1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,600 I just want to say welcome, welcome to, if you're new to this space, extra special welcome to you. 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:10,560 I'll come back to you in a second. We got to welcome some special people across screens today. 3 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:19,600 We have Balden, not Paulden, and Baghdad. Baghdad, we love you. We're glad that you're with us. 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:27,200 Paulden, Mike and Sue, just love to you guys and what you guys are doing. There's also Darryl and 5 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:33,280 Wilhoyt and Teresa in Birmingham, Alabama. It just felt right to say hi to Alabama, right? So, 6 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:41,280 we're just glad that we get to do this together. Welcome. We are glad that you are here. Here's 7 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:49,360 what I mean by that. There's no one that takes it lightly that you being here isn't a sacrifice of 8 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:57,200 time, energy. There's many, many other places you could be. And so, for you to entrust kind of to 9 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:04,960 us as a church family, especially if you're new, to go, hey, I will give you this. I just want you to 10 00:01:04,960 --> 00:01:10,800 know that that's an honor and we don't take that lightly. And what I hope that you find is that 11 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:17,600 this feels like home. And for those of you that are here and you look kind of like the furniture, 12 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:22,000 because you've been around a little while, it's home, right? That's how this feels and it should 13 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:27,600 feel. And so, welcome. Glad you're here. Because it is family and it is home, I'm going to do 14 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,080 something. I got to get my table right here. And so, you guys can just listen to me as I walk. 15 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:39,520 But I have something that I need to say to a group of people in the room. And Walt, you're leading 16 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:45,520 the parade down front with your bright red shirt on, with a big old KC logo on the front. 17 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:50,400 Go Chiefs, huh, Walt? Well, here's what I got to do, because we're family. 18 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:57,040 I got to give you props, Chiefs fans. You deserve it. I have been so hard on you guys for weeks 19 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,840 and you did it. You pulled it off. You're setting history. How can you not give props to people 20 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,760 that are setting history, right? And for those of you that don't care, you can just blank out for a 21 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:15,440 second, right? But the fact that you won 12 games by a score of one point, that's a big 22 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:21,280 score or less this season alone. You know how to finish games. Well done. Congratulations. 23 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:32,640 Bill's fans, I am so sorry. Six times in the game, you could not get one yard. Come on. Come on. 24 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,760 It's painful. Painful. We feel your pain. But enough football talk. We're done with football 25 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,520 talk. You'll be happy to know. Well, maybe, sort of. We'll see. See what happens. 26 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:48,800 So, here's the thing. We are starting a new collection of talks that will run seven weeks. 27 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:55,920 And here's what I'm asking of you. Here's what we are asking of you. 28 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,920 That you would give your calendar and your commitment to the next seven weeks. 29 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:09,840 And here's why. Because we believe that it is this important. The journey we are about to embark on, 30 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:16,560 we are calling the critical journey. That language is not mine. I did not come up with it. 31 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,080 That is, this information, if you're wondering where does it come from, I want to give honor. 32 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,800 Where honor is due is from a book called The Critical Journey. The people that wrote it, 33 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:32,640 Janet Hagberg and Robert Gulish, like they are brilliant. But what they have done is they have 34 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:39,920 mapped what does it mean to be human and what does it mean how is a human formed spiritually. 35 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:48,320 So, this entire seven weeks is talking about what you were made for by God. That when they 36 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:57,120 researched and they looked at kind of human nature across religions, how is the human soul formed? 37 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:03,680 How is what you have been given by God? How are you developed? How do you grow? How do you mature? 38 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,840 And so, what we're going to talk about is we're going to talk about different stages, one each 39 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:12,480 week. When you hear the word stage, if you're like me, I cringe, I hate things that kind of 40 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:18,720 go linear. This is not linear. Stage is merely a way to map different points on the journey. 41 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:25,520 Our hope is this. This is our goal for every single person, both in this Prescott location, 42 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,920 across screens, wherever you happen to find this, whenever you are listening to this. 43 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:38,080 Here's our hope is that you are able to go, this is my home base, meaning this is the frame I am in 44 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:45,760 of growth. This is the stage of growth that I am in. This is my home base. And you can take ownership 45 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:51,360 because you know how the human soul is formed, that you can take ownership to step forward into 46 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:59,920 your next kind of process of growth. The goal is this, that you're empowered, you're empowered, 47 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:05,280 and the word that we're capturing around this is to mature. Right? In Ephesians, Paul talks to the 48 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:10,400 church there and he says, the goal of all of this is that you would mature in your life, that you 49 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:15,440 would mature to the fullness of Jesus Christ. What does that mean in common language? That you would 50 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:21,600 look, live, and love a whole lot like Jesus as you mature like him. And so the hope is this, that over 51 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:28,400 the next seven weeks, you get to take ownership of your journey. Why? Because there's too many people 52 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:34,720 expecting others to do for them what they can only do for themselves. And this is a gift. Hopefully 53 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:40,400 it's a gift. And so here's what I'm asking. Would you commit your calendar? Would you commit your 54 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:46,320 calendar? Would you commit your calendar? What do I mean by that? Be at gatherings, be at gatherings 55 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:53,200 for the next seven weeks. Don't skip them. Right? I'm asking that you would make a commitment to go, 56 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,760 hey, we are going to show up because it's this important. It's the critical journey. It's the 57 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:03,600 greatest journey you'll ever take. It's the most meaningful journey you'll ever be on. I would say 58 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:08,800 along with that, would you also give your calendar, if you are in a life group, would you give your 59 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:13,760 calendar to life group? Would you make sure that you show up? Why? Because life groups, most of 60 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,120 them are going to be talking about this. If you're not in a life group, can you commit your calendar 61 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:23,360 to go, hey, I'm going to pick one person and I'm going to go talk to them about it over coffee 62 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:29,840 one time for the next seven weeks, each week. If you happen to miss a gathering, because life happens, 63 00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:34,640 right? We're all busy. We all got stuff. If you miss a gathering, would you commit to, I will go back 64 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:41,040 and listen and catch up because it's that important. And so this critical journey that we're on, 65 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:47,600 I'm asking, would you commit your calendar and would you commit to make sure that if you can't 66 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:54,160 be there physically, that you figure out how to go on the interwebs as they are and figure it out. 67 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:57,140 Deal? 68 00:06:57,140 --> 00:07:07,140 Okay. That's on you now because you clapped. Just saying. Just kidding. Just kidding. Here's another 69 00:07:07,140 --> 00:07:13,540 context to put that in. So I have four daughters, my oldest daughter, Rylan. When she was born, 70 00:07:14,820 --> 00:07:20,260 important for you to know, she was two weeks late. Why is that important? Because my wife is five 71 00:07:20,260 --> 00:07:25,380 foot nothing. Okay. And I'm not being mean. She's literally five foot nothing. How do I know? We were 72 00:07:25,380 --> 00:07:28,980 in Walmart once and we were having an argument about her height and I took a tape measure out. 73 00:07:28,980 --> 00:07:35,860 Right? So I know she's five foot nothing. Now, five foot nothing and two weeks late, 74 00:07:37,860 --> 00:07:43,380 you can imagine everything went out the front because she tiny. Right? And so if you were 75 00:07:43,380 --> 00:07:47,060 looking at her this way, you're like, oh, you're, you're pretty pregnant. She would turn this way 76 00:07:47,060 --> 00:07:52,500 and you're like, whoa. Right? So much so that the night before we went to the hospital, when she was 77 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:56,980 going to be induced, I got out, you know, remember those things called camcorders, right? And so I 78 00:07:56,980 --> 00:08:01,540 got out the Sony camcorder and I'm like, babe, we got to capture this. Right. And so, so I'm like, 79 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:06,820 okay, okay. Face me. And so she faced me. And now I'm like, okay, turn sideways. And she turned 80 00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:12,820 sideways and I go, you look like an alien. We'll do a marriage conference later about that one, 81 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:19,300 cause I'm lucky to be alive and still married. So, but, but, but we go into the hospital and 82 00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:24,500 praise the Lord, everything goes as it should. Rylan is born. And so we're going through the new 83 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:30,020 parent phase where I like, like just everything she did is, is that normal? We're asking the nurses. 84 00:08:30,020 --> 00:08:34,100 And then there comes that moment when the nurses are like, okay, we're going to let you go. Now you 85 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:38,900 go home. And so then they're like all over you. Right? Like I was so nervous. I'm buckling Rylan 86 00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:42,900 into the car seat and they're watching everything I'm doing. Like every latch it's clicking, make 87 00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:47,540 sure it's they're tugging on it. And I'm like, okay, good. I got that part done. Go downstairs, 88 00:08:47,540 --> 00:08:51,620 put her into the rocket, you know, that we're going to drive away in. And, and they watch you 89 00:08:51,620 --> 00:08:55,380 all the way to the car. And then they closed the door. And I remember driving away and going, 90 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:03,700 wait, you're not coming with us. Like I got to be responsible for this thing, not to die. Like what, 91 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:08,580 what happened? So you get home and you begin to figure it out and you go through the baby stage. 92 00:09:08,580 --> 00:09:12,660 Right. And then, and the baby stage can't wait for them to crawl. And then they crawl and you're like, 93 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:16,500 okay, you can stop moving. Cause I am tired of chasing you and telling you not to touch stuff. 94 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:20,420 Right. And that doesn't stop that carries on all the way through their life now. Cause they started 95 00:09:20,420 --> 00:09:26,020 moving. And so, you know, she's crawling, then she gets to walk and, and you know, it's the 96 00:09:26,020 --> 00:09:30,900 wibble wobble at first, and then she's walking good. And then she's in that toddler stage where 97 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:36,420 if you have toddlers, God bless you, you will make it through. Just keep going. Right. And so you got 98 00:09:36,420 --> 00:09:41,620 toddlers and they're the cutest things, but they're also like little hellions, if we're honest. Right. 99 00:09:41,620 --> 00:09:46,020 Like, so, so you got the toddler thing happening, then they become kids, right. They, they develop 100 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:49,940 into kids and now they're going to school and they're learning so much. And it's like, the, 101 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:55,140 the world is wonder and they see everything through wonder and awe. And then they become preteens and 102 00:09:55,140 --> 00:09:59,460 you begin to pray that Jesus will come back. And then they hit teenagers and you really pray that 103 00:09:59,460 --> 00:10:04,500 Jesus will come back. No offense to the teenagers in the front, but like, like that's just reality. 104 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:11,060 And then they turn into young adults and then they go to college. How weird would it have been 105 00:10:11,060 --> 00:10:19,860 if I showed up to Ryland's dorm in college with baby food and I'm like, Hey, I'm here. I'm here 106 00:10:19,860 --> 00:10:26,100 to feed you because you never learned how to do it. And you guys be like, wow, you guys miss some 107 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:33,540 stuff, right? Because in the, in the natural process of growth, there are stages that are critical 108 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:40,420 and you don't do in college, what you do for a newborn, that would be weird. And yet when it 109 00:10:40,420 --> 00:10:47,060 comes to the spiritual journey of how we're formed, right. So many of us are in college 110 00:10:47,060 --> 00:10:53,060 and we're acting like babies or we're a baby and we're trying to pretend we're in college. 111 00:10:53,700 --> 00:10:59,140 And what hopefully you get over this time is you get this really clear. This is what it looks like 112 00:10:59,140 --> 00:11:07,060 to form the human spirit. This is how God designed us. And in a fallen context, this is what it looks 113 00:11:07,060 --> 00:11:14,180 like. This is the struggle that we will all go through. But, but with going back to the physical 114 00:11:14,180 --> 00:11:21,780 sense, if Ryland had not been born, she would never have gone through the other stages. There's a 115 00:11:21,780 --> 00:11:32,180 critical piece to the journey that is about being born. The first stage of this journey is recognition 116 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:40,740 of God. You have to have recognition of God in our context, in our, in our conversations. You have to 117 00:11:40,740 --> 00:11:48,660 know the person of Jesus. How did Jesus talk about it? In John chapter three, John chapter three, 118 00:11:48,660 --> 00:11:55,700 John chapter three, Jesus meets a man named Nicodemus and says, now in verse one, now there 119 00:11:55,700 --> 00:12:03,860 was a Pharisee. So he's a teacher, right? He's a teacher of the Jewish scriptures. And on top of 120 00:12:03,860 --> 00:12:09,300 that, it says that his name is Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. So he's not 121 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:15,940 only a teacher, but he's a high up. Like, like this is a person who knows what he knows. He's in charge 122 00:12:15,940 --> 00:12:22,820 of areas. He's ruling over, so to speak. He came. So Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and said, 123 00:12:22,820 --> 00:12:29,300 rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God for no one could perform the signs you 124 00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:37,380 are doing if God were not with him. So he specifically comes and he has recognition of God. 125 00:12:37,380 --> 00:12:45,780 And he says, because, because of that, we know that we need to recognize you for what you are 126 00:12:45,780 --> 00:12:52,740 doing and who you are doing it from. Verse three, Jesus replied, very truly, I tell you, no one can 127 00:12:52,740 --> 00:13:00,260 see the kingdom of God. No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are, what's that next word? 128 00:13:00,260 --> 00:13:09,620 Born unless they are born again. To which then Nicodemus says, how can someone be born again 129 00:13:09,620 --> 00:13:13,140 when they are old? Nicodemus asked, surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's 130 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:18,900 womb to be born. Jesus answered, very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless 131 00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:26,180 they are born of water and the spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to 132 00:13:26,180 --> 00:13:32,500 spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again. The wind blows wherever 133 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:38,340 it pleases. You hear it sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is 134 00:13:38,340 --> 00:13:46,820 everyone born of the spirit. So, so Jesus, in explaining to a man who understood the scriptures 135 00:13:47,380 --> 00:13:54,580 of the time, he says that it's critical, critical that a human being is born again. 136 00:13:54,580 --> 00:14:01,700 And he specifically gives the work of being born again to the Holy Spirit of God, 137 00:14:02,660 --> 00:14:09,060 that your soul, my soul needs to have a moment where we've experienced physical birth. That's 138 00:14:09,060 --> 00:14:15,540 why we're here, right? Now, now that you're here, there needs to be a moment because we are born 139 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:22,900 into a fallen state. We're born into a state that is not yet fully fully fully fully fully fully 140 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:28,180 fully fully alive. In this state, we're all born again. We're born into a state that is 141 00:14:28,180 --> 00:14:34,180 dead to God. And so in the reality of being dead to God, what you need, what I need, what every human 142 00:14:34,180 --> 00:14:40,100 needs as a moment when the Holy Spirit of God makes you alive, there's a moment where it's 143 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:48,100 only a work that the Holy Spirit can do, that the Holy Spirit has to has to come into you and ignite 144 00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:51,580 that it's not something you can force, 145 00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:53,380 which is why Nicodemus is asking, 146 00:14:53,380 --> 00:14:55,880 because Nicodemus, he's doing all the things, 147 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:57,460 he's keeping all the laws, 148 00:14:57,460 --> 00:15:00,420 he's got a resume of how good he is, so to speak. 149 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:03,540 And in this moment, what happens is Jesus goes, 150 00:15:03,540 --> 00:15:04,620 it's not about that, 151 00:15:04,620 --> 00:15:07,700 it's about you being born by the Spirit of God. 152 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:11,120 It's a moment when you're made alive. 153 00:15:12,540 --> 00:15:15,260 For me, it was sitting on the couch 154 00:15:15,260 --> 00:15:18,820 with my mama at three years old, from what I can remember. 155 00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:22,260 And at three years old, it went something like this. 156 00:15:22,260 --> 00:15:25,260 I'm sure it was much different from my mom's perspective, 157 00:15:25,260 --> 00:15:28,900 but in my mind, it went, heaven is awesome, 158 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,660 hell is terrible, where do you want to go? 159 00:15:33,580 --> 00:15:36,860 I must have been smart enough to go, heaven sounds great. 160 00:15:36,860 --> 00:15:38,500 And she said, well, you need Jesus. 161 00:15:39,820 --> 00:15:42,260 And at that moment, there was a moment 162 00:15:42,260 --> 00:15:46,380 when I made a choice to go, I am giving my life 163 00:15:46,380 --> 00:15:49,580 and trust to Jesus for eternity. 164 00:15:50,900 --> 00:15:52,980 And I was three years old. 165 00:15:52,980 --> 00:15:55,940 There needs to be a moment in your life 166 00:15:55,940 --> 00:15:59,660 where you have given your life, so to speak, 167 00:15:59,660 --> 00:16:03,460 you have said yes to the gift of Jesus. 168 00:16:03,460 --> 00:16:05,460 This Jesus who we just sang about, 169 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:07,020 that died and conquered death, 170 00:16:07,020 --> 00:16:10,460 this Jesus that carried your sin, that took your worst, 171 00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:15,060 there needs to be a moment when that becomes reality 172 00:16:15,060 --> 00:16:17,340 for you where you go, that is where my trust is. 173 00:16:17,340 --> 00:16:19,100 And it's at that moment that the Holy Spirit 174 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:22,500 makes you alive and you are born again. 175 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:25,980 But there has to be a moment when you go, 176 00:16:25,980 --> 00:16:28,380 I know that happened, I know that happened. 177 00:16:30,380 --> 00:16:33,980 There's another story in Acts chapter nine, 178 00:16:33,980 --> 00:16:37,740 and you'll hear me go back and forth between Saul and Paul. 179 00:16:37,740 --> 00:16:39,380 Paul, if you've been around church, 180 00:16:39,380 --> 00:16:42,460 Paul's the one that's written a lot of the letters 181 00:16:42,460 --> 00:16:44,860 in the New Testament, so we talk about Paul a lot 182 00:16:44,860 --> 00:16:47,100 because he wrote letters to churches. 183 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:49,300 Before being Paul, before his name changed, 184 00:16:49,300 --> 00:16:53,260 his name was Saul, and we pick up where his name is Saul. 185 00:16:53,260 --> 00:16:54,740 So meanwhile, verse one, 186 00:16:54,740 --> 00:16:58,580 meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats 187 00:16:58,580 --> 00:17:00,740 against the Lord's disciples. 188 00:17:00,740 --> 00:17:04,540 He went to the high priest and asked him for letters 189 00:17:04,540 --> 00:17:08,180 to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found anyone 190 00:17:08,180 --> 00:17:11,220 there who belonged to the way, whether men or women, 191 00:17:11,220 --> 00:17:13,820 he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 192 00:17:13,820 --> 00:17:18,580 So Saul is actively pursuing, when it says the way, 193 00:17:18,580 --> 00:17:20,860 those are followers of Jesus, those are Christians, 194 00:17:20,860 --> 00:17:22,380 those are churches, right? 195 00:17:22,380 --> 00:17:26,580 He's actively pursuing them with an intent of, 196 00:17:26,580 --> 00:17:28,620 we're gonna arrest you and put you to death. 197 00:17:28,620 --> 00:17:30,580 The chapter before, he's been a part 198 00:17:30,580 --> 00:17:34,460 of physically murdering Christians, right? 199 00:17:34,460 --> 00:17:37,780 So what happens in this moment is you have a man 200 00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:40,220 on the road to Damascus, he's going to Damascus, 201 00:17:40,220 --> 00:17:43,020 he's got permission from the God people, 202 00:17:43,020 --> 00:17:43,860 you know what I mean? 203 00:17:43,860 --> 00:17:46,940 And he is now on his way with that permission, 204 00:17:46,940 --> 00:17:49,620 and he is gonna go and arrest whoever he finds. 205 00:17:50,620 --> 00:17:53,180 I wanna pause for a minute because sometimes 206 00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:57,260 we can paint ourselves in a picture 207 00:17:58,820 --> 00:18:02,180 that we're unworthy of what Jesus has done for us. 208 00:18:02,180 --> 00:18:04,380 Like John, if you knew my story, 209 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:06,020 if you knew how bad I really was, 210 00:18:06,020 --> 00:18:08,020 if you knew the things I'd really done. 211 00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:12,260 And so we paint this kind of picture of ourselves 212 00:18:12,260 --> 00:18:16,420 that puts us on the outside, that we're unworthy. 213 00:18:17,460 --> 00:18:19,820 Maybe even martyrdom comes in that. 214 00:18:22,260 --> 00:18:24,540 I love that this story's here, you know why? 215 00:18:25,580 --> 00:18:29,460 He is actively murdering Christians, 216 00:18:29,460 --> 00:18:31,540 God's people, in the name of God. 217 00:18:33,260 --> 00:18:35,420 Now I'm pretty sure that no one in the church right now 218 00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:39,020 has murdered Christians in the name of God. 219 00:18:41,580 --> 00:18:46,580 I'm pretty sure you're not, like, can I just encourage you 220 00:18:48,220 --> 00:18:51,100 that Paul later says I'm the worst of the worst, 221 00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:52,860 and Jesus has done this for me? 222 00:18:54,420 --> 00:18:57,660 Can I just let you know that no matter how you sit today, 223 00:18:57,660 --> 00:19:00,020 no matter what you think is your barrier, 224 00:19:00,020 --> 00:19:03,820 no matter what you think you have done that is so bad, 225 00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:06,420 it is not greater than what Jesus has done for you. 226 00:19:08,620 --> 00:19:12,740 And so Saul, who's going in the name of God, 227 00:19:12,740 --> 00:19:13,580 it says in verse three, 228 00:19:13,580 --> 00:19:15,420 as he neared Damascus on his journey, 229 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:17,580 suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 230 00:19:17,580 --> 00:19:20,260 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 231 00:19:20,260 --> 00:19:22,660 Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 232 00:19:24,060 --> 00:19:29,060 Who, look at this question, who are you, Lord? 233 00:19:29,060 --> 00:19:31,540 I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, he replied. 234 00:19:31,540 --> 00:19:32,780 Now get up, go into the city, 235 00:19:32,780 --> 00:19:34,420 and you will be told what you must do. 236 00:19:34,420 --> 00:19:39,420 Wait, so this is a man who is on his way to do God's work. 237 00:19:40,020 --> 00:19:41,740 He is believing and convinced 238 00:19:41,740 --> 00:19:43,780 that he is doing the very work of God. 239 00:19:43,780 --> 00:19:47,180 Maybe different language for that is he is busy for God. 240 00:19:48,220 --> 00:19:50,460 Right, he is doing all this in the name of God. 241 00:19:50,460 --> 00:19:52,340 He's on the road, the light comes, 242 00:19:52,340 --> 00:19:54,500 and his question is when Jesus speaks to him, 243 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:56,180 he goes, who are you? 244 00:19:57,300 --> 00:20:00,740 Which is amazing that you can be busy for God 245 00:20:00,740 --> 00:20:02,820 and not know who God is. 246 00:20:02,820 --> 00:20:05,580 You can be actively busy for God. 247 00:20:05,580 --> 00:20:08,140 You can be giving your life to the things of God 248 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:11,940 and never had a moment where you actually met God, 249 00:20:11,940 --> 00:20:14,060 where you actually met Jesus. 250 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:19,900 You can be doing the things of God 251 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:24,220 and in the midst of that, never had a moment 252 00:20:24,220 --> 00:20:26,940 when God has changed you. 253 00:20:28,340 --> 00:20:30,420 And what you get from Paul here, 254 00:20:30,420 --> 00:20:32,140 as you get to man, he's busy. 255 00:20:32,140 --> 00:20:33,260 He's out working. 256 00:20:33,260 --> 00:20:35,220 He thinks he's doing things for God. 257 00:20:35,220 --> 00:20:36,940 He thinks he's in alignment with God. 258 00:20:36,940 --> 00:20:40,140 And Jesus shows up and goes, you don't even know me. 259 00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:42,820 Which reminds me in Matthew chapter seven, 260 00:20:45,340 --> 00:20:49,540 Matthew chapter seven, Jesus is giving a talk on a mountain. 261 00:20:50,380 --> 00:20:51,580 And in verse 21, he says this, 262 00:20:51,580 --> 00:20:55,140 not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, 263 00:20:55,140 --> 00:20:57,060 will enter the kingdom of heaven, 264 00:20:57,060 --> 00:21:00,380 but only the one who does the will of my Father 265 00:21:00,380 --> 00:21:01,580 who is in heaven. 266 00:21:01,580 --> 00:21:03,580 So only the one that knows my Father, right? 267 00:21:03,580 --> 00:21:06,180 You gotta know him to know what his will is. 268 00:21:06,180 --> 00:21:07,980 You gotta have a recognition of him. 269 00:21:07,980 --> 00:21:09,940 Verse 22, many will say to me on that day, 270 00:21:09,940 --> 00:21:12,500 Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name 271 00:21:12,500 --> 00:21:14,460 and in your name drive out demons 272 00:21:14,460 --> 00:21:16,980 and in your name perform many miracles? 273 00:21:16,980 --> 00:21:20,060 Then I will tell them plainly, 274 00:21:20,060 --> 00:21:25,060 I never knew you away from me, you evildoers. 275 00:21:25,060 --> 00:21:27,180 I love the language that Pastor Ben had 276 00:21:27,180 --> 00:21:29,620 in our teaching prep this week about this verse. 277 00:21:30,860 --> 00:21:33,100 He says, it feels like the person showed up 278 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:34,860 with their resume for God. 279 00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:38,580 Like they showed up and go, here's my resume. 280 00:21:38,580 --> 00:21:41,460 In your name, Jesus, we prophesied. 281 00:21:41,460 --> 00:21:44,380 In your name, we cast out demons. 282 00:21:44,380 --> 00:21:47,020 In your name, there were miracles performed. 283 00:21:47,900 --> 00:21:50,900 And Jesus says of those people, 284 00:21:50,900 --> 00:21:53,980 I will tell them plainly, I will tell them plainly, 285 00:21:53,980 --> 00:21:56,300 I never knew you. 286 00:21:57,820 --> 00:21:59,340 I don't know how you feel about that. 287 00:21:59,340 --> 00:22:00,820 That is haunting. 288 00:22:02,020 --> 00:22:04,260 That I can get lost in all the things I do 289 00:22:04,260 --> 00:22:07,220 in the name of Jesus and miss Jesus. 290 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:12,380 It's amazing to me this idea of, 291 00:22:12,380 --> 00:22:16,780 they think one of the best examples was Judas. 292 00:22:16,780 --> 00:22:21,300 The Judas had experienced all those things. 293 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:24,220 The Judas has been a part of those. 294 00:22:24,220 --> 00:22:27,460 And what's fascinating is that Judas was in proximity 295 00:22:27,460 --> 00:22:30,460 at some of the most intimate moments with Jesus. 296 00:22:30,460 --> 00:22:32,660 That Judas had experienced those moments, 297 00:22:32,660 --> 00:22:33,820 that he'd been around it. 298 00:22:33,820 --> 00:22:36,300 And maybe just for clarity's sake, 299 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:39,180 church, you gotta understand proximity to Jesus 300 00:22:39,180 --> 00:22:42,220 and proximity to God's people does not equate 301 00:22:42,220 --> 00:22:45,180 a relationship with Jesus. 302 00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:47,900 You can be here, you can hang out, 303 00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:50,700 you can enjoy the bennies of Jesus. 304 00:22:50,700 --> 00:22:52,860 That's a title for some other day, 305 00:22:52,860 --> 00:22:54,860 bennies of Jesus. 306 00:22:54,860 --> 00:22:57,500 But you can enjoy the benefits. 307 00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:59,060 You can enjoy all the good things. 308 00:22:59,060 --> 00:23:02,020 You might leave here and you're encouraged. 309 00:23:02,020 --> 00:23:03,260 You might leave here and you're like, 310 00:23:03,260 --> 00:23:06,540 ah, I came in down and I always leave so positive. 311 00:23:07,460 --> 00:23:11,340 We love that, but don't mistake that feeling 312 00:23:11,340 --> 00:23:13,820 for a relationship with the living God 313 00:23:13,820 --> 00:23:15,780 and the person of Jesus Christ. 314 00:23:16,860 --> 00:23:19,260 Too many people do it. 315 00:23:19,260 --> 00:23:21,100 And so what happens naturally, 316 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:24,100 if you skip the being born again, 317 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:26,260 if you skip the relationship part with Jesus, 318 00:23:26,260 --> 00:23:27,100 here's what happens. 319 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:29,260 Because you hang around the people of Jesus, 320 00:23:29,260 --> 00:23:31,300 you get busy for Jesus and you'll say, 321 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:33,100 but I did all this in your name. 322 00:23:33,980 --> 00:23:35,940 And Jesus is going, but I never knew you. 323 00:23:38,620 --> 00:23:43,620 Don't miss, don't miss, proximity doesn't mean 324 00:23:43,620 --> 00:23:46,940 that you have met the living Jesus. 325 00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:48,740 What do I mean by that? 326 00:23:48,740 --> 00:23:50,500 If you go back to Acts chapter nine, 327 00:23:52,980 --> 00:23:56,940 Acts chapter nine, verse five, 328 00:23:56,940 --> 00:23:59,460 who are you, Lord, Saul asked. 329 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:03,020 Saul had been around plenty of Christians. 330 00:24:04,460 --> 00:24:07,220 Saul had seen many, many things done. 331 00:24:08,420 --> 00:24:11,980 He'd seen the trust of the people of Jesus 332 00:24:11,980 --> 00:24:14,980 and he'd seen the trail of what Jesus had done. 333 00:24:14,980 --> 00:24:17,900 He'd sat with people that had met the resurrected Jesus 334 00:24:17,900 --> 00:24:20,940 and told them that they'd seen a dead man come to life. 335 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:24,380 And yet he still put them to death in God's name. 336 00:24:25,660 --> 00:24:28,940 Right, he'd been around, he'd experienced. 337 00:24:28,940 --> 00:24:30,980 He'd done things in the name of God, 338 00:24:30,980 --> 00:24:33,140 but he had not met the living Jesus. 339 00:24:33,140 --> 00:24:36,420 So when Jesus talks to him, he's like, who are you? 340 00:24:37,300 --> 00:24:39,620 And Jesus' reply, I am Jesus. 341 00:24:39,620 --> 00:24:41,940 I am Jesus who you're persecuting. 342 00:24:41,940 --> 00:24:44,380 Now get up and go into the city 343 00:24:44,380 --> 00:24:45,620 and you will be told what you must do. 344 00:24:45,620 --> 00:24:47,780 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. 345 00:24:47,780 --> 00:24:51,380 They heard the sound, but they did not see anyone. 346 00:24:51,380 --> 00:24:54,380 Saul got up from the ground and when he opened his eyes, 347 00:24:54,380 --> 00:24:55,420 he could see nothing. 348 00:24:55,420 --> 00:24:58,180 So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 349 00:24:58,180 --> 00:25:01,180 For three days he was blind and did not eat anything. 350 00:25:01,180 --> 00:25:04,980 The story breaks here and goes to a man named Ananias. 351 00:25:04,980 --> 00:25:07,460 God goes to Ananias and essentially says, 352 00:25:07,460 --> 00:25:09,980 hey, I need you to go to Saul. 353 00:25:09,980 --> 00:25:13,220 And Ananias, who's a Christian, is a follower of the way, 354 00:25:13,220 --> 00:25:15,540 he's like, I don't think so, I know that guy. 355 00:25:15,540 --> 00:25:18,860 He's the guy putting everybody to death, right? 356 00:25:18,860 --> 00:25:21,180 And he's like, no, I need you to go to him. 357 00:25:22,420 --> 00:25:24,740 And what happens is Ananias, 358 00:25:24,740 --> 00:25:26,300 and we'll talk about this maybe in weeks to come, 359 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:29,580 Ananias as somebody who's further ahead 360 00:25:29,580 --> 00:25:31,940 on the critical journey, he has a moment of faith 361 00:25:31,940 --> 00:25:33,540 that he has to step into. 362 00:25:33,540 --> 00:25:35,720 Because there's something about faith 363 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,560 that requires your heart. 364 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,480 Here's what I mean, maybe a way to put it in context. 365 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,640 I have some friends in my life, 366 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:48,720 some very dear friends to me, even my own daughter, 367 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,080 who is a Chiefs fan. 368 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:52,440 Okay? 369 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,640 Now, if I stood here and said, because I have a daughter 370 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,840 and some close friends of mine that are Chiefs fans, 371 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:01,440 you know what? 372 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:02,280 I'm a fan. 373 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,120 You'd be like, no, you're not. 374 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:05,640 You just know some people. 375 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,480 And if I told you, okay, well, let me double up on this, 376 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,000 right, so not only do I know them, 377 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,040 but we talk about the game together, right? 378 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,040 We have these conversations about it. 379 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,960 And then I told you, well, am I a Chiefs fan? 380 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,400 You'd be like, no, you're not a Chiefs fan. 381 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,880 But then I tell you that we watched some games together. 382 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,640 Like, we've actually shared the same meal together 383 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,480 while we walked out of the house. 384 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,120 We watched those games. 385 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:35,080 Right? 386 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:38,640 And I may or may not have cheered for the Chiefs. 387 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:42,000 But if I asked you, so does that make me a Chiefs fan? 388 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,640 You'd go, you're not a Chiefs fan. 389 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:46,440 And I said, okay, hang on, hang on. 390 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,040 But if I wear the jersey and I watch the game 391 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:54,400 and I eat the food, does that make me a Chiefs fan? 392 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,360 And you'd be like, no, that doesn't make you a Chiefs fan. 393 00:26:56,360 --> 00:26:57,200 Why? 394 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:58,720 Because my heart is black and yellow. 395 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:00,560 Right? 396 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:01,400 Why? 397 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,400 Because it comes down to the heart. 398 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,280 It comes down to your heart. 399 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,680 Does Jesus have your heart or doesn't He? 400 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,080 And what we see in this beautiful moment with Ananias 401 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,720 is we see this surrender from, I am scared to go there. 402 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,760 Fear doesn't hold him back from faith. 403 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,800 One of the things that will hold you back this morning 404 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,000 from faith is fear. 405 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,440 Fear of what other people will think, 406 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,240 fear of what you will think, fear of how you'll be seen. 407 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,480 Fear of all of it, you pick it. 408 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,840 And here's the thing, He doesn't let fear hold him. 409 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:35,680 He steps out, why? 410 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,080 Because Jesus has His heart. 411 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:39,720 And He steps out to follow. 412 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:42,080 And then in verse 17, it says, 413 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,160 then Ananias went to the house and entered it, 414 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,080 placing his hands on Saul. 415 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:48,840 He said, brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, 416 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:52,160 who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here 417 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,240 has sent me so that you may see again 418 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,040 and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 419 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,200 Immediately, something like scales, don't forget scales, 420 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,760 immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes 421 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:03,920 and he could see again. 422 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:05,520 He got up and was baptized. 423 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,320 After taking some food, he regained his strength. 424 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,120 Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 425 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:18,120 At once, at once, he began to preach in the synagogues 426 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:20,320 that Jesus is the Son of God. 427 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,600 You see what happened there, right? 428 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,520 Ananias shows up and there's an awakening in Saul 429 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,840 by the Holy Spirit. 430 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,720 There's an awakening in him that by faith, 431 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,480 Saul has walked blindly to this house. 432 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,920 Now, Jesus brings Ananias along and in that moment, 433 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:43,960 in that moment, his eyes are open and his spirit is ignited. 434 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,560 And what happens is it's like scales. 435 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,200 What does Saul do next? 436 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,720 You find them in the very place, the synagogue, 437 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:58,160 which is where they would be, the old system of belief, 438 00:28:58,160 --> 00:28:59,760 he's in the synagogue and what's he doing? 439 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,440 Hey, Jesus is the Son of God. 440 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:05,640 You ever been around somebody that met Jesus? 441 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,880 You ever been around somebody that came alive 442 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:09,400 by the Spirit to Jesus? 443 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,280 They had a moment where they're like, Jesus is my savior. 444 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,280 You ever had that moment? 445 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:15,120 What do they do? 446 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,040 All they can tell you is they just start talking. 447 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:19,440 They don't know what they're saying. 448 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:20,800 They don't have enough about it. 449 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:22,880 They don't have enough about it yet. 450 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:23,720 But you know what's common? 451 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,760 They go, man, it was like I was lost and now I'm found. 452 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:28,960 It was like I was blind, but now I can see. 453 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:32,400 It's amazing. 454 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:33,960 It's amazing to me 455 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,840 that we complicate stuff so much. 456 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,960 And yet faith is so simple. 457 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,640 And that same passage where Jesus is saying, 458 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:47,960 you gotta be born again, 459 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,880 is where we get probably one of the most quoted verses 460 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:51,720 on the planet. 461 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,840 Because what John says after summarizing what Jesus has said, 462 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,520 he goes, for God so loved the world 463 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,480 that he gave his one and only Son. 464 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,400 That whoever, whoever, not limited, unlimited, 465 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:11,120 whoever, whoever believes in him 466 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,040 will not perish but have eternal life. 467 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,120 Jesus goes on to say later, you know what eternal life is? 468 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,320 To know God. 469 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,840 It's this beautiful, beautiful moment 470 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,720 when you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go, 471 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:36,160 I give my life to you, Jesus. 472 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:41,640 We're gonna do something. 473 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:42,920 We're gonna do something. 474 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,480 You're gonna have an opportunity to respond today. 475 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:52,200 But it's not our normal. 476 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,000 We were in teaching prep this week, 477 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,040 and I just said, you guys, I just, 478 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,360 I just feel like we're supposed to really ask people 479 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,080 to step forward in response. 480 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:09,160 And it was unanimous around that room. 481 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:12,760 Absolutely, we gotta follow the Holy Spirit into this. 482 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:13,720 And so we're gonna do something 483 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,480 that's out of the cultural box for Heights even. 484 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:19,840 Because normally when it comes to this moment, 485 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,760 what happens is, is hey, everybody just bow your heads, 486 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,240 close your eyes, and for a moment of privacy, 487 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,320 and then raise your hand while everybody's heads, 488 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:29,600 and it's a very private moment. 489 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,080 But if you were here last week, 490 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,600 you heard us talk about that what we're supposed to do 491 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,480 is celebrate as a family together. 492 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,560 And there is something that happens. 493 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:39,680 There's something that happens internally. 494 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:43,400 Right now in you, God and the Holy Spirit 495 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:44,480 are already working. 496 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:47,880 You're already making decisions to go, 497 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,440 Jesus, I'm giving you my life. 498 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:55,720 But the physical response cements it 499 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,240 for the rest of your life. 500 00:31:58,520 --> 00:31:59,880 So that when the enemy comes along, 501 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:01,240 and he wants to try and steal, 502 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:04,280 and he wants to try and tell you that it really didn't work, 503 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:06,240 and he wants to tell you that it really didn't happen 504 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:08,440 because it was just you, and are you crazy? 505 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:09,960 And no, you go, no, no, no, 506 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:13,120 there was a moment in my life where I responded to Jesus. 507 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,040 And there was a moment where Jesus called me forward 508 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:16,880 and I went. 509 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,080 And so in the room, in the room, you guys, 510 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,800 across screens today, wherever you happen to find yourself, 511 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:30,440 some of you are in a living room together in Pauldon, 512 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,880 some of you are in a school in Baghdad, 513 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,480 some of you are on your couch, 514 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:38,880 some of you are in a car, 515 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:41,760 some of you are listening later, 516 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,200 but wherever you are, 517 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,560 there are people today, right here, right now, 518 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:51,360 that have never had an awakening to Jesus. 519 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:57,000 There are people that you know, 520 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,120 you know you've been hanging around, 521 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,720 you've never given Him your life. 522 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,680 It's interesting, I told you the beginning part of my story. 523 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:15,720 Three years old on the couch, clear profession of faith. 524 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,840 If you follow my journey from three years old to eight, 525 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:22,960 my mom has testimony, because back in those days, 526 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,640 they did Sunday morning church and Sunday night church, 527 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,120 and they were both different. 528 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:28,760 But in Sunday night church, they would always go, 529 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:30,560 does anybody have a word of testimony? 530 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:33,800 And five-year-old me would walk down and go, 531 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:34,960 I got something to say. 532 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:37,120 And my mom would cringe like, 533 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:39,200 what is gonna come out of his mouth, you know? 534 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:40,360 What is it this time? 535 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,960 But from three to eight, there's very, very clear testimony 536 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:48,120 over God in my life, over Jesus owning my life. 537 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,640 And then at eight years old, it goes dark. 538 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:57,640 And it's dark until about 18, 18 and a half to be precise. 539 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:02,480 And at 18 and a half, I had a moment, 540 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,560 because for those 10 years I had been running, 541 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,720 I had been angry, I had been mad at God, 542 00:34:09,720 --> 00:34:10,960 and didn't even know it. 543 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,480 I didn't realize that was where my anger was coming from. 544 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,240 It's only as I've grown older 545 00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:18,160 that I'm able to put language to it. 546 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,480 But at 18 and a half, I had the most cliche moment for me, 547 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:24,400 where I end up on my knees, 548 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:29,240 and I'm just like, God, I can't do this. 549 00:34:29,240 --> 00:34:30,080 I can't do this. 550 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:32,000 I'm so angry, I'm so broken. 551 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:33,960 I don't have peace. 552 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,400 I'm searching for life and everything else, and I'm done. 553 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:39,320 I give you my life. 554 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,640 And it's never been the same since that moment. 555 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:48,480 And we're sitting in our life group this week, 556 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,960 and we were talking about our journeys. 557 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,040 And one of the things that was said in life group 558 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:53,880 that I thought was amazing is 559 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,040 as each person shared their story, 560 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:58,600 there was a common thread, and the common thread was this, 561 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:02,280 that at some point, Jesus had become their Savior. 562 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,800 They had had a moment with Jesus where, He's my Savior. 563 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:10,760 But then, whether it was a little time after or years after, 564 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:14,040 there's a moment when Jesus becomes Lord. 565 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:17,760 And I thought it fascinating. 566 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,760 I wondered how many of us have had the moment 567 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:23,080 where Jesus is Savior, but I'm still living like, I'm Lord. 568 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:26,440 And I wonder today, if you just need to let go and go, 569 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,560 I'm done being Lord of my life, I'm giving it to Jesus. 570 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,520 Jesus, you need to be the one. 571 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,480 I'm giving my life to you today. 572 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:38,960 Some of you in the room, ah, you're so busy for God. 573 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:42,640 You're doing all the things, you've got the best resume 574 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:44,600 in the room to give to God. 575 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:53,160 And yet, you know, you know that you've never had a moment 576 00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:55,160 where Jesus is Savior and Lord. 577 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:57,680 And today's the day. 578 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,600 I'm gonna give you a moment where you're gonna be 579 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,880 Jesus is Savior and Lord, and today's the day. 580 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:09,040 Some of you, you're hiding. 581 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,320 What do I mean by hiding? 582 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:18,080 Your sin is so big that you're so embarrassed by it 583 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,680 that you're just in shame and you feel worthless today. 584 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:21,520 And you just need to know, 585 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,400 you're so worthy of the person of Jesus. 586 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,320 For God so loved you, He showed up. 587 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,520 And today is your day to step in and go, 588 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:32,120 hey, I'm done, I'm done living in my sin, 589 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,280 I'm done hiding in my sin, I'm done. 590 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:35,920 Today I come out into the light and I go, 591 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:37,520 Jesus, here is my life. 592 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:41,560 So here's what we're gonna do. 593 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,360 Because here's what I know about the Holy Spirit. 594 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:46,480 He's already working on you. 595 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:48,320 Some of you, like there's a burn in your chest 596 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:50,520 that you don't know what to do with, right? 597 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:51,760 That's the Holy Spirit. 598 00:36:52,720 --> 00:36:54,720 There's a twist in your gut that you're just like, 599 00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:55,960 oh, he's talking about me. 600 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:59,560 Oh, he's talking about me, you know, that's the Holy Spirit. 601 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:01,320 The Holy Spirit is working 602 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,440 and the Holy Spirit is moving already. 603 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:06,040 He already has been. 604 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:09,720 And so here's what I'm gonna ask you to do. 605 00:37:09,720 --> 00:37:12,040 If you're here and you go, John, today, 606 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:15,360 I need to give Jesus my life. 607 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:19,400 Today I need to be born. 608 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,080 Today I need to stop playing God 609 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,080 and I need to give it to Him. 610 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,080 And I'm gonna ask you to do something 611 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:29,560 that requires crazy courage, 612 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:32,400 but I need you to know you're in a space with friends. 613 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:33,760 So whether that's here, 614 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:35,240 whether that's you are sitting today 615 00:37:35,240 --> 00:37:39,920 in a living room with people, you're with friends. 616 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:42,400 Whether you're in a school, you're amongst family. 617 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:47,400 Even if you are by yourself, you can respond. 618 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:50,120 Here at the Prescott location, 619 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,280 here's what I'm gonna ask you to do. 620 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:54,560 I'm gonna ask you to stand 621 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:57,760 and I'm gonna ask you to walk down to the front. 622 00:37:57,760 --> 00:37:59,320 Why? 623 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:03,400 Because the decision you're making here, 624 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,920 the decision that God's burning in your heart and your chest, 625 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,240 by walking down, you will never be the same. 626 00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:12,520 What else is gonna happen when you get here? 627 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,560 People are going to pray with you and over you. 628 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:18,600 Right? 629 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:21,560 There's power in someone praying for you in this moment 630 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,440 because the enemy would love to take it away. 631 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:26,800 The enemy would love to keep you in your seat. 632 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:28,920 And so here's what I'm gonna do. 633 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:31,120 I'm gonna count to three and then if that's you, 634 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:33,840 I'm gonna ask you to stand where you are. 635 00:38:33,840 --> 00:38:36,280 If you're in the middle of a row, we don't care. 636 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:38,760 Inconvenience, those around you. 637 00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:39,600 Right? 638 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:40,760 They wanna be inconvenienced. 639 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:44,440 But I'm gonna ask you, if it's you, on the count of three, 640 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,000 I'm gonna ask you to stand and come on forward. 641 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:50,040 One, Jesus loves you so, so much. 642 00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:53,280 Two, it's a crazy act of courage in faith. 643 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:57,520 Three, if that's you, stand on up and come on down today. 644 00:38:57,520 --> 00:39:00,360 Come on down, let's celebrate Church, come on down. 645 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,420 Clearly we're just standing here kupada Kambofax 646 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:07,200 But we're still watching firsthand 其實是在finitely愛人 647 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:35,400 If you are on staff, if you are an elder, if you are a life group leader, I'm going 648 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,000 to ask you to come and pray with people so you can come on down to pray with 649 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:52,120 people. If you're still sitting, I need you to be speaking to God. And the first 650 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:59,320 group of people that need to speak to God today are, if you're sitting, Holy 651 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:05,640 Spirit, is it me? It's today I give my life. If you're still sitting, I need you 652 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:09,400 to pray over everybody else in this room that the Holy Spirit intercede for them, 653 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:15,960 that the Holy Spirit would work, that the Holy Spirit would transform. And so we're 654 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:20,280 just gonna take some moments to sit in this church. I'm gonna ask you to pray. 655 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,400 And here's the thing, if you're still sitting and you're like, I know I got to 656 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:30,400 get up, there's still time, come on down. 657 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:27,560 If you're still sitting, I need you to be speaking to God. If you're still 658 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,720 sitting, I need you to pray over everybody else in this room that the Holy 659 00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:36,360 Spirit would work, that the Holy Spirit would transform. And so we're just gonna 660 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:41,640 take some moments to sit in this church. I'm gonna ask you to pray over everybody 661 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:45,480 else in this room that the Holy Spirit would work, that the Holy Spirit would 662 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:55,480 transform. 663 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:49,480 I'm gonna ask you to pray over everybody else in this room that the Holy Spirit would 664 00:42:49,480 --> 00:43:17,480 transform. 665 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:40,480 I just need you to know there's still time. We're not done. There's still time. 666 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:53,840 The God, when he calls, our job is to listen. So even as we continue on in the 667 00:43:53,840 --> 00:44:00,200 service, there may be moments, there's a couple of you where you're 668 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:03,600 just really uncomfortable because you know God's working and you're like, I 669 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:09,920 don't know what to do with this, but I'm scared to do that. Then in that moment, 670 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:17,440 that's where faith and courage comes in, right? But there's also some of you that 671 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:22,800 you're like, I've experienced this. I know what this is. I know what life change of 672 00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:28,560 the Holy Spirit is. And so you should be celebrating. This is a celebration. I've 673 00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:33,480 got recognition. I can remember when Jesus saved me. And you should be 674 00:44:33,480 --> 00:44:46,680 celebrating along with them because their story is your story. And so here's 675 00:44:46,680 --> 00:44:50,680 what we're gonna do because there's something about when you see a 676 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:55,420 move of faith and a move of God and you see the Holy Spirit go to work that the 677 00:44:55,420 --> 00:45:01,080 proper response is thank you. And that's where worship comes in. And that's where 678 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:04,880 we just take our voice and we declare. And so we're gonna intentionally sing a 679 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:10,320 song that is just this is what we believe to be true. And so in an 680 00:45:10,320 --> 00:45:14,760 act of celebration as they continue to pray, as they continue to talk here, would 681 00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:31,480 you stand and would you join us in worship?