WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.360 So today I'm going to talk about three words for 2026. 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:19.539 Most of you know this, maybe some of you don't, but the church that sent us out, we had a yearly tradition that every year we would ask the Lord what he was saying to our church for the new year and ask him for three specific words. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:23.400 And then just ask him, where should we aim? 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:26.500 What should be the direction that we should have for this next year? 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:30.420 And so we're trying to keep that tradition here at Christ Church as well. 00:00:30.940 --> 00:00:34.359 And I want to give you a little biblical background on why we would do such a thing. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:35.039 Okay. 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:37.219 Revelation. 00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:42.640 In the book of Revelation, I think God has something to say for the churches, right? 00:00:42.980 --> 00:00:50.359 In Revelation 1 verse 20, it says, as for the mystery of the seven golden lampstands, the seven lampstands are the seven churches. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:56.799 And then in Revelation 2 verse 1, it says, the words of him who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 00:00:57.100 --> 00:00:58.740 So the lampstands are churches. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:06.060 And so God here in the beginning of Revelation, we see it before it gets in all the apocalyptic literature there. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:11.299 He has specific words that he has for seven specific churches. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:13.879 And he is the one who walks among the lampstands. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:15.900 He's the one who walks among the churches. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:17.920 And so there's seven different churches. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:21.240 And to all seven churches, the same thing is said. 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:28.120 Revelation 2 and 3, you see with all seven churches, the same thing is said to all seven. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:34.280 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:35.080 Okay. 00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:37.900 And then he says to Ephesus, he says, I know your works. 00:01:38.380 --> 00:01:44.300 He says to Thyatira, I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:47.079 To Sardis, he says, I know your works. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.140 I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:52.620 To Philadelphia, he says, I know your works. 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.560 And to Laodicea, he says, I know your works. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:59.899 I believe to Christchurch, he says, I know your works. 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:00.539 Right? 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.120 He is the God who walks among the churches. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.359 Not just those seven churches in Revelation. 00:02:05.819 --> 00:02:07.299 He walks among the churches today. 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:08.740 He walks among our church. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:10.759 And I believe he knows our works. 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:13.680 God has something to say about our church. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.000 The Spirit has something that our ears should be attuned to hear for our church. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:19.879 No different now than it was then. 00:02:20.260 --> 00:02:24.860 And we should seek him and say, God, what is it that you would say to us? 00:02:25.040 --> 00:02:27.120 What is it that you would say to our church? 00:02:29.480 --> 00:02:35.360 And you can even see there's even a case to be made for there's, you know, specific words that he says to each church. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:38.700 And to Ephesus, he tells them to remember where they had fallen. 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:42.819 It says to repent and to do the works you did at first. 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:47.079 So maybe to Ephesus, he'd say, well, the three words for you are remember, repent, and do. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:47.780 Okay? 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:51.739 He says to Smyrna that there's a time of testing coming. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.599 Tribulation and faithfulness will be required until death. 00:02:55.979 --> 00:03:00.840 Says to Pergamum, he says, there's some that hold to the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:03.640 Then he tells them to repent of these two false teachings. 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:10.599 To Thyatira, he speaks of, in two of these seven, he has positive things to say. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:12.460 The other ones, he's bringing corrective words. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:15.000 So to Smyrna, he had a positive thing, Philadelphia. 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:18.340 But to Thyatira, he says, you're tolerating that. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:24.159 He's confronting their toleration of a specific person named Jezebel and her teaching and seducing. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.400 And then he tells them to hold fast. 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:27.039 Okay? 00:03:27.799 --> 00:03:29.520 To Sardis, he says to wake up. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.659 He says to strengthen what remains of his wants to die and to remember what you've received and heard. 00:03:34.019 --> 00:03:34.639 Keep and repent. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.199 So he says, wake up, strengthen, remember. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.079 To Philadelphia, he has an affirming word. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.560 He says that you have much patient endurance. 00:03:44.079 --> 00:03:46.439 That he's going to keep you from the hour of trial. 00:03:46.519 --> 00:03:48.400 And he says, hold fast to what you have. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:56.340 And then the Laodicea, one that we're maybe most familiar with, he says that he wants them hot, not lukewarm. 00:03:56.740 --> 00:04:01.659 He wants them to buy gold refined by fire, white garments, salve to put in their eyes. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:04.159 And then he says to be zealous and repent. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.219 So here you see seven examples of what the Spirit is saying to these seven churches. 00:04:08.640 --> 00:04:10.060 And he has specific words for them, right? 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:12.960 It says the Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. 00:04:13.480 --> 00:04:16.199 Jesus has a testimony about each one of these churches. 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:20.459 He has the prophetic words that he wants to speak to these seven churches. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:23.199 I believe in the same way God wants to speak to us. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:24.240 I believe he's still speaking. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:26.159 I believe he still has things to say. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:32.819 I can't, I looked, there was no Church of Christ Church in there that he said anything to. 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:35.599 So we're going to have to seek the Lord now, right? 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:37.560 Christ Church didn't exist when he wrote the Bible. 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:41.419 So we can ask the Lord, God, what are you saying for Christ Church? 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:43.240 We are his sheep. 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:44.099 We hear his voice. 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.000 And there's no reason why we can't hear what the Spirit is saying to our church. 00:04:47.140 --> 00:04:48.720 So that's what we do. 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:49.980 That's what we do each year. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:51.820 And that's what we're trying to do here at Christ Church as well. 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:56.540 And that just gives you maybe a little bit of the heart and the value behind why we would do such a thing. 00:04:56.760 --> 00:04:56.960 Okay? 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:02.620 So as we sought the Lord, we asked everyone or partners or members of this church to say, 00:05:02.700 --> 00:05:05.439 Hey, submit words that God might be given to you for this church. 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:09.080 And then we'll try to discern what God is saying from that. 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:16.879 And so the three words that I believe that God has given us for 2026 is labor, honor, and faith. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:17.560 Okay? 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:20.659 Labor, honor, and faith. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.539 And I'm going to speak to you today about those three. 00:05:23.959 --> 00:05:24.399 Sound good? 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:26.199 You with me here still? 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:26.639 We're good? 00:05:26.979 --> 00:05:27.459 Okay. 00:05:28.419 --> 00:05:30.139 Let's jump in with the first one. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:30.599 Labor. 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:38.459 First thing I want to say about this word, I think it's really important for us as a church and just thinking where we're at as a church. 00:05:39.239 --> 00:05:44.779 I want you to hear me as someone speaking who has planted two churches before this. 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:55.699 One of the things I have to say when I pray for this church and I look at this church is that I believe that more work is required to establish this church than what is currently being done. 00:05:56.539 --> 00:05:56.699 Okay? 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.859 More work is required to establish this church than what is currently being done. 00:06:01.239 --> 00:06:06.159 Now, that doesn't mean that I'm saying everybody's lazy or, you know, no one's doing anything. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:07.559 Please hear me. 00:06:07.659 --> 00:06:09.139 I'm not saying nothing's being done. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.519 There's a lot of good work being done. 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:10.779 Okay? 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:18.799 What I'm saying is, from my experience and when I'm looking at how this church is getting established, I think it's going to take more work. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.979 It's going to take more work than maybe we're doing right now. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:25.279 And don't take that to say, oh, the work we're doing isn't good. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:25.819 No. 00:06:26.099 --> 00:06:27.839 The work that's being done is good. 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:29.519 It's just going to take more. 00:06:30.180 --> 00:06:32.039 You might say, wow, this is already a lot of work. 00:06:32.919 --> 00:06:33.219 Yeah. 00:06:33.659 --> 00:06:34.719 Welcome to church planting. 00:06:35.099 --> 00:06:37.079 That's what church planting is. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.299 It's very difficult work. 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:39.979 It takes a lot of work. 00:06:40.640 --> 00:06:50.080 And my concern is that maybe some of us are putting in the same amount of work that we did in an established church. 00:06:51.460 --> 00:06:56.240 That amount of work that we put into an established church, we're now putting into an unestablished church. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:57.879 And thinking that's going to be enough. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:06:59.120 And I'm saying it's not. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.600 And I believe the Lord is saying it's not. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:06.020 I believe the Lord is saying, hey, we've got to focus more on being laborers, on laboring. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:10.979 And here's three areas that I believe increased labor would be necessary. 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:11.459 Okay. 00:07:11.799 --> 00:07:14.819 Number one, embracing discomfort and sacrifice. 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:15.740 Okay. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:17.419 Embracing discomfort and sacrifice. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:18.819 Now, again, hear me. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:20.819 Don't hear me through a negative lens. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.319 I'm not saying no one's embracing discomfort and sacrifice. 00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:24.500 I believe we are. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:28.019 Some of you just being a part of this church is discomfort and sacrifice. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.560 That was hard to do. 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:31.980 Okay. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:33.560 So, trust me. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:34.420 I get that. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:41.720 But I'm saying that sometimes maybe we avoid the necessary discomfort and sacrifice that we need to do. 00:07:41.780 --> 00:07:43.100 And I'm saying we've got to lean into that. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:44.939 We've got to push into that. 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:50.259 There might be some things we're thinking, man, I'll do this and I'll do that. 00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:55.800 But I'm good up to this level of discomfort or sacrifice. 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:58.980 But that's a little bit more than I'm comfortable with. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:01.680 And so I'll go this far, but not that far. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:05.620 That's in that you're not going to plant a church that way. 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:07.379 You're not going to establish a church that way. 00:08:07.640 --> 00:08:12.900 We have to be able to lean into that discomfort, that sacrifice and say, I'm in. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:14.020 I'm all in. 00:08:14.520 --> 00:08:19.140 I'm not coming into a church that already has been established for 10, 15 years. 00:08:19.200 --> 00:08:21.560 I'm coming into a church that is still being established. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:22.900 The foundation is still being laid. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:25.240 I have to embrace discomfort and sacrifice. 00:08:26.020 --> 00:08:26.120 Okay. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:33.879 Second thing is an area of increased labor that's necessary is building family that didn't exist before we started. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:35.139 Okay. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:41.259 Building a sense of familial bonds that didn't exist before Christchurch started. 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.580 What do I mean by that? 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:54.720 I'm saying it's easy to continue to experience and enjoy and work upon relationships that already existed before or that were already solid before or that were already easy before. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:00.840 And sometimes we can gravitate too much to those relationships at the expense of the whole. 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:02.960 Do you hear me on that? 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.300 And I think there needs to be more work in building family that didn't exist before we started. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:09.100 Okay. 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:15.160 And again, this comes back to things I've said before, that it's one thing to be able to consume family that already exists. 00:09:15.160 --> 00:09:18.000 It's a whole nother thing to be able to build family that doesn't exist. 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:19.920 That is apostolic work. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:28.040 And I want you to believe that you will have the grace to do that together as a people to see family birth where maybe we don't have it. 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:35.000 And that means there's certain relationships you say, we're cordial, I enjoy them, but I don't have this strong sense of familial bond with them. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.779 I don't have this strong sense of trust with them. 00:09:36.819 --> 00:09:41.059 I don't have this strong sense of sharing life in an easy way with them. 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:42.679 We got to put in the work. 00:09:43.219 --> 00:09:44.079 We got to labor. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:48.559 We got to say, all right, who are those people then that I'm going to labor with and do that with? 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:56.599 I'm going to put the work in to make sure I'm going to build relationships with the people that I wasn't as close to before we started this church. 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:01.220 And not just lean on the ones that I was close to when we started this church that gets me through. 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:05.060 Now, we got to jump in and build relationships with the whole crew. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:07.580 And that doesn't mean you're going to be besties with everybody. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:20.560 But don't say because I'm not going to be besties with everybody that it makes an excuse to not be doing the work to try and be closer and more knit and have our hearts put together more as we go. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:21.000 Okay? 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:27.539 And then three, an area where there needs to be increased labor, I think, is evangelizing together. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:29.119 Evangelizing together. 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:31.019 Just getting on mission together. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.579 Not just as individuals. 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:34.039 That's just Christianity. 00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:38.000 Every Christian should be on mission and should be evangelizing as a Christian. 00:10:38.359 --> 00:10:39.519 But doing it together. 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:44.579 Embracing it together as missional communities and saying, okay, how can we get on mission together? 00:10:44.699 --> 00:10:47.399 How can we target specific people and places? 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:50.779 How can we labor together to see lost people saved? 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:57.100 How can we radically reorient our lives around specific mission to specific people and places? 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:59.079 So that it inconveniences us. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:03.379 So that it causes us to have to reorientate our life. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.299 Maybe put our kids to bed later. 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:08.259 Maybe cause us to not do some hobbies that we'd like to do. 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:12.419 Maybe cause us to be with people and to go deep with people that aren't as easy to. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:16.079 But we're going to do it because we're here to establish a church for his glory. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.700 And to see lost people come to faith. 00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:19.540 Okay? 00:11:19.900 --> 00:11:21.040 So we've got to put in the work. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:28.480 And I'm saying, I hope you receive this as a fatherly rebuke from, I believe the Lord, is that more work is required. 00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:30.139 More work is required. 00:11:30.300 --> 00:11:36.480 And that's not me saying I'm not proud of, encouraged by the work that has begun. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:38.440 The work that has been established already. 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:40.700 It's just going to require more. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:45.320 And if that's overwhelming to you, God's grace is sufficient. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.100 God's grace is sufficient. 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:47.379 Right? 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.320 So let's look at some verses on this. 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:52.740 Acts chapter 13, verse 2. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:54.040 It says, 00:11:54.120 --> 00:12:00.000 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, this is with Barnabas and Saul. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:00.860 The Holy Spirit said, 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:05.940 Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:06.440 Okay? 00:12:06.520 --> 00:12:07.160 For the work. 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:10.579 You guys believe that God called you to be a part of Christ's church. 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:11.199 Okay? 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:13.319 I know we've got some guests here as well. 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.419 So I'm speaking to the people. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:17.819 God told you, hey, this is the church I'm going to be in. 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:21.019 You took that step of faith and said, hey, I'm going to jump into this church. 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:24.039 You believe that the Holy Spirit was setting you apart to do this work. 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:29.039 I'm asking you to believe that he set you apart for the work. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.500 And that the one who sets you apart for the work will give you the grace to do the work. 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:34.139 But we've got to do the work. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:37.879 You can't just say, oh, because God sent it, everything's going to be sent. 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:40.199 You know, it's just going to, God's just going to do everything. 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:42.299 It's like, well, no, God sent us. 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:44.100 Now we've got to partner with him to do the work. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.679 And we've got to put in the work. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.620 And it takes work. 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.340 It takes a lot of work. 00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:54.019 The reason why most, most church plants don't make it. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:54.659 Do you know that? 00:12:55.179 --> 00:12:55.939 Why is that? 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:58.200 It's because it takes a lot of work. 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.700 It takes a lot more work than the ones that already exist. 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:06.080 Once you get something going, once there's momentum, once the ball is rolling, so to speak, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.379 it's a lot easier to keep that thing going. 00:13:09.160 --> 00:13:14.180 But the things that are easy to abort are things that never got off the ground in the first place. 00:13:14.780 --> 00:13:18.180 Church plants that start out fail in the first two years all the time. 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.840 That happens all the time. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.300 You've got to put in the work. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:23.460 We've got to put in the work. 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:25.580 And God has set us apart for the work. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:27.860 Ephesians 4, 11-12 says, 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:32.060 He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers 00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:36.800 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up with the body of Christ. 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.680 Do you believe you've been equipped for the work? 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.759 Do you believe that you have what it takes to do the work? 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.980 That God has equipped you before this time to do the work of God. 00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:51.420 This is what apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists are for. 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:53.820 To equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.200 We've been equipped. 00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:58.180 Now we've got to do the work that we know what God's called us to do. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:02.280 Paul, when he was thinking about whether he wanted to live or die, 00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:07.300 which is an interesting little conversation he's having in Philippians, 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:08.740 he's thinking, what's better? 00:14:08.900 --> 00:14:10.280 Is dying better? 00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:11.180 Is living better? 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.360 And he says, 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.540 For me to live is Christ. 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:14.760 This is Philippians 1, 21. 00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:16.440 And to die is gain. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.400 If I'm to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.820 Yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:25.920 But when he thinks about, he thinks, well, to die is gain. 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:28.640 But when he thinks of being alive, he's not saying, 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:33.620 To live, for me, means, you know, good barbecue, 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:38.760 you know, sunsets on the beach, you know, like vacations, 00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:40.300 a great paycheck. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.660 He didn't say that. 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.340 And he lives in a beautiful part of the world, too. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:48.140 He could have said, man, to live means I get to enjoy all this good stuff. 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:51.620 He said, to live means fruitful labor. 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.620 Who says that? 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:57.519 Hey, if I live, that means I get to work more. 00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:58.860 Isn't that awesome? 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:03.039 Yeah, he's saying, I'm actually conflicted. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:06.740 Now, what's your view of the work? 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:13.000 Would you ever be so enjoying the work that you would actually think, 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:17.639 oh, that you'd be conflicted of whether it would be better to die and to gain 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.839 or to work and have fruitful labor? 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:24.740 He esteemed the fruitful labor that came from his life so high 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:28.179 that it was conflicting to him whether it would be better to die 00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:31.659 and to gain all that he would gain in death. 00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:34.279 He was conflicted as to which would be better. 00:15:34.739 --> 00:15:35.919 Do you look at the work that way? 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:38.759 That's a fascinating way to look at the work, isn't it? 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:42.019 He was so esteeming the work of the Lord. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:44.359 And he so enjoyed it. 00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:48.819 He so exalted it above all these other things in life. 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:50.539 He said, I'm conflicted. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.699 I don't even know which one I should choose. 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:55.099 I can't even tell, he says. 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:58.620 Yes, because to be alive means fruitful labor for me. 00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:00.740 Do we have this kind of view? 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:04.259 When I said that, hey, it's going to take more work, what did your heart do? 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.540 What did your mind do? 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:10.540 Did you say, I don't know if I want to do this? 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:13.500 Or did you say, amen, let's get to work. 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:14.540 Let's do it. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.279 Okay. 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:18.960 And again, you might say, I don't know if that's what I signed up for. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.000 I'm telling you, if you signed up for a church plan, 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:22.480 that's exactly what you signed up for. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.440 You might not have known it. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.040 It ain't because I didn't tell you. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.639 But that is what you signed up for. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:31.379 To establish a church takes work, takes fruitful labor. 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:35.420 And God has called you to be fruitful laborers together for this. 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:36.860 Okay. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.360 What other kind of labor? 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.700 Labor of evangelism. 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.300 2 Timothy 4, 5. 00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.740 Paul encourages Timothy. 00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:46.720 He says, for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:49.860 do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.240 Evangelism is work. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.060 Evangelism is work. 00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:55.219 Maybe that's why it's avoided so often. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:55.959 Right? 00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:57.119 It's work. 00:16:57.579 --> 00:17:00.059 It's a lot easier to just be with people you know. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:02.019 It's work to talk to strangers. 00:17:02.719 --> 00:17:03.859 It's like, man, this is uncomfortable. 00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:05.759 They might reject me. 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:07.059 They might make fun of me. 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.139 Hey, they might even hurt me. 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:09.679 I mean, that could happen, right? 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.819 Like, why would I want to do this? 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.539 Because I love the Lord. 00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:14.879 I love Jesus. 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.059 Because he saved me. 00:17:16.419 --> 00:17:18.079 Somebody told me about the gospel. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.339 Someone took the uncomfortability on themselves for me 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:24.359 and preached the gospel to me at one point in time. 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:26.799 How much more should I do it to someone else? 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:27.759 Right? 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.559 Do the work of an evangelist. 00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:30.599 Do the work. 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.519 It's work. 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.859 It's labor. 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:36.119 It's laborsome to be an evangelist, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.819 to do the work of evangelism. 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:39.519 Are we willing to do that? 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:41.039 Will we fulfill our ministry in that? 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.439 So I look 10 too. 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.519 He said, the harvest is plentiful, 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.519 but what are few? 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:49.139 Laborers. 00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:50.599 The laborers. 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:53.839 Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.539 to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.240 What does a harvest require? 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.720 It requires laborers. 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.000 You know, anyone who's done farming, 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:02.359 I know Mark's done a lot of farming, 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:05.299 and you know how he's able to do a lot of farming? 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.379 Right? 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:09.460 He birthed a bunch of laborers with his wife. 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.119 Right? 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.980 He had all these kids, and he put them to work. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:14.419 There's no way he could have pulled off what he did there 00:18:14.419 --> 00:18:15.639 without all those laborers. 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.619 Right? 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:19.079 He had a big family, and so they pulled off a farm. 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:21.039 You can't pull off a farm without laborers. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.599 You can't pull off a harvest. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.220 How many harvests did they do? 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.819 Oh, year after year after year, they did harvest. 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.799 Well, that wasn't doing it itself. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:30.099 It's not like, oh, God planted this, 00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:30.940 and God harvested. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.500 No. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:31.539 No. 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:36.019 Someone had to pick rocks and run combines and plant seeds 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:38.259 and, you know, do all that kind of stuff 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:40.779 and pray for rain, you know? 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.440 Someone has to do that. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.859 Well, it's the same thing with the harvest field for evangelism. 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.539 It's laborsome. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.160 It takes labors. 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.460 It's like we say, God, we want souls. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.640 And God says, I want labors. 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.759 Lord, I want souls. 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.059 I want labors. 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:03.259 And if those two don't come together, it's not happening. 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.740 You want souls? 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:07.460 Then God wants labors, and they go together. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:11.779 Who will say, hey, I want to be that laborer. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.240 I want to do the work. 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:16.000 I want to pray earnestly, 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.700 but I want to be the answer to my own prayer. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:19.720 Right? 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.819 Lord, send workers. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:23.960 And he's like, I did. 00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:26.679 It's the one talking to me right now. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:27.799 Go. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.159 Go. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.279 Go. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.860 Keep praying, but go. 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.160 Get out there. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.980 Preach the gospel. 00:19:33.120 --> 00:19:34.160 And don't do it just alone. 00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:36.700 Although you're going to do it alone in the everyday stuff of life. 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.759 But be strategic. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.420 Do it together. 00:19:38.580 --> 00:19:39.220 Do it with your brothers. 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.060 Do it with your sisters. 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:41.920 Do it with your missional community. 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.019 Do it together. 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:44.580 Okay? 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.160 Harvest is plentiful. 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.360 The labors are few. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.820 Who will do the work? 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:52.779 Philippians 4, 2-3. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.079 He says, 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:56.079 I entreat Judea and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:58.220 And I ask you also, true companion, 00:19:58.379 --> 00:20:01.980 help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel, 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.919 together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.960 whose names are in the book of life. 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.700 Laboring side by side. 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:13.700 So there is an evangelism and a sense of mission that has to be side by side work. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.380 It's labor. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:19.100 Laboring side by side together in the gospel. 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.640 Are we doing that? 00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:22.039 Could we be doing it more? 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.700 Could we be... 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:27.460 Are we avoiding it to a certain degree? 00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:29.440 Are we just doing kind of the minimum effect, you know, 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:31.259 what we think is the effective dose? 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.640 But I'm saying, I don't know if it's effective. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.860 I think we got to put in the work. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:38.259 I think back to the churches that I've planted in the past. 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:41.120 And I'm thinking, man, it was just a constant thing. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.560 How can we get out? 00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:44.040 How can we build relations with people? 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.920 How can we schedule time with people? 00:20:46.020 --> 00:20:49.400 How can we get closer to each other than together on mission, 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:52.300 go and win souls, right? 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:55.620 Like the work of getting close to one another is unto something bigger. 00:20:55.800 --> 00:21:00.020 That we could together be locked in arms together to labor for the gospel. 00:21:00.520 --> 00:21:01.400 And then how can we do it? 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.720 How can we schedule things around that? 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.800 How can we... 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:05.540 And gave up a lot of things. 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.540 Gave up relationships. 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:10.640 Gave up even, you know, my kids didn't have a lot of friends at that time. 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:13.680 Because we went and said, hey, we're going to labor for this. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.840 Eventually the Lord came through and provided that for them. 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:18.460 But it's like, it takes sacrifice. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:19.740 It takes work. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:24.240 It takes doing things a lot of times that you don't want to do. 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.420 It takes hard work. 00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:28.540 1 Corinthians 15, 58 says, 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:33.680 My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.399 Knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:39.119 Always abounding in the work of the Lord. 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:42.920 The NAD says, always giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:43.720 Okay? 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.720 How much are you giving yourself to the Lord? 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.119 Is it a side thing? 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.980 Is it a most of your life thing? 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.000 Or is it an all of life thing? 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:50.759 Okay? 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.420 God requires all our life. 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:55.440 He says to pick up our cross, to lose our life and we'll gain it. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:58.519 Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:01.100 Is the work of the Lord just something we do in our spare time? 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:03.360 Is the work of the Lord something we do out of guilt? 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:06.080 Or is the work of the Lord the joy of our life? 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.580 It is fruitful labor. 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.740 It is why we live. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:11.620 It's a response to the gospel in our own life. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:14.180 What God has done for us and in us and to us. 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:18.720 So that he can now do through us for other people to receive. 00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:20.340 We're abounding in the work of the Lord. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:22.019 We're giving ourselves fully to the Lord. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.539 Knowing that our labor of the Lord is not in vain. 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.279 Do you know that? 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.079 So you might say, man, it seems like this is in vain. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.720 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.460 It's never in vain. 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:35.399 Everything you do unto the Lord will be remembered for eternity and rewarded for eternity. 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:39.700 This is why it is worth more than all the temporal things. 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:42.399 There are some really enjoyable temporal things, by the way. 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.579 I mean, they're really enjoyable, right? 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:46.519 I mean, you can have a lot of fun in this life. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.039 And then that's it. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.519 You got it. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.940 And that was it. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.240 Man, that was a great night. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:54.039 It was a great night. 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.660 And it's done. 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.339 That's it. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.599 It's all you get. 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.839 And there's nothing wrong with that. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.440 Like, I love a great night. 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:04.059 I love a good time. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:10.180 But just remember, there's so many good things, enjoyable things in this life that aren't eternal. 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.680 They don't last. 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.860 They don't last. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.400 They don't last. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.880 What are we doing for eternity? 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.140 It's like C.T. 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:19.740 Stedlin said, only one life will soon be passed. 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:22.000 Only what's done for Christ will last. 00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:24.160 Philippians 2, 25 to 30. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:35.400 He said, I thought it was necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier and your messenger and minister to my need. 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.960 A fellow worker. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:41.100 For he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.980 Indeed, he was ill, near to death. 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:46.319 That God had mercy on him, not only on him, but on me also. 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:48.600 Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:54.380 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:58.180 So receive him, the Lord, with all joy and honor such men. 00:23:58.520 --> 00:24:05.040 For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. 00:24:05.760 --> 00:24:05.940 Okay? 00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:07.980 He nearly died for the work of Christ. 00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:08.520 This is a guy. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:11.700 Epaphroditus apparently was a guy. 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:14.140 Like this guy, he was putting in the work. 00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:22.980 This guy was, and you can, can you sense the affection in Paul's voice about this guy and how the Philippians were receiving him? 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:25.319 There was a bond of love that was there. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.660 And you know where that comes from? 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.680 It comes from doing hard things together. 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.980 Again, I've said this multiple times, and I'm going to say it again. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:41.200 Some of the aspirations to spiritual family that we're after and that we're working towards are only found on the other side of working together towards the gospel. 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:48.579 Because there's certain things that cannot be, that we will never bond upon, that are not like-minded. 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:56.960 But when we seek the greater purpose of advancing his kingdom and preaching the gospel, it binds us together like a band of brothers, like men in war. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:02.839 And you can see that here, where Epaphroditus and Paul is just like, I'm eager to send him. 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:08.659 He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:13.919 There's this affectionate language and longing for one another that happens when people are at war together. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:16.460 When people are like, we're in the thick of it together. 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.560 We're doing the work together. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.900 We're doing this together. 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:20.900 He nearly died for the work of Christ. 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:23.580 Risking his life to complete was lacking your service to me. 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:27.039 Colossians, he speaks also of Epaphras. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:31.259 And he says that Epaphras has worked hard for you. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.800 I bear witness that he has worked hard for you. 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:36.500 In Acts 20, Paul says, 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:42.039 In all things I have shown you that by working hard, you know, he set an example of working hard. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.639 1 Corinthians 15, he says, 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:45.720 I worked harder than any of these other people. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.819 By the grace of God, I am what I am. 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.639 His grace towards me is not in vain. 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:54.500 I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is within me. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.940 Can we trust God for greater grace upon us? 00:25:56.940 --> 00:26:02.440 Can we trust God to work through us in a way that grace flows through us in a powerful way, 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:05.100 that we can do things that we wouldn't be able to do apart from his grace? 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.200 He says, 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:10.500 I worked harder than any of them, but it was not I, but the grace of God that is within me. 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:13.279 Philippians 2, 12 to 13 says, 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:17.299 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only in my presence, 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:20.860 but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:25.299 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:29.879 The difference between God working in you and God's grace working in you is burnout. 00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:33.399 When you work on your own strength, you burn out. 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:36.319 When you work on your own strength, your life gets out of order. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:40.019 When you work on your own strength, you're up and down. 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:43.740 When you work on the grace of the Lord, the work actually energizes you. 00:26:45.159 --> 00:26:47.799 Also, if it's not fruitful, you're still energized. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.599 Also, you're satisfied in Christ and Christ alone, 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:56.259 and you're not contingent on your religious performance or what other people think about you. 00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:57.339 Okay? 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:02.459 You're energized by God's call of you, his choice of you, 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:05.799 the fact that he saved you, and you're just like, I'm going to do the work. 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:09.000 And I'm going to do it by the power of God, in the grace of God. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:14.339 Second word. 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:16.759 Honor. 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:17.779 Okay? 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.259 Honor. 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.880 2 Corinthians 8.21 says, 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:25.460 We aim at what is honorable, not only in the Lord's sight, but also in the sight of man. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.099 Okay? 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:28.319 So there's a two-fold way of viewing honor. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:31.200 It's honoring the Lord, but it's also honoring one another. 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:31.859 Okay? 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.819 And they go together. 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:34.599 He says, that's our aim. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:37.019 And these words are our aim for the year. 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:42.700 One of the things I think the Lord wants us to do is aim towards honoring the Lord and honoring one another. 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:47.099 Doing what's honorable in the sight of the Lord and what's honorable in the sight of man. 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:49.440 Romans 12.17 says, 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:53.440 Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.200 Okay? 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:58.680 How much thought do we put in to say, how can I do what is honorable to other people? 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:01.819 How can I honor the people that I don't know as well? 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:04.339 How can I honor the people who are laboring amongst me? 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:07.459 How can I honor the weaker parts? 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:10.019 He says, give thought to this. 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:18.359 I believe that it's important for us to spend time this year giving thought to how we can do a better job honoring the Lord and honoring one another. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.639 To give it some thought. 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.659 To give it some time. 00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:21.779 To think about it. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.539 Notice he doesn't say pray about it. 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.299 He says think about it. 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.779 And I say, really? 00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:27.759 Is that a noble thing? 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.759 It's scriptural. 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.579 That's what he said to do. 00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:32.399 He said give time thinking about it. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:40.820 Sometimes people think, we don't realize that sometimes just thinking about something, meditating on it, taking the time to think, how can I do this? 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.620 Is a beneficial thing. 00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.800 And here's an example of it. 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:46.680 He says give thought to do what is honorable. 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:48.380 Take some time to think about it. 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:52.340 Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the busyness of life, we're just doing, doing, doing. 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:54.740 We never think, oh, is this the best way to honor? 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.779 Is this the best way to honor the Lord? 00:28:57.179 --> 00:28:59.559 Is this the best way to honor each other? 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:03.179 And that has to do with all the little details of how we do our life together. 00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:07.959 Sunday mornings, our life together with missional communities, how we do life together. 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:09.659 Just say, hey, have we thought about it? 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.839 Is this the best way to do that? 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.319 Is this the best way to do life together? 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.139 Well, that's always how I've done it. 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.500 Well, maybe that's not the best way. 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.959 What's the best way? 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.259 Well, that's why I did it in this church. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:22.019 Well, is that the best way to do it in that church? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:24.460 You know, just to really ask those questions. 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:27.379 Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:31.000 1 Peter 2.17 says, honor everyone. 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.500 Love the brotherhood. 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.640 Fear God. 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:34.799 Honor the emperor. 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:37.299 So it's honoring everyone, but it's fearing the Lord. 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:42.099 Saying, God, I care deeply about what you care about. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:47.619 Romans 12.10 goes a step further and says, love one another with brotherly affection. 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:50.679 Outdo one another in showing honor. 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:54.039 So one time in the Bible, it tells us to be competitive about something. 00:29:54.479 --> 00:29:57.399 It says, outdo one another in showing honor. 00:29:57.899 --> 00:30:01.739 So in order to do that, you got to think, well, how are some other people showing honor? 00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:05.279 Whatever way they're doing it, I'm going to outdo them. 00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:06.979 I'm going to outdo them. 00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:09.279 Well, first you got to think, how are some people being honored? 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.839 And you think, well, I can't think of it. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.139 Well, then we got a problem. 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:14.759 We got to make sure we're honoring people. 00:30:15.020 --> 00:30:18.540 But then when you see honor, think, I'm going to go above and beyond that. 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:20.780 I'm going to outdo them in honor. 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:28.300 If everybody did the work of outdoing one another, like saying, how can I honor even more than the other person honors? 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:35.640 That would be a good godly competition that would just blow the socks off of our life together. 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.180 But we got to think about it. 00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.620 We got to look for it. 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:43.379 You got to say, what does it look like to honor one another? 00:30:43.459 --> 00:30:48.139 And then what does it look like to outdo one another in honoring each other? 00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:51.739 How do we speak about each other when we're not around each other? 00:30:51.979 --> 00:30:54.319 How do we speak to people when we are with each other? 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:57.439 How do we speak the truth? 00:30:58.779 --> 00:31:00.599 And how do we honor the Lord as well? 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.659 How do we honor the Lord with our speech? 00:31:02.739 --> 00:31:05.979 How do we honor the Lord with our behavior and how we interact with one another? 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:09.460 How do we honor the weak parts, the strong parts? 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:12.079 I know I preached on this, so I'm not going to go too into it. 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:15.019 But 1 Corinthians 12, starting in verse 21, says, 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:19.639 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:23.740 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:29.359 And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable, we bestow the greater honor. 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:35.220 And our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:45.720 But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.339 If one member suffers, all suffer together. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:50.900 If one member is honored, all rejoice together. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:52.360 Do you see what God's doing there? 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:59.940 One of the problems that happens in churches is we naturally gravitate towards people that we like better. 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:05.059 And it's naturally easier to care for those people. 00:32:06.120 --> 00:32:18.960 God has so designed the body, composed the body, that when we give greater honor to the parts that lack it, you give greater honor to the parts that maybe are harder for you or that you don't get along with as well. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:40.740 And you seek to outdo one another in showing honor and say, I am going to make effort and work to get close to these people, to love these people, to disciple these people, to receive from these people, to glean from these people, to learn from these people, to appreciate the good things in these people that I can't see because I'm so gosh darn obsessed with the things that I don't like about those people. 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:49.299 When I do this and I give greater honor to the parts that lack it, there ends up being no division in the body and then the members have the same care for one another. 00:32:51.319 --> 00:33:05.220 I can tell numbers of stories over the last 15, 20 years of people that I would have never gravitated to outside of Christ in relationship and maybe that we butted heads with. 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:09.200 I mean, I can think of, I can think of really close friends. 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:20.200 I have just one memory just came to my mind right now of someone yelling at me in the foyer of one of our old buildings at another church, telling me I was doing leadership wrong at our church. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:23.019 And this person is now one of my best friends. 00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:27.200 And I thought, I don't even know if we're still going to be in the same church after this conversation. 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:29.259 Like, this is going really bad. 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:32.779 And I thought maybe it was going to turn and then it got worse. 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.079 I thought, oh. 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:39.160 And everything within me wanted to blow this person off and say, you know what? 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.379 Fine. 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.539 Get out of here. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:43.119 Like, be done. 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:45.019 Like, you don't like the way I do things? 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:46.400 Then just don't be here. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.339 No one's making you. 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.660 Like, bye. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.680 See ya. 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.759 Like, I'm done. 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.759 I'm not dealing with you. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.599 Like, why are we even having this conversation? 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:58.940 Like, I want to be at home right now with my family and I'm in the foyer with you and you're yelling at me. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:01.839 And I'm really glad I didn't give up on that person. 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:05.039 Because I would have forfeited the relationship we have now. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:07.299 I would have forfeited all the benefit they've been to me now. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:09.739 I would have forfeited, you know, all the ways they've challenged me. 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.780 All the ways that they've been good in my life. 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.539 But if I would have said, oh, you're different than me. 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:15.019 You don't see things the same as me. 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.500 You're frustrated with me. 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:18.119 You don't like the way I do things. 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:21.900 If I would have pushed that person off, I would not have benefited from their friendship. 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:23.639 I would not have benefited from their challenge. 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.199 The fact that they're different than me. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:30.000 And now they're a great brother, a great ally, and we've been through a lot together. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:33.440 But I remember, I thought maybe that was going to be the end. 00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:36.159 And if I would have blown that person off, it might have been. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:40.099 And maybe you have relationships where you've blown people off and that was the end. 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:43.699 And maybe you don't have a lot of friendships with people that you can look back and say, 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:45.360 I pushed through the hard part. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:48.740 I'm saying to establish a church, we've got to push through the hard part. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:53.480 We've got to give honor to parts where we would typically lack to give honor and just say, 00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:54.039 you know what? 00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:55.460 I don't want to do life with these people. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.559 I'd rather do life with this person. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.180 I'd rather do life with that person. 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:05.920 I was just hearing about a guy the other day who was saying he didn't want to do life with the people in his church. 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.900 He wanted to do life with someone else out of his church. 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:13.139 And I'm thinking, yeah, that's, you know, you can do life with people outside of your church. 00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:15.660 But, I mean, you really got to do life with the people in your church. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:18.139 I mean, otherwise it's not really church, right? 00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:19.000 That's not church. 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:23.160 There has to be that focus and that pressing in. 00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.680 And it takes work. 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.220 It takes work. 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:28.220 We've got to honor one another in that. 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:36.099 I'm going to throw out a specific little section to it with this in honor and just honoring our wives as well. 00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:37.539 It says in 1 Peter 3, 7, 00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:42.139 Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:46.380 since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:49.619 Let's throw a little thing out here and just say, men who are married, 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:53.199 especially men who are married and are go-getters, 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:56.380 who happen to join a church plant and want to see this thing get going, 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:58.339 make sure you take your wives with you. 00:35:59.279 --> 00:36:00.460 Make sure you honor them. 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:03.380 Make sure you don't look down on them because they're weaker than you. 00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:06.820 Make sure you don't get frustrated with them because they're not running as fast as you. 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:09.720 While they're taking care of all these little kids while you're at work 00:36:09.720 --> 00:36:13.440 and you're dreaming about how the church is supposed to be and planning this, that, or the other, 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:15.900 and you're thinking, hey, remember your wives. 00:36:16.680 --> 00:36:17.500 Remember your wives. 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.960 Show honor to the woman as the weaker vessel. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:22.420 And if you want to lead, bring order in your home. 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:26.200 Because no one's going to respect your leadership if you can't bring order in your home 00:36:26.200 --> 00:36:27.980 and you can't love your wife. 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:30.039 That's not going to work. 00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:34.239 Honor and sanctification as well. 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:36.619 The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2, 20-21, 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:40.420 In a great house, they're not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wooden clay, 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:42.880 some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:46.000 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:49.259 he'll be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, 00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:52.980 useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:54.659 There's that work again, that labor. 00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:55.840 Okay. 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:58.099 It says cleanse yourself. 00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:59.639 Isn't that interesting? 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:02.799 It's not you just waiting, oh, God, just do the work. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:06.779 Yeah, God's got to do the work, but we got to step in and do it with him. 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.179 Cleanse yourself. 00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:10.039 Just say, okay, what needs to be cleaned? 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:12.380 What's some house cleaning in our lives that needs to be done? 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:14.699 What's something we know needs to be taken care of? 00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.500 Take care of it. 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.380 Let this be the year. 00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:21.820 Let's remove the things that are lacking honor, that are ignoble. 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:28.660 And let's be a house and vessels of honor, useful to the master, ready for every good work. 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:31.340 2 Thessalonians 3.1 says, 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:36.119 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.579 as happened among you. 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:40.400 There's something about evangelism that has to do with honor as well. 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:44.840 It's praying that as we preach the word, that it would be honored among lost people. 00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:47.420 It would be honored among lost people. 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:48.539 Guess what? 00:37:48.740 --> 00:37:52.019 It's probably not going to be honored by lost people, but it's not being honored by us first. 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.860 We've got to start there. 00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:56.119 1 Peter 3.15 says, 00:37:56.220 --> 00:38:06.119 Isn't it interesting those verses are right next to each other? 00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:07.639 It's like, what's the correlation there? 00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:10.340 In your hearts, honor Christ the Lord is holy. 00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.059 Okay? 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.019 Got it? 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:14.240 And then it's still in the same sentence. 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.599 He says, 00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:20.639 Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:27.420 Could it be that honoring Christ is making sure that you're always ready for evangelism? 00:38:27.740 --> 00:38:30.380 That honoring Christ means you're always ready to give a witness? 00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:34.079 Honoring Christ means you're always ready to make a defense to anyone who says, 00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:35.680 What is the reason for the hope that you have? 00:38:36.160 --> 00:38:37.480 This is honoring Christ. 00:38:38.059 --> 00:38:39.480 Honoring Christ is to be always ready. 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:42.659 If we're a people that aren't ready, we're not a people that are honoring Christ. 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:46.880 Lastly, third word, faith. 00:38:47.840 --> 00:38:48.240 Faith. 00:38:49.240 --> 00:38:53.320 I think it makes sense that God wants us to believe in him, to trust him. 00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:56.320 John 6, 29 says, 00:38:56.980 --> 00:39:00.200 This is the work of God, that you may believe in him who was sent. 00:39:00.580 --> 00:39:00.760 Okay? 00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.539 What is ultimately the work? 00:39:02.620 --> 00:39:03.280 It's to believe. 00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.860 It's to believe. 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:08.740 We can be doing a lot of work and not doing in faith, and is it really the work of God? 00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:11.039 I think according to this verse, no. 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:13.440 The work of God is to believe. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:16.260 Do you believe that God wants to establish his church? 00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:18.079 Do you believe that God wants to save sinners? 00:39:18.240 --> 00:39:23.660 Do you believe that God wants to bring us closer together and to push through relational obstacles? 00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:27.380 Do you believe that God wants to advance his kingdom? 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.579 Do you believe that? 00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.519 This is the work. 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.840 It's got to start there. 00:39:30.900 --> 00:39:32.539 We've got to take our unbelief to the cross and say, 00:39:32.619 --> 00:39:36.619 God, I admit I have more faith in the negative than I do in the positive. 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:39.819 Unbelief is just faith in the opposite direction. 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:41.099 It's not the absence of faith. 00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:42.679 It's just faith in the wrong thing. 00:39:43.299 --> 00:39:45.819 I actually have more faith that bad things are going to happen. 00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:49.980 I have more faith that things aren't going to happen than I do that God will actually work. 00:39:50.299 --> 00:39:51.500 What in the world is that all about? 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.360 That's unbelief. 00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:55.639 It's just moving your faith to say, 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:58.799 No, I believe that God wants to do great things. 00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.219 What is faith? 00:40:00.319 --> 00:40:05.619 Hebrews 11.1 says it's the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:09.819 What are the things you can't see yet that you're believing God for this year? 00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.759 Think about it. 00:40:12.139 --> 00:40:16.900 What are the things at Christchurch that you currently can't see that maybe discourage you? 00:40:17.299 --> 00:40:18.819 Maybe they're things you talk about. 00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:21.079 Maybe they're things you vent about and you say, 00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:25.639 This is something I'm not seeing at Christchurch that I really want to see, that I wish was here, 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:29.340 and I'm upset about it, or I'm frustrated about it, or I'm bummed about it. 00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:36.039 Well, the difference between that and faith is to see the things that are unseen, 00:40:36.299 --> 00:40:40.539 and then believe, have conviction for, have assurance, 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:43.099 that God is going to bring about what you don't see. 00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:45.199 God's going to bring about. 00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.179 What is that for this year? 00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:50.000 What are the specific things you're going to cry out for in prayer? 00:40:50.319 --> 00:40:52.179 You're going to believe for in prayer that you don't see, 00:40:52.439 --> 00:40:53.500 but you're going to get faith for, 00:40:53.759 --> 00:40:54.859 and you're going to stay in faith, 00:40:54.919 --> 00:40:56.299 and you're going to be steadfast in faith, 00:40:56.339 --> 00:40:56.599 and say, 00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:58.219 God, I'm holding on. 00:40:58.379 --> 00:40:59.559 I'm believing your promises. 00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:00.779 I'm believing your word. 00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:03.299 I'm believing that you want to do this. 00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:05.059 I believe that you're building your church, 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:06.879 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:41:07.259 --> 00:41:09.319 I'm believing that when the gospel goes forth, 00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:10.599 it doesn't need power. 00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.339 It is power. 00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:13.679 It is the power of God for the salvation of those who believe. 00:41:13.679 --> 00:41:17.339 I believe that people can't believe unless someone's sent, 00:41:17.460 --> 00:41:19.879 and they can't believe unless they hear, 00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:21.179 and I'm going to speak, 00:41:21.739 --> 00:41:23.599 and I'm going to believe that when I speak the gospel, 00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:26.079 that the gospel I speak is the power of God 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:27.319 for the salvation of those who believe. 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:29.659 I don't see it now, but I'm believing for it. 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:31.879 I don't see those souls yet. 00:41:31.899 --> 00:41:33.000 I don't know who's going to get saved, 00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.239 but I'm believing for it. 00:41:34.839 --> 00:41:37.539 I don't see how this relationship's going to get better, 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:38.679 or this is going to grow stronger, 00:41:38.859 --> 00:41:40.399 but I'm believing for it. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.779 What are those things? 00:41:41.879 --> 00:41:42.539 Write them down. 00:41:42.539 --> 00:41:43.300 Pray them. 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.139 Pray them every day. 00:41:44.579 --> 00:41:45.360 Pray them regularly. 00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:46.960 Get in faith. 00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:48.920 2 Corinthians 5.7 says, 00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:50.920 We walk by faith and not by sight. 00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:55.539 Our faith should be full, firm, strong, and patient. 00:41:56.539 --> 00:41:58.800 Acts 11.23-24 00:41:58.800 --> 00:42:02.279 says about Barnabas, 00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:03.059 that he was a good, 00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:04.679 he came and saw the grace of God, 00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:05.199 he was glad, 00:42:05.279 --> 00:42:07.559 and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord 00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:09.400 with steadfast purpose, 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:11.019 for he was a good man, 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:13.920 full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, 00:42:14.180 --> 00:42:16.340 and a great many people were added to the Lord. 00:42:17.680 --> 00:42:18.619 Could it be said of you 00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:20.400 that you're someone 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:22.440 who's not just full of the Holy Spirit, 00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.380 but full of faith? 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.860 Are you full of faith? 00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:26.820 I believe God wants Christchurch 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.980 to be full of faith this year. 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:28.760 Do you believe that? 00:42:29.260 --> 00:42:30.599 I believe he's saying that to us. 00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:31.000 He's saying, 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:31.780 Christchurch, 00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:33.200 I want to fill you with faith. 00:42:34.060 --> 00:42:35.380 I want to fill you with faith. 00:42:35.920 --> 00:42:37.300 We want a bunch of Barnabases, 00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:38.200 right? 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:39.260 A bunch of people 00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:40.540 who are not just full of the Holy Spirit, 00:42:40.620 --> 00:42:41.420 but full of faith. 00:42:42.420 --> 00:42:43.260 Good men and women 00:42:43.260 --> 00:42:44.980 who are full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. 00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:47.120 I believe that's what God wants to do. 00:42:47.540 --> 00:42:49.600 Will we receive that? 00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:50.980 Will we believe for that? 00:42:52.160 --> 00:42:53.360 Colossians 2, verse 5, 00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.380 Paul said, 00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:56.440 Though I'm absent in body, 00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:57.620 yet I'm with you in spirit, 00:42:58.060 --> 00:42:59.780 rejoicing to see your good order 00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:02.019 and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 00:43:02.220 --> 00:43:02.740 Last year, 00:43:02.780 --> 00:43:04.080 one of our words we had was order. 00:43:05.240 --> 00:43:05.580 Well, 00:43:06.019 --> 00:43:07.400 what goes together with order? 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:09.019 Firmness of faith. 00:43:10.200 --> 00:43:11.620 That's a good word right there. 00:43:11.820 --> 00:43:11.960 Okay? 00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:12.720 Sometimes, 00:43:13.220 --> 00:43:14.740 when our families are not in order, 00:43:15.060 --> 00:43:17.140 because we're not firm in our faith. 00:43:17.800 --> 00:43:19.500 And especially the heads of the home, 00:43:19.580 --> 00:43:20.080 the fathers, 00:43:20.540 --> 00:43:21.100 the husbands, 00:43:21.820 --> 00:43:24.560 I'm especially exerting you, 00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:25.880 be firm in your faith. 00:43:26.340 --> 00:43:27.360 If you're wishy-washy, 00:43:27.400 --> 00:43:28.019 if you're shaking, 00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:29.080 if you're insecure, 00:43:29.079 --> 00:43:30.440 if you're up and down, 00:43:31.599 --> 00:43:33.159 it'll cause disorder in your homes. 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:35.880 Order comes when we're firm in our faith. 00:43:36.360 --> 00:43:38.079 And when the patriarch's firm in his faith, 00:43:38.319 --> 00:43:39.779 when the husband's firm in his faith, 00:43:39.860 --> 00:43:42.519 when the head is firm in faith, 00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:44.480 it brings order. 00:43:45.079 --> 00:43:45.319 Now, 00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.819 wives can help in that. 00:43:47.799 --> 00:43:49.639 Single people can be firm in faith 00:43:49.639 --> 00:43:51.400 and can be helping that in the church 00:43:51.400 --> 00:43:51.880 and just say, 00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:52.199 hey, 00:43:53.119 --> 00:43:53.980 you need to believe. 00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:55.500 You need to believe. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:57.239 You need to be firm in your faith. 00:43:57.239 --> 00:43:59.099 Your faith needs to be as firm 00:43:59.099 --> 00:44:00.379 as the God you're trusting in. 00:44:02.979 --> 00:44:04.459 I rejoice to see your good order 00:44:04.459 --> 00:44:05.959 and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 00:44:06.659 --> 00:44:07.239 Romans 4, 00:44:07.319 --> 00:44:08.299 18 to 21, 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.259 says, 00:44:09.260 --> 00:44:09.780 in hope, 00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:10.840 speaking of Abraham, 00:44:11.040 --> 00:44:12.240 he believed against hope 00:44:12.240 --> 00:44:14.340 that he should become the father of many nations 00:44:14.340 --> 00:44:15.220 as he had been told. 00:44:15.740 --> 00:44:16.840 So shall your offspring be. 00:44:17.460 --> 00:44:18.960 He did not weaken in faith 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:20.500 when he considered his own body, 00:44:20.880 --> 00:44:22.040 which was as good as dead. 00:44:23.300 --> 00:44:24.180 It's kind of blunt, 00:44:24.300 --> 00:44:24.780 don't you think? 00:44:26.460 --> 00:44:28.240 Since he was about 100 years old 00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:29.459 or when he considered 00:44:29.459 --> 00:44:30.879 the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 00:44:31.659 --> 00:44:31.779 Okay, 00:44:31.839 --> 00:44:32.319 so he's got, 00:44:32.899 --> 00:44:33.179 it's not, 00:44:33.439 --> 00:44:34.819 his eyes look at it and think, 00:44:35.179 --> 00:44:36.279 it's not looking good here. 00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.599 Not looking good. 00:44:37.979 --> 00:44:38.259 Right? 00:44:39.299 --> 00:44:40.719 But he didn't weaken in his faith 00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:43.059 when he considered his own body, 00:44:43.119 --> 00:44:43.779 when he considered 00:44:43.779 --> 00:44:45.319 being as good as dead 00:44:45.319 --> 00:44:46.619 or the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:48.559 No unbelief made him waver 00:44:48.559 --> 00:44:50.119 concerning the promise of God, 00:44:50.219 --> 00:44:52.000 but he grew strong in his faith 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:53.819 as he gave glory to God, 00:44:54.319 --> 00:44:55.079 fully convinced 00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:55.899 that God was able 00:44:55.899 --> 00:44:56.939 to do what he promised. 00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:58.679 Are you fully convinced? 00:44:59.179 --> 00:45:00.400 Are you fully convinced? 00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:01.920 You know how you grow in your faith? 00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:03.440 Keep giving glory to God. 00:45:03.800 --> 00:45:04.519 Be a worshiper. 00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:06.880 Be someone who honors the Lord. 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:08.639 Be someone who worships 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.700 day in, day out. 00:45:10.579 --> 00:45:11.659 Fully convinced. 00:45:13.019 --> 00:45:14.019 Not wavering 00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:15.539 concerning the promises of God. 00:45:16.460 --> 00:45:17.119 And lastly, 00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:18.780 Hebrews 6, 11 to 12 says, 00:45:19.200 --> 00:45:20.079 we desire each of you 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:21.400 to show the same earnestness 00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:22.599 to have the full assurance 00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:24.200 of hope until the end 00:45:24.200 --> 00:45:25.980 so that you may not be sluggish, 00:45:25.980 --> 00:45:27.519 but imitators of those 00:45:27.519 --> 00:45:29.159 who through faith and patience 00:45:29.159 --> 00:45:30.460 inherit the promises. 00:45:30.780 --> 00:45:31.559 What goes together 00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:32.019 with faith? 00:45:32.159 --> 00:45:32.559 Patience. 00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:35.159 Everyone wants to do, 00:45:35.240 --> 00:45:35.380 you know, 00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:36.519 you have all these faith preachers. 00:45:36.599 --> 00:45:37.860 Where's the patience preachers? 00:45:38.500 --> 00:45:38.659 Right? 00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:40.619 What movement are you part of? 00:45:40.719 --> 00:45:41.599 The patience movement. 00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:44.960 That one doesn't bring 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:45.719 as much money in. 00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:48.940 Okay? 00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:50.480 Faith and patience 00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:51.579 to inherit the promises. 00:45:52.740 --> 00:45:52.920 Okay? 00:45:53.619 --> 00:45:53.940 We're, 00:45:54.340 --> 00:45:54.800 let's see here, 00:45:54.860 --> 00:45:56.260 May will be two years 00:45:56.260 --> 00:45:57.400 since we started this church. 00:45:57.720 --> 00:45:57.940 Okay? 00:45:58.500 --> 00:45:58.880 So, 00:45:59.420 --> 00:46:00.420 what do we have here? 00:46:00.559 --> 00:46:02.460 We're at a year and seven months. 00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:03.480 Okay? 00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:05.280 A lot of you, 00:46:05.700 --> 00:46:06.200 one of the reasons 00:46:06.200 --> 00:46:07.079 you joined this church, 00:46:07.159 --> 00:46:08.400 because you had a lot of faith for it, 00:46:08.659 --> 00:46:11.099 is your faith patient. 00:46:12.159 --> 00:46:13.240 Your faith patient. 00:46:14.039 --> 00:46:15.059 Are you still holding on? 00:46:15.679 --> 00:46:17.480 Are you losing some of that faith 00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:18.880 because of impatience? 00:46:18.940 --> 00:46:19.799 Because it hasn't happened 00:46:19.799 --> 00:46:21.059 as fast as you wanted it to. 00:46:21.139 --> 00:46:22.059 Because the people 00:46:22.059 --> 00:46:22.820 you've been reaching out to 00:46:22.820 --> 00:46:23.699 haven't gotten saved. 00:46:23.860 --> 00:46:23.940 Or, 00:46:24.259 --> 00:46:25.440 relationship is hard. 00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:25.639 Or, 00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:27.960 I think the Lord's saying, 00:46:28.099 --> 00:46:28.259 hey, 00:46:28.699 --> 00:46:29.599 hold on to your faith. 00:46:29.980 --> 00:46:30.759 Be strong in faith. 00:46:30.840 --> 00:46:31.619 Be firm in faith. 00:46:31.739 --> 00:46:32.840 Be steadfast in faith. 00:46:33.420 --> 00:46:34.039 Keep holding on. 00:46:34.079 --> 00:46:35.259 Be patient in faith. 00:46:35.699 --> 00:46:36.420 God is faithful. 00:46:37.159 --> 00:46:38.380 He's a keeper of his promises. 00:46:39.900 --> 00:46:40.259 So, 00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:42.799 he who has an ear, 00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:44.759 let him hear what the Spirit says 00:46:44.760 --> 00:46:45.340 to the churches. 00:46:45.980 --> 00:46:47.040 Let him hear what the Spirit says 00:46:47.040 --> 00:46:47.720 to our church. 00:46:48.100 --> 00:46:48.940 I believe this year 00:46:48.940 --> 00:46:49.960 the Lord wants us 00:46:49.960 --> 00:46:51.000 to be, 00:46:51.540 --> 00:46:52.960 to give ourselves to labor. 00:46:53.900 --> 00:46:54.660 To honoring the Lord 00:46:54.660 --> 00:46:55.400 and to one another 00:46:55.400 --> 00:46:57.200 and to increase in faith. 00:46:57.280 --> 00:46:57.480 Amen? 00:46:57.480 --> 00:46:57.680 Amen. 00:46:58.300 --> 00:46:58.780 Amen. 00:46:58.920 --> 00:46:59.400 Let's stand.