WEBVTT 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:11.099 Hey guys, this is Tracy. If at any time you'd 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:15.039 like to connect with HCV, go to hcv .church forward 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.100 slash connect. If you feel called to give, go 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.980 to hcv .church forward slash give. And if at 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:23.920 any time you feel called to make a change in 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.399 your life, text change me to 970 -00. Enjoy the 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:34.479 message. Good morning and welcome to HCV Online. 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:39.060 Believe it or not, it's a very snowy Sunday and 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:42.939 this is only the second time in 20 years as a 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:45.560 community of faith that we had to cancel for 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:49.299 a winter storm. Today will be a beautiful day 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:53.770 of rest. and if you have little ones, fun in 00:00:53.770 --> 00:00:56.829 the snow. So I want to encourage you, take advantage 00:00:56.829 --> 00:01:00.710 of the downtime, have a positive attitude, nothing 00:01:00.710 --> 00:01:04.049 to worry about, and create memories that will 00:01:04.049 --> 00:01:08.329 last a lifetime. I still remember my kids flying 00:01:08.329 --> 00:01:12.989 down Cannon Hill on an inner tube blow -up at 00:01:12.989 --> 00:01:16.640 very high speeds. The happiness, joy, and of 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:20.120 course a little fear on their faces is what life 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:24.099 is all about. So be adventurous. Get out in the 00:01:24.099 --> 00:01:27.640 snow and enjoy it. And let's open in prayer this 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:32.459 morning. Holy Spirit, come. God, use this message, 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:35.840 use these words. I'm thankful for the ability 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:40.480 to broadcast live and reach every single person 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.579 that's not only in our community of faith, but 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:45.719 is a part of our community of faith. Change us, 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:49.840 God. Open our ears. Allow us to receive and be 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:53.299 challenged by your spirit this morning. In Jesus' 00:01:53.379 --> 00:01:58.659 name. Amen. So this morning, I would like you 00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:03.680 to pause. Close your eyes and go back to the 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:08.080 time when you met Jesus for the very first time. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.639 Now, if you're watching this broadcast and you're 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:14.000 thinking to yourself, I'm not sure I ever met 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.360 Jesus or if I'm in a relationship with him, I'm 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:20.360 going to encourage you, simply close your eyes 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:24.120 and invite God to reveal himself to you because 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:28.080 I believe he will. For those of you in a relationship 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.259 with him, think about the difference Jesus has 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:34.819 made in your life. This morning, I woke up early 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:39.360 around 4 a .m., was praying and reflecting on 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:43.819 how insecure I was, how I was lost. Simply walking 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:46.900 through life focused on myself, no purpose, no 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:50.460 meaning. Wasting the time that God had given 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:54.240 me on endless pursuits of selfish pleasure and 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:58.539 gain. numbing my pain and regret with any substance 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:02.300 or person that it would allow me to escape. Then 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:05.680 I met Jesus. I'll never forget the Sunday the 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.900 Holy Spirit led me to that church, to that encounter, 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:12.759 to the freedom, the meaning, to living an abundant 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:16.659 life. This morning I found myself thanking God, 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:21.069 praising God for my salvation. For my new life, 00:03:21.129 --> 00:03:25.449 my heart was so full of gratitude to God, to 00:03:25.449 --> 00:03:29.030 Jesus, for the Holy Spirit. And it was in that 00:03:29.030 --> 00:03:33.129 moment I realized I had to invite you into that 00:03:33.129 --> 00:03:37.530 same encounter. To pause. To remember what God 00:03:37.530 --> 00:03:40.189 has done for you and how he has changed your 00:03:40.189 --> 00:03:43.439 life. Not asking him for anything, whether it 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:46.900 be a new car. You know, God, my car is 16 years 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:50.000 old. It's breaking down. Another light is on. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:55.159 Not asking him for a new job. God, my job, it's 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.240 destroying me. Open up a new opportunity or a 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:00.360 breakthrough. God, I need this relationship, 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:05.000 this marriage healed and changed. Simply thank 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.650 him for what he's already done. I mean, think 00:04:08.650 --> 00:04:11.409 about it. He led us out of the dominion of darkness 00:04:11.409 --> 00:04:14.150 and into the kingdom of light. And I thought 00:04:14.150 --> 00:04:16.550 about how God invited me into a relationship 00:04:16.550 --> 00:04:19.730 with him. It wasn't about me earning it with 00:04:19.730 --> 00:04:22.470 my good deeds. It wasn't about whether I grew 00:04:22.470 --> 00:04:25.110 up in church or not. It wasn't about how I dressed 00:04:25.110 --> 00:04:28.310 or looked on the outside. It was simply about 00:04:28.310 --> 00:04:33.629 Jesus and what he did for me, for us, for the 00:04:33.629 --> 00:04:37.120 world. And quite often, if we're honest, for 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:39.480 those of us in a relationship with Jesus, we 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.779 forget to thank God for that relationship, for 00:04:42.779 --> 00:04:44.819 that freedom, for this new life, because we're 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:49.000 too busy asking him, begging him for the next 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:54.040 best thing that we want. Rather than waking and 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:57.300 thanking God for where he has brought us out 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:01.060 of, how he has supernaturally changed us, changed 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:06.569 me, changed you. God, we are so thankful for 00:05:06.569 --> 00:05:09.009 how you provide a way for us to experience abundant 00:05:09.009 --> 00:05:12.149 life. We are thankful that you brought us out 00:05:12.149 --> 00:05:15.490 of darkness and into a family, a community of 00:05:15.490 --> 00:05:18.829 life, a community of faith that is bigger than 00:05:18.829 --> 00:05:22.290 any one person. See, God did not call us into 00:05:22.290 --> 00:05:25.889 a relationship with him for us, meaning he did 00:05:25.889 --> 00:05:29.990 not call us to be consumers. He called us into 00:05:29.990 --> 00:05:33.379 a relationship with him to be sent. to be sent 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:36.899 to others in need just like I was, just like 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:41.339 you were. God called us into his kingdom to work 00:05:41.339 --> 00:05:45.100 through us, to use us to be representatives to 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:48.160 others who don't yet believe and are searching 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:52.019 for meaning and significance in this life. And 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:54.959 listen, if you don't believe this about yourself 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.410 today, It's my prayer as we jump into the book 00:05:59.410 --> 00:06:02.850 of Matthew that God would reveal that call to 00:06:02.850 --> 00:06:05.250 you this morning, which leads us to our first 00:06:05.250 --> 00:06:09.129 thought. See, Jesus gives his followers the authority 00:06:09.129 --> 00:06:12.509 to do the stuff. Now, some of you are thinking, 00:06:12.629 --> 00:06:14.670 do the stuff? Chris, what do you mean by that? 00:06:15.029 --> 00:06:18.189 Well, doing the stuff is a key phrase shared 00:06:18.189 --> 00:06:21.350 and taught by Vineyard founder John Wimber when 00:06:21.350 --> 00:06:24.660 this movement of churches was birthed. The core 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:29.279 idea from Wimber was followers of Jesus should 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:32.300 reach out to others using the power of the Holy 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:35.000 Spirit. Not just knowing about it or reading 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:38.339 about it, but literally living it. Now in the 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:40.699 book, The Quest for the Radical Middle, which 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:45.540 I recommend you to read, John told a story about 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:49.439 he and his wife Carol visiting a church early 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.319 in a spiritual journey. Now this was immediately 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:56.319 after he had spent considerable time reading 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.519 the four gospel accounts on the life and ministry 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.899 of Jesus. Following the service, John approached 00:07:02.899 --> 00:07:07.160 the pastor and asked him, Sir, so when do we 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.480 do the stuff? The stuff, said the pastor, what's 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.399 the stuff? You know, John replied, the stuff 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.139 in the Bible, like healing the sick and casting 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:20.220 out demons, that stuff. Oh, replied the pastor. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.759 We don't do this stuff. We believe they did it 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.620 back in biblical times, but we don't do it today. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.000 With a rather confused look on his face, John 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.439 would go on to say, and I gave up drugs for this? 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:38.720 See, Wimber was all about reading the gospel 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.439 accounts and living them as Jesus lived. Today, 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:45.920 we read and focus on Matthew chapter 10, verse 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.069 1. Notice, Jesus called his 12 disciples together 00:07:50.069 --> 00:07:53.850 and gave them authority. Authority to cast out 00:07:53.850 --> 00:07:56.490 evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease 00:07:56.490 --> 00:08:00.990 and illness. The disciples were given authority 00:08:00.990 --> 00:08:05.389 to do the stuff. To live the way Jesus lived. 00:08:05.649 --> 00:08:09.110 And I believe we, you and I, if you're in a relationship 00:08:09.110 --> 00:08:11.589 with Jesus, have been given the authority and 00:08:11.589 --> 00:08:15.399 power to do the same. Mark chapter 16 verse 15 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.519 reads, and then he told them, go into all the 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.199 world and preach the good news to everyone. Anyone 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:24.740 who believes and is baptized will be saved, but 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:27.060 anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:31.339 These, notice, miraculous signs will accompany 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:35.960 those who believe. Did you hear that? These miraculous 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:41.149 signs will accompany those who believe. See, 00:08:41.190 --> 00:08:44.970 Jesus empowered his disciples to do miraculous 00:08:44.970 --> 00:08:49.250 works. I believe Jesus empowers us, those in 00:08:49.250 --> 00:08:52.809 a relationship with him, for miraculous works. 00:08:53.269 --> 00:08:56.649 See, Jesus never had in mind that he was the 00:08:56.649 --> 00:08:59.649 only one who, being filled with the Spirit, would 00:08:59.649 --> 00:09:03.029 heal and perform miraculous signs. He always 00:09:03.029 --> 00:09:05.629 intended for his followers to do them as well. 00:09:06.730 --> 00:09:09.090 How can we participate in bringing the power 00:09:09.090 --> 00:09:11.889 and presence of God into our daily lives? Let's 00:09:11.889 --> 00:09:15.610 read Paul in Romans chapter 15 verses 18 through 00:09:15.610 --> 00:09:37.200 19. In this way, I have fully presented the good 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.279 news of Christ. Now notice, Paul makes it clear 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:44.740 that any miracle he ever did was through the 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:47.500 power of the Holy Spirit. See, he was giving 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:51.820 God the credit. He also said, That the goal of 00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:55.899 the miracles was to lead people into a relationship 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:58.740 with God. It wasn't about him receiving praise 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:02.740 or him being lifted up. It was about people responding 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:07.320 to the good news of God's kingdom invading our 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:13.259 lives and our community. Church. God empowers 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:17.159 us to do the stuff, which leads us to our second 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:20.139 thought. See, Jesus intentionally uses people 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:24.220 who are not very impressive. Let's continue in 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:28.419 Matthew chapter 10, verses 2 through 4. Here 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:31.620 are the names of the 12 apostles. First, Simon, 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.779 also called Peter. Then Andrew, Peter's brother. 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:38.100 James, sons of Zebedee. John, James' brother. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:41.019 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas. Matthew, the tax 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:43.899 collector. James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:47.139 Simon, the zealot. Judas Iscariot, who later 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:52.919 betrayed him. 12 names, 12 dudes. Who are they? 00:10:53.470 --> 00:10:57.610 Well, in this group, we first see four uneducated 00:10:57.610 --> 00:11:01.490 fishermen. Also in this group is a man who was 00:11:01.490 --> 00:11:04.870 a radical fanatic, a zealot, who would have been 00:11:04.870 --> 00:11:07.549 carrying a weapon ready to pull it out against 00:11:07.549 --> 00:11:11.870 any Roman authority because he believed in overthrowing 00:11:11.870 --> 00:11:15.639 the government by force. There was Thomas, who 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:19.679 had this bad reputation for being a doubter that 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:21.820 will stick with him for the rest of his life. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.580 Matthew, a tax collector, a very wealthy man, 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:27.659 who betrayed his own people and was despised 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:31.159 everywhere he went. A couple of nobodies, James, 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:34.220 the son of Alphaeus and Thaddeus, that no one 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:37.580 knows much about, including scholars, because 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:39.960 history does not tell us much about these two 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:44.370 men. Then there was Judas Iscariot. who was the 00:11:44.370 --> 00:11:49.049 only one of the 12 not from Galilee, Jesus' original 00:11:49.049 --> 00:11:52.370 area of ministry. So he was an outsider added 00:11:52.370 --> 00:11:55.789 to the team, and he would be the one that eventually 00:11:55.789 --> 00:11:58.889 betrayed Jesus. Why am I telling you about these 00:11:58.889 --> 00:12:03.009 men? Notice, there are no all -stars on that 00:12:03.009 --> 00:12:06.730 list, right? Jesus gathered a group of less than 00:12:06.730 --> 00:12:09.970 or forgotten people that would go on to change 00:12:09.970 --> 00:12:14.019 the entire world. No all -stars, just uneducated 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:16.500 people, a rich atheist, a radical revolutionary, 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:21.379 a few no -names, oh yeah, and a betrayer. A reminder 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:25.299 that God calls people from all socioeconomic 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:29.559 statuses and that Jesus can use anyone that is 00:12:29.559 --> 00:12:33.100 fully surrendered to him. See, this group gives 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:36.600 me hope and can give you hope that we can be 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:40.620 used by God. That all of us can be used by God. 00:12:40.990 --> 00:12:43.570 Paul again writes in his letter to the church 00:12:43.570 --> 00:12:46.669 in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1, verse 27. Instead, 00:12:46.950 --> 00:12:50.210 God chose things the world considers, notice, 00:12:50.309 --> 00:12:53.509 foolish in order to shame those who think they 00:12:53.509 --> 00:12:57.149 are wise. And he chose things that are powerless, 00:12:57.549 --> 00:13:02.789 powerless, to shame those who are powerful. See, 00:13:02.870 --> 00:13:05.669 God has a way of picking people that the world 00:13:05.669 --> 00:13:08.769 would never choose. Now, you may have had words 00:13:08.769 --> 00:13:11.759 spoken over you from a parent. or a teacher, 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.480 or a coach saying you would never amount to nothing. 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:20.580 If that is you, God chooses you. See, God wants 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:23.179 to use you to change the lives of the people 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:27.000 in your sphere of influence. See, Jesus first 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:30.360 calls people. He calls you and me to what? To 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:33.399 himself. Then he calls us to look out. He says, 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:37.000 look out and see that the harvest is ripe. And 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.700 that simply means we see differently in God's 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:42.080 kingdom. And then what does he do next? He tells 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.659 people to go to church, listen to a good sermon, 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.679 and do nothing for the kingdom of God. Is that 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:53.000 true? Of course not. It's false. There are too 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:56.639 many followers of Jesus that think that is what 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.600 following Jesus is all about. I'll just check 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.299 a few boxes during the week. I'll go to a Sunday 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:04.679 gathering. I'll read a few verses of the Bible. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:09.299 I'll pray over dinner. Friends, there is so much. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.860 which leads us to our third thought this morning. 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:16.240 You see, Jesus sends out his followers with a 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.740 mission. Let's continue in Matthew chapter 10, 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.299 verses 5 through 8. Jesus sent out the 12 apostles 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:25.899 with these instructions. Don't go to the Gentiles 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.519 or the Samaritans, but only to the people of 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:32.399 Israel, God's lost sheep. Go and announce to 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:36.059 them that the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:39.830 the sick, raise the dead. Cure those with leprosy. 00:14:39.850 --> 00:14:44.289 Cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received. 00:14:44.649 --> 00:14:48.990 See, God sent his disciples out, and he gave 00:14:48.990 --> 00:14:51.370 them instructions. He just didn't send them out 00:14:51.370 --> 00:14:55.250 lost, blind, and wondering. And God calls his 00:14:55.250 --> 00:14:58.129 followers to himself. He opens their eyes to 00:14:58.129 --> 00:15:01.610 see the needs of the world around them. He sends 00:15:01.610 --> 00:15:03.710 them out, but he doesn't just send them out. 00:15:03.750 --> 00:15:06.769 He empowers them, guides them to the people that 00:15:06.769 --> 00:15:11.200 are in need. See, God calls us and sends us out 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.019 to first serve our families. What about our children? 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.360 You know, to raise them up to be world changers, 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.440 difference makers for God's kingdom. Will you 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.279 respond to that calling, fathers? Will you step 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:27.399 up and make a difference in your children's lives? 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:30.379 And some of you may be looking through this camera 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:32.840 thinking, well, Chris, my marriage is struggling. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:34.960 It's falling apart. We're not communicating. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:38.730 Well, there's hope. Jess and I are leading the 00:15:38.730 --> 00:15:40.610 marriage course. We're bringing it back in the 00:15:40.610 --> 00:15:44.309 new year. On Friday nights, it starts in February. 00:15:44.590 --> 00:15:47.289 I want to encourage you, be sure to register 00:15:47.289 --> 00:15:51.330 this week by the QR code or at the Welcome Hub 00:15:51.330 --> 00:15:55.649 next week. God calls us. He sends us to the people 00:15:55.649 --> 00:15:58.250 in our sphere of influence, our coworkers, our 00:15:58.250 --> 00:16:01.649 classmates, our families that we've been connecting 00:16:01.649 --> 00:16:03.870 with at the athletic fields or different games. 00:16:04.409 --> 00:16:07.330 God calls us and sends us to our local community. 00:16:07.809 --> 00:16:10.350 People living in our neighborhoods, shopping 00:16:10.350 --> 00:16:13.669 at Walmart. What about the homeless at the Reach 00:16:13.669 --> 00:16:16.370 Cold Weather Shelter? That's right, HTV is serving 00:16:16.370 --> 00:16:18.669 there this week. We need your help. There's still 00:16:18.669 --> 00:16:21.830 spots to be filled. Go to the QR code. Again, 00:16:21.909 --> 00:16:25.990 scan the QR code. And reach out to Kelsey and 00:16:25.990 --> 00:16:28.950 serve those that are less fortunate than us this 00:16:28.950 --> 00:16:31.679 week. What about the forgotten that are left 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:35.039 in local nursing homes and recovery houses? What 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.440 are we to do? Well, Jesus told us. He said, go 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:41.899 and announce to them that the kingdom of heaven 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:45.659 is near. Now, isn't it interesting? Haven't we 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:50.259 heard those words before? Yes. If you're reading 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:54.019 the gospel accounts, it's true. Jesus shared 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:56.700 the same words. John the Baptist shared those 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:59.360 same words. God is challenging you and me. He's 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.879 challenging us that our message should be just 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:05.740 like his. God is challenging us. Church, I want 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:08.539 your social media posts to reflect my message, 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:13.299 my words of hope, my love for humanity. See, 00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:16.440 what people read on our social media feeds should 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.970 not be divisive or negative. They should be pointing 00:17:19.970 --> 00:17:23.690 people to Jesus as we live on mission for him. 00:17:23.910 --> 00:17:27.369 Which leads us to our final thought this morning. 00:17:27.589 --> 00:17:31.430 See, God provides his followers everything needed 00:17:31.430 --> 00:17:35.910 to ease the suffering of others. Friends, you 00:17:35.910 --> 00:17:38.930 have something to offer others. It doesn't matter 00:17:38.930 --> 00:17:42.029 your age, your gender, your economic status, 00:17:42.230 --> 00:17:45.230 where you live, what you drive. God desires to 00:17:45.230 --> 00:17:48.450 use us. Listen to Jesus' words. Again, Matthew 00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:52.910 chapter 10, verse 8. Give as freely as you have 00:17:52.910 --> 00:17:56.950 received. Give as freely as you have received. 00:17:57.210 --> 00:17:58.910 And what have we received, church? We've received 00:17:58.910 --> 00:18:01.509 abundant life, new life, forgiveness, grace. 00:18:01.769 --> 00:18:05.789 And God challenges us. He says, use your resources. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:09.980 Use your prayers, your love, your time, your 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:13.339 stuff, your finances. Just a simple smile, a 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:16.059 hug, a high five can change a person's life. 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:20.880 Look out, look around for opportunities to ease 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:24.720 the suffering of others. 2 Peter tells us, chapter 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.740 1, verse 3, by his divine power, God has given 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:32.799 us everything. Say everything we need for living 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:35.789 a godly life. We have received all of this by 00:18:35.789 --> 00:18:38.710 coming to know him, the one who called us to 00:18:38.710 --> 00:18:41.690 himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 00:18:42.130 --> 00:18:45.589 God has given us everything we need. Everything 00:18:45.589 --> 00:18:48.789 we need to start serving others and pointing 00:18:48.789 --> 00:18:52.250 them to Jesus. We have to remember provision 00:18:52.250 --> 00:18:57.329 follows faithfulness. What does that mean? Provision, 00:18:57.430 --> 00:19:02.130 God provides, follows faithful people. And again, 00:19:02.170 --> 00:19:05.259 it starts in your home. serving your family. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:08.400 It moves into our community of faith, serving 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.660 others in our community of faith, out into our 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:14.079 sphere of influence and into the greater community. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:18.940 James chapter 2 verses 15 through 16 reads, suppose 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:22.299 you see a brother or sister who has no food or 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:25.079 clothing and you say, goodbye, have a good day, 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.180 stay warm and eat well, but then you don't give 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:31.460 that person any food or clothing. What good does 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:35.539 that do? What good does that do? See, when we 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:39.359 step out in faith, God provides as we are obedient 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:44.049 to listen and serve. Listen and serve. Which 00:19:44.049 --> 00:19:47.869 leads us to our action steps this morning. Faith 00:19:47.869 --> 00:19:52.509 is spelled risk. R -I -S -K. And again, another 00:19:52.509 --> 00:19:56.549 familiar saying from Vineyard founder John Wimber. 00:19:56.690 --> 00:19:59.609 And our first step this morning in stepping out 00:19:59.609 --> 00:20:01.890 and taking a risk is, friends, you have to be 00:20:01.890 --> 00:20:05.049 filled with the Holy Spirit. We have to be empowered 00:20:05.049 --> 00:20:08.289 to be sent. We can't do it on our own strength. 00:20:08.369 --> 00:20:11.500 And dare I say, we won't do it. on our own strength. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:14.279 We'll be too fearful. We'll be too overwhelmed. 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:17.160 And friends, we don't want to point people back 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:20.079 to ourselves. We want to point people to Jesus. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:23.619 Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. Don't be drunk 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:26.259 with wine because that will ruin your life. Instead, 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:31.440 be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be full of the 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:34.680 Spirit. As we daily walk with the Spirit, our 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:38.380 focus shifts to God's kingdom. Our focus shifts 00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:41.240 to people in need of hope, meaning, and forgiveness. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:45.440 Acts chapter 4 verse 31. Notice, after this prayer, 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.519 as they were together praying, the meeting place 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.180 shook and they were all filled with the Holy 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:52.480 Spirit. But they weren't just filled with the 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.119 Holy Spirit. They didn't keep it to themselves. 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:57.240 Notice, they preached the word of God with boldness. 00:20:57.740 --> 00:21:00.700 When they were full of the Spirit, they shared 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:05.240 the word of God with boldness. But Chris, I don't 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:09.309 know enough. Of the Bible to preach with boldness. 00:21:09.410 --> 00:21:12.589 There's no way I could get on a stage like you. 00:21:12.650 --> 00:21:16.769 Good. Okay, I get it. It's intimidating. But 00:21:16.769 --> 00:21:19.789 you do know your story. You know your testimony 00:21:19.789 --> 00:21:22.529 and how your life is different and changed. Think 00:21:22.529 --> 00:21:26.390 about how he opened this gathering. How God brought 00:21:26.390 --> 00:21:29.809 you close to him. Radically changed your life. 00:21:30.109 --> 00:21:34.109 How has your life been changed? And that's all 00:21:34.109 --> 00:21:37.089 you have to share. We learn from a blind man 00:21:37.089 --> 00:21:39.950 sharing these words in John chapter 9. I was 00:21:39.950 --> 00:21:45.410 blind, but now I see. I don't know if he's the 00:21:45.410 --> 00:21:48.410 Savior. I don't know his name. But I was blind, 00:21:48.549 --> 00:21:53.769 and now I see. Right? This was spoken by a blind 00:21:53.769 --> 00:21:57.460 man that was miraculously healed by Jesus. And 00:21:57.460 --> 00:22:01.640 it signifies the spiritual enlightenment, the 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:06.359 opening of eyes, the changed life. It represents 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:09.859 moving from ignorance and sin or darkness to 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:12.640 an understanding of what Jesus has brought to 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:17.480 us. How he's changed us. It's not about a biblical 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:21.420 debate. It's about your story. It's about your 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:26.289 hope. And remember, what does it look like? To 00:22:26.289 --> 00:22:29.690 live a life full of the Spirit? Well, Galatians 00:22:29.690 --> 00:22:33.750 chapter 5 tells us, verses 22 to 23. But the 00:22:33.750 --> 00:22:36.190 Holy Spirit, being full of the Spirit, produces 00:22:36.190 --> 00:22:39.190 this kind of fruit in our lives. It's this fruit 00:22:39.190 --> 00:22:43.769 in your life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 00:22:43.869 --> 00:22:47.069 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self 00:22:47.069 --> 00:22:50.089 -control. And see, church, when we live with 00:22:50.089 --> 00:22:53.690 those virtues, people pay attention to our lives. 00:22:54.009 --> 00:22:57.650 They're drawn to us. They desire to be close 00:22:57.650 --> 00:23:02.150 to us. And remember, next Sunday, we kick off 00:23:02.150 --> 00:23:04.789 our Holy Spirit class right here in the main 00:23:04.789 --> 00:23:07.890 auditorium, 6 o 'clock. Rick and I will be leading 00:23:07.890 --> 00:23:11.130 the class every Sunday night for the entire month 00:23:11.130 --> 00:23:14.430 of February. Just show up. You don't need to 00:23:14.430 --> 00:23:18.329 sign up. Just show up. Pack this house. Learn 00:23:18.329 --> 00:23:20.849 what it means to be full of the Spirit, which 00:23:20.849 --> 00:23:23.230 leads us to our next step. We're full of Spirit, 00:23:23.329 --> 00:23:26.400 and then we listen. Romans chapter 8 verse 16. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:30.440 For his spirit joins with our spirit to affirm 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.259 that we are God's children. And you say, well 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:34.240 Chris, what's that have to do with listening? 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:38.400 Well, we have to take time to be refreshed by 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.920 the Spirit, to understand who we are, to understand 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:44.240 how God changed us, to pay attention to the Holy 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:47.559 Spirit. See, He speaks words of life, of truth 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:50.319 into our spirits. He speaks words of hope and 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.960 meaning. It lifts us up. He illuminates the Bible 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:56.319 so that we are changed from the inside out to 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.130 what? To reflect Jesus to others. And as we walk 00:24:00.130 --> 00:24:04.089 in obedience, see, God reveals his plan and his 00:24:04.089 --> 00:24:07.029 purpose for our lives. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 00:24:07.029 --> 00:24:11.450 10. But it was to us that God revealed these 00:24:11.450 --> 00:24:15.029 things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches 00:24:15.029 --> 00:24:19.009 out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. 00:24:19.349 --> 00:24:22.130 See, God first searches our hearts. He wants 00:24:22.130 --> 00:24:25.289 us to be right with him. He points out the issues 00:24:25.289 --> 00:24:28.380 that need changed. But then I believe he reveals 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:31.799 to us, he speaks to us, people in our sphere 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:34.720 of influence that are in need, that are desiring 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:37.839 more in this life. And then we are their representatives. 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:42.240 And as we listen, God empowers us to share Acts 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:46.519 1, verse 8. But you will receive power when the 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:50.059 Holy Spirit comes upon you. You, church, will 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:52.660 be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:55.869 in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria. and 00:24:55.869 --> 00:24:58.569 to the ends of the earth. We need to first be 00:24:58.569 --> 00:25:00.210 filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to listen, 00:25:00.309 --> 00:25:02.789 which leads to our third step. You need to overcome 00:25:02.789 --> 00:25:07.769 fear. When Jesus called and sent his disciples 00:25:07.769 --> 00:25:10.829 to go in Matthew chapter 10, though it's not 00:25:10.829 --> 00:25:15.450 recorded, I can guarantee there was some nervousness 00:25:15.450 --> 00:25:18.890 and fear. I mean, those men, they had been walking 00:25:18.890 --> 00:25:22.579 with Jesus for roughly two years now. They saw 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:25.720 these signs, these wonders, these miracles. And 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.480 now Jesus looks at them and says, hey, go do 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:32.019 the same. I mean, that's intimidating. I mean, 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:34.299 we're talking about God here. Remember, Jesus 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:38.319 was fully man and fully God. So these men, they're 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.240 literally watching God change lives. And then 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:44.539 suddenly Jesus turns and looks at them and says, 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.960 all right, now you go and do the same thing. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:49.240 That's intimidating. And listen, there's not 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:53.740 a Sunday. that goes by that I'm not questioning 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:57.519 my ability to stand on this stage. That I'm not 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:03.220 wondering if I have the goods to deliver on God's 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:05.640 Bible. You know, this is God's written word. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:09.799 It can be intimidating to share God's truth with 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:13.339 you. It can be overwhelming. And there's not 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:15.420 a Sunday that goes by that I don't walk up to 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:18.940 this stage and I touch my forehead and I pray, 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.569 Holy Spirit, come. I want this to be your words, 00:26:22.569 --> 00:26:26.410 not mine. I want the people to receive your truth, 00:26:26.529 --> 00:26:31.289 not Chris's good news, but Jesus's good news. 00:26:31.589 --> 00:26:35.130 So I get it. Stepping out can be intimidating. 00:26:35.509 --> 00:26:38.170 It can be overwhelming. But that's when we need 00:26:38.170 --> 00:26:40.390 to turn to God because he reminds us in Joshua 00:26:40.390 --> 00:26:43.789 1 .9, church, this is my command. Be strong and 00:26:43.789 --> 00:26:47.660 courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:50.660 the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:55.680 Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10. Don't be afraid for 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:59.200 I am with you. Don't be discouraged for I am 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:01.319 your God. I will strengthen you and help you. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:04.579 I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 00:27:05.450 --> 00:27:08.269 See, church, when we receive God's truth into 00:27:08.269 --> 00:27:11.589 our spirits, then we have faith. It increases. 00:27:11.710 --> 00:27:15.109 It grows. And then the courage comes to step 00:27:15.109 --> 00:27:19.210 out, to be empowered. 2 Timothy 1, verse 7. For 00:27:19.210 --> 00:27:22.910 God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, 00:27:23.049 --> 00:27:27.809 but of power, love, and self -control. So in 00:27:27.809 --> 00:27:32.150 Jesus' name, I speak no fear over our community 00:27:32.150 --> 00:27:37.630 of faith, over our people here at HCV. And listen, 00:27:37.809 --> 00:27:42.630 when you truly love people, silence is not an 00:27:42.630 --> 00:27:45.349 option, which leads us to our fourth step. You've 00:27:45.349 --> 00:27:49.450 got to step out. Acts chapter 3, verse 6. Peter 00:27:49.450 --> 00:27:53.349 and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, 00:27:53.410 --> 00:27:57.440 look at us. The lame man looked at them eagerly, 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:02.099 expecting some money. But Peter said, I don't 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:05.339 have any silver or gold for you, but I'll give 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:09.720 you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:14.220 the Nazarene, get up and walk. Amazing story. 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:17.680 Peter's just walking along and he's available. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.660 He's living his life. He's filled with the Spirit. 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:25.220 He heard the cries of the lame man. I'm sure 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:27.839 that man had been laying there for years desiring 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:30.420 people to help him, to give him money so that 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:35.039 he could survive. Peter, he overcame that doubt 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:38.240 and that fear and he stepped out. And notice 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.279 Peter didn't even have any money. He didn't offer 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:44.480 the man that was begging money. But what did 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.579 he have? He had hope. He had the Holy Spirit. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:51.619 He had power. And notice Peter spoke with authority 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:55.279 in Jesus' name. Get up and walk. And it's like 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.619 the kingdom of God just broke into our world 00:28:57.619 --> 00:29:01.779 and supernaturally changed this man. And friends, 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:05.420 when we step out, God honors our faithfulness 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:08.960 with abundance. Listen, it doesn't have to be 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:12.759 the miraculous either. It can be practical. Jesus 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:16.480 teaches us that truth in Matthew 25, verses 34 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:20.660 and 40. Then the king will say to those on his 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:25.099 right, come. You were blessed by my father. Inherit 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:27.519 the kingdom prepared for you from the creation 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:30.859 of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me. 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:34.319 I was thirsty. You gave me a drink. I was a stranger 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.900 and you invited me into your home. I was naked. 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:39.119 You gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.559 for me. I was in prison and you visited me. And 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:45.180 the king will say, I tell you the truth. When 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:48.119 you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:51.299 and sisters who were in need, you were doing 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:57.039 it. To me. See, stepping out, I believe, is simply 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:01.799 living a life of love. Living a life of obedience. 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:05.500 And what do I mean by that? Read the Bible and 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:09.759 apply it to your life. Pray. Serve others. Give 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:13.240 your time. Give your money and talents. Forgive 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:16.609 others. Live in community with others. See, when 00:30:16.609 --> 00:30:19.049 we start with that simple obedience, you know 00:30:19.049 --> 00:30:21.630 what happens? Change happens. Change happens 00:30:21.630 --> 00:30:24.710 in us, and then opportunities are presented to 00:30:24.710 --> 00:30:27.970 us by God. But friends, we have to step out, 00:30:28.029 --> 00:30:30.329 which leads us to our final step. You just then 00:30:30.329 --> 00:30:33.710 share the good news. Matthew 10, verse 7. Go 00:30:33.710 --> 00:30:37.289 and announce to them, the kingdom of heaven is 00:30:37.289 --> 00:30:40.410 near. Mark 16, 15. And then he told them, go 00:30:40.410 --> 00:30:43.450 into all the world, church, and preach the good 00:30:43.450 --> 00:30:47.759 news to everyone. And we have to understand the 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:51.059 gospel, the good news, it's not good advice. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:56.400 It's power. It brings hope to the hurting. It 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:58.880 brings forgiveness to the broken. And it brings 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:03.200 life to the lost. Good news that isn't being 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:05.680 shared, you know what happens? It stops being 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:08.640 good news. And my challenge to you this week 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:11.819 is let your walk, your relationship with Jesus 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:16.019 back up your talk, back up your testimony. Romans 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:19.960 chapter 10, verses 14 to 15. But how can they 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:22.640 call on him to save them unless they believe 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:26.059 in him? And how can they believe in him if they've 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:28.799 never heard about him? And how can they hear 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:32.099 about him unless someone tells them? And how 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:35.759 will anyone go and tell them without being sent? 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:41.420 Friends, there is someone in your life who needs 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:44.099 to hear what Jesus has done for you this week. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:48.759 I believe that. And remember, it's all about 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:53.579 you simply being available. And I want to challenge 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:57.059 you with this simple, short video. And I want 00:31:57.059 --> 00:32:01.480 you to watch about an unknown part of a career 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:06.240 of an NBA superstar named Steve Nash. Let's watch. 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:08.660 For those that don't know, in the early 2000s, 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:11.000 Steve Nash won back -to -back MVP titles, which 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:13.839 puts him in very rare company in the NBA. And 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:16.259 in the first year that Steve Nash won the NBA 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:20.400 MVP, he actually only led the league in two statistical 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:23.259 categories. The first, which most people would 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:26.900 guess, is assists. He liked to share the sugar. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.740 He liked to pass the pill. He liked to get other 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:30.960 people involved. Certainly the trait of a great 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:33.740 leader and a great teammate. But what most people 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:36.000 don't know is the second statistic that Steve 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:40.099 Nash led the NBA in that year were physical touches. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:44.519 I'm actually talking about high fives, fist bumps, 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:48.039 and pats on the backside. Now, you're probably 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:49.819 sitting there wondering, how could I possibly 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:52.720 know that Steve Nash led the NBA in high fives, 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:54.940 fist bumps, and pats on the backside? Well, the 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.819 Phoenix Suns, who Steve Nash played for at the 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:59.740 time, were so enamored with this study that they 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:02.779 hired a full -time intern to count just for Steve 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:06.140 Nash. In the first game that the intern counted 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:13.140 for Steve Nash, he delivered 239 high fives, 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:16.460 fist bumps, and pats on the backside in one game. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:22.670 239. He was a furnace of human connection. Now, 00:33:22.690 --> 00:33:24.690 in the game of basketball, where physicality 00:33:24.690 --> 00:33:27.289 is appropriate, it has been physiologically proven 00:33:27.289 --> 00:33:29.769 that you can transfer energy to another human 00:33:29.769 --> 00:33:32.670 being through physical touch. You can indeed 00:33:32.670 --> 00:33:35.029 raise someone's game with a well -placed high 00:33:35.029 --> 00:33:38.930 -five, fist bump, and pat on the backside. Just 00:33:38.930 --> 00:33:42.430 to make sure I'm clear, and certainly HR compliant, 00:33:42.670 --> 00:33:45.250 I'm not telling you guys to go patting each other 00:33:45.250 --> 00:33:47.750 on the backside when you go to lunch, or patting 00:33:47.750 --> 00:33:50.069 a customer on the backside when you leave their 00:33:50.069 --> 00:33:54.599 house. But here's what I am telling you to do. 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:58.000 I want you guys to get innovative and creative 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:01.059 in thinking of appropriate ways that you can 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:05.880 make the same type of emotional deposit. Wow. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:13.019 Simple. The same type of emotional deposit. All 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:15.710 you have to do is be available. All you have 00:34:15.710 --> 00:34:18.550 to do is open your eyes to see that the harvest 00:34:18.550 --> 00:34:22.530 is ripe, that people are in need. Our world is 00:34:22.530 --> 00:34:26.289 broken, full of doubt, full of shame, full of 00:34:26.289 --> 00:34:29.469 negativity, full of division. And we have the 00:34:29.469 --> 00:34:32.590 answer. We have the hope. We have the meaning 00:34:32.590 --> 00:34:36.869 that people are searching for. Will you step 00:34:36.869 --> 00:34:40.909 out? And my challenge to you, if you're in a 00:34:40.909 --> 00:34:44.639 relationship with Jesus, Who will hear the good 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:47.760 news through you this week? I believe God has 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:50.420 already highlighted someone in your mind or in 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:52.699 your spirit, and I want to challenge you. Step 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:55.619 out and share the good news this week. Invite 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:58.800 them to be a part of our community of faith next 00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:02.840 Sunday as we gather again in person. Now, when 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:08.599 I started this talk this morning, I shared with 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:12.539 you that some of you may not. Be in a relationship 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:15.760 with Jesus or wonder if you are in a relationship 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:20.639 with Jesus. And I could not leave this opportunity 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:24.579 without offering you that relationship, that 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:28.159 new life, that abundance. So yes, I may be speaking 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:31.519 to you through the internet or through YouTube 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:34.880 or however it is that you're listening. But by 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:40.119 praying these simple words and meaning it in 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:44.340 your heart, God can radically invade your life 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:49.239 and change you right now. Will you pray with 00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:56.300 me? Let's pray. Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of 00:35:56.300 --> 00:36:04.199 doubt, shame, regret, sin. Change me. I believe 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:09.440 you're God's son. I believe you died for me. 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:16.139 I believe you're alive today. Forgive me. Fill 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:20.480 me with your spirit. Fill me with your power. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:25.739 Help me, God, to serve others. In Jesus' name, 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:30.699 amen and amen. Now, if you prayed that prayer, 00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:34.360 reach out to me, text me, email me, so I can 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:37.380 respond to you and give you some next steps. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:40.159 on how to get plugged into our community of faith, 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:43.599 how to get baptized, how to be a part of a group 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:47.599 that will introduce you to what it means to follow 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:52.900 Jesus. HCV, thank you for logging in. Thank you 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:56.760 for tuning in and joining us. Share this broadcast 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:59.880 with your friends and your family. Challenge 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:04.099 them to get out of their seats, to move forward 00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:09.510 and be sent. That that is our word for the year. 00:37:09.670 --> 00:37:13.590 God, send me. Send me to the broken. Send me 00:37:13.590 --> 00:37:16.710 to the lost. Allow me to be a vessel of your 00:37:16.710 --> 00:37:19.889 kingdom to a hurting world. God bless you guys. 00:37:20.130 --> 00:37:22.989 I look forward to reconnecting with you in person 00:37:22.989 --> 00:37:26.409 next week and sharing a high five or maybe a 00:37:26.409 --> 00:37:29.659 pat on the backside with all of you. Have a great 00:37:29.659 --> 00:37:31.199 rest of your snowy Sunday.