1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,440 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. We are a Bible-Believing Church located 2 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,680 in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We are proudly part of the Christian Fellowship 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,920 Ministries with 3,000 churches around the world. We are a church focused on world evangelism, 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,300 discipleship and church planting. Here we will share recent sermons from P.H.S.A. Church 5 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:31,880 and other sermons from throughout our fellowship. I am Pastor David Bigford and I will be your 6 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,420 host for this podcast. I thank you for listening today and we hope these messages are a blessing 7 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:40,320 to you and bring you closer to God. 8 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:52,120 Hello and welcome back to the P.H.S.A. podcast. Again, my name is David Bigford. I'm the 9 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:57,680 pastor here at the Potter's House Salmon Arm. Before we get started, I just wanted to let 10 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:03,800 you guys know that next weekend, June 8th, we will be starting in our new location. That's 11 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:10,920 going to be Unit 201, 231 Trans-Canada Highway in Salmon Arm, BC. That's directly above the 12 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:17,000 BMO or the Bank of Montreal Bank in downtown Salmon Arm. If you're in and around that area, 13 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,920 we'd love to have you come out and check out our new building. That will be starting next 14 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,280 Sunday, which will be June 8th. 15 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,160 The message I've got today for you guys is called Limitless and how to live a life of 16 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:36,160 limitless possibilities. When we're thinking about this, you've got to ask yourself a question. 17 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:44,240 Do you believe that a life in Christ is limitless? Why or why not? When we dive into this, we're 18 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:52,640 going to use Zephaniah 3, verse 17 as our jumping off point. I want you to think about 19 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:58,000 this in your own life. As we work through this, I want you to really contemplate living 20 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:05,480 a life with limitless possibilities in Christ Jesus. For Billy Graham's devotional, it says, 21 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:11,340 the world's millions could come down to the beach and reach out their hands to be filled 22 00:02:11,340 --> 00:02:16,040 with seawater. They could each take as much as they wanted, as much as they needed, and 23 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:22,080 still the ocean would remain unchanged. Its might and power would be the same. The life 24 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:27,640 in its unfathomable depths would continue unaltered, although it had supplied the needs 25 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:33,560 of every single person standing with outstripped hands along its shores. So it is with God. 26 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,200 He can be everywhere at once, heeding the prayers of all who call out in the name of 27 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:43,840 Christ, performing the mighty miracles that keep the stars in their place and the plants 28 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:49,320 bursting up through the earth. The fish swimming in the sea, there is no limit to God. There 29 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:55,400 is no limit to his wisdom. There is no limit to his power. There is no limit to his love, 30 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:00,720 and there is no limit to his mercy. Let's go before God and pray real quick. Dear Lord, 31 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,880 I just pray that you bless this message. Help those that are out there that are sick, that 32 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,120 are unsaved, that are lost right now, that are hurting. We pray, Lord God, that your 33 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:16,440 word would draw them to you, that the words preached here, Lord God, would sink into their 34 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:21,840 heart, Lord God, that the spirit of conviction would help them to draw them closer to you. 35 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,860 In Jesus' name, amen. So oftentimes it can seem like being a Christ 36 00:03:27,860 --> 00:03:33,480 follower, being a Christian, is full of rules and regulations. You should not lie, do not 37 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:39,880 steal, and the list can go on and on. The world can view being a Christian as a life 38 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:45,040 full of limits, but a life in Christ is actually the opposite. A life in Christ is full of 39 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:51,040 God's love, his forgiveness, his grace. He is a limitless God, and in him we can have 40 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:57,300 a limitless life. And that life can be more abundant than anything imagined. We can see 41 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:03,440 that in John 10, 10. The greatest of all adventures is living a life for Christ. The freedom 42 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,520 that we have in living for Christ allows us to live our lives to the fullest, but also 43 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:17,280 to live it with honor. For the one who saves, we live honorably unto our Lord Jesus Christ. 44 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:22,920 The world can become alive and more vivid than ever before. I remember when I got saved, 45 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:28,280 when I truly gave my life to Jesus Christ, everything was different. Even now I'm amazed 46 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:33,480 by the power of God and his limitless nature. You can look at every animal, every plant, 47 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:38,760 every rock, every star, and be in wonder at the power of a living God. One of the most 48 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:45,520 amazing things about God is his love and his willingness to forgive and the grace that 49 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:51,880 we can gain through Christ Jesus. So let's jump into our text in Zephaniah 317. This 50 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:57,600 comes from the New King James Version. The Lord your God in your midst, the mighty one, 51 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:04,320 will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with his love and he will 52 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:11,880 rejoice over you with singing. So when we're thinking about this and when I ponder about 53 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:18,240 the idea of a limitless God with his omniscience, his omnipresence, his omnipotent power, I 54 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,560 find myself in awe. One of the mysteries of God is his nature, but also the fact that 55 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:28,240 we know we are made in the image of God. This is something that can be very uncomfortable 56 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:34,080 with understanding. It's a mystery of God. More often than not, we judge ourselves as 57 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:39,520 being unable to measure up, unable to do the hard things, or just unworthy in general. 58 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:45,920 We limit ourselves in a way that was not intended by our creator. Our creator designed us in 59 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:51,760 such a way that is to be able to take dominion of this world, but instead we allow our fear 60 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:56,880 to cripple us and keep us from living fully for the Lord and allowing him to work within 61 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:02,200 us, to strengthen us, and to equip us for the work that he has called us to do. It can 62 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,760 very easily be looked at as a survival situation. We need to rely on God for understanding, 63 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:12,920 but we must also remain faithful that he will be there with us as we blaze the trail that 64 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:20,280 the Lord has laid out for us. So when I was putting this message together, 65 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:27,400 I came across an article that I think really gives an idea of what God has put into us. 66 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,160 This is not some New Age idea. I'm not saying that you have to look within yourself to find 67 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:40,920 all the power. New Age stuff is opposite of God. It's prideful in nature. But being created 68 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:46,520 in God's likeness, as we know from the Word of God, God does equip us as we lean on him, 69 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:52,360 as we give ourselves wholly over to him, he does help us. 70 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:57,440 So this article I came across is titled Kids Survive in the Amazon, the incredible survival 71 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:03,040 story in the Colombian Amazon jungle, and how did they do it? So this is back in June 72 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:09,920 2023, so not too terribly long ago. There was a tragic plane crash. Aboard the Cessna 73 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:15,320 206 aircraft, the children and three adults, including their mother, embarked on a journey 74 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:25,160 from Aracurara to San Jose del Javier to meet their father, but halfway to their destination, 75 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:31,240 a Mayday alert was issued due to engine failure. The plane was ditched into the dense jungle. 76 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:39,000 Remarkably, the children suffered no injuries from the plane crash, which is thought to 77 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,240 be due to their sitting at the back of the plane and avoiding the worst of the impact. 78 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:52,440 It is thought that the 11-month-old was cradled and protected in their mother's arms. 79 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,440 So in the gripping tale of courage and resilience, the four indigenous children, as young as 80 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:02,560 11 months old, defied the odds and survived a deadly plane crash in the heart of the Colombian 81 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:09,480 Amazon jungle. For 40 long days, these young survivors endured unimaginable challenges, 82 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:14,400 demonstrating the profound strength of the human spirit. Their ordeal tested the limits 83 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:19,720 of their endurance, but also illuminated the limitless power of their inherited survival 84 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,080 skills and unbeatable will to live. 85 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:29,480 Springs by a first point, which is the love of God. God's love is limitless. Romans 5, 86 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:34,200 1 through 2 says, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with 87 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:39,640 God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we also have obtained access by faith 88 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:46,880 into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. From the beginning, 89 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:51,540 God has been working out a way to save us from our own sins. God has been leading a 90 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:57,960 search party ever since the fall in the garden. God's love is a lighthouse for the world. 91 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:05,680 And if only we would take time to look for it. So the rescue operation is underway and 92 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:10,440 it's called a beacon of hope. After the plane crashes, significant operation, Operation 93 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,960 Hope ensued spearheaded by the Colombian Defense Ministry, supported by the armed forces and 94 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:20,800 not to mention a Belgian shepherd rescue dog named Wilson. Many indigenous communities 95 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:25,640 join the search for the children. Messages in the who I'm not going to pronounce this 96 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:31,000 right but it's who Oto or who Toto language from the children's grandmother telling them 97 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:37,360 to stay put or broadcast it on loudspeakers out into the dense jungle. While rescuers 98 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,880 recovered the bodies of the three adults of the crash, the crash site two weeks after 99 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:50,560 the plane crashed, the four children Leslie 13, Salini 9, TN, Norrell 4 and Kristen near 100 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:56,440 a month and 11 month old baby boy were not found. The rescue team discovered items left 101 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,640 behind by the four children, including a child's drinking bottle, a pair of scissors, a hair 102 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:07,560 tie and a makeshift lean to shelter, which gave hope that the kids had escaped the wreckage 103 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:13,540 and ventured into the dense jungle in search of aid. After 40 grueling days and arduous 104 00:10:13,540 --> 00:10:19,320 efforts, the children were located in a remote part of the jungle. The weak and suffering 105 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:24,880 dehydration they were in oppressive physical shape, all things considered. Following their 106 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:29,360 rescue the children were promptly transported to a military hospital to receive medical 107 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:35,360 attention. And thanks to an exhaustive 40 day search and tireless efforts of the Colombian 108 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:40,400 soldiers, the invaluable assistance of the indigenous volunteers, the four children were 109 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:45,080 safely reunited with their families. An Air Force video captured the heartwarming scene 110 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,720 of the family members rejoicing upon hearing the news of the four missing children being 111 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:55,520 found alive. As we are looking at God's nature, we first want to look at the love that comes 112 00:10:55,520 --> 00:11:01,080 from God. In John 3, 16 through 17, this is a well known verse and says, for God so loved 113 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,560 the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish 114 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:10,240 but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, 115 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:16,280 but in order that the world might be saved through him. This shows us that God's love 116 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,560 for us is without any limits. It's often said that there is nothing that we can do to make 117 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:26,280 God love us less. And we know this to be true because the scripture shows us that God loves 118 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:34,260 us enough to send his only son to take place for our sins. Because his love for us is so 119 00:11:34,260 --> 00:11:41,200 limitless, he constantly pursues us and calls us into a life with him. This is God's nature 120 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:47,960 to want to have a relationship with us. Like a shepherd searching for his sheep, God sent 121 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:54,000 his son to bring us back to him. In Romans 5, 6 to 8, it says, for while we were still 122 00:11:54,000 --> 00:12:01,120 weak at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous 123 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:08,780 person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. But God shows his 124 00:12:08,780 --> 00:12:15,000 love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Maybe you're there right 125 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:20,820 now and you're still a sinner. Maybe you're sitting there and you know you're not doing 126 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:26,400 right because there's a hole in your heart that's not filled and you know because of 127 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:33,760 this that you're not living clean, you're not living right, you're not living for God. 128 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:40,920 You know we have to allow that reality to sink in sometimes because that's how you understand 129 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:45,380 how deep the love is for God that he sent his son Jesus Christ to die for your sins 130 00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:51,560 like he died for mine. In the midst of your sins he died for your sins so that you would 131 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:57,120 have an opportunity to repent, to turn away from your past life and to live a life limitless 132 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:04,240 in Christ. Loving others just in the same way that God's love for us is limitless. He wants 133 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:10,080 us to love others with that same limitless love. The Bible says that when we love one 134 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:15,200 another we show that we are Christ's followers. When we love people they will recognize God 135 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:20,640 in our actions and that will draw people to him. This is a differentiation with our current 136 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:26,360 society. Our current society wants you to think that love is only a chemical reaction 137 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:33,000 or an emotion or something ethereal that can't really be explained and accepted by the person. 138 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:38,860 But the reality is his love is action and God's love is action. He sent his son who 139 00:13:38,860 --> 00:13:45,480 died for your sins so that you could accept him as your Lord and Savior and have relationship 140 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:50,760 with the Father again. That was an action. And similarly we're called to love our neighbor. 141 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:56,560 We're called to love others with the same love that God has shown us with action. That 142 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:02,600 doesn't mean that we accept sin. That doesn't mean that we accept wrongdoing. But despite 143 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:08,800 the wrongdoing and despite the sin we love because God has commanded us to love and that 144 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:18,440 means to do actions. John 21, 17 said, He said to him the third time, Simon son of John 145 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:24,520 do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love 146 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:31,560 me? And he said to him, Lord you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, 147 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:38,760 feed my sheep. There's this call to move forward the kingdom of God because of the love that 148 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:45,840 Jesus showed us and he's commanding us to love others. What a tremendous idea. Even 149 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:52,240 if you're not saved yet, you haven't given your life to Christ yet, this morality, this 150 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:56,880 lesson here is so powerful that it should smack you in the face that even when someone 151 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:02,000 wrongs you, you're supposed to show them love. That doesn't mean that if someone's attacking 152 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:08,260 you you're not going to fight back. But what it does mean is that after that situation 153 00:15:08,260 --> 00:15:15,940 has been rectified, you're going to forgive. You're going to love that person through action. 154 00:15:15,940 --> 00:15:23,440 This is obviously easier said than done, but we see our Christ hung on a cross and as he's 155 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:30,240 dying he forgives those that are crucifying him. This brings me to my next point which 156 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:37,000 is forgiveness. Forgiveness from God. God's forgiveness for us is limitless while God's 157 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:43,420 limitless forgiveness does not give us a free pass to do whatever we like without consequences. 158 00:15:43,420 --> 00:15:51,080 It does give us the opportunity for a do-over. When we're striving for him and for righteousness 159 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:57,600 but we miss the mark, God is faithful to forgive us every time that we come into him because 160 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:04,040 his love never fails us. 1 John chapter 1 verses 8 through 10 say, if we say that we 161 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:09,880 have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin he is 162 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:17,260 faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 163 00:16:17,260 --> 00:16:22,880 If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us. This is a 164 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:27,520 very important thing to understand. We all need to come to Christ for forgiveness and 165 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:32,280 as we move further down the road with Jesus we are working towards sanctification. We 166 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:37,920 strive to be more Christ-like every day, every week, every month, every year, every decade 167 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:43,760 and so on. So just like in the verse from John when Jesus was speaking to Peter we need 168 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:50,760 to be willing to forgive as Jesus does. We have to forgive others as Jesus forgave those 169 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:58,120 who were crucifying him while they were crucifying him. We are most like God when we forgive others. 170 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,600 Jesus came to forgive our sins and give us eternal life in him and with that in mind 171 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:08,700 we should extend limitless forgiveness to those who hurt us or act wrongly towards us. 172 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:14,120 We don't forgive others to justify their actions. We forgive others because God forgave us. 173 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:20,080 In Matthew 6 14 we can see that. And while it's often very difficult to forgive others 174 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:25,880 doing so is essential to living a limitless life for God. 175 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:31,500 In Matthew 18 21-22 says, Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother 176 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:38,520 sin against me and I forgive him? As many times as seven times or as many as seven times? 177 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:45,360 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times but seventy-seven times. Seven times 178 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:54,600 seven. Basically what he was trying to say there to sum it up really easy is you just 179 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,080 got to keep forgiving. 180 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,680 Forgiveness is a skill that we all have to learn and cultivate. It is not something easily 181 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:06,440 done when we are hurt but is necessary to live a limitless life. Life skills and survival 182 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:12,660 skills need to be passed down from the father to the son and from the mother to the daughter. 183 00:18:12,660 --> 00:18:16,560 We can learn to forgive because Christ forgave us but it is equally important for us to live 184 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:24,200 a life as an example for those around us so that they can learn to forgive us or from 185 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,600 us as well. 186 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:31,960 So let's look back at these stranded Colombian kids. How did they have the skills to survive 187 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:39,840 this inhospitable jungle that they were thrown into? The Hutoto tribe and the children's 188 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:44,400 heritage is an important part of this story. The most critical point to understand is that 189 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:51,160 the four survivors belong to this tribe, an indigenous community situated near the Kahunari 190 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:57,680 River in Kaketa. This tribe has a profound understanding of the flora and fauna of the 191 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:04,160 Amazon rainforest complex ecosystem, having thrived in the region for centuries. Some, 192 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:09,840 like Alex Rafino, a photographer, believe that the children were not lost in the wild 193 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,880 but they were in their natural environment. In many ways they were at home, the forest 194 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:19,580 took care of them, and they had the genuine wisdom of the tribal community who lived there 195 00:19:19,580 --> 00:19:25,080 for centuries. The extensive array of survival skills exhibited by the children were acquired 196 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:30,800 through their daily lives, some practiced, some observed by their elders. These skills 197 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,840 were passed down to them by their families and tribe encompassing vital knowledge that 198 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:41,860 aided them. Let's be honest, it is not commonplace for an average child in the mainstream society 199 00:19:41,860 --> 00:19:48,140 to possess the abilities to identify edible fruits and seeds in the wilderness setting. 200 00:19:48,140 --> 00:19:52,300 For most children and adults for that matter, their hopes of survival would have been slim 201 00:19:52,300 --> 00:20:00,920 to none. It's clear from this story that their upbringing provided them with the skills to 202 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:07,520 survive their ordeal. What would have happened if you were stranded in the Amazon? This is 203 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:13,200 why we must teach others on how to forgive so that they can survive in a world that has 204 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:18,440 fallen where they're going to be hurt, where they're going to fall, and where they're 205 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:25,440 going to have to get back up again and come to God's forgiveness in Christ. We have to 206 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:31,260 show them that it's important to forgive but it's also important to be able to turn back 207 00:20:31,260 --> 00:20:38,320 to God if they fall. These are important life lessons on the journey of sanctification in 208 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:44,520 Christ. Not salvation but sanctification, moving closer to God over time. This brings 209 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:50,780 me to my third point which is grace, grace from God. God's grace is his favor and his 210 00:20:50,780 --> 00:20:56,040 love given to us even though we've done nothing to earn it. Because we were born into sin 211 00:20:56,040 --> 00:21:01,640 and separated from God, we often think that we have to work to earn his love and his attention. 212 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:07,140 The good news is that we don't. God already loved us from the moment he thought of us 213 00:21:07,140 --> 00:21:13,920 and because of his love, he freely gives us limitless grace. In Ephesians 2, 8-10, it 214 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:18,840 says, for by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of your own doing. It 215 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:25,160 is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship 216 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:30,600 created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk 217 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:38,240 in them. So let's look at a glimpse of these children's survival tactics. The children 218 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,520 encountered numerous challenges in the dense forest from venomous snakes and insect bites, 219 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:47,520 unpredictable weather conditions, treacherous terrain they had to navigate, and a variety 220 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:51,640 of other hazards. Drawing upon what they had learned from their family and the wisdom of 221 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:57,160 their ancestors, the children exhibited impressive survival skills. They demonstrated remarkable 222 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:02,760 ingenuity and utilized the resources provided by the Amazon jungle, relying on their knowledge 223 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:09,080 of edible plants, building shelters, improvised traps, finding clean water sources. Their 224 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:14,280 ability to adapt to the challenges of this hostile jungle showcased their unwavering 225 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:19,800 spirit. Their grandmother expressed immense gratitude, particularly for the older sibling's 226 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:26,120 leadership. Remember she was 13, who had often cared for the younger ones during their mother's 227 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:31,920 absence. Their primary sustenance was cassava bread and flour, showcased their knowledge 228 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:37,680 of local foods contributing significantly to their survival. Cassava flour is a staple 229 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:44,080 food in the Amazonian villages. This nutritious and versatile ingredient provided sustenance 230 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:48,760 during their days in the remote wilderness. They learned how to harvest and process the 231 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:54,960 cassava, transforming it into nourishing meals. The survival of the four kids in the Colombian 232 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:00,320 Amazon can be attributed to their exceptional resourcefulness and adaptability. Stranded 233 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:05,720 in a remote and unforgiving environment, they quickly assessed their situation and ingeniously 234 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:11,680 utilized the available resources to meet their basic needs. Their ability to adapt to the 235 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:16,200 demands of the Amazon and so many hazards, including the navigating treacherous terrain 236 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:23,480 and sourcing food and water, showcased their remarkable skills. God has shown us immense 237 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:28,920 grace and through his grace, we can venture through hostile territory of this fallen world. 238 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:33,640 We have a responsibility to share that grace with others. God's grace is something that 239 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:39,600 we have not earned. In the same way that God gives us what we don't or what we don't earn, 240 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:45,080 we should give grace to others. The scripture in Luke encourages us to do to others as you 241 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:52,240 would like them to do unto you in Luke 631. And not expect anything in return. So when 242 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:58,200 we offer grace to another person, we're showing them the love of God and we may even encourage 243 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,760 them to show grace to another person. So let's look at that scripture a little bit more, 244 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:09,680 Luke 631 through 38. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If 245 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:14,280 you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those 246 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:18,960 who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to 247 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:24,880 you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to 248 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:30,600 receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same 249 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:36,520 amount. But love your enemies and do good. Lend and expect nothing in return. And your 250 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:42,720 reward will be great. And you will be sons of the most high. For he is kind to the ungrateful 251 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:49,800 and an evil. Be merciful, even as your father is merciful. Judge not and you will not be 252 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:55,320 judged. Condemn not and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and 253 00:24:55,320 --> 00:25:00,560 it will be given to you in good measure. Press down, shaken together, running over, will 254 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:06,520 it be put into your lap? For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. So 255 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,860 as we come to a close, it's important to reflect on the limitless love that God has shown us. 256 00:25:10,860 --> 00:25:16,400 The limitless forgiveness and the limitless grace. We are not meant to hoard these things 257 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:21,920 for ourselves, but rather to share them with the world. We are called to live this in our 258 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:28,360 daily lives and connect with others for the furtherance of the gospel. These children, 259 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:32,760 we had local knowledge of the jungle. Growing up in the region, being intimately familiar 260 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:37,720 with the Amazonian ecosystem proved to be a significant advantage for them. Their deep 261 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:42,640 understanding of local flora and fauna combined with the traditional wisdom passed down through 262 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:49,200 generations enabled them to identify the edible plants they needed. They had the ability to 263 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:55,040 hunt for food, to navigate this treacherous jungle. The children initially ate food that 264 00:25:55,040 --> 00:26:02,440 they salvaged from the cassava flower, then an array of fruits and seeds. They did have 265 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:06,400 a seasoned luck on their side. They had luck that the fact that the jungle was in a state 266 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:12,080 of harvest, it was bountiful amounts of ripe fruiting trees. In addition for hydration, 267 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:17,800 they primarily drank rainwater. Also playing into their favor as it was a rainy season 268 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:22,520 with their rainfall averaging an astonishing 16 hours a day, this profound connection to 269 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,840 their environment played a pivotal role in their ability to sustain themselves during 270 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:33,480 their time in the Amazon. So we are called to be an example to the world and to our children. 271 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,560 We are to raise them up in the knowledge of the Lord so that they can live in a Christ-like 272 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:43,120 manner so that when they are tested, they will find that they are indeed equipped for 273 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:49,360 the challenge. The unity and cooperation among these four kids was pivotal for their survival. 274 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:53,720 Their strong bond likely forged through this shared experience and a common goal of staying 275 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:59,920 alive allowed them to rely on one another for support, motivation, decision-making. 276 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:05,120 By working together harmoniously, they could pool their individual strengths and skills, 277 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:12,260 significantly increasing their chance of survival in the challenging environment. So we work 278 00:27:12,260 --> 00:27:18,600 as one body in Christ and the purpose of the church is to build in us unity to the one 279 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:25,320 God and our Savior Jesus Christ. This way we can rely on others when we are weak and 280 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:32,380 others can rely on us in their weakness. As they were surviving in the Colombian Amazon, 281 00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:37,720 this presented immense physical and emotional challenges, but these kids showcased an exceptional 282 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:44,320 resilience and mental fortitude throughout this ordeal. They had just lost their mother, 283 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:49,880 yet their ability to maintain a positive outlook, stay focused on their objectives and to adapt 284 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:55,780 to the unexpected setbacks played a crucial role in overcoming the psychological hurdles 285 00:27:55,780 --> 00:28:01,040 that accompanied them on their survival. So in the end, we are built in the image of God 286 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:06,440 and we are immensely resilient because of the love, forgiveness and grace that we receive 287 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:12,440 from God and that we show to the world by living for Christ. God is limitless and in 288 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:18,620 Him we can live the grandest of lives and most exceptional adventures. The limitless 289 00:28:18,620 --> 00:28:27,080 of God allows us to live a life with joy, with peace, with happiness, with those that 290 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:33,080 we come in contact with by tapping into God's love, God's forgiveness, God's grace. We 291 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:38,780 can show that and we can share that with the rest of the world if we will only just give 292 00:28:38,780 --> 00:28:44,200 ourselves wholeheartedly to Him in Jesus name. So with that, if I could have every head bowed, 293 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,440 every eye closed, obviously if you're driving, keep your hands on the wheel, as I always 294 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:53,440 like to say, as dumb as it is. But I just want to take this opportunity that if this 295 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,840 message has impacted you, if this message has touched you in any way and you know that 296 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:03,200 you're not right with God, but you want to get right, then I would like you to signify 297 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,480 that with an uplifted hand. I can't see you, it's a podcast, but God sees everything and 298 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:13,460 He'll see that hand. So if you know that this is talking to you, if this is hitting buttons 299 00:29:13,460 --> 00:29:18,720 with you, signify that uplifted hand. And if you did raise your hand, then I'd like 300 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:24,040 to lead you in a quick prayer before we close. And it's a simple prayer, just it's Dear 301 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:28,360 Lord God, I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that you sent your son Jesus Christ and 302 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:33,280 that He died for me. I repent of my sins and I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And 303 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:39,120 I thank you for your grace in salvation in Jesus name. Amen. It's a simple prayer. It's 304 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:46,360 the recognition of the fallen nature of humanity. It's the turning away from your past life 305 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:53,600 and acceptance of Jesus as your Savior. It's very simple. Now, of course, with anything, 306 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:58,600 there's a process now. And I thank God for those that prayed that and they meant it. 307 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:03,900 But the next thing is, pray, read your Bible and find a Bible-believing church to connect 308 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:09,400 with so that you can have that unity with other brothers and sisters in Jesus name. 309 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:13,400 If you live in Samanar, we want you to come out. I gave the address at the beginning, 310 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:20,520 but again, our new address is Unit 201, 231 Trans-Canada Highway in Samanar, BC. So it's 311 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:28,260 right off the main road. It's right above the BMO or the Bank of Montreal Bank. So anybody 312 00:30:28,260 --> 00:30:32,160 who lives here should know where that's at. You pass it almost every day, I'm sure. We'd 313 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:37,600 love to have you come out and help us grow in this town so that we can reach more people 314 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:42,360 for Jesus. And pray for us. And I'm constantly praying to the other churches in the fellowship. 315 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:46,840 So if you're from another fellowship church and you're praying, well, I'm praying for 316 00:30:46,840 --> 00:31:08,200 you. So thanks again for listening and I can't wait for you to come back next time. God bless.