1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,760 Welcome to Logan City Christian Church podcast where we bring God's Word to you weekly. 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:12,520 We pray what you hear will bring clarity to your situation and open doors in your life. 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:13,520 Enjoy the message. 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:26,600 Here we are today again and I just want to let a cat out of the bag what's going on. 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:32,760 You would probably have noticed that for some time now the content of the messages have 6 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,560 all been around relationships. 7 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,560 Have you noticed? 8 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:40,280 Yep. 9 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,200 And so there's been a reason for this. 10 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:52,720 We all know that at some time in God's time there is going to be a great outpouring of 11 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,280 the Holy Spirit on this land. 12 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:03,560 And we see the Church of Philadelphia, if you read carefully through and study what 13 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:10,800 is written in that chapter, you will see that that church is a church marked with revival, 14 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:17,880 an end time move of God that is coming. 15 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:23,760 The Church of Philadelphia is not restricted to just one congregation. 16 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:30,040 It's a kind of a fellowship that resemble the Church of Philadelphia. 17 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,760 They were marked with love. 18 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,560 They loved each other. 19 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,100 They fellowshiped with each other. 20 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:41,960 There was such a depth of unity amongst them. 21 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:49,520 And this is the church, that is the one that Jesus is coming back for, a church that is 22 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:58,340 truly honoring Jesus Himself, but not only the vertical relationship, because I believe 23 00:01:58,340 --> 00:02:04,040 to me that can be the easier one to get right. 24 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:11,300 We also need to have our horizontal relationships in order as well, to the best that we can. 25 00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:16,200 And so in these last few months, there have been, you know, I spoke about racism, how 26 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:26,480 it's not in God's Word, you know, how we treat one another, the absence of enmity, resolving 27 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:34,800 conflict without revenge being present, forgiveness, loving people. 28 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:40,440 You see, we can be praying and staying up through the nights, praying and believing 29 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:46,600 God for a move of the Spirit, and what a great thing it's going to be when this nation of 30 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:52,640 Australia is set alight by the Spirit of God, and there's going to be a day that this will 31 00:02:52,640 --> 00:02:54,460 come. 32 00:02:54,460 --> 00:03:00,040 But there's a lot more to it than praying. 33 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:08,120 God is looking for a people who will come together and believe together, to be in agreement 34 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:16,520 together, and the word in the Greek for agreement is symphony, that a symphony, every instrument 35 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,100 is different from the other. 36 00:03:19,100 --> 00:03:25,040 And some people, you know, playing those instruments, they're playing in a different chord, but 37 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:30,620 that chord is in unison with what else someone else is playing. 38 00:03:30,620 --> 00:03:36,260 And so within an orchestra, there is a harmony. 39 00:03:36,260 --> 00:03:43,840 There are many sounds and many different kinds of instruments that are all coming together 40 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:49,200 and making one unified sound. 41 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:55,680 And I believe that when the body of Christ, it doesn't need to be a great number, but 42 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:05,160 they come together all making one sound, one sound before the Lord, and that sound is love, 43 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:12,880 it's unity, it's that oneness, it's the agreement, and it's the ability to resolve conflict because 44 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,440 conflict is going to arise at times. 45 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,680 The Book of Acts, if you were to read carefully, you will notice that the Book of Acts was 46 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:31,520 in revival, the churches, they were in revival, and within that, they had conflict. 47 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:39,840 You know, conflict was not absent in revival, but something that they had was so important 48 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:45,120 that they established before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 49 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,760 And the thing was this, is that, you know, the Bible makes it very clear, stages that 50 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,600 we get right for God to move. 51 00:04:54,600 --> 00:05:01,560 So, one of the things that they did, they were all assembled together in the upper room 52 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,360 in one accord. 53 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:13,600 They had first established, reestablished the leadership structure in the upper room. 54 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:19,160 They needed to find who was going to be the replacement for Judas, that came first. 55 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:25,840 In the process, as the leaders in the upper room took charge, took authority and started 56 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:32,520 leading, then the others that were there, they just came together because, you know, 57 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:37,440 where there is leadership, there is direction. 58 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:44,720 And you know, leadership today, I believe, in many areas and walks of life is being attacked 59 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:52,560 and despised, I'm not saying here, but you know, over and about in a terrible way, an 60 00:05:52,560 --> 00:06:01,400 authority, that people in authority are being disrespected terribly. 61 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,680 But they didn't have that problem in the upper room. 62 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,200 They had things established. 63 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,840 They had the government established for the church to come, and then they had the people 64 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:20,400 together in one accord, and the Bible says that, and when they were in one accord, suddenly, 65 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,640 suddenly, there came a sound of a rushing mighty wind. 66 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:31,720 There we read where there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 67 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:38,160 The question that is always asked is that, but God would have, or the statement, regardless 68 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,100 whether they did or didn't, God was going to pour out at Pentecost anyway. 69 00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:43,880 Do we know that for sure? 70 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,240 You see, God needs people. 71 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,220 He needs us to do our bit. 72 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:55,840 He needs us to lay a foundation. 73 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:03,960 When we speak about the glory of God, the Hebrew word for the glory is kabod, and it 74 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:12,720 means the weightiness of God, and we are believing churches around the world for a visitation 75 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:19,960 of this weightiness of God, His glory, to come into houses of worship, and that we be 76 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:26,120 satellite and we go out into the marketplace, the highways and the byways, and begin to 77 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,480 spread this fire of the Holy Spirit as we go. 78 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:39,040 But do you know that there are biblical preparations before the kabod, the glory of God settles 79 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:44,560 in a place, if you were to read with Solomon the length that he went through, the detail 80 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:51,620 he went through in the temple, and when he had finished everything that the word had 81 00:07:51,620 --> 00:07:57,920 shown him to do, then they had the priests and the worship, and then God must have looked 82 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:03,320 from heaven and go, you know what, these people are honoring my word, they're honoring those 83 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:08,240 that I've placed in authority, and they're loving each other, and they've come together, 84 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:14,080 and the glory of God rested in the temple, and it says that even the priests could not 85 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,760 stand while they were trying to minister. 86 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:25,280 What I'm saying is this, is that yes, what a wonderful thing to believe God for an outpouring 87 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:34,400 of His Spirit to see this land change, to see Christ be honored and glorified in Logan, 88 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:40,000 in Brisbane, Australia, and around the world, and to see people come to Christ, the people 89 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:44,800 that are broken and need healing receive what they need from God. 90 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:50,400 I think that that is a wonderful thing, but I believe God is also at the same time with 91 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:56,640 prayer, believing and praying for revival, God saying, you know, I need my people to 92 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,560 get a foundation built here. 93 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:05,800 And that's where we've been, whether you've realized it or not, for months now, and that 94 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:20,880 is to build a culture of honor and respect for each other, to build this what we call 95 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:31,800 love, biblical love that we put each other, prefer others before ourself. 96 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:39,480 This is a very important thing, and this morning I'm going to pick up Romans chapter 12 from 97 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:45,000 verse 9, and I know some of you guys have been saying, can you please continue along 98 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,320 these lines, turning the other cheek and all that sort of thing, and how important that 99 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:50,320 is. 100 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,920 It really, really is. 101 00:09:52,920 --> 00:10:01,240 But as I read through these passages of Scripture, we will find that whether it's Apostle Paul, 102 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:07,320 Apostle Peter, or any of the others, they all keep this same thread throughout their 103 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:14,760 epistles, each and every one of them, and it is about each and every one of us doing 104 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:23,360 our part to build unity, to build an atmosphere of God in a congregation, wherever it may 105 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,900 be, in a home. 106 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:34,320 And it doesn't happen automatically, we need to be determined to see it happen and build 107 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,320 it in our lives. 108 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:43,480 And what we are seeing today, if you were to watch what is most popular on YouTube today, 109 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:49,880 not that I spend a lot of time there at all, but if you have a look at what is popular, 110 00:10:49,880 --> 00:11:00,000 it is this, is that how you can be better, you can have more, you can be greater, that 111 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:06,480 you are like a God yourself, and you this and you that, and what is happening today 112 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:13,640 in the modern preaching, in the modern church, is the opposite of what the apostles were 113 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:14,640 preaching. 114 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:24,800 You see, when they came and planted churches, their message was simply salvation and establishing 115 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:30,080 the church, the structure of the church, but one thing that was common through all of them 116 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:37,560 was this, is that number one, the flesh, our old nature must die, so that the new nature 117 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:45,280 in us, Christ himself can live, and then as we have laid down and in the process of laying 118 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:53,440 down our old ways, our old attitudes, all of those old things, and start to discover 119 00:11:53,440 --> 00:12:00,600 who lives inside of us and allow that new nature to start living, what happens there 120 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:07,200 is that, is why they were so successful, is from that new creation, there is a new way 121 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:15,400 of living, a way of love, forgiveness, of kindness, and all these things that we need 122 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:21,880 today because the devil does not need another move of God, let me tell you, and he is going 123 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:29,480 to do anything that he can to stop it, and I see one of the strategies that he has today 124 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:36,480 is to create friction in marriages, break marriages, to break families up, this is what 125 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:44,520 he is doing, to cause division in houses of God, and so if you reverse what he is doing, 126 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:49,400 we then see what the apostles preached, and that was that everyone lived from our new 127 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:54,440 nature and not from our old, is that making sense? 128 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:59,640 And so, you know, there is such a pursuit today, I will read this, I just feel to say 129 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:09,640 this, a modern day pursuit to want to be a prophet or an apostle, or a modern day pursuit 130 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:18,240 to want to move in all the gifts of the Spirit and to move in the power of God, and I want 131 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:23,400 to see miracles, and I want to experience this, and I want to travel the world and preach, 132 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:29,640 and I want to, I want to, I want to, you see it is no longer I that lives, but it is Christ 133 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:36,160 that lives in me, and unless we get what I am about to teach today, unless we get this 134 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:43,520 in biblical order, none of the other things are going to happen, and so God does not then 135 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:50,080 ordain things past our disobedience, in other words what I am saying, we can say well I 136 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:55,440 am not going to do that, I just want to go for the glory, I want to go for the power, 137 00:13:55,440 --> 00:14:00,040 I want to go through, you know, I want to be a star in lights and all these sort of 138 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:06,320 things around the world, and what good is it to anybody, even if they did climb their 139 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:14,960 own way up that ladder, to one day discover that it was worth nothing? 140 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:23,080 It's this here what I have been on and will be on today is one of the most powerful lessons 141 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:30,840 we can ever, ever digest and learn and take in and live is simply this, let me read from 142 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,440 Romans chapter 12 from verse 9, are you with me this morning? 143 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,120 Amen. 144 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:44,440 Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil and cling to what is good, and so 145 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:51,040 he says let love be without hypocrisy, you know the word hypocrisy was a word that they 146 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:58,280 used in the Greek language that was a play actor, so if a person, I mean I won't say 147 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:05,280 any names but just think of a very popular actor in the movies today, you got that person? 148 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:10,480 Well we call them an actor, in the time when this was written they would have been called 149 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:19,480 a hypocrite, and I'll tell you why, because a hypocrite was a person that play acted a 150 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:28,000 role that they really were not, and that same word is used now on the flip side as it's 151 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:36,680 saying don't, let love be without play acting, don't have an exterior to play act something 152 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:41,240 that you're really not yet inside, does that make sense? 153 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:46,080 And this is a very important part of this passage of scripture, you know you could imagine 154 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:51,800 at the Logie Awards and they call this person up and they say to the, this award goes to 155 00:15:51,800 --> 00:16:02,440 the best hypocrite and come on and get your Logie, but it's saying let love be without 156 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:10,040 hypocrisy, abhor, despise what is evil, cling to what is good, be kindly affectionate to 157 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:19,640 one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another, not lagging 158 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:32,680 in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient, patient, 159 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:43,520 patient, patient, is anyone here at times struggle with patience? 160 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:52,040 In tribulation, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the 161 00:16:52,040 --> 00:17:01,160 needs of the saints given to hospitality, bless those who persecute, you bless and do 162 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:09,400 not curse, it looks like we've done a circle and we're back again, so this word is bless 163 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:15,520 those who persecute, you ever been persecuted? 164 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:21,880 And we can push rewind right now and rewind to that time and just think how did I manage 165 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:22,880 that? 166 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,760 Did I bless them and what's this word bless? 167 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:34,200 It actually means to speak well of, it doesn't say to agree with them, it doesn't say that 168 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:42,640 you have to ignore what they're doing, it's saying that we got to be careful not to fall 169 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:51,720 into the trap of insult for insult, slander for slander and if we cannot say or think 170 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:57,760 of anything good to say, it's best to say nothing at all. 171 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:04,440 I remember reading in a book from Kenneth E. Hagen and he was speaking on about our 172 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:11,560 words and he was at a funeral service and he was asked to share or he was there and 173 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:18,600 somebody shared something about the eulogy and apparently the person that had passed 174 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,760 away, nobody liked him. 175 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:29,440 Apparently he was a mean, mean-spirited person that really caused grief into so many people's 176 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:35,920 lives and when this minister got up to say something, he thought, I wonder what he is 177 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,960 going to say and you know what he said? 178 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:49,120 I always liked his smile and he had nice teeth. 179 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,960 Now I bet you that many people were sitting there, I know what I really would like to 180 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,200 say. 181 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:03,400 Many times when you've done funeral services you'll know what I'm saying is true that leading 182 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:12,560 up to it, it's just like, oh dad, he was, and family just like, oh, I'm glad that I 183 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:17,240 won't have to put up with him and some horrible things that are being said and those same 184 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:22,560 people stand up on the podium to give their eulogy about the same person I heard two days 185 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:32,960 before and say, he was such a wonderful man. 186 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:41,840 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. 187 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:46,640 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 188 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,660 Be of the same mind toward one another. 189 00:19:49,660 --> 00:19:54,760 Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. 190 00:19:54,760 --> 00:20:00,120 Do not be wise in your own opinion. 191 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:06,600 This one to me is one of the big ones, one of the main players in what I believe they're 192 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:12,200 trying to bring out here, are bringing out in this scripture, being wise in one's own 193 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,060 opinion. 194 00:20:14,060 --> 00:20:23,040 The short answer to explain that is idolatry, that a person can be so wrapped in their opinion 195 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:31,280 that against what the word of God might say, they will stick to their opinion and it causes 196 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:35,320 a lot of trouble. 197 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:42,560 I heard it said once and I've said it from this pulpit before, opinions are like armpits, 198 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,120 they all stink. 199 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:55,900 What is true is that our opinions need to be laid down at the cross of Calvary and we 200 00:20:55,900 --> 00:21:02,480 pick up the truth of God's word, God's heart and God's mind. 201 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:11,180 You see, the word of God is so central to unity and if there are a husband and a wife 202 00:21:11,180 --> 00:21:17,920 or two people that are in disagreement, disagreeing over something, one will bring their case 203 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:22,200 and say this, that and the other and the other will bring their case and this, that and the 204 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,200 other. 205 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:29,840 See, it's not about what their story is and what they want, it's like okay, are you guys 206 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:38,760 prepared to come to the centre of God's word and this is what God's word says. 207 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:45,200 It's not what the left and the right are wanting, it's like can we come into agreement with 208 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:50,600 God's word and if we can come into agreement with God's word, that means that both parties 209 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:56,400 have to give something, have to come to the table and go okay, yes, I can surrender that, 210 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,760 I can see where I'm wrong and the other one can say, yeah, I didn't realise that and come 211 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:07,080 together because opinions can be some of the greatest strongholds formed in the minds of 212 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:15,800 people and they can be so damaging and so the word of God is so central to unity. 213 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:21,760 It says in verse 17, repay no one evil for evil. 214 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,400 Have we ever done that before? 215 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:31,340 You don't need to say anything or raise your hand, probably wise not to but repay no one 216 00:22:31,340 --> 00:22:37,720 evil for evil, in other words, if someone did you wrong, we don't devise a plan to pay 217 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:47,280 them back, turn the other cheek is to get on with life without revenge and so repay 218 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:52,800 no one evil for evil and that verse there is actually meaning that a person sits down 219 00:22:52,800 --> 00:23:02,320 and literally devises a plan of response to get them back, it's premeditated and nobody 220 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:03,480 wins. 221 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:10,480 If there is an argument or if there is division say in a marriage and nobody wants to shift, 222 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:14,960 how is that going to be resolved? 223 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,160 How is it going to be resolved? 224 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:25,920 The only way it can be resolved is to find what is central to unity and that is God's 225 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:26,920 word. 226 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:34,240 God, usually you find that at least one party has shifted from God's ways, sometimes both 227 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:41,320 and you get them back to that central point, that's when we see things happen. 228 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:46,420 He says have regard for good things in the sight of all men, in other words, let them 229 00:23:46,420 --> 00:23:49,600 see your character. 230 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:59,480 Now this verse 18 is a deep verse of scripture, deep passage, it says if it is possible as 231 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:07,200 much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 232 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:15,560 Now I've seen it happen and I've thought it myself in the middle of a crisis and used 233 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:22,880 this as an exit clause for being accountable to do my part to see something resolved. 234 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,680 So this is how this can be played out. 235 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:32,080 Well this is too tough and the Bible says if it is possible, it's not possible, so adios 236 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,400 amigo. 237 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,040 And that's not what this scripture is saying. 238 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:42,320 Have a listen to this because the power word here is the word depends. 239 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,600 If it is possible as much as depends on who? 240 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,080 No, you. 241 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,760 Don't blame me. 242 00:24:52,760 --> 00:25:02,000 You, us, it's not speaking about the person who may be persecuting you. 243 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:07,780 God's saying this depends on you, this depends on me. 244 00:25:07,780 --> 00:25:12,200 But what does that word depend actually mean? 245 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:22,160 It is very poorly translated in my opinion, but that word depends means this, out from 246 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,360 and to. 247 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:28,880 So out from and to. 248 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,840 But it goes deeper. 249 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:43,180 It means out of the depths of the source and extending to impact its object. 250 00:25:43,180 --> 00:25:45,000 Let me say that again. 251 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:52,920 As much as, sorry, if it is possible, as much as depends upon you, live peaceably with all 252 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:56,720 men, depends, that word depends, out from and to. 253 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:58,400 I'm going to explain it. 254 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:08,200 It means out of the depths of the source and extending to its impact on the object. 255 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:09,700 Here it is. 256 00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:12,920 So what it's saying out from, where is it coming out from? 257 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:17,000 Well it's actually saying out from the depths of the source. 258 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:24,360 This here is connected to Romans 12 chapter 1 where it says, I beseech you therefore brethren 259 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:31,440 by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable 260 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,600 to God which is your reasonable service. 261 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:40,760 And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind 262 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:47,080 that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. 263 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:52,880 In other words, Apostle Paul is saying this is the transformation that took place in your 264 00:26:52,880 --> 00:27:00,680 life and now that you have Christ in you, your hope of glory, you have something that 265 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:08,320 resides inside of you that when you and I come into a place of conflict from that source 266 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:14,200 that lives within us, that resource if you like, from that person, it needs to come out 267 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:20,080 from us and to impact the target that is persecuting you. 268 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,360 That's what that word means. 269 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:27,960 That's why it's saying, you know, I get their interpretation as much as depends upon you 270 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:34,440 and what it is saying is simply this, our responsibility is to know that when we are 271 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:44,920 being persecuted or being mistreated that we need to stop looking at us, I'm hurt, I'm 272 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:56,760 offended, I'm this, I'm sad, no, it's look at who is within you. 273 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:03,040 Greater is he that is in you than he that is of the world and that greatness extends 274 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,320 further than probably what we think. 275 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:11,680 There is an inner ability if you are truly saved, true Christian, that inner ability 276 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:19,880 that lives in you has an ability to transform relationships and we carry this around with 277 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:21,360 us every day. 278 00:28:21,360 --> 00:28:27,640 So what happens is if somebody is giving you a hard time, it's decision time to say am 279 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:36,920 I going to respond to this from my old nature or am I going to respond from within because 280 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:43,120 this depends upon me because I'm aware, we are aware that there is a source, there is 281 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:51,000 a person who lives in us that needs to impact the other party that is causing this problem. 282 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:52,720 Is that making sense? 283 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,840 Very, very important. 284 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,240 Beloved, do not avenge yourself. 285 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:03,120 Who's ever thought, oh man, I'll get them back, I'll give them a knuckle sandwich. 286 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:11,120 Have you ever thought of that? 287 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:18,760 I see some women shaking their heads and going whoa. 288 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:27,040 Go ladies, husbands, behave yourself. 289 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:35,000 Do not avenge yourself. 290 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:46,760 That is a work of the flesh to avenge ourself. 291 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:48,720 Have I ever experienced that? 292 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:56,400 I'm not going to tell you but I think you can work it out. 293 00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:00,640 But it says, but rather give place to wrath. 294 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:07,240 Now this doesn't mean that you lay yourself in harm's way. 295 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:14,440 That we don't, in an environment of abuse, it doesn't mean that you have to stay there. 296 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:20,720 That you have to, because you're a Christian that you have to cop it and because you know 297 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:27,160 you're suffering for Jesus that means that you have to stay and continually be abused 298 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:28,160 over and over. 299 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:32,680 That is not turning the other cheek. 300 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,480 That's not what it is. 301 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,600 It says here but rather give place to wrath. 302 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:45,600 That is actually meaning that don't avenge yourself. 303 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:51,480 But it doesn't mean that we can't position ourself to be able to handle it from the person 304 00:30:51,480 --> 00:31:01,080 who lives within and not from the one that lives from without, the old nature. 305 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:05,800 For it is written, vengeance is mine and I will repay says the Lord. 306 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:13,160 So who is the one that is saying that he will take care of it? 307 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,720 God himself. 308 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:22,720 Have you ever noticed that I, as a mechanic and I did mobile work for quite a number of 309 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:28,080 years and some of the hardest jobs to fix were jobs that people tried to do themselves 310 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:33,200 and you've got to go and fix what they didn't fix or broke or whatever. 311 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:40,520 And I tell you what happens a lot is that you start to fix it and they're giving you 312 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:46,040 all the commentaries as to what you were doing wrong. 313 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:54,800 And I would tell them, look I didn't call you, you called me to fix your car. 314 00:31:54,800 --> 00:32:03,340 So they'd lean over the bonnet and go, oh look, would you just, just don't touch it. 315 00:32:03,340 --> 00:32:08,200 Just give me some space to move and I'll fix it. 316 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:13,120 But I can't have you sticking your hand in there and as I'm doing things telling me that 317 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:20,080 doesn't belong there, that should be there and you know, I'm the tradesman. 318 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:24,960 I remember one guy, I upset him. 319 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:28,040 He'd be leaning over the bonnet because he eventually just thought, okay I'll keep out 320 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:29,580 of your way. 321 00:32:29,580 --> 00:32:37,560 And every time I did something he'd be going like this. 322 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:49,560 And I put this tools down, I said listen Skippy, if you don't get away from here. 323 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,640 I mean they can really annoy you. 324 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:57,120 You're just trying to do the job and you're kind of like doing a mate's rates because 325 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:02,520 well, he's not my mate, but you know, they, everyone wants everything for nothing. 326 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:06,320 Not everyone, but most. 327 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:12,560 So always sticking their hands in and interfering with what the tradesperson is trying to do. 328 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:17,360 The same as with us when we're trying to avenge ourself. 329 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:21,520 Leave it to the tradesperson that knows how to fix it. 330 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:25,680 Take your hands off it and don't avenge yourself. 331 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:34,880 Just go, okay, I've tried, it's not working, step back and say God, I can't fix this, but 332 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,480 you can. 333 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:41,880 I'm not going to avenge myself, but I'm going to leave it to you. 334 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:45,080 I'm going to leave it to the tradesman to fix this thing. 335 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:49,680 I'm not going to stick my hands in and try and help God in the process. 336 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:56,440 I'm not going to stall the restoration process by engaging myself in the middle between the 337 00:33:56,440 --> 00:34:03,160 person and God trying to tell God how we think he should do it. 338 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:10,000 You see, when we give something to God, we give it to him. 339 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:15,680 And you know, you give it to God and you step back and say, wow, that's a relief because 340 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:20,200 now it's in the hands of someone that knows what they're doing. 341 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:26,240 But if we're going in and fiddling with what God's doing, it'll never work. 342 00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:29,880 And you know what, you want to know what a problem can be with that is that I, and I 343 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:36,600 speak out of experience, unfortunately, is that we can prolong the process. 344 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:44,280 And then in our prayer, say God, why are you taking so long? 345 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:49,320 It's like he's saying, well, get out of my way. 346 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,440 Go fishing or something. 347 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:55,680 That's not a bad idea. 348 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,480 But there are times that we have to do some things. 349 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:03,800 There are times when we give it to God, we've got to give it to him and give him space, 350 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,640 let him know, let him do what he knows to do. 351 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:15,080 And if he needs your help, I'm sure he knows where to find you or me. 352 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:20,120 But we've got to give God that space. 353 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:24,640 In times of prayer, Lord, you've got to do something. 354 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:25,880 You've got to fix this. 355 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:29,280 You know, God doesn't have to do anything. 356 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:39,600 See, as much as depends upon us, sometimes human nature can go from being, you know, 357 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:44,480 loving people and being diligent, fervent in prayer and someone steps in our toes and 358 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,280 next thing you know, straight to the avenging. 359 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:50,160 Have I ever done that? 360 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:51,160 Yes, I have. 361 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,480 And most of us would probably say me too. 362 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:56,480 There is a process. 363 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:05,520 We've got to deal with opinions, idolatry of what we've established, how we expect things 364 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:14,680 to be, how I expect my life to be and handing it all over to God and let him orchestrate 365 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:21,280 our future and not tell him how we want our future to be. 366 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:28,600 And then it's talking about as much as depends upon you, the inner source that we have, the 367 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:36,400 mightiness of God, we are expected to like to diffuse this in the atmosphere that we 368 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:38,400 are in. 369 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:39,400 And that's it. 370 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:45,520 That's where it stops because God says, vengeance is mine. 371 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:49,400 And listen to this as we come to a close. 372 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:54,840 The Lord says, I will repay, says the Lord. 373 00:36:54,840 --> 00:37:00,360 Therefore because of this, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. 374 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:06,560 Now that is a test. 375 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:16,920 When it says your enemy, we need to make sure that that person, our enemy, is not a good 376 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:21,360 person that we've offended because you ever notice some people create crisis and then 377 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:27,080 they place themselves as the victim in their own crisis and they say you're the enemy 378 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,560 and you didn't do anything. 379 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:33,960 And then they use scripture to try and nail you down and we need to be careful we don't 380 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:34,960 do that. 381 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,560 Very, very careful. 382 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:44,560 Where it says your enemy, it's in the context that a person is coming against you, not you 383 00:37:44,560 --> 00:37:47,480 against them. 384 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:52,840 So the enemy there is, let's say, a person that is causing tribulation in your life, 385 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:57,440 tests and trials in your life. 386 00:37:57,440 --> 00:38:04,080 So in other words, as hard as they can make it for you, if you see that they are lacking 387 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:08,680 food, feed them. 388 00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:15,800 I remember sharing a story about this years ago when we did quite a few food parcels at 389 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:26,840 one time and some people just so appreciate the help that you give and this one person 390 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:31,640 was on the phone demanding in the office of the other church building we were in and I 391 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:38,640 want this and I want that and I want it now and so we went around and delivered this food 392 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:39,640 parcel. 393 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:45,480 They opened it and looked through it, don't like that, don't like that, don't like that, 394 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:46,480 don't like that. 395 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:51,880 I don't know, is there anyone here that was with me that day? 396 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:58,320 You saw a side of me that I don't think I sinned but I was very clear on what I was 397 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:04,000 doing. 398 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,720 I picked up the box. 399 00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:12,520 I saw I got the box, I said that's okay and I put it all back in and I walked out. 400 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:13,840 He said where are you going? 401 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:18,440 I said I'm going to give it to somebody who appreciates this. 402 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:22,160 Uh huh, you with me? 403 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:23,160 And guess what? 404 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:31,880 I get into the car and the Lord says give it back to them. 405 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:37,360 You got to be kidding me. 406 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:41,800 And I thought yep, I'll just go to the hardware and get a packet of rat sack and mix it in 407 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:43,600 there and just. 408 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:51,520 Yeah they were really mean, really, really mean. 409 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:58,480 And the Lord said no I want you to go back and give them that food. 410 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:02,880 That food is not a conditional gift. 411 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:07,760 They're hungry, feed them. 412 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:12,120 That's what was happening inside of here. 413 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:20,000 Very different to what was happening up here about 12 inches higher. 414 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:25,400 About a week or two later, I can't be sure on the time that same person rang back and 415 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:30,100 asked for another food parcel. 416 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:32,800 So we delivered it. 417 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:39,360 Totally different person and apologized. 418 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:42,840 I'm really sorry for my behavior. 419 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:44,760 Will you pray for me? 420 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:50,640 Now I can't remember if that person got saved that day but they did later down the track. 421 00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:58,400 How are we ever going to change the world when we have this entitlement to avenge ourselves? 422 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:02,080 Because that's what I was doing. 423 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:06,160 This person needed to see something different. 424 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:08,840 Something different to what they were used to. 425 00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:15,800 And I showed him the old me and God was saying I want you to draw from within you and diffuse 426 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:21,520 to them the greatest source that lives in you and that is the kindness of God. 427 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:23,040 The love of God. 428 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:28,680 Okay you can say whatever you like about me but I've come here, this is what I see now, 429 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:31,280 is to give you a gift from God. 430 00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:32,720 He loves you. 431 00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:37,520 What you do with it, what you like and don't like in there is totally up to you but here's 432 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:38,520 your gift. 433 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:40,520 See you later. 434 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:46,240 Now wouldn't that leave a better impression than the first? 435 00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:51,520 Oh I'm just, I learned so much out of this. 436 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:57,560 If he is thirsty, give him a drink. 437 00:41:57,560 --> 00:42:03,280 This is the test to see that there's no enmity left in us. 438 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:04,280 No revenge. 439 00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:05,280 No bitterness. 440 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:07,340 No like, you know what? 441 00:42:07,340 --> 00:42:12,120 Whatever this person may have done to me is totally irrelevant because restoration is 442 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:17,900 the primary objective here between them and me and whatever means God is going to use 443 00:42:17,900 --> 00:42:23,500 to accomplish this, I'm going to be open to it in Jesus name. 444 00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:28,200 So if they're thirsty, you know, avenging themselves, well I hope your tongue swells 445 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:32,240 up and you almost choke. 446 00:42:32,240 --> 00:42:37,960 Well that's a good Christian. 447 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:40,400 I'm avenging myself. 448 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:42,240 I'll give them some water. 449 00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:47,960 Now you may meet some people that are not hungry and are not thirsty but you may know 450 00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:53,800 that they have a need. 451 00:42:53,800 --> 00:43:06,240 I know a person very well that their ex-wife, it wasn't a good separation. 452 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:12,160 She was in need and who was the first person to help her? 453 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,940 The ex-husband. 454 00:43:15,940 --> 00:43:20,960 And bestowed gifts upon her so lavishly. 455 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:24,880 And it wasn't to get back together again. 456 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:26,520 It was a statement to say, you know what? 457 00:43:26,520 --> 00:43:27,520 It didn't work. 458 00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:33,080 But I don't hate you. 459 00:43:33,080 --> 00:43:37,760 I have no revenge towards you. 460 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:40,280 I just want to bless you. 461 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:43,240 How many of us can do that? 462 00:43:43,240 --> 00:43:46,960 You see that is a true test of forgiveness. 463 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:52,280 A true test. 464 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:58,200 And it finishes, do not be overcome by evil. 465 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:00,520 But overcome evil with good. 466 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:07,520 How are we ever going to change this world if we don't do this? 467 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:11,720 How are we ever going to do it? 468 00:44:11,720 --> 00:44:17,040 Like that guy at the food parcel, he must have had a couple of weeks just thinking, 469 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:20,080 I shouldn't have done that. 470 00:44:20,080 --> 00:44:24,160 I believe God was on his case. 471 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:26,320 And he turned around. 472 00:44:26,320 --> 00:44:34,880 We've seen many cases like that just through the food distribution alone. 473 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:40,640 People go through things, they go through hardship. 474 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:45,120 Sometimes you will be the only Jesus that they'll ever see in their life. 475 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:52,840 We've got to make sure that they see clearly who Jesus is in us. 476 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:53,840 No judgment. 477 00:44:53,840 --> 00:44:54,840 No criticism. 478 00:44:54,840 --> 00:45:03,320 A hand up and a hand out. 479 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:10,920 We dig into our own pockets and help those that are in need. 480 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,640 Person said to me one day, I've never had God ask me to do that. 481 00:45:13,640 --> 00:45:15,120 I said, he shouldn't have to. 482 00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:17,560 I said, how do you know that? 483 00:45:17,560 --> 00:45:23,320 Because I was in your position once too. 484 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:26,560 About being generous, God is extremely generous. 485 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:30,360 Folks, can you see it? 486 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:40,800 When we develop this culture, the kingdom culture of God in an assembly, it becomes 487 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:47,480 so tight, the devil can't get in anywhere. 488 00:45:47,480 --> 00:45:53,360 Because one would think to the other, brother, you must be having a hard day. 489 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:54,800 I'm not going to take offense. 490 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:57,400 In fact, come on, let's go out for lunch. 491 00:45:57,400 --> 00:46:03,040 It's bothering you rather than taking offense. 492 00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:08,520 How good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity. 493 00:46:08,520 --> 00:46:14,560 It is like it talks about the oil that runs down the beard of Aaron over the clothing. 494 00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:19,520 And it says it is like the dew at Mount Hermon. 495 00:46:19,520 --> 00:46:25,200 You know, Mount Hermon, where they grew these grapes, it didn't rain much there at all. 496 00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:27,720 Yet they produced such a bumper crop. 497 00:46:27,720 --> 00:46:29,080 So where did the water come from? 498 00:46:29,080 --> 00:46:31,320 It was the dew fall. 499 00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:38,960 The dew fall was that heavy, it kept the plants going in such arid country. 500 00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:41,840 So why is unity like dew fall? 501 00:46:41,840 --> 00:46:44,160 What's the connection? 502 00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:49,720 Unity being together, building an atmosphere, a culture of unity. 503 00:46:49,720 --> 00:46:53,760 Why is that like dew fall and why is it so important? 504 00:46:53,760 --> 00:47:06,040 Do you know that dew, if you have a stormy night or a windy night or the weather is not 505 00:47:06,040 --> 00:47:11,440 settled, you'll go to your car in the morning and there won't be any dew on your car. 506 00:47:11,440 --> 00:47:14,280 Have you ever noticed that? 507 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:22,040 But when the elements are right and it's a calm night, a clear night, there'll be heavy 508 00:47:22,040 --> 00:47:24,680 dew on your car. 509 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:27,480 And the same thing is, this is what this is saying. 510 00:47:27,480 --> 00:47:33,960 It is like the dew of hermony, unity, dwelling together. 511 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:42,280 When we get this, this calmness, this, the absence of strife and the absence of turmoil, 512 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:46,680 the dew from heaven will fall on a people. 513 00:47:46,680 --> 00:47:56,440 And the Holy Spirit knows what to do, but He wants us to cultivate an atmosphere of 514 00:47:56,440 --> 00:48:04,400 peace and unity in every marriage, in every relationship, in every gathering that we go 515 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:05,640 to. 516 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:15,320 And as much as depends upon us, knowing what we do have, we need to diffuse that source 517 00:48:15,320 --> 00:48:19,560 from within to where it needs to go. 518 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:23,320 In Jesus' name, amen. 519 00:48:23,320 --> 00:48:29,600 Now if you're here today and you have not yet truly made Christ as your personal Lord 520 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:36,000 and Savior, or you had at some time and you've wandered away, I want to give you an opportunity 521 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:40,580 this morning to make your peace with God again. 522 00:48:40,580 --> 00:48:46,120 Is there anybody here this morning that you know that this is what I need? 523 00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:48,360 It's what you need. 524 00:48:48,360 --> 00:48:50,720 Can we all just stand as I close? 525 00:48:50,720 --> 00:48:57,960 If you're able, if you're not able to stand, please just feel comfortable to sit. 526 00:48:57,960 --> 00:49:02,680 So I'm going to lead you in a prayer of salvation. 527 00:49:02,680 --> 00:49:10,920 And I ask that you would truly consider what I'm saying now, and that is to surrender your 528 00:49:10,920 --> 00:49:13,200 life to Jesus. 529 00:49:13,200 --> 00:49:17,840 Give your life to Him today and live for Him. 530 00:49:17,840 --> 00:49:25,320 If you are going through crisis and relationship problems and you know, Jesus is a good way 531 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:27,440 in your life to get the first steps rolling. 532 00:49:27,440 --> 00:49:31,160 I tell you, it's where it all starts, with Him. 533 00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:38,920 And so I'm going to pray a prayer, a short prayer, that if you really, I'm going to say 534 00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:42,240 want this, it's what we all need. 535 00:49:42,240 --> 00:49:45,000 Would you follow me in prayer? 536 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:46,000 In Jesus' name. 537 00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:47,000 Are you ready? 538 00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:52,680 If we can bow our heads and close our eyes before the Lord, would you repeat after me, 539 00:49:52,680 --> 00:49:59,880 Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. 540 00:49:59,880 --> 00:50:10,600 I believe in my heart and I confess with my mouth that you, Jesus, are the Son of God 541 00:50:10,600 --> 00:50:15,520 and you died for me. 542 00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:24,680 I ask you to forgive me all of the things I've done wrong in my life and receive me 543 00:50:24,680 --> 00:50:27,680 into your family. 544 00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:32,000 Amen. 545 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:33,480 Thank you for joining us. 546 00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:36,240 We pray God's richest blessing on your life. 547 00:50:36,240 --> 00:50:40,820 If you haven't already, make sure to join us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. 548 00:50:40,820 --> 00:50:44,500 You can also find us at LoganCityChristianChurch.com. 549 00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:58,440 See you next week.