1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,000 Welcome to Go Church Beirut, your place to love, grow and go. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:11,000 Get ready to hear an inspiring message recorded during a Go Church Beirut gathering. 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,000 So I'm excited to be with you today. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:18,000 I want to take just a few minutes before we get started in our Bible lesson 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:24,000 and talk about what the Lord has done in 2023, 6 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,000 because He's done some amazing things. 7 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,000 You know why? 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Because that's who He is. 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,000 He's awesome. 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 He's Lord. 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,000 He's a giver. 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,000 He's a rewarder. 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,000 He is an increaser. 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000 He will add to us. 15 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,000 He makes us more than we could be on our own. 16 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:53,000 In 2023, I just jotted some things down. 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:58,000 We shared these with some of the team, and I wanted to share it with you. 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:04,000 In April this past year, there was an inspired utterance. 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 We see that as called prophecy in the New Testament. 20 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,000 It just simply means that the Spirit of God inspired a servant of God 21 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:19,000 to say something in a known tongue and something that we could understand. 22 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:24,000 And this prophetic word was emerge. 23 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,000 That word emerge means to become visible, to become prominent, 24 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:34,000 and to recover from a difficult situation that's in the dictionary. 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:40,000 This word emerge, this prophetic word for emerge is for, go church Beirut. 26 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,000 That means it's for you and I. 27 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:49,000 And when I say it is for you and I, it's a command. 28 00:01:49,000 --> 00:02:00,000 It's a command for us to emerge, to become who God needs us to be in this nation in these days. 29 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,000 I mentioned Proverbs chapter 11. 30 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Just a few verses before the verse I quoted about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly 31 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:19,000 says that when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. 32 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:27,000 The way the Lord, the answer for Lebanon from the Lord is in you 33 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,000 and will come through you, the church. 34 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:38,000 And in this word emerge, we studied this for two months this year, we studied the word able. 35 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:45,000 And that word emerge is all the ability to do it. 36 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:52,000 When he said go church Beirut emerge, there's all the ability to do it. 37 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 And we're pressing into that. 38 00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:00,000 So I want to share some notable things that happened in 2023. 39 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,000 At the beginning of last year, we started with just three groups. 40 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,000 We're a group-centered church. 41 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,000 We gather like this just once a month. 42 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:17,000 And when we're able to, we also gather on the fourth Friday for a time of believers that just gather 43 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:24,000 and we just give ourselves to prayer and worship, following the Holy Spirit. 44 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,000 But primarily church for us happens in groups. 45 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:34,000 And so at the beginning of 2023, we just had three groups. 46 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:42,000 In fact, the reason we had three groups is I forcibly divided two of them to a lot of kicking and screaming. 47 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:51,000 But we finished 2023 with seven groups, including the most important one, and that is one just for kids. 48 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,000 So how many groups will we finish 2024 with? 49 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,000 I believe a lot. 50 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,000 We're pressing into that. 51 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,000 And I'm going to come back and ask that question later. 52 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,000 But this is just what happened in 2023. 53 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:18,000 We had more than 50 people make decisions through Go Church Beirut ministry in 2023 for Jesus. 54 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 That's the part where we all say, hallelujah. 55 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:22,000 Thank you, Lord. 56 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,000 Glory to God. 57 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:29,000 Do you know what Luke 15 says happens when one person receives Jesus? 58 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,000 We studied this. 59 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,000 Somebody tell me. 60 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,000 There's joy, right? 61 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:37,000 There's joy. 62 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,000 So there should be joy in Beirut when 50. 63 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,000 Right? 64 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:47,000 If there's joy in heaven for one, there should be some joy. 65 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,000 Let's practice. 66 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:49,000 Hallelujah. 67 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,000 Thank you, Lord. 68 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,000 Thank you, Lord. 69 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:59,000 So how many will this number be in 2024? 70 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,000 More. 71 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,000 How many more? 72 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,000 What could we believe for? 73 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:11,000 What could we believe God to do together? 74 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,000 More than 22 people were baptized in the Holy Spirit. 75 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:23,000 I almost put it on here to show you, but I have a video on my phone of a guy from a Baladiya officer. 76 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,000 With his hands up, praying in tongues and saying hallelujah. 77 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:34,000 Because a Go Church family member brought him to Jesus and said, let's not stop at the cross. 78 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,000 Let's go on to Acts chapter two. 79 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:45,000 And here's this guy in his uniform outside, praying in tongues, saying hallelujah. 80 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,000 How many more? 81 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:59,000 I'm believing for a thousand people in Lebanon to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. 82 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,000 And if you have any of these videos on your phone, share them with me. 83 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000 I love them. 84 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,000 OK. 85 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,000 You know who I'm talking to. 86 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,000 We had more than 40 people experience an alpha. 87 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,000 We just started a new alpha. 88 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,000 We're starting that I know of. 89 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,000 We're starting two more. 90 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:24,000 We have an average of 63 people every week that listen to our podcast, which is a great privilege. 91 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:33,000 And this month, this podcast series, I'm going to encourage you to listen. 92 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,000 There are some things that were said that I think are important. 93 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,000 They're important for you. 94 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:46,000 And while we may be always encourage you to listen, I would I would encourage you to take the time to listen. 95 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:56,000 And we average about one hundred and twenty every big Sunday, about 48 people on our average come to the the believers gathering. 96 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:07,000 And a number that I'm really excited about is we have 34 that are part of Go Church that are also part of Rema. 97 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:14,000 And if you don't know what Rema is, there's still time, just a few days. 98 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,000 And is it tomorrow? 99 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,000 There is not a few days. 100 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:23,000 You have you have some time until tomorrow to apply. 101 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:29,000 And if you're interested to be part of Rema, you can apply and join the final intake. 102 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:37,000 We won't do another intake for new students until after we graduate this current class. 103 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,000 That's our plan right now. 104 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,000 And the new one may not be in Beirut. 105 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:47,000 So if you know someone that's interested, encourage them to apply. 106 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:51,000 And if you don't know how to apply, all you have to do is contact Joseph. 107 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Joseph Joseph is the point of contact for today. 108 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:05,000 Another thing I want to share with everyone, this is something that we should rejoice and and thank God about is 109 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,000 I remember when this number was zero. 110 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:21,000 Right. In our leader meeting, I mentioned that there was a time that Go Church Beirut were just two mats, two jewelies and a whiteboard. 111 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:33,000 But today, after twenty twenty three, Go Church Beirut tithes and offerings, that's the money that is given to Go Church Beirut to help everything that we do. 112 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,000 All the groups help put on these meetings. 113 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:43,000 Forty one thousand dollars, one hundred and eleven dollars was given in twenty twenty three by you. 114 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,000 Glory to God. Glory to God. 115 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Hallelujah. That's awesome. That's great. 116 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:59,000 Now, you spent fifty seven thousand dollars, which is more than forty one thousand. 117 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:04,000 And that's OK, because all of these numbers are just going to go up. 118 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:14,000 The one that's in red there, the difference was actually covered by Club 1040, which is the ministry that Pastor Matt and Julie Beamer ahead. 119 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:19,000 And I can tell you what this number is going to be in twenty twenty four, which is. 120 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:27,000 Zero, because Go Church Beirut is emerging and will stand on its own. 121 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:34,000 And we're excited about that. I'm excited about that, because that means that you're increasing. 122 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:38,000 This is good. This is very good. 123 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,000 And these numbers are just going to get bigger. 124 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,000 So in twenty twenty four, Go Church will be self supporting. 125 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:52,000 And I also want to say, you know, we're thankful that we get to use this place, but we're actively looking for a new home. 126 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,000 And it won't be our forever home, but it will be a place. 127 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,000 And I'm going to talk about that in just a minute. 128 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:08,000 But in twenty twenty three, we had sixty five thousand dollars given just for a Go Church building or Go Church hub. 129 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,000 And if you think what's a hub, I'm going to tell you in just a minute. 130 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:16,000 But I wanted to explain that is all from here. 131 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:22,000 That's all from Lebanon. That's not some big organization from outside. 132 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 That's just from the Go Church family. 133 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,000 And you know what? This is going to just keep happening. Why? 134 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Because you are increasing. Go Church Beirut is growing and we're emerging into all that God has called us to be. 135 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Let me say that another way. 136 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:56,000 Lebanon will recover from a difficult situation because God blesses you and prospers you and causes you to increase. 137 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:04,000 And you live here. That is good news. 138 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,000 That is good news for this country. And that is good news for your family. 139 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:14,000 So Psalm one hundred twenty six. 140 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,000 I love this. I love this song, the whole song. 141 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,000 But just for time's sake, I just put this part out. 142 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,000 This is from the Passion Translation. 143 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:30,000 It says all the nations saw it. 144 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,000 Saw what? 145 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,000 Saw what God did. 146 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,000 What am I talking about? 147 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Emerging. 148 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:46,000 The things that Jesus is going to do in and through Go Church Beirut, 149 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:58,000 the things that Jesus is doing in and through you are meant to be visible and prominent. 150 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Visible and prominent. Why? 151 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:09,000 So that they say the Lord has done great miracles for them. 152 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,000 That's my prayer for you. 153 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:18,000 I want the things that Jesus does in and through you to be so shocking 154 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:26,000 that people who don't yet know Jesus say only the Lord could have done that. 155 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,000 They couldn't have done it. They're not that smart. 156 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:34,000 They couldn't have done it. They're not that strategic. 157 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,000 They couldn't have done it. They couldn't have known. 158 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,000 But the Lord has done great things for them. 159 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,000 And when they, the nations, those that don't yet know God say that, 160 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,000 you know what we should say? 161 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,000 Yes, he has done good things. 162 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:57,000 Not, yeah, you know, I'm really, I pray a lot, so I know what to do. 163 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,000 No, we just say, yes, the Lord has done great things. 164 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,000 He has done great things. 165 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,000 And this is my favorite part. 166 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:10,000 Now, Lord, do it again. 167 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:17,000 If there's one thing that you can point to in 2023 and say, God did that for me, 168 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,000 then apply this phrase. 169 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:26,000 Now, Lord, now, Lord, do it again. 170 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,000 That's 2024. 171 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,000 Now, Lord, do it again. 172 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,000 Hallelujah. 173 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,000 He's doing great things. He's doing them in you. 174 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,000 He's doing them through you. 175 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,000 And that's my prayer. Now, Lord, do it again. 176 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,000 Hallelujah. 177 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,000 Hallelujah. 178 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,000 Well, I'm going to just mention this briefly. 179 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,000 We'll just run through this because I want to get into our message. 180 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,000 But hubs, I mentioned hubs. 181 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,000 We talked a little bit about it on the podcast. 182 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,000 We've we've experimented this idea. 183 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,000 We've talked about it. 184 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:07,000 We've been experimenting with Rafi and Patricia's Go Cafe in Ashrafiyah. 185 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:14,000 And the first hub that we actually move into from here will look a little weird 186 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,000 because it'll probably have a big auditorium like this and things. 187 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:24,000 But what a hub is, is just a place that helps groups grow. 188 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:29,000 A hub is simply a place that helps groups grow. 189 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,000 What am I talking about? 190 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:38,000 I'm talking about a place that groups can use to come together and build relationships. 191 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 And throughout the year, we'll talk more about this. 192 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,000 You'll hear more about it. 193 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,000 But I just want to kind of put this in front of you. 194 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,000 It's designed for groups to gather. 195 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,000 It's going to be prominent. 196 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,000 It's going to be visible. 197 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:59,000 And it will be a place where Go Church Beirut can help our community. 198 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,000 And I'm excited about it. 199 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000 All right. 200 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:10,000 So I want to switch gears and we're going to talk about fasting. 201 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,000 How many of you like the idea of fasting? 202 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:27,000 So the fasted life, I first wanted to call this life in the fast line. 203 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,000 Gilbert said that was a bad idea. 204 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,000 But the fasted life. 205 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:43,000 Now, I'm going to talk today maybe about fasting from a little different angle. 206 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:49,000 If you have questions about what the Bible teaches specifically about fasting, 207 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:55,000 my recommendation to you is go to the podcast and follow along. 208 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:59,000 And then obviously in our groups, in our grow groups, 209 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:04,000 we're going to dig more into that aspect. 210 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:09,000 But today we're going to talk about it from a little different angle. 211 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:15,000 And many of you got to meet Brother Tokes when he was here. 212 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,000 Brother Tokes worked with Pastor Matt Beamer in Raymond, Nigeria. 213 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000 He's the director of Raymond, Nigeria. 214 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,000 He has this saying. 215 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:29,000 He says, if you and I are close enough to walk together, then it's probably true 216 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:35,000 that we're close enough to step on each other's feet. 217 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:42,000 So if you find today that I'm stepping on you, just keep your eyes looking forward. 218 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,000 Big smile. 219 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,000 No one will know I'm talking about you. 220 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,000 Okay. 221 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,000 I don't have anybody in mind. 222 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,000 I'm not talking to one person. 223 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:58,000 This is just some things that are on my heart for us together to grow up into. 224 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,000 Okay. 225 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:07,000 So I'm not talking about anyone specifically, but I'm talking to all of us, all of us. 226 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Okay. 227 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:15,000 So Matthew chapter six, verse 18. 228 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:23,000 This is a great passage about fasting, and when you're up here sharing, 229 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:29,000 I will tell you to not do what I'm going to do because frequently today, 230 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,000 I'm going to turn around and I'm going to look at the screen. 231 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,000 I'm going to point. 232 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:37,000 But that's because I've chosen some specific translations that have some phrases 233 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,000 that I want us to look at and key in. 234 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,000 All right. 235 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:48,000 So here, Matthew chapter six, this is Jesus talking and he says this. 236 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:57,000 He says, and when you fast, don't make it obvious as the hypocrites do. 237 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,000 Nobody likes hypocrites, right? 238 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,000 Hypocrites and tourists are hated globally. 239 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:09,000 Don't get Julie started about tourists. 240 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Jesus said, when you fast, don't do it like hypocrites. 241 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Do hypocrites fast? 242 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,000 They must. 243 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Hypocrites fast. 244 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,000 Uh-oh. 245 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,000 I didn't think that was a thing, right? 246 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:36,000 Jesus said, when you fast, do it this way. 247 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:42,000 He said, don't do it like the hypocrites do for when they fast, 248 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:52,000 they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for fasting. 249 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,000 Imagine. 250 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:59,000 How are you? 251 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,000 I'm so weak. 252 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:10,000 I haven't eaten for almost two hours. 253 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,000 I actually met someone years and years ago. 254 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:19,000 They put themselves in the hospital and had to undergo medical treatment 255 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 because they tried to fast for 40 days. 256 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:27,000 I know that because they told me and everyone else what they were doing. 257 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,000 I'm on a 40-day fast. 258 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,000 The Lord told me to fast for 40 days. 259 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,000 I'm not going to eat anything. 260 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 I'm not going to drink any water. 261 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:41,000 Just no food, no water for 40 days. 262 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:47,000 They made it a few days and then they wound up in the hospital. 263 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,000 Since we're talking about it, please don't do that. 264 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:58,000 If you had a dream and the Lord told you to don't eat or drink for 40 days, 265 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,000 no, he didn't. 266 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:00,000 Okay? 267 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:05,000 In fact, just go ahead and eat something right then. 268 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:13,000 But Jesus, he said, when hypocrites fast, they try to make themselves look miserable 269 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000 so that everyone will admire them. 270 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,000 Look how spiritual. 271 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,000 Look how spiritual this person is. 272 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,000 Look how spiritual this person is. 273 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,000 They missed breakfast. 274 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,000 I could never miss breakfast. 275 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,000 Can't miss breakfast. 276 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,000 If I miss breakfast, there's no telling what I'd do. 277 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000 Jesus didn't like to miss breakfast either. 278 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Look what happened in Mark chapter 11 when he missed breakfast. 279 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,000 The fig tree, there's no figs. 280 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:43,000 He winds up at the temple. 281 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:50,000 He turns over all the tables. 282 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,000 Maybe I'm missing something. 283 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Jesus said, when you fast, when you fast, 284 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,000 don't do it like hypocrites do. 285 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:05,000 That must mean that hypocrites fast. 286 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,000 And then he says something interesting. 287 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,000 He said, I tell you the truth. 288 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:17,000 That is the only reward they will get. 289 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,000 Wait a minute. 290 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,000 Why did Jesus say reward? 291 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Here's a question. 292 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,000 What is the reward for fasting? 293 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,000 Is there a reward for fasting? 294 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:40,000 Jesus just said, hey, when you fast, 295 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,000 which is we're going to talk about in just a minute, 296 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:47,000 when you fast, make sure that you don't do it like hypocrites do. 297 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:48,000 Why? 298 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:54,000 Because there's a reward for fasting that they're missing out on. 299 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:59,000 Okay. You have my attention. 300 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:04,000 What is the reward for fasting? 301 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:11,000 So we talk about this in the podcast, and we go into some details, 302 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:19,000 and we'll dig into those details about the reward of fasting specifically in our grow groups. 303 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:24,000 But today, I want you to hold that in your mind, 304 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,000 and I want to ask you a question. 305 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:33,000 Are you familiar with this expression, my plate is full? 306 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:38,000 It's an idiom, is the way we would describe it in English. 307 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,000 My plate is full. 308 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:48,000 This is often, you hear this a lot when someone like Julie is saying, 309 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:53,000 hey, we need, we're thankful for all the help that we have. 310 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,000 If you're not helping, here's how you can help. 311 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:06,000 And sometimes the reply to that is, sorry, my plate is full. 312 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,000 Have you ever said that or something like that? 313 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:12,000 Yeah, I can't really take anything else on. 314 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,000 My plate is full. 315 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:20,000 Maybe you have attended one of our Go Church meetings in the past 316 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:25,000 where we've done like a buffet lunch or food, and you say something like this. 317 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:31,000 My plate is full of food, and I don't know what to do, 318 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,000 because I'm only halfway through the line. 319 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:39,000 Just so you know, Julie worked in restaurants for years. 320 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:44,000 If you go to a buffet, all of the cheap food is in the front, 321 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:48,000 and then the proteins are at the very end, so that by the time you get there, 322 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,000 your plate is full. 323 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,000 That's science. 324 00:23:55,000 --> 00:24:06,000 So my plate is full of food, but there's still more food that I want. 325 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:11,000 Fasting often is related just to food. 326 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:19,000 The reason for that is the word fasting in the Bible means to close your mouth. 327 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:30,000 If you want to grow spiritually, close your mouth. 328 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,000 But I want to look at fasting from a little different angle. 329 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:43,000 In fact, I want to ask this. Do you have a lot on your mind? 330 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:49,000 Does it feel at times where if someone adds one more thing to you, 331 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:58,000 you're just going to pop? 332 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,000 You get off the phone, your email goes off, 333 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,000 and you're afraid to look at the email because you think, 334 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:13,000 holus, my plate is full. 335 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,000 I can't take one more thing. 336 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:21,000 Look at this image. 337 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 On one side we've got a one-man band. 338 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:31,000 If you would like to see Gilbert in one of these, take out your phone. 339 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,000 I'm kidding. 340 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:39,000 You see the one image of the person trying to balance everything on their plate. 341 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:43,000 The other person is literally just doing everything. 342 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:50,000 They're hooked up to a cymbal and a horn and a guitar and a kazoo and all kinds of things. 343 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,000 Does this look like you? 344 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,000 Let me ask it another way. 345 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:03,000 When you open your Bible reading plan for Go Church Beirut, the U version app, 346 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:08,000 is this what you look like? 347 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:12,000 Your Bible chapter is playing in the background. 348 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:17,000 Meanwhile, you've got your guitar and your kazoo and your drum and your, 349 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:27,000 I'm busy, I'm working, I've got a lot of things. 350 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:34,000 Whoa, it's quiet. 351 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:40,000 What does your plate look like? 352 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:49,000 I shared all these numbers and this plan and a little bit of what's happening and what's going to happen. 353 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,000 That's all good. 354 00:26:51,000 --> 00:27:01,000 It's also going to require some space on your plate if you're going to be part of it. 355 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,000 Let me say that another way. 356 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:11,000 If you are going to participate in the plan of God for your life in 2024, 357 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:20,000 there might be some things on your plate that you need to remove. 358 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:27,000 And that's why I want to talk about fasting. 359 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:37,000 So let's look back at Matthew chapter 6 and notice in the context of what Jesus is talking about, 360 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:47,000 he mentions three things with the phrase, when you. 361 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:51,000 When is an adverb. 362 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:56,000 It describes an action. 363 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:01,000 He doesn't say if you. 364 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,000 He said when you. 365 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,000 When you give. 366 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,000 When you pray. 367 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,000 And when you fast. 368 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,000 Followers of Jesus are givers. 369 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,000 Followers of Jesus pray. 370 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:25,000 Followers of Jesus fast. 371 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,000 Well, this is a good message. 372 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:35,000 This is going to get a lot of downloads. 373 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:42,000 Christians sometimes read this and say, when I have extra money, I'll give. 374 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:50,000 When I have extra time or a super big need, I'll pray. 375 00:28:50,000 --> 00:29:02,000 When ever I feel like it, I might fast. 376 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:06,000 There are no Bible translations that render it that way. 377 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:17,000 Jesus said, when you as a follower of me do these things, that tells me I'm supposed to be doing it. 378 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:25,000 When I pray, when I give, and when I fast. 379 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:37,000 So when I fast, I say no to me. 380 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:44,000 Fasting does not convince God to do things for me. 381 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:52,000 Fasting helps me change me. 382 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Fasting is when I tell me no. 383 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:10,000 Fasting is when I look at something that is occupying my plate and I say, I need that space for him. 384 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,000 So I'm going to take the cinnamon roll off. 385 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:25,000 Or I'm going to take the two and a half hours of Instagram reels off. 386 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:39,000 Or I'm going to take the time that I sit with my best friend and gossip about what this person is doing and what that person is doing and what this show said and what that show said. 387 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,000 And what do you think is going to happen in the next episode? 388 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:49,000 I'm going to take that off my plate. 389 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:57,000 What's the thing that is occupying your plate? 390 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:03,000 That you would say, this emerge thing, it sounds pretty good. 391 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,000 When it happens for everybody, I'll jump on. 392 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:12,000 But in the meantime, my plate's full. 393 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:15,000 Look at verse 22. 394 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:23,000 This is same chapter, same time Jesus is preaching the same sermon. 395 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:29,000 How many of you would love to hear Jesus teach and preach a sermon? 396 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,000 All you have to do is read Matthew 6. 397 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:39,000 Same sermon, Jesus said, your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. 398 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:45,000 When your eye is healthy, your body is filled with light. 399 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:53,000 But when your eye is unhealthy, you're filled with darkness. 400 00:31:53,000 --> 00:32:04,000 And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep is that darkness? 401 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:09,000 Do you know what's wrong with being deceived? 402 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,000 You're deceived. 403 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:18,000 And while that seems really simple, it's powerful. 404 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:27,000 Years ago, I was visiting a friend and this friend, he had a teenage daughter. 405 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:33,000 This teenage daughter brought this boy home that was following her wherever she would go. 406 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:40,000 And I didn't pay any attention. I was talking to her dad. 407 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:46,000 We finished what we were talking and she came in the room and she said something to him. 408 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:54,000 I didn't hear it. And his dad turned to me and said, we need to lead this boy to the Lord. 409 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,000 He was about, I think he was 16 years old. 410 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:03,000 Okay. I don't have to flip a switch for that. 411 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:10,000 We're always ready to do that. So me and this other man, we led him to the Lord, prayed with him. 412 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,000 This was on a Wednesday. 413 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:20,000 Two days later on a Friday, he was at a youth meeting. 414 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,000 And I was asked to come and speak at this youth meeting. 415 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:28,000 There weren't a lot of people there. Maybe there were 10 or 12 people there. 416 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:33,000 I shared a really simple Bible lesson. 417 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:40,000 Not even I remember what I talked about. It wasn't that good. 418 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:44,000 Afterwards, we're sitting around in this kid. 419 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:50,000 This is Friday. He accepted Jesus on Wednesday. He's 16. 420 00:33:50,000 --> 00:34:02,000 He said this to me. He said, you know, if you stay by yourself, you think I'm okay. 421 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:13,000 But if you get around other Christians and hear a lesson from the Bible, you think, huh, I have to make changes. 422 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:20,000 He said the 16 year old kid said that after two days of knowing Jesus, not even two days. 423 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:24,000 It was Wednesday night. This is Friday night. 424 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:29,000 He said that to me. I'm like, can we put that in a bottle and make everyone drink it? 425 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:35,000 This is this is powerful. 426 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:46,000 I don't remember what I taught on, but I'll never forget what that kid said. 427 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:58,000 Deception. Comes as a result of pride. Pride. 428 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 The former pastor of Go Church Bradford said this. I thought it was so powerful. 429 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:07,000 If you haven't dealt with pride in the last two weeks, you're probably yielding to it. 430 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:14,000 So pride is something that everybody has to work on. Right. 431 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:19,000 No one has pride mounted like a deer in your house. Like, yep. 432 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:26,000 I remember back in 2013 when I shot that. 433 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:32,000 Pride is believing lies. 434 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:39,000 Humility is the greatest protection that you have against deception. 435 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:44,000 So rather than look and say, you know what, I've got everything figured out. 436 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:48,000 I've got my I've got my day ordered. This is how I do it. 437 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:57,000 This is like and I can't I can't take anything else on. This is. 438 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:01,000 Let's examine us. 439 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:06,000 We're told in the New Testament to take heed to ourself. 440 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:13,000 Take a look at how we spend our time and what our focus is on. 441 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:35,000 If you were here during the rama sessions, I was convinced that Pastor Matt was going to get over into my message because he kept talking about what you're willing to maybe die for, what you would say you would die for, but what you actually end up living for. 442 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:51,000 Verse 25, Jesus said, This is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life, whether you have enough food, drink, or clothes to wear. 443 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:59,000 The context of Matthew six is food, drink, raiment. 444 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:03,000 The whole world is pursuing this in some form. 445 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,000 Jesus said, There's something else. 446 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:11,000 There's something more. There's something else I want on your plate. 447 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,000 I want you to focus your energy on something else. 448 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,000 We might say it like this. 449 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:22,000 Don't consume your life. 450 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:28,000 On what gets used up. 451 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:35,000 Everything in the natural is passing away. 452 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:40,000 And if that's our focus, 453 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:49,000 that's darkness that we're calling light. 454 00:37:49,000 --> 00:38:02,000 The illustration and for the rama students that were here, the pastor Matt said yesterday, many people would say I would die for the gospel. 455 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:19,000 But there's a like a funny cartoon thing that was shared on Instagram or on social media that said I'll die for the gospel, but you won't volunteer in the Children's Department. 456 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:26,000 I would die for the gospel, but I don't have time to open up the U version Bible out. 457 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:32,000 I don't have time to download the U version Bible out and follow along with the reading plan. 458 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:35,000 I would die for the gospel. 459 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:44,000 But the only time I can really spend in prayer is between the red and green light on Salome. 460 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:57,000 Those lights don't work, by the way. That's why I'm saying. 461 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:01,000 Yeah, I'll die for it, but I'm not going to give my life to it. 462 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:11,000 Are you crazy? No, I love myself too much for that. 463 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:17,000 I'm using my microphone like that at my microphone trying to get off. 464 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:24,000 I mentioned a prophecy earlier. I want to share this prophecy with you. 465 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:29,000 This was in 1982. Kenneth Hagin said this. I'm just going to read it. It's very short. 466 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:36,000 Don't take up all your time with natural things. 467 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:43,000 Some of those things are legitimate, and it's right to take a certain period of time there. 468 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:55,000 But see to it that you give heed, watch, listen to, and pay attention to your spirit. 469 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:03,000 And you give your spirit opportunity to feed upon the Word of God 470 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:10,000 and give your spirit the opportunity to commune with the Father above and build yourself up on your most holy faith. 471 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:21,000 It doesn't take a lot of time. Just an hour or two out of 24. Just an hour or two out of 24. 472 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:29,000 Hour or two. Matt, I'm trying to get to 10 minutes. 473 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:35,000 Say a tithe of your time to me, says the Lord, and all will be well. 474 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:42,000 Your life will be changed and it will be empowered and a mighty force for God. 475 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:49,000 Lots of people I know like the last bit of that. 476 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:55,000 I know a lot of people that want to be changed. I know a lot of people that want to be empowered. 477 00:40:55,000 --> 00:41:02,000 I know a lot of people that want to be a mighty force for God. 478 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:12,000 But I mean, two hours? Who has two hours? 479 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:26,000 Two hours to pray by myself? Who would see me and who would know that I'm doing it? 480 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:33,000 I'm glad you guys can't see what I see. 481 00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:41,000 If you don't like what Brother Hagen prophesied, let's look at what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle John. 482 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:52,000 1 John chapter 2, verse 15 through 17. This is from the Phillips translation. 483 00:41:52,000 --> 00:42:01,000 Never give your hearts to this world or to any of the things in it. 484 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:05,000 Philip did a really good job with this translation, by the way. 485 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:19,000 For the whole world's system is based on men's desires, greedy ambitions, and the glamour of all they think is splendid. 486 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:29,000 Do you know there's a difference between what men think is splendid or great and what God thinks? 487 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:33,000 He thinks different than we do. 488 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:41,000 If you spend a little time with him, you realize, huh, he thinks different. 489 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:49,000 You'll be like that 16 year old that's like, if I stay by myself, everything is OK. 490 00:42:49,000 --> 00:43:00,000 But if I get around him a little bit, I realize I got to make some changes. 491 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:08,000 All the things that are in the world, John says, or the Holy Spirit through John says, it is not, let's back up. 492 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:17,000 It's not derived from the Father at all. 493 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:24,000 All the things from this world system, it's not derived from the Father at all. 494 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:35,000 So if it is the object of my pursuit, in other words, if I look at how I spend my time, 495 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:47,000 and my time is focused solely on getting, obtaining things that minister to me, 496 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:51,000 then I am not pursuing the Father at all. 497 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:57,000 Another way for me to ask this is, if in the next 30 minutes, 498 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:08,000 everything that you are asking God for sprung into being Genesis chapter one style, 499 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:21,000 in other words, it just came into being everything, how many people would know outside of your house? 500 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:28,000 Let's keep reading. 501 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:39,000 This world is fading away along with everything that people crave. 502 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:49,000 To quote Pastor Matt from yesterday, it's a terrible thing to arrive at the top of the ladder that you're climbing, 503 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:58,000 only to find that you have leaned it against the wrong wall, you are pursuing a thing that is fading away. 504 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:13,000 What is filling your plate? What is occupying your plate? What's on your plate? 505 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:16,000 This is a great picture, by the way. 506 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:24,000 This almost seems like an American flag. No. 507 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:29,000 It's the fried chicken that does it. 508 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:34,000 But not Chance's fried chicken. 509 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:44,000 Don't consume your life on things that get consumed. 510 00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:50,000 What's on your plate? What's on your 2024 plate? 511 00:45:50,000 --> 00:46:00,000 What are the things that you're just looking at and saying, no, I can't take that on. I can't do that. 512 00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:09,000 This other stuff that I'm pursuing, it's occupying too much space for me. It's my focus. 513 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:20,000 I want to finish with, let's jump ahead and you don't know that I'm jumping ahead, but I'm talking to Roy. 514 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:23,000 Let's jump ahead to Luke. 515 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:31,000 Luke chapter 10. 516 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:35,000 This is from the truth New Testament. 517 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:44,000 Jesus and his disciples came to a village where a woman called Martha welcomed them into her home. 518 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,000 That sounds good, doesn't it? 519 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:49,000 Martha did a good job. 520 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:55,000 Martha welcomed Jesus and the disciples into her home. 521 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:59,000 You all come. You just got here. Come. Come into my house. Come on. 522 00:46:59,000 --> 00:47:07,000 And this is going to be great. You're welcome. 523 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:27,000 Her sister, Martha's sister, Mary, sat listening intently to all Jesus said while Martha was busy preparing the meal. 524 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:32,000 Martha is not at the meeting. 525 00:47:32,000 --> 00:47:37,000 Why? She's got a lawn on her plate. 526 00:47:37,000 --> 00:47:39,000 She's busy. 527 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:49,000 Jesus and his disciples read the context. There's about 82 people in Martha's house. 528 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:51,000 Plus Martha. 529 00:47:51,000 --> 00:48:02,000 And Martha's little Pomeranian. I don't know why I think Martha has a Pomeranian. Martha has a Pomeranian in my head. 530 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:08,000 Maybe not. 531 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:21,000 Verse 39, but Martha, this is the Wiest translation, Martha was going around in circles, over occupied with preparing the meal. 532 00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:25,000 That's a literal translation from the Greek. 533 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:31,000 Going around in circles. Now think about it. Martha has welcomed everyone into her home. 534 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:44,000 Come on in. And then Martha has decided she's going to make something for 82 people and the Pomeranian to eat. 535 00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:48,000 And so she's busy. 536 00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:52,000 She's busy. Maybe she's busy because she didn't know they were coming. 537 00:48:52,000 --> 00:49:00,000 Maybe she's busy because she didn't know all 82 of them were coming. I thought some of you people were in Samaria. Why are you all here? 538 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:05,000 But she's running around in circles preparing a meal. 539 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:13,000 Mary, on the other hand, is doing what? Sitting intently listening. 540 00:49:13,000 --> 00:49:18,000 Now I love the Wiest of this translation, this literal translation. 541 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:32,000 Verse 40, it says, and bursting in upon Jesus, she assumed a stance over him and said, Lord, is it not a concern to you? 542 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:38,000 Imagine. Jesus is speaking. It's probably important. 543 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:45,000 If Jesus is just talking about the weather or what the road was like, I want to listen. 544 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:48,000 But he's teaching. Mary's listening. 545 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:55,000 And it says that Martha comes in, bursts in, and assumes a stance over him. 546 00:49:55,000 --> 00:50:06,000 Now, if you're single, you may have not had this experience before of a woman coming and assuming a stance over you. 547 00:50:06,000 --> 00:50:19,000 Imagine Martha. She comes. She's probably, everyone is seated and she comes in. 548 00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:26,000 And there was, I'm sure, quite a bit of banging before she made her entrance, right? 549 00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:34,000 The cabinet door slammed. She's talking to the Pomeranian. Get out of here. Go get on your carpet. 550 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:45,000 And there's lots of, lots of that. 551 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:54,000 I imagine. I don't know. I see this in movies. I have no idea. This is what it's really like. 552 00:50:54,000 --> 00:51:17,000 And finally, Martha comes and she says, Hey, hey, Jesus, don't you think that you should tell my lazy, no good sister to get up and help me? 553 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:24,000 Let's look at a picture of Martha. 554 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:31,000 Over occupied, busy, going around, lots of things, lots of things. 555 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:35,000 And you know what? None of them are bad. 556 00:51:35,000 --> 00:51:47,000 Martha was not upset that she couldn't focus on her internet gambling. 557 00:51:47,000 --> 00:51:58,000 Martha was upset because she's busy pursuing something that is going to be consumed. 558 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:15,000 Martha is upset because all of her time is focused on spending her life energy and this few moments with Jesus on something instead that is going to be consumed. 559 00:52:15,000 --> 00:52:19,000 And Jesus says this. 560 00:52:19,000 --> 00:52:21,000 Martha? 561 00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:24,000 Martha. 562 00:52:24,000 --> 00:52:34,000 One of our instructors at Bible school said, If the Lord says your name twice, just start repenting. 563 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:37,000 Martha? Martha. 564 00:52:37,000 --> 00:52:45,000 You get so easily anxious and upset. 565 00:52:45,000 --> 00:52:56,000 Matthew chapter six, Jesus said followers of Christ should be givers, should be prayers and people that fast. 566 00:52:56,000 --> 00:53:02,000 Not so easily anxious and upset. 567 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:10,000 So if you find that you easily get anxious. 568 00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:15,000 Because I've got so many things on my plate. 569 00:53:15,000 --> 00:53:17,000 And you're easily upset. 570 00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:22,000 And you want to say, Lord, it's not right that I have to do all of these things. 571 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:24,000 And look at this other person. 572 00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:31,000 All they do is just focus on you and they're just have all this extra time. 573 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:35,000 Oh, this isn't right. 574 00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:36,000 Martha? 575 00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:38,000 Martha. 576 00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:42,000 No one's named Martha in here, right? 577 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:45,000 Isn't that good to talk about other people? 578 00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:48,000 Because we've gone to all this under control. 579 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:54,000 Right. We're really talking about other people. 580 00:53:54,000 --> 00:54:03,000 Martha, Martha, you're so easy to get anxious and upset. 581 00:54:03,000 --> 00:54:11,000 Followers of Jesus should not be easily anxious and upset. 582 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:13,000 Do you know why? 583 00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:22,000 Because we give, we pray, and then we look at our plate and say, this doesn't need to be here. 584 00:54:22,000 --> 00:54:25,000 So I'm going to get rid of it. 585 00:54:25,000 --> 00:54:35,000 Jesus said, only one thing is really important. 586 00:54:35,000 --> 00:54:43,000 If you find that you're in the middle of a situation and you're getting pulled in one, two, three directions, guess what? 587 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:49,000 There's only one that's important. 588 00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:54,000 Jesus said, listen to what I say. 589 00:54:54,000 --> 00:55:11,000 My challenge to you is I considered like all of us together starting today and we'll fast, you know, sugar candy or baklava until the end of the month. 590 00:55:11,000 --> 00:55:14,000 I don't want to do that. 591 00:55:14,000 --> 00:55:24,000 I want all of us to look at our life and just start saying no to things. 592 00:55:24,000 --> 00:55:30,000 So fasting isn't an event, but it's how we live our lives. 593 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:41,000 So we make room for all that Jesus is going to do in and through us. 594 00:55:41,000 --> 00:55:45,000 Amen. 595 00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:49,000 Now, you know, I'm praying for you and I love you. 596 00:55:49,000 --> 00:55:55,000 And I want to encourage you, don't let this just be something that we talked about today. 597 00:55:55,000 --> 00:55:57,000 Examine yourself. 598 00:55:57,000 --> 00:56:03,000 In fact, I want Roy to come now and let's just make this practical. 599 00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:07,000 Thank you for joining us at Go Church Beirut. 600 00:56:07,000 --> 00:56:17,000 Go Church Beirut exists so that everyone can experience the unconditional love of God, grow in his love and go with his love to their world. 601 00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:23,000 To stay connected with all that is happening at Go Church, follow us on social media at Go Church Beirut. 602 00:56:23,000 --> 00:56:38,000 And if no one told you yet today, we love you and expect God's best for you.