Would you like to bow
your heads with me for prayer?
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Dear Jesus, thank You so much,
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that we have the privilege
of having so much truth,
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more than humanity has
had at any time in history.
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Please make the soil
of our hearts good soil.
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May this message be
tailored to meet the needs
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of every single
person here this morning
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that they may have the privilege
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of hearing a word from You.
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You promised in
Deuteronomy 6:6 that,
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these words, which
are commanded this day,
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shall be in your heart.
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So You do have a word
for us every single day
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and may our hearts
be ready to receive it.
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I ask for the power
of Your Holy Spirit.
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And I thank You that I know
You will answer this prayer,
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for Your namesake, amen.
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So the message that I'm
sharing with you this morning
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is titled, "If You
Want to Grow, Then Go!"
00:01:08.79\00:01:13.84
So, If You Want
to Grow, Then Go!
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The great
commission in Matthew 28:19,
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you don't need to
turn there for this verse,
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but Jesus said, "Go
therefore, and make disciples."
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And so the premise of
our devotion this morning
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is that if we want
to grow spiritually,
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if we want to increase,
then outreach service to others
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is one of the best
ways to grow spiritually.
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So if you want to grow, then go.
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It's the cure for
spiritual stagnation.
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It's the cure for
wealthiness, for selfishness,
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for whatever things we
struggle within our life.
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Jesus promised in Luke 6:38,
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"Give and it shall
be given unto you."
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So as we put ourselves
in the service of Jesus
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and we go, as we
start making sacrifices,
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reaching out to others, serving,
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emptying ourselves,
then Jesus fills us again.
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So give and it
shall be given unto you.
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And so we'll see that,
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as we look at what
the Bible has to say.
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If you'd like to
turn with me to James 5:7,
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one of the theme verses
for this conference as well.
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So James 5:7.
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And in James 5:7 it says,
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"Therefore be patient, brethren,
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until the coming of the Lord.
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See how the farmer waits
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for the precious
fruit of the earth,
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waiting patiently for it
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until it receives the
early and the latter rain."
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Okay, so this is one
of my favorite verses.
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Who's the farmer?
What do you think?
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Feel free to answer,
I'll say your answer as well
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so everyone else can hear.
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Who do you think the farmer is?
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Who's the farmer who's waiting
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for the precious
fruit of the earth?
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Jesus Christ, absolutely.
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And there are many
other verses to support this.
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For the sake of time
we won't look there now.
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So Jesus is the farmer
and we are His precious fruit.
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And He is waiting for us
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until we receive the
early and the latter rain.
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The early rain, and we'll
hear more about this tonight,
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the early rain was obviously
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when the Christian
church started with power,
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when it spread
through the whole known world
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in just a few decades.
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The latter rain,
is what we believe
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is yet to come and soon
to come and that will be,
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you know, the
closing of the work.
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Something that I
found interesting is when,
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not being from a
farming background myself,
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someone told me
that the latter rain
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is the rain that comes
at the end of the harvest.
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So the crops are almost ready
but they're not quite ripe.
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So the latter rain is primarily
to help the crop to mature,
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to reach maturity, to be ripe.
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And so even though we
know from Spirit of Prophesy
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that there will
be many new converts,
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new believers at the
time of the latter rain,
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I believe its primary
purpose will be to help
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believers reach
spiritual maturity.
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To grow up into Jesus Christ,
to grow up into perfection,
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and when I say perfection,
I mean spiritual maturity.
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To be able to
fulfill the promise
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which Jesus said in John
14:12, "He who believes on me,
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the works that I
do shall he do also,
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and greater works
than these shall he do
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because I go unto my Father."
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If Jesus is saying
this it means it's possible.
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It means it's possible
for us to do the same works
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that Jesus did when
He was on this earth.
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And He said even
greater. Why greater?
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Well, because
there's more of us,
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we'll spread
across the whole world.
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Imagine being able
to do what Jesus did,
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to be teaching,
preaching, healing,
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to be so
committed to serving others,
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so selflessly serving.
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I know I haven't reached
that stage in my life yet.
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When I look at the
ministry of Jesus, of Paul,
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I know there is
so much further to go
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when it comes to self sacrifice
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and unselfish service to others.
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So if we're talking
about spiritual growth,
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what are we trying to grow into?
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Jesus is the goal, the
very highest you can go,
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that's the high
ideal that we have.
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I'd like to share
one of my favorite quotes
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and it's from Great
Controversy page 611 and 612
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and listen carefully
to this, Ellen White said,
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"The great work of the gospel
is not to close with less power
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than marked its opening.
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The prophecies
which were fulfilled
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in the outpouring
of the early rain,
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at the opening of the
gospel are again to be fulfilled
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at the time of the latter rain.
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Servants of God, with
their faces lighted up
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and shining with
holy consecration,
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will hasten from place to place
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proclaiming the
message from heaven.
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By thousands of
voices, all over the earth,
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the warning will be given."
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What warning?
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That it's the time of judgment
and that Jesus is soon to come.
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"Miracles will be
wrought, the sick healed,
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signs and wonders
will follow the believers.
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Satan will also
work with lying wonders,
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even bringing
down fire from heaven
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in the sight of men.
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Revelation
13:13, references that.
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Thus the
inhabitants of the earth
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will be brought
to make a stand."
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Okay.
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Do you long for this?
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When you hear this quote,
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are you hungry for
that to be fulfilled?
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Do you know people in your life
who need miracles and healings?
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Do you need God's
healing power in your life?
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Do you know people with needs?
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As you look at the wider
world, you know, the news,
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but also in our
very lucky country
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that we live in, Australia,
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one of the best
places in the world.
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But even in this
country, do you know people
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who have
problems and great needs?
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Do you know
people who need Jesus?
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I do.
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I know so many people
and as I'll share today,
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as I've given myself to Jesus,
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I've had the privilege of
being a channel of His truth
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and mercy to others,
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but I know that it's
just been a few drops
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compared to the
ocean that is out there.
00:08:00.27\00:08:03.17
And I believe you're here today
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because you are longing
to, to a far greater degree,
00:08:04.54\00:08:08.84
be a channel of God's
power, transforming power,
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to help people who
have such great needs,
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maybe for physical healing,
for character transformation.
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There are so many, you know,
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it's not just
physical health, mental health
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is such a big
problem in our society today.
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People are lacking
peace and joy in their life.
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They're struggling with
addictions of all kinds.
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People really need
Jesus in our society, so much.
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Okay, so I know
you're here today
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because you do want to
grow, you want to increase.
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I know that you
share the same hunger
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that I have in my
heart for greater things
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than we've ever seen before.
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And so to see how we
can have that process,
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that growth in our life,
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I'd like you to turn to
1 Thessalonians Chapter 1,
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it will also be
up on the screen.
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Just because I've
highlighted certain words,
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this is our key text for today.
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So 1 Thessalonians
1:5-10, this passage is one,
00:09:05.80\00:09:12.51
when I first saw it I
didn't think much of it,
00:09:12.54\00:09:15.36
I sort of just read
Paul's greeting to the church
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and kind of
skimmed through this.
00:09:17.77\00:09:21.16
But I've come to see through,
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mainly though
doing fast discipleship,
00:09:22.64\00:09:26.20
which is organized by Dan Vis,
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hands up if you've
ever done fast discipleship.
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Well, you must
check out the website
00:09:31.00\00:09:33.50
www.fast.st,
very simple, fast.st.
00:09:33.53\00:09:39.28
It's an excellent
discipleship program
00:09:39.31\00:09:41.12
and through Dan Vis
00:09:41.15\00:09:43.12
I was able to see
this passage in a new light
00:09:43.15\00:09:46.12
and for what it
actually is saying.
00:09:46.15\00:09:48.30
So let's read together.
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"For our gospel did not
come to you in word only,
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but also in power,
and in the Holy Spirit
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and in much assurance,
as you know what kind of men
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we were among you for your sake.
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And you became
followers of us and of the Lord,
00:10:02.31\00:10:04.54
having received the
word in much affliction,
00:10:04.57\00:10:07.27
with joy of the Holy Spirit,
00:10:07.30\00:10:09.85
so that you became examples
to all in Macedonia and Achaia
00:10:09.88\00:10:14.11
who believe.
00:10:14.14\00:10:15.44
For from you the word of
the Lord has sounded forth,
00:10:15.47\00:10:19.69
not only in
Macedonia and Achaia,
00:10:19.72\00:10:21.30
but also in every place.
00:10:21.33\00:10:23.54
Your faith
toward God has gone out,
00:10:23.57\00:10:25.32
so that we do not
need to say anything.
00:10:25.35\00:10:28.21
For they themselves
declare concerning you
00:10:28.24\00:10:30.96
what manner of
entry we had to you,
00:10:30.99\00:10:32.67
and how you
turned to God from idols
00:10:32.70\00:10:37.23
to serve the
living and true God,
00:10:37.26\00:10:41.02
and to wait for
His Son from heaven,
00:10:41.05\00:10:43.26
whom He raised from the dead,
00:10:43.29\00:10:44.48
even Jesus who delivers
us from the wrath to come."
00:10:44.51\00:10:50.89
All right, so when
we look at this passage,
00:10:50.92\00:10:54.12
I want to first
have a look at what
00:10:54.15\00:10:55.96
Paul and his co-laborers did.
00:10:55.99\00:11:00.50
So what was
their responsibility?
00:11:00.53\00:11:02.14
What were they doing? You
can see the words in blue.
00:11:02.17\00:11:06.09
What is Paul giving them?
00:11:06.12\00:11:09.53
Feel free to call out.
00:11:09.56\00:11:11.91
So what is he giving them?
00:11:11.94\00:11:14.85
So his responsibility
is preaching the gospel,
00:11:14.88\00:11:18.43
the words of the
gospel, is that all?
00:11:18.46\00:11:23.41
What else?
00:11:23.44\00:11:25.44
So the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:11:25.47\00:11:27.12
it's not just words,
00:11:27.15\00:11:28.51
the power of the Holy Spirit
is present in Paul's life,
00:11:28.54\00:11:31.61
in his preaching.
00:11:31.64\00:11:33.64
And then you have
also one more thing,
00:11:33.67\00:11:35.09
"what kind of men we were
among you for your sakes."
00:11:35.12\00:11:38.73
Which sort of gives a hint that
00:11:38.76\00:11:41.99
they were very
positive examples.
00:11:42.02\00:11:43.94
So it's not just their preaching
00:11:43.97\00:11:45.40
when they were
away from the pulpit,
00:11:45.43\00:11:48.66
if you like, they had a sermon,
00:11:48.69\00:11:52.54
they were preaching a
sermon with their life.
00:11:52.57\00:11:54.48
That was their responsibility.
00:11:54.51\00:11:56.15
We are the living word to you,
00:11:56.18\00:11:58.91
Thessalonian people,
Paul saying, you know,
00:11:58.94\00:12:01.66
we're the living word
with what we're preaching,
00:12:01.69\00:12:04.35
with the presence
of the Holy Spirit
00:12:04.38\00:12:05.91
which is with us and
the example of that life
00:12:05.94\00:12:09.47
as we're spending time with
you in your homes, in your city.
00:12:09.50\00:12:13.98
That's a pretty big
responsibility, isn't it?
00:12:14.01\00:12:17.25
They're doing a lot,
it doesn't sound like
00:12:17.28\00:12:18.78
they're just giving
an hour a week, does it?
00:12:18.81\00:12:21.73
Sounds like a
pretty big sacrifice,
00:12:21.76\00:12:23.83
I mean, time commitment.
00:12:23.86\00:12:26.66
And one of my favorite
verses is in 1 Corinthians 11:1,
00:12:26.69\00:12:30.92
where Paul says,
00:12:30.95\00:12:31.99
"Be followers of
me, as I am of Christ."
00:12:32.02\00:12:37.38
And that is such
a powerful verse.
00:12:37.41\00:12:39.61
Imagine being able to say,
00:12:39.64\00:12:41.80
follow my example just
like I'm following Jesus.
00:12:41.83\00:12:44.96
So I'm so closely
walking behind Jesus
00:12:44.99\00:12:47.53
that if you
walk in my footsteps,
00:12:47.56\00:12:50.66
you are following Jesus.
00:12:50.69\00:12:53.43
And obviously
he's not talking about,
00:12:53.46\00:12:56.50
you know, putting
man instead of God,
00:12:56.53\00:12:59.96
but just that mature Christians
00:12:59.99\00:13:02.13
should be such a
powerful positive example,
00:13:02.16\00:13:04.88
that they can be
doing the works of Christ,
00:13:04.91\00:13:07.53
and can be such
an amazing example.
00:13:07.56\00:13:10.76
Now that was
Paul's responsibility.
00:13:10.79\00:13:12.87
What about the Thessalonians?
00:13:12.90\00:13:14.49
What were they, if you
look at the green writing,
00:13:14.52\00:13:16.22
what were they expected to do
00:13:16.25\00:13:18.35
at this first
stage or first phase?
00:13:18.38\00:13:23.43
Yep, they're
receiving, they're listening,
00:13:23.46\00:13:26.48
and they start to follow.
00:13:26.51\00:13:28.75
Okay.
00:13:28.78\00:13:29.81
And we know that it
says in 1 Peter 2:2,
00:13:29.84\00:13:34.23
Peter talks about how,
00:13:34.26\00:13:36.29
when you first
accept the gospel,
00:13:36.32\00:13:38.72
you receive it,
you start following,
00:13:38.75\00:13:41.84
you're a new born baby.
00:13:41.87\00:13:44.80
It's his desire the
pure milk of the Word
00:13:44.83\00:13:46.83
that you may grow by it.
00:13:46.86\00:13:50.08
I've got a six month old baby
and I actually was thinking,
00:13:50.11\00:13:53.16
when she was born, I
have a five year old as well,
00:13:53.19\00:13:57.14
she's five tomorrow,
and basically I'd forgotten
00:13:57.17\00:14:00.23
what having a baby was like.
00:14:00.26\00:14:02.80
The sleep
deprivation was incredible.
00:14:02.83\00:14:06.17
And if-- I've only got two kids
00:14:06.20\00:14:07.43
so anyone out there
with you know, more than two,
00:14:07.46\00:14:10.85
yes in a few decades
you'll be able to sleep again.
00:14:10.88\00:14:13.92
But anyhow, I was amazed
how dependant this baby is.
00:14:13.95\00:14:18.32
I felt like saying can't
you change your own nappy?
00:14:18.35\00:14:21.72
Can't you just
get your own milk?
00:14:21.75\00:14:23.38
Oh, that's right, you can't.
00:14:23.41\00:14:24.52
You know, they
literally can't do
00:14:24.55\00:14:25.91
anything for
themselves, almost nothing.
00:14:25.94\00:14:29.15
Wouldn't it be
ridiculous to expect
00:14:29.18\00:14:30.69
a new born baby
to look after itself?
00:14:30.72\00:14:34.61
And yet, that is what we do
00:14:34.64\00:14:35.97
when someone
starts to follow Christ.
00:14:36.00\00:14:39.15
They get baptized
and we leave them,
00:14:39.18\00:14:41.89
as if their spiritual
growth, their spiritual journey
00:14:41.92\00:14:44.91
has finished,
rather than just begun.
00:14:44.94\00:14:48.08
Okay.
00:14:48.11\00:14:49.25
If we keep reading, the
7, it says that with that
00:14:49.28\00:14:54.09
continued investment
in their spiritual growth,
00:14:54.12\00:14:57.92
it says they became examples
to all in Macedonia and Achaia.
00:14:57.95\00:15:02.53
So now just like
Paul, who said, you know,
00:15:02.56\00:15:06.75
you know what kind of people
00:15:06.78\00:15:07.92
we were among
you, for your sakes.
00:15:07.95\00:15:10.45
Just like Paul, they
also are examples now.
00:15:10.48\00:15:13.20
So now they're
becoming disciples,
00:15:13.23\00:15:14.98
they're living
examples of God's principles.
00:15:15.01\00:15:18.37
Isn't that awesome?
00:15:18.40\00:15:20.71
And if we keep
reading in verse 8,
00:15:20.74\00:15:23.02
the words that are in red,
00:15:23.05\00:15:25.33
what do we have them doing now?
00:15:25.36\00:15:28.59
Are they just-- so
they're being examples,
00:15:28.62\00:15:31.34
they're obeying
God, they're learning
00:15:31.37\00:15:34.98
to have God's principles
as part of their life.
00:15:35.01\00:15:39.04
But when you look
at the writing in red,
00:15:39.07\00:15:40.35
what have they
progressed to now?
00:15:40.38\00:15:43.16
Sharing, absolutely.
00:15:43.19\00:15:45.36
So from you the Word
of God has sounded forth,
00:15:45.39\00:15:48.71
everywhere, to the whole world.
00:15:48.74\00:15:51.23
And Paul says now,
00:15:51.26\00:15:52.83
I don't need to say
anything, my work is done.
00:15:52.86\00:15:56.50
Isn't that amazing?
00:15:56.53\00:15:57.82
That was what made
the gospel so powerful,
00:15:57.85\00:16:01.48
in the time of the early rain.
00:16:01.51\00:16:03.72
That it wasn't-- I
know Paul was a superstar,
00:16:03.75\00:16:07.63
he was amazing, he was such,
such a close picture of Jesus
00:16:07.66\00:16:13.59
and Jesus' selfless ministry.
00:16:13.62\00:16:15.16
But the point is,
Paul didn't take the gospel
00:16:15.19\00:16:18.09
to the whole
world single-handedly,
00:16:18.12\00:16:20.85
he helped disciple people
00:16:20.88\00:16:22.05
who could then do
the same work he did.
00:16:22.08\00:16:25.09
And he didn't have
to say anything anymore,
00:16:25.12\00:16:26.59
they were not dependant on him
00:16:26.62\00:16:27.89
to preach to them every Sabbath.
00:16:27.92\00:16:30.37
They could do it.
00:16:30.40\00:16:32.15
They were
independent workers for Christ.
00:16:32.18\00:16:36.76
So that we do not
need to say anything
00:16:36.79\00:16:38.95
because everyone can see
00:16:38.98\00:16:40.81
that the Thessalonians
have turned from their idols
00:16:40.84\00:16:43.41
and now they
serve the living God.
00:16:43.44\00:16:48.93
And so based on this verse,
00:16:48.96\00:16:54.48
if we could-- I'll actually ask
you to look up one more verse,
00:16:54.51\00:16:57.08
sorry, 1 Thessalonians 3,
00:16:57.11\00:17:00.61
so just two chapters
over, and verse 8-10.
00:17:00.64\00:17:04.92
So yes, they were
now independent workers,
00:17:04.95\00:17:08.30
they were
mature workers for God,
00:17:08.33\00:17:11.36
but did Paul
leave them even then?
00:17:11.39\00:17:15.35
Let's have a look.
00:17:15.38\00:17:16.41
In 1 Thessalonians
3:8-10, it says, Paul says,
00:17:16.44\00:17:21.19
"For now we live, if
you stand fast in the Lord.
00:17:21.22\00:17:25.84
For what thanks can
we render to God for you,
00:17:25.87\00:17:28.12
for all the joy
with which we rejoice
00:17:28.15\00:17:30.39
for your sake before our God,
00:17:30.42\00:17:32.89
night and day
praying exceedingly
00:17:32.92\00:17:35.34
that we may see your face
00:17:35.37\00:17:37.01
and perfect what is
lacking in your faith?"
00:17:37.04\00:17:40.31
So Paul is
saying, for now we live,
00:17:40.34\00:17:42.70
for now I live, if you
stand fast in the Lord.
00:17:42.73\00:17:47.41
So Paul is saying,
my reason for living,
00:17:47.44\00:17:50.03
for being on this
planet is to make sure
00:17:50.06\00:17:55.24
that you stay on the
path that you've started.
00:17:55.27\00:17:58.05
Yes, your mature
worker is for Christ now,
00:17:58.08\00:17:59.93
but the journey is not over.
00:17:59.96\00:18:02.37
The Bible is full
of sad cases of people
00:18:02.40\00:18:05.32
who were fully
converted and fell away.
00:18:05.35\00:18:09.35
Think of the story of
Saul. He was so humble.
00:18:09.38\00:18:13.40
He didn't even want to be king,
00:18:13.43\00:18:14.51
he was hiding behind, you know,
some material, don't pick me.
00:18:14.54\00:18:18.71
Until later he was willing to,
00:18:18.74\00:18:20.92
you know, destroy
God's own priests,
00:18:20.95\00:18:23.97
so he could keep his crown.
00:18:24.00\00:18:26.01
So just because you've
started on a good path,
00:18:26.04\00:18:27.83
and I even a
mature worker for God,
00:18:27.86\00:18:30.67
we've still got to
make it to the end.
00:18:30.70\00:18:33.22
And you can see
Paul didn't just say,
00:18:33.25\00:18:34.99
oh, my work is done.
00:18:35.02\00:18:36.40
His heart had been--
00:18:36.43\00:18:37.84
and time had been
invested in those people
00:18:37.87\00:18:39.69
and he could no
more forget about them
00:18:39.72\00:18:42.59
than I can forget
about my own children
00:18:42.62\00:18:45.35
night and day
praying exceedingly for them,
00:18:45.38\00:18:48.31
longing to see them again.
00:18:48.34\00:18:50.08
Have we done that?
00:18:50.11\00:18:51.14
Have we invested spiritually
in people to the point
00:18:51.17\00:18:53.91
where they are never far
from our heart and thoughts?
00:18:53.94\00:18:59.78
And in another
place in Thessalonians,
00:18:59.81\00:19:01.28
the reference escapes me,
00:19:01.31\00:19:02.46
Paul says what is our
crown, what is our joy,
00:19:02.49\00:19:05.02
what is our hope to see you
00:19:05.05\00:19:07.04
in the presence of
Jesus, at His coming.
00:19:07.07\00:19:09.59
That was why he
was on this earth.
00:19:09.62\00:19:12.39
Everything else was secondary.
00:19:12.42\00:19:14.70
His tent making job,
obviously and his leisure time
00:19:14.73\00:19:18.87
and everything
else he did was just a,
00:19:18.90\00:19:21.23
you know, a very
distant number two on the list.
00:19:21.26\00:19:26.44
So let's see what we can
learn from the Thessalonians.
00:19:26.47\00:19:29.23
Would you like to follow
the same path in your life?
00:19:29.26\00:19:34.19
And I, I've
grown up in the church
00:19:34.22\00:19:36.14
and you know, when I
see in the New Testament,
00:19:36.17\00:19:37.94
it didn't take
that long for people
00:19:37.97\00:19:39.55
to become mature workers.
00:19:39.58\00:19:42.23
Jesus spent a few
years with the disciples
00:19:42.26\00:19:44.00
and even while He
was discipling them,
00:19:44.03\00:19:46.02
and they were
not quite there yet,
00:19:46.05\00:19:48.55
He was still sending them out.
00:19:48.58\00:19:51.11
Paul was teaching at
the school in Tyrannus
00:19:51.14\00:19:54.01
I think it is,
forgive my pronunciation,
00:19:54.04\00:19:56.55
he was teaching
for about two years,
00:19:56.58\00:19:58.70
so it shouldn't take that long
00:19:58.73\00:20:00.99
to go from a new born
baby to a worker for Christ.
00:20:01.02\00:20:06.41
Especially because
the biblical principle
00:20:06.44\00:20:08.21
is that as soon as you
start to believe in Jesus,
00:20:08.24\00:20:11.26
you can start
witnessing for Him,
00:20:11.29\00:20:13.52
even when
you're a new born baby.
00:20:13.55\00:20:15.04
Just like the woman at the well,
00:20:15.07\00:20:16.56
you can share what
Jesus has done for you
00:20:16.59\00:20:18.55
if you have allowed Him
to do something for you.
00:20:18.58\00:20:20.97
If there's
something He's saved you from,
00:20:21.00\00:20:23.04
helped you in--
helped you within your life,
00:20:23.07\00:20:25.99
you can share it.
00:20:26.02\00:20:27.77
And as you share, you'll grow.
00:20:27.80\00:20:30.18
As you give, more will be given,
00:20:30.21\00:20:32.48
and so you'll grow
and the more you share,
00:20:32.51\00:20:35.24
the more you'll get and
the faster you will grow.
00:20:35.27\00:20:38.63
And so we don't
need to be for decades,
00:20:38.66\00:20:42.10
being new born babies
and stagnating spiritually.
00:20:42.13\00:20:46.01
Basically, when we
look at the Thessalonians,
00:20:46.04\00:20:49.05
we can see that they
turn from idols to God.
00:20:49.08\00:20:53.42
And so today, I
really want to make two,
00:20:53.45\00:20:56.15
just two main
points and that is,
00:20:56.18\00:20:59.57
we need to turn from our
idols, to let God be God.
00:20:59.60\00:21:03.25
God is either God
of all or not at all.
00:21:03.28\00:21:07.32
And the second point
is to serve, to give,
00:21:07.35\00:21:09.80
that we may continue growing.
00:21:09.83\00:21:11.67
And if we are already
mature workers for Christ,
00:21:11.70\00:21:14.04
I'm sure that we can
sacrifice and give more,
00:21:14.07\00:21:17.39
I'm sure that we can't say,
00:21:17.42\00:21:19.56
yes, I'm at the
point where Paul was,
00:21:19.59\00:21:21.99
or I'm at the point
where Jesus was today.
00:21:22.02\00:21:24.44
I mean, we're
gonna keep growing more
00:21:24.47\00:21:25.84
to be like Jesus in eternity.
00:21:25.87\00:21:27.24
So I'm pretty sure we
haven't arrived now, today.
00:21:27.27\00:21:30.96
So those are
the two main points.
00:21:30.99\00:21:33.15
The Thessalonians grew
00:21:33.18\00:21:34.21
because they
turned from idols to God
00:21:34.24\00:21:36.14
and everyone could see it.
00:21:36.17\00:21:38.57
Their families, their neighbors,
00:21:38.60\00:21:40.12
their workmates,
they saw a change.
00:21:40.15\00:21:43.88
And secondly, they were sharing,
00:21:43.91\00:21:46.33
sharing and therefore growing.
00:21:46.36\00:21:49.15
Idols, we don't have idols of
wood and stone and gold today.
00:21:49.18\00:21:54.05
What is an idol?
00:21:54.08\00:21:56.67
A common definition is something
00:21:56.70\00:21:58.23
that takes the
place of God in our life,
00:21:58.26\00:22:00.06
the role that God is
meant to have in your life.
00:22:00.09\00:22:03.73
So I'd like you to help me out,
00:22:03.76\00:22:05.00
what is the role
of God in your life?
00:22:05.03\00:22:11.17
What has He done for you?
00:22:11.20\00:22:12.24
Tell me, and I'll repeat
what you say, your answers.
00:22:12.27\00:22:15.52
What has God done
in your life for you?
00:22:15.55\00:22:17.98
Okay, so He's the
one who's in control.
00:22:23.07\00:22:26.89
You obey Him.
He gives you peace.
00:22:26.92\00:22:32.63
He gives peace, He
gives me happiness,
00:22:32.66\00:22:36.29
I feel so happy when
I spend time with God.
00:22:36.32\00:22:40.69
He gives me a
sense of purpose in life.
00:22:40.72\00:22:43.99
That's the reason
why I'm on this earth.
00:22:44.02\00:22:45.52
He gives me direction.
00:22:45.55\00:22:46.58
I'm on this
earth because of God.
00:22:46.61\00:22:48.71
Okay, comfort, life.
00:22:48.74\00:22:53.46
I like-- and I like
that someone said comfort,
00:22:53.49\00:22:55.61
so in hard times we turn to Him.
00:22:55.64\00:22:58.17
And we could keep going.
00:22:58.20\00:23:00.11
And what is our
role towards God?
00:23:00.14\00:23:01.96
What are we
meant to give to God?
00:23:01.99\00:23:03.56
We did mention
obedience, what else?
00:23:03.59\00:23:06.91
Our heart, our lives,
and that includes our time,
00:23:06.94\00:23:11.97
our thoughts, our conversation,
00:23:12.00\00:23:14.57
our time, money, our love.
00:23:14.60\00:23:19.83
What was that? Our
service, absolutely.
00:23:19.86\00:23:23.46
So that's, that's the list
00:23:23.49\00:23:25.01
and I know we
could keep going as well.
00:23:25.04\00:23:27.48
So if you have an
idol instead of God,
00:23:27.51\00:23:30.22
that means that you turn to that
00:23:30.25\00:23:34.75
when you're
feeling low, as you escape.
00:23:34.78\00:23:39.29
You turn to that
for purpose in life.
00:23:39.32\00:23:44.13
That's why I exist,
that's what I'm planning for,
00:23:44.16\00:23:46.26
that's what I'm
giving my time and money for,
00:23:46.29\00:23:48.65
that's what I talk about
that's what I think about.
00:23:48.68\00:23:51.22
Okay. Idol can be anything.
00:23:51.25\00:23:54.80
You know, when
you're feeling low
00:23:54.83\00:23:55.96
you can turn to alcohol
00:23:55.99\00:23:58.26
or entertainment
or just something
00:23:58.29\00:24:00.56
that's like a band
aid on an amputated limb.
00:24:00.59\00:24:04.07
That's what it is.
00:24:04.10\00:24:05.14
And it's in-- I
think in my own life
00:24:05.17\00:24:07.44
it's an insult to God
00:24:07.47\00:24:09.67
that I turn towards
things that can't help me.
00:24:09.70\00:24:13.67
And I'm sad to say
I've done it so many times.
00:24:13.70\00:24:18.16
And God is merciful,
that's why I'm here today.
00:24:18.19\00:24:21.82
But let's not
waste any more time.
00:24:21.85\00:24:25.06
Those idols can't help
us, they can't hear us,
00:24:25.09\00:24:29.31
they can't give
us a sense of purpose
00:24:29.34\00:24:30.88
and direction in life.
00:24:30.91\00:24:32.08
And Jesus wants
us to turn to Him.
00:24:32.11\00:24:37.18
And that should be our focus.
00:24:37.21\00:24:38.57
I spent many years
trying to fight those idols
00:24:38.60\00:24:41.61
and they just
keep creeping back.
00:24:41.64\00:24:43.58
Our focus should be
looking at Jesus, okay.
00:24:43.61\00:24:48.31
In Romans 14:12 it says,
00:24:48.34\00:24:49.93
"Be not overcome by evil
but overcome evil with good."
00:24:49.96\00:24:54.86
So crowd out those idols
in your life with the truth.
00:24:54.89\00:24:58.88
If there's some
habits you struggle with,
00:24:58.91\00:25:01.73
don't focus on doing that less,
00:25:01.76\00:25:03.68
focus on reading the Bible more,
00:25:03.71\00:25:05.66
on praying more,
just crowd out the idols
00:25:05.69\00:25:08.44
until God helps you
to start seeing how,
00:25:08.47\00:25:12.03
how weak and
petty and ridiculous
00:25:12.06\00:25:14.86
they are compared to the grand,
00:25:14.89\00:25:17.25
amazing plan He
has for your life.
00:25:17.28\00:25:21.00
In Hebrews 12:2 it
says, well, in Hebrews 12:1, 2
00:25:21.03\00:25:24.65
it says you know, we're
surrounded by witnesses,
00:25:24.68\00:25:28.16
the people
around us, the universe
00:25:28.19\00:25:30.55
and I know you know
that and that like me
00:25:30.58\00:25:32.60
you probably are frustrated
sometimes with yourself like,
00:25:32.63\00:25:35.57
oh, I want to
represent Christ better,
00:25:35.60\00:25:37.91
because people really need
Him, the need to know about Him.
00:25:37.94\00:25:42.18
But you won't ever find
the strength inside yourself,
00:25:42.21\00:25:45.66
and that's why I love
Hebrews 12:1, 2 where it says,
00:25:45.69\00:25:47.95
you know, there's
witnesses around us,
00:25:47.98\00:25:49.27
we need to shake off
those idols and sins.
00:25:49.30\00:25:52.94
How?
00:25:52.97\00:25:54.00
Verse 2 gives us the
answer, by looking unto Jesus,
00:25:54.03\00:25:57.15
the author and
finisher of our faith,
00:25:57.18\00:25:59.73
who for the joy
that was set before Him,
00:25:59.76\00:26:01.86
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
00:26:01.89\00:26:04.68
and is now sat
down at the right hand
00:26:04.71\00:26:06.27
of the throne of the Father.
00:26:06.30\00:26:08.66
So how will we overcome
those things in our life?
00:26:08.69\00:26:11.24
By looking at
Jesus and specifically
00:26:11.27\00:26:14.24
how He on the cross endured it
00:26:14.27\00:26:16.85
because of the joy
that was set before Him.
00:26:16.88\00:26:19.79
The joy, that He knew people
00:26:19.82\00:26:22.34
would be saved one day in heaven
00:26:22.37\00:26:23.73
because of what He was doing.
00:26:23.76\00:26:26.00
And so as we look at
Jesus and His sacrifice,
00:26:26.03\00:26:29.14
our hearts will be
warmed and we'll be motivated
00:26:29.17\00:26:31.38
to make more sacrifices
to be cured from selfishness
00:26:31.41\00:26:34.52
and our wealthiness
and whatever idols we have.
00:26:34.55\00:26:37.37
Because we know that
if we make that sacrifice,
00:26:37.40\00:26:40.67
we'll have the joy
too, that Jesus has,
00:26:40.70\00:26:43.07
of want to seeing
people in heaven because of us.
00:26:43.10\00:26:47.60
And how can a few moments
of sinful pleasure compare
00:26:47.63\00:26:52.47
to an eternity of
joy that we will have.
00:26:52.50\00:26:56.24
And that's
obviously overlooking the fact
00:26:56.27\00:26:58.44
that serving others
gives us joy even in this life,
00:26:58.47\00:27:01.94
filled with uncertainties
and temptations and problems.
00:27:01.97\00:27:06.62
Now I just wanted to
quickly mention, briefly.
00:27:06.65\00:27:13.74
One of the things I
have to mention this--
00:27:13.77\00:27:15.86
one of the things which is
I've struggled with in my life
00:27:15.89\00:27:19.92
and idol or an
obstacle to spiritual growth.
00:27:19.95\00:27:24.46
Because I want to
make it practical, I guess.
00:27:24.49\00:27:28.04
In quotes from
"Historical Sketches
00:27:28.07\00:27:30.34
of the Foreign Missions of
the Seventh-day Adventists"
00:27:30.37\00:27:33.12
page 212 and 213,
00:27:33.15\00:27:35.55
that's a long
reference, Ellen White says,
00:27:35.58\00:27:38.02
"There is no more
effectual hindrance
00:27:38.05\00:27:41.35
to growth in grace than
a disposition to criticize
00:27:41.38\00:27:46.84
and condemn others."
00:27:46.87\00:27:50.51
So we're talking about, I
want to put away my idols,
00:27:50.54\00:27:53.43
I want to grow.
00:27:53.46\00:27:54.52
We all want this.
00:27:54.55\00:27:55.66
I know you do, and
that's why you're here today.
00:27:55.69\00:27:58.22
And Ellen White is saying,
00:27:58.25\00:27:59.30
okay, well on the
flipside, the biggest hindrance,
00:27:59.33\00:28:04.46
so there's no more effective
stumbling block to you growing
00:28:04.49\00:28:08.46
than a disposition
to look at other people
00:28:08.49\00:28:11.47
with a critical eye,
00:28:11.50\00:28:13.04
to criticize and condemn others.
00:28:13.07\00:28:16.09
Why?
00:28:16.12\00:28:17.61
Why would this be
the biggest obstacle?
00:28:17.64\00:28:20.68
And Ellen White
mentions many other problems
00:28:20.71\00:28:23.12
that were big
problems in her day
00:28:23.15\00:28:24.56
and are even
bigger problems today.
00:28:24.59\00:28:26.61
With moral
standards, there are many issues
00:28:26.64\00:28:29.31
and we know it, we
just have to look around.
00:28:29.34\00:28:30.93
But why do, I
wonder why she says this.
00:28:30.96\00:28:34.71
As I was thinking
about it I thought well,
00:28:34.74\00:28:37.05
I think it's because
when we look at other people
00:28:37.08\00:28:42.18
we forget about our
own spiritual growth.
00:28:42.21\00:28:46.17
So I'm busy
looking at the weaknesses
00:28:46.20\00:28:50.03
and faults of others,
the problems in the church
00:28:50.06\00:28:53.48
and all those exist
but I forget my need.
00:28:53.51\00:28:59.36
I forget about the
extremely important work
00:28:59.39\00:29:01.16
I'm meant to be doing,
00:29:01.19\00:29:03.19
growing in grace,
increasing in service to Jesus.
00:29:03.22\00:29:08.67
Ellen White says how
must the continual fault
00:29:08.70\00:29:11.73
finding appear to
the heavenly messengers
00:29:11.76\00:29:14.94
who are sent forth to
minister to God's people.
00:29:14.97\00:29:18.19
If only we could
see the holy angels
00:29:18.22\00:29:19.79
walking amongst us,
00:29:19.82\00:29:21.52
surely we would be more guarded.
00:29:21.55\00:29:23.30
And instead of
talking about the weaknesses
00:29:23.33\00:29:25.20
of our brothers and sisters,
00:29:25.23\00:29:26.84
we would focus on seeking
Gods with our whole heart.
00:29:26.87\00:29:32.58
And when I think
about that, I think,
00:29:32.61\00:29:34.37
yes, how big is the
gap between God and me?
00:29:34.40\00:29:39.83
How big is the gap
between angels and me?
00:29:39.86\00:29:42.91
And yet they do
not caste me off.
00:29:42.94\00:29:46.06
They-- God still sees
fit to have mercy on me
00:29:46.09\00:29:49.32
and to trust me
with ministry for Him.
00:29:49.35\00:29:53.24
How can I then judge
00:29:53.27\00:29:54.51
and criticize my
brothers and sisters
00:29:54.54\00:29:56.19
when the gap
between us is so miniscule?
00:29:56.22\00:29:59.94
And I think
sometimes when I see people,
00:29:59.97\00:30:02.61
and you see their faults,
their sins, their problems,
00:30:02.64\00:30:07.17
you think, well,
I'm not saying to deny--
00:30:07.20\00:30:11.06
you know, you
can't-- you can deny reality
00:30:11.09\00:30:13.34
but when you see
them, think well,
00:30:13.37\00:30:16.23
what if I had been
born in their shoes?
00:30:16.26\00:30:19.24
What if their
history was my history?
00:30:19.27\00:30:20.86
And Ellen White talks about
people having sad histories
00:30:20.89\00:30:23.19
that are guarded from human eyes
00:30:23.22\00:30:24.71
that we know nothing about.
00:30:24.74\00:30:27.31
What if I had been
born in their shoes,
00:30:27.34\00:30:28.81
and had their upbringing
and the spiritual opportunities
00:30:28.84\00:30:32.15
they've had or haven't had?
00:30:32.18\00:30:34.44
Maybe I would be 10
times worse than they are.
00:30:34.47\00:30:39.04
To whom much is
given, much is expected,
00:30:39.07\00:30:40.96
to whom little is
given, little is expected.
00:30:40.99\00:30:44.71
And I love when Ellen
White talks about when they--
00:30:44.74\00:30:48.25
when in 1844, she said,
00:30:48.28\00:30:50.67
"How great was
the anxiety to know
00:30:50.70\00:30:53.11
if each one's own
heart was right before God.
00:30:53.14\00:30:57.35
We would meet together and say,
00:30:57.38\00:30:59.66
'Brother, sister, have
you seen anything in me
00:30:59.69\00:31:01.80
that's not
right, please tell me."
00:31:01.83\00:31:04.51
Because I want to be
ready for Jesus to come.
00:31:04.54\00:31:07.38
What humility.
00:31:07.41\00:31:08.93
When I get criticized
it's like, help me, Lord,
00:31:08.96\00:31:12.13
I can feel pride coming up
00:31:12.16\00:31:13.50
and I just want to like
defend myself, you know.
00:31:13.53\00:31:16.28
Do you struggle
with that? Anyone else?
00:31:16.31\00:31:18.75
You know,
defending yourself, pride.
00:31:18.78\00:31:22.49
How humble they were.
00:31:22.52\00:31:24.05
That should be our attitude
00:31:24.08\00:31:25.44
and that's the last I'll
say about that particular idol.
00:31:25.47\00:31:29.26
And it is an idol
because we make human opinion
00:31:29.29\00:31:33.19
and standards greater than
God's opinion and standards.
00:31:33.22\00:31:36.64
And if we're busy
looking at other people
00:31:36.67\00:31:38.44
and criticizing,
giving a bad report,
00:31:38.47\00:31:42.44
you know, even if it's
true, but it's a bad report.
00:31:42.47\00:31:45.65
You know, if we're
telling someone else.
00:31:45.68\00:31:47.48
If we're bothering
to tell someone else,
00:31:47.51\00:31:49.79
but we haven't taken the
time to pray for that person,
00:31:49.82\00:31:52.79
to actually be their friend,
00:31:52.82\00:31:54.80
to directly talk to
them, encourage them,
00:31:54.83\00:31:57.52
reprove them,
they'll accept your reprove
00:31:57.55\00:32:00.11
if they know that you love
them and you're their friend.
00:32:00.14\00:32:02.82
So if we haven't done that
00:32:02.85\00:32:03.94
we shouldn't be talking
about them to anyone else.
00:32:03.97\00:32:08.74
Our attitude should be,
00:32:08.77\00:32:11.01
I love this, in 2 Chronicles
20:12 King Jehoshaphat
00:32:11.04\00:32:17.37
had three big
enemies come against Israel.
00:32:17.40\00:32:20.27
The people of Ammon,
Moab and Amalekites I think,
00:32:20.30\00:32:25.31
they were overpowered.
00:32:25.34\00:32:27.97
And he said, we have no strength
00:32:28.00\00:32:32.60
against this enemy, and
we don't know what to do.
00:32:32.63\00:32:36.30
But our eyes
are up on you, Lord.
00:32:36.33\00:32:38.91
That needs to be our attitude.
00:32:38.94\00:32:41.39
I don't have strength, I
don't have wisdom in myself,
00:32:41.42\00:32:44.30
my eyes are on you,
Lord, not on other people.
00:32:44.33\00:32:48.44
Because if we
focus on other people,
00:32:48.47\00:32:51.20
Ellen White says
in another place that,
00:32:51.23\00:32:52.75
what we look at, we become.
00:32:52.78\00:32:57.21
We start to then
care what people thing
00:32:57.24\00:32:59.62
and then we start to
work to please others,
00:32:59.65\00:33:01.67
'cause we don't
want to be criticized,
00:33:01.70\00:33:03.79
like we're criticizing others.
00:33:03.82\00:33:05.94
And we can become
people pleasers, doing things,
00:33:05.97\00:33:09.33
you know, dressing in
a way to please others.
00:33:09.36\00:33:13.11
Another idol in my life, dress.
00:33:13.14\00:33:14.98
You know, man looks at
the outward appearance,
00:33:15.01\00:33:17.01
that's one of the
easiest things to judge
00:33:17.04\00:33:18.60
but may God help
us to be like Jesus.
00:33:18.63\00:33:22.23
In John 5:41 he said,
00:33:22.26\00:33:25.12
"I do not
receive honor from men."
00:33:25.15\00:33:28.71
We need to stop
looking at people
00:33:28.74\00:33:31.87
with a judging critical eye
and instead our attitude to be,
00:33:31.90\00:33:37.27
how can I help you?
00:33:37.30\00:33:39.33
How can I help you in the
long, hard journey to heaven?
00:33:39.36\00:33:43.66
That motive of love.
00:33:43.69\00:33:47.09
And our own
attitude for ourselves to be,
00:33:47.12\00:33:48.92
I don't have
strength or wisdom, Lord,
00:33:48.95\00:33:50.92
help me with my idols,
00:33:50.95\00:33:52.05
help me with my
spiritual growth.
00:33:52.08\00:33:56.40
Satan is the
accuser of the brethren
00:33:56.43\00:33:58.05
and that is not a title
we should want for ourselves.
00:33:58.08\00:34:02.70
I have to share one more thing.
00:34:02.73\00:34:04.34
I'm sorry, it's so powerful.
00:34:04.37\00:34:07.17
"Ernest workers," in
"Gospel Workers" 479,
00:34:07.20\00:34:11.50
"Earnest workers have no time
00:34:11.53\00:34:13.18
to dwell upon
the faults of others.
00:34:13.21\00:34:15.53
We cannot afford
to live on the husks
00:34:15.56\00:34:17.28
of other people's failings."
00:34:17.31\00:34:20.34
So instead of looking at others
00:34:20.37\00:34:21.96
and they ought to real problems
that exist in the church,
00:34:21.99\00:34:25.83
we could have spent that
time talking about Jesus,
00:34:25.86\00:34:28.74
and what He's done in our life.
00:34:28.77\00:34:30.80
Isn't that so much better?
00:34:30.83\00:34:33.32
Wouldn't that be so much better
for our own spiritual growht
00:34:33.35\00:34:36.48
and for the people
we're talking to as well?
00:34:36.51\00:34:39.56
One verse, I'll
get you to look up
00:34:39.59\00:34:40.95
2 Corinthians 10:12,
00:34:40.98\00:34:47.87
so 2 Corinthians 10:12.
00:34:47.90\00:34:55.02
Oh, I better look it up too.
00:34:58.05\00:34:59.62
My apologies, I
moved house yesterday
00:34:59.65\00:35:02.52
so I'm extra tired today,
but the Lord is my strength.
00:35:02.55\00:35:09.37
2 Corinthians 10:12, all right.
00:35:09.40\00:35:17.28
"For we dare not class
ourselves or compare ourselves
00:35:17.31\00:35:20.45
with those who
commend themselves.
00:35:20.48\00:35:23.58
But they, measuring themselves
00:35:23.61\00:35:25.25
by themselves, and
comparing themselves
00:35:25.28\00:35:27.51
among themselves, are not wise."
00:35:27.54\00:35:32.08
So we dare not class ourselves
00:35:32.11\00:35:33.40
with those who
commend themselves.
00:35:33.43\00:35:36.11
My opinion is the right one,
00:35:36.14\00:35:38.00
my standard is the
right one, I am the judge.
00:35:38.03\00:35:42.06
That should not be our attitude.
00:35:42.09\00:35:43.83
We should not be
comparing ourselves
00:35:43.86\00:35:45.14
or measuring
ourselves with others.
00:35:45.17\00:35:48.35
Maybe you're a
really awesome worker
00:35:48.38\00:35:49.77
for God compared to the
average lukewarm person.
00:35:49.80\00:35:55.55
But we can't look at people.
00:35:55.58\00:35:58.94
You know, Jesus is our ideal,
He is what we're aspiring to.
00:35:58.97\00:36:03.65
We want to love and
selflessly serve the way He did
00:36:03.68\00:36:07.41
and the way Paul did
with the Thessalonians,
00:36:07.44\00:36:10.45
night and day
praying exceedingly for them.
00:36:10.48\00:36:13.65
That is our goal.
00:36:13.68\00:36:17.32
There's a beautiful quote
in "Gospel Workers" as well
00:36:17.35\00:36:19.51
which says, "We are
dependent upon one another,
00:36:19.54\00:36:21.66
closely bound
together by the ties
00:36:21.69\00:36:24.27
of human
brotherhood," and sisterhood.
00:36:24.30\00:36:26.83
I added the sisterhood bit,
00:36:26.86\00:36:27.91
but anyway and
I'll say one more thing,
00:36:27.94\00:36:32.40
I mentioned that
when we look at people,
00:36:32.43\00:36:34.69
when we-- and it's easy for us
00:36:34.72\00:36:37.15
to worship, to
focus on what we see.
00:36:37.18\00:36:39.61
Just like the Israelites of old.
00:36:39.64\00:36:42.34
Why did they worship the idols?
00:36:42.37\00:36:45.88
Because they could see
them, and they couldn't see God.
00:36:45.91\00:36:49.00
And so we tend to
look at each other
00:36:49.03\00:36:50.79
and, I mentioned before, dress,
00:36:50.82\00:36:53.96
people can see
your outward appearance
00:36:53.99\00:36:56.10
and I'm sorry, this might
not apply so much to the boys,
00:36:56.13\00:37:00.94
although I think you can
take the principle of you know,
00:37:00.97\00:37:03.34
how important
image is in our society,
00:37:03.37\00:37:05.85
but because image
and outward appearance
00:37:05.88\00:37:07.91
is so important in
our society, as a woman,
00:37:07.94\00:37:11.46
the topic of dress is
such an important one.
00:37:11.49\00:37:15.38
Okay, we live in a
society where women are judged
00:37:15.41\00:37:17.00
by the way they look.
00:37:17.03\00:37:18.07
Doesn't matter if they're
an athlete, a politician,
00:37:18.10\00:37:21.62
doesn't matter what they are,
primarily people will discuss
00:37:21.65\00:37:24.55
what they're
wearing, which is really sad.
00:37:24.58\00:37:27.24
And so it's not
about standing here
00:37:27.27\00:37:28.61
and saying, ah, you're not
allowed to dress like that,
00:37:28.64\00:37:31.67
or this or-- it's about hey,
00:37:31.70\00:37:33.28
God has
something better for you,
00:37:33.31\00:37:35.69
for your worth to come
00:37:35.72\00:37:36.90
from being part of
His eternal kingdom
00:37:36.93\00:37:39.76
and being a worker for Him.
00:37:39.79\00:37:42.50
It's not about, it
should be 10 centimeters
00:37:42.53\00:37:44.68
below the knee, it should--
00:37:44.71\00:37:46.36
it's about love
is the motivation.
00:37:46.39\00:37:49.18
God has helped me to
realize it's about love.
00:37:49.21\00:37:51.81
I love others so I
don't want to outshine someone
00:37:51.84\00:37:55.14
by wearing a luxurious garment
00:37:55.17\00:37:57.02
and someone who
can't afford it feels bad.
00:37:57.05\00:37:59.55
I love others,
because we love others.
00:37:59.58\00:38:02.58
We should not
want to steal attention
00:38:02.61\00:38:04.38
that is not ours to have.
00:38:04.41\00:38:08.29
Because I don't want
people to look at me,
00:38:08.32\00:38:10.55
I want them to look at Jesus.
00:38:10.58\00:38:12.72
You know, do they
remember what I was wearing
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.94
or do they remember that
I was talking about Jesus.
00:38:14.97\00:38:19.25
And so love should be
the motivation for these,
00:38:19.28\00:38:22.70
for this particular theme.
00:38:22.73\00:38:25.82
But as I said, the cure is
not, okay, I need to fix that,
00:38:25.85\00:38:29.72
I need to stop
criticizing people,
00:38:29.75\00:38:31.04
I need to stop
spending too much time
00:38:31.07\00:38:33.35
and money on clothes, my
car, technology, whatever it is.
00:38:33.38\00:38:37.60
Whatever the idol is, remember
the cure is, looking at Jesus.
00:38:37.63\00:38:41.90
And then, you'll see
these idols for what they are.
00:38:41.93\00:38:46.12
Weak and ineffective,
cannot make you happy.
00:38:46.15\00:38:50.32
That is the cure.
00:38:50.35\00:38:51.94
And then service is
the key to keep on growing.
00:38:51.97\00:38:55.82
Give, and the more you
give, the more you will receive.
00:38:55.85\00:38:59.34
If you give a little bit,
you'll receive a little bit.
00:38:59.37\00:39:03.15
If you give a lot,
00:39:03.18\00:39:04.62
you will receive a
great measure of God's power.
00:39:04.65\00:39:09.86
I want to share one more
verse, 1 Thessalonians 3,
00:39:09.89\00:39:13.44
appropriate to a
verse in Thessalonians,
00:39:13.47\00:39:16.55
Thessalonians 3:12, 13.
00:39:16.58\00:39:19.18
One of my all
time favorite verses,
00:39:19.21\00:39:21.35
I love this verse.
00:39:21.38\00:39:24.51
I get really excited
about this verse, can you tell?
00:39:24.54\00:39:27.41
I love it, you're
going to love it too.
00:39:27.44\00:39:29.08
1 Thessalonians 3:
12-13, and it says,
00:39:29.11\00:39:36.39
"And may the Lord
make you to increase
00:39:36.42\00:39:39.23
and abound in
love to one another
00:39:39.26\00:39:42.40
and toward all,
just as we do to you,
00:39:42.43\00:39:47.36
that He may establish your
hearts blameless in holiness
00:39:47.39\00:39:51.58
before our God and
Father at the coming
00:39:51.61\00:39:54.16
of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all His saints."
00:39:54.19\00:39:58.18
You know, there can be
so much talking at churches
00:39:58.21\00:40:01.05
or maybe in our
own walk with God,
00:40:01.08\00:40:03.95
we wonder about the
whole perfection thing
00:40:03.98\00:40:05.98
and, you know,
spiritual maturity.
00:40:06.01\00:40:10.21
What does this verse say?
00:40:10.24\00:40:11.32
In verse 13 it says,
"Our heart will be established
00:40:11.35\00:40:14.67
blameless in
holiness when Jesus comes."
00:40:14.70\00:40:18.65
How will that be achieved?
00:40:18.68\00:40:19.90
What is it saying, in verse 12?
00:40:19.93\00:40:27.59
So what does, not us,
00:40:27.62\00:40:29.14
what does God
need to do in our lives
00:40:29.17\00:40:30.79
so that we will be
blameless, wholly perfect,
00:40:30.82\00:40:35.48
spiritually
mature in God's eyes?
00:40:35.51\00:40:40.55
To increase in abundant love.
00:40:40.58\00:40:43.40
Just like I have loved
you, says Paul to them.
00:40:43.43\00:40:46.72
And we saw how Paul was working
for the Thessalonian church.
00:40:46.75\00:40:51.76
I'm not talking about
a weak wishy-washy love
00:40:51.79\00:40:54.37
that doesn't care
about someone's life
00:40:54.40\00:40:57.09
enough to pray for them
00:40:57.12\00:40:58.74
or to call sin by
its rightful name,
00:40:58.77\00:41:00.26
I'm not talking about that.
00:41:00.29\00:41:01.34
I'm taking about
God's definition of love,
00:41:01.37\00:41:04.36
which is the only thing,
00:41:04.39\00:41:05.61
and He is the one
that makes it happen.
00:41:05.64\00:41:08.42
That is what makes
you increase in love,
00:41:08.45\00:41:11.19
abound in love,
00:41:11.22\00:41:13.37
to the point where you
will turn from your idols
00:41:13.40\00:41:16.13
and you will make a change
00:41:16.16\00:41:19.30
and I want to be
honest and practical.
00:41:19.33\00:41:21.86
When I went to
witness, last time,
00:41:21.89\00:41:24.29
I didn't go last year
'cause it was a few days
00:41:24.32\00:41:27.85
before my baby was born,
so I didn't go the last one
00:41:27.88\00:41:31.36
but I went for the
first time in the 2013 one.
00:41:31.39\00:41:35.95
And that was a time
00:41:35.98\00:41:37.02
of real spiritual
stagnation in my life.
00:41:37.05\00:41:39.94
I grew up at Salisbury church,
00:41:39.97\00:41:42.86
anyone knows Salisbury
Yugoslav Adventist Church?
00:41:42.89\00:41:45.76
And I was active
there, I was very involved,
00:41:45.79\00:41:48.13
but I hadn't really
given up the idols in my life.
00:41:48.16\00:41:51.38
And I was sort of
struggling between two masters.
00:41:51.41\00:41:55.13
I was really struggling,
00:41:55.16\00:41:56.29
because I really
wanted real Christianity.
00:41:56.32\00:41:58.85
I didn't want to
show weak powerless
00:41:58.88\00:42:00.49
Christianity to my friends
00:42:00.52\00:42:02.15
and people who really
needed to know about God.
00:42:02.18\00:42:05.88
So I was kind of,
you know, working for God
00:42:05.91\00:42:07.81
and you know, I could
be this kind of person
00:42:07.84\00:42:10.57
but if I was people
who weren't Christians,
00:42:10.60\00:42:12.73
you know, I could talk
about the same things they were
00:42:12.76\00:42:14.87
because was
watching the same shows,
00:42:14.90\00:42:16.29
I was wearing the same clothes,
00:42:16.32\00:42:17.44
I was doing
everything they were.
00:42:17.47\00:42:19.28
Not everything but
you know, some of it.
00:42:19.31\00:42:22.16
And so I was really struggling.
00:42:22.19\00:42:24.19
Then I came to Mt Gravatt
00:42:24.22\00:42:25.52
and because I was
new, I didn't know anyone.
00:42:25.55\00:42:28.04
Suddenly I wasn't involved,
00:42:28.07\00:42:29.31
I wasn't being asked to help out
00:42:29.34\00:42:32.34
and so for like a
good year I did nothing.
00:42:32.37\00:42:36.30
And I really
stagnated. I really struggled.
00:42:36.33\00:42:39.18
My idols came
up bigger than ever
00:42:39.21\00:42:41.20
and I was sort of
trying to fight them
00:42:41.23\00:42:43.64
in my own strength and
just feeling discouraged
00:42:43.67\00:42:46.52
and depressed with my
lack of spiritual growth,
00:42:46.55\00:42:51.11
which is why God
want's us to grow.
00:42:51.14\00:42:53.09
And then I came to
the Witness Conference
00:42:53.12\00:42:54.64
and I was so blessed.
00:42:54.67\00:42:56.43
Was anyone at the 2013 one?
00:42:56.46\00:42:59.76
I was really blessed and
I started praying every day
00:42:59.79\00:43:02.79
after the Witness Conference.
00:43:02.82\00:43:05.27
I realized I
really need God's help.
00:43:05.30\00:43:07.67
I'm back at square one,
sadly, you know, sad to say,
00:43:07.70\00:43:10.48
and I started praying, Lord,
00:43:10.51\00:43:11.54
give me a desire to
spend time with You.
00:43:11.57\00:43:14.15
Give me that hunger,
00:43:14.18\00:43:15.68
so I started spending
more time in Word and prayer
00:43:15.71\00:43:17.24
and I started praying every day,
00:43:17.27\00:43:18.42
Lord, help us to have
family worship together.
00:43:18.45\00:43:21.00
Help us to have
family worship together,
00:43:21.03\00:43:22.33
we've got, you know, our child,
00:43:22.36\00:43:24.93
later on another one on the way,
00:43:24.96\00:43:26.65
and I was praying, Lord,
make me a witness for You,
00:43:26.68\00:43:28.57
give me
opportunities to serve You.
00:43:28.60\00:43:31.98
Do you think there are prayers
00:43:32.01\00:43:33.24
that God will
answer maybe or definitely?
00:43:33.27\00:43:37.85
Like He's longing
for us to pray Lord,
00:43:37.88\00:43:39.88
make me a witness for You.
00:43:39.91\00:43:41.87
God is so good, even though
I was this lukewarm Christian
00:43:41.90\00:43:45.56
who instead of
becoming a mature worker
00:43:45.59\00:43:48.12
who's turned from
the idols in like a year
00:43:48.15\00:43:50.39
or two or
something, it's been decades.
00:43:50.42\00:43:54.91
You know, what a
terrible example.
00:43:54.94\00:43:59.21
But I want to give hope that
if there is anyone in my shoes,
00:43:59.24\00:44:01.50
you've grown up in the
church and you've struggled
00:44:01.53\00:44:03.13
to make that full
turning away from idols,
00:44:03.16\00:44:06.40
turning-- and to turn to God,
00:44:06.43\00:44:09.04
and to be an
example and a witness,
00:44:09.07\00:44:11.28
there's hope for you.
00:44:11.31\00:44:12.36
If God had-- if God
didn't give up on me,
00:44:12.39\00:44:15.09
He won't give up on you.
00:44:15.12\00:44:16.22
If He uses me, He will use you.
00:44:16.25\00:44:19.11
And He did use me, He
answered all those prayers,
00:44:19.14\00:44:21.93
and I had to
persevere, it took a few months,
00:44:21.96\00:44:23.75
but all those
prayers were answered.
00:44:23.78\00:44:26.44
We now run a soul
winning small group
00:44:26.47\00:44:28.53
from our house
every Friday night.
00:44:28.56\00:44:31.31
And I still struggle
with, you know, self,
00:44:31.34\00:44:33.67
you know, I'm like,
oh, I'm so tired, Lord.
00:44:33.70\00:44:35.58
I just want to go
to bed early tonight.
00:44:35.61\00:44:37.68
But every time
small group finishes,
00:44:37.71\00:44:39.45
I'm like, yes, that was awesome!
00:44:39.48\00:44:41.70
I'm so glad we had
small group tonight.
00:44:41.73\00:44:44.90
There's a young man
that comes to our small group
00:44:44.93\00:44:46.73
and he's struggling
with so many addictions,
00:44:46.76\00:44:50.34
such a painful past in his life.
00:44:50.37\00:44:53.66
We invited him to
Witness last year,
00:44:53.69\00:44:55.16
and he along with others,
made a decision for baptism.
00:44:55.19\00:44:59.65
And he's still
struggling, he's not there yet.
00:44:59.68\00:45:02.89
But he started Bible studies
00:45:02.92\00:45:04.98
and he's already
starting to share what he has
00:45:05.01\00:45:08.59
and 'cause of
that, he will grow.
00:45:08.62\00:45:11.12
He went, he met a friend of his,
00:45:11.15\00:45:13.34
sorry, now it's a friend of his,
00:45:13.37\00:45:14.92
he met a guy at a pub one night,
00:45:14.95\00:45:17.97
and he saw he had
a religious tattoo,
00:45:18.00\00:45:21.04
and he said to him, ah,
00:45:21.07\00:45:23.70
I see you have a
religious tattoo,
00:45:23.73\00:45:24.93
I love the Bible.
00:45:24.96\00:45:26.81
Paul's my favorite
person in the Bible.
00:45:26.84\00:45:28.44
You know, how he
changed, he became Saul, Paul.
00:45:28.47\00:45:31.23
And the other guy was like,
00:45:31.26\00:45:32.30
oh, I don't really know
the Bible, I believe in God,
00:45:32.33\00:45:35.00
but I don't know the Bible.
00:45:35.03\00:45:36.73
And so our friend said to him,
00:45:36.76\00:45:38.59
oh, come to our Bible
study group on Friday nights.
00:45:38.62\00:45:42.72
Changed numbers, the next day,
00:45:42.75\00:45:46.03
this guy called our friend
00:45:46.06\00:45:47.28
and said, it wasn't
just the drink talking,
00:45:47.31\00:45:49.49
I really want to come.
00:45:49.52\00:45:51.75
And so our friend
said, all right, come.
00:45:51.78\00:45:54.03
And a few of you know
who I'm talking about.
00:45:54.06\00:45:57.04
And-- but then
the guy didn't come.
00:45:57.07\00:46:00.83
And so he invited
him, he didn't come.
00:46:00.86\00:46:02.15
He said, all right, I
don't want to be pushy.
00:46:02.18\00:46:04.29
Stopped inviting him.
00:46:04.32\00:46:06.51
Then he went to get a haircut,
00:46:06.54\00:46:07.83
our friend from small
groups, went to get a haircut,
00:46:07.86\00:46:10.44
somewhere he's never
gone before to get a haircut,
00:46:10.47\00:46:12.72
Trim Set shopping center.
00:46:12.75\00:46:15.22
And he randomly sees
this friend walking a lone.
00:46:15.25\00:46:20.18
Bumps into him
completely coincidentally,
00:46:20.21\00:46:23.02
providentially, and
they have lunch together.
00:46:23.05\00:46:26.07
And he invites him to
small group, and he comes.
00:46:26.10\00:46:31.08
He's an army guy, and
has a little army Bible.
00:46:31.11\00:46:34.94
He came along and at
that time small group
00:46:34.97\00:46:37.20
was at Anna's
and Andrew's place.
00:46:37.23\00:46:39.88
And later he told
us, you know when he came
00:46:39.91\00:46:42.74
he didn't even
seem like he was that
00:46:42.77\00:46:43.81
interested in spiritual things.
00:46:43.84\00:46:45.66
With my human
eyes, I was like, oh,
00:46:45.69\00:46:47.23
why is he here for,
the vegetarian food?
00:46:47.26\00:46:51.18
We didn't have any
girls at our small group,
00:46:51.21\00:46:53.61
it was just guys.
00:46:53.64\00:46:54.70
So I'm like, there's no
ladies for them to meet,
00:46:54.73\00:46:56.33
why is he here?
00:46:56.36\00:46:58.22
Then, much later he told us,
00:46:58.25\00:47:00.34
you know, when I
came to this small group,
00:47:00.37\00:47:02.40
at that time, at
Anna's and Andrew's place,
00:47:02.43\00:47:04.72
he said, when I left, I
had so much peace in my heart.
00:47:04.75\00:47:10.93
I can see you
guys care for me, like,
00:47:10.96\00:47:13.87
and he said I love coming here.
00:47:13.90\00:47:16.22
And that just broke my heart,
00:47:16.25\00:47:17.98
because, I'm such
a work in progress,
00:47:18.01\00:47:21.11
and just to think, I
didn't give him peace,
00:47:21.14\00:47:23.78
I can't manufacture it,
00:47:23.81\00:47:25.84
I can't make a difference
in his life with his problems,
00:47:25.87\00:47:28.79
he's had a loved one
die, he's got struggles
00:47:28.82\00:47:31.67
and right now, he
really needs prayer.
00:47:31.70\00:47:33.64
He is, Satan's
really attacking him.
00:47:33.67\00:47:38.10
And I guess I can't make
a difference in his life.
00:47:38.13\00:47:43.01
The fact that he
felt peace shows me
00:47:43.04\00:47:44.91
Jesus was present there,
just as much as He was present
00:47:44.94\00:47:49.21
when people would go to a house
00:47:49.24\00:47:50.55
and He was present
there, healing, you know.
00:47:50.58\00:47:52.60
And so I'm so grateful
to God for those things.
00:47:52.63\00:47:56.22
And I guess I
want to appeal to you,
00:47:56.25\00:47:58.93
at the end, that
if God can use me,
00:47:58.96\00:48:03.78
if He didn't give up
on me, He can use you.
00:48:03.81\00:48:07.49
I promise you that, I
didn't think this witness
00:48:07.52\00:48:09.85
I would have had the experiences
00:48:09.88\00:48:12.07
like last time I
went, I didn't think
00:48:12.10\00:48:13.83
I would have had the
experiences I've had.
00:48:13.86\00:48:16.03
Just because I prayed,
I asked, reading my Bible,
00:48:16.06\00:48:20.57
and just service
to others, you know,
00:48:20.60\00:48:22.32
just whatever point you're
at, start serving the Lord.
00:48:22.35\00:48:25.46
And I'm just gonna
say a prayer, to close
00:48:25.49\00:48:28.10
and I guess I
want to appeal to you
00:48:28.13\00:48:32.21
to put yourself in the service
of God, wherever you are.
00:48:32.24\00:48:34.75
If you're already a
mature worker for God,
00:48:34.78\00:48:37.24
pray that God would help you
00:48:37.27\00:48:38.51
to give more, to sacrifice more.
00:48:38.54\00:48:40.65
What else can I give
up, money, time, talents?
00:48:40.68\00:48:45.74
Wherever you are,
you can grow further.
00:48:45.77\00:48:48.24
Let us not set limits
00:48:48.27\00:48:49.55
on what God
want's to do in our life.
00:48:49.58\00:48:51.95
It's only just begun,
but the time to work is now,
00:48:51.98\00:48:54.34
because the night is
coming, when no man can work.
00:48:54.37\00:48:57.66
But it's time for
the harvest to ripen
00:48:57.69\00:48:59.62
and we are His precious fruit.
00:48:59.65\00:49:03.36
Okay, let us bow
our heads in prayer.
00:49:03.39\00:49:07.89
Dear Jesus, thank You so much
00:49:07.92\00:49:10.31
that we could be here
together this morning.
00:49:10.34\00:49:12.13
And Lord, as we read about
what Paul did to Thessalonians,
00:49:12.16\00:49:15.33
help us to remember they
were not some superheroes,
00:49:15.36\00:49:18.49
in and of themselves,
00:49:18.52\00:49:20.39
Paul would have still been Saul,
00:49:20.42\00:49:22.92
criticizing and
persecuting his brethren.
00:49:22.95\00:49:25.70
And the Thessalonians
00:49:25.73\00:49:27.19
would have been
worshipping their useless idols.
00:49:27.22\00:49:30.24
And that's our faith too, Lord.
00:49:30.27\00:49:31.77
The difference is
if we turn to You,
00:49:31.80\00:49:33.61
if we turn from our idols
00:49:33.64\00:49:36.50
and if we turn to
You and give You our all.
00:49:36.53\00:49:38.88
Help us not to be
afraid, Lord, but to trust that
00:49:38.91\00:49:41.97
You really do want
what's best for us.
00:49:42.00\00:49:44.32
You really have our
best interest at heart
00:49:44.35\00:49:46.11
and that excitement and
joy and purpose will be found
00:49:46.14\00:49:50.17
as we start making a difference
00:49:50.20\00:49:51.55
in the lives of those around us,
00:49:51.58\00:49:53.21
many who
desperately Lord, need You.
00:49:53.24\00:49:56.72
Please answer this prayer
00:49:56.75\00:49:57.85
and bless every
single person here
00:49:57.88\00:49:59.43
and I ask that if
there's someone here today
00:49:59.46\00:50:02.93
that wants to raise
their hand, right now
00:50:02.96\00:50:04.98
and say, Lord, I want to
turn from my idols fully.
00:50:05.01\00:50:08.45
Make a record in heaven
that I want to turn from them
00:50:08.48\00:50:12.50
and I don't want to
give up until they're gone.
00:50:12.53\00:50:15.08
But put me in Your service,
and if there's someone else
00:50:15.11\00:50:18.36
who want's to raise
their hands and say Lord,
00:50:18.39\00:50:20.86
put me in your
service, help me to increase
00:50:20.89\00:50:23.03
and not to set limits on
what You can do in my life.
00:50:23.06\00:50:25.69
Use me to help others
00:50:25.72\00:50:27.78
so they can be
in heaven one day.
00:50:27.81\00:50:29.54
I pray in Your name, amen.
00:50:29.57\00:50:32.03