WEBVTT 00:00:00.930 --> 00:00:04.589 This this weekend we're looking a little bit 00:00:04.589 --> 00:00:08.589 at what it is to know ourselves as Americans 00:00:08.589 --> 00:00:12.310 and I've got to know how many of you remember 00:00:12.310 --> 00:00:17.350 Whenever Apollo 11 went up to the moon. How many 00:00:17.350 --> 00:00:20.929 of you remember that? Oh Mike Michael remembers. 00:00:20.929 --> 00:00:24.050 So there you go. Okay good He looks good for 00:00:24.050 --> 00:00:27.109 his age. There you go. Okay. Awesome. Now I was 00:00:27.109 --> 00:00:30.260 I you know, believe it or not was not quite here 00:00:30.260 --> 00:00:33.600 on this earth just yet. But I was watching a 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.560 video the other day about Buzz Aldrin. And for 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.820 those who may not remember, Buzz Aldrin was the 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:42.200 second person to walk on the moon. But what's 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.219 astounding is not just people walking on the 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:49.579 moon, but also how many people think it didn't 00:00:49.579 --> 00:00:54.119 happen. We live in a world that still gasps when 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:56.880 someone does something that we didn't think was 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:00.600 possible. And let's be honest. What makes the 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:02.880 moon landing such a big deal is not just that 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:06.260 it happened, but that we didn't think it could 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:10.260 happen. It was too big. It was too bold. It was 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:12.920 too far beyond what we thought was achievable. 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:16.260 And even today, because it was so astonishing, 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:20.040 one out of every ten people refuses to believe 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:23.260 that it actually happened. even with six different 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:25.920 Apollo missions arriving there and multiple countries 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.420 with evidence to confirm it, and even the fact 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:30.680 that there are actually really reflectors that 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.000 are on the moon that were placed there that people 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:37.500 can actually send back data to see how far the 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:40.659 moon actually is, there are still people claiming 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:44.569 that it's all fake. The hours of training simulations 00:01:44.569 --> 00:01:47.849 in mock -up moon environments built on sound 00:01:47.849 --> 00:01:51.290 stages or outdoor sandlots that were used for 00:01:51.290 --> 00:01:54.310 internal training and public education, media 00:01:54.310 --> 00:01:57.510 outreach, the staged recreations for the press 00:01:57.510 --> 00:02:01.390 to show and visualize what the astronauts would 00:02:01.390 --> 00:02:04.150 be doing on the moon and the promotional footage 00:02:04.150 --> 00:02:07.689 used for TV specials, classroom usage and museums. 00:02:08.189 --> 00:02:11.310 are often mistaken in today's world as an attempt 00:02:11.310 --> 00:02:15.669 to trick the public. And even videos of Buzz 00:02:15.669 --> 00:02:19.930 Aldrin in his 80s trying to answer questions 00:02:19.930 --> 00:02:23.229 for people get twisted because it's easier for 00:02:23.229 --> 00:02:27.030 some people to believe a massive deception than 00:02:27.030 --> 00:02:31.030 the idea that people went to the moon. And I 00:02:31.030 --> 00:02:34.389 think that's part of the point. Sometimes we're 00:02:34.389 --> 00:02:38.020 tempted to dismiss what is amazing because we 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:41.139 can't wrap our heads around how it could possibly 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:46.659 happen without us being in control. We think 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:50.879 if we don't have the plan or the strength or 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:56.039 the resources ourselves, then surely it can't 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:59.520 be done. But the poem mission, it didn't begin 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:04.639 with someone saying, let's build slowly and carefully 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:08.099 toward the moon someday. It didn't start with, 00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:10.419 let's just spend time orbiting the Earth. It 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:12.840 didn't start with, let's put a space station 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.139 up into orbit. It didn't start with, let's send 00:03:16.139 --> 00:03:18.840 William Shatner and Katy Perry up there for 11 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:22.699 minutes, and then we'll go to the moon. It has 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:26.340 President Kennedy saying clearly and urgently, 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:30.379 we choose to go to the moon not because it is 00:03:30.379 --> 00:03:34.780 easy, but because it is hard. The goal itself 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:37.460 called the people into action. It didn't happen 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:40.180 because humans believed they could easily do 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:44.620 it. It happened because they believed it had 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:49.020 to be done. And in that belief, they rose beyond 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:53.219 the limits. And while politics and funding and 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:57.479 strangely boredom with the moon kept us from 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:01.180 going there for over five decades, The plan is 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:03.719 to land there again in two years, not because 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:07.539 we fully understand everything about space, but 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:11.240 because we're called by the mission to discover 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:15.719 more about it. That idea of being sent into something 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:19.199 bigger than ourselves is exactly where Jesus 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.939 meets his disciples in Luke 10. He had been spending 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.980 all of this time with them. walking with them, 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:29.379 eating with them, doing the ministry that he's 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:32.000 showing them to do, and then it's time for him 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.139 to send out the 72 of them in pairs with a message. 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:42.699 Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:46.939 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. Could 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:52.420 you imagine hearing that? Not just go. That's 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:55.410 already... a lot for them to take in as it is, 00:04:55.689 --> 00:04:59.689 but go unprepared. Don't bring a bag that you 00:04:59.689 --> 00:05:03.230 can store a bunch of extra stuff in. Don't bring 00:05:03.230 --> 00:05:05.990 money so that you don't need to worry about whether 00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:08.810 or not people are listening to you or whether 00:05:08.810 --> 00:05:12.529 or not you're actually in need. Don't even bring 00:05:12.529 --> 00:05:16.189 extra shoes just in case somebody were to steal 00:05:16.189 --> 00:05:21.170 yours. Just go. Could you imagine if that were 00:05:21.170 --> 00:05:26.089 us today? We'd probably say well, let me make 00:05:26.089 --> 00:05:30.209 sure I have all the support ready for the next 00:05:30.209 --> 00:05:34.730 several years or decades Let me get my message 00:05:34.730 --> 00:05:38.029 polished really really well, and let me make 00:05:38.029 --> 00:05:42.269 sure to do some audience checks and see how they 00:05:42.269 --> 00:05:45.699 approve of it or Can I just go where the people 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:49.019 are friendly first? I already have a place to 00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:51.339 stay. Let me make sure, you know what, I think 00:05:51.339 --> 00:05:54.339 there's an area over here in this part of the 00:05:54.339 --> 00:05:57.959 city where I don't see another church like ours. 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:01.540 So let me go over there and let me see if I can 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:03.899 find all the Christians or hey, maybe there's 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:07.100 some Lutherans and we'll just start there. Or 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:10.959 let me make sure I have an app for that. Whenever 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:15.819 we see this, We see Jesus cutting all of that 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:22.100 off. We see Jesus sending His disciples out with 00:06:22.100 --> 00:06:27.740 nothing. He sends them without anything except 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:35.019 the Gospel. That's it? The Gospel? What is that 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:38.379 going to do? We know how people act when they 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:43.259 hear about Jesus, and yet what happens? they 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:50.199 come back amazed. Why? Lord, even the demons 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:55.399 submit to us in Your name. All of these things 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:59.180 that are happening in the midst of this, we end 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:02.000 up seeing them discussing all of these in our 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.000 passage today, and they're going around seeing 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.699 what's happening. give an authority to tread 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:10.480 on serpents and scorpions and over all the power 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:17.899 of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." What's 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:21.199 amazing about this is, in so many parts of this, 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:26.740 is that it's just the gospel itself. It's that 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:29.720 they're going into a place where nobody knows 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:34.740 them, and they are getting the gospel. to be 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:37.860 heard by people around them. How do you do that? 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.220 You've got nothing to get you settled. You've 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:43.980 got nobody there ready to make sure that they're 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:47.500 prepping everything for you. And instead, all 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:52.240 you have is the opportunity to walk in and to 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:56.560 live out God's grace and forgiveness and to tell 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:59.800 others that it is for them. They didn't go out 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:05.060 with power. but power came through them. They 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:09.240 didn't go carrying healing in a bag like hot 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.579 sauce. They became vessels of healing themselves. 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:18.420 They didn't carry resources, but they carried 00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:21.959 the kingdom. They didn't wait for the world to 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:26.180 make it easy before they went out and lived it 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:30.300 and showed it and spoke it. They stepped forward 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:33.019 and found out that God was with them. Without 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:35.480 a plan, without certainty, without sponsors, 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.820 they went wherever they could and shared that 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:43.139 Jesus had brought the kingdom to earth. But they 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:45.440 didn't just proclaim it with words, they embodied 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:50.500 it with their presence. They lived it. They brought 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:53.779 peace into homes. They cast out evil. They were 00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:59.169 stored and comforted and healed. The Gospel was 00:08:59.169 --> 00:09:03.730 so real to them, it changed the very atmosphere 00:09:03.730 --> 00:09:07.590 wherever they went. And they were willing to 00:09:07.590 --> 00:09:11.409 be vulnerable. To hope that there would be others 00:09:11.409 --> 00:09:13.789 who would respond to the Gospel and welcome them 00:09:13.789 --> 00:09:17.029 into their homes without ever having known them 00:09:17.029 --> 00:09:20.649 before. People of peace who would then introduce 00:09:20.649 --> 00:09:25.509 the disciples to their friends as well. And Jesus' 00:09:25.710 --> 00:09:29.500 response? to their excitement. Was He as excited 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:34.039 for them to be doing such amazing things? Wow! 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.360 Oh my goodness, I can't believe He did that. 00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:40.980 Wow, it's so surprising. Do not rejoice that 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:44.620 the Spirit submit to you, but rejoice that your 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:49.940 names are written in heaven. In other words, 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.379 don't root your identity in what you can do. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:56.460 Root it. in what God has already done. You belong 00:09:56.460 --> 00:10:00.620 to Him. That's where your joy is. And frankly, 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:07.019 that's where the power truly is. Jesus Himself 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:12.200 could do the miracles. And there was nothing 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:15.080 impressive about the disciples. We've been watching 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:17.320 the chosen. We know how ridiculous they could 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.960 truly be. But being his people meant that they 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.480 were called into the powerful purposes of being 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.480 sent into the world Trusting that God would use 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:31.360 them without their strength and frankly without 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:38.940 their fear Do we know what that's like Are we 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:43.580 willing to do the same Are we willing to put 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:50.779 ourselves out there to insert ourselves into 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:54.320 this world that we see? Are we willing to do 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.139 more than just be good people? Are we willing 00:10:58.139 --> 00:11:02.440 to be odd people? Are we willing to do more than 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:06.240 just hope that we win the day? Are we instead 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:10.159 looking for the times when we know we'll lose 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.539 because we're by ourselves in places that need 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:21.139 us? Are we willing to put aside our hobbies, 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:24.899 our passions, the things that keep us distracted, 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:28.659 the things that end up taking our energy, our 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:32.919 money, our time, because we know that there is 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:36.879 somebody in need? Because there are so many things 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:41.659 that are miraculous that we see around us, that 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:45.720 we cannot see whenever we're not willing to be 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:50.019 out there. with nothing but the gospel itself. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:55.159 Whenever we are around a dozen young people that 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.539 we're not sure are paying any attention to anything, 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.419 but there's that one who ends up hearing at just 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:08.080 the right time, just the right message, and then 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:11.399 comes up and asks, I'd really like to know more 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:15.059 about this. Could you help me with reading the 00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:19.190 gospel? or at the times whenever you're just 00:12:19.190 --> 00:12:22.730 randomly going off to some party with people, 00:12:23.250 --> 00:12:25.990 and because you hear that somebody is hurting, 00:12:26.889 --> 00:12:29.269 instead of saying, oh, well, good luck, I hope 00:12:29.269 --> 00:12:34.409 it goes well, or, yeah, sorry to hear that, instead 00:12:34.409 --> 00:12:37.190 you stop and say, tell me more, how can I help? 00:12:38.809 --> 00:12:41.149 Because you know that they need someone right 00:12:41.149 --> 00:12:43.750 then and there, and that without you, they may 00:12:43.750 --> 00:12:46.309 never know that Christ actually cares about them. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:51.639 and then you find out years later just how close 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:53.799 they were to something that they'd never be able 00:12:53.799 --> 00:13:00.639 to undo. We are called by God not to go into 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.539 the places where we think we have it all figured 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:08.059 out, but to be there weak and vulnerable so that 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:11.399 the gospel is what stands there and does its 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:16.620 work. but that also takes us into Galatians 6 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:20.539 as well. See, Paul is writing to a church that 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:25.139 knows the gospel, but they should know that it's 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:28.940 not about their own power. But this church is 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:33.100 still tempted to take control, to force the results, 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:37.500 to make things work because of their own strength. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:41.919 If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:45.440 the Spirit should restore that person gently. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:51.200 But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:55.080 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:59.799 will fulfill the law of Christ. Bear gently with 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:04.490 one another. The temptation... after success, 00:14:04.509 --> 00:14:07.490 whether in ministry or spiritual growth, is to 00:14:07.490 --> 00:14:12.169 become someone who corrects rather than carries. 00:14:14.070 --> 00:14:17.429 Don't we know what that's like? Is that as soon 00:14:17.429 --> 00:14:21.649 as things start going our way, we now think that 00:14:21.649 --> 00:14:24.149 it's our job to make sure that everybody else 00:14:24.149 --> 00:14:28.330 is doing exactly what we think is called for 00:14:28.330 --> 00:14:31.799 in their life. And Paul says that if someone 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.639 in the church falls into sin, the response shouldn't 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:38.960 be judgment or gossip, but gentle restoration 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:43.799 by those who are spiritually mature. How much 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:48.460 do we spend our time wanting to shame people, 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:51.120 either to force them to become what we want them 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.919 to be, or to get them rejected in some futile 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.860 attempt to feel better about ourselves and our 00:14:56.860 --> 00:15:00.659 own struggles? It's okay if we don't feel good 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:03.059 about ourselves as long as somebody feels worse. 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:08.519 If you belong to the kingdom and your name is 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:12.519 written in heaven, then prove it by how you walk 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:16.600 with others. Don't just call people out. Pick 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:21.240 them up. We should help each other grow and heal. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:26.360 But also, stay humble. Because none of us is 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:30.500 immune to falling into sin ourselves. We're called 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:33.460 to bear each other's weight. Whether it's emotional, 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:37.139 spiritual, or physical hardship, the law of Christ, 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:41.659 so to speak, is love. Helping someone in their 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:46.279 struggle is living out Jesus' command. Because 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:51.399 Christianity isn't just about me and Jesus. It's 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:55.600 about all of us together in Christ. and how we 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:59.019 can bring each other closer to Christ. Not because 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:01.539 of shame, but by gently showing them what the 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:06.000 Gospel truly is and that it's for them. If we 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.799 attempt to change people by our own power, by 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:13.500 our own force, then we risk undermining what 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:17.419 the Gospel can do much more effectively on its 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:22.360 own with grace and mercy and forgiveness. It's 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.759 not about what you can boast in. It's about what 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:29.879 you sow in the garden of the Gospel. See, as 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.580 we live this Christian life, there's a false 00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:36.899 confidence that can creep in, especially after 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:41.340 success. And Paul warns, don't deceive yourselves. 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:45.940 You're not sowing for applause. You're sowing 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:48.639 for a harvest in the Spirit. You're not building 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:51.919 your platform. You're not building your victories. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:56.000 You're planting for God's Kingdom. which hasn't 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.039 even been fulfilled completely yet. If anyone 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:02.080 thinks they are something when they are not, 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.400 they deceive themselves. There is nothing for 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:08.700 us to be arrogant about. We aren't above others 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:12.240 or above needing help. If we don't have the same 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.519 weakness as someone else, that isn't because 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:17.420 we're better. It's that the Spirit of God has 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:20.859 been working in our lives. It's been calling 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:24.380 us to help others to the same place in humility. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.539 Because without that the community breaks down 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:31.779 When it's all about our pride and the sense of 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:35.599 we're the righteous ones and you're not Each 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:40.640 one should test their own actions Then they can 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:44.019 take pride in themselves alone without comparing 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:47.299 themselves to someone else for each one Should 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:50.799 carry their own load This isn't about actually 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.720 taking pride in ourselves per se what he's trying 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:57.500 to get it is not focusing on someone else's spiritual 00:17:57.500 --> 00:18:02.119 life as if it's dependent on us to change them. 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:06.880 When we go past carrying each other's burdens 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:12.299 and instead start looking at their sins as something 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:17.180 we must use our power to conquer, then we stop 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:19.740 thinking about personal responsibility for our 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:24.250 own actions. And we start thinking that it's 00:18:24.250 --> 00:18:28.869 our job saving them by what we're going to do 00:18:28.869 --> 00:18:33.069 and how we're going to conquer. Nevertheless, 00:18:34.549 --> 00:18:37.069 the one who receives instruction in the Word 00:18:37.069 --> 00:18:40.369 should share all good things with their instructor. 00:18:42.089 --> 00:18:49.329 And frankly, I appreciate you. Because there 00:18:49.329 --> 00:18:53.109 are many times whenever As the missionary into 00:18:53.109 --> 00:18:57.470 this community, it's a lonely road. And for those 00:18:57.470 --> 00:18:59.829 of you who have taken the time to bring encouragement, 00:19:00.309 --> 00:19:04.250 I have to tell you, it has made a difference. 00:19:04.849 --> 00:19:09.130 Even at the times, maybe you don't see it, but 00:19:09.130 --> 00:19:13.230 it means it to me. And I hope that we will all 00:19:13.230 --> 00:19:15.730 continue to do that for one another as well. 00:19:16.990 --> 00:19:22.619 It says, do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:26.480 A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:29.559 their flesh will reap destruction. Whoever sows 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:32.859 to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:38.299 Your life will bear the fruit of what you invest 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:42.480 in. So if you're investing in that part inside 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:45.059 of you, in that part in the flesh, the thing 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:48.259 we keep struggling with, if you invest in the 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:52.720 part that keeps wanting to find victories and 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:55.759 conquering and the things that you can take pride 00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:01.500 in, it leads to spiritual ruin. But if we focus 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:05.099 on not only hearing the gospel, but sharing it 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:11.259 and it alone with others, then it leads to life. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:17.500 Let us not become weary in doing good. For at 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:20.019 the proper time we will reap a harvest if we 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:24.160 do not give up Therefore as we have opportunity 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:28.099 Let us do good to all people Especially to those 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:33.759 who belong to the family of believers The point 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:37.680 is not to pursue the victories We are called 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.559 to be faithful it's not about trying to tally 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:43.039 up what we have succeeded in doing for the kingdom 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.619 It's about being faithful to the Gospel alone. 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:55.200 Even when it's slow. Even when it's quiet. Even 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:00.140 when no one notices. Even when people drown it 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:03.660 out. Even when people sleep through it. No matter 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:08.339 what it may be, is that we are called to be faithful. 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:11.500 Not because it's glamorous, but because it takes 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:18.970 time for the Gospel to bear fruit. Power may 00:21:18.970 --> 00:21:22.650 bring something, but it's never the fruit that 00:21:22.650 --> 00:21:26.069 you want to eat. And just like the disciples, 00:21:26.150 --> 00:21:29.750 we are called to a mission without a safety net, 00:21:30.609 --> 00:21:33.490 without our own plans or our own power or our 00:21:33.490 --> 00:21:36.589 own considerations or our own expectations. Whenever 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:39.670 we mentor children at an elementary school and 00:21:39.670 --> 00:21:41.369 then feel like they've taken us for granted, 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:44.119 Whenever we've wondered whether or not somebody 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:46.400 is there just to eat the chips and the cookies, 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:49.200 or whether they actually care for what the message 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:53.700 is. Whenever we speak to a person, and then they 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:56.059 still think that somehow the gospel is like every 00:21:56.059 --> 00:22:01.000 other religion. But faithfulness is long obedience 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:04.279 in the same direction. And that's the only way 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:06.539 for the gospel to be the thing that truly takes 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:13.609 root. We may want to fix people. We may want 00:22:13.609 --> 00:22:18.269 to make things clear, but Paul affirms what Jesus 00:22:18.269 --> 00:22:21.609 showed his disciples to go forth with the Word 00:22:21.609 --> 00:22:26.089 of God doing the work where real spiritual strength 00:22:26.089 --> 00:22:31.089 is to be found. Could I only imagine what it 00:22:31.089 --> 00:22:34.650 must have been like for so many years for people 00:22:34.650 --> 00:22:38.329 at NASA and all these different space programs? 00:22:39.450 --> 00:22:42.549 Wondering who gets to go to the moon? Who gets 00:22:42.549 --> 00:22:46.930 to go to Mars? Who gets to go beyond? But doing 00:22:46.930 --> 00:22:49.869 the work that was needed and continuing time 00:22:49.869 --> 00:22:51.869 and time again, even when people would look at 00:22:51.869 --> 00:22:55.029 them and say, you know, I don't think you really 00:22:55.029 --> 00:23:00.490 did that. To the point where now we have hope 00:23:00.490 --> 00:23:04.930 of going even further. But that's the same thing 00:23:04.930 --> 00:23:09.009 for us. Paul says, do not grow weary in doing 00:23:09.009 --> 00:23:12.930 good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest 00:23:12.930 --> 00:23:17.589 if we do not give up It must always be about 00:23:17.589 --> 00:23:21.950 speaking and serving and living and trusting 00:23:21.950 --> 00:23:26.549 the gospel and nothing more The mission isn't 00:23:26.549 --> 00:23:30.150 easy But it's worth it and you don't go alone 00:23:30.150 --> 00:23:35.069 You go with the message you go with the spirit 00:23:35.069 --> 00:23:38.170 and you go knowing that your name is already 00:23:38.170 --> 00:23:40.890 written in heaven no matter what may happen, 00:23:41.329 --> 00:23:46.230 even as we hope the same for others as well. 00:23:46.950 --> 00:23:47.930 Thanks be to God.