WEBVTT 00:00:00.430 --> 00:00:03.790 I was watching a video that was not too long 00:00:03.790 --> 00:00:08.250 ago about Buzz Aldrin. There were some interviews 00:00:08.250 --> 00:00:12.029 from him. Now, not everybody may remember the 00:00:12.029 --> 00:00:16.410 name. How many of you were around when people 00:00:16.410 --> 00:00:19.550 landed on the moon for the first time? All right, 00:00:19.589 --> 00:00:23.670 all right. We got plenty, we got plenty. I will 00:00:23.670 --> 00:00:28.969 just not respond in that regard. But hey, I heard 00:00:28.969 --> 00:00:34.070 it was great. So 10 out of 10 so with that is 00:00:34.070 --> 00:00:36.210 realizing that there are many of us that are 00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:38.990 trying to look back and understand about this 00:00:38.990 --> 00:00:42.490 because there were Six landings on the moon over 00:00:42.490 --> 00:00:45.310 the course of a few years and it hasn't happened 00:00:45.310 --> 00:00:48.130 again in little over 50 You know Buzz Aldrin 00:00:48.130 --> 00:00:50.549 was the second person to actually walk on the 00:00:50.549 --> 00:00:53.950 moon But you know, what's astounding is not just 00:00:53.950 --> 00:00:57.549 walking on the moon, but also how many people 00:00:57.950 --> 00:01:00.649 Believe it didn't actually happen. You know, 00:01:00.770 --> 00:01:04.430 we live in a world that still gasps when people 00:01:04.430 --> 00:01:07.430 do things that seem impossible, when someone 00:01:07.430 --> 00:01:11.109 stretches a rope between two skyscrapers and 00:01:11.109 --> 00:01:14.530 tightrope walks across it, or when somebody can 00:01:14.530 --> 00:01:16.590 hold their breath underwater for an extended 00:01:16.590 --> 00:01:20.209 period of time, or whenever somebody has jumped 00:01:20.209 --> 00:01:24.670 from outer space down toward the ground and is 00:01:24.670 --> 00:01:28.500 able to parachute and land safely. To be honest, 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:31.219 what makes the moon landing such a big deal is 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:34.239 not just that it happened, but that we didn't 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:37.700 really even think it could happen. It's too big. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:40.900 It's too bold. It was too far beyond what we 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:44.000 thought was even achievable. And even today, 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:47.269 because it's so astonishing, One out of every 00:01:47.269 --> 00:01:51.150 ten people is convinced it actually didn't happen. 00:01:51.670 --> 00:01:53.989 So in this room right now, there could possibly 00:01:53.989 --> 00:01:56.530 be a handful of people that are like, nope, could 00:01:56.530 --> 00:01:59.530 not have happened at all. So my apologies to 00:01:59.530 --> 00:02:03.629 you this day. See, even with six different missions 00:02:03.629 --> 00:02:06.310 arriving there and multiple countries confirming 00:02:06.310 --> 00:02:10.270 it, and there are even reflectors on the surface 00:02:10.270 --> 00:02:13.729 of the moon that light can shine to it and come 00:02:13.729 --> 00:02:16.689 back to us and we can actually measure how far 00:02:16.689 --> 00:02:19.629 away the moon is from us at any given point in 00:02:19.629 --> 00:02:23.969 time. Even so, there are many people who discuss 00:02:23.969 --> 00:02:27.370 how fake it is. The hours of training simulations. 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:30.719 that were mocking up the moon environment built 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.759 on sound stages or outdoor sandlots that were 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:37.900 used for training or public education or media 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:41.680 outreach, the staged recreations for the press 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:44.240 to visualize what the astronauts were going to 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.439 do on the moon or even to understand what was 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:48.740 happening when they couldn't see on the footage 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:51.580 and promotional footage that was used for TV 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:55.340 specials and classroom use and museums. In today's 00:02:55.340 --> 00:02:58.939 world, they're oftentimes seen as an attempt 00:02:58.939 --> 00:03:03.280 to trick the public. And even videos of Buzz 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.460 Aldrin, a man who was in his 80s at the time, 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:10.240 who's now 95, trying to answer questions and 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:13.379 getting his words twisted, because it's easier 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.860 for some people to believe a massive deception 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:19.280 than to believe that we actually saw the moon, 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:24.280 decided to go, and made it. And I think that's 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:28.039 part of the point. Sometimes we're tempted to 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:31.879 dismiss the amazing if we can't wrap our heads 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:36.620 around how we could possibly make it happen or 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:39.879 without us being the ones who are in control. 00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:43.219 We think if we don't have the plan or we don't 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:45.719 have the strength or we don't have the resources 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:52.159 then surely it cannot be done. We are in a country 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:56.110 that has people who came over after the world 00:03:56.110 --> 00:03:58.349 was convinced that there were dragons if they 00:03:58.349 --> 00:04:02.530 were to sail too far across the sea. So I think 00:04:02.530 --> 00:04:04.810 that we've discovered that there are things we 00:04:04.810 --> 00:04:07.789 may think were impossible that just haven't been 00:04:07.789 --> 00:04:12.409 done yet. But the Apollo mission, it didn't start 00:04:12.409 --> 00:04:14.830 with somebody saying, you know, let's take this 00:04:14.830 --> 00:04:17.329 a little bit at a time. Let's go slowly, okay? 00:04:17.490 --> 00:04:19.689 Let's just spend some time. We'll make sure that 00:04:19.689 --> 00:04:21.889 our space shuttles orbit around the Earth for 00:04:21.889 --> 00:04:23.350 a while. We're going to stay there. And then 00:04:23.350 --> 00:04:25.879 we're going to make a space station. Okay, and 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:28.220 we'll do that for a while first. Okay, we'll 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:30.459 hang out there for a bit, and then we'll send 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:33.040 William Shatner and Katy Perry into space, and 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:35.560 if it's safe for them, then it's safe for us. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:38.860 You cannot blame that for how William Shatner 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:44.660 talks. But instead, it started in this point 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:47.779 of time of President Kennedy saying, we choose 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:51.139 to go to the moon not because it is easy, but 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:55.360 because it is hard. The goal itself called the 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.699 people into action. It didn't happen because 00:04:58.699 --> 00:05:00.800 humans believed they could easily do it. It happened 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.100 because they believed it had to be done. We've 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:06.519 even seen the movies where they've got people 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.920 desperately doing the mathematical calculations 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:10.980 realizing that they didn't have it all figured 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:15.379 out as people were going around the moon and 00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:18.560 trying to find their way back. But the belief 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.420 that it would be done, they rose beyond their 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:26.240 limits. And while politics and funding, and believe 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:29.620 it or not, the boredom of landing on the Moon, 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:33.079 kept us from going to the Moon for over five 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:36.600 decades, the plan is to land there again in two 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:39.500 years. Not because we fully understand everything 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:41.720 about space, but because we're called by that 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:45.100 mission, and because now, apparently, we want 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:48.899 to go to Mars. I'm sure it's made out of chocolate. 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:54.540 It'll be great. See, that idea, of being sent 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:57.399 into something bigger than ourselves. It's exactly 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:00.540 where Jesus meets His disciples in Luke 10. It 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:04.100 was one thing for them to be going out into the 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:08.639 world with the Messiah there, doing miracles 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.759 and preaching these amazing sermons, but now 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.560 you're going to go do it. He sends out 72 of 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.920 them, so not even just the 12. We're talking 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:23.500 about the larger grouping of disciples. sending 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:26.500 them out in pairs saying, I am sending you out 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:30.420 like lambs among wolves. Wow, that's encouraging. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:35.180 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. Could 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:39.420 you imagine hearing that? Not just go, but go 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:41.800 unprepared. Don't bring a bag. Don't bring money. 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:45.660 Don't even bring extra shoes. I keep an extra 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:49.360 sport coat in the car just in case. I cannot 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.329 get my mind around this. Just go. Could you imagine 00:06:53.329 --> 00:06:56.350 if that were us? We'd probably say, well, let 00:06:56.350 --> 00:06:59.509 me make sure I've got my whole support base ready 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:02.930 for the next 10 years. Or let me make sure that 00:07:02.930 --> 00:07:06.610 my message is polished. How many times whenever 00:07:06.610 --> 00:07:09.769 we say, hey, would you be willing to speak in 00:07:09.769 --> 00:07:12.410 front of people and people already start to shake? 00:07:12.829 --> 00:07:15.430 Or, well, could I just go where the people are 00:07:15.430 --> 00:07:19.170 friendly and I already have a place to stay and 00:07:19.170 --> 00:07:22.629 have it all figured out? Or... Let me make sure 00:07:22.629 --> 00:07:27.850 I have an app for that. You know, Jesus is sending 00:07:27.850 --> 00:07:32.629 His disciples out with nothing. This isn't because 00:07:32.629 --> 00:07:34.430 they were always going to go out with nothing. 00:07:35.189 --> 00:07:39.290 But He needed them to understand something about 00:07:39.290 --> 00:07:43.689 this. Because He needed them to be amazed, not 00:07:43.689 --> 00:07:47.750 by their preparation, but by the gospel itself. 00:07:48.870 --> 00:07:53.370 See, He sends them out with nothing except the 00:07:53.370 --> 00:07:56.389 gospel. Jesus sent His disciples out with nothing, 00:07:56.470 --> 00:07:59.930 and what happens? Did they end up going out there 00:07:59.930 --> 00:08:02.850 and saying, wow, that's unfortunate, we really 00:08:02.850 --> 00:08:04.709 messed up on that, let's just go ahead and write 00:08:04.709 --> 00:08:09.350 it off on our taxes, we should be okay? No. They 00:08:09.350 --> 00:08:13.170 come back amazed. Lord, even the demons submit 00:08:13.170 --> 00:08:16.490 to us in Your name." They didn't go out with 00:08:16.490 --> 00:08:20.069 any power. There was no power in them. It was 00:08:20.069 --> 00:08:23.470 coming through them from the Gospel. They didn't 00:08:23.470 --> 00:08:26.990 carry healing in a bag like a bottle of hot sauce. 00:08:27.149 --> 00:08:32.110 They became vessels of healing themselves. They 00:08:32.110 --> 00:08:35.350 didn't carry resources. They carried the Kingdom. 00:08:36.649 --> 00:08:38.730 They didn't wait for the world to make it easy. 00:08:38.730 --> 00:08:41.860 They stepped forward. and found out that God 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:45.000 was with them. Without a plan, without certainty, 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:47.480 without sponsors, they went wherever they could 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:50.259 and shared that Jesus had brought the kingdom 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:55.200 to earth. But it wasn't just the words. They 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.379 embodied it with their presence. They go into 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:01.779 a town and immediately they are looking for ways 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:06.940 to live the message itself. They brought peace 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:11.440 into people's homes. They found where people 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.379 were struggling with evil and they cast it out. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:20.759 They restored. They comforted. They healed. Someone 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.759 from out of nowhere who has no vested interest 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:30.779 in you except for your good. The Gospel was so 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:34.460 real to them that it changed the very atmosphere 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:40.940 wherever they went. and they were willing to 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:44.340 be vulnerable. To hope that there would be others 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:46.940 who would respond to the Gospel and welcome them 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:49.720 into their homes without ever having known them 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.179 before. People of peace who would then introduce 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:55.179 the disciples to their friends as well. They 00:09:55.179 --> 00:09:58.720 weren't supposed to then go and stop and see 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.299 the people that already knew them well and would 00:10:01.299 --> 00:10:04.019 give them stuff to go with them. They were going 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:07.799 right past. to find people whose only response 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:13.500 would be to know that they needed Messiah, grace, 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:19.639 the hope of God, and that He was here. And that's 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:23.440 all that they had to offer. And that's all that 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:28.779 anyone needed. But was Jesus responding to their 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:32.470 excitement the same way? Was He as excited about 00:10:32.470 --> 00:10:35.690 all the amazing things? Is He excited? Wow, I'm 00:10:35.690 --> 00:10:37.769 really glad you managed to cast out some demons. 00:10:37.990 --> 00:10:40.389 Oh man, good job. Oh my goodness, you were able 00:10:40.389 --> 00:10:44.309 to heal that? Oh wow, goodness, that was awesome. 00:10:46.389 --> 00:10:50.049 Do not rejoice that the Spirit submit to you, 00:10:50.590 --> 00:10:53.110 but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 00:10:54.350 --> 00:10:57.590 Don't root your identity in your performance. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:02.120 Don't root your identity in the things that you 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:05.340 feel are amazing to do and wondering, wow, how 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:08.500 did I have the power to do that? Your identity 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:12.220 is when what God has already done and that you 00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:15.039 belong to Him. Of course you can do these things 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:18.120 because you already belong to the One who does 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:23.159 that. See, that's where our joy is and that's 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:28.509 where the power truly is. Did it need anything 00:11:28.509 --> 00:11:32.009 from the disciples, per se? They weren't impressive 00:11:32.009 --> 00:11:35.090 to him. I mean, we've watched The Chosen. We 00:11:35.090 --> 00:11:39.590 know how quirky those people are. Totally, totally 00:11:39.590 --> 00:11:47.409 actual footage. But seeing that the people themselves 00:11:47.409 --> 00:11:53.070 were able to show the power of the gospel, show 00:11:53.070 --> 00:11:56.669 just how powerful it truly was, trusting that 00:11:56.669 --> 00:12:00.889 God would use them without their strength and 00:12:00.889 --> 00:12:05.769 God be praised, letting go of their fear. Could 00:12:05.769 --> 00:12:10.269 you see that in us though? Whenever we see someone 00:12:10.269 --> 00:12:12.730 that's living in an unhealthy place in their 00:12:12.730 --> 00:12:17.929 life, and how often we want to make sure we scare 00:12:17.929 --> 00:12:20.690 them into changing, punish them into changing, 00:12:21.049 --> 00:12:27.379 push them, shame them for the gospel. instead 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:31.059 of just spending time with them and saying, I 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:34.379 want better for you. And I know that there's 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:38.679 better for you. But wherever you are, I'll be 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:42.139 here with you. Or the times whenever we hear 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:44.539 someone say something that we're just like, you 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:48.210 know... That annoys me. That bothers me. I don't 00:12:48.210 --> 00:12:50.509 like what you said. And we will do what we can 00:12:50.509 --> 00:12:53.289 to confront them. And then we will try to find 00:12:53.289 --> 00:12:55.549 the people around us that will do the same and 00:12:55.549 --> 00:12:59.309 corner them. Whether it be in person or in the 00:12:59.309 --> 00:13:02.570 virtual world. Instead of just saying, you know, 00:13:02.590 --> 00:13:05.970 I hear you. I understand why you feel that way. 00:13:06.629 --> 00:13:11.340 This is what I believe. and even the times whenever 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:14.320 we spend so long looking for yes people to stand 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.340 around us, instead of being willing to go in 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:21.600 places where we know we may be the only one who 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.600 sees and knows what is true. See, that's also 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:30.659 what ends up bringing us into Galatians 6. See, 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:33.059 Paul is writing to a church that should already 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:35.679 know that the gospel is not about their power, 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:39.039 but it's still so easy for them to try to take 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.879 control. to force results, to make things work 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.460 by their own strength, by their own force. I'm 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:47.659 sure none of us have ever felt that we had to 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.919 be completely in control of anything or anyone 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:55.200 to feel comfortable and confident. But it ends 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:58.179 up saying, if someone is caught in a sin, you 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:00.659 who live by the Spirit should repore that person 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:05.519 gently. But watch yourselves or you also may 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:11.019 be tempted. Carry each other's burdens and in 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:18.059 this way you will fulfill the law of Christ It 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:22.360 is so easy that we miss out on the things that 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:25.600 we've struggled with Because we're so confident 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:29.720 in making sure somebody else gets fixed and stopped 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:32.740 from making their mistakes or having their struggles 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:40.429 We are in a place in a nation, in communities 00:14:40.429 --> 00:14:44.129 that have been in hardship. We've had to flee 00:14:44.129 --> 00:14:47.909 from places where people rejected us because 00:14:47.909 --> 00:14:51.789 we didn't say things the same way they did. We've 00:14:51.789 --> 00:14:54.250 had to be in a place where we were vulnerable 00:14:54.250 --> 00:14:59.950 and unsure and scared. Do we know how to remind 00:14:59.950 --> 00:15:03.549 each other that the gospel is for them even as 00:15:03.549 --> 00:15:08.809 we brought it with ourselves to come here? We've 00:15:08.809 --> 00:15:12.029 been in this nation that has had so many successes 00:15:12.029 --> 00:15:15.610 in so many ways, but the temptation after success, 00:15:15.789 --> 00:15:18.289 whether it be in your life, in your ministry, 00:15:18.389 --> 00:15:22.570 in your spirit, is to become someone who corrects 00:15:22.570 --> 00:15:27.470 rather than carries. Paul says that if someone 00:15:27.470 --> 00:15:29.710 in the church falls into sin, the response is 00:15:29.710 --> 00:15:33.509 not the judgment or the gossip, but the gentle 00:15:33.509 --> 00:15:38.029 restoration. by those who are mature. The more 00:15:38.029 --> 00:15:43.370 mature you are in your faith is when you have 00:15:43.370 --> 00:15:48.629 to help out people the most. How much do we want 00:15:48.629 --> 00:15:52.470 to spend our time to shame others or to reject 00:15:52.470 --> 00:15:56.549 them to feel better about ourselves? Because 00:15:56.549 --> 00:15:58.629 if you belong to the kingdom and your name is 00:15:58.629 --> 00:16:02.590 written in heaven, we prove it by walking with 00:16:02.590 --> 00:16:06.460 others. not by the power we think we can wield. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:11.639 You see, we're meant to help people in growth 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:17.139 and healing, but in doing we must stay humble. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.679 The moment that we think we have figured it out 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:25.179 is the moment that sin has creeped in the most. 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.840 Because we're called to bear each other's weight, 00:16:29.769 --> 00:16:32.789 But we're also called to see what it is that 00:16:32.789 --> 00:16:35.269 we need to deal with ourselves. See, helping 00:16:35.269 --> 00:16:38.669 someone in their struggle is living out what 00:16:38.669 --> 00:16:42.889 Christ has given us. We spoke last week about 00:16:42.889 --> 00:16:47.370 how each of us faces struggles. And then if we're 00:16:47.370 --> 00:16:50.629 being honest, if any of us feels that we are 00:16:50.629 --> 00:16:54.649 no longer struggling in our life in sin, then 00:16:54.649 --> 00:16:57.110 that means that you're probably losing the battle. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.320 because the battle doesn't end before Christ 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:07.799 returns. And rather is that knowing we are struggling 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.960 too is to walk alongside people and knowing that 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:14.980 they need the power not of ourselves, but of 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:19.779 the gospel that gives us hope. See, as we live 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:22.319 this Christian life, there's a false confidence 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:26.059 that we get. It creeps in. And Paul warns us, 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:29.509 don't deceive yourselves. It's not about your 00:17:29.509 --> 00:17:33.589 platform. Let the seed of the gospel grow in 00:17:33.589 --> 00:17:37.230 planting the kingdom. If anyone thinks they are 00:17:37.230 --> 00:17:40.910 something, when they are not, they deceive themselves. 00:17:42.009 --> 00:17:45.549 There is nothing for us to be arrogant about. 00:17:47.069 --> 00:17:49.990 Each one should test their own actions. Then 00:17:49.990 --> 00:17:52.170 they can take pride in themselves alone without 00:17:52.170 --> 00:17:55.609 comparing themselves to someone else. For each 00:17:55.609 --> 00:17:59.960 one should carry their own load. It's not about 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:03.420 taking pride in ourselves per se. What Paul's 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:05.779 trying to explain is that it's not about focusing 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:09.059 on whether or not you fix somebody else's spiritual 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:12.140 life. It's about whether or not you're acknowledging 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:16.960 the need to change in your own. This is about 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.680 walking alongside one to carry their burden, 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:22.740 not to make sure they remember just how heavy 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:27.099 it is. instead of looking at the sins that someone 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:29.140 else is struggling with is that instead we need 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:33.000 to deal with the ones of our own. And it's hard. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.319 It's hard to be in this. And you all are in it 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:41.400 with me and we are in it with each other. And 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:44.880 we need encouragement. We need to be strengthened. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:47.660 We need to be reminded that just because we've 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:49.980 got the parts that we don't have all together, 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:53.599 it doesn't mean that now we don't have a part 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.079 to play. The times whenever I've had to speak 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:00.519 to someone and say, hey, we could do this better. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:05.460 I'm sure that there's room for growth. It's remembering 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:10.119 it's because I've also had to grow too. And being 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:13.279 grateful for the times whenever the one who receives 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.240 instruction in the Word should share all good 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.980 things with their instructor. And how grateful 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:21.819 I've been when many of you have encouraged me 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:26.910 at the times I've needed it as well. Do not be 00:19:26.910 --> 00:19:33.990 deceived God cannot be mocked Isn't it amazing 00:19:33.990 --> 00:19:37.210 that we're so sure that if we are not the ones 00:19:37.210 --> 00:19:41.369 to make it happen Then we're somehow believing 00:19:41.369 --> 00:19:48.289 that God is not in control But let us not become 00:19:48.289 --> 00:19:52.910 weary in doing good for at the proper time we 00:19:52.910 --> 00:19:56.579 will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:58.940 as we have opportunity, let us do good to all 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:01.940 people, especially to those who belong to the 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:07.579 family of believers. I know it's frustrating. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.779 I know that there are the times you see the same 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:17.579 people do the same things over and over, even 00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:23.130 as people see us do the same as well. But the 00:20:23.130 --> 00:20:27.829 gospel is still the only thing that has the true 00:20:27.829 --> 00:20:32.509 power. And that as hard as it may be, that's 00:20:32.509 --> 00:20:34.930 the only thing we're called to do and we must 00:20:34.930 --> 00:20:39.210 not become weary. I know that it feels like we 00:20:39.210 --> 00:20:41.450 wish that we could just push things a little 00:20:41.450 --> 00:20:44.250 harder and then we could finally see some change 00:20:44.250 --> 00:20:47.430 in the world. Make it happen. Push it. Force 00:20:47.430 --> 00:20:51.390 it. But the same thing that we've been called 00:20:51.390 --> 00:20:55.289 to do, to be, is the same thing that we're called 00:20:55.289 --> 00:20:59.230 to do going forward as well. We are called to 00:20:59.230 --> 00:21:05.269 be faithful. That's it. Because the power that 00:21:05.269 --> 00:21:09.700 God displays is what He is going to do, even 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:12.259 when it's slow, even when it's quiet, even when 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:15.319 no one notices, even whenever people are distracted 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:18.220 and arguing at you, even when people fall asleep 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:21.099 in you, even whenever people are just trying 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:23.940 to be distracted by anything and everything else. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:31.680 We keep going. It's not glamorous. But that's 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.109 what bears fruit. When was the last time you 00:21:35.109 --> 00:21:37.910 ever heard of a successful garden being glamorous 00:21:37.910 --> 00:21:41.609 and producing the fruit that you actually want 00:21:41.609 --> 00:21:46.529 and Just like the disciples going into mission 00:21:46.529 --> 00:21:51.190 without a safety net Without our own plans or 00:21:51.190 --> 00:21:54.710 power or considerations we come back stunned 00:21:54.710 --> 00:21:59.970 by what God does through us This is not about 00:21:59.970 --> 00:22:03.269 thinking you've got it all figured out But going 00:22:03.269 --> 00:22:08.529 out and doing it Because what I've seen is the 00:22:08.529 --> 00:22:11.190 times whenever we don't know if we have the right 00:22:11.190 --> 00:22:14.529 words or the right thing to do and then a Middle 00:22:14.529 --> 00:22:17.529 school child is saying you mentioned something 00:22:17.529 --> 00:22:21.470 about the gospel Could you please explain this 00:22:21.470 --> 00:22:25.289 to me just a little bit more? Or somebody says 00:22:25.289 --> 00:22:29.509 I'm afraid because I don't know if Satan wants 00:22:29.509 --> 00:22:35.900 me Where can I find hope? And then knowing that 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:39.619 it's the same message that has always brought 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:44.039 us that hope. But are you willing to go into 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:47.759 the unknown and to move forward into the things 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:52.980 that maybe you're not sure about yet? See, the 00:22:52.980 --> 00:23:01.200 mission is not easy, but it's worth it. We're 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:05.119 called to be gentle with those who fall. We're 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:08.160 called to sow in what God has spoken by the gospel, 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:13.019 not the power of our flesh. We're waiting for 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:18.700 God to change people, not us. How many years 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:22.859 were people at NASA and beyond wishing that we'd 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:26.099 get back out there again and push the limits, 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:31.059 waiting, hoping? that someday people would see 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:33.839 that it was time to get back to the moon and 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:37.779 beyond. And how many of them continued to do 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:42.500 their work tirelessly to learn and to study and 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:47.619 to be ready. Is the same true for us? In a nation 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:50.400 where we are given the freedom to share our faith 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:54.599 boldly and without fear, are we willing to do 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:57.880 that without knowing what the outcome may be? 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:02.079 And my hope and prayer is that we would trust 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:05.940 the gospel to do the work. Not what we think 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:09.279 we can organize, not what we think we can make 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:13.000 happen, but trusting what God has already done 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:17.559 in Christ Jesus. So may we continue to trust 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:20.640 that as our names are written in heaven, God 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:23.859 has given us the power to do his work in this 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:26.539 world and beyond. Thanks be to God.