WEBVTT 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:14.179 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:17.379 If you could see a supernatural breakthrough 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:22.019 in one area of your life, what would it be? Unfortunately, 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:24.699 when people start to think about that, you begin 00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:27.399 to ponder some really big thing that would have 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:30.359 to happen. And what I want you to know, almost 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.200 always just the opposite is true. Today, we're 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:36.140 going to learn how that really works. Stay with 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:40.740 me. In our last program, we heard how Jesus reached 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:43.600 an entire Samaritan city. Remember the story? 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:46.780 A despised woman with a complicated past meets 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:50.399 Jesus at a well. She recognizes him as the Messiah. 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:53.359 Then she runs back to town, risking rejection 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:56.679 to tell others about him. And the whole city 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.850 comes out to meet Jesus. Today on Living on the 00:00:59.850 --> 00:01:02.229 Edge, Chip Ingram shows us what Jesus wanted 00:01:02.229 --> 00:01:05.069 his disciples to learn from that encounter. It's 00:01:05.069 --> 00:01:07.629 all part of our series, Experience Breakthrough. 00:01:08.049 --> 00:01:10.790 If you're waiting for perfect conditions to launch 00:01:10.790 --> 00:01:13.510 what God's calling you to do, this message might 00:01:13.510 --> 00:01:17.170 change everything. Here's Chip Ingram. Now, I 00:01:17.170 --> 00:01:21.549 want to show you something about how Jesus very 00:01:21.549 --> 00:01:24.170 intentionally reached a city, and I'm going to 00:01:24.170 --> 00:01:26.969 suggest that he didn't just reach a city. But 00:01:26.969 --> 00:01:29.069 he's wanting to teach his disciples about how 00:01:29.069 --> 00:01:31.030 to reach cities. And then we're going to learn 00:01:31.030 --> 00:01:33.769 from the disciples how to reach a city. Where 00:01:33.769 --> 00:01:36.409 did the breakthrough begin? Answer with Jesus. 00:01:37.810 --> 00:01:42.409 Jesus cared. Jesus had compassion on that city. 00:01:42.489 --> 00:01:45.010 And he had very specific compassion on that woman. 00:01:45.469 --> 00:01:48.930 He chose an immoral, socially rejected woman 00:01:48.930 --> 00:01:53.189 in a culturally despised town. What did Jesus 00:01:53.189 --> 00:01:57.040 want his disciples to learn about himself? His 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.900 love and compassion is for all people regardless 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:03.079 of where they've been, what they look like, or 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:05.159 what they've done, or what they're presently 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:08.280 doing. He wanted them to understand that his 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:12.379 personal satisfaction is rooted not in what you 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:15.520 can achieve, not in how you look, not in what 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.860 you own. My food is to do the will of him who 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:21.860 sent me and to accomplish his work. I saw in 00:02:21.860 --> 00:02:26.180 60 minutes a brief Little interview with a man 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:32.319 in New York City. And his name is Tudor Jones 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.759 II. Paul Tudor Jones II. He's a hedge fund guy. 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:40.319 I have no idea his spiritual background other 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:41.840 than he mentioned his mom wanted him to be a 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:46.819 preacher. He started 80 charter schools in New 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:51.219 York City. And in the interview, this one line 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:53.819 captured me. He turned to the interview, he says, 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:56.319 Well, you need to understand that the only real 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:00.020 purpose and significance in life is making sacrifices 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:02.800 to meet the needs of other people. That's what 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:06.240 life's all about. That's where fulfillment is. 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:09.840 I think he got that from somewhere. I wonder 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:14.300 if we do. And finally, what about breakthrough? 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:18.259 I think Jesus wanted them to learn that breakthroughs 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:22.699 start small. A man and a woman having a conversation. 00:03:24.830 --> 00:03:30.870 It's like a mustard seed. Starts small, and then 00:03:30.870 --> 00:03:33.750 a few people come out, and then it multiplies. 00:03:35.250 --> 00:03:36.990 The other thing he wanted them to learn about 00:03:36.990 --> 00:03:39.349 breakthroughs is they're not something that are 00:03:39.349 --> 00:03:41.689 going to happen someday, someway out there. You 00:03:41.689 --> 00:03:45.210 say, disciples, Your mindset, your paradigm is 00:03:45.210 --> 00:03:46.789 in four months, then comes the harvest. In other 00:03:46.789 --> 00:03:49.110 words, someday, someway, God's going to do something. 00:03:49.330 --> 00:03:51.409 You know, there's been things in the Old Testament 00:03:51.409 --> 00:03:54.050 and from their world. For us, it was, yes, there 00:03:54.050 --> 00:03:55.889 was a great, the first awakening, the second 00:03:55.889 --> 00:03:57.930 awakening, and there's the layman's prayer revival, 00:03:58.069 --> 00:03:59.990 and the Wesley's did things. We've heard about 00:03:59.990 --> 00:04:01.889 things in Korea and these movements in Africa 00:04:01.889 --> 00:04:04.550 and breakouts in, you know, Latin America. I 00:04:04.550 --> 00:04:06.729 bet just mystically, somehow, someway, God does 00:04:06.729 --> 00:04:13.259 that. And Jesus would say, no. God is already 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:17.639 working. Breakthroughs are not about someday, 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:22.480 someway, if we do X, Y, Z, F, G, M, and God mystically 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:25.720 blows on it. God is already working. He's looking 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:28.699 for regular, ordinary people to just believe. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:31.620 In fact, notice the timeless axiom I put on the 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:35.139 bottom of your notes. Unlikely supernatural breakthroughs 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:39.040 are not dependent on a future work of God, but 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:46.370 a present work of God. See the difference? I 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:48.129 believe he's working in the Muslim community 00:04:48.129 --> 00:04:50.089 in our area, in the Chinese community, in the 00:04:50.089 --> 00:04:52.149 Korean community. I think the Spirit of God is 00:04:52.149 --> 00:04:55.149 working everywhere. He's looking for an unlikely 00:04:55.149 --> 00:04:58.009 person like you or me who's ordinary, who feels 00:04:58.009 --> 00:05:00.649 unworthy like this woman to say, I'm going to 00:05:00.649 --> 00:05:03.430 just go tell him I'm going to take a step and 00:05:03.430 --> 00:05:07.120 I might get rejected. But what I'll probably 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.779 find is he's already been working and he has 00:05:09.779 --> 00:05:12.399 hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.819 of people who are struggling in their marriage 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:17.220 and hurting and have health issues and unresolved 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:19.459 issues with their parents and kids and they're 00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:22.160 confused and the work and the money and all that 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:25.079 stuff really isn't delivering. And God just is 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.959 looking for a messenger, a man, a woman, or a 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.740 student who would just do what an immoral woman 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:35.569 did to a faraway group of people from God. and 00:05:35.569 --> 00:05:39.430 he'll break through. But here's the deal. It 00:05:39.430 --> 00:05:42.709 takes a small group for a breakthrough to happen. 00:05:43.769 --> 00:05:46.050 Because that dream will die in your heart in 00:05:46.050 --> 00:05:48.110 a New York minute, and you'll be afraid to take 00:05:48.110 --> 00:05:49.730 the step unless there's three or four people 00:05:49.730 --> 00:05:51.569 praying with you. And then when you take the 00:05:51.569 --> 00:05:53.610 first one, it gets harder before it gets better, 00:05:53.689 --> 00:05:56.470 and you're ready to quit. You need a group of 00:05:56.470 --> 00:05:58.569 people to say, let's hang in there. Or you're 00:05:58.569 --> 00:06:00.699 thinking, you know, I... Chip, you know, you're 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:03.240 like on rounding third. I'm coming out of the 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:04.759 batter's box. In fact, I'm not sure I'm up at 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:06.839 the plate. I have a sexual addiction. I got a 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:09.199 problem in my marriage. Actually, I have a problem 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.579 that I'm not married because of how I'm living. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.399 Or, you know, I've got this problem over here. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:15.040 Or, you know, no one knows. I've already, I mean, 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:18.819 cheating on your taxes is just what I do. How 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.879 could God ever use someone like me? Well, I need 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.060 a group of people that will help me go through 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:25.899 the journey and love me the way Jesus loved this 00:06:25.899 --> 00:06:28.699 woman. And realize no one has it together and 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:35.300 I can be real. It's God's plan. Breakthroughs 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:39.740 in us have always been and always will be designed 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:45.319 for breakouts through us. So let's shift. That's 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:47.019 how Jesus did it. Let's see if the disciples 00:06:47.019 --> 00:06:51.319 learned anything about how breakthroughs happen. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:55.620 How did his followers reach the world? And what 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:58.319 I would say to you is if you would turn to the 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:00.819 book of Acts for just a minute, I would encourage 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:03.100 you to kind of relax maybe later this afternoon 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:05.480 and read the book of Acts or at least the first 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:08.180 six or seven chapters very quickly. Let me give 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.000 you an overview. And I think you're going to 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:14.560 see that everything they saw Jesus do, they began 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:17.860 to do the same thing. And then there's a timeless 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:21.319 axiomatic principle that we learn from them. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:24.720 As you open Acts 1, Jesus is in a resurrected 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:28.040 body. He's going to say goodbye to his disciples. 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.420 You can open the text there and just follow along. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:34.240 I'm going to give you the thumbnail sketch. And 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.980 he tells them that I want you to hang around 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:38.139 because for 40 days I've been explaining the 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:41.060 kingdom of God. I've been teaching you about 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:43.980 the mission to go into all the world, that every 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:47.699 ethnic people needs to hear that I am God. I've 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:49.980 paid for their sin. I've risen from the dead. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:52.360 And the power isn't in you. The power is in the 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:55.660 gospel, the announcement of the good news. And 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:58.839 you will be my witnesses, beginning here in Jerusalem 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:01.019 and then Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:02.939 parts of the world. And you'll be given power. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:04.819 The word is dunamis. We get our word dynamite. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.240 You will have dynamite, supernatural power inside 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.279 of you. All you do is you don't convince anybody. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.620 You don't twist their arms. You don't have to, 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:13.199 you know, tell them how terrible they are. Here's 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.120 what you do. You just testify to what I've done 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.459 in you. But here's what I want you to do. I want 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:20.339 you to hang out here, and the Spirit's going 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:22.620 to come. He'll give you power, and you'll get 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:26.639 it. And then he goes up into the sky. Literally, 00:08:26.759 --> 00:08:29.319 he ascends. They're looking up in the sky. A 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.679 couple angels say, hey, guys, why are you looking 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:36.080 up there? This same Jesus who is ascending is 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:39.000 going to come back. So take what he said seriously. 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:43.820 So they do what? Good disciples do. You know, 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.279 they're kind of checking the Old Testament, realize, 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:46.980 well, we don't know what to do while we're waiting, 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:48.659 but we know that the Old Testament says clearly 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:52.440 that, you know, one is going to go south, and 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:54.179 we need to replace that person. So, they just 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:57.179 obey what they know. And Matthias becomes one 00:08:57.179 --> 00:09:00.159 of the 12. And they wait, and then we have a 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.940 big breakthrough. Boom, right? Acts 2, the Holy 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:06.100 Spirit comes. They're hanging out praying, just 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:07.980 doing what they know to do. The Spirit comes, 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:10.320 and unbeknownst to them, they start speaking. 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.220 in multiple different known dialects and languages 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:16.059 because it's Pentecost, and Pentecost is a religious 00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:17.840 holiday when people have come from all over the 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.960 world, and people from all over that known world 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.159 hear about Jesus, the Messiah, and the praising 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:24.899 of God in their own language. And they think, 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:26.779 some people think they're crazy and drunk, and 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:29.360 Peter says, we're not drunk, gang. And this cowardly 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.580 Peter steps up and becomes bold Peter with God's 00:09:33.580 --> 00:09:35.779 supernatural unleashed power and breakthrough, 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:38.279 and he gives a great sermon, and 3 ,000 people 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:41.350 come to Christ. And then after 3 ,000 people 00:09:41.350 --> 00:09:42.549 come to Christ, they say, oh, what are we going 00:09:42.549 --> 00:09:44.049 to do with them? And they don't have a game plan. 00:09:44.169 --> 00:09:45.950 They don't have a lot of programs. And, well, 00:09:46.070 --> 00:09:48.269 let's just do two things for sure. Let's keep 00:09:48.269 --> 00:09:49.990 meeting at the temple, and we'll keep teaching 00:09:49.990 --> 00:09:52.149 the people God's Word. And then let's have people 00:09:52.149 --> 00:09:54.149 meet in homes, house to house. We'll break bread 00:09:54.149 --> 00:09:56.269 together. The apostles' teaching, we'll share 00:09:56.269 --> 00:09:58.269 life. We'll help people that are hurting. We'll 00:09:58.269 --> 00:10:00.649 love one another in homes. And let's each one 00:10:00.649 --> 00:10:02.549 of us go out of our homes and where we're at 00:10:02.549 --> 00:10:04.929 with other people. And so they start doing that. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:09.220 You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:11.399 Ingram, and we'll continue our lesson in just 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:14.279 a minute. If you've missed any part of this series 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:16.679 or want to dive deeper into the principles we're 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:20.000 learning about, everything is available at livingontheedge 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:23.100 .org. You'll find the complete message library, 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.320 small group resources, and practical study tools, 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:29.139 all designed to help you experience the breakthrough 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:31.879 you're seeking. It's all there waiting for you 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:36.049 at livingontheedge .org. Well, now let's continue 00:10:36.049 --> 00:10:38.590 with today's message. Well, then it's a normal 00:10:38.590 --> 00:10:40.629 day. Chapter 3 opens up and Peter's going, so 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:41.950 what do we do? Well, we used to go to prayer 00:10:41.950 --> 00:10:43.250 meetings every day. I guess we should go. It's 00:10:43.250 --> 00:10:45.049 time to pray. He's on his way to the temple and 00:10:45.049 --> 00:10:46.830 there's a lame guy that ever since he was a little 00:10:46.830 --> 00:10:49.570 boy, you learn he's been there a long time. Peter's 00:10:49.570 --> 00:10:52.909 walked by him. Everybody walks by him. And Peter 00:10:52.909 --> 00:10:56.230 realizes, you know, there were no venture capitalists 00:10:56.230 --> 00:10:57.870 back then to say, you know what? We believe in 00:10:57.870 --> 00:10:59.210 this mission. We think this Jesus thing is going 00:10:59.210 --> 00:11:03.840 to go. We think it's a good idea. We think it 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:07.059 can really work, so we're going to fund it. God 00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:09.940 said, I will fund whatever you need, just trust 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:13.799 me. So Peter says to a lame guy, silver and gold 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:16.320 have I none, because he didn't have any, but 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.200 what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus, 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:21.679 be healed. Supernaturally, he's healed. God authenticating. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.559 It's an act of compassion like Jesus was compassionate. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:26.980 He gets up leaping and praising God and comes 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:29.059 into the temple and all of a sudden, oh my lands, 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:31.139 what's happening? This little Jewish sect who 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:32.799 believes in this risen Lord, it's going nuts. 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:35.139 So we threaten them, don't you ever do this again. 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:36.919 And then they go back and what do they do? They 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.720 pray. And they don't pray, oh God, it's so difficult 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.299 and we're being persecuted. It's, oh wow, this 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:45.659 is awesome. How in the world could we be so privileged 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:48.620 to get persecuted for you? And after their prayer 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:51.639 meeting, it says, like God's saying, amen, the 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.960 room starts, and there's an earthquake. And the 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:56.940 prayer they prayed wasn't protect us. It says, 00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:59.039 make us bold, make us strong, give us power, 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.179 allow us to proclaim your name and accompany 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:02.940 it with signs and wonders and with all that you 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:05.620 want to do, God. And so you just see this pattern, 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:11.100 compassion, breakthrough, compassion, God's spirit. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:16.379 God's provision. So much so that no one has need. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:19.460 They love one another. They keep meeting in these 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:22.620 homes. Ethnic groups by chapter 8 are added, 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:25.379 the Samaritans. By chapter 10, the Gentiles are 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:27.960 added. By chapter 28, the known world, Paul, 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:32.700 is in that strategic city called Rome and declaring 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:36.240 the whole future of all the rest of history. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:41.080 And so city after city after city after city, 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.200 Starting in these little small groups. And notice 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:50.279 the lessons. The lessons are very similar to 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.519 the ones that we've learned. Where did the breakthrough 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:56.659 begin? With God. They always do. He loves the 00:12:56.659 --> 00:12:59.419 world so much that he sent his son. Whom did 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:02.580 Jesus choose? Eleven unlikely candidates. All 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:06.100 Galileans. How did they make room? They obeyed 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:08.460 what they knew. I mean, they were conflicted. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:11.519 If we do this. They just obeyed what they knew. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:15.360 And they waited and they prayed. What courageous 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:18.299 step did they take? They identified with what 00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:20.460 God was doing even in the face of persecution. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.600 They radically shared their resources with one 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:27.919 another. And they kept their focus on external 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:30.399 acts of compassion, meeting the needs of others. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:35.559 After the persecution, chapter 4, before it opens 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:38.240 in chapter 5, the apostles... People were coming 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.860 from everywhere like they did to Jesus. Needs 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:44.019 are met. People are healed. God is working. What 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:47.220 did Jesus want them to learn? I love the world. 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:52.200 This mission I gave you is not an option. And 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.919 all the power that you will ever need to do everything 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:59.179 I call you to do, you already have. What did 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.299 he want them to learn about themselves? You can't 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:03.860 let your lack of faith and your prejudice and 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:07.330 your view of the world to keep you. from doing 00:14:07.330 --> 00:14:10.450 what I want you to do. You can't let your little 00:14:10.450 --> 00:14:13.769 agenda about my world and my stuff and my family 00:14:13.769 --> 00:14:17.730 and my future and my money. If you do that, you'll 00:14:17.730 --> 00:14:20.590 seek to save your life and you'll lose it. You 00:14:20.590 --> 00:14:23.409 need to lose your life for me. And then we often 00:14:23.409 --> 00:14:25.590 leave out the second part of that passage and 00:14:25.590 --> 00:14:28.909 the gospel. We give our lives to announce the 00:14:28.909 --> 00:14:31.889 good news to other people. And sometimes our 00:14:31.889 --> 00:14:33.909 lives is our reputation and sometimes it's risky. 00:14:34.649 --> 00:14:36.789 And sometimes it's very, very hard, and sometimes 00:14:36.789 --> 00:14:40.450 we're persecuted, and that's normal. And it's 00:14:40.450 --> 00:14:42.529 also awesome. It's like holding that new baby. 00:14:43.649 --> 00:14:47.970 As my old coach used to say, no pain, no gain. 00:14:49.490 --> 00:14:52.029 About breakthrough, they start in absolutely 00:14:52.029 --> 00:14:56.129 small groups. It was with the three, then the 00:14:56.129 --> 00:15:00.610 12, then the 120, then Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 00:15:00.809 --> 00:15:07.529 global. And that's how it always happens. Two 00:15:07.529 --> 00:15:10.629 and a half, three years ago, three people had 00:15:10.629 --> 00:15:13.590 a dream to reach an apartment complex for young 00:15:13.590 --> 00:15:16.149 professionals. They put on a DVD and invited 00:15:16.149 --> 00:15:18.289 their neighbors who they didn't know. Three or 00:15:18.289 --> 00:15:20.529 four came. The next week, 12 came. Pretty soon, 00:15:20.549 --> 00:15:21.950 they were filling a house. Pretty soon, it was 00:15:21.950 --> 00:15:24.230 three, four, five, six houses. And pretty soon, 00:15:24.250 --> 00:15:27.389 a young professional ministry was built. Just 00:15:27.389 --> 00:15:32.460 how God works. Notice what it says. Timeless 00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:35.179 axiom, breakthroughs are fueled by compassion 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:40.279 and birthed in biblical community. Breakthroughs 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:46.600 are birthed in biblical community. They're fueled. 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:52.240 Acts of compassion fuel it, followed by biblical 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.580 community to figure out what are we going to 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:57.960 do? How are we going to do it? I'm afraid. I've 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:01.539 got to deal with my own stuff. See, Some of you 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:04.779 are pregnant with an idea and the rapid pace 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:08.740 of life. You've thought multiple times about 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:11.159 your neighborhood or workplace. You just haven't 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:13.440 taken the step. I want you to know the Spirit 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.820 of God is working in your neighborhood. I have 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:20.299 a meeting this week with two couples who believe 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:23.460 that. Both pretty recent in their faith and really 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:25.580 walking with God. And we're meeting together 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:27.639 and we're going to launch a Bible study for non 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:30.769 -Christians in our neighborhood. And they're 00:16:30.769 --> 00:16:32.450 a little uptight about it. And honestly, you 00:16:32.450 --> 00:16:34.730 know, they think I'm not. You know, Pastor, you 00:16:34.730 --> 00:16:36.169 really get this, right? Yeah, I'm a little uptight 00:16:36.169 --> 00:16:39.110 about it. But here's what I know. God is working 00:16:39.110 --> 00:16:41.669 in the families in our community. I have another 00:16:41.669 --> 00:16:43.230 neighbor that I've built a relationship with 00:16:43.230 --> 00:16:47.070 that I love him. I love him and his wife. They've 00:16:47.070 --> 00:16:49.710 never been in our home yet. To that I say, shame 00:16:49.710 --> 00:16:52.870 on you, Chip. I mean, maybe they won't come. 00:16:53.370 --> 00:16:55.950 But you know what? Someone ought to say, hey, 00:16:55.970 --> 00:16:58.549 you want to come over and just have coffee? Tell 00:16:58.549 --> 00:17:02.179 us your story. How long you lived here? I mean, 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.779 you know, I've talked in the driveway forever 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:08.940 with them. What about you? The potentiality is 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.819 God wants to do something in you first because 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:13.579 you're conflicted. And it's like, oh man, I need 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:15.019 to, I need to, I need to, I know what's right, 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:17.319 but. And you know, right about after a week after 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.619 this series is over, a year from now, I could 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:21.660 interview you. If you don't act, you'll be in 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:23.839 the exact same spot, except you always reap what 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.900 you sow. And so you think how it is is going 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:28.859 to stay how it is. No, no, no, no. When we know 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:31.740 what to do and don't obey, things don't get easier 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:36.019 or the same. They get worse. Because God in his 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:38.420 great love doesn't allow us to stay the same. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.319 The velvet vice of his discipline, you know, 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:43.740 he's bringing truth to your heart and your life 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.480 because he wants to do good. Remember, he's good. 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:47.240 He's a good shepherd. He can take care of you. 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.240 He'll provide for you. He'll lead you even through 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.099 the valley of the shadow of death, even when 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:53.210 it's hard. If you don't know what to do, he'll 00:17:53.210 --> 00:17:57.029 guide you. Remember all that? Well, if we don't 00:17:57.029 --> 00:18:00.069 listen to his voice, sometimes we get to feel 00:18:00.069 --> 00:18:04.289 his hand. But his heart is not to, he's not trying 00:18:04.289 --> 00:18:06.690 to mess over your life. He's just doing with 00:18:06.690 --> 00:18:09.829 you what we do with our kids. Here's some consequences, 00:18:10.029 --> 00:18:12.650 honey. You didn't listen the first 11 times. 00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:18.630 Can I give you some very specific action? Pray 00:18:18.630 --> 00:18:23.009 fervently and desperately. Can I ask you? Because 00:18:23.009 --> 00:18:24.750 it doesn't happen all at once. And as you pray, 00:18:24.849 --> 00:18:26.490 you'll find he'll start speaking to you probably 00:18:26.490 --> 00:18:30.990 more than he does anything else. But pray. For 00:18:30.990 --> 00:18:35.049 30 days. Fervently. Unleash your power, Lord, 00:18:35.130 --> 00:18:40.450 in my situation. Second, extend God's compassion 00:18:40.450 --> 00:18:43.650 to someone or a group in need this week. A lot 00:18:43.650 --> 00:18:45.890 of it, just get the ball rolling. I mean, do 00:18:45.890 --> 00:18:51.039 something. Love someone. It's legal. I mean, 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:55.539 just new eyes. Just love someone. If you're in 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.940 a small group right now, say, you know what? 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:59.200 We're having a great time. What should we do? 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:02.779 Could we love somebody? Every time you just go 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:05.420 out and extend compassion, the Spirit of God 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:09.019 begins to explode. And then finally, join or 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:12.279 start. I like to call them, not just a small 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:14.299 group, a life -assisting group. action group. 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:18.440 Join or start a life action group. What? To pursue 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:21.619 breakthrough in you and through you. And what 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:24.539 you need to do is prioritize and say, I need 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:28.160 to get in a group to get loving, healing, encouragement. 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.000 And if there's people you already know, say, 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:32.890 hey, can we do a group? There's others of you, 00:19:32.970 --> 00:19:35.410 and you're thinking, if I could just find two 00:19:35.410 --> 00:19:37.210 or three other people where I've talked casually, 00:19:37.309 --> 00:19:39.089 or I mean, I think Bob would do this, or Mary 00:19:39.089 --> 00:19:41.009 would do this, or there's these two people, you 00:19:41.009 --> 00:19:42.150 know, at our company, and they're Christians 00:19:42.150 --> 00:19:45.029 that go to different churches. Great. Absolutely 00:19:45.029 --> 00:19:48.869 small. Everything new. Everything birthed. Any 00:19:48.869 --> 00:19:52.069 innovation, any cultural good, any movement of 00:19:52.069 --> 00:19:58.769 God gets birthed in a small group. This is Living 00:19:58.769 --> 00:20:01.759 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Breakthrough is 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:04.960 birthed in biblical community. That's the timeless 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.779 pattern. Chip will be right back, so stay with 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:10.420 us. If today's message is stirring something 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:13.180 in you, a sense that God wants to do more in 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:15.099 your life than you're currently experiencing, 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:18.319 let me point you to a resource designed to deepen 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:21.039 your walk with Him. It's Chip's free 10 -day 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.579 devotional, Psalms of Hope. The format is straightforward. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.400 Chip provides 10 minutes of teaching each day. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:29.980 Then you take 10 minutes to pray and meditate 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:32.599 on what you've learned, just 20 minutes daily 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:36.099 for 10 days. If you're feeling spiritually stuck, 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:38.980 or if you need fresh assurance that God is good 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:41.680 and wants to work in your life, these ancient 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.059 songs will speak directly to your situation. 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:47.519 Get started today by going to livingontheedge 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:51.339 .org. Just search for Psalms of Hope and begin 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:54.980 your journey. Friend, this ministry exists because 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:57.539 generous listeners choose to give. Think about 00:20:57.539 --> 00:21:00.000 it. Someone's gift made it possible for you to 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.819 hear today's message. Now you have the opportunity 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:05.880 to do the same for someone else. Will you help 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:08.819 us reach more people with God's truth? To give, 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:12.319 visit livingontheedge .org or mail your gift 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:16.680 to Living on the Edge, P .O. Box 3007, Atlanta, 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:24.349 Georgia, 30024. You can also call 888 -333 -6003. 00:21:24.970 --> 00:21:27.450 Well, now here's Chip with some final thoughts. 00:21:27.710 --> 00:21:31.250 As we wrap up today's program and as we get near 00:21:31.250 --> 00:21:34.690 the end of this series, I've talked about a number 00:21:34.690 --> 00:21:37.089 of things with regard to Breakthrough. And you 00:21:37.089 --> 00:21:41.589 heard me today talk about the absolute critical 00:21:41.589 --> 00:21:45.430 nature. of having a small group, a band of at 00:21:45.430 --> 00:21:48.210 least two other people, a court of three or three 00:21:48.210 --> 00:21:51.509 to five people that when you begin to pray about 00:21:51.509 --> 00:21:54.029 a breakthrough, when you begin to focus on what 00:21:54.029 --> 00:21:56.529 you're asking God to do, when you come to the 00:21:56.529 --> 00:22:00.089 point where you realize God is good, God wants 00:22:00.089 --> 00:22:03.190 and desires to do a supernatural, impossible 00:22:03.190 --> 00:22:06.349 thing in me and through me, and then when you 00:22:06.349 --> 00:22:09.109 begin to move toward that and recognize, you 00:22:09.109 --> 00:22:10.829 know, you can't do it and you come to the end 00:22:10.829 --> 00:22:13.500 of yourself, Here's what I want you to remember. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:19.519 Every major breakthrough always had this very 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:24.460 small group of people. I put it this way. The 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:29.420 birthplace of breakthrough is always small. And 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:32.640 if you're asking yourself, you know, Chip, I 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.940 still don't quite get, I mean. Where should I 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:39.099 focus? What should I fuel? Let me ask you two 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:41.500 questions that have really helped me. I don't 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.319 know where you're at. I don't know what season 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:46.839 of life. But lean back just for a minute and 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:51.880 let me ask you, when you hear about X, whatever 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:56.160 that is, and you get so angry inside that you 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.960 just can't contain it, I'm going to tell you 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:01.500 that that may be an area where God may want you 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:04.980 to make a difference. Or when you watch this 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:08.960 or experience that and it makes you begin to 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:11.420 cry. In other words, your heart goes out. It's 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:14.400 filled with compassion. It just so deeply touches 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:17.779 you. The things that make you angry and the things 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:21.619 that make you cry are often indicators of areas 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:25.000 where God has put inside of you a special passion, 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:28.319 a special concern. That anger is about usually 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:31.549 something that's wrong. or or unjust that needs 00:23:31.549 --> 00:23:35.890 to be fixed or what brings you to tears are the 00:23:35.890 --> 00:23:38.230 needs and the hurts of somebody or something 00:23:38.230 --> 00:23:41.309 it could be in your family could be in your neighborhood 00:23:41.309 --> 00:23:43.529 could be in your church it could be an issue 00:23:43.529 --> 00:23:46.809 and it might look in so big and so overwhelming 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:51.259 But every major thing that has happened has started 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:55.279 by a man or a woman who saw this overwhelming 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:59.740 problem. The stories of every major movement 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:03.880 begin, are you ready, with someone just like 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:08.779 you. Someone that refuses to let the status quo 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:12.680 be the story of their life. And who says, God, 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.519 I am available. I'll do whatever you want me 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:18.299 to do. and finds one or two people that would 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:21.839 believe that with you. And sometimes the gestation 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.720 and birthing process is more than nine months, 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.799 five years, ten years, and they don't give up, 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:33.160 and they don't give in. And then later, we see 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:36.240 the hand of God, because He'll work in you deeply, 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:40.559 and then significantly through you. Go for your 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:43.339 breakthrough. God is good, and He's for you. 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:46.559 Want to experience breakthrough regularly, not 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:49.319 just occasionally? I'm Dave Drewy. Don't miss 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:55.559 tomorrow's program on Living on the Edge. Today's 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:58.140 program is produced and sponsored by Living on 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.619 the Edge.