1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,800 He is glorious. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:13,800 Behold the one who has come for us. 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,800 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:23,600 To get connected or to give online, you can go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,800 If at any time during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:33,300 change me to 970-00. 7 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:34,800 Thank you and enjoy the message. 8 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,800 Hey, good morning everyone. 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,800 How's everybody doing? 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,200 Alright, it feels like winter now, right? 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:42,800 We have some white stuff on the ground. 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,440 Everyone's cold and shivering. 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,800 Thank you for coming and being a part of our Sunday gatherings. 14 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,680 Thank you for joining us from home. 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,400 Thank you for welcoming us into your space. 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,000 So I just want to start by saying Happy New Year. 17 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,000 Here we are, the first Sunday in 2024. 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 And if you know anything about our community of faith, that means that we're kicking off 19 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,800 our 21 Day Series. 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:11,200 So since we've moved into this building, we've taken the first 21 days of this new year and 21 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,700 of the new years previously and have begun to fast and pray. 22 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:22,760 Because we believe that if we take 21 days at the beginning of this year and focus on 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:28,600 drawing closer to God, then it's going to supernaturally overwhelm us for the rest of 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,400 the year and be amazed at all that God is going to do. 25 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,120 Now some of you are thinking, well, Chris, what is a fast? 26 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:35,240 This is what it is. 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:41,900 A fast, simply stated, is denying yourself of something. 28 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:46,720 Now previously it was just focused on food and for some of you it could be food, could 29 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,840 be desserts, could be Crumpies Donuts. 30 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,720 And I just gave some to you. 31 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:56,760 But it's your last Sunday to have a Crumpies Donut because we're starting our fast when? 32 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:57,760 Tomorrow. 33 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,820 So some of you want to fast to dessert. 34 00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:02,160 Some of you may want to fast to beverage. 35 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,680 Some of you may want to fast to breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 36 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,000 I have no idea. 37 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,360 Some of you need to fast to late night snacks, right? 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,660 And instead of eating a late night snack, you just get closer to God. 39 00:02:14,660 --> 00:02:16,360 But it doesn't have to end with food. 40 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:17,360 Okay? 41 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:18,360 It could be food. 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:19,600 It doesn't have to be food, right? 43 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,000 It could be your social media accounts. 44 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,000 Okay? 45 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,440 It could be a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon that you constantly, you're catching 46 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,040 yourself binge watching. 47 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:30,040 Okay? 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:31,440 It could be a website. 49 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,240 It could be an athletic team. 50 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:34,640 I have no idea. 51 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:41,400 Whatever it is that you feel distracts you from God, we're challenging you to give it 52 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,800 up for 21 days. 53 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,280 And in its place, when you would normally do that thing or eat that food, you would 54 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,080 put your devotionals into it. 55 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:52,320 And why would we do that? 56 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,720 Because it would draw us closer to God. 57 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,760 And not only are we going to be fasting, not only are we going to be pursuing Jesus, but 58 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:05,360 every morning, starting tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., we will open the doors of our cafe 59 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:06,600 and I want to encourage you. 60 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:13,280 You don't have to come every morning, but choose a morning and come and participate 61 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:14,280 and pray. 62 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,600 And all the 6 a.m. prayer looks like is we'll have a short devotional followed by different 63 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:20,600 prayer prompts. 64 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,560 We'll be praying for our community of faith, our local community, the nation. 65 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,080 We'll be praying for the world. 66 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,200 And it's simply our way again of putting God first. 67 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:36,120 Now, to go along with the fast this year as a community of faith, we are inviting you, 68 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:41,240 right, who is a part of our community of faith to focus on one area of your life where you 69 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,040 need to experience some freedom, where you need to experience some change, where you 70 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,680 need to experience a breakthrough, if you will. 71 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:54,400 And we want to focus on that area for 21 days, inviting the Holy Spirit to move in that area 72 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:55,880 of our life and change us. 73 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,960 And on Friday, February 2nd, we will gather here. 74 00:03:58,960 --> 00:03:59,960 We'll pack this room. 75 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:03,760 We'll have a night of worship and a night of freedom where we're going to believe that 76 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:10,320 God is going to set people free from whatever it is that is holding them back, that we're 77 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:16,120 going to see supernatural encounters that night where people are moving towards Jesus 78 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,680 and we are on fire for God in 2024. 79 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:25,280 Now last week, if you weren't here, I shared with everyone gathered and watching online 80 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:33,200 that I felt God was calling our community of faith to go deeper with Him in 2024. 81 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:34,960 And what does it mean to go deeper? 82 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,120 Well we're going to base it off of how Jesus grew in His life. 83 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:46,080 Luke chapter 2 verse 52 says Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God, and 84 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,200 in favor with all the people. 85 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,880 So we're going to be focused on those different areas of growth throughout this entire year, 86 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,960 challenging you to move deeper with God. 87 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,520 Oh, and did I mention that 43 people got baptized last week? 88 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,800 I'll just throw in that little nugget. 89 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,680 It's just a little nugget, little nugget. 90 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,880 What an incredible way to start the year. 91 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,320 Even though it was last year, we consider it this year. 92 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:15,600 43 people coming out and saying, hey, I'm following Jesus and I want the world to know 93 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:16,600 it. 94 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:22,640 Now, just being honest here, going deeper is going to look different for all of us. 95 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:28,560 For example, going deeper for some of you is that you are here this morning and it snowed 96 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:29,560 last night. 97 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:30,560 Give yourselves a hand. 98 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,760 Give yourselves a hand. 99 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,960 Didn't you realize you have perfect attendance for 2024? 100 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,480 Let's keep it up. 101 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:42,680 Keep it up. 102 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,280 You have perfect attendance thus far. 103 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:52,520 For some of you, going deeper is attending our 6 a.m. prayer meetings. 104 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:57,320 Maybe not everyone, but setting an alarm from 5 30, throwing on a baseball hat and a sweatshirt 105 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:58,320 and showing up. 106 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,320 Okay, you ladies, you don't have to get ready. 107 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:02,320 Okay? 108 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:03,920 Get ready. 109 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:04,920 Quick deodorant. 110 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,240 Throw a hat on. 111 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:08,240 Show up. 112 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:09,240 You're good. 113 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,240 Just don't smell bad. 114 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:11,240 Okay? 115 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:16,760 For others of you, okay, if it's not the prayer meeting, for others of you, you're going to 116 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,800 start your daily Bible readings tomorrow. 117 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:25,400 Okay, I am going, I posted last week what a devotional that helped Jess and I read through 118 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:26,920 the Bible in a whole year. 119 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,920 I'm going to repost that on social media today. 120 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,520 And I'm also going to send an email out to the entire congregation. 121 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,340 Check your emails today if you need a plan to read through the Bible in the whole year. 122 00:06:38,340 --> 00:06:39,340 You click on it. 123 00:06:39,340 --> 00:06:40,680 It's not going to have any words from me. 124 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,000 It's just going to have a link for devotional. 125 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:44,600 Fair enough? 126 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,960 Click on it and start it tomorrow morning. 127 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,720 Just because you missed a week doesn't mean you can't catch up over the course of a year. 128 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,520 You can, I promise. 129 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,360 It's only 25 minutes. 130 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,640 Now, some of you think, well, Chris, why go deeper? 131 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,880 Because a shallow world needs a deeper church. 132 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,160 Can I say that again? 133 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:10,080 A shallow world where people are searching for hope and meaning and truth needs a deeper 134 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:11,080 church. 135 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,960 I mean, for those of you that want to get a tattoo on your neck that says go deeper, 136 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,320 that's between you and God, go for it. 137 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:17,600 I think it would be really cool. 138 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,400 I'll take a picture of it and let everyone know that you're all in. 139 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:30,040 Today we're going to be focusing on Luke chapter five, verses one through 11. 140 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,680 Is it okay if I just read these verses to you? 141 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,400 I want to do something a little crazy here at HTV. 142 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,120 I just simply want to read the Bible to you. 143 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:40,120 I'm going to open in prayer. 144 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:41,960 I'm going to invite the Holy Spirit to come. 145 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,080 I would like for you to humor me. 146 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,120 Close your eyes. 147 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,720 Open your hands and just receive these words from God. 148 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:50,720 Fair enough? 149 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,680 I'm going to invite the Holy Spirit to come. 150 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,480 Change us, God. 151 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:55,700 Change us. 152 00:07:55,700 --> 00:08:00,520 May these words just speak to our hearts and may we just be open to all that you have for 153 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,040 us in Jesus name. 154 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:04,360 Amen. 155 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,960 Luke chapter five, verses one through 11. 156 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,680 It starts like this. 157 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,040 One day, it's already good. 158 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:15,040 Think about it. 159 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,200 Anything can happen on any given day. 160 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:22,320 One day, as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed 161 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,420 in on him to listen to the word of God. 162 00:08:25,420 --> 00:08:29,480 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge for the fishermen had left them and were 163 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,160 washing their nets. 164 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:36,880 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the 165 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:37,880 water. 166 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,440 So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 167 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:46,360 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, now go out where it is deeper and let 168 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,080 down your nets to catch some fish. 169 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:54,840 Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. 170 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,520 But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again. 171 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:03,160 And this time, their nets were so full of fish, they began to tear. 172 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:08,160 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat and soon both boats were filled 173 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,880 with fish and on the verge of sinking. 174 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,920 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, 175 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,080 oh Lord, please leave me. 176 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,280 I'm such a sinful man. 177 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:26,240 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 178 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:31,200 His partner, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. 179 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,520 Jesus replied to Simon, don't be afraid. 180 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,120 From now on, you'll be fishing for people. 181 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:43,960 As soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. 182 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:51,960 Now I am so intrigued with so many things that we miss in this passage because we fast 183 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,480 forward to the fishers of men. 184 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:59,520 When in reality, these 11 verses are packed full of truth. 185 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:05,840 But the verse that grabbed my attention the most was not Simon pushing into deeper waters 186 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,320 because that's where you thought it was going, but it's not. 187 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:14,440 It was verse number eight when Simon Peter reacts to the catch. 188 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:15,760 Think about it. 189 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:22,040 Simon Peter had just experienced the greatest catch of his life. 190 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:29,220 His business literally would have been changed forever and his response to the greatest catch 191 00:10:29,220 --> 00:10:33,240 of his lifetime is, Jesus, leave me. 192 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,240 I'm a sinful man. 193 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:38,800 Think about that. 194 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:39,800 He wasn't excited. 195 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,920 We didn't hear a yes. 196 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,560 We didn't hear a go God. 197 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:48,120 We didn't see a dance. 198 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,000 He didn't even give praise to God. 199 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:58,440 His first reaction after God took him deeper was, get away from me. 200 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,960 I'm a sinful man. 201 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,640 So I want to share with you this morning for about a few hours. 202 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,640 Okay. 203 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,440 Now I'm just kidding. 204 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:12,160 I'm just kidding, but this is the second gathering so I could because I don't have to worry about 205 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,640 the parking lot. 206 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:16,640 But I'm just kidding. 207 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:17,640 I'll be on time. 208 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:18,640 I promise. 209 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,200 I won't hold you too long for your lunch. 210 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:26,360 I'll make sure that you get the air time for kickoff. 211 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:33,520 But I specifically want to challenge anyone that's in a relationship with Jesus and you're 212 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:38,960 gathered here this morning or watching online to simply get out of the crowd. 213 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:43,120 I am challenge you to get out of the crowd. 214 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:50,360 Look at your neighbor and say, friend, get out of the crowd. 215 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,620 Now some of you, right? 216 00:11:52,620 --> 00:11:55,240 Some of you, Carl, didn't say anything to your neighbor, but that's okay. 217 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:56,560 I forgive you. 218 00:11:56,560 --> 00:11:57,560 Okay. 219 00:11:57,560 --> 00:12:02,000 Some of you are wondering what's the crowd. 220 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,680 Here's the reality. 221 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:12,320 It's time for Jesus followers to move past shallow Christianity and to grow into an authentic 222 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,520 relationship with Jesus. 223 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:19,300 I love the way Peter Scazzaro writes it in his book, Emotionally Healthy Disciple. 224 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:26,840 He writes this, success according to scripture is becoming the person God calls you to become 225 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:34,520 and doing what God calls you to do in his way and according to his timetable. 226 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:39,280 In other words, success is being like Jesus. 227 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:47,800 Scazzaro continues and an emotionally healthy disciple slows down to be with Jesus, goes 228 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:54,280 beneath the surface of their life to be deeply transformed by Jesus and offers their life 229 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:58,280 as a gift to the world for Jesus. 230 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,760 And see, unfortunately in the American church, there's too many Jesus followers that walk 231 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:05,400 through life living two different lives. 232 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:06,400 Right? 233 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,960 You got the church life where we show up to Sunday and we're excited for our gatherings 234 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,800 and we're smiling and laughing and sharing how blessed we are. 235 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:14,800 We dress the part. 236 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,080 We make the outside look good. 237 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,680 Everything looks good on the surface. 238 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:23,680 But then there's real life. 239 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:28,640 Real life when deep down inside we feel and sense God challenging us to grow and inviting 240 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,820 us to change, but we're frozen. 241 00:13:32,820 --> 00:13:35,360 We won't choose to step out. 242 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:43,160 We want more from this life, but we compromise and we allow the crowd to influence our choices. 243 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:48,620 And please understand the crowd can be anyone that causes you to be distracted from God. 244 00:13:48,620 --> 00:13:55,160 That includes friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, teammates. 245 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:58,640 That includes people who attend our community of faith. 246 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:04,360 If there's anyone that's encouraging you or influencing you to stay on the shore, to remain 247 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,400 comfortable, they're a part of the crowd. 248 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,680 You know, to play it safe, keep God at a distance. 249 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:22,580 Don't lose control because if you lose control, you might become one of them Jesus freaks. 250 00:14:22,580 --> 00:14:23,840 And I shared this last week. 251 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:31,640 All of us must remember to go deeper causes us to become uncomfortable. 252 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:36,400 To go deeper causes us to become uncomfortable, which leads us to our first thought. 253 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:40,040 You see the crowds were shallow followers. 254 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:46,000 Luke chapter five, verse one, one day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, 255 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:53,000 great crowds and remember friends, great crowds, references thousands of people pressed in 256 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,840 on him to listen to the word of God. 257 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:59,640 This chapter is essentially the beginning of Jesus's ministry, right? 258 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:05,740 His ministry and influence is rapidly growing as people from all around the region in towns 259 00:15:05,740 --> 00:15:10,640 and in villages are learning about this miracle worker named Jesus. 260 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:11,640 And what are they doing? 261 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:17,200 They are showing up every place he went, right? 262 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:23,520 People got healed in the previous chapter, chapter four, listen to what was happening. 263 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,240 Luke four, verses 40 to 42. 264 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,600 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family 265 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,380 members to Jesus. 266 00:15:32,380 --> 00:15:40,240 No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed how many? 267 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:41,240 Can you say that again? 268 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:42,240 Okay. 269 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,480 Just, just want to be clear. 270 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,680 Healed everyone. 271 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:51,240 Many were possessed by demons and the demons came out at his command shouting, you are 272 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:52,240 the son of God. 273 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,360 But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them, refused to let them speak. 274 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,120 Early in the next morning, Jesus went out to an isolated place. 275 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,440 The crowds again notice searched everywhere for him. 276 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:07,120 And when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave from them. 277 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,440 I want you to think about these words for a second. 278 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,640 Everyone with the disease was healed. 279 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:22,920 Now just imagine, imagine next Sunday, all of you showing up, every seat filled and whatever 280 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,960 needs you had, you brought here and you were completely healed. 281 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:32,560 Imagine that. 282 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:33,560 Everyone got healed. 283 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:41,080 Not 90%, which would be praise God, not 75%, which would be hallelujah. 284 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:47,600 100% success rate when it came to healing. 285 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:52,400 If you have a hundred percent success rate when it comes to healing, people are going 286 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:53,400 to show up. 287 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:54,400 True or false? 288 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,400 Think about our own culture. 289 00:16:55,400 --> 00:17:05,000 When a person, a guy that's a really talented quarterback can't be stopped in scoring touchdowns 290 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:10,240 or a basketball player can't miss a three pointer, what happens? 291 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,640 Crowds show up and it doesn't matter what the weather's like. 292 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,280 They show up. 293 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,440 They want to see it. 294 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:20,440 They want to see it. 295 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,000 They want to come and watch. 296 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,040 Well, Jesus, he didn't need an Instagram account. 297 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,040 He didn't need a stadium, didn't need a live TV broadcast. 298 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,720 He didn't even need a sound system. 299 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,040 He was effective in what he was called to do. 300 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,760 And when people heard about it, what did they do? 301 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:38,760 They showed up. 302 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,000 Same goes with our relationship with Jesus. 303 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:44,760 You don't need a show. 304 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:45,760 You don't need the right words. 305 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:46,820 You don't need a title. 306 00:17:46,820 --> 00:17:48,840 We don't need to be perfect. 307 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,880 We need to be willing to be used by God. 308 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:57,280 And then people will be drawn to us because the Holy Spirit is living where? 309 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,120 In us. 310 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:01,280 That's how people are drawn to us. 311 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:03,880 Everywhere Jesus went, crowds would follow. 312 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,480 Everywhere Jesus went, crowds would be drawn to him. 313 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:14,720 He had such a magnetism about him that the crowds would push against him wanting more. 314 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,520 Think about it. 315 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,760 Jesus, here he is at the Seah Gallery. 316 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:22,000 The crowds had pushed in on him to the point that he was what? 317 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,240 He was running out of room. 318 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,960 He was up against the water. 319 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,680 The crowds, they came because they saw the miracles. 320 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,280 And that's what the crowds always want. 321 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:37,280 They want the surface level of following Jesus. 322 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:42,400 Because see, once the needs of the crowd is met, what do they do? 323 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,300 They leave. 324 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:48,840 They leave and go home to their normal, everyday lives. 325 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:55,820 In contrast, if you want to go deeper, then you want the man that performs the miracles. 326 00:18:55,820 --> 00:19:00,880 If you're a person who wants to go deeper, you don't need inspiration from God. 327 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:05,720 You want to receive the instructions on how to live an abundant life. 328 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:10,920 And I believe that God is calling many of you from our community of faith to come out 329 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,160 of the crowd this year and become a disciple of Jesus. 330 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,640 And listen, we all have a choice. 331 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,760 You can stay on the shore. 332 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:26,520 You can hang out in the sand and dip your toes in it and it's going to feel good and 333 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,440 you'll be comfortable and you'll get a suntan. 334 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,560 You have a choice. 335 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,520 But the choice is, are you willing to go into the unknown and risk it? 336 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,520 Are you willing to just stay on the shore and be bored? 337 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,440 See the crowd again, they kept pushing in. 338 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,560 And remember, thousands of people, Jesus is out of space. 339 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,480 He knew he had to share a message, right? 340 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,120 Because the crowds, where were they gathered for? 341 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:55,720 The miracles, right? 342 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:56,840 What were the miracles? 343 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,280 The miracles were the bait that pointed to Jesus. 344 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,200 Now they needed to hear a message, the good news about the kingdom. 345 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:09,360 So as they're pressing in and they're getting close and Jesus backing up, his heels are 346 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:14,440 in the water, he looks around and he realizes he needs to do something which moves us to 347 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:15,920 our next stop. 348 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,040 Jesus needed Simon's boat. 349 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,320 Jesus needed Simon's boat. 350 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:27,520 See if you really look at the text, remember things that we miss, fast forward, oh we love 351 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,080 fishers and men, things we miss. 352 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:36,520 You have to realize the first thing that Jesus noticed was not Simon Peter. 353 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:41,240 The first thing that Jesus noticed was his boat. 354 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,780 Look at Luke 5, 2 through 3. 355 00:20:43,780 --> 00:20:49,640 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge. 356 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:54,640 For the fishermen, they weren't even there, had left them and were washing their nets. 357 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,000 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the 358 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,040 water. 359 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,400 So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 360 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,760 See Jesus knew he needed a boat. 361 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,760 He had performed these miracles, getting the bait, and now he wanted to share the message 362 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,320 which was what? 363 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:19,900 The hook to bring the crowd into the kingdom of God. 364 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:24,880 For all you fishermen, Jesus goes about fishing all wrong. 365 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,040 If you're a fisherman, what do you do first? 366 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,320 You hook up your boat, make sure it's ready. 367 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:35,520 You have your bait and tackle, then you go to the water and begin to fish. 368 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:36,520 Not God. 369 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:37,520 Right? 370 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,280 God does it backwards. 371 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:45,640 God already had the biggest catch imaginable, and then he realizes, oh, I need a boat. 372 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,360 I got to get into a boat because they're going to drown me if I don't get in the boat. 373 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:51,560 And you say, well, Chris, why? 374 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,000 Because Jesus' ways aren't our ways. 375 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,300 His thoughts are not our thoughts. 376 00:21:56,300 --> 00:22:01,800 This miracle started not with Simon Peter's need, it was with Jesus' need. 377 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:02,800 And what did Jesus need? 378 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,680 He needed a boat. 379 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:11,780 Peter needed a miracle, but more importantly in this story, Jesus needed his boat. 380 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:18,040 He needed a boat so that that boat would become a platform for Jesus' words to be shared to 381 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:19,840 the crowd that was gathered. 382 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,120 So the first question for you this morning, here we go. 383 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:25,120 Here we go, church. 384 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:26,120 2024. 385 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:29,280 Can God use your boat? 386 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,760 Can God use your boat? 387 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:38,320 See, I know we come to God with all of our needs, and we share with God everything that 388 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:46,600 we want and desire, but God wants to know if his need and his purpose can be accomplished 389 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,360 through you on this earth. 390 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:50,400 Right? 391 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:55,340 This is what started the miraculous encounter between Jesus and Simon. 392 00:22:55,340 --> 00:22:57,560 He just needed his boat. 393 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:59,160 And you say, well, Chris, what's that mean for me? 394 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:00,700 Can God use your boat? 395 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:01,880 Can God use your business? 396 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:06,040 Or is your business for you and you only in your glorification? 397 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:07,040 Right? 398 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,680 Can God use your social media platform? 399 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:14,800 Or is your social media platform all about your duck face? 400 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,000 And everything that you're doing today. 401 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,800 Right? 402 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,140 Can God use your platform? 403 00:23:22,140 --> 00:23:24,840 Your talents, your abilities? 404 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:26,640 And you say, well, what can he use it for? 405 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:28,920 To draw people to him. 406 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:30,040 Because that's what God does. 407 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,480 Can God use your boat? 408 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,320 Because Jesus saw the boat before he saw Simon. 409 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:36,560 Now I get it. 410 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:40,960 Some of you deep religious scholars out there, I know what you're thinking in your heads. 411 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:46,060 There's someone here that's saying, hold on, Chris, I thought our God doesn't need anything. 412 00:23:46,060 --> 00:23:49,440 To which I say, you're right. 413 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:50,440 He's all powerful. 414 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:51,440 He's omnipotent. 415 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,280 He's all knowing. 416 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,580 And to that person I would say, you're right, he doesn't need it. 417 00:23:56,580 --> 00:24:00,880 If Jesus would have wanted to, was that water going to stop him? 418 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:06,020 No, he could have walked out onto the water and onto the waves and shared the message. 419 00:24:06,020 --> 00:24:07,880 But here's the good news. 420 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:09,920 He chose not to. 421 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:15,920 Instead, Jesus chose to use his power to ask for a boat that would extend grace to a man 422 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:16,920 that would change the world. 423 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:17,920 Man, that was good. 424 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:18,920 Can I share that one again? 425 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:19,920 That was good. 426 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:20,920 Jesus chose to use his power to ask for a boat that would extend grace to a man that would 427 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:21,920 change the world. 428 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:22,920 Man, that was good. 429 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:34,920 Jesus chose to use his power to ask for a boat that would extend grace to a man that 430 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,880 would change the world. 431 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:44,600 See, God's grace invites humanity to partner with him in bringing the kingdom of God into 432 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,440 our world. 433 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,200 Something we could never do on our own. 434 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:54,360 I just want to pause and say, God, thank you for asking to use my boat. 435 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:58,800 I pray that you continue to use my boat. 436 00:24:58,800 --> 00:24:59,800 Why? 437 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:01,200 Second Corinthians chapter six. 438 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:08,160 As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and 439 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,720 then ignore it. 440 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,920 For God says, at just the right time I heard you on the day of salvation, I helped you. 441 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,000 Indeed, the right time is now. 442 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,120 Today is the day of salvation. 443 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:24,600 Such truth. 444 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,760 We are invited to partner with the creator. 445 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,640 I mean, it's amazing. 446 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,840 God operates a lot like Build-A-Bear. 447 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,600 Has anybody ever been to Build-A-Bear? 448 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:35,960 Put your hand up if you've been to Build-A-Bear. 449 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,040 I only had like six people in the first service who've been to Build-A-Bear. 450 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,040 Give me a break. 451 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:41,040 If you ever have a kid, you've been to Build-A-Bear. 452 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:42,040 Come on. 453 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:43,040 All right. 454 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,760 Let me explain this to you a little bit. 455 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:51,840 If you don't know what Build-A-Bear is, whenever we are on vacation, because it's only in vacation 456 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:53,920 destinations, it's not going to be around here. 457 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:54,920 Okay? 458 00:25:54,920 --> 00:26:02,000 Whenever we're on vacation and my kids, when they were younger, saw a Build-A-Bear, daddy, 459 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,000 we got to get a Build-A-Bear. 460 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,000 I mean, it's crazy. 461 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:12,240 It's like they see the sign and they're like, let's go, let's go, let's get a Build-A-Bear. 462 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:16,000 I'm just like, can I just buy you stuffed animal? 463 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,000 Because that's what it is. 464 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:18,000 Stuffed animal. 465 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,640 No, no, we got to do Build-A-Bear. 466 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:27,240 To me, it's a waste of time. 467 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,400 But for the kids, we'll do it. 468 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:31,400 Okay? 469 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,240 Because kids love to Build-A-Bear. 470 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:39,800 And what Build-A-Bear is, is Build-A-Bear is not in the business of selling you stuffed 471 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:40,800 animals. 472 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,440 They're in the business of partnership. 473 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,560 Because when you walk into Build-A-Bear, it's an hour long. 474 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,120 It's an hour. 475 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:50,600 It's not walk in, pick out a bear and go, no, it's an hour. 476 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:54,000 Because Build-A-Bear works the way God works. 477 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,340 Build-A-Bear gives you an opportunity to collaborate with them. 478 00:26:57,340 --> 00:27:02,960 You walk into the store and you have all of these animal skins on the walls. 479 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:04,460 Just all of them. 480 00:27:04,460 --> 00:27:09,160 And believe me, when you go into Build-A-Bear, if you've been there, you know you have the 481 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:15,320 cheap section, the middle section, and then you get over here with the rhinos and the 482 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:16,320 giraffes. 483 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:17,320 I mean, that's expensive. 484 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:25,520 You know, I always bring my kids when they come in and we're like, no, no, no clearance. 485 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,560 Unfortunately, my kids all got bears. 486 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:30,780 I'm just kidding. 487 00:27:30,780 --> 00:27:34,360 We had some dogs in there, I think, and I don't know what else. 488 00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:37,280 I think we had a, one of them was white. 489 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:38,940 I wonder what that one was. 490 00:27:38,940 --> 00:27:39,940 It doesn't matter. 491 00:27:39,940 --> 00:27:40,940 I don't remember. 492 00:27:40,940 --> 00:27:43,280 But you pick out your skin, okay? 493 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,880 And then after you pick out your skin, you get all excited because then you move to the 494 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:50,440 heart and they give you this little red heart. 495 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:51,440 Okay? 496 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:56,160 And the kids got to hold it like this and they got to jump up and down and they got 497 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,400 to blow on it and they got to spin around four times. 498 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,720 And then you put it inside because it comes to life. 499 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:04,720 Right? 500 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:05,720 And then you stuff it. 501 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:10,400 You stuff it with stuffing and they make sure everything's full and then they sew it. 502 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,760 And then you go to the clothes section and the sports section and, and, and suddenly 503 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,480 your bill to bear is $125. 504 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:23,280 And it's like, Oh my gosh. 505 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,320 You know what I'm talking about, don't you? 506 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:26,320 Yeah. 507 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:31,160 So you're walking out of the store and your kids are all excited. 508 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:32,640 I made my bear. 509 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,480 I made my dog and they named it. 510 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,520 And it sings to you now because it's got a song in there. 511 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:39,520 Right? 512 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,080 And they're pushing the hand button and it just keeps playing the song. 513 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,080 And you're like, Oh my gosh, what did I do? 514 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:52,280 And they think they made the bear when in reality they didn't make anything. 515 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:56,960 If they didn't have the skin and the stuffing and the heart, there would be no bear. 516 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:58,200 Right? 517 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,120 And that's how God collaborates with us. 518 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,800 He partners with us giving the talents, the wisdoms, the words to share with others to 519 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,000 be used by God. 520 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:15,720 And I am so thankful that God chooses to partner with me because otherwise my life would be 521 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,400 meaningless. 522 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:27,200 I lived a meaningless life for 22 years, but God chose to partner with me even though he 523 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:28,200 doesn't have to. 524 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,000 You know what that is? 525 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,280 That's God's grace. 526 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:37,720 That's God's grace being extended to us. 527 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:46,640 And God is inviting us, HCV, to stop consuming and start being used by him. 528 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,560 I mean, look at the way Jesus, this is amazing. 529 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:50,560 You guys ready for this? 530 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,640 Look at the way Jesus asked Simon to use the boat. 531 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:55,120 He's a straight up gangster. 532 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:56,120 Right? 533 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:57,120 This is what it says. 534 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,160 Look, Jesus, right? 535 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:01,120 He sees two boats. 536 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,520 He steps into the boat. 537 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:04,520 He's in it. 538 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,520 Then looks at Simon and says, hey, can I use your boat? 539 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:12,200 You ever think about that? 540 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:19,840 Only God will step into something, make his presence known, and then say, hey, you mind 541 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:21,440 if I use that? 542 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:27,240 See, God makes his presence known to us every single day. 543 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:32,800 God makes his presence known to us every time we gather together. 544 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:36,440 And he's asking, can I use you? 545 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,480 Will you allow me to be used by me? 546 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,240 And think about it. 547 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:50,800 If we refuse and we say no, just know that we're going to feel and watch God walk away 548 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,880 from that boat. 549 00:30:53,880 --> 00:31:01,360 God steps into our boats, and many of us, if you look back over your lifetime, you know 550 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,520 of encounters where God stepped into your boat. 551 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:06,280 You know it. 552 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:10,680 Words he spoke, dreams he gave, callings that are still there. 553 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:22,200 And he is reminding us that he's asking you, can I use them? 554 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,800 Can I have it for my kingdom? 555 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:31,680 And the response that Simon gives will shape the rest of his life. 556 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:38,880 If Simon has the audacity to say, no, I'm tired. 557 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:40,000 I'm tired of trying. 558 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,000 Think about it. 559 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,000 He fished all night and caught nothing. 560 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:50,880 God, I'm tired of what happened to me last year and what happened to my family. 561 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:53,880 I'm just disappointed. 562 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:59,040 I thought it was going to be my year and it all fell apart. 563 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:04,040 I'm just not open anymore to the opportunity that you want to bring life. 564 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,880 And you say, well, how do you? 565 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:08,880 Think about it. 566 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:09,880 Simon was doing what? 567 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,240 He was washing his nets. 568 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,000 And some of you are washing your nets. 569 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:19,120 This morning, if you're a fisherman and you're washing your nets, it means you're done. 570 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,920 It means you've given up. 571 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:26,320 You wash your nets, right? 572 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:30,680 Some of you are washing your nets and you're stepping into this new year with no excitement, 573 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:35,960 no expectation, not believing God's going to use you because of the pain that you experienced 574 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:37,720 last week. 575 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:43,900 And I believe that God is inviting you to experience new life because that's the lie 576 00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:45,360 of the enemy. 577 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:48,720 The lie of the enemy is you can't change. 578 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:51,720 There's no hope for you. 579 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:55,720 And unfortunately, this is living with a quiet quit mentality. 580 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,720 And you say, I never heard of that. 581 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:00,720 What is the quiet quit? 582 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:08,120 Well, across the nation, there is a pandemic that has resulted from the pandemic and it's 583 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:10,400 called the quiet quit. 584 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:15,960 And the quiet quit is where people are showing up for their jobs and they're doing the absolute 585 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:18,480 bare minimum. 586 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:20,240 Their hearts are not engaged. 587 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:22,440 They don't care about their job. 588 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:24,200 They've lost their passion for life. 589 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,600 Let me give you a prime example of that. 590 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,960 Just Friday night, we were out running some errands, returning some gifts. 591 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:38,240 At 6.45, we walked in to a store that closed at seven. 592 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:42,240 Now the last time I checked, if you walked into a store at 6.45 that closes at seven, 593 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:43,680 how long do you have to shop? 594 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:44,680 15 minutes. 595 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:46,760 Just making sure, 15, 20 minutes. 596 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,120 So we walk in, Jess walks in first, of course. 597 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:54,280 I'm just trailing because I still had a little bit of a limp, you know. 598 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:59,940 Wasn't sexy, but it's okay. 599 00:33:59,940 --> 00:34:03,560 So we walk in the store, well, Jess walked in first. 600 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:12,260 And the girl behind the counter, 6.45, looks over and says, we're closed. 601 00:34:12,260 --> 00:34:17,100 We don't say that to Jess. 602 00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:21,360 She looked at her watch and was like, it's 6.45. 603 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:22,360 What time do you close? 604 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:23,640 She goes, seven. 605 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:27,060 Oh, so you're not closed then. 606 00:34:27,060 --> 00:34:30,320 She goes, well, we're, yeah, we're closed. 607 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,040 She goes, is your manager here? 608 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:39,120 I'll check with him because I would love to write a review about your job performance. 609 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:46,480 We walked out of there with a $30 pair of shoes. 610 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,920 I wonder why. 611 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:56,520 We saved $125. 612 00:34:56,520 --> 00:35:01,220 The quiet quit. 613 00:35:01,220 --> 00:35:05,600 And I believe God is simply asking our community of faith and those of you who are struggling, 614 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,680 can I get you to hope again? 615 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,520 Can I get you to hope again? 616 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,160 Someone needs some hope. 617 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:18,000 I know you want to walk away. 618 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:23,600 I know you want to pretend everything's just fine, but can I have your boat? 619 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:27,360 See Simon says yes. 620 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:33,960 And thank God he said yes because on that same body of water, Peter, who has the same 621 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,200 change will walk on it. 622 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:42,340 And if Simon wouldn't have said yes, he would have missed out on the greatest internship 623 00:35:42,340 --> 00:35:44,460 in human history. 624 00:35:44,460 --> 00:35:47,440 That was the beginning of his calling. 625 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:50,320 Simon says, you can use my boat. 626 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:55,340 And isn't it amazing that what would become a relationship that will change hundreds of 627 00:35:55,340 --> 00:35:59,780 thousands of lives actually starts really shallow. 628 00:35:59,780 --> 00:36:05,140 God invites us to simply say, yes. 629 00:36:05,140 --> 00:36:08,760 One decision can change the very direction of your life. 630 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:14,320 And friends, God is inviting you to experience more of him this year because after Jesus 631 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:18,520 shares with the crowd, where's the crowd go? 632 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:19,660 Home. 633 00:36:19,660 --> 00:36:23,900 He invites Simon to experience more, which leads us to our next thought. 634 00:36:23,900 --> 00:36:30,660 See Jesus invites Simon to let go of his pride. 635 00:36:30,660 --> 00:36:34,800 When he had finished speaking verses four through seven, he said to Simon, now go out 636 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,400 where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish. 637 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,720 Master Simon replied, we worked hard all last thing, didn't catch a thing. 638 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,800 But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again. 639 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,800 And this time, their nets were so full of fish, they began to tear. 640 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,720 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat and soon both boats were filled 641 00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:54,720 with fish. 642 00:36:54,720 --> 00:37:02,280 And the virgins say, I mean, mentally picture two boats sinking because of fish. 643 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:03,600 Now think about this. 644 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:08,900 Jesus tells Simon to do something that made absolutely no sense. 645 00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:13,680 Because quite often when we go deeper with God, when we get deeper or closer to God, 646 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:17,320 it makes no sense what he asked us to do. 647 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,440 And Jesus is asking Simon to do something that goes against every normal practice of 648 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:22,960 fishing during that time. 649 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:29,440 So during that point in history, all fishermen knew that the fish came out at night and they 650 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:31,560 swam in the shallow water. 651 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:33,320 And that's where they got caught. 652 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:35,520 And that's how they fished. 653 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:41,720 What Jesus is asking Simon to do goes against everything that Simon would have learned. 654 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:46,160 No one fishes in the deep water. 655 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:48,960 Yet Simon says, we worked hard. 656 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,560 Oh, that used to be a game. 657 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:54,600 Sorry, Simon. 658 00:37:54,600 --> 00:38:01,600 Yet Simon said, Simon says touch your nose. 659 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:05,780 Thank you, Matt. 660 00:38:05,780 --> 00:38:08,080 Simon says we worked hard all night. 661 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:09,080 I am exhausted. 662 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:13,680 But if you say so, I'll let the nets down. 663 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:15,960 If you say so. 664 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:21,880 Now the King James version, which I don't read very often, translate if you say so as 665 00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:26,080 nevertheless. 666 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:27,920 Never the less. 667 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:33,480 And if you want to move into deep water with God, if you want to move closer to Jesus, 668 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:35,840 start praying nevertheless prayers. 669 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:39,600 Because nevertheless prayers are the most powerful, the most dangerous and the most 670 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:41,800 authentic way to pray. 671 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:44,520 Nevertheless says, I don't see it. 672 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:45,920 I don't understand it. 673 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:47,440 I don't like it. 674 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:49,900 I don't know what's going to happen. 675 00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:53,760 Because you say so, I will do it. 676 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:54,760 Nevertheless prayers. 677 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,120 You want to hear my big nevertheless prayer? 678 00:38:57,120 --> 00:39:04,000 My big nevertheless prayer this year, okay, is for that piece of land right over there. 679 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,000 There's a piece of land. 680 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:06,000 Yeah, it's a good clap. 681 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,560 I like that. 682 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:14,300 That piece of land right there is about three acres. 683 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:18,400 And I believe that we're supposed to have it. 684 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:27,280 So after Sunday's baptism and almost every seat was full, both gatherings and the parking 685 00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:31,200 lot was crazy and I got yelled at for going too long. 686 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:34,600 Forgive me God. 687 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:40,040 I started praying for that piece of land and I said, God, nevertheless, you want us to 688 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,240 have that piece of land. 689 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:44,040 So will you join me in praying that prayer? 690 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:45,040 Okay, good. 691 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:48,040 Because I believe we're going to get it this year. 692 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:53,600 Because God simply wants obedience from his church. 693 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:55,020 And hear me out. 694 00:39:55,020 --> 00:39:58,000 You don't have to feel it to obey. 695 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,080 You don't have to understand it to obey. 696 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:04,980 You have to be willing to say nevertheless. 697 00:40:04,980 --> 00:40:10,440 Because in Luke chapter 22, verses 41 and 42 we read, he walked away about a stone's 698 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:15,960 throw and knelt down and prayed, father, if you are willing, does anyone want to guess 699 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:20,760 what if you are willing is translated as in the King James version? 700 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:23,440 Thank you, King Jameser. 701 00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:29,360 Nevertheless, exact same word. 702 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:35,000 Jesus said, I want your will to be done, not mine. 703 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:40,060 Jesus was willing to sacrifice his life so that we can live in abundance. 704 00:40:40,060 --> 00:40:44,800 And if he invites us to go deeper and get closer to him, it shouldn't be too hard for 705 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:49,560 us to say, nevertheless, you're worth it, Jesus, because you were willing to sacrifice 706 00:40:49,560 --> 00:40:51,400 it all. 707 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:52,680 And hear me out. 708 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:57,560 One of the biggest challenges for me when it comes to parenting, okay, is that stage 709 00:40:57,560 --> 00:40:59,800 for all you parents, you'll know what I'm talking about. 710 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:07,380 It's that stage in your parenting journey when your kids always ask, well, why? 711 00:41:07,380 --> 00:41:11,320 Could you please go shovel the front walkway? 712 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:12,320 Why? 713 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:16,120 It's going to melt anyway. 714 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:22,120 Do you know what I'm talking about, parents? 715 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:25,720 Okay, just making sure. 716 00:41:25,720 --> 00:41:31,700 When it comes to God, he doesn't need to explain to us why he asked us to do something. 717 00:41:31,700 --> 00:41:33,520 We are called to be what? 718 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:34,520 Obedient. 719 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:37,160 We're called to step out in faith. 720 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:41,760 We're called to get off the shore and out of the sand and into the deeper water because 721 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:46,560 going deeper goes against all practical applications and understandings. 722 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:47,960 Think about it. 723 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:51,980 Simon worked all night and caught nothing. 724 00:41:51,980 --> 00:41:56,880 Never in his life has he seen fishermen go out into the deep water during the day and 725 00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:04,120 oh yeah, Jesus was a carpenter. 726 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:06,320 The nets start breaking. 727 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:08,120 The boats begin to sink. 728 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,200 I mean, think about this. 729 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:23,240 Either Jesus knew where the fish were or he spoke to his creation and told them to come. 730 00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:25,620 Think about that. 731 00:42:25,620 --> 00:42:37,480 So Simon and his partners realized this has to be God because notice Peter's response, 732 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:39,280 which leads us to our final thought. 733 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:43,160 Simon realizes God looks at the heart. 734 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:45,920 When Simon and Peter realized what had happened, what did he do? 735 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:49,080 He fell on his knees before Jesus said, oh Lord, please leave me. 736 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:51,480 I'm such a sinful man. 737 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:55,520 In other words, if Jesus can see into the depths of the sea, guess what? 738 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:57,880 He can see into the depths of me. 739 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,760 He knows what goes on in our hearts. 740 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:07,240 And God, there are things in me that are so ugly and so repulsive that you've got to go 741 00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:09,720 away. 742 00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:15,040 And I am so glad that God doesn't obey us. 743 00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:17,520 We're supposed to obey him, right? 744 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:21,640 God refuses to listen to Simon and invites him to what? 745 00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:23,240 Follow. 746 00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:27,640 So whatever it is in your life that you think you're disqualified from following God or 747 00:43:27,640 --> 00:43:31,520 being used by God, your anger, your divorce, your children, your job, I don't care what 748 00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:33,560 it is. 749 00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:36,840 That's a lie. 750 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:41,240 That's your calling, in my opinion, because if you're aware of your brokenness and your 751 00:43:41,240 --> 00:43:47,480 need for God, then Jesus will use you to fish and bring in more people because you can relate 752 00:43:47,480 --> 00:43:49,840 to others through your brokenness. 753 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:55,760 And he says to Simon and his crew, from now on, you'll be fishing for people. 754 00:43:55,760 --> 00:43:58,040 And as soon as they landed, they left everything. 755 00:43:58,040 --> 00:44:03,080 Notice, remember the biggest catch Simon had ever experienced. 756 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:04,080 What did he do? 757 00:44:04,080 --> 00:44:06,040 He walked away from it. 758 00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:09,640 Meaning some of you are scared of things inside of you that you think disqualifies you. 759 00:44:09,640 --> 00:44:15,720 And in reality, that is what qualifies you to bring in the harvest. 760 00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:20,760 Sharing the good news is just a hungry person telling another hungry person where they found 761 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:21,760 the meat. 762 00:44:21,760 --> 00:44:23,300 That's all it is. 763 00:44:23,300 --> 00:44:25,400 Where they found the meaning of life. 764 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:29,440 First Samuel 16, but the Lord said to Samuel, don't judge by his appearance or height, for 765 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:30,740 I've rejected him. 766 00:44:30,740 --> 00:44:34,120 The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them people judge by outward appearance. 767 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:41,480 The Lord looks at the heart. 768 00:44:41,480 --> 00:44:50,200 Jesus knew Simon's calling on his life and he gave him the opportunity to choose and 769 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:52,360 to say yes. 770 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:54,960 Which leads us to our action steps. 771 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:57,560 Will you come out of the crowd? 772 00:44:57,560 --> 00:45:01,000 Four simple things that we can do to come out of the crowd. 773 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:05,480 The first is this, recognize your need for God. 774 00:45:05,480 --> 00:45:09,920 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, 775 00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:10,920 Oh Lord, please leave me. 776 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:11,920 I'm such a sinful man. 777 00:45:11,920 --> 00:45:18,160 When we come into the presence of God, that is when we see our sin and brokenness. 778 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:21,320 But listen, God allows for us to see our brokenness. 779 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:22,460 Not so we what? 780 00:45:22,460 --> 00:45:24,720 Run away, but that we come to him. 781 00:45:24,720 --> 00:45:30,280 I want to encourage you if God convicts you, don't run away, run towards him. 782 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:35,360 I mean, there's so many people that won't walk into this building on a Sunday morning 783 00:45:35,360 --> 00:45:42,040 because they're afraid that if they get in the presence of God, a holy God, and there's 784 00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:46,920 things revealed to their life that they need to change, they don't want to change. 785 00:45:46,920 --> 00:45:50,440 People will not attend gatherings because they don't want to change when in reality 786 00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:52,240 God invites us to change every single day. 787 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:56,560 Look at Matthew 5.3, God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him. 788 00:45:56,560 --> 00:46:00,400 The kingdom of heaven deserves and that has nothing to do with your financial means. 789 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,400 That is poor in spirit. 790 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:05,480 Okay, that is poor in ability. 791 00:46:05,480 --> 00:46:07,840 And when we recognize our need from him, what's ours? 792 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:09,700 The kingdom of heaven. 793 00:46:09,700 --> 00:46:13,360 We need to daily invite God to empower us, which leads us to our next step. 794 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:16,720 Hey, shocker, read the Bible. 795 00:46:16,720 --> 00:46:19,600 I'd be willing to say that this is in my action steps. 796 00:46:19,600 --> 00:46:23,920 What do you think, Frank, every single Sunday? 797 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:25,860 Because it's important, friends. 798 00:46:25,860 --> 00:46:27,400 We need to read the Bible. 799 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:30,800 James 1, don't listen to God's word, do what it says. 800 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,640 Otherwise, you're only fooling yourselves. 801 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:35,840 If you listen to the word and don't obey, it's like glance at your face in the mirror. 802 00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:39,560 You see yourself walk away and forget what you look like. 803 00:46:39,560 --> 00:46:42,440 But if you look carefully into the perfect law, it sets you free. 804 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:45,420 And if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for 805 00:46:45,420 --> 00:46:47,760 doing it. 806 00:46:47,760 --> 00:46:52,280 The Bible is not some manual that you pick up when you need it. 807 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:54,720 Oh, I'm going through a marriage crisis. 808 00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:56,480 I need to read the Bible. 809 00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:58,680 Oh, my father died. 810 00:46:58,680 --> 00:47:01,120 I need to return to church and read the Bible. 811 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:08,840 No, it's a daily choice to read the Bible so that we get exposed to the heart of God. 812 00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:09,840 Right? 813 00:47:09,840 --> 00:47:14,120 The Bible is a reflection of the person of God in his presence. 814 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:18,700 It teaches us what God looks like through Jesus. 815 00:47:18,700 --> 00:47:23,880 And we need to encourage one another to cultivate an actual relationship through reading it. 816 00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:32,640 I am going to email you this afternoon and post on social media a read through the Bible 817 00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:34,800 in one year plan. 818 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:36,800 I want to challenge you. 819 00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:42,160 Start it tomorrow and apply it to your life. 820 00:47:42,160 --> 00:47:47,060 And when you do, you'll be looking in the mirror as a reflection so that you can change 821 00:47:47,060 --> 00:47:49,480 and become all God wants you to become. 822 00:47:49,480 --> 00:47:51,100 So we, right? 823 00:47:51,100 --> 00:47:52,100 Recognize our need. 824 00:47:52,100 --> 00:47:53,100 Read the Bible. 825 00:47:53,100 --> 00:47:57,040 And we learn to listen for God's voice in a bay. 826 00:47:57,040 --> 00:48:01,320 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, now go out where it is deeper and let 827 00:48:01,320 --> 00:48:03,880 down your nets to catch some fish. 828 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:04,880 Master, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 829 00:48:04,880 --> 00:48:07,040 He worked hard all night. 830 00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:08,600 He began to question him. 831 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:15,700 But then he says, but if you say so, nevertheless, the natural outcome of reading the Bible, 832 00:48:15,700 --> 00:48:21,320 the reason I put reading the Bible first is that we learn to be tuned in to God's voice. 833 00:48:21,320 --> 00:48:22,320 Right? 834 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:25,440 And the Holy Spirit declares truth to us. 835 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:27,440 Look at John 16 13. 836 00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:30,320 And the spirit of truth comes and lives inside of us. 837 00:48:30,320 --> 00:48:32,600 He will guide you into all truth. 838 00:48:32,600 --> 00:48:35,840 He will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he has heard. 839 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:37,960 He will tell you about the future. 840 00:48:37,960 --> 00:48:42,920 And it's not about repeating Bible verses that you read. 841 00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:44,200 It's about learning truth. 842 00:48:44,200 --> 00:48:49,040 When we learn the truth of what is written in the Bible, then we're more adaptable to 843 00:48:49,040 --> 00:48:51,280 be able to hear God's voice speaking to us. 844 00:48:51,280 --> 00:48:54,520 Hey, Chris, don't go there. 845 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:57,880 Hey, Chris, don't make that decision. 846 00:48:57,880 --> 00:48:58,920 Don't spend that money. 847 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:02,400 Don't buy that because we know the truth. 848 00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:04,960 Does that make sense? 849 00:49:04,960 --> 00:49:10,800 We are then open to hearing God's voice to tell us to go and fish for people, to share 850 00:49:10,800 --> 00:49:13,400 the good news, right? 851 00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:16,840 To experience change, to walk in this abundance. 852 00:49:16,840 --> 00:49:21,520 We discern God's voice and to follow him into obedience. 853 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:25,920 I mean, what area of your life is God calling you to change? 854 00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:30,880 We all have an area and I'm going to challenge you to pick one thing, focus on it for 21 855 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:31,880 days. 856 00:49:31,880 --> 00:49:32,880 Join us in fasting. 857 00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:33,880 Join us at morning prayer. 858 00:49:33,880 --> 00:49:35,120 Join a growth group. 859 00:49:35,120 --> 00:49:37,600 They launched next week, right? 860 00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:39,840 Commit to your community of faith, right? 861 00:49:39,840 --> 00:49:41,240 I'm doing start with why today. 862 00:49:41,240 --> 00:49:43,040 Meet me at the welcome hub. 863 00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:44,040 We'll fill the prayer room. 864 00:49:44,040 --> 00:49:48,200 I'll tell you all about our church, how it got started, where we're going. 865 00:49:48,200 --> 00:49:49,320 You'll see me cry. 866 00:49:49,320 --> 00:49:52,280 I cry every month that I do start with why. 867 00:49:52,280 --> 00:49:55,020 I said, Chris, why do you cry? 868 00:49:55,020 --> 00:50:00,640 Because I told the story of God using our boat and it's humbling, which leads us to 869 00:50:00,640 --> 00:50:01,640 our final step. 870 00:50:01,640 --> 00:50:02,640 You really, it's groundbreaking. 871 00:50:02,640 --> 00:50:05,760 Just do the stuff, right? 872 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:06,760 Just do the stuff. 873 00:50:06,760 --> 00:50:10,240 His partner, James and John, sons of Zezezi, we're all amazed. 874 00:50:10,240 --> 00:50:15,600 Jesus replied to Simon, he looks at all of you and says, don't be afraid. 875 00:50:15,600 --> 00:50:18,120 It's my grace. 876 00:50:18,120 --> 00:50:20,600 From now on, you'll be fishing for people. 877 00:50:20,600 --> 00:50:23,760 As soon as they landed, left everything and followed Jesus. 878 00:50:23,760 --> 00:50:25,360 I mean, you heard the announcements. 879 00:50:25,360 --> 00:50:28,080 We're doing the night to shine coming up in February. 880 00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:30,120 We need your help, right? 881 00:50:30,120 --> 00:50:32,000 It's going to be a huge event. 882 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:35,320 We have the reach called weather similar coming up in February. 883 00:50:35,320 --> 00:50:37,320 We're going to serve the homeless, right? 884 00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:38,640 Next week, just let's don't team up. 885 00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:40,240 We want you to serve in our community. 886 00:50:40,240 --> 00:50:41,560 We need you to be a part. 887 00:50:41,560 --> 00:50:43,680 We need you to do the stuff. 888 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:44,680 Why? 889 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:47,440 Because God needs you. 890 00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:52,280 Mark 16, 15 and 17 through 18. 891 00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:56,960 And then he told them, go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone. 892 00:50:56,960 --> 00:50:59,560 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe. 893 00:50:59,560 --> 00:51:02,720 They will cast out demons in my name and they will speak in new languages. 894 00:51:02,720 --> 00:51:08,240 They will be able to place their hands on the sick and they will be healed. 895 00:51:08,240 --> 00:51:13,120 Live your everyday life with a willingness to be used by God. 896 00:51:13,120 --> 00:51:14,720 And hear me out. 897 00:51:14,720 --> 00:51:16,840 This is my heart. 898 00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:22,240 Here at HCV, we are not simply implementing the best church strategies. 899 00:51:22,240 --> 00:51:28,720 In fact, there's many churches in the vineyard that look at me and look at our community 900 00:51:28,720 --> 00:51:32,860 faith, and they say, how has God grown in your church? 901 00:51:32,860 --> 00:51:36,640 Because they follow all the strategies, right? 902 00:51:36,640 --> 00:51:39,440 We're not into the best church strategies. 903 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:44,280 We're trying to accomplish what isn't humanly possible. 904 00:51:44,280 --> 00:51:49,400 And that's following God and allowing him to miraculously use us to change lives. 905 00:51:49,400 --> 00:51:53,840 And when we follow God and allow him to miraculously use us to change lives, it's depending on 906 00:51:53,840 --> 00:52:00,400 his power in us to be released through us into others so that we see the miraculous 907 00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:01,400 happen. 908 00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:03,140 Friends, we pray for the sick. 909 00:52:03,140 --> 00:52:04,280 We confront justice. 910 00:52:04,280 --> 00:52:06,780 We seek to hear the voice of God. 911 00:52:06,780 --> 00:52:09,760 We seek to hear the voice of God for others. 912 00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:15,920 It involves a partnership, a partnership of God running after us and inviting us into 913 00:52:15,920 --> 00:52:16,920 more. 914 00:52:16,920 --> 00:52:20,960 Now the amazing thing is this, and this is how I'm going to close. 915 00:52:20,960 --> 00:52:28,380 This same miraculous encounter that Simon, sorry, Simon, he wasn't Peter yet, that Simon 916 00:52:28,380 --> 00:52:37,160 had with Jesus, he actually got to experience twice because see, we all know that Peter 917 00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:39,520 denied Jesus how many times? 918 00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:41,480 Three times. 919 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:47,160 And in order to bring him back onto the team, back into partnership, because remember, Peter 920 00:52:47,160 --> 00:52:48,720 returned to fishing. 921 00:52:48,720 --> 00:52:51,940 He returned to what he did best. 922 00:52:51,940 --> 00:52:59,280 This shows up the resurrected Jesus on the shore and tells Peter and his friends to do 923 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:00,840 the same thing. 924 00:53:00,840 --> 00:53:04,440 And this time though, Peter doesn't say, get away from me. 925 00:53:04,440 --> 00:53:06,160 You know what Peter does? 926 00:53:06,160 --> 00:53:21,960 He leaps into the water and sprints towards Jesus.