I was watching a video that was not too long
ago about Buzz Aldrin. There were some interviews
from him. Now, not everybody may remember the
name. How many of you were around when people
landed on the moon for the first time? All right,
all right. We got plenty, we got plenty. I will
just not respond in that regard. But hey, I heard
it was great. So 10 out of 10 so with that is
realizing that there are many of us that are
trying to look back and understand about this
because there were Six landings on the moon over
the course of a few years and it hasn't happened
again in little over 50 You know Buzz Aldrin
was the second person to actually walk on the
moon But you know, what's astounding is not just
walking on the moon, but also how many people
Believe it didn't actually happen. You know,
we live in a world that still gasps when people
do things that seem impossible, when someone
stretches a rope between two skyscrapers and
tightrope walks across it, or when somebody can
hold their breath underwater for an extended
period of time, or whenever somebody has jumped
from outer space down toward the ground and is
able to parachute and land safely. To be honest,
what makes the moon landing such a big deal is
not just that it happened, but that we didn't
really even think it could happen. It's too big.
It's too bold. It was too far beyond what we
thought was even achievable. And even today,
because it's so astonishing, One out of every
ten people is convinced it actually didn't happen.
So in this room right now, there could possibly
be a handful of people that are like, nope, could
not have happened at all. So my apologies to
you this day. See, even with six different missions
arriving there and multiple countries confirming
it, and there are even reflectors on the surface
of the moon that light can shine to it and come
back to us and we can actually measure how far
away the moon is from us at any given point in
time. Even so, there are many people who discuss
how fake it is. The hours of training simulations.
that were mocking up the moon environment built
on sound stages or outdoor sandlots that were
used for training or public education or media
outreach, the staged recreations for the press
to visualize what the astronauts were going to
do on the moon or even to understand what was
happening when they couldn't see on the footage
and promotional footage that was used for TV
specials and classroom use and museums. In today's
world, they're oftentimes seen as an attempt
to trick the public. And even videos of Buzz
Aldrin, a man who was in his 80s at the time,
who's now 95, trying to answer questions and
getting his words twisted, because it's easier
for some people to believe a massive deception
than to believe that we actually saw the moon,
decided to go, and made it. And I think that's
part of the point. Sometimes we're tempted to
dismiss the amazing if we can't wrap our heads
around how we could possibly make it happen or
without us being the ones who are in control.
We think if we don't have the plan or we don't
have the strength or we don't have the resources
then surely it cannot be done. We are in a country
that has people who came over after the world
was convinced that there were dragons if they
were to sail too far across the sea. So I think
that we've discovered that there are things we
may think were impossible that just haven't been
done yet. But the Apollo mission, it didn't start
with somebody saying, you know, let's take this
a little bit at a time. Let's go slowly, okay?
Let's just spend some time. We'll make sure that
our space shuttles orbit around the Earth for
a while. We're going to stay there. And then
we're going to make a space station. Okay, and
we'll do that for a while first. Okay, we'll
hang out there for a bit, and then we'll send
William Shatner and Katy Perry into space, and
if it's safe for them, then it's safe for us.
You cannot blame that for how William Shatner
talks. But instead, it started in this point
of time of President Kennedy saying, we choose
to go to the moon not because it is easy, but
because it is hard. The goal itself called the
people into action. It didn't happen because
humans believed they could easily do it. It happened
because they believed it had to be done. We've
even seen the movies where they've got people
desperately doing the mathematical calculations
realizing that they didn't have it all figured
out as people were going around the moon and
trying to find their way back. But the belief
that it would be done, they rose beyond their
limits. And while politics and funding, and believe
it or not, the boredom of landing on the Moon,
kept us from going to the Moon for over five
decades, the plan is to land there again in two
years. Not because we fully understand everything
about space, but because we're called by that
mission, and because now, apparently, we want
to go to Mars. I'm sure it's made out of chocolate.
It'll be great. See, that idea, of being sent
into something bigger than ourselves. It's exactly
where Jesus meets His disciples in Luke 10. It
was one thing for them to be going out into the
world with the Messiah there, doing miracles
and preaching these amazing sermons, but now
you're going to go do it. He sends out 72 of
them, so not even just the 12. We're talking
about the larger grouping of disciples. sending
them out in pairs saying, I am sending you out
like lambs among wolves. Wow, that's encouraging.
Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. Could
you imagine hearing that? Not just go, but go
unprepared. Don't bring a bag. Don't bring money.
Don't even bring extra shoes. I keep an extra
sport coat in the car just in case. I cannot
get my mind around this. Just go. Could you imagine
if that were us? We'd probably say, well, let
me make sure I've got my whole support base ready
for the next 10 years. Or let me make sure that
my message is polished. How many times whenever
we say, hey, would you be willing to speak in
front of people and people already start to shake?
Or, well, could I just go where the people are
friendly and I already have a place to stay and
have it all figured out? Or... Let me make sure
I have an app for that. You know, Jesus is sending
His disciples out with nothing. This isn't because
they were always going to go out with nothing.
But He needed them to understand something about
this. Because He needed them to be amazed, not
by their preparation, but by the gospel itself.
See, He sends them out with nothing except the
gospel. Jesus sent His disciples out with nothing,
and what happens? Did they end up going out there
and saying, wow, that's unfortunate, we really
messed up on that, let's just go ahead and write
it off on our taxes, we should be okay? No. They
come back amazed. Lord, even the demons submit
to us in Your name." They didn't go out with
any power. There was no power in them. It was
coming through them from the Gospel. They didn't
carry healing in a bag like a bottle of hot sauce.
They became vessels of healing themselves. They
didn't carry resources. They carried the Kingdom.
They didn't wait for the world to make it easy.
They stepped forward. and found out that God
was with them. Without a plan, without certainty,
without sponsors, they went wherever they could
and shared that Jesus had brought the kingdom
to earth. But it wasn't just the words. They
embodied it with their presence. They go into
a town and immediately they are looking for ways
to live the message itself. They brought peace
into people's homes. They found where people
were struggling with evil and they cast it out.
They restored. They comforted. They healed. Someone
from out of nowhere who has no vested interest
in you except for your good. The Gospel was so
real to them that it changed the very atmosphere
wherever they went. and they were willing to
be vulnerable. To hope that there would be others
who would respond to the Gospel and welcome them
into their homes without ever having known them
before. People of peace who would then introduce
the disciples to their friends as well. They
weren't supposed to then go and stop and see
the people that already knew them well and would
give them stuff to go with them. They were going
right past. to find people whose only response
would be to know that they needed Messiah, grace,
the hope of God, and that He was here. And that's
all that they had to offer. And that's all that
anyone needed. But was Jesus responding to their
excitement the same way? Was He as excited about
all the amazing things? Is He excited? Wow, I'm
really glad you managed to cast out some demons.
Oh man, good job. Oh my goodness, you were able
to heal that? Oh wow, goodness, that was awesome.
Do not rejoice that the Spirit submit to you,
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Don't root your identity in your performance.
Don't root your identity in the things that you
feel are amazing to do and wondering, wow, how
did I have the power to do that? Your identity
is when what God has already done and that you
belong to Him. Of course you can do these things
because you already belong to the One who does
that. See, that's where our joy is and that's
where the power truly is. Did it need anything
from the disciples, per se? They weren't impressive
to him. I mean, we've watched The Chosen. We
know how quirky those people are. Totally, totally
actual footage. But seeing that the people themselves
were able to show the power of the gospel, show
just how powerful it truly was, trusting that
God would use them without their strength and
God be praised, letting go of their fear. Could
you see that in us though? Whenever we see someone
that's living in an unhealthy place in their
life, and how often we want to make sure we scare
them into changing, punish them into changing,
push them, shame them for the gospel. instead
of just spending time with them and saying, I
want better for you. And I know that there's
better for you. But wherever you are, I'll be
here with you. Or the times whenever we hear
someone say something that we're just like, you
know... That annoys me. That bothers me. I don't
like what you said. And we will do what we can
to confront them. And then we will try to find
the people around us that will do the same and
corner them. Whether it be in person or in the
virtual world. Instead of just saying, you know,
I hear you. I understand why you feel that way.
This is what I believe. and even the times whenever
we spend so long looking for yes people to stand
around us, instead of being willing to go in
places where we know we may be the only one who
sees and knows what is true. See, that's also
what ends up bringing us into Galatians 6. See,
Paul is writing to a church that should already
know that the gospel is not about their power,
but it's still so easy for them to try to take
control. to force results, to make things work
by their own strength, by their own force. I'm
sure none of us have ever felt that we had to
be completely in control of anything or anyone
to feel comfortable and confident. But it ends
up saying, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who live by the Spirit should repore that person
gently. But watch yourselves or you also may
be tempted. Carry each other's burdens and in
this way you will fulfill the law of Christ It
is so easy that we miss out on the things that
we've struggled with Because we're so confident
in making sure somebody else gets fixed and stopped
from making their mistakes or having their struggles
We are in a place in a nation, in communities
that have been in hardship. We've had to flee
from places where people rejected us because
we didn't say things the same way they did. We've
had to be in a place where we were vulnerable
and unsure and scared. Do we know how to remind
each other that the gospel is for them even as
we brought it with ourselves to come here? We've
been in this nation that has had so many successes
in so many ways, but the temptation after success,
whether it be in your life, in your ministry,
in your spirit, is to become someone who corrects
rather than carries. Paul says that if someone
in the church falls into sin, the response is
not the judgment or the gossip, but the gentle
restoration. by those who are mature. The more
mature you are in your faith is when you have
to help out people the most. How much do we want
to spend our time to shame others or to reject
them to feel better about ourselves? Because
if you belong to the kingdom and your name is
written in heaven, we prove it by walking with
others. not by the power we think we can wield.
You see, we're meant to help people in growth
and healing, but in doing we must stay humble.
The moment that we think we have figured it out
is the moment that sin has creeped in the most.
Because we're called to bear each other's weight,
But we're also called to see what it is that
we need to deal with ourselves. See, helping
someone in their struggle is living out what
Christ has given us. We spoke last week about
how each of us faces struggles. And then if we're
being honest, if any of us feels that we are
no longer struggling in our life in sin, then
that means that you're probably losing the battle.
because the battle doesn't end before Christ
returns. And rather is that knowing we are struggling
too is to walk alongside people and knowing that
they need the power not of ourselves, but of
the gospel that gives us hope. See, as we live
this Christian life, there's a false confidence
that we get. It creeps in. And Paul warns us,
don't deceive yourselves. It's not about your
platform. Let the seed of the gospel grow in
planting the kingdom. If anyone thinks they are
something, when they are not, they deceive themselves.
There is nothing for us to be arrogant about.
Each one should test their own actions. Then
they can take pride in themselves alone without
comparing themselves to someone else. For each
one should carry their own load. It's not about
taking pride in ourselves per se. What Paul's
trying to explain is that it's not about focusing
on whether or not you fix somebody else's spiritual
life. It's about whether or not you're acknowledging
the need to change in your own. This is about
walking alongside one to carry their burden,
not to make sure they remember just how heavy
it is. instead of looking at the sins that someone
else is struggling with is that instead we need
to deal with the ones of our own. And it's hard.
It's hard to be in this. And you all are in it
with me and we are in it with each other. And
we need encouragement. We need to be strengthened.
We need to be reminded that just because we've
got the parts that we don't have all together,
it doesn't mean that now we don't have a part
to play. The times whenever I've had to speak
to someone and say, hey, we could do this better.
I'm sure that there's room for growth. It's remembering
it's because I've also had to grow too. And being
grateful for the times whenever the one who receives
instruction in the Word should share all good
things with their instructor. And how grateful
I've been when many of you have encouraged me
at the times I've needed it as well. Do not be
deceived God cannot be mocked Isn't it amazing
that we're so sure that if we are not the ones
to make it happen Then we're somehow believing
that God is not in control But let us not become
weary in doing good for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers. I know it's frustrating.
I know that there are the times you see the same
people do the same things over and over, even
as people see us do the same as well. But the
gospel is still the only thing that has the true
power. And that as hard as it may be, that's
the only thing we're called to do and we must
not become weary. I know that it feels like we
wish that we could just push things a little
harder and then we could finally see some change
in the world. Make it happen. Push it. Force
it. But the same thing that we've been called
to do, to be, is the same thing that we're called
to do going forward as well. We are called to
be faithful. That's it. Because the power that
God displays is what He is going to do, even
when it's slow, even when it's quiet, even when
no one notices, even whenever people are distracted
and arguing at you, even when people fall asleep
in you, even whenever people are just trying
to be distracted by anything and everything else.
We keep going. It's not glamorous. But that's
what bears fruit. When was the last time you
ever heard of a successful garden being glamorous
and producing the fruit that you actually want
and Just like the disciples going into mission
without a safety net Without our own plans or
power or considerations we come back stunned
by what God does through us This is not about
thinking you've got it all figured out But going
out and doing it Because what I've seen is the
times whenever we don't know if we have the right
words or the right thing to do and then a Middle
school child is saying you mentioned something
about the gospel Could you please explain this
to me just a little bit more? Or somebody says
I'm afraid because I don't know if Satan wants
me Where can I find hope? And then knowing that
it's the same message that has always brought
us that hope. But are you willing to go into
the unknown and to move forward into the things
that maybe you're not sure about yet? See, the
mission is not easy, but it's worth it. We're
called to be gentle with those who fall. We're
called to sow in what God has spoken by the gospel,
not the power of our flesh. We're waiting for
God to change people, not us. How many years
were people at NASA and beyond wishing that we'd
get back out there again and push the limits,
waiting, hoping? that someday people would see
that it was time to get back to the moon and
beyond. And how many of them continued to do
their work tirelessly to learn and to study and
to be ready. Is the same true for us? In a nation
where we are given the freedom to share our faith
boldly and without fear, are we willing to do
that without knowing what the outcome may be?
And my hope and prayer is that we would trust
the gospel to do the work. Not what we think
we can organize, not what we think we can make
happen, but trusting what God has already done
in Christ Jesus. So may we continue to trust
that as our names are written in heaven, God
has given us the power to do his work in this
world and beyond. Thanks be to God.