 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:03.560 mom? Well, let's multiply some wine for them. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:08.100 They're a little short. He brought into his everyday 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:14.420 ordinary the greater works. And I believe that 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:21.420 the Holy Spirit is calling us to this. Why? Why? 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:25.089 Because it's not enough. the culture that we 00:08:25.089 --> 00:08:30.470 live in, to preach a gospel, there must be accompanying 00:08:30.470 --> 00:08:36.710 it signs and wonders. It's not enough to just 00:08:36.710 --> 00:08:41.309 talk out there. They want the evidence of what 00:08:41.309 --> 00:08:46.169 we're saying to be true. And you're going to 00:08:46.169 --> 00:08:49.309 be hearing more about this, but I talked with 00:08:49.309 --> 00:08:52.389 our leadership team last Tuesday night about 00:08:52.389 --> 00:08:56.779 this. The World Assemblies of God, of which the 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:59.639 U .S. is part of, and it's all of the nation's 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.580 Assemblies of God, are under the umbrella of 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:06.299 the World Assemblies of God. They have made a 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:12.019 hard push into unengaged people groups, of which 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:17.740 there are 2 ,085. These are not just unreached 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:21.559 people groups. Unreached are considered... less 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:26.440 than 2 % of Christians. These are unengaged people 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:29.559 groups where there has not been any known engagement 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:36.200 with the gospel whatsoever, 2 ,085 of them. And 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:40.220 so the World Assemblies of God has said in 2033, 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:47.860 who knows what 2033 is? Now, see, I asked that 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:49.600 question at the leadership meeting. They all 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:53.519 weren't that quick with their answer. It's the 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:58.059 2 ,000 -year anniversary of the death and resurrection 00:09:58.059 --> 00:10:02.379 and ascension of Jesus. And so what they're saying 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:06.539 is, we want to bring a gift to Jesus in 2033. 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:11.440 We want to bring the gift of nations to Jesus. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:14.620 And you're going to be hearing more about that. 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:17.720 But what I'm hearing, why? Why do we need to 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:21.320 be doing what Jesus did? Because there are 2 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.639 ,085 people groups. Do you know what happens 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:28.120 when every tribe and every tongue and every nation 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:32.700 has heard of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Come, 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:37.860 Lord Jesus, come. The end is at hand is what 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:43.779 it means. And I believe that you and I, I don't 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:46.659 care if you feel a call to ministry like I do 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:50.700 or not, you are part of the family of God, which 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:53.360 means you're on the mission of Jesus. He's the 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.860 head. And so we have to be saying, taking ownership, 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:00.519 not just of our Jerusalem, but of our Judea and 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.059 our Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world, 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:05.659 and saying, Lord, we want to take responsibility 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:12.669 for the 2085. unengaged people groups. How does 00:11:12.669 --> 00:11:17.269 that happen? By doing the greater works that 00:11:17.269 --> 00:11:22.870 Jesus did. I feel the call. I feel as he was 00:11:22.870 --> 00:11:28.570 stirring this in me, the call. It is time. There 00:11:28.570 --> 00:11:32.669 is about to be a Holy Spirit movement happening 00:11:32.669 --> 00:11:39.830 that we've not seen. It is time. For us to engage 00:11:39.830 --> 00:11:45.649 in what Jesus, what his expectation was. And 00:11:45.649 --> 00:11:49.789 what was his expectation? Whoever believes in 00:11:49.789 --> 00:11:53.529 me will do the works I have been doing. This 00:11:53.529 --> 00:11:59.529 is his expectation for us. It's why he ascended. 00:11:59.669 --> 00:12:01.809 It's why he went to the Father, that the Holy 00:12:01.809 --> 00:12:04.850 Spirit could come. And through the power of the 00:12:04.850 --> 00:12:10.139 Holy Spirit. We could do whatever we would ask 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:16.360 in his name, he would do. And so, as I was reading 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.720 this passage of Jesus, there are three areas 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:22.659 that I feel that we need to repent and contend 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:27.600 for. And the first one is in the area of our 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:36.080 expectation. Jesus expected us to do these things. 00:12:37.610 --> 00:12:41.090 It's our own selves that get in the way of that. 00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:46.529 We don't align our expectation with what Jesus 00:12:46.529 --> 00:12:54.549 expected. In fact, in Luke chapter 6, Jesus said, 00:12:54.809 --> 00:12:59.190 given it will be given to you, a good measure 00:12:59.190 --> 00:13:01.870 pressed down, shaken together, and running over 00:13:01.870 --> 00:13:05.100 will be poured into your lap. For with the measure 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:07.379 you use, it will be measured to you. Now, we 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:10.600 often use that at offering time. But can I say 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:14.019 to you today, the context for this verse is not 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:17.940 giving. He does talk about giving in this whole 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:22.620 speech. But within the verses that we find this, 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.100 he's actually talking about judging one another. 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.500 So you are a judgmental, critical person toward 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:34.879 other people. Guess what? With whatever measure 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:38.100 you judge, you will be judged. It's a pretty 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:44.919 serious thing. And so the context for that is 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:48.799 our relationships with one another. The grace, 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:53.580 if you extend grace to one another, guess what? 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.200 You will receive an abundance. Grace, mercy. 00:13:58.990 --> 00:14:01.730 If you're merciful instead of judgmental, you 00:14:01.730 --> 00:14:06.590 will receive mercy. Now, I do believe that this 00:14:06.590 --> 00:14:09.629 is a truth, although he's using this in regards 00:14:09.629 --> 00:14:14.649 to judgment. I believe it to be a foundational 00:14:14.649 --> 00:14:18.450 truth with anything. If it's your giving, wonderful. 00:14:18.710 --> 00:14:23.669 If it's your time, wonderful. If it's how open 00:14:23.669 --> 00:14:26.450 you are with people and giving just of yourself. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:31.940 It will be returned to you. The point of this 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:35.679 verse isn't to get stuck in the weeds of all 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:39.600 of that. The point of the verse is generosity. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:45.419 There should be an expectation that when I give 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:48.299 out, I don't have to worry about it. It will 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:54.059 come back in greater measure. And so what we 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:58.519 expect. When you gave of your offering today, 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:02.740 what is your expectation for your budget in June? 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:07.940 Is it that he will throw open the storehouses 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:12.259 of heaven and pour out upon you? Or is it, man, 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:15.340 this is going to be a tight month. And even as 00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:17.179 you're putting your offering in, you're declaring, 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:21.340 man, this is going to be a tight month. You've 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:25.480 just declared your expectation. And I really 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.559 believe that Holy Spirit is saying, come on, 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:35.179 raise your expectation. There's so much that 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:39.379 he wants to do in and through us. And it's not 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:43.220 that God is the limit. Our expectation is the 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:48.679 limit. Thomas understood this. And unfortunately, 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:51.980 he will forever be riddled with the name Doubting 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:56.240 Thomas, the poor guy. He's probably more like 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:01.960 all of us than any of the disciples. But in John 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:06.139 chapter 20, he said, because remember, Jesus 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:09.820 had appeared to the disciples, but Thomas wasn't 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:13.179 there. So Thomas got the report, Jesus is alive. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:17.679 And what is Thomas' initial response? It wasn't, 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:21.500 yes, I'm so excited to hear this news. I can't 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:26.320 wait to see Jesus. No. He had very low expectation. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:33.299 He said, unless I see the nail marks in his hands 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:37.539 and put my finger where the nails were and put 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:44.080 my hand in his side, I will not believe. He had 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:50.399 low expectation. And I wonder how often. I'll 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.460 raise my expectation when I see this, this, and 00:16:53.460 --> 00:17:02.480 this. Here's what happened. For a week, Thomas 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:08.420 sat in that disbelief. Jesus did not immediately 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:12.900 come to Thomas and alleviate his doubts. A week 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:16.500 later, they're gathered, and suddenly Jesus is 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:21.319 in their midst. And immediately he says to Thomas, 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:27.400 put your finger here. See my hands? Reach out 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:32.460 your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:38.700 and believe is what Jesus said. Stop doubting 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:45.819 and believe. That whole week, what Jesus wanted 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:51.240 was for Thomas. to believe. But Thomas didn't 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:56.920 believe. And immediately Thomas says, my Lord 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:02.599 and my God. And then Jesus said, because you 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:07.420 have seen me, you believed. But blessed are those 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:14.559 who have not seen yet believe. Have not seen 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:23.190 yet believe. He's not looking for people that 00:18:23.190 --> 00:18:26.730 are waiting to see the evidence that requires 00:18:26.730 --> 00:18:33.490 no faith. He said in John chapter 14 that we 00:18:33.490 --> 00:18:38.170 just read, you may ask me for anything in my 00:18:38.170 --> 00:18:44.109 name. I will do it. He does not qualify that. 00:18:45.209 --> 00:18:47.450 Well, if it's in my will, I'll do it. He doesn't 00:18:47.450 --> 00:18:50.990 qualify it at all. He just says, in his name, 00:18:51.170 --> 00:18:53.869 if you'll do it in his name, that was the only 00:18:53.869 --> 00:19:01.009 qualification, he will do it. If we go over a 00:19:01.009 --> 00:19:05.029 chapter, so when I read verses like that, because 00:19:05.029 --> 00:19:08.769 that is an extreme statement in my mind, ask 00:19:08.769 --> 00:19:12.630 anything and I'll do it. I don't just read that 00:19:12.630 --> 00:19:14.450 verse. I'm like, I need to know what's going 00:19:14.450 --> 00:19:20.269 on around this verse. And so immediately following 00:19:20.269 --> 00:19:25.190 this in the next chapter, John chapter 15, we 00:19:25.190 --> 00:19:29.009 have the passage that talks about abiding in 00:19:29.009 --> 00:19:37.930 Christ. Living out life in his presence. And 00:19:37.930 --> 00:19:44.680 he says in John chapter... verse 7, he says the 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.819 exact same thing again. He says, if you remain 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:56.099 in me and my words remain in you, ask me whatever 00:19:56.099 --> 00:20:02.359 you wish and it will be done for you. Ask me 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:06.160 whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.819 This is to my Father's glory that you bear much 00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:14.319 fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:19.880 There is an outward evidence of being his disciple. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.400 And it's not just that we're growing in his character, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:28.920 it's doing what he did. If you were a rabbi and 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.839 you had followers, they were to be doing what 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:38.490 the rabbi did. Jesus, if he is our rabbi, we 00:20:38.490 --> 00:20:42.309 are to be doing what he did. Ask whatever you 00:20:42.309 --> 00:20:45.829 wish. Now let's think about this for a few moments. 00:20:49.170 --> 00:20:52.009 If you remain in me, because I'm like, how can 00:20:52.009 --> 00:20:55.569 Jesus ask this? How can he say this? Well, he 00:20:55.569 --> 00:21:00.069 says, if you remain in me. And if you think about 00:21:00.069 --> 00:21:06.849 that word remain, it is. Obviously, to remain 00:21:06.849 --> 00:21:11.369 is to stay, right? To be. But it also has a word 00:21:11.369 --> 00:21:15.970 in there which means endure. Now, endure has 00:21:15.970 --> 00:21:18.910 a couple of meanings, and endure can mean just 00:21:18.910 --> 00:21:21.509 to be in something, to stay in something for 00:21:21.509 --> 00:21:26.690 a length of time. And that is true. We don't 00:21:26.690 --> 00:21:29.990 leave his presence on Sunday morning. We endure 00:21:29.990 --> 00:21:34.000 day by day by day by day. However, If you've 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.359 endured anything, if you've spent a length of 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:42.579 time, I have endured almost 33 years of marriage. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:45.720 Now, see, you're immediately thinking of a negative 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:49.839 connotation when I say that. But the truth is, 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:52.740 is that the first meaning just means I have remained 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:58.220 in my marriage for 33 years. It's a time signifier. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.799 However, anybody that's been in a marriage any 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:05.339 length of time knows that in order to remain 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:08.339 and to have that passage of time means you have 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:12.539 had to endure ups and downs. We've had really 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:14.880 great times in marriage, and we've walked through 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.299 very difficult times and have endured together 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:22.799 in those difficult times. And so when we talk 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.910 about remaining in Christ, And this is what happens 00:22:26.910 --> 00:22:29.789 so often. Well, this way I can't just give Jesus 00:22:29.789 --> 00:22:33.369 a try. The first minute you have to endure hardship, 00:22:33.630 --> 00:22:37.869 you're out the door trying something else. To 00:22:37.869 --> 00:22:42.309 remain and endure in Christ means we withstand 00:22:42.309 --> 00:22:46.900 the ups and the downs, right? That means there's 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:50.400 going to be seasons, winter seasons, where it 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:53.460 does not appear like you are becoming like Christ 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:57.980 or doing anything that he did. It's a hard season. 00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:01.859 And there are seasons we just endure. We keep 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:04.769 doing what we know to do. like Pastor Ben was 00:23:04.769 --> 00:23:07.750 talking about. We keep praying. We keep reading. 00:23:07.849 --> 00:23:10.609 We keep showing up at church. We keep doing those 00:23:10.609 --> 00:23:13.910 things because we are remaining in Christ. So 00:23:13.910 --> 00:23:18.509 how can Jesus say, whatever you wish, it will 00:23:18.509 --> 00:23:24.190 be done for you? I think he can truly say that 00:23:24.190 --> 00:23:27.029 because he truly believes that if we are remaining 00:23:27.029 --> 00:23:33.009 and enduring with Jesus, whatever I wish, is 00:23:33.009 --> 00:23:39.990 whatever he would wish. Right? Suddenly, your 00:23:39.990 --> 00:23:44.369 desires become the desires of Christ. Suddenly, 00:23:44.410 --> 00:23:47.150 what you want answered is what will bring glory 00:23:47.150 --> 00:23:54.170 to the Father and to the Son. And I think it's 00:23:54.170 --> 00:23:56.490 interesting he says, whatever you wish. All that 00:23:56.490 --> 00:24:00.289 means is whatever you desire, whatever you want. 00:24:00.990 --> 00:24:03.390 And it will be done for you. I'm like, Lord, 00:24:03.609 --> 00:24:10.789 I want my son, right? I want health, right? Whatever 00:24:10.789 --> 00:24:14.690 I wish, Lord. Because I want you to have glory 00:24:14.690 --> 00:24:16.710 and I want to do the things that you've called 00:24:16.710 --> 00:24:20.369 me to do. And so whatever, here's what I want, 00:24:20.490 --> 00:24:24.210 Lord. Here's what I desire. And I'm coming with 00:24:24.210 --> 00:24:28.250 boldness because you said it will be done for 00:24:28.250 --> 00:24:32.920 you. I think that maybe we ought to increase 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:39.440 the audaciousness of our prayers if this is what 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:43.640 Jesus said he would do. I think that if Jesus 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:46.480 had said, ask whatever you wish and it will be 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:49.420 done for you, and you're remaining, you're not 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:53.259 trying to do it in yourself and in your flesh, 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:57.589 but you're remaining in Jesus. I think we ought 00:24:57.589 --> 00:25:00.210 to be asking for more. I bet he's up there just 00:25:00.210 --> 00:25:05.210 saying, come on, son. Come on, daughter. I got 00:25:05.210 --> 00:25:10.930 more I want to do. 2 ,085 unengaged people groups. 00:25:11.549 --> 00:25:14.569 And how many followers of Christ living in the 00:25:14.569 --> 00:25:19.230 United States? Surely we've got 2 ,085 missionaries 00:25:19.230 --> 00:25:22.680 we can raise up. And we're not the only denomination. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:25.480 And we're not the only country sending missionaries. 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:31.619 Surely in all of our churches across the globe, 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:36.240 we can raise up 2 ,085 missionaries to go to 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:39.960 an unengaged people group. Can we ask for a little 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:45.440 more than what we've been asking? Here's where 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.779 we get stuck. And we're spending the other two 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:50.869 points won't go this slow. But here's where we 00:25:50.869 --> 00:25:54.230 get stuck. We get stuck in the gap. How many 00:25:54.230 --> 00:25:59.190 of you know that in the London underground, when 00:25:59.190 --> 00:26:02.009 you are stepping out, when the doors open and 00:26:02.009 --> 00:26:04.890 you step out, what is the recording that plays? 00:26:06.089 --> 00:26:09.569 Mind the gap. Have you heard that phrase? That's 00:26:09.569 --> 00:26:13.329 where it comes from. Because between the vehicle 00:26:13.329 --> 00:26:17.289 and the platform, there's a gap. And so there's 00:26:17.289 --> 00:26:20.619 a recording that will say, mind the gap. And 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:24.900 this is where we get that phrase. And so what 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.779 it means is just to be careful and pay attention, 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:30.980 right? Because we're not always paying attention 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:35.160 to what we're doing. Pay attention to this difference 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:41.400 in space, this gap. There is a difference here, 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:44.140 and we need to mind it so we don't trip up. In 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:47.660 fact, I did a wedding yesterday. out of town 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:52.319 in a barn in the country. And so the barn was 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.980 kind of up a hill, so they had a ramp they had 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:59.859 built that met then the entrance to the barn. 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:04.680 And so there was about a four -inch gap where 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:09.289 the barn met that ramp. And so, you know, it 00:27:09.289 --> 00:27:12.230 had been there all through rehearsal. That gap 00:27:12.230 --> 00:27:14.349 had been there, the wedding party coming in. 00:27:14.490 --> 00:27:17.109 And all of a sudden, as we're all standing around, 00:27:17.309 --> 00:27:20.190 a couple of the groomsmen are pulling these boards 00:27:20.190 --> 00:27:23.670 out from the back wall. And they're sticking 00:27:23.670 --> 00:27:28.329 them in the gap. And you should have heard everybody. 00:27:28.690 --> 00:27:33.970 Oh, we were all enlightened because they had 00:27:33.970 --> 00:27:39.230 filled the gap in. And so up until now, we've 00:27:39.230 --> 00:27:43.569 been tolerating this gap. Those with heels probably 00:27:43.569 --> 00:27:47.309 despising that gap. And all along there have 00:27:47.309 --> 00:27:54.589 been provision for the gap. Listen, the gap spiritually. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:57.859 It can trip us up if we're not mindful of the 00:27:57.859 --> 00:28:01.720 gap. And the gap, what it really means is to 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:05.359 be aware of the difference between two things. 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:10.099 And so what we have in our expectation that isn't 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:16.079 that difference is between our expectation and 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:19.440 the reality we're currently living in. And sometimes 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:24.109 there's a gap. We know what Jesus has promised 00:28:24.109 --> 00:28:27.990 and called us to, and we know the reality of 00:28:27.990 --> 00:28:31.190 what we're walking in. Can I say to you today, 00:28:31.309 --> 00:28:35.690 mind the gap. The gap can trip you up if you're 00:28:35.690 --> 00:28:40.750 not mindful of it. How you respond in the gap 00:28:40.750 --> 00:28:47.390 will matter. And after 40, how old am I? 41 years 00:28:47.390 --> 00:28:51.559 of being a Christ follower, What I've learned 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:55.920 is that in these spaces, I have a choice to either 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:02.180 be despising of it, just trying to endure it, 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:08.579 just wanting out of it. Now what I've learned 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:13.440 is to make the most of the gap. What I've learned 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.950 is I feel God calling me to do this. Okay, I'm 00:29:16.950 --> 00:29:21.069 going to, in the space of the gap between the 00:29:21.069 --> 00:29:23.869 expectation of what he's calling me to and where 00:29:23.869 --> 00:29:29.569 I'm at, I am going to align my life to my reality? 00:29:29.750 --> 00:29:33.490 No. I'm going to align my life to the expectation. 00:29:33.990 --> 00:29:38.450 I'm going to ask God to teach me how to do that 00:29:38.450 --> 00:29:44.009 which is expected. I'm going to research areas. 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:50.460 that I feel him calling me to. I'm going to resist 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:53.559 the devil who would come in and say, oh, see, 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:56.059 here's your reality. He didn't really say that 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:59.720 to you. No, in the gap, I'm going to resist him 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:05.940 and say, no, flee. In the gap, I'm going to fan 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:09.759 my flame of faith. In the gap, I'm going to give 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:14.759 myself to prayer and to asking. How we mind the 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:18.460 gap is really important. And it will either keep 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:22.559 your expectation up, but if you don't mind it, 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:26.559 suddenly, because it's like your body, right? 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:33.359 Your body quickly begins to just... And one week 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:39.400 of not exercising, suddenly it's... It's the 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:42.420 same way spiritually, if we don't mind the gap. 00:30:44.589 --> 00:30:48.369 The second area that I feel him calling us to 00:30:48.369 --> 00:30:55.549 is the area of imagination. And I've talked about 00:30:55.549 --> 00:30:59.890 this before. And we even talked about Ephesians 00:30:59.890 --> 00:31:03.549 chapter 3 before. But as I was praying through 00:31:03.549 --> 00:31:06.089 this, I felt the Holy Spirit speak something 00:31:06.089 --> 00:31:09.670 a little different in regards to Ephesians chapter 00:31:09.670 --> 00:31:15.339 3, verse 20. And in the NIV, It says this, now 00:31:15.339 --> 00:31:19.039 to him who is able to do immeasurably more than 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:22.480 all we ask or imagine, according to his power 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:26.339 that is at work within us. And I've often said, 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:28.319 Lord, I'd just be thrilled if you would do what 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:31.380 I asked or imagined. Don't even have to go beyond, 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:36.700 and I would be thrilled. I like how the New King 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:40.720 James Version phrases this, though. It says, 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:46.559 now to him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:53.779 above all that we ask or think. I found this 00:31:53.779 --> 00:32:00.559 phrase interesting, abundantly above. The way 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:04.839 that word above is, it means beyond. It means 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:13.200 superior to. It means more than. And so often 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.859 when we read Ephesians 3 .20, we're just thinking 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:19.680 God is going to do numerically maybe more than 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:22.980 what I'm asking or imagining. He's going to increase 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:27.779 it more than that. As I was reading this, I felt 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:32.700 Holy Spirit say is the beyond that I want to 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:44.269 do is superior. To what you're asking for. Think 00:32:44.269 --> 00:32:48.549 of it this way. Isaiah 55 says. We know this. 00:32:48.690 --> 00:32:51.970 My thoughts are not your thoughts. Right? My 00:32:51.970 --> 00:32:56.309 ways are not your ways. As the heavens are higher 00:32:56.309 --> 00:32:58.589 than the earth. My ways are higher than your 00:32:58.589 --> 00:33:01.869 ways. And my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 00:33:03.529 --> 00:33:08.099 And so. What I. think we often think is what 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:12.819 I'm asking or imagining, we understand in terms 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:15.779 of our own thinking, but we cannot comprehend 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:19.880 what God is actually wanting to do. It is beyond 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:24.000 us. And I believe that is the more than that 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:27.119 he wants. An example of this would be the Jewish 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:30.920 people, right? On Palm Sunday, oh, we're all 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:34.400 excited. The king is entering Jerusalem on a 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:37.690 donkey, no less. That means he's coming to take 00:33:37.690 --> 00:33:40.809 up kingship. He's coming to take up his throne. 00:33:41.390 --> 00:33:44.450 And immediately they're rejoicing and excited. 00:33:44.509 --> 00:33:48.589 Why? Was it because Jesus was coming? No. It 00:33:48.589 --> 00:33:51.690 was because finally somebody is going to come 00:33:51.690 --> 00:33:55.730 and get rid of this Roman rule and set up a new 00:33:55.730 --> 00:33:59.250 kingdom. And Jesus is going to be the head of 00:33:59.250 --> 00:34:03.589 it. See, they've been asking for it. They've 00:34:03.589 --> 00:34:08.510 been imagining what it looked like. And God did 00:34:08.510 --> 00:34:13.289 it above and beyond, but it did not look like 00:34:13.289 --> 00:34:18.489 what they were envisioning. And even later, after 00:34:18.489 --> 00:34:23.510 he had died and resurrected, they're asking Jesus 00:34:23.510 --> 00:34:25.869 the question, okay, Jesus, now are you going 00:34:25.869 --> 00:34:28.349 to do it? Now are you going to set up your kingdom? 00:34:29.070 --> 00:34:30.909 Again, they're still thinking. They're still 00:34:30.909 --> 00:34:34.530 asking and imagining based upon earthly kingdoms. 00:34:36.710 --> 00:34:39.690 All along, Jesus, they were thinking outward 00:34:39.690 --> 00:34:43.210 kingdom, and Jesus, what was he thinking? Inward. 00:34:44.170 --> 00:34:47.929 There's a kingdom of God that they were not able 00:34:47.929 --> 00:34:51.670 to perceive. Their ways were not God's ways, 00:34:51.710 --> 00:34:54.730 and their thoughts were not God's thoughts. And 00:34:54.730 --> 00:34:57.070 there are things that God has promised to you 00:34:57.070 --> 00:35:01.349 and you have perceived them in your own understanding. 00:35:01.789 --> 00:35:04.989 And that above and beyond that God wants to do 00:35:04.989 --> 00:35:07.489 is because it's beyond what you can think or 00:35:07.489 --> 00:35:12.230 imagine. And I believe that God wants us, I think 00:35:12.230 --> 00:35:16.269 he wants us to ask and imagine because it keeps 00:35:16.269 --> 00:35:19.469 us believing. But we need to be open in that 00:35:19.469 --> 00:35:23.739 to saying, Come and make it happen the way God 00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:27.960 you know to make it happen. The way you believe 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:30.460 it should look like. And so he's given you a 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:36.079 promise in life. Maybe it's you've been perceiving 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:38.719 it and believing for it. And God's saying, your 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:42.239 way is not my ways. Your thoughts aren't my thoughts. 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:47.000 You're not perceiving it the way I'm perceiving 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:51.900 it. And he wants to restore that. And then the 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:59.099 third area is the area of expansion. He said, 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:02.539 whoever believes in me will do the works I have 00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:07.820 been doing and do greater things. In 2 Corinthians 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:15.059 9, verse 8, it says, God is able to bless you 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:21.900 abundantly so that in all things, At all times, 00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:27.199 having all that you need, you will abound in 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:33.460 every good work. And so Jesus said, you're going 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:35.780 to do the works that I have done, but you're 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:39.780 going to do it greater. And here we see in Corinthians 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:45.079 that God is the one that supplies, that having 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:47.739 all things at all times, everything we need. 00:36:48.190 --> 00:36:55.510 we will abound in those good works. As I was 00:36:55.510 --> 00:36:58.150 praying through this one, I couldn't help but 00:36:58.150 --> 00:37:03.230 be drawn back to Jabez. And we had to be careful 00:37:03.230 --> 00:37:05.170 because there was the whole season of the prayer 00:37:05.170 --> 00:37:08.070 of Jabez, and sometimes we quit seeing things 00:37:08.070 --> 00:37:12.530 then. And the prayer of Jabez is interesting 00:37:12.530 --> 00:37:17.019 in 1 Chronicles 4. It's just a lineage being 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:20.920 laid out. This is why even in the lineages, we 00:37:20.920 --> 00:37:24.159 keep reading through all those names, we come 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:27.500 to some treasure points. And this is one of them. 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:32.440 This is now Jabez was more honorable than his 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:37.300 brothers. And his mother called his name Jabez, 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:43.530 saying, because I bore him in pain. And Jabez 00:37:43.530 --> 00:37:46.170 called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that 00:37:46.170 --> 00:37:50.289 you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, 00:37:50.610 --> 00:37:54.570 that your hand would be with me, and that you 00:37:54.570 --> 00:37:58.090 would keep me from evil, that I may not cause 00:37:58.090 --> 00:38:05.309 pain. So God granted him what he requested. This 00:38:05.309 --> 00:38:08.210 is all we see here. Now, we do know there is 00:38:08.210 --> 00:38:11.800 another city named Jabez. that was probably named 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:15.400 after him. Based on a lot of our ancient Jewish 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:18.719 writings and storytelling, we do learn a few 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:22.039 things that Jabez was a learned doctorate of 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:25.639 the law, and he probably had started a school 00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:29.340 of scribes. He became so well known that scribes 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:33.980 were coming to Jabez, and he began to train and 00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:36.599 establish a school. He would be considered a 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:43.039 rabbi in that. And so he truly had a place of 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:47.219 influence. And I find it so significant because 00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:53.860 Jabez was born with a name that defined him as 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:59.679 painful. And I'm imagining this mom, because 00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:02.599 as an adult, it obviously had been something 00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:06.000 that truly had identified him. Because what is 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:10.480 his prayer? That I may not cause pain. There 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:13.619 was something in him that said, I don't want 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:16.460 to be a causer of pain. I have been a causer 00:39:16.460 --> 00:39:20.260 of pain. I'm imagining that mom as he's a little 00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:26.380 kid getting in trouble being like, Jabez, I brought 00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:30.320 you into this world and you caused me a lot of 00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:33.619 pain. You better whip it up into shape. I just 00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:36.619 imagine this mom saying things like that to him. 00:39:37.550 --> 00:39:40.590 That he would become an adult with such an awareness 00:39:40.590 --> 00:39:45.710 of how he touched people's lives. That he was 00:39:45.710 --> 00:39:49.829 so worried about causing pain that it became 00:39:49.829 --> 00:39:56.250 his prayer. And this man that had been a causer 00:39:56.250 --> 00:40:03.650 of pain prayed a prayer of audacity. He prayed 00:40:03.650 --> 00:40:07.860 a prayer of, Lord, bless me. Lord, enlarge my 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:10.940 territory. And I don't know, I think we think 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:16.159 it's so holy to not ask for things of influence. 00:40:17.260 --> 00:40:19.840 You know, I read, I'm reading a book right now, 00:40:19.900 --> 00:40:24.059 and they read a statistic of denominations. And 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:27.579 of all, you know, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, 00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:33.460 Pentecostal. In the economic sense, in the economic... 00:40:34.090 --> 00:40:39.349 facts that they collected. The wealthiest economic 00:40:39.349 --> 00:40:43.690 status were those like the Presbyterians, the 00:40:43.690 --> 00:40:48.670 Lutherans, the bottom 10 % Baptists and Pentecostals. 00:40:49.789 --> 00:40:52.889 And I believe it's because we think it's spiritual. 00:40:53.590 --> 00:40:58.590 We think it's unspiritual to ask, Lord, bless 00:40:58.590 --> 00:41:02.849 me, enlarge my territory. And can I say that 00:41:02.849 --> 00:41:06.469 is just, I think, I think that the enemy has 00:41:06.469 --> 00:41:11.670 used that to keep us in a lower economic situation 00:41:11.670 --> 00:41:15.489 because it takes resources to expand the gospel. 00:41:17.289 --> 00:41:20.489 And I think we should resist that kind of, I 00:41:20.489 --> 00:41:24.070 think that the devil whispers that to keep us 00:41:24.070 --> 00:41:27.309 in places of bondage. I'm like, I don't know. 00:41:27.349 --> 00:41:31.309 I'd rather have us all be at that top economically 00:41:31.309 --> 00:41:35.750 with hearts to enlarge our territory that the 00:41:35.750 --> 00:41:38.650 Father would receive the glory of every tribe, 00:41:38.750 --> 00:41:42.889 every tongue, and every nation. Missionaries 00:41:42.889 --> 00:41:48.750 can't just, you know, fly for free. And so I 00:41:48.750 --> 00:41:51.769 think we should change that statistic and be 00:41:51.769 --> 00:41:55.909 like Jabez, unafraid to pray bold prayers. God, 00:41:55.929 --> 00:41:59.389 would you bless me? Would you enlarge my territory? 00:41:59.869 --> 00:42:03.050 Not out of a prosperity doctrine, but out of 00:42:03.050 --> 00:42:06.010 a desire that the Father would be glorified in 00:42:06.010 --> 00:42:09.349 the earth. And we would be a part of sending 00:42:09.349 --> 00:42:18.639 that forward. Enlarge my territory. And so this 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:24.719 morning, this morning the team is going to come 00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:31.900 and in these three areas, in the area of your 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:36.639 expectation, of your imagination, of your expansion, 00:42:36.840 --> 00:42:46.300 I want us to be honest before the Lord. of where 00:42:46.300 --> 00:42:49.500 we have been at in that. Maybe we have not minded 00:42:49.500 --> 00:42:54.820 our expectation well. We've not been a good steward 00:42:54.820 --> 00:42:58.579 of the gap. And he's kept us in the gap so long 00:42:58.579 --> 00:43:01.980 because he's just waiting for us to steward it 00:43:01.980 --> 00:43:05.739 well, to maybe learn something, to grow deeper 00:43:05.739 --> 00:43:13.539 roots in those places. Maybe he's calling for 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:16.119 you to maybe get a little bolder in your prayers 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:22.920 for your family. To expand your expectation for 00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:25.900 the one that feels like might never come to Christ. 00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:30.440 I think that can be the most radical testimony 00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:34.440 of what God does in your family. And I will believe 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:44.050 for no less. Some of you, God wants to expand 00:43:44.050 --> 00:43:49.530 you. In Jabez's day, that was marked by territory 00:43:49.530 --> 00:43:54.510 and herds. But listen, he wants you to expand 00:43:54.510 --> 00:43:59.650 your territory in your workplace, in your family. 00:44:00.010 --> 00:44:03.389 He wants to expand your influence in your neighborhood. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:08.840 Can we just pray that, God, expand my territory. 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:13.699 I want to see the gospel of Jesus Christ flow 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:18.619 out of me. We just came off of Pentecost Sunday 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:26.639 last week. And at the end, which we grabbed these, 00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:30.920 poor Darren had so much happening last week that 00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:35.400 he didn't really get to this. But last week and 00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:38.420 this morning, you should have received this four 00:44:38.420 --> 00:44:46.539 more card. We are a Pentecostal people that believes 00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:48.940 that the Holy Spirit has been given that we would 00:44:48.940 --> 00:44:55.659 have power to be a witness in Jerusalem, in Judea, 00:44:55.659 --> 00:44:58.199 in Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:02.940 And I am believing for the uttermost parts of 00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:06.320 the earth. But there is a pathway to that and 00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:09.900 it is through Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. 00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:13.760 We are so blessed. We have a couple coming to 00:45:13.760 --> 00:45:17.780 our Petersburg campus and originally from Illinois, 00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:22.619 but spent 40 years in Tennessee and moved back 00:45:22.619 --> 00:45:27.079 to Illinois so that she could pray for Illinois. 00:45:27.659 --> 00:45:31.840 I was like, yeah, God. All these people moving 00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:37.960 to Tennessee. When Illinois needs Jesus. We have 00:45:37.960 --> 00:45:40.659 our Jerusalems. You have a Jerusalem that I don't 00:45:40.659 --> 00:45:47.480 reach. You need to change your expectation for 00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:51.239 your Jerusalem. You need to begin to imagine 00:45:51.239 --> 00:45:55.659 and believe over your Jerusalem. You need to 00:45:55.659 --> 00:46:03.780 pray for expansion in your Jerusalem. Nobody 00:46:03.780 --> 00:46:07.079 else is going to reach it. And we need to pray 00:46:07.079 --> 00:46:10.940 that for our region, for our state, for our nation, 00:46:11.159 --> 00:46:20.059 and to the ends of the earth. To believe in expectation, 00:46:20.380 --> 00:46:24.900 to begin to imagine what could happen, to believe 00:46:24.900 --> 00:46:29.320 for expansion. And so if you received this card, 00:46:31.400 --> 00:46:33.739 I want you, you're going to have this card for 00:46:33.739 --> 00:46:37.099 a year. And I want you to put four people on 00:46:37.099 --> 00:46:40.460 this card that you are going to have expectation 00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:44.599 for, that you're going to imagine over, and that 00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:47.059 you're going to believe for expansion into their 00:46:47.059 --> 00:46:52.000 lives of the gospel. And then you're going to 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:54.420 tear it off and turn in the bottom because we 00:46:54.420 --> 00:46:59.800 want to pray over your names as a church. And 00:46:59.800 --> 00:47:02.519 so if you took one home last week, I'm going 00:47:02.519 --> 00:47:04.739 to ask that you would fill that out this week 00:47:04.739 --> 00:47:08.059 and bring it back next week so we can pray over 00:47:08.059 --> 00:47:12.559 your people. If you just got one today, you can 00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:16.179 do that this morning and you can just turn this 00:47:16.179 --> 00:47:21.239 into the offering box in the back. And we have 00:47:21.239 --> 00:47:23.639 a fried chicken with friends that's coming here 00:47:23.639 --> 00:47:26.300 in a couple of weeks. And I want you to begin 00:47:26.300 --> 00:47:33.539 to just pray. Jesus called us to do the things 00:47:33.539 --> 00:47:39.079 that he did. And I don't want to be a Pentecostal 00:47:39.079 --> 00:47:42.980 church in here experiencing wonderful things 00:47:42.980 --> 00:47:45.480 and having goosebumps and Holy Ghost parties, 00:47:45.639 --> 00:47:48.920 which I love. In fact, I'm driving over to Radiant 00:47:48.920 --> 00:47:51.539 tonight. They're having a worship night, revival 00:47:51.539 --> 00:47:55.139 night. So I'm going to go hang out and have myself 00:47:55.139 --> 00:47:58.969 a little revival night. I believe in that. It's 00:47:58.969 --> 00:48:01.630 our locker room where you get encouraged and 00:48:01.630 --> 00:48:06.010 filled up ready to leave. But the Holy Ghost 00:48:06.010 --> 00:48:11.530 was given so that you would leave and go do what 00:48:11.530 --> 00:48:16.690 Jesus did. Jesus left this earth so that you 00:48:16.690 --> 00:48:19.869 could receive the power of the Holy Spirit and 00:48:19.869 --> 00:48:24.730 go do what he did. And go do it in a greater 00:48:24.730 --> 00:48:28.860 way than what he did. And I feel great heaviness 00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:35.039 that we, it's not a, well, that's great for those 00:48:35.039 --> 00:48:38.539 that are evangelists. There is a heavy responsibility 00:48:38.539 --> 00:48:43.159 I feel in this. There is a cost to it in the 00:48:43.159 --> 00:48:47.579 life of Christ. And we've been put on this earth 00:48:47.579 --> 00:48:52.260 for such a time. You're here for such a time 00:48:52.260 --> 00:48:58.690 on this earth. to do what Jesus did and beyond. 00:48:59.489 --> 00:49:06.530 Amen? That should be an amen. So let it be. So 00:49:06.530 --> 00:49:09.969 let it be. And so this morning I'm going to ask 00:49:09.969 --> 00:49:16.670 if you will stand. I love testimonies of what 00:49:16.670 --> 00:49:18.889 Holy Spirit does in here, but I love it more 00:49:18.889 --> 00:49:21.610 when you guys come and say, here's what happened 00:49:21.610 --> 00:49:27.469 this week. at school, at work. And I hear how 00:49:27.469 --> 00:49:30.510 Holy Spirit has used you to flow in the gifts, 00:49:30.630 --> 00:49:33.530 used you to pray for somebody and they've been 00:49:33.530 --> 00:49:36.849 healed. My favorite, I love Tabitha back there. 00:49:37.570 --> 00:49:42.269 She's online for her work. She's constantly ministering 00:49:42.269 --> 00:49:46.010 to the people she talks with online, on the phone, 00:49:46.150 --> 00:49:50.809 at her workplace. I love her testimonies. What 00:49:50.809 --> 00:49:53.500 is she doing? She's believing. She's believing 00:49:53.500 --> 00:49:57.619 that she can do what Jesus did and do even greater 00:49:57.619 --> 00:49:59.880 works than that in the lives of those people. 00:50:01.760 --> 00:50:08.300 And so this morning, Jesus, in just a quietness, 00:50:08.340 --> 00:50:19.639 in just a sincerity of heart, Lord, we're asking 00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:28.579 As we abide in Christ, as we abide in you, as 00:50:28.579 --> 00:50:33.320 we seek to live and dwell and move and have our 00:50:33.320 --> 00:50:39.219 being in you, that the good works that you have 00:50:39.219 --> 00:50:42.820 established for us to do would come into fruition. 00:50:43.360 --> 00:50:46.059 God, we're saying we're not going to settle any 00:50:46.059 --> 00:50:52.050 longer for just becoming like you, Christ. No, 00:50:52.050 --> 00:50:56.110 we're not settling any longer. But we're saying, 00:50:56.190 --> 00:50:59.590 Christ, we want to do the things that you did. 00:51:00.730 --> 00:51:06.309 The hungry and the thirsty in our lives. That 00:51:06.309 --> 00:51:11.130 we would be pitchers of living water being poured 00:51:11.130 --> 00:51:15.929 out. That we would be bread distributors giving 00:51:15.929 --> 00:51:22.369 of the living bread of Christ. we're asking not 00:51:22.369 --> 00:51:24.789 that we would be a Pentecostal people in these 00:51:24.789 --> 00:51:27.730 four walls, but we're asking that we would be 00:51:27.730 --> 00:51:31.670 a Pentecostal people outside these walls. We're 00:51:31.670 --> 00:51:34.909 asking that where our feet step, that we would 00:51:34.909 --> 00:51:39.349 take that ground, that wherever we are walking 00:51:39.349 --> 00:51:42.510 and talking and being, that we would evidence 00:51:42.510 --> 00:51:46.070 the character of Christ and do the things of 00:51:46.070 --> 00:51:50.550 Christ. And Lord, we in this moment, as one body 00:51:50.550 --> 00:51:54.409 we just take a moment to say God we're sorry 00:51:54.409 --> 00:51:58.730 for having such low standards of being Christ 00:51:58.730 --> 00:52:05.630 followers forgive us for our low standards our 00:52:05.630 --> 00:52:11.849 low expectations and teach us Jesus what it is 00:52:11.849 --> 00:52:16.090 to do the things that you did teach us Jesus 00:52:16.090 --> 00:52:19.949 how to lay hands and to pray over people. Teach 00:52:19.949 --> 00:52:24.369 us, Jesus, how to release people from the bondage 00:52:24.369 --> 00:52:28.090 of sin through the gospel. Teach us how to hear 00:52:28.090 --> 00:52:32.809 when the Holy Spirit quickens us. Teach us, Jesus, 00:52:32.909 --> 00:52:37.670 to do the things that you did in our places of 00:52:37.670 --> 00:52:47.099 businesses. Jesus, you excel in the hardest places. 00:52:48.119 --> 00:52:53.539 You excel in the most sin -bound places. Your 00:52:53.539 --> 00:52:59.159 power is greater than any dark place. There's 00:52:59.159 --> 00:53:01.340 just no place that's too big for you, Jesus. 00:53:02.460 --> 00:53:08.780 So we repent for our low standards. And we raise 00:53:08.780 --> 00:53:13.760 our expectations to all that you would have us 00:53:14.139 --> 00:53:17.800 Do and be. Jesus.