1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,440 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,060 To get connected or to give online go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 3 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:27,360 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,840 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,320 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:37,960 Hey, good morning everyone and welcome to Hub City Vineyard Sunday live stream. 7 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:43,800 No matter where you are, thanks for joining us and more importantly, thanks for welcoming 8 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,560 us into your home. 9 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:51,000 I just want to start by saying happy Mother's Day to all the moms that are listening this 10 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,120 morning. 11 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:59,320 We honor you, we are praying for you and we thank you for all that you're doing in serving 12 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,640 your kids and your families during this crisis. 13 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:10,000 And just know that we are here for you and just want to encourage you through this time. 14 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,280 Now for the last few weeks we've been discussing a new series. 15 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:19,520 I've got two words for you and the series is based on Galatians 5 verses 22 to 23 that 16 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:25,120 says, but the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. 17 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:34,280 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 18 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:41,400 So far we have discussed the two words fear and peace, depression and love. 19 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:47,240 Last week we looked at anger and self-control and today I want to share about a word that 20 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:53,240 many people feel is negative when it comes to a relationship with Jesus and that is the 21 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,640 word brokenness. 22 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:03,080 Now yesterday Jess was watching a show that she enjoys on HGTV called Hometown and the 23 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:11,360 series follows a couple as they renovate turn to the century homes for first time home buyers 24 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:19,960 or older clients in a way of just giving them something new in the town of Laurel, Mississippi. 25 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:26,280 Now one part of the show that makes it very unique is the husband Ben uses his building 26 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:35,440 and woodworking skills to preserve and celebrate the home's history by using found materials 27 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:42,720 in the house's walls or old furniture that was left behind and what he does he rebuilds 28 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:48,260 and restores it to keep the character and the integrity of the house. 29 00:02:48,260 --> 00:02:54,800 Now if you think about restoring furniture, when you restore furniture it involves literally 30 00:02:54,800 --> 00:03:02,000 the stripping away of old paint and we use chemicals, real strong chemicals in order 31 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:08,400 to remove that old paint or that old varnish and it reveals these old scratches and gouges 32 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:16,560 and spots that's all over the furniture and then he would take sandpaper or even a machine 33 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:23,360 that sands the wood down to a smooth finish and it takes away all the imperfections and 34 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,200 all the negative elements of the furniture. 35 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:32,800 The furniture is then ready to receive a new coat of paint or a new stain and suddenly 36 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:40,320 the furniture comes to life in a new excitement that was once old is now new and the reality 37 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,960 is God can do the same thing with us. 38 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:51,320 He can put new excitement inside of an old life but we have to realize he must first 39 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:58,480 strip away the old nature and the old sinful habits and strongholds and we shouldn't run 40 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:03,920 from being broken and friends even though it's not pleasant it will produce a better 41 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:05,520 life. 42 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:11,840 Brokenness is a blessing because it literally puts us on the road to breakthrough and to 43 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:18,700 redemption after all Jesus did say blessed are the poor in spirit. 44 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:25,280 Now before I get into my talk I need to set the context of what was happening in Jesus's 45 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:28,820 life in Matthew chapter 14. 46 00:04:28,820 --> 00:04:33,360 See Jesus was getting ready to receive some bad news. 47 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:40,560 John the Baptist, his cousin, his friend, the man that literally leapt within the womb 48 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:46,160 of his mother when the two were not even born yet when they were still inside their mother's 49 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:50,480 womb John leapt with excitement that Jesus was near. 50 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:56,640 John also would be the one that baptized Jesus ushering in his kingdom and recognizing him 51 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,240 as his savior. 52 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:04,760 This man was about to die and see we have to realize that these men were close. 53 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:12,120 They had a connection and we read in Matthew 14 that there was a birthday party for Herod 54 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:17,160 and at this birthday party Herod's daughter was dancing. 55 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:24,160 Now you have to realize she wasn't doing the Macarena she was dancing and she was dancing 56 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:31,360 so well that Herod the Bible said was moved and he was moved to the point where he offered 57 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,100 her anything. 58 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:41,280 He said I will give you anything up to half of my kingdom in order for you to continue 59 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:43,240 in your dance. 60 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:49,320 So the daughter after speaking to her mother she went back to Herod and said I would like 61 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,560 the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 62 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:58,740 Now you have to realize this was a difficult decision for Herod. 63 00:05:58,740 --> 00:06:05,560 John was a voice of reason for Herod in tough times but see in this situation he couldn't 64 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:11,960 lose face with the guests that were at the party so he had John killed. 65 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,920 You know I was reading this part of the Bible this week and it just dawned on me I was like 66 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:22,760 I'm reading Matthew 14 and here's this party there's this birthday party there's dancing 67 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,360 there's excitement and then there's a head. 68 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:31,400 Have you ever realized just how graphic and exciting the Bible is? 69 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:37,040 I mean you don't need social media just go out and read the Bible and have your heart 70 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,360 change and turn towards God. 71 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,760 Now while all this was happening Jesus had been on a ministry tour and the disciples 72 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:51,480 were experiencing God's kingdom coming to earth there was healings and miracles and 73 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:58,480 signs and wonders and isn't it true that quite often when it comes to being more like Jesus 74 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,760 we always focus on you know being more loving. 75 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,840 Maybe we need to show more mercy or develop more compassion in our heart we need to serve 76 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:13,180 or we need to volunteer more and they're all important things but our first thought is 77 00:07:13,180 --> 00:07:19,240 quite often a characteristic about Jesus's life that is often overlooked and that is 78 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,160 this Jesus broke. 79 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:29,980 Listen to Matthew 14 verses 12 through 13 later John's disciples came for his body and 80 00:07:29,980 --> 00:07:31,840 buried it. 81 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:37,760 Then they went and told Jesus what had happened and as soon as Jesus heard the news he left 82 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:42,440 in a boat to remote area to be alone. 83 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:50,000 See Jesus demonstrates for us a response that for honest many of us struggle with when it 84 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,280 comes to church. 85 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:58,760 Quite often when it comes to church people within churches have a tendency to hide or 86 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:05,240 or cover up or pretend that there's no problems or emotions when it comes to this life we're 87 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:11,440 living for example before the virus if chances are if you have kids on your on your way to 88 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:17,660 a Sunday gathering at at H.T.V. that that that that drive would turn into an argument 89 00:08:17,660 --> 00:08:21,760 or disagreement because the kids are arguing and fighting and then husband and wife are 90 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,560 suddenly yelling at each other and there's this complete blow up in the car on the way 91 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:26,720 to church. 92 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,040 But yet when you get into the parking lot and you walk into the door someone asks you 93 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:31,120 how you're doing. 94 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,000 We're great. 95 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:38,280 Or now you may have received a phone call or a text message or someone reached out to 96 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:42,280 you on Facebook simply asking how are you. 97 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:43,480 Do you need anything. 98 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:44,760 Can I pray for you. 99 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,000 No I'm good. 100 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,840 I don't see that there's any needs. 101 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:55,600 See in this verse we we literally see Jesus breaking. 102 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:01,960 Now when Jesus heard the news he could have went in and got John's body found his head 103 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:06,840 and performed a miracle because see nothing is too big for God. 104 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:11,920 He could have just literally healed John and continued on with ministry. 105 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,560 And you say well Chris is that really possible. 106 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:14,560 Of course it is. 107 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:18,560 You saw where Jesus excuse me a guard had his ear cut off. 108 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:19,760 Jesus quickly grabbed the ear. 109 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,880 He healed it and addressed Peter in John 11 35. 110 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:31,720 We read then Jesus wept and another time that Jesus broke before raising Lazarus from the 111 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:32,720 dead. 112 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:39,480 But you see here Jesus hears the news about his good friend John about his cousin John 113 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:44,440 and his first reaction is not well let's go share the good news. 114 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,140 Let's let's go pray for people. 115 00:09:46,140 --> 00:09:47,280 Let's perform miracles. 116 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:48,280 Let's teach a parable. 117 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:53,480 And you know he literally gets in a boat to be alone. 118 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,640 Now the Bible doesn't tell us how long he was in the boat. 119 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,240 It could have been five minutes 10 minutes could have been three hours. 120 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:05,880 All we know he was traveling from one place to the other and and Jesus in the boat he 121 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:13,000 is completely alone and he wanted to be alone because he literally was breaking for before 122 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,000 God. 123 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:17,120 He didn't expect to to hear the news. 124 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,340 He didn't expect for his cousin his friend to die. 125 00:10:21,340 --> 00:10:26,120 He didn't want to receive that kind of negativity that day. 126 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:31,120 Yet he retreated to be alone with God so that he could break down. 127 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:37,740 And for many of us friends we don't practice breaking for many of us. 128 00:10:37,740 --> 00:10:41,780 We need to learn what it means to break. 129 00:10:41,780 --> 00:10:47,880 You know for for some of you you didn't expect to to lose your job of 25 years and suddenly 130 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,380 be without work. 131 00:10:49,380 --> 00:10:54,680 For some of you you you didn't want to be divorced 10 years ago and and you didn't want 132 00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:59,640 to recognize that that you wanted to be alone or for some of you you don't want to divorce 133 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,680 right now. 134 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:06,120 You know for you high school seniors you you didn't want to graduate virtually. 135 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:11,920 You didn't want to miss your senior prom and and for some of you you're still stuck inside 136 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:16,660 and and you don't understand why the government is shut down and why you can't go to work 137 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:18,840 and why you can't return to school. 138 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,040 And think about it. 139 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,400 Jesus was connected to the Father. 140 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:30,900 Jesus did more good than anyone yet he felt the pain. 141 00:11:30,900 --> 00:11:36,720 He was hurt and he allowed himself to break. 142 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:42,360 See for so many followers of Jesus they they just show no emotion. 143 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:47,240 If you're anything like me it's almost like we you've become calloused and and stone-faced 144 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,880 thinking thinking more scriptures that I can quote greater is he that is in me that is 145 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,480 in the world and the pain will go away. 146 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,080 Yes that verse is true. 147 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:58,840 But the reality is this. 148 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:05,400 Jesus was the word he he knew the Bible yet he broke. 149 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:10,320 Plain tough doesn't make the pain go away. 150 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:15,560 You know we can act like we got it all together and we can pretend that that fight didn't 151 00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:18,620 happen last night that argument didn't happen last night. 152 00:12:18,620 --> 00:12:26,320 We can believe the words spoken over us weren't painful yet if we live that way we're not 153 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,720 going to be living like Jesus. 154 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:35,560 We have to find a place to cry and and to weep and and to vent and to let it all out 155 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:39,360 in order for change to come. 156 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:46,080 God can't fix what you think when our words are constantly well I'm good. 157 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:47,600 I don't need anything. 158 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,760 I don't need prayer. 159 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:57,560 We're not allowing God the space in our heart for change to happen which leads us to our 160 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:59,200 next stop. 161 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:06,240 See Jesus composed himself in Matthew 14 verses 13 to 14 continuing on. 162 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:11,760 Remember Jesus was in a boat he he had broke he was going to the other side but the crowds 163 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,200 heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 164 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:22,120 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the bow and he had compassion on them and 165 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,040 healed their sick. 166 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,480 So here's the story. 167 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,600 Here's the news about John. 168 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:34,800 He steps into a into a boat he begins to cross to the other side he needed to be alone. 169 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:40,920 He was struggling he needed to get before God but but as he steps out of the boat something 170 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,800 changed something was different. 171 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,000 I mean think about Jesus's life. 172 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:48,640 He was misunderstood. 173 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:49,680 He was hated. 174 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:50,680 He was judged. 175 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:51,680 He was mocked. 176 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:52,680 He was ridiculed. 177 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:53,680 He was beaten. 178 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:54,800 He was broken. 179 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,120 And he never blamed anyone. 180 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:03,840 And if I'm going to be honest with you friends too many Jesus followers blame everyone else 181 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:09,440 for all their problems for all their struggles for all the temptation that are a part of 182 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:10,440 their life. 183 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,480 Well I don't get any better. 184 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,840 I can't change Chris because the devil is too powerful. 185 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,120 The government is corrupt. 186 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,400 My husband is mean. 187 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,560 My my wife doesn't like me. 188 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,120 The church is too big. 189 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,560 I have to watch it on TV now. 190 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,160 The pastor doesn't care about me. 191 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:34,160 Friends you know I quoted a verse earlier greater is he that is in me than he is in 192 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:35,160 the world. 193 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:40,560 Do we believe that just like Jesus we need to learn to compose ourselves. 194 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,000 We have to get it together. 195 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:47,880 Too many people's lives are depending on you and me. 196 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,040 I mean think about it Jesus again he composed himself. 197 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:54,200 I remember when he heard the news about Lazarus what did he do. 198 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,200 He wept. 199 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:56,200 He broke. 200 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,800 But yet he composed himself. 201 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,080 And we read in John 11 40 to 41 Jesus responded. 202 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:07,080 Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe. 203 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,040 So they rolled the stone aside. 204 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:15,080 Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said Father thank you for hearing me. 205 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:20,160 Friends we have to stop making statements like I will never marry again. 206 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,960 I will never be a part of my kid's life again. 207 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,280 I will always be an addict. 208 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:27,920 I will never change. 209 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,600 I will never have a relationship with my father. 210 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,640 I will always be sick. 211 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,680 Here is the simple truth. 212 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,000 Staying hurt won't help you. 213 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:45,720 It won't change a thing in your life which moves us to our next stall. 214 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:51,480 Bitterness is simply brokenness left untreated. 215 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:56,840 See if we stay broken we will remain and become more bitter. 216 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,440 We will say things like well no one cares about me. 217 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,760 I can't trust anyone. 218 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,360 All churches are the same. 219 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:11,980 Yet we read in Ephesians 4 verses 31 to 32 get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh 220 00:16:11,980 --> 00:16:15,800 words and slander as well as all types of evil behavior. 221 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,120 Instead be kind to each other. 222 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,920 There's our second word for the day. 223 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,600 Be kind to each other. 224 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:28,120 Friends simply stated there are people in our community of faith that are going through 225 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:34,840 the same struggles, temptations, sins, marriage issues just like you. 226 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,840 We cannot isolate ourselves. 227 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:45,160 When we don't allow ourselves to break, to forgive, to experience God's love, to move 228 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,160 on you will remain bitter. 229 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,480 And if you remain bitter your heart will simply break. 230 00:16:52,480 --> 00:17:00,280 Jesus said in Matthew 6 14 if you forgive those who sin against you your heavenly father 231 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:01,680 will forgive you. 232 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,480 You see friends it's a balance. 233 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:06,480 It's a balance. 234 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,280 Jesus broke and then he composed himself. 235 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:10,280 He didn't remain there. 236 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:11,800 He didn't stay there. 237 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,360 He composed himself. 238 00:17:13,360 --> 00:17:17,240 However, we also have to guard against our next thought. 239 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:22,800 See remaining composed means that we can lose compassion. 240 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,120 Remaining composed means that we can lose compassion. 241 00:17:27,120 --> 00:17:33,160 Simply stated we can forget to feel what hurt, what real pain feels like. 242 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,520 There's someone struggling with an addiction. 243 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,960 There's couples going through a difficult season of their marriage. 244 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:45,320 There's a person struggling with sin and we simply look at them and say just get it together. 245 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,080 You need to change. 246 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,080 Come to Jesus. 247 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:49,400 I mean think about it. 248 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:56,760 Jesus stepped out of the boat, composed himself, performed miracles, right? 249 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:02,200 Laid it all out there, was kind to all the people that had followed him. 250 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:07,600 When we read this in Matthew 14 verses 15 to 17 that evening the disciples came to him 251 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:12,080 and said this is a remote place and it's already getting late. 252 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:17,480 Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages to buy food for themselves. 253 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,120 Jesus said that isn't necessary. 254 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:21,120 You feed them. 255 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:27,240 But we only have five loaves of bread and two fish they answered. 256 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:28,240 There's that but. 257 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:29,240 Did you hear that but? 258 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,200 There's that excuse. 259 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:37,520 See Jesus, he didn't have to perform the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men. 260 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:42,120 Jesus was trying to teach the disciples a simple principle. 261 00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:43,120 Think about it. 262 00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:44,120 He got out of the boat. 263 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,800 He performed all these miracles already. 264 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,000 He didn't need to feed them as well. 265 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,000 They had already experienced God's blessing. 266 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,440 He was trying to teach the disciples a principle. 267 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:59,320 See the disciples had been around Jesus for so long they had forgotten what it meant to 268 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:00,480 be hungry. 269 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,880 They had forgotten what it meant to go without. 270 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,680 They had forgotten what it meant to not be successful. 271 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,680 I mean think about Peter. 272 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,880 He couldn't even catch a fish when Jesus found him. 273 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,120 We read this in Luke 5, 4 through 6. 274 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:20,800 When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, now go out where it is deeper and let down 275 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,800 your nets to catch some fish. 276 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:28,120 Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. 277 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,120 But if you say so I'll let the nets down again. 278 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:36,960 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear. 279 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,500 Friends, we can never forget. 280 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:47,080 We can never take for granted what God did and continues to do in our lives. 281 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:48,600 How God changes us. 282 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:49,760 How God loves us. 283 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,440 How God has transformed us. 284 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:52,680 How God has set us free. 285 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:53,740 How he's healed us. 286 00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:55,600 How he's made us new. 287 00:19:55,600 --> 00:20:02,120 You know like that piece of furniture, that broken piece of furniture that's sanded down, 288 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:05,320 that's got a fresh coat of paint on it that's made new. 289 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:06,600 That's what he does with our lives. 290 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,440 And friends we can't forget where we were. 291 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:15,160 There are people all around us in the tri-state area that are struggling right now and they 292 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,100 need to see God's love shining through us. 293 00:20:19,100 --> 00:20:21,820 To fend off this brokenness friends. 294 00:20:21,820 --> 00:20:22,820 To move on. 295 00:20:22,820 --> 00:20:23,820 To be set free. 296 00:20:23,820 --> 00:20:25,640 Because we have to break before God. 297 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,720 We have to compose ourselves. 298 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,520 That means we need to be kind. 299 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,640 We need to understand what kindness means and that's our second word that I want to 300 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,540 focus on this morning. 301 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:40,440 We need to take steps to grow in kindness. 302 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,900 And the first one is we have to realize this. 303 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:45,520 Kindness is supernatural. 304 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,600 See isn't it true that kindness is kind of underrated? 305 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:53,660 I have several kindness shirts and I can wear them and it talks about how great kindness 306 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:56,400 is to be kind to other people. 307 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:01,360 And often times we relate kindness to being nice. 308 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:06,520 As though it's mainly about smiling or being happy or getting along with others. 309 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:12,120 But think about this when Paul laid out his case to the church in Corinth that he was 310 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,120 an apostle. 311 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:16,900 That he was truly following Jesus and planting these churches. 312 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:21,260 He wrote these words in 2 Corinthians 6, 5 through 6. 313 00:21:21,260 --> 00:21:27,480 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured 314 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,140 sleepless nights and gone without food. 315 00:21:31,140 --> 00:21:38,040 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness by the Holy Spirit 316 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,760 within us and by our sincere love. 317 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:42,760 Think about it. 318 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,960 Kindness made his list of a spiritual fruit. 319 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:51,080 And basically what Paul was saying is you want me to prove that I'm an apostle, that 320 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:52,460 I'm a church planner? 321 00:21:52,460 --> 00:21:56,080 He said in fact, okay, here it is, I'm kind. 322 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,220 I am kind. 323 00:21:58,220 --> 00:22:01,000 True kindness friends is spirit produced. 324 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,360 Look at Galatians 5, the focus of our entire series. 325 00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:07,480 The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. 326 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,680 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. 327 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,560 See it's supernatural. 328 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:21,360 It's a supernaturally generous orientation of our hearts, of our minds towards other 329 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:22,360 people. 330 00:22:22,360 --> 00:22:28,920 Even when those people don't deserve it, even when we'll receive nothing in return, that 331 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:36,280 God desires that we see people with kindness, which moves us to our next step in realizing 332 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,960 that kindness is powerful. 333 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:40,960 Kindness is powerful. 334 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:48,560 Luke chapter 6 verses 35 through 36 from the message paraphrase, I tell you, love your 335 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:49,840 enemies. 336 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,720 Help and give without expecting a return. 337 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,600 You'll never, I promise, regret it. 338 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,920 Live out this God created identity the way our Father lives towards us. 339 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:05,800 Generously and graciously, even when at our worst, our Father is kind. 340 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,680 You be kind. 341 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,280 Ask yourself a simple question this morning. 342 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:16,000 Are we generously inclined toward those around us? 343 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:23,880 Or do we think and speak harshly when we look at them, think about them? 344 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,880 What is your natural reaction to those people that are around you the most? 345 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:33,160 Like for example, for some of us, when we're watching sports or talent shows like American 346 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,640 Idol, what does it do? 347 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:40,760 It simply provides us an opportunity for airing our criticism and our harsh comments and our 348 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:46,200 verbal abuse at the TV rather than at people in person. 349 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,600 Hey, those people on that TV are people. 350 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:54,480 And if we practice that in our minds to the TV, chances are we're going to be practicing 351 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:56,960 it to real people. 352 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:02,440 For some of us, the daily routine of being home together with our family is a simple 353 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:06,200 way of gauging how kind you are right now. 354 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:12,000 Are you extending kindness to those directly around you, your immediate family in the midst 355 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,240 of constantly being around them? 356 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:22,360 Some of us just have to simply admit that we're verbally negative and sarcastic. 357 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:25,120 And we're sarcastic to the point where it hurts other people. 358 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:30,120 And when we see other people being hurt by our sarcasm, we need to stop. 359 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:32,920 Kindness is no small thing. 360 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:38,920 It yields this marvelous fruit both in our lives and in the lives of those around us. 361 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:43,200 When we're kind, people are then kind in turn. 362 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:49,400 Friends, we open ourselves up to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when we ask Him to 363 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:56,560 produce this kind of fruit in our lives, this kindness that overflows with kind words. 364 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:03,240 Look at 1 Corinthians 13, 4, which again, many experts and scholars call the love chapter. 365 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:09,280 I read it at almost every wedding that I perform, but notice the beginning of it. 366 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:10,680 Love is patient and kind. 367 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:16,880 See, God's love is patient and kind, which moves us to our next step, our third step 368 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:17,880 this morning. 369 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,680 Kindness is for everyone. 370 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:29,360 Romans 2, 4, don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? 371 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:30,840 Does this mean nothing to you? 372 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:35,000 Can't you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 373 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,320 Friends, God Himself is kind. 374 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,200 His kindness is meant to lead people to what? 375 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,660 To repentance, to a relationship with Him. 376 00:25:44,660 --> 00:25:50,720 And this implies that those people haven't yet turned to Him, haven't sought forgiveness 377 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:54,880 and asked forgiveness, yet God doesn't look at them as enemies. 378 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,060 He pursues them with His love. 379 00:25:58,060 --> 00:26:01,080 Look at Matthew 9, 36 to 38. 380 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:05,120 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. 381 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:06,120 Right? 382 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:12,320 And again, this is the same response that Jesus had to the crowd in Matthew 14 when 383 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,400 He got out of the boat, He had compassion on them. 384 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:20,320 He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless like sheep without a 385 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:21,320 shepherd. 386 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:26,040 He said to His disciples, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. 387 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:31,920 Pray to the Lord who's in charge of the harvest, ask Him to send more workers into the fields. 388 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:38,800 Friends, there's people around us that are in seasons of trouble. 389 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,720 They're struggling in their daily lives because of this pandemic and they're just looking 390 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:48,960 for someone to be kind to them, to extend a hand of grace and mercy. 391 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,780 How are you treating your friends during this season? 392 00:26:52,780 --> 00:26:58,800 We rarely know all the battles that those around us are in, how they're struggling, 393 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:04,160 whether it be in their marriage or their relationship with their children or a sin or addiction 394 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:09,120 they could be having or just simply homeschooling their kids and what that means to them. 395 00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:14,760 They could be struggling and friends, there's stress in this virus and in this pandemic 396 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,580 and the fear of what it could do to others. 397 00:27:17,580 --> 00:27:20,860 People need kindness. 398 00:27:20,860 --> 00:27:21,860 People need kindness. 399 00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:26,600 But quite often people are so busy and so fearful and so worried that they won't ask 400 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,980 for it. 401 00:27:28,980 --> 00:27:31,960 They won't look to you as a means of saying, will you pray for me? 402 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:36,680 We just got to extend that kindness through God's strength and through His Holy Spirit 403 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,680 leading us, which leads us to our final step. 404 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:46,020 See, friends, showing kindness shows the world Jesus. 405 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:50,960 Simply stated, you and I are here and alive because of the greatest act of kindness that 406 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,880 was ever done for all of mankind. 407 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,640 And it was done for you. 408 00:27:56,640 --> 00:28:00,620 And it wasn't just done for you, for you to have. 409 00:28:00,620 --> 00:28:03,640 It was done for you so that you could share it. 410 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:11,400 Ephesians 432 says instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, 411 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:15,600 just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 412 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:21,200 I find it deeply necessary that we are aware and become aware of the power that we hold 413 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:26,640 within our heart, within our lives each and every day, the power to be kind to everyone, 414 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:34,280 especially those who offer nothing in return because Proverbs 21 21 tells us whoever pursues 415 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:43,240 righteousness and kindness will find life, will find life, righteousness and honor. 416 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:49,280 Friends, we need to make an intentional effort to be kind to those around us. 417 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,320 You will never be more joyful. 418 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:53,780 You will never lead a more meaningful life. 419 00:28:53,780 --> 00:28:59,520 If you open your heart and allow your heart to grow in this area of kindness, you have 420 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:07,240 to become aware of the people around you and allow the Spirit to lead you in kind words, 421 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:14,200 kind gestures, in hope, in the meaning of life that will change lives. 422 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:19,680 Now this morning the Holy Spirit just overwhelmed me and impressed on me that I needed to pray 423 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:24,120 for two different groups of people. 424 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,160 That first group is simply this. 425 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,080 You're broke. 426 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:36,980 You're broke and you feel broken inside and you needed to be given permission to come 427 00:29:36,980 --> 00:29:41,120 before God and just break before him. 428 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,600 God can't bring you your freedom if you're faking it. 429 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:50,400 You got to be honest before him and I know where I'm coming through a TV, but that doesn't 430 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,840 mean the Holy Spirit can't come through it. 431 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:57,440 And if that's you this morning and you felt broken on the inside and you felt like that 432 00:29:57,440 --> 00:30:01,520 person that just needed to let it out before God, I want to pray for you right now. 433 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:03,240 Will you stand? 434 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:04,240 Just stand right where you are. 435 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:08,920 I mean that just stand right where you are and I'm going to pray for you right now. 436 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:09,920 Holy Spirit come. 437 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:13,020 God, you know people's hearts. 438 00:30:13,020 --> 00:30:14,360 You know where they are. 439 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:17,200 I just pray right now that you would overwhelm them. 440 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:21,880 God with your love, your grace, your mercy, your forgiveness. 441 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,760 God, they're forgiven. 442 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:27,040 Make them aware in their hearts. 443 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,800 Allow their heart to leap within their chest. 444 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:35,940 God knowing that within their brokenness, you are strong. 445 00:30:35,940 --> 00:30:40,120 Give them freedom this morning, God, in Jesus name. 446 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:46,560 And the second group of people I want to pray for is those people that I'm just being honest 447 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:47,560 here. 448 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:49,920 You're just composed. 449 00:30:49,920 --> 00:31:01,960 You know that you're so composed that you've forgotten where you came from. 450 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:08,880 You've forgotten those around you that you need to reach out. 451 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,560 You need to love on people. 452 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:14,680 You need to live on mission and purpose. 453 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:19,560 You need to get it together. 454 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,920 So if you're in that group of people, I want to pray for you. 455 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,120 Holy Spirit come. 456 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:31,920 Just overwhelm those people, God, that are so composed that they've forgotten the needy. 457 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:35,320 They've forgotten those that are hurting and broken. 458 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:36,680 They've walked away from them. 459 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:41,640 God, I just pray you would release your compassion, your mercy and your love into their hearts 460 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:47,720 and their heart would break to the point for others that they would live on mission every 461 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:49,200 day for you. 462 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,840 That God, they would have a mindset of just one more. 463 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:57,400 If just one more would come into your kingdom, would find peace, would find forgiveness, 464 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:03,360 would find healing, would find mercy, God, their life would be supernaturally changed. 465 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,280 Change us, God. 466 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,560 Make us more like you. 467 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:11,200 In Jesus' name, amen. 468 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:12,440 So now hear me out. 469 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:17,600 If you prayed either one of those prayers this morning, I want to follow up with you 470 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:18,600 this week. 471 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:20,240 I want to send you an email and a text. 472 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:24,080 I want to reach out for you to let you know that I'm praying for you. 473 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:25,240 Here's what I want you to do. 474 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:30,220 I want you to get your smartphone out, your cell phone out, and I want you to text, change 475 00:32:30,220 --> 00:32:36,160 me to 9700. 476 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:43,160 Change me to 9700 and I will personally follow up with you with a text, with an email reaching 477 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:47,600 out to you, letting you know that I'm praying for you and giving you steps of how to get 478 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:53,640 involved and more importantly, how to passionately pursue Jesus so he overwhelms your life in 479 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:55,200 a more abundant way. 480 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,720 Friends, we need to move. 481 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:03,700 We need to move from brokenness, from brokenness into kindness. 482 00:33:03,700 --> 00:33:08,280 Allow yourself to break before God on a daily basis. 483 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:13,640 Compose yourself, get it together, stand back up and allow the Holy Spirit to use you to 484 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:17,860 be kind to others and to change our world. 485 00:33:17,860 --> 00:33:19,920 Have an incredible week. 486 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:25,600 I look forward to reaching out to you this week through video, through email, and more 487 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:29,520 importantly to gather together and worship next Sunday. 488 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:30,520 God bless you guys. 489 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:31,520 We're praying for you. 490 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,920 If you need anything, let us know. 491 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:35,920 Have an excellent week. 492 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:36,920 See you later. 493 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:37,920 There's no impossible. 494 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:38,920 I believe that you are working now to pour it out. 495 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:53,920 Oh, pour it out.