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Eyes & Ears: Seeing & Hearing God's Will
International teacher and evangelist, Robert Carrillo, helps us see how we can be better equipped to see and hear God's will in our lives during trials and tribulations.
Transcript
Good morning, church.
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:It's great to be here with all of you.
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:Uh, it's a treat.
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:I want to thank the Stephensons, the
whole staff, the Willis's for inviting
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:Michelle and I to be here with you guys.
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:Um, I love this ministry.
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:I've only been here really a few times
and back when I had the hope hat on and,
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:uh, and, and, and preaching for the poor.
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:Um, so many people in this
ministry have been so generous.
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:To hope worldwide and to helping the
poor and have signed up and gone all
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:over the world serving and I'm so
grateful for that, but I love you guys.
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:Great to be here this morning.
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:Let me see if my slide thingy works.
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:I don't know if that's the official name.
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:Okay, slide thingy.
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:All right.
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:So first of all, greetings from Metro.
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:All right.
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:It's the Metro region.
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:For those of you who don't know,
Metro Uh, my wife and I moved up
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:here, uh, up here being the L.
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:A.
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:area, uh, about four years
ago, almost four years ago.
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:And, uh, uh, to really jump
in and help out in Metro.
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:Metro was going through
a very difficult time.
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:Um, they had gone through a very painful
split, division in leadership, uh,
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:difficult times, a lot of dysfunction.
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:And, like any church, filled
with wonderful, amazing people.
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:And, uh, we, we were called, as Steve was
talking about being called, we were called
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:to come here and be part of that family.
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:And we've had such a great time at Metro.
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:We have, we have recovered.
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:We have rehealed.
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:And we've still got a long ways to
go, but we're on our way to being
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:a healthy, happy, Growing dynamic
church that God has called us to be.
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:So please keep us in your prayers,
but I also see that we've contributed
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:here to Sumoge and Sanchez
Padillas , and oh, we got some people
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:here that, uh, uh, you guys have
kidnapped and taken away from us.
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:And I know you want the Keys but
you can't have 'em all right.
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:You can't have 'em.
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:But no, we, we, we obviously share a bond.
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:We are all family.
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:Uh, it's great to be here.
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:Um, I also bring you
greetings from the Carrillos.
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:This is Michelle and I's crew.
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:Um, our little, uh, our
little growing clan.
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:Our little growing tribe.
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:We're trying to have kids and, and
they're trying to have grandkids.
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:And, or kids for them
and grandkids for us.
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:And, you know, our, our little,
our little tribe is growing.
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:You know, that's the
Mexican retirement plan.
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:Have lots of kids.
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:And then they can take care of you, right?
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:That's the plan.
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:So we're like, come on,
have some more babies.
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:Let's go.
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:Let's keep going here.
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:Uh, well, you know, part of us
coming here was really, uh, God's
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:design, uh, because, uh, I was
able to enroll at Fuller Seminary.
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:And, uh, Michelle and I just completed,
we just had spiritual birthdays this year.
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:Michelle turned 42 and I
turned 40 as Christians.
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:Okay, spiritual birthday, right?
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:Not, not, not years of life.
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:But, um...
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:And, you know, I've been on a journey,
we've been on a journey together
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:of trying to figure things out.
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:How to be a healthy church.
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:How to be a healthy disciple.
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:How to be a strong Christian.
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:How to, how to do it right.
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:How to learn from our mistakes.
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:How to grow through the
things we've messed up in.
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:How to change as we get, how to
be the best leaders we can be.
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:Just, how to keep growing and build the
church that reflects the kingdom of God.
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:And that's, that's a great
challenge and that's a great, uh,
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:learning curve, let me tell you.
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:Um, and I'm, I'm just about to finish
my doctorate, Lord willing, I'll be
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:graduating in March with a doctorate
in spirituality and spiritual health.
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:Um, but you know, we've
been at this a long time.
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:I mean, probably, you know, a
good chunk of this room wasn't
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:even alive 40 years ago, you know.
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:Probably most of this room.
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:Um, uh, Steve was just talking about
how that song, uh, Men Who Dream,
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:how many of you were there in Boston?
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:I said, I'm looking around, most of
the people weren't even alive when this
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:song came out in Boston back in 1989.
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:Whoa.
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:Um, you know, I was at, I so
appreciate people who've endured
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:through the decades, who keep serving.
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:The other day, uh, last week I was
in, uh, New York, actually New Jersey.
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:For the I still see teachers conference
and I was sitting there waiting for my
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:plane to board and of course, you know
how they called for those in active
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:military to please come on board and
You saw some soldiers get up there and
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:I noticed I was sitting right by the
gate That when they would check in they
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:would say thank you for your service to
everybody And I thought you know, that's
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:that's good and right Because these are
men and women who put their lives on
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:the line for us, who serve, who give.
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:And you know, that's just, God likes that.
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:That's, God wants us to give
honor and respect where it's due.
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:He calls us to this.
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:He calls us to this.
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:And I was thinking, you know, I, because
of our role now in the MLC and helping
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:out here, I've been talking to a lot
of veterans here, spiritual veterans,
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:a lot of people who've been here for
a very long time, serving and giving.
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:I'd like everybody who's more than
20 years old in the, let's say
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:more than 15 years old, stand up.
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:More than 15 spiritually.
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:Thank you for your service.
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:I need to look at everybody else
look at these people and tell
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:them thank you for your service.
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:I know that sometimes Satan likes to play
with our minds and likes to discourage us.
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:But I want to remind you something.
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:God is not unjust.
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:God is not unjust.
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:He will not forget your work.
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:And the love you have shown
him as you've helped his people
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:and continue to help them.
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:We want each of you to show this same
diligence to the very end, so that what
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:you hope for may be fully realized.
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:We don't want you to become lazy, but
to imitate those who through faith and
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:patience inherit what has been promised.
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:I think sometimes Satan likes to, you
know, make us feel bad about our lives.
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:I think he specializes in that.
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:You know, I think about if you've been
here 15, 20, 30 years, 40 years plus like
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:us, that's a lot of missions collections.
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:That's a lot of special contributions.
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:That is a lot of sacrificing.
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:That is a lot of times you chose
not to buy a bigger TV or a
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:newer car or a new furniture set.
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:And you gave the money to the church.
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:Or you gave the money to hope, to
help somebody that you will never
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:meet, you will maybe never see.
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:And maybe never get to
hear a thank you from them.
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:But you gave anyways.
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:And you didn't do it once.
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:You did it again, and again, and again.
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:And still you continue doing it.
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:God is watching.
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:God sees that.
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:God acknowledges that.
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:Satan likes to feel
terrible about ourselves.
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:Man, you realize how much money you get.
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:By now you could have a
bigger, more beautiful house.
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:By now you could have
a 150 square inch TV.
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:By now you could do this and that.
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:But let me tell you something.
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:As somebody who's traveled all over
the world and seen many many of our
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:churches And seeing how grateful
all those disciples are for your
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:sacrifice, for your faithfulness, for
your continued giving again and again.
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:How many lives have been saved?
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:How many families have been saved?
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:How many marriages have been saved?
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:How many people have food to eat,
clothes to wear, and a school to go
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:to because of your faithful service?
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:So thank you for your service.
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:Thank you for your faithfulness.
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:And I just wanted to recognize that
because I think it's really important.
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:We gotta be at least as good
as Delta Airlines, right?
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:In giving thanks.
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:So we're gonna jump in
to the scriptures here.
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:Um, let's go to God and pray.
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:Father God, we are so
grateful to you, God.
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:You have blessed us.
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:In so many ways, God, you've blessed us
with the health that we enjoy with the
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:family that we have with the opportunities
living in this country in this part of
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:the world with so many blessings, God.
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:And we thank you, God.
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:We know that we have everything
we have is because of your
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:love and your generosity, God.
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:Help us now.
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:To focus our minds and our hearts
on you to set aside the worries
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:and the distractions of life.
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:And to just be with you for the next 30
minutes and listen to your scriptures.
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:To be with you and give
you our full attention.
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:Help us to focus our
minds and not multitask.
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:But to think about you and to think
about the words that you've written
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:down that we're going to read.
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:And to hear you and to see what you
would have us see and to understand
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:what you want us to understand.
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:Please bless our time together now.
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:Bless our Bible study as we study
your word in Jesus name we pray.
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:Amen.
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:Amen.
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:Um, some of you know, uh, that
Michelle and I are involved here as
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:well as a number of other leaders
basically to help the region.
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:To help OC.
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:We were invited and asked
by a number of members.
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:We were invited and asked by the staff.
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:To come and help you guys
through some difficulties.
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:Through some challenges that
your church is facing right now.
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:And they're pretty significant challenges.
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:They're pretty intense things.
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:And I understand and I'm very
aware that even this morning
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:I'm speaking to a wide range.
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:There's some people that are,
Man, everything's awesome.
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:The church is awesome.
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:The leaders are awesome.
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:Everything's awesome.
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:What's the problem?
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:And then there are some who are
working through hurt, who are
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:working through anger, who are
working through frustration.
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:There are some who feel hopeless
and are trying to hang on,
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:trying to grab on to something.
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:And there are some that feel very
hopeful and are excited about the future.
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:And so we're a mixed crowd.
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:And so what do you do when you've
got a whole bunch of different
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:people in different places, but you
focus on Jesus and you focus on God
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:because God will provide the answer
for all of us, wherever we are.
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:So this message, and I, I've been
thinking, I'm praying about this
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:for a while, and I've got about 12
messages, but we'll only do one.
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:Don't worry.
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:We'll only do one today.
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:God loves his people.
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:God loves us all warts and all.
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:And He knows us.
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:He knows our strengths.
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:He knows our weaknesses.
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:The title of the sermon today
is, uh, what is the title?
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:It didn't come out there.
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:Eyes and Ears.
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:That's the title.
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:That's the title of the sermon.
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:Eyes and Ears.
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:And you'll see what I
mean and you'll see why.
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:So Mark chapter 8.
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:The disciples have
forgotten to bring bread.
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:They just fed the 5, 000.
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:Remember that scene?
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:The disciples had forgotten to
bring bread except for one loaf
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:they had with them in the boat.
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:Be careful, Jesus warned them.
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:Watch out for the yeast of the
Pharisees and that of Herod.
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:They discussed this with one another
and said, It's because we have no bread.
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:Aware of their discussion,
Jesus asked them, Why are you
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:talking about having no bread?
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:Do you still not see or understand?
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:Are your hearts hardened?
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:Do you have eyes but fail to
see and ears but fail to hear?
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:This is one of those classic
scenes in the scriptures.
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:And this is, this, and this is
quintessential example of Mark's gospel.
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:Mark's is the raw gospel.
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:And Mark, yeah, it's,
it's, it's the real gospel.
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:If you like raw and real and authentic,
Mark is probably your favorite gospel.
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:And I remember I was sitting in a
class at Pepperdine when I was getting
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:my, my master's divinity there.
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:And one of the professors was
saying, Mark is the idiots gospel.
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:And I was like, Whoa, can you say that?
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:You know?
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:And he says, because the apostles were
idiots and Mark doesn't hide it at all.
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:I was sitting there thinking,
dude, you're going to get
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:struck by lightning, you know.
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:But as I read, as I read through
Mark, I'm like, man, he's right
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:there, just blown it left and right.
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:I mean, here, Jesus sent by God to
establish the kingdom of God, to help
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:us learn, to help the people of God.
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:He wasn't going to a
bunch of non Christians.
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:He was going to God's people, and
it's really important that God's
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:people understand God's will.
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:And so he was trying to teach God's people
what they needed to understand about God.
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:He was trying to help them get God.
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:Trying to help them get good
religion versus bad religion.
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:Trying to help them get
love versus legalism.
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:Trying to help them get faith
versus worry and doubt and fear.
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:And so he tells them, be
careful, Jesus warned them.
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:Watch out for the yeast of the
Pharisees and that of Herod.
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:So we all know what the yeast
of the Pharisees, hypocrisy.
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:Making a religion about
what's on the outside.
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:About really understanding.
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:The nature of God.
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:About understanding the importance
of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
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:All those things that Jesus taught.
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:Understanding God's heart.
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:It was a heart lesson.
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:But where were they?
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:Well, oh no, we forgot the bread.
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:That's why he's talking to us about this.
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:Were they getting it?
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:No, they weren't getting it.
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:They didn't understand
what he was talking about.
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:They discussed one another and
said, It's because we have no bread.
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:Aware of their discussion,
Jesus asked them, Why are you
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:talking about having no bread?
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:And, and, and notice
the way I'm reading it.
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:Why are you talking about having no bread?
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:Because I think that's
probably the way he said it.
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:He's like, Come on, guys.
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:Wake up.
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:Get it.
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:Understand what's happening here.
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:Understand the lesson I'm trying to teach.
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:I'm trying to get you to see.
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:He says, Are your hearts hardened?
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:Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears
but fail to see, to hear and understand?
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:And this is a big theme in the scriptures.
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:Eyes and ears.
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:Seeing and understanding what God
is doing and how He's working.
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:Huge theme in the scriptures.
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:I mean, He just lays it out.
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:Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears?
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:But fail to hear.
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:Sometimes, Jesus would teach them, and
then he'd put them through a situation.
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:And this is actually right in
the middle of what's called a
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:pericope, a set of teachings.
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:They're all over the Gospel of Mark.
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:It's when he teaches something,
then he does something, and then
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:they talk about it, and it's like
a little set to, to learn a lesson.
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:So he teaches, and he talks
a lot about eyes and ears.
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:And then he goes off and he heals
people and then he challenges
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:them about, do you get it?
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:Do you understand what's happening here?
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:'cause it's a big deal.
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:So we keep reading Mark chapter eight,
and he tells him, he says, don't you
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:remember when I broke the five loaves?
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:Of the 5,000?
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:How many basketfuls of
pieces did you pick up?
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:12.
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:They replied, And when I broke the seven
loaves for the four thousand, how many
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:basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?
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:They answered, seven.
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:He said to them, do you
still not understand?
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:Do you still not get this?
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:Do you still not understand
what's happening?
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:And it wasn't because they were dumb.
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:It's because sometimes
it's hard to understand.
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:Sometimes it's hard to get it.
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:Wait, what is God doing?
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:, why is this happening?
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:What is he saying?
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:What does he mean by that?
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:And he had tested them.
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:You remember the test?
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:Well, we only got a couple piece
of fish and a couple of loaves.
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:We, we need to go down to
Rubio's or Baja Fish tacos.
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:We gotta get a lot more than this.
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:And he said, you feed them.
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:Wait a second, Jesus, come on.
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:What do you, what do you?
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:And I love the fact that he made them go
and pick up the leftovers and there were.
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:How many baskets?
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:Twelve baskets of leftovers.
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:So everybody had to pick
up a basket of leftovers.
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:The lesson of faith.
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:But they still didn't get it.
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:They still didn't get it.
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:Because sometimes, it really
is hard to understand.
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:Why is this happening?
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:And you need to remember, if you're,
you know, if you're If you're in
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:that state, if you're in the group
of everything's awesome, it's great,
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:love the church, love the leader, I
love everything, what's the problem?
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:Just remember that lesson.
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:Cause it'll happen.
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:It'll come around.
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:And the question is always, do you get it?
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:Do you understand what's happening?
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:What about when we're suffering?
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:When we have to carry our cross?
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:When we're going through hardship?
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:When we're being
disciplined, do we get it?
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:When we're in a challenging time, when
things are tough, when we're in need,
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:when we're hungry, when we're thirsty,
when we feel challenged, when people get
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:angry, when people are angry at us, when
our wife is angry at us, do we get it?
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:I remember I was talking to a
brother and he said, he said,
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:why is she always crying?
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:I said, you know, that's
a really good question.
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:Maybe we should think about that one.
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:Why is she crying?
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:Hey, maybe we learned something there.
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:Do we get it?
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:When I'm hurt, when I hurt
somebody, do I get it?
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:When my son tells me
he's hurt, do I get it?
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:What that means.
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:When I'm feeling discouraged,
or people are discouraged.
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:Or I see tears.
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:Do I take the time to make sure I get it?
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:That I learn what I need to learn here?
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:When there's sadness, when there's
frustration, when we're going
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:through times of testing, which
is all over scripture, right?
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:I mean, if there's anything you see
in scriptures, lots of tests, lots of
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:failures, lots of blow its and lots of
grace and lots of mercy and lots of love.
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:And I can't.
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:Make other people get it.
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:I gotta make sure I get it.
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:I gotta make sure I get what
God is trying to show me.
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:What Jesus is trying to teach me.
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:I'm a leader.
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:I'm, I'm held double accountability.
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:Because what I don't get hurts people.
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:And I gotta get it.
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:And there's changes that
leaders have to be able to get.
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:So pray for your leaders.
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:You gotta pray for the staff to get it.
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:You gotta pray for the MLC to get it.
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:The MLC is sending in a
team to help the region.
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:We better get it.
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:I better get it.
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:God's gonna hold me
accountable to getting it.
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:To seeing and understanding.
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:To hearing, listening,
perceiving, and understanding.
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:We all have to get it,
because you know what?
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:Here's the crazy thing.
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:We're all in some position of leadership.
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:Some of us at work, we're leaders.
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:Some of us at home, we're the leader.
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:Some of us, you know, those little people
running around, eating all your food.
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:You're their leader.
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:And are you getting it?
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:Do you understand how to
do things the right way?
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:And when you mess up and blow it,
do you, are you humble enough?
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:To stop questioning yourself
and get it as leaders, right?
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:But all of us, you know, as
husbands, husbands, do you get it?
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:Do you get it?
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:I don't know why she's so grouchy.
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:Maybe you ought to find out.
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:Do you get it?
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:As parents, it's easy to
get it when they're little.
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:You just pick them up and take them.
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:But when they start becoming as big
as you, And they start questioning
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:you and challenging your authority
and questioning your philosophy of
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:life and your philosophy of family.
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:Oh, then we get really challenged.
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:Do we get it?
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:Yeah, we, we had three kids.
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:They're adults now.
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:Thankfully, we're at a pretty cool stage
where we just enjoy being together.
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:But boy, we had some rough years.
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:And you know who had to grow the most?
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:Me.
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:Me.
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:People say, oh, we're going to do a class
on how to help you deal with teenagers.
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:We're going to do a class on how
to help you deal with your parents.
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:How to help parents get it.
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:Child.
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:Child.
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:Does the child get it?
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:Usually not when they're children.
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:Not when they're teens.
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:Definitely not.
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:And they begin to get it in their
twenties and then they have kids and
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:then their kids start challenging
them and then they start to get it.
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:They're like, Oh, I guess dad
wasn't as stupid as we thought.
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:We're, we're, we're moving into that
stage where our parents, our kids
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:are, are appreciating us more and
more and we're just enjoying it.
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:But we went through rough times.
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:Let me tell you.
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:Rough times.
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:And we had the full spectrum.
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:We're not one of those families
where every kid leads a church that
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:baptized a thousand people last week.
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:No, we, we had our ups and downs.
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:We had one kid that became
very difficult as a teen.
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:Extremely difficult.
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:I was ready to buy a one way ticket to
Mexico and send her to my family's ranch.
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:Say, hey, I'm gonna work it out of her.
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:And that kid got it.
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:She's, she's, she's leading a church now.
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:But boy, was she hard for a while.
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:We had another one that
was the compliant kid.
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:Yeah, okay, great.
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:Do this, do that.
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:Yeah, okay, I'll go.
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:Go to that country?
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:Okay, yeah.
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:Sign up for that?
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:Yeah, I'll go.
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:And then she hit a wall.
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:And said, Dad, Mom, I'm out.
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:I don't want to go to church.
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:I don't want to do any of this.
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:But she had to work through it.
470
:We had to learn.
471
:Michelle and I had to learn what love is.
472
:And she got it.
473
:Still working on her
dream, but she got it.
474
:She came back to God.
475
:And then right after that, our son,
who was the superstar in the church,
476
:baptizing everybody, organizing
everything, inspiring everybody,
477
:offered internships everywhere.
478
:And he hit a wall.
479
:He said, Dad, I'm out.
480
:I don't, I don't like this group.
481
:You guys are weird.
482
:And you know what?
483
:We have a fantastic
relationship with all our kids.
484
:And he's still on his journey,
which, by the way, we're all
485
:still on our journey, right?
486
:Not him, not just him, all of us.
487
:And he's working it out.
488
:But you know, in every one of those
situations, Michelle and I had to get it.
489
:We had to learn.
490
:And they had to get it, too.
491
:They had to come to
understand some things.
492
:Disciples of Jesus, boy,
there's a lot to get.
493
:There's a lot to learn.
494
:There's a lot to discover.
495
:There's a lot to challenge.
496
:There's a lot of challenges to face.
497
:Okay, what, where am I at?
498
:How am I dealing with that verse?
499
:It's easy to get it when
everything's hunky dory going great.
500
:What happens when you have
a conflict with a leader?
501
:What happens when your
roommate really hurts you?
502
:What happens when somebody
blows the confidence you had
503
:in sharing things with them?
504
:And you get deeply here.
505
:Yeah, I've been Christian 40 years.
506
:I got more wounds in the
church than outside the church.
507
:So, questions do I get?
508
:I mean, I've had times where I've
said, God, what were you thinking?
509
:Creating a church and
putting people to run it.
510
:I mean, are you serious?
511
:You know us.
512
:Why not just send angels
to run the church?
513
:Then if somebody's really bad and
being in trouble, they, bam, zap
514
:them, that's it, they're done.
515
:And yet, he still established the church.
516
:And you think, well, but the church is
not supposed to have these problems.
517
:Look at your Bible, read
the, read the letters.
518
:Every church was full of problems.
519
:So there must be some lesson in there.
520
:Well, how do I deal with sinful
people, which by the way, I'm
521
:one of them, but it's, it's,
I'm telling you, it's not easy.
522
:It's hard.
523
:I have a lot of compassion who
people feel when people feel fed up.
524
:I get it.
525
:I have a lot of compassion.
526
:Even when people, some people
are like, I need to take a break.
527
:I just, all right, dude, you go do that.
528
:Just don't leave the Lord.
529
:Okay.
530
:Just go spend some time with
God and rebuild your faith.
531
:And do whatever you got to
do to thrive spiritually.
532
:But meanwhile, I'm going to do everything
I can to help the church get it.
533
:And make the changes
that it needs to make.
534
:So we keep reading.
535
:Let's keep reading.
536
:They came to Bethsaida, and
some people brought a blind man
537
:and begged Jesus to touch him.
538
:He took the blind man by the hand
and led him outside the village.
539
:When he had spit on the man's
eyes and put his hands on him,
540
:Jesus asks, Do you see anything?
541
:Normally he never asks
this, but he did this time.
542
:Do you see anything?
543
:He looked up and said, I see people,
but they look like trees walking around.
544
:Once more Jesus put his
hand on the man's eyes.
545
:Then his eyes were opened, his sight was
restored, and he saw everything clearly.
546
:I, for years, I was like,
what happened there?
547
:Was Jesus having a bad day?
548
:Was he, was he like running on low
or running on empty and he didn't
549
:recharge his battery that morning?
550
:Maybe he didn't have a quiet time that
morning, you know, what, what, what
551
:happened that it took a second touch?
552
:But as I've gotten older in the faith,
I realized, you know, sometimes you
553
:just don't see it the first time.
554
:Sometimes it takes a little more Jesus.
555
:Sometimes it takes a second touch.
556
:Maybe a third, maybe a
fourth, maybe a fifth.
557
:Before we begin to see things clearly.
558
:Clearly.
559
:It's hard at first.
560
:It's not easy.
561
:Obviously, it wasn't that
Jesus was weak that day.
562
:Or running low on power.
563
:Jesus had the power, and you, and
you just, even the fact that he asked
564
:him, what do you see, says that Jesus
knew exactly what was happening.
565
:He knew we're not all going
to get it the first time.
566
:It's going to take a while.
567
:It's, it's going to take some second,
maybe third touches, maybe fourth touches.
568
:And some of us will get
it quicker than others.
569
:And some of us won't get
it to the last minute.
570
:And it's hard because when we get it
quickly, we want everybody else to get it.
571
:Hey you, get it.
572
:I got it.
573
:What's your problem?
574
:That's how we are, right?
575
:That's how we are.
576
:Let's keep reading.
577
:Jesus and his disciples went on to
the villages around Caesarea Philippi.
578
:On the way, he asked them,
who do people say I am?
579
:And they replied, some say John
the Baptist, others say Elijah, and
580
:still others, one of the prophets.
581
:But what about you?
582
:He asked.
583
:Who do you say I am?
584
:And Peter answered, You are the Messiah.
585
:This is one of those
very powerful moments.
586
:Very powerful moment.
587
:And the interesting thing is, Mark
only tells us a little bit of it.
588
:If you want to know more about what
happened, you got to go to Matthew.
589
:He's got more details.
590
:Matthew generally puts
more details in there.
591
:Some really important details here.
592
:So they go to Caesarea Philippi.
593
:He says, who do they say I am?
594
:And he says, what about you?
595
:Who do you say I am?
596
:Simon Peter.
597
:We're talking about Peter.
598
:You guys know Peter, right?
599
:You saw The Chosen.
600
:You know who Peter is.
601
:He's, he's not always the first to get it.
602
:He's not necessarily the
sharpest tool in the shed.
603
:But this time, he got it.
604
:He says, you're the Messiah.
605
:The Son of the Living God.
606
:I bet Jesus took a double take.
607
:He probably like, Peter?
608
:Whoa, you had a good
quiet time this morning.
609
:He replied, Blessed are
you, Simon son of Jonah.
610
:For this was, And I love even that
he doesn't call him Peter this time.
611
:He, he, he calls him Simon again.
612
:For this was not revealed
to you by my flesh.
613
:He's about to give him the name
but, So he says, This was not
614
:revealed to you by flesh and blood.
615
:It wasn't your human effort.
616
:But by my Father in Heaven.
617
:And I tell you that you are Peter.
618
:And on this rock, I will build
my church and the gates of
619
:Hades will not overcome it.
620
:This is your Peter and you're
going to be the first Pope.
621
:No, he didn't say that.
622
:He said on this rock.
623
:What rock?
624
:That Jesus is the Messiah.
625
:That He is the Savior.
626
:But, hey, it was a very
encouraging moment for Peter.
627
:It was a very encouraging moment.
628
:He says, you know what?
629
:You got this from God.
630
:You got it from God.
631
:And that's where we all get it from.
632
:From God.
633
:If we take the time to listen.
634
:If we take the time to look and to
perceive, if we put our effort into
635
:understanding, and don't assume we
got it already, and don't assume
636
:we understand everything, and don't
assume we're, we're, we're okay,
637
:but keep that open, hungry heart, no
matter what we may think is going on.
638
:He got it.
639
:Yay, Peter.
640
:Yay, Peter.
641
:This is you, the Messiah, Jesus replied.
642
:It wasn't by human flesh you
figured this out, God told you this.
643
:And you were listening.
644
:Verse 21, From that time on, Jesus began
to explain to his disciples that he must
645
:go to Jerusalem and suffer many things.
646
:He's trying to get them to understand
how this is all going to work.
647
:He says, You must suffer many things
at the hands of the elders, the chief
648
:priests, and the teachers of the law,
and then he must be killed, and on
649
:the third day he'd be raised to life.
650
:He's explaining the whole plan.
651
:We always want to know, what's the plan?
652
:And Jesus is explaining the plan.
653
:But Peter took him aside
and began to rebuke him.
654
:Never, Lord, he said.
655
:This shall never happen to you.
656
:Uh oh.
657
:Very dangerous trying to disciple Jesus.
658
:Then Jesus turned and said to
Peter, get behind me, Satan.
659
:You are a stumbling block to me, and
you do not have in mind the concerns
660
:of God, but merely human concerns.
661
:Whoa.
662
:I don't know how you would
feel if Jesus told you that.
663
:I think I would just
drop dead right there.
664
:If Jesus called me Satan.
665
:I mean, man, he just got
the biggest compliment.
666
:He just got held up in front of everybody.
667
:What a great job.
668
:What a great victory.
669
:And then he blows it.
670
:But it's an understandable blow it.
671
:He loves Jesus.
672
:He's like, Jesus, that
can't happen to you.
673
:I'm not gonna let that happen to you.
674
:And, and, you know, Peter's
a fairly emotional guy.
675
:No way we'll fight to the end.
676
:You remember, Peter's the one
that cut the guy's ear off, right?
677
:Instead of thinking, Is this God's will?
678
:And what is God doing here?
679
:What is God showing me?
680
:That's a very important question.
681
:And he says, You do not have in
mind the things of God, But merely
682
:Human concerns, you're thinking like
a human, which is natural, right?
683
:Why aren't we humans?
684
:But we're called to think like God
to see things from his perspective.
685
:That's what getting it is.
686
:That's the challenge for every one of us.
687
:I'm not preaching at a group
or at a person or a few people.
688
:I'm preaching all of us because
this is all of our challenge.
689
:To not give in to our human emotion.
690
:To not act like humans.
691
:Act like godly people.
692
:Handle things the way
God would handle them.
693
:I mean, they...
694
:It was hard, guys.
695
:It was hard.
696
:Poor Peter.
697
:It was tough.
698
:Walking around with Jesus and
699
:getting it.
700
:Remember when he was washing
feet and Peter was like, No,
701
:Lord, don't wash my feet.
702
:And Jesus said, then I
have no part with you.
703
:Oh, in that case, wash
me, the whole thing.
704
:Give me a full car wash.
705
:And it's, it's just,
sometimes it's hard to get it.
706
:And I don't think Peter had a bad heart.
707
:I think Peter was like, oh, I don't
deserve to have you wash my feet, Jesus.
708
:So you can't do that.
709
:And Peter's like, there you go,
and Jesus was like, there you
710
:go again, thinking like a human.
711
:Think like God.
712
:Dying with Jesus.
713
:Oh, you're not going to die, Jesus.
714
:We're going to all die with you.
715
:And then he denies him three times.
716
:So I don't know the guy.
717
:Never met that dude.
718
:Three times.
719
:And Peter, he doesn't have a bad heart.
720
:He's, he's pretty ashamed.
721
:And Jesus has to come and restore him.
722
:Bring him back in because
Peter was feeling pretty lousy.
723
:Because it takes him so long.
724
:Sometimes it's frustrating not getting it.
725
:And you know, Peter, bless his
heart, he gets to stand up and
726
:do the Acts 2 sermon, right?
727
:In the last days, quoting Joel,
and my spirit will be poured
728
:out on all people, all nations.
729
:In other words, not just Jews.
730
:Men and women, not just males.
731
:Young and old, not just
male Jews, over 30.
732
:Everybody!
733
:Everybody!
734
:He opens the door, the universal gospel,
the, the talk about, um, diversity.
735
:I mean, this is, this is, Jesus
was the original diversity guy.
736
:Just bringing everybody, unleashing
the Holy spirit on everybody.
737
:You don't have to be a male Jew over 30.
738
:You can be from any background.
739
:And Oh, what an incredible message.
740
:Gee, Peter preached that message and then
wouldn't go in the house of a Gentile.
741
:Jesus told them, you
will preach the gospel.
742
:In Jerusalem, in Judea, in
Samaria, to the ends of the earth.
743
:Go take this gospel and
make disciples of what?
744
:All nations.
745
:Panta ta ethne.
746
:Where we get the word ethnicity.
747
:To all people from every
race and background.
748
:What did the apostles do?
749
:They all hung out in Jerusalem.
750
:It took God sending a persecution
to get them out of Jerusalem.
751
:And then even then it says
everybody went except the leaders.
752
:Like what the?
753
:Still not getting it.
754
:And God had to send visions.
755
:You know, the whole thing with the animals
coming down on the sheet and all that.
756
:Just to get Peter to get it.
757
:To understand, Dude,
this is for everybody.
758
:And, and Peter is not a bad guy.
759
:He's a good guy.
760
:Just took him a while.
761
:All of us.
762
:It takes us a while.
763
:And some things we get really fast.
764
:It takes us a while and the whole world
is waiting for us all to get it, to be
765
:the church that Jesus died for, right?
766
:Getting it is very serious.
767
:It's not, I mean, I say some
jokes about it because sometimes
768
:we got to laugh at ourselves.
769
:But.
770
:Jesus said, whoever has will be given
more and they will have an abundance.
771
:Whoever does not have, even what
they have will be taken from them.
772
:This is why I speak to them in parables.
773
:Though seeing, they do not see.
774
:Though hearing, they do
not hear or understand.
775
:In them is fulfilled
the prophecy of Isaiah.
776
:You will be ever hearing,
but never understanding.
777
:You will be ever seeing,
but never perceiving.
778
:For this, people's hearts
has become calloused.
779
:They hardly hear with their ears
and they've closed their eyes.
780
:Otherwise...
781
:They might see with their ears,
hear with their ears, see with
782
:their eyes, hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts.
783
:God heal them.
784
:This is his promise.
785
:This is his promise, but Jesus
quoted this because he knew a lot
786
:of people are not going to get it.
787
:And you know, you know how many disciples
he had at the end of three year ministry?
788
:120.
789
:120.
790
:It's difficult to get it.
791
:It's challenging to get it.
792
:It's easy to miss it.
793
:A key to this is listening.
794
:Paying close attention.
795
:What is God saying?
796
:What is the scripture telling me?
797
:How different am I?
798
:I mean, 46 times in the book of
Revelation, He talks about hearing.
799
:Listening.
800
:75 times in the Gospels,
Jesus talks about listening.
801
:Listen up!
802
:The classic prayer.
803
:Shema Yisrael Adonai
Eloheinu Adonai Echad.
804
:It's the prayer that every
Orthodox Jew prays every day.
805
:Jews probably pray it every day.
806
:What's it say?
807
:Hear, O Israel, the Lord our
God is God and He is One.
808
:It's the command.
809
:Listen up, people!
810
:That's the command.
811
:We gotta pay attention.
812
:492 times in the New Testament.
813
:References.
814
:Okay, just footnote, I
didn't check them all.
815
:I saw this on a Bible study
website, so I'll check them.
816
:When I get time, I'll check them,
make sure they're all really there.
817
:But the point is, there's a lot.
818
:But we keep reading in that very
same scripture, Matthew 13, 16.
819
:But blessed are your eyes because they
see, and your ears because they hear.
820
:For truly I tell you, many prophets
and righteous people long to see
821
:what you see, but did not see it.
822
:And to hear what you
hear, but did not hear it.
823
:We have the Gospels.
824
:We have Jesus.
825
:To listen to.
826
:To read.
827
:And we, among the millions of
disciples of Jesus, that have lived
828
:throughout history, are so blessed.
829
:You know, people have only had
Bibles for about the last 150 years.
830
:Maybe, maybe 200 years.
831
:They had to memorize scriptures.
832
:They had to look at the pictures
on the church walls to figure
833
:out what the message was.
834
:And we're so blessed.
835
:We have it, nice little leather
on or fake leather on books.
836
:Audio, video.
837
:We got series to watch, chosen.
838
:We have many ways to hear and see, but the
question is, are we hearing and seeing?
839
:You know somebody sat at Kodak.
840
:How many of you guys remember Kodak?
841
:Kodak company.
842
:All the old people.
843
:We all remember Kodak.
844
:Man, there was a time that anything
you want to do with pictures was Kodak.
845
:You had to go to a Kodak place to
get it printed, to get it developed.
846
:You had to, there were Kodak pictures.
847
:Your pictures in the back
said Kodak all over it.
848
:And the, you know,
people had Kodak camera.
849
:I mean, they were, they were
talking about a monopoly.
850
:They just, they controlled everything.
851
:But one day at some meeting and I'm
surmising here, but at some meeting,
852
:somebody said, you know, there's
this new thing called digital medias.
853
:I think we should get involved in that.
854
:And some leaders said, nah,
it'll never take ground.
855
:It'll never take hold.
856
:And they lost, they lost out.
857
:They pretty much disappeared
because they didn't get it.
858
:They didn't get it.
859
:Remember Blockbuster?
860
:If you wanted to see a movie,
you had to go to Blockbuster.
861
:And at some point, somebody in a
meeting said, Hey, there's this
862
:little group called Netflix, and
they're putting these red boxes out.
863
:Do you think we should do that?
864
:And somebody said, Nah,
it'll never take hold.
865
:Netflix is a blip on the
screen, they'll be gone.
866
:How many of us have Netflix?
867
:Yeah, how many of us have been to a
blockbuster in the last five years?
868
:Yeah, no, you all went, nope.
869
:Because they didn't get it.
870
:They didn't get it, they didn't
understand, they didn't realize.
871
:And let me tell you something.
872
:I actually started out, before I started
spirituality, I was working on a PhD in,
873
:in, in, uh, organizational leadership.
874
:And as I was studying this, I, I,
I came across this one article that
875
:talked about how the worst groups to
change, guess what groups they are?
876
:Churches.
877
:Churches.
878
:Other organ, I mean, corporate world,
they get it because, look, if we
879
:don't change in time, then we lose
out, we, we, we lose everything.
880
:And everybody likes to laugh about
Blockbuster and Kodak, and nobody wants
881
:to be the next Blockbuster or Kodak.
882
:And they're trying to keep up and
trying to make changes as needed.
883
:For churches, it's really hard.
884
:They're the worst at making
changes that need to happen.
885
:But there's good reasons.
886
:There's the fact that we don't
want to make the wrong changes.
887
:In other words, we don't want
to give in to social pressure.
888
:We want to make sure
we're following scripture.
889
:We want to make sure we're doing
what the Bible says, not what people
890
:are telling us we should be doing.
891
:And that's a good instinct.
892
:That's a right instinct.
893
:Plenty of scriptures about that.
894
:In the last days, there'll be terrible
times and on describes basically what's
895
:happening in our world right now.
896
:And that's a good instinct.
897
:You gotta be careful.
898
:Because the second one is we
confuse doctrine and culture.
899
:And we don't know the difference between.
900
:What is right because the scripture
says it, and what is right because
901
:that's how we've always done it.
902
:And it worked in the past.
903
:Why wouldn't it work now?
904
:And learning to get it
905
:with God.
906
:With the Holy Spirit.
907
:Eyes fixed on Jesus.
908
:Mind on things of above.
909
:That's how we're gonna get it.
910
:That's how we can get it.
911
:That's how we can navigate.
912
:All these challenges of influences and
teachings and every wind of teaching and
913
:yet respond appropriately to the wrongs
in the world, the wrongs in the church.
914
:Deal with those wrongs the way
Jesus would deal with them.
915
:I'm not saying put our heads in the
sand and pretend there's no problems.
916
:No, deal with it.
917
:Because we live in the light, right?
918
:Because we live, at least we're
trying to live, honest lives.
919
:Churches don't get it
all the time, Ephesus.
920
:Jesus said whoever has ears, let him hear
what the spirit says with the churches.
921
:Smyrna, whoever has ears, let him hear
what the spirit says to the churches,
922
:Pergamum, whoever has ears, let him,
let him hear what the spirit says
923
:in the churches, Tiritrea, whoever
has ears, let them hear what the
924
:spirit says to the churches, and
Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea.
925
:With all of these churches, oh, the spirit
warned them, and you know the scary.
926
:The scary thing in there is
if you don't get it, I'm gonna
927
:take your lampstand away.
928
:And that represented the spirit of God.
929
:We gotta make sure we all get it.
930
:This is why I went to Pepperdine
for seven years, driving up
931
:for seven years from San Diego.
932
:To try to learn, to try to get it.
933
:That's why I met Fuller.
934
:That's why a lot of us are digging
in, reading our scriptures and praying
935
:about this and trying to figure out
what does the church need to change.
936
:Let me tell you something, all
churches of all denominations
937
:are going through it right now.
938
:Going through very challenging times.
939
:Some of the Barna and different groups
that have studied what's happening in
940
:the religious world, in the Christian
world, So 30 percent of church members
941
:stopped going during the pandemic.
942
:And a lot of those people
aren't coming back.
943
:And many, many, many churches
are shrinking dramatically.
944
:It's not just us.
945
:We like to think we're so special,
but we are special because Jesus loves
946
:us, but we're not special because
we're better than anybody else.
947
:So when we got the right doctrine on
baptism, Amen, let's share about baptism,
948
:but There are other people out there that
have incredible faith and love God deeply.
949
:Let's learn from them.
950
:I like Jesus definition.
951
:Whoever does my Father's will is
my mother, brother, and sister.
952
:And we gotta pray for each other.
953
:Because everybody's struggling.
954
:Christianity is struggling right now.
955
:And I think it's great.
956
:Because it's making us question ourselves.
957
:You know, the Hollywood paints us as
being this legalistic, self righteous,
958
:condemning, judgmental people.
959
:Stephen King has really got
something against Christianity.
960
:Every bad guy in his
movie is some Christian.
961
:I know that's not who I am.
962
:But I do know I have that in me.
963
:And I gotta watch it.
964
:And I gotta crucify it.
965
:Because I know I can be judgmental.
966
:My kids showed me that.
967
:They're like, Dad, it's in your eyes.
968
:Dad, it's in your voice.
969
:You're judging me.
970
:And I have to learn to not be that guy.
971
:But entire churches
have to figure that out.
972
:And guess what?
973
:You guys are in a challenge as a church.
974
:You gotta figure out some things.
975
:You gotta grow.
976
:But Jesus is here.
977
:It's hard.
978
:Jesus said, Enter through the narrow
gate, for wide is the gate and broad
979
:is the road that leads to destruction.
980
:And many enter through it, but
small is the gate, and narrow the
981
:road that leads to life and only...
982
:How many?
983
:A few find it.
984
:That's a scary scripture.
985
:That's a scary one.
986
:I mean, I'm dying to ask Jesus,
Okay, Jesus, what do you mean by few?
987
:Are we talking a handful?
988
:Are we talking a couple of million?
989
:Are we talking about one
billion out of eight billion?
990
:What is a few exactly?
991
:And you know, I know what Jesus said.
992
:You don't need to worry about it.
993
:You need to make sure that you are
doing what you need to be doing.
994
:You don't need to be judging
other people's faith.
995
:You don't need to be
judging the Lord's servants.
996
:Check your own heart.
997
:Work out your salvation
with fear and trembling.
998
:Not your neighbor's.
999
:Love your neighbor.
:
00:51:55,160 --> 00:51:57,050
Be an example of God to your neighbor.
:
00:51:58,470 --> 00:51:59,200
Well, who's my neighbor?
:
00:51:59,620 --> 00:52:01,220
Well, in case there's any
doubt, how about your enemies?
:
00:52:01,220 --> 00:52:02,040
Love your neighbors, too.
:
00:52:02,070 --> 00:52:03,030
You love your enemies, too.
:
00:52:04,230 --> 00:52:05,570
Oh, do I really have to love him?
:
00:52:05,680 --> 00:52:06,500
That guy's a jerk.
:
00:52:08,130 --> 00:52:09,160
Yeah, you really gotta love him.
:
00:52:10,560 --> 00:52:11,920
That brother doesn't get it!
:
00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:14,890
Probably gonna need some more love.
:
00:52:17,260 --> 00:52:19,520
Probably gonna have to be
like Jesus to help him get it.
:
00:52:20,860 --> 00:52:21,940
Leaders must get it.
:
00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:23,080
Pray for your leaders.
:
00:52:23,740 --> 00:52:24,630
Pray for the MLC.
:
00:52:24,910 --> 00:52:25,770
Pray for your staff.
:
00:52:26,150 --> 00:52:27,090
Pray for the elders.
:
00:52:27,500 --> 00:52:28,840
Pray for your Bible talk leaders.
:
00:52:31,000 --> 00:52:31,870
They have to get it.
:
00:52:31,880 --> 00:52:35,030
If they don't get it, people get hurt.
:
00:52:36,250 --> 00:52:37,460
So pray for us.
:
00:52:38,850 --> 00:52:40,070
And remember, you're a leader too.
:
00:52:41,410 --> 00:52:42,270
You're a leader at home.
:
00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:44,390
You're a leader with your family.
:
00:52:45,520 --> 00:52:47,880
And some, many of you have
other leadership roles.
:
00:52:48,450 --> 00:52:49,610
Spouses must get it.
:
00:52:49,920 --> 00:52:50,770
Parents must get it.
:
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:51,820
Disciples must get it.
:
00:52:51,820 --> 00:52:54,290
Followers must get it.
:
00:52:54,915 --> 00:53:01,245
And everyone is a leader and
everyone is a follower as well.
:
00:53:01,965 --> 00:53:02,915
What do we gotta get?
:
00:53:04,025 --> 00:53:05,045
We gotta get humility.
:
00:53:06,345 --> 00:53:07,295
Real humility.
:
00:53:08,985 --> 00:53:11,205
Be able to face where we blow it.
:
00:53:12,445 --> 00:53:14,335
Be able to understand our blind spots.
:
00:53:14,975 --> 00:53:16,385
Allow that to humble us.
:
00:53:17,025 --> 00:53:18,345
Realize how much we need each other.
:
00:53:18,345 --> 00:53:19,965
How much, first of all,
how much we need God.
:
00:53:21,465 --> 00:53:22,645
How much we need each other.
:
00:53:23,290 --> 00:53:24,500
How much we all need help.
:
00:53:25,510 --> 00:53:27,440
We need radical honesty.
:
00:53:28,280 --> 00:53:30,750
I won't see my issues if I'm not honest.
:
00:53:31,500 --> 00:53:34,460
I won't recognize where I
need help if I'm not honest.
:
00:53:35,700 --> 00:53:36,710
Gotta be honest.
:
00:53:36,990 --> 00:53:37,630
Forgiveness.
:
00:53:37,630 --> 00:53:39,910
Oh man, does this require
a lot of forgiveness.
:
00:53:40,560 --> 00:53:42,560
God does not treat us
according to our sins.
:
00:53:43,290 --> 00:53:44,140
Thank God.
:
00:53:45,860 --> 00:53:47,030
He continually forgives.
:
00:53:47,030 --> 00:53:48,150
He's very gracious.
:
00:53:48,550 --> 00:53:49,650
He's very merciful.
:
00:53:50,750 --> 00:53:52,210
And he always gives people...
:
00:53:52,795 --> 00:53:53,875
time to change.
:
00:53:54,065 --> 00:53:56,615
And in my opinion, oftentimes
I feel like it's too much time.
:
00:53:58,195 --> 00:53:59,495
That brother should have got it by now.
:
00:54:00,855 --> 00:54:03,185
That's just your, it's
overdue for getting it.
:
00:54:04,885 --> 00:54:07,775
But it's usually, that's very subjective.
:
00:54:08,385 --> 00:54:09,755
God knows hearts.
:
00:54:11,125 --> 00:54:11,815
God knows.
:
00:54:12,995 --> 00:54:15,805
And we have to practice compassion.
:
00:54:16,035 --> 00:54:17,215
It's the only way we're gonna get there.
:
00:54:18,475 --> 00:54:22,970
You know, in any organization, an
organizational truism, Any group
:
00:54:22,970 --> 00:54:26,900
you join, join a car club, join
a, a crew team, join, whatever.
:
00:54:27,050 --> 00:54:31,100
It's always starts out wonder, woo,
awesome, everything's great, and then
:
00:54:31,100 --> 00:54:34,370
you start having conflicts, and then
you see problems with people and then
:
00:54:34,370 --> 00:54:35,780
you don't like the way this happens.
:
00:54:36,320 --> 00:54:41,990
And then that's the real test of
love and faith Then, then it kicks
:
00:54:41,990 --> 00:54:47,300
in, man, I thought everybody walked
on water when I joined the church,
:
00:54:48,800 --> 00:54:49,970
and then I saw people sinking.
:
00:54:51,710 --> 00:54:55,060
And then I saw people
sinful, even leaders sinful.
:
00:54:56,760 --> 00:55:00,900
And it's like, whoa, wait, this
isn't what I thought I was joining.
:
00:55:01,810 --> 00:55:02,890
Actually, it is.
:
00:55:03,470 --> 00:55:04,630
It's the real church.
:
00:55:05,130 --> 00:55:06,920
Again, look at our Bibles, right?
:
00:55:07,990 --> 00:55:11,750
It's, the only way this works is
with a lot of love and compassion.
:
00:55:12,870 --> 00:55:14,750
A lot of mercy and forgiveness.
:
00:55:15,510 --> 00:55:17,840
It takes a lot of authentic spirituality.
:
00:55:18,525 --> 00:55:21,625
To be able to discover the kingdom of God.
:
00:55:22,435 --> 00:55:23,445
And to live in that.
:
00:55:24,045 --> 00:55:25,075
No rock throwing.
:
00:55:26,805 --> 00:55:27,895
So tempting, isn't it?
:
00:55:28,395 --> 00:55:30,335
Especially when somebody throws a
rock at you, you just want to pick
:
00:55:30,335 --> 00:55:31,275
one up and throw it right back.
:
00:55:32,505 --> 00:55:34,265
I remember me and my friends,
whenever we got in this big
:
00:55:34,275 --> 00:55:35,595
field, we'd have rock fights.
:
00:55:35,975 --> 00:55:37,925
It's the kind of stupid
thing boys do, you know?
:
00:55:39,155 --> 00:55:42,955
And then somebody would get hit, and
have to go get stitches, and our parents
:
00:55:42,955 --> 00:55:44,595
were like, What were you thinking?
:
00:55:45,995 --> 00:55:46,815
But we do that.
:
00:55:48,070 --> 00:55:50,590
When people attack us and hurt
us, we want to pick up a rock
:
00:55:50,590 --> 00:55:51,530
and throw it right at them.
:
00:55:52,790 --> 00:55:55,360
Jesus said, let him who's
without sin throw the first rock.
:
00:55:58,270 --> 00:55:59,680
That's the upside down kingdom.
:
00:56:00,770 --> 00:56:01,600
No judging.
:
00:56:03,350 --> 00:56:04,180
No judging.
:
00:56:05,090 --> 00:56:06,350
Whoa, that's a really hard one.
:
00:56:06,680 --> 00:56:09,380
Guys, we have judgmentalism
deep in our DNA.
:
00:56:11,800 --> 00:56:13,950
And we're not going to
detox that in one decision.
:
00:56:14,660 --> 00:56:16,450
But by practicing and practicing.
:
00:56:17,625 --> 00:56:20,855
I remember one of my kids when he
was, well I gave away who it is,
:
00:56:21,135 --> 00:56:24,315
he, he, he said I hate that region.
:
00:56:24,315 --> 00:56:25,285
It was another region.
:
00:56:25,855 --> 00:56:27,195
I was like, dude, why?
:
00:56:27,845 --> 00:56:30,535
He goes, because they're so
judgmental and self righteous.
:
00:56:31,675 --> 00:56:32,615
And I said, wow.
:
00:56:33,005 --> 00:56:37,895
So you just decided everybody in that
region is judgmental and self righteous,
:
00:56:38,075 --> 00:56:39,585
that's quite a judgment you got there.
:
00:56:41,645 --> 00:56:44,115
And he was like, all right, dad.
:
00:56:46,585 --> 00:56:47,315
But we do that.
:
00:56:48,695 --> 00:56:49,255
We do that.
:
00:56:50,285 --> 00:56:51,505
I would never do that.
:
00:56:51,515 --> 00:56:52,445
How do you know?
:
00:56:53,585 --> 00:56:55,365
Have you walked a mile in his moccasins?
:
00:56:56,465 --> 00:56:57,915
Have you lived in her house?
:
00:56:59,585 --> 00:57:01,945
And, and, and the worst is
when leaders are judgmental.
:
00:57:02,645 --> 00:57:07,165
Because their judgment
is accepted as the truth.
:
00:57:08,705 --> 00:57:11,085
We gotta be really careful.
:
00:57:12,015 --> 00:57:13,195
No defensiveness.
:
00:57:13,975 --> 00:57:15,165
No defensiveness.
:
00:57:15,655 --> 00:57:17,225
Oh, that's a hard one.
:
00:57:17,930 --> 00:57:21,450
Boy, I have, I have wrestled and
riled on the floor like a demon
:
00:57:21,450 --> 00:57:22,680
possessed dude with that one.
:
00:57:24,080 --> 00:57:26,170
Wanting to defend myself.
:
00:57:27,610 --> 00:57:30,830
But you don't understand, I
serve, I sacrifice, I give.
:
00:57:30,870 --> 00:57:32,540
You know how much I've
done for the church?
:
00:57:33,190 --> 00:57:36,080
Because I've made one little
mistake, now you're crucifying me.
:
00:57:38,340 --> 00:57:39,860
And that's all perspective, right?
:
00:57:42,390 --> 00:57:43,840
Instead of just trusting God.
:
00:57:47,580 --> 00:57:48,150
What does he say?
:
00:57:48,330 --> 00:57:49,680
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
:
00:57:50,120 --> 00:57:51,900
And He will lift you up.
:
00:57:52,580 --> 00:57:53,150
What does it say?
:
00:57:53,160 --> 00:57:55,450
He will make your righteousness
shine like the noonday sun.
:
00:57:55,870 --> 00:57:57,760
Even though you're not really
righteous, but you're trying.
:
00:57:59,560 --> 00:58:00,440
He'll make you shine.
:
00:58:01,290 --> 00:58:01,900
He'll help you out.
:
00:58:01,920 --> 00:58:03,450
No self righteousness.
:
00:58:03,850 --> 00:58:07,190
Those people, that leader, that
Bible talk, that brother, that
:
00:58:07,210 --> 00:58:09,420
sister, you see how sinful she is?
:
00:58:11,010 --> 00:58:11,990
Yeah, but so does God.
:
00:58:13,240 --> 00:58:14,660
And Jesus died on a cross for her.
:
00:58:16,810 --> 00:58:18,240
So I take the warning serious.
:
00:58:18,480 --> 00:58:19,310
Who are you to judge?
:
00:58:19,815 --> 00:58:20,535
Lord's servant.
:
00:58:22,035 --> 00:58:23,705
So, well, so what's the answer?
:
00:58:23,705 --> 00:58:25,525
Well, we got to really love each other.
:
00:58:25,525 --> 00:58:29,785
Jesus turned to Peter and said, Get
behind me, Satan, because you don't
:
00:58:29,785 --> 00:58:31,125
have the things of God in mind.
:
00:58:31,165 --> 00:58:31,935
So what do we got to do?
:
00:58:32,195 --> 00:58:33,705
Have the things of God in mind.
:
00:58:34,285 --> 00:58:35,755
God can get us through this.
:
00:58:36,975 --> 00:58:39,445
God can help anybody change.
:
00:58:39,755 --> 00:58:40,635
And here's my experience.
:
00:58:40,635 --> 00:58:42,035
If they don't change, God takes them out.
:
00:58:43,115 --> 00:58:43,635
I've seen it.
:
00:58:44,435 --> 00:58:45,105
Again and again.
:
00:58:46,855 --> 00:58:48,865
Have in mind the concerns of God.
:
00:58:49,635 --> 00:58:52,015
Merely human concerns,
not merely human concerns.
:
00:58:52,795 --> 00:58:57,605
And have the prayer, May your
kingdom come, and your will be
:
00:58:57,605 --> 00:58:59,545
done on earth as it is in heaven.
:
00:59:00,175 --> 00:59:02,385
So many times I want to
say, No, I want it this way.
:
00:59:03,515 --> 00:59:04,985
I think it should be like this.
:
00:59:06,135 --> 00:59:07,625
I think the church should do this.
:
00:59:07,645 --> 00:59:08,495
Why do we sing that?
:
00:59:08,585 --> 00:59:09,885
Why did they change that song?
:
00:59:09,905 --> 00:59:11,225
I love that song the way it was.
:
00:59:13,115 --> 00:59:15,515
And we have sometimes too many opinions.
:
00:59:17,025 --> 00:59:22,065
We have to remember to pray, your
kingdom come, your will be done.
:
00:59:23,085 --> 00:59:25,445
And we're going to have to keep
seeking the kingdom of God.
:
00:59:26,255 --> 00:59:28,505
First, priority.
:
00:59:29,705 --> 00:59:33,725
And there are many important, there are
serious things we've got to deal with.
:
00:59:33,725 --> 00:59:35,015
I'm not trying to lighten those up.
:
00:59:36,365 --> 00:59:38,855
There are serious things,
there are hearts involved.
:
00:59:40,185 --> 00:59:42,765
But we must do it spiritually.
:
00:59:43,760 --> 00:59:46,470
Not all churches survive
these kind of changes.
:
00:59:46,990 --> 00:59:48,510
Some of them self destruct.
:
00:59:49,640 --> 00:59:52,220
It depends on how many godly
people are in the room.
:
00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:56,580
It depends on how many people
love God more than themselves.
:
00:59:57,405 --> 01:00:00,825
Who are willing to do things
God's way, even when it hurts.
:
01:00:01,825 --> 01:00:03,745
Even when it's so difficult.
:
01:00:03,745 --> 01:00:06,065
But to do it the way Jesus would do it.
:
01:00:07,295 --> 01:00:08,815
And keep our eyes fixed on Him.
:
01:00:08,825 --> 01:00:10,715
In this world, He said,
you will have trouble.
:
01:00:11,335 --> 01:00:12,085
But take heart.
:
01:00:13,395 --> 01:00:14,425
I've overcome the world.
:
01:00:15,495 --> 01:00:17,795
He did it.
:
01:00:17,795 --> 01:00:18,445
He overcame.
:
01:00:20,435 --> 01:00:23,735
Sometimes, you know, I remember one
time I thought, This is not fair.
:
01:00:24,415 --> 01:00:26,055
Jesus never came to church.
:
01:00:27,185 --> 01:00:30,265
You realize he ascended into heaven
before the church even started?
:
01:00:32,295 --> 01:00:33,415
Like, why didn't he come to church?
:
01:00:33,445 --> 01:00:35,805
Why couldn't we watch how
he handled the church?
:
01:00:36,865 --> 01:00:38,495
Oh no, he had to leave.
:
01:00:42,645 --> 01:00:43,955
Actually, he answered that question.
:
01:00:44,925 --> 01:00:48,245
He said, it's better for me to leave
so I can send you the Holy Spirit.
:
01:00:49,125 --> 01:00:51,855
Because I can only be in one place
at one time with a few people.
:
01:00:52,295 --> 01:00:55,675
But the Holy Spirit can be with
everybody, all the time, everywhere.
:
01:00:56,245 --> 01:00:57,315
He can be with you.
:
01:00:59,835 --> 01:01:01,345
So did Jesus have a solution?
:
01:01:01,395 --> 01:01:02,155
Absolutely.
:
01:01:03,645 --> 01:01:05,115
But we need to hear the spirit.
:
01:01:05,875 --> 01:01:07,855
We need to see what the
spirit is telling us.
:
01:01:07,925 --> 01:01:11,365
We need to listen and see, hear
and understand, seek first God's
:
01:01:11,365 --> 01:01:13,225
kingdom, and do God's will.
:
01:01:13,225 --> 01:01:15,565
We need to get Jesus.
:
01:01:15,605 --> 01:01:16,725
I want to close out with this.
:
01:01:16,725 --> 01:01:21,465
You know, in Metro, we went
through a really difficult time.
:
01:01:21,895 --> 01:01:23,035
Really painful time.
:
01:01:23,045 --> 01:01:27,685
A lot of division, a lot of dysfunction,
a lot of hurt, a lot of anger.
:
01:01:28,875 --> 01:01:31,695
It was, it was rough and these, these
guys would know they were there.
:
01:01:31,695 --> 01:01:33,175
They were just kids, but
they were watching it.
:
01:01:36,485 --> 01:01:37,295
It was tough.
:
01:01:38,915 --> 01:01:41,825
So we had to deal with all that stuff.
:
01:01:42,685 --> 01:01:43,305
We had to get real.
:
01:01:43,305 --> 01:01:44,005
We had to get honest.
:
01:01:44,005 --> 01:01:44,705
We had to face things.
:
01:01:44,705 --> 01:01:45,375
We had to work through it.
:
01:01:45,415 --> 01:01:47,335
We had to do it in a godly way.
:
01:01:49,065 --> 01:01:55,905
And as we dealt with the elephants in the
room, went after the sacred cows, restored
:
01:01:55,915 --> 01:01:57,995
relationships, reconciled conflicts.
:
01:01:59,360 --> 01:02:02,890
We sat down we wrote a vision for who
we want to be and this was our vision of
:
01:02:02,890 --> 01:02:07,360
who the Metro Church will be We're not
there yet, but who we're gonna be a church
:
01:02:07,370 --> 01:02:12,600
in love with God led by Jesus empowered
by the Holy Spirit where leadership is
:
01:02:12,610 --> 01:02:17,750
humble spiritual and strong a Church
with great worship where the members all
:
01:02:17,760 --> 01:02:22,920
walk with God and are driven by faith and
unified by purpose Where mutual respect
:
01:02:22,950 --> 01:02:28,080
permeates the fellowship as we help each
other get to heaven Where love is supreme
:
01:02:28,100 --> 01:02:30,980
and easily seen, felt, and experienced.
:
01:02:31,310 --> 01:02:35,150
A church where personal conviction
is high and grace is abundant.
:
01:02:35,690 --> 01:02:39,930
Where renewal and formation is constant
and conflicts are resolved spiritually.
:
01:02:40,400 --> 01:02:43,820
A church where everyone serves,
gives generously, and is fruitful.
:
01:02:44,100 --> 01:02:47,940
A church that has a great Kingdom Kids
ministry, giving all children hope.
:
01:02:48,200 --> 01:02:51,040
A church where there's great
dating, great, great teens,
:
01:02:51,050 --> 01:02:52,540
great Kingdom Kids ministry.
:
01:02:52,935 --> 01:02:55,875
Great campus, great singles
ministry where marriages and
:
01:02:55,875 --> 01:02:58,225
families can thrive and shine.
:
01:02:58,525 --> 01:03:01,245
A church that serves the community
and takes care of each other,
:
01:03:01,595 --> 01:03:03,515
having no needy among ourselves.
:
01:03:03,855 --> 01:03:07,395
A church where our children become
Christians and feel proud of this family.
:
01:03:07,865 --> 01:03:10,405
A church with strong women's
and men's ministries.
:
01:03:10,675 --> 01:03:15,045
A church that continually raises
up new, young, and older leaders.
:
01:03:15,455 --> 01:03:19,405
And is able to send out trained leaders
to start new churches and new ministries.
:
01:03:19,890 --> 01:03:23,720
A church that welcomes everybody from
every race and ethnicity and background.
:
01:03:24,030 --> 01:03:27,990
A church that is family, abundant
in faith, fruit, and fun.
:
01:03:29,440 --> 01:03:31,630
That's the church Jesus died for.
:
01:03:33,000 --> 01:03:36,160
That's the church we
signed up for, isn't it?
:
01:03:37,460 --> 01:03:40,940
That's the church we keep
giving for and sacrificing.
:
01:03:41,420 --> 01:03:43,870
That's the church why we're
here, but you know what?
:
01:03:44,100 --> 01:03:45,820
It doesn't just happen.
:
01:03:47,935 --> 01:03:50,895
We're not there yet in
Metro, but we're on our way.
:
01:03:51,555 --> 01:03:54,305
We're marching along, and
we're pretty excited about it.
:
01:03:54,985 --> 01:03:58,305
But we had to go through some
pretty painful stuff to get there.
:
01:03:59,065 --> 01:04:01,935
So, let's keep our eyes on Jesus.
:
01:04:03,085 --> 01:04:04,985
Let's seek the kingdom first.
:
01:04:05,805 --> 01:04:07,885
Let's be rich in grace and mercy.
:
01:04:07,885 --> 01:04:10,885
Let's love each other, even our enemies.
:
01:04:12,265 --> 01:04:13,445
And we'll get through this.
:
01:04:14,915 --> 01:04:17,835
Can't fix everybody else,
but I can fix what I'm doing.
:
01:04:18,375 --> 01:04:20,965
I can fix my eyes on Jesus.
:
01:04:21,125 --> 01:04:22,325
God bless you all.
:
01:04:24,565 --> 01:04:24,715
Oh,
:
01:04:31,395 --> 01:04:35,945
I think we really, really
need to fix our eyes on Jesus.
:
01:04:36,325 --> 01:04:40,025
I brought a couple of books that I think
will help us, that I want to recommend.
:
01:04:40,055 --> 01:04:41,735
I know some of these you
guys have already read.
:
01:04:42,295 --> 01:04:44,945
But this one, The Ruthless
Elimination of Hurry.
:
01:04:45,465 --> 01:04:46,875
It's actually a really easy read.
:
01:04:46,875 --> 01:04:50,795
Looks thick and ominous, but it's
actually an easy book to read.
:
01:04:51,825 --> 01:04:53,665
And, and there's no hidden agenda here.
:
01:04:53,705 --> 01:04:56,305
It's not so that we can set up
everybody to think a certain way,
:
01:04:56,885 --> 01:04:59,595
other than just fix your eyes on Jesus.
:
01:05:00,085 --> 01:05:07,325
And it's called The Ruthless
Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Homer.
:
01:05:08,625 --> 01:05:10,885
And then the other one is Life with God.
:
01:05:11,075 --> 01:05:13,535
And this one's deeper, richer.
:
01:05:13,975 --> 01:05:18,175
And you'll have to move slower through
this, but boy, is it powerful for
:
01:05:18,175 --> 01:05:20,865
helping us focus on God and on Jesus.
:
01:05:21,185 --> 01:05:24,085
Life with God, by Richard Foster.
:
01:05:24,195 --> 01:05:24,865
God bless you all.