I'm gonna talk to you this morning about capacity capacity how many times have you thought
! or said to yourself I don't have the capacity I don't have the capacity to handle my my my business
! my job I don't have the capacity to handle my marriage I have the capacity to handle single being
single I know the capacity to handle all these kids I have the capacity to handle our church
I don't have the capacity to handle my living situation
I don't have the capacity to handle all the things wrong with my house
I don't have the capacity to handle my health
I don't have the capacity to handle
I mean you guys keep going, you get the point?
I don't have the capacity, we say this
maybe we don't say it out loud
but it's reverberating in our minds, right?
Oh, I can't do this, I don't have the capacity
it's like, I'm at the end of myself
what's the definition of capacity?
the maximum amount that something can contain, produce, or hold
another way of saying it is, what someone can handle
what this life, this person can handle
and what happens is you feel like, oh
more than I can handle just got put on my plate
more than I can handle has been doled out to me
and therefore, I can't handle it
I don't have the capacity
so what's your max?
you know, what's
what's
what is the max that you can handle?
how do you view your max being challenged
and your weakness being exposed?
do you freak out about that?
do you avoid that?
do you embrace that?
let's look at 2 Corinthians chapter 11
24 to 30
2 Corinthians 11
24 to 30
speaking of capacity
this is Paul
five times I received at the hands of the Jews
the 40 lashes less one
okay, you could stop there
I don't know if
capacity wise
five times
the
the 40 lashes less one
that's some intense lashing right there
okay
five times that happened to him
one time would probably do us in
okay
five times
it goes on
three times
I was beaten with rods
how many times have you been beaten with rods?
why not?
three times
or any time
one time I was stoned
three times I was shipwrecked
a night and a day
I was adrift at sea
on frequent journeys
in danger from rivers
danger from robbers
danger from my own people
danger from Gentiles
danger in the city
danger in the wilderness
danger at sea
danger from false brothers
in toil and hardship
through many a sleepless night
in hunger and thirst
often without food
in cold and exposure
and apart from other things
there is the daily pressure on me
of my anxiety for all the churches
who is weak
and I am not weak
who is made to fall
and I am not indignant
if I must boast
I will boast of the things
that show my weakness
if I will boast
I must boast
I will boast of the things
that show my weakness
that's quite a list
it's quite a list
and
you know
when we talk about these kind of things
over my many years of preaching
I've observed
that two people
hear the exact same sermon
and they have a completely different response
what is
one is burdened
and one is challenged
okay
one is burdened
and one is challenged
why is that
well
it really depends on what we believe
about
what we can handle
really believe
it depends on what we believe
about our capacity
which really means
it really depends
what we believe about God
okay
1 John 5 verse 3
says
his commands
are not burdensome
how many times have we said
the very opposite
of what the word of God
just says right there
maybe you didn't say it out loud
but in your heart
you said
oh I can't do this
his commands are burdensome
it's too much
the preacher preaching
the commands of God
it's too much
well what does the Bible say
his commands are not burdensome
which are you going to believe
are you going to believe
your feelings
are you going to believe
your thoughts
are you going to believe
what you see
or are you going to believe
what the word of God says
his word says
his unchanging
unshakable word
says
his commands
are not burdensome
and then in 2 Peter 1 verse 3
reading from the NIV
it says
his divine power
has given us
everything we need
for life
and for godliness
through our knowledge
of him who called us
by his own glory
and goodness
what has his divine power
given us
most of what we need
some of what we need
part of what we need
no
his divine power
has given us
everything
we need
for life
and for godliness
do you believe that
this morning
do you believe that
do you believe it
Monday morning
do you believe it
Friday morning
do you believe it
every day
how many times
do we wake up
and we'll sometimes
even say it out loud
I can't do this
right
oftentimes
Gina
does
is a dual
a lot of times
with people in their birth
and at some point in time
during their birth
the wife
the mom will say
I can't do this
right
I can't do this
but the truth is
this crazy thing
women do it all the time
right
they have babies
but at some point
in that process
they say
I can't do this
and if someone
looking from the outside in
says that's not true
you actually can
and you will
as many people
before you have
for thousands of years
and yet so often
we believe
what we feel
more than we believe
what is true
and I'm telling you
you have everything
you need
for life
and for godliness
and where does it come from
his divine power
God's power
has given you
everything you need
for life and godliness
do you believe that
you trust that
will you believe that
more than you believe
how you feel
will you believe that
more than what you see
with your eyes
okay
I want to look at
five things that drive
our capacity
okay
first one
gospel driven capacity
alright
gospel driven capacity
God's forgiveness
an awareness of
God's forgiveness
knowledge of and experience
of God's forgiveness
expands our capacity
Luke 7 47
Jesus says
her sins
which are many
are forgiven
for she loved much
but who forgives
little
loves little
who's been forgiven
little loves little
so who's been forgiven
much loves much
whoever's been forgiven
loves little
what does that mean
your
your capacity
to forgive
your capacity
to love
is directly
proportionate
to how much
you believe
you've been forgiven
does that make sense
so
when you feel like
I can't love
you need to go to
the well of forgiveness
and your
your capacity
will be expanded
sometimes
it's just like
you know
the story of the guy
who gets forgiven
so much
and then he's like
gets out of jail
and he goes to that guy
and he says
basically give me my five dollars
and if you don't pay me
back everything
I'm putting you in jail
you just think
what is wrong
with that guy
he lacks the capacity
to love
why
because he did not realize
and internalize
how much he'd been forgiven
it wasn't even
excuse me
wasn't even that he wasn't
forgiven a lot
is that he couldn't
he didn't realize it
he didn't internalize it
he didn't experience it
and this can happen
as us as Christians
it's not that you
haven't been forgiven a lot
it's that we just don't
believe it
we don't experience it
or we experience it
in the past
but we're not experiencing it now
we've forgotten
that's just why we take
the Lord's table
every week
right
to remember what we've been
forgiven of
those have been forgiven
much love much
those have been forgiven
little love little
Luke 7 47
God's mercy expands capacity
Romans 12 verse 1
and then he says
I urge you brothers and sisters
in view of God's mercy
to offer your bodies
as living sacrifice
again it doesn't just say
sometimes we think
oh I gotta offer my body
as a living sacrifice
I have to sacrifice
I have to give up things
and we forget the first part
of the verse
it doesn't just say
offer your bodies
as a living sacrifice
it says in view
of God's mercy
if you're trying to offer
your body as a living sacrifice
and God's mercy
isn't in your view
you're gonna
you're gonna have
the strong sense that
I can't do this
I can't sacrifice
I don't want to sacrifice
I can't sacrifice
what's the problem
God's mercy isn't in view
when God's mercy is in view
you all of a sudden
have this gumption
this motivation
to sacrifice
because of how much
he sacrificed for you
in view of God's mercy
offer your bodies
as living sacrifices
okay
God's mercy
expands
our capacity
God's grace
expands our capacity
Titus chapter 2
11 to 12
how often do we try to live
self-controlled
upright
godly lives
in this present age
without being motivated
by the fact that
God loves us
when we were
not self-controlled
when we were not
upright
and not godly
your ability
your power
to live self-controlled
and godly
and upright
in this present age
is directly proportionate
to your revelation
of how much
he loved you
and how he died for you
when none of those
things were there
that he loved you
for who you are
not who you should be
because none of us
was as we should be
he loved us
because
he is love
because he is God
and he shows mercy
in who he shows mercy
not because we were
worthy of mercy
we were not
but if you try to do
these things
and God's mercy
isn't in view
or God's grace
is not
your motivating factor
you'll burn out
you won't have the capacity
you won't have it it takes
but God's grace
expands capacity
God's love
expands capacity
1 John 4 19
we love
because
he first loved us
okay
if you're trying to love
which is obedience
1 John 5 verse 3
says this is love for God
to obey his commands
you're trying to obey
his commands
you're trying to love God
oh God I want to love you more
and it's just like
but I'm losing motivation
I'm losing energy
I'm losing strength
well are you doing it
because he first loved you
or are you just trying to do it
are you doing
are you trying to love God
to get God
or are you getting God
so that you can love God
you got it
you got it all twisted up
and
mixed up
if you're trying to love God
based off of yourself
the motivating factor
is God's love for you
do you know how he loves you
are you meditating
on how he loves you
are you experiencing
how much he loves you
do you wake up in the morning
and instead of saying
I can't do this
you could say
God
remind me
how much you love me
I've forgotten
once again
have mercy on me
I am a forgetful sinner
and then
you know that
he loves you
in that moment
for who you are
not who you should be
and it
love in your heart
wells up for him
and you want to obey him
desire comes from that place
2 Corinthians 5 14
says Christ's love compels us
there's a compelling nature
to his love
when you see it
you view it
you experience it
okay
especially
when you believe
his love never fails
okay
Psalm 135 verse 5
but I trust
in your
unfailing love
my heart rejoices
in your salvation
do you believe
that God's love
is unfailing
is that not
what our fear is
when we say
we don't have capacity
is that I don't know
if God's love
will be enough
I don't know
if it's going to
be there for me
Psalm 26 1 to 3
I've trusted in the Lord
and have not faltered
test me Lord
and try me
examine my heart
and my mind
for I have always
been mindful
of your unfailing love
and have lived
in reliance
on your faithfulness
did you hear that
is that us
I have always
been mindful
of your unfailing love
and have lived
in reliance
on your faithfulness
saying you don't
have capacity
is like saying
God's love
is going to fail me
I can't depend
on his faithfulness
he's not faithful
his love fails
no
I have always
been mindful
of your unfailing love
and I have lived
in reliance
on your faithfulness
therefore I believe
I have everything
I need for life
in godliness
therefore I believe
I have the capacity
because your love
has never failed me
and your faithfulness
can always be counted on
Psalm 32 verse 10
says many are the woes
of the wicked
but the Lord's
unfailing love
surrounds the one
who trusts in him
what are you trusting in
maybe the reason
you feel so
incapacitated
is because you woke up
trusting in yourself
and your tank
was already low
to begin with
you went to bed
with a low tank
you think you're
going to wake up
with a much higher tank
just because you got
a little bit of sleep
sleep might fill
your physical tank
but it ain't going to
fill your spiritual tank
you need to rest
and trust
in the unfailing
love of the father
do you wake
and praise him
and look to him
and say God
my love fails
my strength fails
my promises fail
everything I look to
fails
you are the only one
who is unfailing
and the Lord's
unfailing love
surrounds the one
who trusts in him
if you awake
trusting in him
say God
I must trust
in your unfailing love
I cannot trust
in my ability today
it will not get me
through
it will not give me
the capacity
but his love will
Psalm 33
18 to 22
the eyes of the Lord
are on those
who fear him
on those whose hope
is in his unfailing love
to deliver them
from death
and keep them alive
in famine
we wait in hope
for the Lord
he is our help
and our shield
in him our hearts rejoice
for we trust
in his holy name
may your unfailing love
be with us
Lord
even as we put
our hope
in you
put our hope
in his unfailing love
Psalm 147
verse 11
says the Lord
delights in those
who fear him
who put their hope
in his unfailing love
when's the last time
you experienced
the delight
of knowing
that God
delights in you
putting your hope
in his unfailing love
not only is his love
unfailing
but when you put your hope
in his unfailing love
he delights in you
he likes that
he enjoys that
not only can you
experience
his unfailing love
but you can experience
his delight
in you trusting
in his unfailing love
it's like
it's a double
it's a double blessing
his unfailing love
is already
pretty high
on the list
it's love
that doesn't fail
but then when you hope
in unfailing love
which is like
the biggest
no-brainer ever
how often
do we hope
in things that fail
so it's just like
man
it seems so easy
to hope
in things that fail
but I have such
a hard time
hoping in the
unfailing love
and then you think
about that
you think
what the heck
am I thinking
why is it so hard
to hope
in something
unfailing
and why do I so
often gravitate
for that which
fails
the fact that
God would then
delight in me
hoping in something
that's unfailing
how hard is it
to hope in something
unfailing
it's only hard
if you don't see it
you don't believe it
you don't know it
you haven't experienced it
and you're not
saturating yourself
in this love
Bible says
keep yourself
in the love of God
keep yourself
in the love of God
and then 1 Corinthians
13 8
love never
fails
do you believe that
this morning
do you believe it
every day
and are you a
trumpeter of this
what about to your
brother and sister
on the days when he
he or she doesn't
believe it
are you telling
him or her
God's love never
fails
God's love never
fails
you failed
your promise
failed
your strength
failed
your plans
failed
God's love
never fails
God's love
never fails
this is true
number two
rest driven
capacity
okay there's rest
in carrying his
yoke
Matthew 11
28 to 30
right we all
know this verse
come to me
all who labor
and are heavy
laden
and I will give
you rest
not I might
not hopefully
you will
man that would
be really nice
if you did
come to me
all who labor
and are heavy
laden
are you
are you heavy
are you laboring
are you tired
are you weary
he says come to
me
come to me
all who labor
and are heavy
laden
I will give
you rest
I will give
you rest
and the devil
whispers in your
he's not going
to give you rest
it's not restful
to come to him
it's burdensome
don't believe it
that's not true
you tell that lie
to go back to hell
where it came from
that's where it
belongs
and you quote the
scriptures to the
devil just like
Jesus did
you say no
that's not true
he said come to me
all you are weary
and heavy laden
I am weary
I am heavy laden
he said you will
give me rest
he didn't put any
conditions on it
he didn't say
if you got your life
all put together
if you have all the
faith in the world
if you made sure
you had the right
amount of quiet time
and you didn't talk
mean or harsh
to your spouse
no he said
come to me
that was the requirement
that was what
you needed to do
just come to him
you might be
dragging yourself there
you might be
limping all the way there
you might have
barely any faith
to get there
but you have enough
just to come
and that's all
that he requires
of you
and he says
I will give you rest
not I might give you rest
you gotta count on it
like your life
depends on it
because it does
because without it
you're weary
without it
you don't have the
strength to go on
and you think
life gets easier
you think
oh
you know
just the passage
of time
will make my life
easier
when has that
ever been true
that's never
been true
more things
keep coming on
do you believe
his grace is sufficient
if you do
you have to come
and that's the only
requirement
come as you are
come beat up
come bedraggled
you just come
and he says
I will give you rest
and then you take
his yoke upon you
and learn from me
for I am gentle
and lowly in heart
and you will find
rest for your souls
for my yoke is easy
and my burden is light
take my yoke upon you
you say
oh my yoke is too heavy
this is too much
then you lay it down
before him
and say
give me your yoke
give me your light
and easy yoke
give me your light
and easy yoke
and he says
and you will find
rest for your souls
do you believe that
again these are promises
this is the word of God
I am speaking to you
the word of the Lord
you want a prophetic
word for you
you will find rest
for your souls
if you come to him
that's really prophetic
you bet it is
it's the word of God
you'll find rest
for your souls
you can take that
to the bank
there is nothing
that can get in the way
of that
that is true
today
tomorrow
in the pouring rain
in the noonday sun
it is always true
it has always been true
and it always will be true
will we believe him
to go to him though
or will we go
to other things
will we go
to other things
to try to find rest
Netflix isn't your rest
doom scrolling
on social media
isn't your rest
working more
isn't your rest
okay
drowning it out
with food
or alcohol
or pick your poison
that is not your rest
Jesus is your rest
his yoke
is your rest
take it upon you
and you will find rest
for your souls
his yoke is easy
and his burden is light
Psalm 46 10
says it this way
in the NASB
it says
cease striving
and know that I am God
cease striving
give up striving
I'm not going to strive anymore
I'm not going to strive
to be something
what did we just sing
what did we say
is the power in us
Christ in me
right
is holiness
remember we were just saying that
it's easy to sing it
do you believe that
or are you
is striving in me
your holiness
if I just try hard enough
if I just
push myself hard enough
then I'll be holy
no that's not true
holiness in you
is Christ in you
holiness in you
is Christ in you
cease striving
and know that I am God
cease striving
and just let him be
who he is
not that you can stop him
from being who he is
in general
but you can definitely
get in the way of him
being who he is
in you
and we can't do that
you have to cease striving
and that cease striving
isn't a rebuke
as much as it's good news
stop fighting
stop striving
release it
let go of it
and know that I am God
there's rest
in his finished work
Romans 4 3 to 8
says what is the scripture saying
Abraham believed God
and it was counted to him
as righteousness
not of the one who works
his wages
are not counted
as a gift
but as is due
make sense
and to the one
who does not work
but believes in him
who justifies the ungodly
his faith is counted
as righteousness
man that is such good news
to the one
who does not work
meaning does not work
for salvation
does not work
to be seen differently
before the Lord
the one who does not work
for his righteousness
but the one
who has ceased
from his work
and who believes in him
who justifies the ungodly
isn't that awesome
that he justifies
the ungodly
isn't it awesome
that it doesn't say
that he justifies
the godly
because if he said
that he justifies
the godly
then he wouldn't
justify anybody
do you understand that
there is no godly
there is no one
who does good
there is no one
not even one
it says
if he didn't say
that he justifies
the ungodly
and said
no I only justify
the godly
there would be
no hope for us all
when he says
I justify the ungodly
he says
I justify people
like you and me
the one who does not work
but believes in him
who justifies the ungodly
his faith
is counted
as righteousness
just as David
also speaks
of the blessing
of the one
to whom God
counts righteousness
apart
from works
is your righteousness
apart from works
or does your
lack of works
or your evil works
come against you
and cause you
to believe
that your righteousness
is somehow at stake
that your righteousness
was somehow dependent
upon your works
so much so
that you can't
tell people
your weaknesses
you can't
voluntarily
offer up your weaknesses
and if someone
confronts you
in your weaknesses
you have to
defend yourself
and not let it
be exposed
because
I'm counting
in my own righteousness
and if someone
exposes my unrighteousness
it's a direct assault
on that which I find
my identity
and my worth in
this verse is
an affront
to that mentality
and guess what
it's in all of us
there's a little bit
of self-righteousness
in all of us
that says
no it's Jesus
plus my efforts
that's what it is
no
it never was
it isn't now
and it never will be
it's not Jesus
plus your efforts
it's Jesus
plus his efforts
plus his work
plus zero view
zero
Jesus plus nothing
equals everything
okay
you don't add to it
you can't add to it
and your attempts
to add to it
are disgusting
the Bible calls it
like a filthy rag
like a filthy menstrual rag
is your attempts
at righteousness
but we should be
the ones who cease
from our works
the ones who believe
and trust
and the one who justifies
the ungodly
and then our faith
is counted as righteousness
just as David speaks
of the blessing
of the one to whom
God counts righteousness
apart from works
blessed
are those whose lawless deeds
are forgiven
and whose sins are covered
blessed is the man
against whom the Lord
will not count his sin
amen and amen to that
Hebrews 4 9-10
says
so there remains
a Sabbath rest
for the people of God
for the one who has
entered his rest
has himself
also rested
from his works
as God did
from his
some of us need
to take a rest
from our self-righteous
attempts
at being enough
everyone wants to say
you're enough
you're not
you're not enough
there's a song
I can hear it in my head
right now
and he just says
over and over again
you're enough
I'm like
no you're not
you never have been
you never will be
and the good news is
it doesn't matter
if you're in Christ
because he's enough
but you're not enough
your efforts aren't enough
your attempts
at being righteous
aren't enough
all your best attempts
always end up
in despair
because you can't do it
only God can do it
and that's why we
wholly trust in Jesus name
I dare not trust
the sweetest frame
but wholly lean
on Jesus name
on Christ the solid rock
I stand
right
all the ground
is sinking sand
this is true
also in marriage
I call this
married scary
authority rest
okay
married scary
authority rest
okay
going to your husband
while hoping in God
and adorned with
gentleness and quietness
1 Corinthians 14 35
says if there's anything
they desire to learn
but the master husband
is at home
it's so easy
for a wife
to be scared
that the husband
isn't going to have
what it takes
or isn't going to have
the answers
or isn't going to have
the leadership
or isn't going to be able
to do what needs to be done
and the tendency
is then to go elsewhere
besides husband
but 1 Peter 3 4-6
speaks of the
imperishable beauty
of a gentle
and quiet spirit
and how this is
how the holy women
who hoped in God
used to adorn themselves
by submitting
to their own husbands
as Sarah
obeyed Abraham
calling him Lord
and you are her children
if you do good
and do not fear
anything that is frightening
there's a rest
even in a marriage
where you feel like
your husband's
dropping the ball
that your husband's
not taking the leadership
that he should take
where you can rest
because your hope
is in God
not in your husband
and because you are gentle
not trying to fight
for your way
you're quiet
not trying to
have people hear
your case
and to go outside
of your husband
so much
because you don't believe
he's going to hear
your case
but that you can
gently and quietly
adorn yourself
with the trust in God
that the women of old
used to adorn themselves with
and that you're not
frightening that
you're not fearing
that which is frightening
which goes to say
that it is frightening
to submit to a man
it is frightening
but you don't have to fear
that which is frightening
because your hope
was never in that man
your hope is in God
and there's a certain rest
in that in marriage
when you are not being gentle
and you're trying to force your way
or you're not being quiet
and you're trying to verbally
manipulate your way
this is evidence
of not resting in the Lord
on the flip side
there's a married men's
scary authority rest as well
okay
this is a husband responding
with understanding
gentleness and honor
when the responsibility
to lead weighs heavy
and your wife is scared
let me say that again
responding with understanding
gentleness and honor
when the responsibility
to lead weighs heavy
and your wife is scared
I get an F at this one
for sure
okay
not good at this one
but I
I can rest in this
I can rest in knowing
my
I can understand
understand
I can be an understanding husband
even when the weight
of responsibility
on my husbandry
causes me to lash out
at my wife
for being scared
because of course
she's scared
I'm overwhelmed
by the weight
what's the problem
I'm not at rest
I'm overwhelmed
with work
or I'm overwhelmed
with family
I'm overwhelmed
with relationships
or I'm overwhelmed
with this that
or the other drama
or whatever it may be
and so then
wife coming to me
scared
by what's already
being scary
because I'm overwhelmed
causes me to lash out
in lack of understanding
well what's the problem
the problem is
I'm not resting
I'm not resting in him
I'm not finding
my peace
and my rest
and that light
and easy yoke in him
and so then
if wife comes to me
scared with one more thing
I get angry
I snap
not good
I gotta rest
in the Lord
1 Peter 3 7
likewise
husbands
live with your wives
in an understanding way
showing honor
to the woman
as the weaker vessel
since they are heirs
with you
of the grace of life
so that your prayers
may not be hindered
I don't want my prayers
to be hindered
number 3
experience driven capacity
okay
this comes from
what you've done
and what you've seen
in others
so
having a history
in God
where you see
God come through
for you over time
is inspiring
to believe
that you can handle things
meaning
if you've handled
if you've ever handled
something worse
than what you're handling
now
you think
I can handle this
right
this is the worst
I've ever experienced
we've been through worse
we've been through harder
right
that's just a practical
but sometimes
you've got to remind
each other of that
right
you've got to look
and say
hey
come on
you've been through worse
you've had harder seasons
God
God has kept you
through other things
and I always think
this
I thought this
this hit me so hard
when I had cancer
10 years ago
when I had testicular cancer
10 years ago
I thought
oh this is bad news
I have cancer
and I don't know
how bad it is
could be stage 4
I'm really old
for testicular cancer
what if it's all over my body
what if this is it
right
this could be it
this is bad news
but you know what
it's not the worst news
I've ever gotten
I've had worse
and guess what
no matter what bad news
you get in this world
there's always one thing
for Christians
that is worse
than the bad news
that you've gotten
okay
what is it
you were justly
and rightly
under the sentence
of hell
for all eternity
that's bad news
way worse than cancer
you have cancer
that's bad news
you're going to hell
way worse news
and if God came to you
in your worst news
when you were going to hell
and he intervened
and saved you
how much more
will he come to you
in way less bad news
like cancer
okay
so your experience
tells you
hey
I've been through worse
and a Christian
always has the trump card
I was destined for hell
and God came to me
in that
if he came to me
when I was destined
for hell
how in the world
do I think
that he's not going
to come
help me
when my kids
are overwhelming
it's like
well you don't know
my kids
well yeah
they're not
as bad as hell
right
they're not as bad
as hell
it's a good thing
to remember
so experiencing
experience
can remind you
but also
seeing in others
okay
there's
there's a
there's this thing
that happens
and we see it a lot
now where
people think
that they can't
handle certain things
because everyone
around them
can't handle
the same things
and then sometimes
you like talk
to an old grandparent
you know
or you watch
a documentary
of someone
who went through
world war ii
or who was in
a concentration camp
or any of this
kind of stuff
and you think
oh
yeah
maybe we can
handle more
you know
maybe
we've grown
soft
maybe we've
grown to think
that we're
that we can
handle stuff
but we actually
can't
and so you
look at other
people
you look at
the ones
who've gone
before you
hebrews 13
7 says
remember your
leaders
those who
spoke to you
the word of
god
consider the
outcome of
their way
of life
and imitate
their faith
so first of
all look
are there any
leaders in
your life
who are able
to handle
things more
than you can
look at
them
and then
what's it
to say
and imitate
their life
no
it says
consider the
outcome of
their way
of life
and then it
doesn't say
imitate their
life
it says
imitate their
what
their faith
that is such
an important
detail
we think
oh man
that guy
can handle
a lot
or you
listen to
some podcast
oh he
can handle
a lot
or you
know
you see
you meet
someone
you hear
someone
you watch
a video
about someone
you think
they can
handle a lot
I'm gonna
do whatever
they're doing
no
that's not
what it
says
imitate
their
faith
imitate
their
faith
believe
like
they
do
believe
in
what
they
believe
they
believed
in God
they trusted
God
they came
to him
and received
the easy
and light
yoke
imitate
their
faith
where's
your
faith
let me
give you
an example
of an
old
school
guy
who's
dead
sometimes
you just
need to
look more
to dead
guys
and get
a little
inspiration
for our
current
culture
George
Mueller
let me
just give
you a little
list here
just to
help
maybe
help you
think what's
possible
kind of
the four
minute mile
right
everybody said
you can't run
a four minute
mile
scientists
and doctors
are saying
nobody can
run a four
minute mile
it's not
even physically
possible
and then
this guy
Roger
Bannister
comes by
and breaks
the four
minute mile
and for
years
no one
could
break
a four
minute
mile
Bannister
comes
and breaks
the four
minute mile
and immediately
what happens
people like
crazy are
beating his
under four
minute mile
what happened
did he discover
some wonder
drug
did he discover
some new
training technique
no
he believed
it could be
done
when everybody
said it
couldn't
and then
when someone
saw that
it was
done
then everybody
started breaking
it
so I want
you to look
at George
Mueller
the guy who
broke the
four
minute mile
right here
okay listen
George Mueller
he built
five orphanages
he started
when he was
28
okay
so he got
a little bit
late start
but he still
built five
orphanages
he cared
for 10,024
orphans
he preached
three times a
week while
caring for
orphans
he had
four children
two stillborn
his son
Elijah died
at one year
old
and his
daughter died
at 57
okay
he married
twice
his first
marriage to
Mary was
for 39
years
the second
marriage was
to Susanna
for 23
years
he became
a missionary
at the
ripe young
age of
70
so after
doing all
that he
said you
know
it's time
to retire
I'm gonna
become a
foreign
missionary
okay
at 70
he became
a missionary
and for
17
years
traveled
to 42
countries
preaching
on average
once a
day to
about 3
million
people
total
he read
his bible
200 times
from beginning
to end
he brought
in an
estimated
150 million
dollars
through prayer
and never
took a
salary for
the last
68 years
of his
ministry
and never
asked for
money or
took out
a loan
now listen
don't imitate
what George
Mueller did
but you know
what you
should imitate
his faith
I'm not
telling you
to do
what George
Mueller did
I'm not
telling you
to start
five orphanages
and help
10,000
orphans
I'm telling
you to
imitate
his faith
and you
do whatever
God's called
you to do
but start
with imitating
his faith
and believe
that you
could probably
do more
than you
think that
you can do
now by
looking at
all the
people around
you
maybe that's
not a good
standard
maybe that's
a soft
standard
maybe that's
a low
bar
maybe it's
time for us
to imitate
the faith
of those
who went
before us
have we
grown soft
has the
bar been
lowered
D.L.
Moody said
one of my
favorite quotes
he said
the world
has yet
to see
what God
can do
with a man
fully consecrated
to him
and by God's
help I aim
to be that
man
number four
spirit driven
capacity
okay
I don't know
if you just
had the first
three I feel
like you're
getting we're
doing pretty
good with
capacity
right
I got
two more
and these
two are
probably the
best ones
so are
you ready
for this
okay number
four
spirit driven
capacity
spirit driven
capacity
we haven't even
talked about the
Holy Spirit
yet
right
that's a
pretty big
deal
Acts 1
verse 8
the promise
of the
Father
remember this
one
you will
receive
power
when the
Holy Spirit
has come
upon you
okay
what happens
when you are
filled
continually
with the
Spirit
of God
what happens
when you're
led by the
Spirit
of God
empowered
by the
Spirit
of God
when it's
not
you doing
it but the
Spirit
working in
you
not by
might
nor power
but by
my
Spirit
says the
Lord
2 Timothy
1
6
to 7
says
for this
reason
I remind
you to
fan into
flame
the gift
of God
which is
in you
through the
laying out
of my
hands
for God
gave us
a Spirit
not of
fear
but of
power
and love
and self
control
you believe
that
Romans
8
11
if the
Spirit
of him
who raised
Jesus
from the
dead
dwells
in you
he who
raised
Christ
Jesus
from the
dead
will also
give life
to your
mortal bodies
through his
Spirit
who dwells
in you
same
Spirit
who raised
Christ
from the
dead
lives
in us
and I
can't
even
right
I can't
even
handle
this
I can't
do
this
I can't
do
that
the
same
Spirit
that
raised
Christ
from
the
dead
lives
inside
of you
and me
what a
gift
the Bible
calls that
a gift
I don't
think there's
a better
one
right
2 Corinthians
1 8
to 9
we do not
want you
to be
unaware
brothers
of the
affliction
we experienced
in Asia
listen to
him
Paul's
having a
bad day
here
okay
you think
well Paul's
kind of a
super
Christian
I can't
really
relate
to
Paul
he's
got it
all
pulled
together
so
that's
cool
Paul
but I
can't
really
relate
well
read this
verse
we don't
want you to be
unaware
brothers of the
affliction we
experienced in
Asia for
we were so
utterly burdened
!
beyond our
strength
that we
despaired of
life itself
sounds pretty
low
indeed we felt
that we had
received the
sentence of
death but
that was to
make us rely
not on
ourselves but
on God who
raises the
dead
when was the
last time you
thought that
way?
you're thinking
my life is so
hard my life is
so tough this
thing is breaking
me I can't
sleep I'm
stressed I'm
anxious
when was the
last time you
said but
that was to
make me rely
not on myself
but on God
who raises the
dead
you believe
that?
do you thank
God for those
trials so that
we don't rely on
ourselves but we
rely on God who
raises the dead?
on those days
when you feel so
utterly burdened
beyond your
strength that you
despair of life
itself?
that's what Paul
said
Luke 11 11
the 13 says
which of you
fathers if your
son asks for a
fish will give
him a snake
instead?
or if he asks
for an egg will
give him a
scorpion?
if you then
though you're
evil know how
to give good
gifts to your
children how
much more will
your father in
heaven give the
Holy Spirit to
those who ask
him?
I know most
of you parents
have had your
kid ask for an
egg at one
point in time
and you've
probably never
thought of
giving them a
scorpion
you know son
instead of an
egg this morning
I'm just gonna
give you a
live scorpion
like you'd
never do that
you think
you're not that
great of a
father compared
to God
like you compare
yourself to God
like you're
nothing and
even you in
your lack of
good fathering
would never give
a scorpion to
a kid asking
for an egg
how much more
do you think
God is going
to give the
Holy Spirit to
you when you
ask it from
him?
how much
more?
how much
more?
why do you
doubt that
God's gonna
give you your
spirit?
his spirit
I mean
well I
you know
I'm not
worthy
I haven't
done
hogwash
that's that
none of that
is even
required
none of
that's in
here
you gotta
believe he's
your father
you gotta
believe you're
his son
that you're
his child
you have
the rights
to be called
a child
of God
and then
when you
ask your
father for
the spirit
you know
what he
does?
he gives
it to
you
he gives
you his
spirit
he pours out
his spirit
upon you
why?
because he's
a good
father
not because
you're a
good son
because he's
a good
father
that's his
word
lastly
number five
grace driven
capacity
grace driven
capacity
the bible
talks about
I think
you could
argue with
me on
this
but I
think
there's
two kinds
of grace
that are
talked about
in the bible
number one
the one that we
think of a lot
of times
it's the
ephesians 2
verse 8
god's undeserved
forgiving love
you know
it's grace
you have been
saved through
faith
this is not
of yourselves
the gift
of god
not by
works
that no
one can
boast
like
grace
you're
saving grace
that was
undeserving
that came
to you
and saved
you from
your sins
right?
there's that
kind of
grace
but the bible
also talks
about another
kind of
grace
John Piper
puts it
this way
he describes
it as an
influence
or a force
or a power
or an acting
of god
that works
in us
to change
our capacities
for work
and suffering
and obedience
Paul Tripp
says it
this way
grace
reaches us
where we
are
and takes
us where
God wants
us to be
you see
God's not
simply content
to give us
salvation
and then leave
us alone
until eternity
rather he
wants us to
become more
like his son
and work for
the furtherance
of his kingdom
right here
right now
but remaining
sin leaves us
lame and weak
and unable
God's grace
intervenes
to give us
power
and strength
it gives us
the ability
to do
what we're
called to do
but what
sorry
it gives us
the ability
to do
what we're
called to do
but what we
could never
do on our own
it gives us
the ability
to do
what we're
called to do
but what we
could never
do on our own
that kind
of grace
and we often
will you ever
hear someone
say I don't
have grace
for that
I don't have
grace for that
2 Corinthians
12 9-10
says
speaks right
into that
he said
to me
my grace
is sufficient
for you
my power
is made
perfect in
weakness
therefore I
will boast
all the more
gladly about
my weaknesses
so that
Christ's power
may rest on
me
that is why
for Christ's
sake
I delight
in weaknesses
and insults
and hardships
and persecutions
and difficulties
for when I'm
weak
then I am
strong
saying I
don't have
capacity
is the
opposite
of this
verse
says my
grace is
sufficient
for you
my grace
is enough
you're not
enough
but my
grace is
my grace
is
which is
it
when you think
of weaknesses
insults
hardships
persecutions
and calamities
and difficulties
are they
excuses
or delights
well I
can't do
this
because I'm
weak
I can't
do this
because I'm
insulted
it's hard
persecutions
calamities
I can't
do this
is it
your excuse
or is it
your delights
Paul says
that is why
for Christ's
sake
I delight
in weaknesses
and insults
and hardships
and persecutions
and difficulties
for when I am
weak
then I am
strong
you delight
in your
weaknesses
when you know
that they're
the pathway
to strength
this is an
upside down
kingdom
this is a
counterintuitive
thought
but it's
true
Hebrews 4
16 says
then let us
with confidence
draw near
to the throne
of grace
so that we
may receive
mercy
and find
grace to
help
in time
of need
you hear
that phrase
grace to
help
grace to
help
is a
different
kind of
grace
than
grace
to save
there's
a grace
to save
that saves
you from
your sins
and then
there's a
different
kind of
grace
that is
there to
help
it's
God's
power
it's
like this
spiritual
stuff
that's
given
to you
that gives
you the
ability
to do
what God's
called you
to do
that you
couldn't do
on your
own
okay
this is
grace to
help
you go to
his throne
that he
called
grace
to get
grace
to help
in your
time of
need
second
Corinthians
8
1
to
2
says
we want
you
know
brothers
about
the
grace
of
God
that
has
been
given
among
the
churches
of
Macedonia
for in
a severe
test of
affliction
their abundance
of joy
and their
extreme
poverty
have
overflowed
in a
wealth
of
generosity
on their
part
that's
the kind
of grace
I'm
talking
about
you would
think
what
the
heck
affliction
severe
test of
affliction
and it's
over
in
extreme
poverty
and it's
overflowing
in a
wealth
of
generosity
what's
that
called
grace
it's
2
Corinthians
9
6
to
8
he's
talking
about
giving
he says
the point
is this
whoever
sows
sparingly
will also
reap
sparingly
whoever
sows
bountifully
will also
reap
bountifully
each
one
must
give
as he
has
decided
in
his
heart
not
reluctantly
!
or under
compulsion
for
God
loves
a
cheerful
giver
and
most
often
the
you're
not
going
to
have
enough
if
you
give
and
if
you
give
first
before
paying
all
your
other
bills
what
if
I
don't
have
enough
money
to
pay
my
bills
it's
a
grace
issue
it's
a
faith
in
grace
issue
because
verse
8
says
God
is
able
to
make
all
grace
abound
to
you
so
that
having
all
sufficiency
in
all
things
at
all
times
you
may
abound
in
every
good
work
that's
capacity
that's
capacity
do you
hear all
the
all's
in
there
God
is
able
to
make
all
grace
abound
to you
so
that
having
all
sufficiency
in
all
things
at
all
times
you
may
abound
in
every
good
work
that's
capacity
do you
believe
that you
have
that
do you
believe
that
that's
yours
in
Christ
Jesus
do you
believe
that
that is
the
grace
that is
available
at
his
throne
to help
you
your
time
of
need
it's
yours
it's
yours
1
Corinthians
15
10
Paul
says
by the
grace
of
God
I
am
what
I
am
and
his
grace
towards
me
was
not
in
vain
on
the
contrary
I
worked
harder
than
any
of
them
though
it
was
not
I
but
the
grace
of
God
that
is
within
me
that's
what
I'm
talking
about
it's
grace
that's
not
the
saving
grace
that's
the
doing
grace
to
do
grace
to
be
grace
to
work
harder
than
anybody
else
Paul
is
not
saying
I'm
working
harder
than
everybody
else
be
like
me
work
like
me
you
saw
me
do
my
thing
now
you
do
what
I
do
he's
saying
it's
not
me
it's
the
grace
working
in
me
you
want
to
be
like
me
get
the
grace
that
I
have
and
guess
what
the
same
grace
I
have
is
available
to
you
same
grace
given
to
George
Mueller
is
available
to
you
same
grace
that
was
given
to
any
Christian
in
all
time
in
history
is
available
to
you
even
the
same
grace
and
power
that
raised
Jesus
from
the
dead
that's
available
but
when
the
son
of
man
returns
will
he
find
faith
on
earth
will
we
find
people
who
believe
that
!
2nd
you
then
my
child
be
strengthened
by
the
grace
that
is
in
Christ
Jesus
grace
strengthens
you
it
gives
you
strength
where
you
don't
have
it
Hebrews
13
9
do
not
let
be
led
away
by
diverse
and
strange
teachings
for
it
is
good
for
the
heart
to
be
strengthened
by
grace
not
by
foods
which
have
not
benefited
those
devoted
to
them
listen
we
could
change
our
diets
and
a lot
of
us
great
I
shouldn't
have
this
a
long
time
ago
but
even
that
is
not
going
to
get
you
over
the
finish
line
you
need
grace
Acts
433
with
great
power
the
apostles
are
giving
their
testimony
to
the
resurrection
of
the
Lord
Jesus
and
what
does
it
say
great
grace
was
upon
them
all
great
grace
was
upon
them
all
that
is
why
I
pray
!
for
Christ
church
may
great
grace
be
upon
Christ
church
on
all
of
us
not
some
not
most
all
that's
what
Stephen
had
right
what
did
it
say
of
Stephen
did
it
just
say
that
Stephen
had
great
power
no
Acts
6
8
Stephen
full
of
grace
and
power
was
doing
great
wonders
and
signs
among
the
people
he
wasn't
just
full
of
power
although
he
was
he
was
also
full
of
grace
are
you
Acts
11
21
to
24
says
the
hand
of
the
Lord
was
with
them
and
a
great
number
of
believed
turned
to
the
Lord
the
report
of
this
came
to
the
ears
of
the
church
in
Jerusalem
and
they
sent
Barnabas
to
Antioch
and
when
he
came
and
saw
the
grace
of
God
he
was
glad
grace
is
something
that's
so
evident
you can
see
it
with
your
eyes
you
can
see
it
on
people
Barnabas
came
and
saw
the
grace
of
God
and
he
was
glad
is
the
grace
of
God
on
you
in
such
a
way
that
you
can
see
it
can
be
if
God's
grace
is
sufficient
if
it's
enough
do
you
believe
that
it's
enough
do
you
believe
that
his
love
never
fails
Romans
8
31
if
God
is
for
us
then
who
can
be
against
us
amen
let's
stand