Hello, I'm Jill Morikone
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and welcome to
3ABN Worship Power.
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I love this time where we
get to open up the Word of God
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and study and share it together.
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Today's message is titled
simply "Leadership's Call,"
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but the subtitle
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is "Pitfalls or
Dangers for Leaders."
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Now, before you
change the channel and say,
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well, I'm not a leader,
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I'm not a
manager in a corporation.
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I'm not a leader at my church.
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Leadership can be management,
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yes, but
leadership is also influence.
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We all have an
influence on someone else.
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It can be an influence for good.
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It can be an influence for bad,
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but we all have
some sort of influence.
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We have influence
if you're a parent.
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You definitely have
influence on your children.
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If you're a child, you
have influence on your parents,
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or siblings, or neighbors,
or coworkers, or friends,
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or the people you
go to church with,
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we all had some
measure of influence.
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Therefore, this
message about the pitfalls
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or the dangers that
we need to watch for
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as leaders.
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That message is for all of us.
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We're gonna be
looking at one verse
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in the Book of Ezra.
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It's unusual for me
to take an entire message
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and hinge it on one verse,
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but we're gonna be looking at
one verse in the Book of Ezra.
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As you study the
themes of the Book of Ezra
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and the Book of Nehemiah,
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I look at them as twin books,
they're really put together,
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both detailing the
history of the Jews.
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Remember they were
taken captive into Babylon
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and after 70 years of captivity,
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then they were
released and free to go home
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to their
homeland, back to Jerusalem.
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Now it had been burned with fire
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and it was devastated.
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The first return 50,000 Jews
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decided to go
back home to Jerusalem.
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The first return
of course is in 537,
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and this is 70
years after the captivity
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and Zerubbabel
led 50,000 of them
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back to their homeland.
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We see that and we can
study that in the Book of Ezra.
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Then we also see a
few chapters later.
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We see the second
return and the third return.
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The themes of the
Book of Ezra and Nehemiah
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is God's providence,
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His faithfulness, His
covenant to His people
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who had broken that covenant,
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who had turned their back on Him
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because of them
breaking that covenant,
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because of them
following after other gods,
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engaging in intermarriage
with other nations,
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because of that, they
were taken into captivity,
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but yet God restored and renewed
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that covenant with His people.
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We see in the books
of Ezra and Nehemiah,
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we call it the second Exodus.
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Remember the first Exodus
was when they were in bondage,
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in captivity in
the land of Egypt,
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and then God delivered
His people by a mighty hand.
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And then this is
the second return
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from captivity or from exile.
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That would be from
that Babylonian captivity.
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We see in Ezra and
Nehemiah, the reconstruction.
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Ezra was involved
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in the
reconstruction of the temple
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and, of course, Nehemiah
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in the
reconstruction of the walls.
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We see revival and reformation
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and a purification of the people
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and a desire to come back,
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to return to God again.
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We see opposition
both from within the ranks,
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from fellow Jews,
from fellow church members.
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And we see opposition
from outside those ranks.
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And we especially see leadership
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exemplified both in the
books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
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Our opening scripture
is our theme scripture.
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And then we're going to
pray. This is in Ezra Chapter 8.
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And you might think
this is an unusual scripture,
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but we're going
to read Ezra 8:15,
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and then a little
bit into the message.
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You'll see why I
chose this scripture.
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"Now I gathered them
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by the river
that flows to Ahava,
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and we camped there three days.
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And I looked among the people
and the priests and found,"
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what's that word?
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"None of the
sons of Levi there."
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Where are the Levites?
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Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
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And I ask right
now that Your Word,
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which is already anointed,
which is already alive,
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that You would speak to us
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by the power of
Your Holy Spirit.
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And, Father, show us,
show me the areas in my life
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that You want me
to grow and change.
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Thank you for
the convicting power
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of Your Holy Spirit.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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When I was
little girl growing up,
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probably at
least to the age of 12,
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my mom and dad and sister,
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we always lived
away from family.
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My dad was a
teacher for the denomination
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for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and he taught
many different places,
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Texas, Maryland,
Michigan, Illinois,
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and all of our family was
all back in Massachusetts.
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And so I remember my
entire growing up years
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being separated from
the rest of my family.
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We were very close.
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My mom has a twin sister
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and we were very
close to her kids.
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So we considered them
like brothers, my sister and I,
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and there were two
male cousins actually,
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but we considered them,
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we had a brother
sister relationship.
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And back in those
days, I'm not sure why,
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whether it was a
money factor or what,
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but we didn't
really talk on the phone.
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Instead we sent old
fashioned cassette tapes.
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So I would put the
tape recorder, press play.
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And I would talk to
my brothers, my cousins.
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This is what we did today
and this is what's happening
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and this is what
I learned in school.
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And this is what I played.
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This is from the age of
two, three, four, five, six,
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all those growing up years.
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Why?
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Because we were
separated from them.
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And then pretty
soon a week would go by.
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And then I would get a
cassette tape in the mail
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and we would put it
on and we would play.
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And we would receive the update
of what our cousins were doing.
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And it seemed like
they were so far away.
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And I remember every
summer we got to go home.
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We got to go
back to Massachusetts
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and we would
spend a couple of weeks
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at our cousin's house.
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And I remember being so excited.
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Pretty soon we get to see them.
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Pretty soon, we'll be back.
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I imagine that's
a very small taste
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of what the Jewish people
felt when they were ripped
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and taken by force
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from their
homeland there in Jerusalem.
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This would have been 605 BC.
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Remember Daniel
and his three friends
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were all taken
captive and taken to Babylon.
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It was an incredible experience
that journey across the desert.
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Thousands of Jews captured.
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The temple was ransacked.
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The gold and silver vessels
from the temple were stolen
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and the people
left their homeland.
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They left their communities.
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They left their jobs and
they were forced as slaves
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as it were
captives in a strange land.
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But not just a strange
land, it was a land of idolatry,
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a heathen country.
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Now they were in there 70 years,
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they were there in captivity.
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They died there in captivity.
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At the end of those 70 years,
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this is where we see
in Ezra and Nehemiah.
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We see that first return,
that call under King Cyrus,
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and they had the
opportunity and the privilege
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to return back
to their homeland.
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The Prophet Jeremiah,
while they were in captivity.
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Let's jump over there.
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Jeremiah Chapter 29.
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I love this passage.
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Remember Jeremiah
would have been a prophet
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right at that time when
Daniel was taken captive,
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he would have been a prophet,
he was not taken to Babylon,
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but he was a
prophet during that time.
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And he had this counsel
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as it were for
the Jewish people.
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This is Jeremiah 29:5.
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He says, "Build
houses and dwell on them."
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This is for those people
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who are carried
captive to Babylon.
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"Take wives and
beget sons and daughters,
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take wives for your sons
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and give your
daughters to husbands."
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Verse 7, "Seek
the peace of the city,
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where I have caused you
to be carried away captive,
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and pray to the Lord for it.
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For in its peace,
you will have peace."
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And then it goes
on about 70 years,
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this captivity will be,
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and then you will
be released again.
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So during this time
they truly did settle down
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and plant vineyards
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and took themselves husbands
and wives and had children.
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And they had a prosperous
life there as captives
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in the land of Babylon.
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But when this call
went forth under King Cyrus
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for the people,
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they could return
back to their homeland.
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Fifty thousand of
them chose to go back,
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but they all didn't choose.
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They all did
not want to go back.
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Some of them were
settled in Babylon
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and some of them
chose to remain there.
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Eighty years went by,
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we go all the
way down to 457 BC.
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And now this is
the time of Ezra.
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And there is a second return,
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a second call for God's people
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to leave Babylonian captivity
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and to return
back to their homeland.
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Now, all of these people
had been born in captivity.
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All of these people
were raised in Babylon.
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All of these people
were used to Babylon.
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And to be honest,
they probably had adopted
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some of the Babylonian customs.
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This return of Ezra,
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there was probably 5
or 6,000 people in total
00:10:27.42\00:10:29.82
that returned.
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And we see this.
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This is where we
get to our passage.
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We see this.
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In Ezra 7, we see
Ezra being called to return
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and go back and to
lead the people back.
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And in Ezra 8,
00:10:40.70\00:10:42.04
we see this
amazing list of people
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who were going
back to Jerusalem.
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This is, of
course, the second return.
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Everyone on the list,
if you read Ezra Chapter 8,
00:10:51.48\00:10:54.22
everyone on the list,
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except for one
person is connected
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somehow to the
first return of exiles.
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They connected to those people
00:11:01.79\00:11:03.12
who had
returned 80 years before.
00:11:03.16\00:11:05.79
So these would
be kids, grandkids,
00:11:05.83\00:11:08.43
great grandkids who had,
00:11:08.46\00:11:10.57
they're related to
people who had returned before.
00:11:10.60\00:11:13.84
This means that
the original call,
00:11:13.87\00:11:15.97
the one with 50,000
people went back to Jerusalem.
00:11:16.00\00:11:19.74
It had a mixed response,
00:11:19.77\00:11:21.51
dividing families
right down the middle.
00:11:21.54\00:11:24.31
Some chose to go
back to Jerusalem,
00:11:24.35\00:11:26.41
some chose to remain in Babylon.
00:11:26.45\00:11:29.58
To me, it shows two things.
00:11:29.62\00:11:30.95
Number one, the
spiritual indifference
00:11:30.99\00:11:33.39
of those who were in
a comfortable lifestyle
00:11:33.42\00:11:36.29
in Babylon.
00:11:36.32\00:11:37.66
They had kind of settled
down and taken up residence.
00:11:37.69\00:11:41.73
Number two, it
really demonstrates
00:11:41.76\00:11:43.87
the faith and
commitment of those people
00:11:43.90\00:11:47.14
who had made a choice to return,
00:11:47.17\00:11:50.01
to leave behind
everything that they knew
00:11:50.04\00:11:52.77
and to return
back to their homeland.
00:11:52.81\00:11:55.64
If you read Ezra Chapter
8, you see this list of...
00:11:55.68\00:11:58.88
There's kind of an
order to the list of names.
00:11:58.91\00:12:02.62
In Ezra 8: 2,
00:12:02.65\00:12:06.09
this is Ezra 8:2.
00:12:06.12\00:12:08.22
We see that some of
the priests returned.
00:12:08.26\00:12:12.03
In Ezra 8:2, it says,
00:12:12.06\00:12:13.50
"Of the sons of
Phinehas, Gershom,
00:12:13.53\00:12:15.36
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel."
00:12:15.40\00:12:18.33
Now Phinehas was
Aaron's grandson.
00:12:18.37\00:12:20.27
We are many
decades and centuries
00:12:20.30\00:12:22.57
removed from Aaron,
00:12:22.60\00:12:23.97
but it would have
been a descendant of Aaron.
00:12:24.01\00:12:27.58
And Ithamar was
actually the son of Aaron.
00:12:27.61\00:12:30.21
So another words,
this second return,
00:12:30.25\00:12:32.88
this is when Ezra made the call
00:12:32.91\00:12:34.85
and these people went back
to their homeland to Jerusalem.
00:12:34.88\00:12:39.89
Some of the
priests, descendants of Aaron
00:12:39.92\00:12:42.89
decided that they
wanted to go back.
00:12:42.92\00:12:45.63
Then we see if you keep
reading that verse Ezra 8:2,
00:12:45.66\00:12:48.46
it says, "Of the
sons of David, Hattush."
00:12:48.50\00:12:51.40
And then it goes on.
00:12:51.43\00:12:52.77
So we see there are some
of royal lineage or blood.
00:12:52.80\00:12:56.64
Some of the sons
of the house of David
00:12:56.67\00:12:59.61
decided to go back as well.
00:12:59.64\00:13:02.04
So Ezra starts with the priest,
the priests are going back.
00:13:02.08\00:13:04.81
Then he switches
and he says, okay,
00:13:04.85\00:13:07.02
there's some of the royal house
of David who are going back.
00:13:07.05\00:13:10.39
And then the rest
of the list of names
00:13:10.42\00:13:12.35
are all ordinary
laypeople, you could say.
00:13:12.39\00:13:16.22
It was probably 1500
men who chose to go back.
00:13:16.26\00:13:19.79
It adds up to maybe 5 or 6,000
00:13:19.83\00:13:22.06
if you include the
woman and the children.
00:13:22.10\00:13:24.43
But our pivotal
verse is verse 15,
00:13:24.47\00:13:26.70
which we read before.
00:13:26.74\00:13:28.07
And I wanna read it now.
00:13:28.10\00:13:29.44
Now, remember we
already established
00:13:29.47\00:13:30.81
that the
priests were going back.
00:13:30.84\00:13:32.54
Some of the royal
blood of the house of David
00:13:32.57\00:13:35.61
were going back,
00:13:35.64\00:13:36.98
and the ordinary
laypeople were going back,
00:13:37.01\00:13:39.51
but there was one
group who was not going back.
00:13:39.55\00:13:44.35
This is in the second return.
00:13:44.39\00:13:45.72
We're in Ezra 8:15.
00:13:45.75\00:13:48.46
Now I gathered them.
00:13:48.49\00:13:49.82
This is Ezra,
gathered all these people
00:13:49.86\00:13:51.79
who are going back by the
river that flows to Ahava.
00:13:51.83\00:13:55.30
And we camped there three days.
00:13:55.33\00:13:57.73
And I looked among
the people and the priests
00:13:57.77\00:14:00.70
and found none of
the sons of Levi there.
00:14:00.74\00:14:05.21
So my question to you
is where are the Levites?
00:14:05.24\00:14:10.68
Before we unpack that,
00:14:10.71\00:14:12.58
we're gonna talk
about the seven pitfalls
00:14:12.61\00:14:15.02
or dangers for leaders.
00:14:15.05\00:14:16.82
Let's just talk
about the difference
00:14:16.85\00:14:18.19
between priests and Levites
00:14:18.22\00:14:19.55
'cause you might be saying,
00:14:19.59\00:14:20.92
but I thought
priests were Levites.
00:14:20.96\00:14:22.66
And I don't
really understand that.
00:14:22.69\00:14:24.93
So all priests
were to be Levites.
00:14:24.96\00:14:27.23
So if you were a
priest, you had to be a Levi,
00:14:27.26\00:14:30.77
but not all
Levites were priests.
00:14:30.80\00:14:34.54
Let me say that again.
00:14:34.57\00:14:35.90
All priests were to be Levites,
00:14:35.94\00:14:37.74
but not all
Levites were priests.
00:14:37.77\00:14:40.88
The Levitical priests
were given the privilege
00:14:40.91\00:14:43.65
of doing service
in the tabernacle.
00:14:43.68\00:14:45.78
They served as judges.
00:14:45.81\00:14:47.65
You can read that
in Deuteronomy 17.
00:14:47.68\00:14:50.05
They served as
teachers of God's law.
00:14:50.09\00:14:52.12
You can read that
in Deuteronomy 33.
00:14:52.15\00:14:55.09
Some of the more
well-known Levitical priests
00:14:55.12\00:14:58.13
would have been Aaron.
00:14:58.16\00:14:59.56
He was a Levite,
but he was a priest.
00:14:59.59\00:15:02.13
Would have been
Ezra, he was a Levite,
00:15:02.16\00:15:04.77
but he was a priest.
00:15:04.80\00:15:06.20
Would have been
Eli, he was a Levite,
00:15:06.23\00:15:08.87
but he was a priest.
00:15:08.90\00:15:10.37
And the New
Testament, Zachariah.
00:15:10.41\00:15:12.84
Remember, the
father of John the Baptist,
00:15:12.87\00:15:15.34
the forerunner of the Messiah.
00:15:15.38\00:15:17.08
He was a Levite, but
he was also a priest.
00:15:17.11\00:15:20.95
Now there were certain
Levites who were not priests,
00:15:20.98\00:15:25.85
the non-priestly Levites,
00:15:25.89\00:15:28.66
the Levites who were not priests
00:15:28.69\00:15:30.43
were involved in
taking care of the tabernacle
00:15:30.46\00:15:33.36
and its furnishings.
00:15:33.40\00:15:35.06
You can read about
their duties in Numbers 3,
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.57
if you wanna look it up later.
00:15:37.60\00:15:40.17
None of the sons of Levi,
00:15:40.20\00:15:42.37
none of the ordinary
Levites wanted to return.
00:15:42.40\00:15:47.61
In addition, none
of the temple servants
00:15:47.64\00:15:51.38
wanted to return either.
00:15:51.41\00:15:53.92
The temple servants
were specifically involved
00:15:53.95\00:15:56.32
in the care of the furnishings
for the tabernacle service.
00:15:56.35\00:16:00.82
So what is the danger
of the Levite mentality?
00:16:00.86\00:16:05.26
This is pitfalls or
dangers for leaders.
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.56
Now, you know I like lists,
00:16:08.60\00:16:09.96
so we're going
to talk about seven.
00:16:10.00\00:16:11.57
Seven pitfalls or seven dangers
that we have for leaders.
00:16:11.60\00:16:16.44
And this could be any one of us,
00:16:16.47\00:16:18.74
'cause we all have
influence on someone else.
00:16:18.77\00:16:21.58
I'm gonna give you the
seven and then we'll go back
00:16:21.61\00:16:23.41
and unpack them.
00:16:23.45\00:16:24.78
Danger number one,
the danger of comfort.
00:16:24.81\00:16:28.95
Number two, the
danger of tradition.
00:16:28.98\00:16:32.35
Number three, the
danger of complacency
00:16:32.39\00:16:35.52
and the fear of hardship.
00:16:35.56\00:16:37.96
Number four, the danger
of avoiding responsibility.
00:16:37.99\00:16:43.10
Number five, the danger
of feeling insignificant.
00:16:43.13\00:16:48.44
Number six, the
danger of family ties.
00:16:48.47\00:16:53.04
And number seven, the
danger of the unknown.
00:16:53.07\00:16:57.81
So let's unpack them.
00:16:57.85\00:16:59.18
The dangers of what I
call the Levite mentality.
00:16:59.21\00:17:01.95
Danger number one,
the danger of comfort.
00:17:01.98\00:17:04.05
Babylon was very
comfortable and safe.
00:17:04.09\00:17:07.36
Remember these Levites
had grown up in Babylon
00:17:07.39\00:17:10.29
and their parents
and grandparents had,
00:17:10.33\00:17:11.96
they'd been in
Babylon for years.
00:17:11.99\00:17:14.50
It was comfortable. It was safe.
00:17:14.53\00:17:16.56
It was all they knew.
00:17:16.60\00:17:18.57
It is very dangerous
00:17:18.60\00:17:20.54
when you and I
become comfortable
00:17:20.57\00:17:23.41
where we are serving the Lord.
00:17:23.44\00:17:26.34
Turn with me to Zephaniah 1:12.
00:17:26.37\00:17:31.18
"And it shall come
to pass at that time,
00:17:31.21\00:17:33.72
that I won't search
Jerusalem with lamps
00:17:33.75\00:17:37.09
and punish the men
00:17:37.12\00:17:39.02
who are settled
in their complacency,
00:17:39.05\00:17:43.83
who say in their heart,
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.36
'The Lord will not do
good, nor will he do evil.'"
00:17:45.39\00:17:49.43
What does that saying?
00:17:49.46\00:17:50.80
Complacency, the
danger of comfort complacency
00:17:50.83\00:17:54.74
will be punished.
00:17:54.77\00:17:56.40
Luke 12. Let's look to Luke 12.
00:17:56.44\00:17:59.31
This is, of course, one
of the parables of Jesus.
00:17:59.34\00:18:02.04
And we see complacency,
not just in the Old Testament,
00:18:02.08\00:18:05.21
but we also see it in
the New Testament too.
00:18:05.25\00:18:07.82
Let's look at Luke Chapter 12.
00:18:07.85\00:18:10.69
We're gonna pick it
up. I think in verse 13.
00:18:10.72\00:18:14.82
Most of the parables of Jesus,
00:18:14.86\00:18:16.36
when you read the parables
00:18:16.39\00:18:17.73
in Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John,
00:18:17.76\00:18:19.09
they answer a question and
they deal with an attitude.
00:18:19.13\00:18:22.80
The attitude in this
parable is covetousness,
00:18:22.83\00:18:26.17
but not only that,
it's the danger of comfort
00:18:26.20\00:18:31.01
as we'll see in this parable.
00:18:31.04\00:18:32.81
So we pick it up in Luke 12:13,
00:18:32.84\00:18:35.14
"One from the crowd said to Him,
00:18:35.18\00:18:37.15
'Teacher, tell
my brother to divide
00:18:37.18\00:18:40.68
the inheritance with me.'"
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.05
Now it's interesting.
00:18:42.08\00:18:43.42
He says, teacher
tell my brother to divide
00:18:43.45\00:18:45.62
the inheritance with me.
00:18:45.65\00:18:46.99
He didn't want a teacher.
00:18:47.02\00:18:48.36
He wanted a judge
00:18:48.39\00:18:49.72
to judge between the
financial responsibilities
00:18:49.76\00:18:53.56
of his inheritance.
00:18:53.60\00:18:55.36
"But He said,
that's Jesus said to him,
00:18:55.40\00:18:57.40
'Man, who made Me a judge
or an arbitrator over you?'
00:18:57.43\00:19:02.27
And He said to them,
00:19:02.30\00:19:04.01
'Take heed and
beware of covetousness.'"
00:19:04.04\00:19:08.14
That word
covetousness in the Greek
00:19:08.18\00:19:09.84
is a greedy desire for more.
00:19:09.88\00:19:12.61
Beware of a
greedy desire for more.
00:19:12.65\00:19:15.48
"For one's life does not consist
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.89
in the abundance of the
things that he possesses.
00:19:17.92\00:19:21.36
Then He, that's Jesus,
spoke a parable to them saying,
00:19:21.39\00:19:24.96
'The ground of
a certain rich man
00:19:24.99\00:19:26.49
yielded plentifully.
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.26
And he thought
within himself saying,
00:19:28.30\00:19:30.30
'What shall I do since I have
no room to store these crops?'"
00:19:30.33\00:19:33.40
So he had a good
crop. He had a good year.
00:19:33.44\00:19:34.94
He was a farmer.
00:19:34.97\00:19:36.30
It was an incredible crop.
00:19:36.34\00:19:37.67
And he thought
what am I going to do?
00:19:37.71\00:19:39.17
I have an overabundance.
00:19:39.21\00:19:41.98
What do I do
with my overabundance?
00:19:42.01\00:19:44.61
"And I will say to my soul,
00:19:44.65\00:19:46.35
'Soul, you have many
goods laid up for many years,
00:19:46.38\00:19:50.25
take your ease, eat,
drink, and be merry.'
00:19:50.29\00:19:53.02
But God said to him,
00:19:53.05\00:19:54.72
'Fool, this night, your
soul shall be required."
00:19:54.76\00:19:59.69
That word in Greek
means asked back, demanded.
00:19:59.73\00:20:03.50
"Then whose
will these things be,
00:20:03.53\00:20:07.17
which you have provided?
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.50
So is he who lays
up treasure for himself
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.17
and is not rich toward God."
00:20:12.21\00:20:14.84
So this man was wealthy.
00:20:14.88\00:20:16.41
He had a fabulous
harvest and he said,
00:20:16.44\00:20:18.41
"Okay, this is great.
00:20:18.45\00:20:20.95
I want this for myself.
00:20:20.98\00:20:22.88
I'm gonna tear down
these barns and build bigger.
00:20:22.92\00:20:25.12
And I'm going to
relax the danger of comfort.
00:20:25.15\00:20:29.82
I'm going to sit down
the danger of comfort.
00:20:29.86\00:20:34.06
I'm not going to worry
about even having to farm,"
00:20:34.10\00:20:37.37
the danger of comfort.
00:20:37.40\00:20:41.57
You know, I wish I could
say this was a long time ago,
00:20:41.60\00:20:44.54
but it actually
just happened this week.
00:20:44.57\00:20:48.64
There was a
decision that we were facing
00:20:48.68\00:20:50.31
here at the ministry of 3ABN
00:20:50.35\00:20:52.61
and the direction
that we were talking
00:20:52.65\00:20:56.89
about going bothered me,
00:20:56.92\00:20:59.12
and I didn't know
why it bothered me.
00:20:59.15\00:21:01.12
And so I took it back to
God and I prayed about it.
00:21:01.16\00:21:03.83
And I said, "Why am I bothered?
00:21:03.86\00:21:05.96
Why am I
unsettled in my spirit?"
00:21:05.99\00:21:10.93
And as I prayed about it,
00:21:10.97\00:21:12.30
I realized that the direction
00:21:12.33\00:21:13.94
that we were leaning
toward going for the ministry
00:21:13.97\00:21:16.30
was a good thing.
00:21:16.34\00:21:17.67
It was needful for ministry.
00:21:17.71\00:21:19.81
It was helpful.
00:21:19.84\00:21:21.64
You know why I
didn't want to do it.
00:21:21.68\00:21:23.45
You know, why I felt
unsettled in my spirit?
00:21:23.48\00:21:28.08
It was because it caused change,
00:21:28.12\00:21:29.65
because I was comfortable,
00:21:29.68\00:21:32.35
because I didn't want to
step out of my happy place,
00:21:32.39\00:21:37.66
my comfortable place,
00:21:37.69\00:21:39.66
and step into something
00:21:39.69\00:21:41.03
that God was
actually calling us to do.
00:21:41.06\00:21:44.60
Never make decisions
based on what feels good,
00:21:44.63\00:21:48.97
based on your own comfort,
00:21:49.00\00:21:51.87
base them on principles
found in the Word of God.
00:21:51.91\00:21:56.01
If you are a leader, I
wanna talk to you right now,
00:21:56.04\00:21:58.28
do not make decisions
based on your own comfort.
00:21:58.31\00:22:04.09
Danger number two,
the danger of tradition.
00:22:04.12\00:22:07.99
The Levites had
only known Babylon.
00:22:08.02\00:22:11.69
They had been born
there, bred there, raised there.
00:22:11.73\00:22:14.80
It was the only thing
that they had ever known.
00:22:14.83\00:22:18.13
It is dangerous
when we serve the Lord
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.50
because our parents did
00:22:21.54\00:22:23.00
or because somehow it is
what we have always done,
00:22:23.04\00:22:27.84
it's dangerous.
00:22:27.88\00:22:29.21
Colossians 2:8 says,
"Beware, lest anyone cheat you
00:22:29.24\00:22:33.21
through
philosophy and empty deceit,
00:22:33.25\00:22:36.05
according to the
traditions of men,
00:22:36.08\00:22:38.69
according to
the basic principles
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.86
of the world
00:22:40.89\00:22:42.22
and not according to Christ."
00:22:42.26\00:22:44.59
What is Paul saying here?
00:22:44.63\00:22:46.03
It is dangerous
when you and I do things
00:22:46.06\00:22:49.20
because mama did
it, or daddy did it,
00:22:49.23\00:22:52.17
or that's the way
we were always taught.
00:22:52.20\00:22:55.04
The church I grew up
in, that's what they taught.
00:22:55.07\00:22:57.34
That's why I do
things the way I do.
00:22:57.37\00:22:59.61
The place, my
environment as a child,
00:22:59.64\00:23:02.78
that's what they always did.
00:23:02.81\00:23:04.18
That's why I do
things the way that I do.
00:23:04.21\00:23:07.22
It's dangerous if we
don't base everything
00:23:07.25\00:23:10.45
on the Word of God.
00:23:10.49\00:23:12.35
Joshua 24:15, I
love this promise.
00:23:12.39\00:23:16.06
Joshua 24:15.
00:23:16.09\00:23:18.06
This is Joshua speaking
to the children of Israel.
00:23:18.09\00:23:22.53
They have crossed the Red Sea.
00:23:22.56\00:23:23.97
They have spent their
40 years in the wilderness.
00:23:24.00\00:23:27.47
They have entered
the Promised Land,
00:23:27.50\00:23:30.04
and he's giving a
challenge to the people.
00:23:30.07\00:23:33.11
"If it seems evil for
you to serve the Lord,
00:23:33.14\00:23:36.28
choose for yourselves this day,
00:23:36.31\00:23:39.05
whom you will serve,
00:23:39.08\00:23:40.92
whether the gods
which your fathers served,
00:23:40.95\00:23:43.39
that were on the
other side of the river
00:23:43.42\00:23:45.32
or the gods of the Amorites
00:23:45.35\00:23:48.22
in whose land you dwell.
00:23:48.26\00:23:51.39
But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord."
00:23:51.43\00:23:55.80
Now it's the challenge,
00:23:55.83\00:23:57.17
of course, to the
children of Israel.
00:23:57.20\00:23:58.53
And I hear that challenge
echo down through the centuries.
00:23:58.57\00:24:01.64
To you and I today,
it is a challenge to us,
00:24:01.67\00:24:04.11
but it's interesting to me.
00:24:04.14\00:24:05.47
He says, please choose Jesus,
00:24:05.51\00:24:07.94
make a choice to serve the Lord.
00:24:07.98\00:24:10.81
But in addition to that,
00:24:10.85\00:24:12.91
he kind of throws out two things
00:24:12.95\00:24:14.68
that we often
serve instead of God.
00:24:14.72\00:24:18.42
The first is he said,
00:24:18.45\00:24:19.79
are you gonna serve the
gods which your fathers served?
00:24:19.82\00:24:22.92
Now that's little
g, not God in heaven,
00:24:22.96\00:24:25.59
but the idols that
their father served,
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.93
the false pagan gods
that their fathers served.
00:24:27.96\00:24:31.90
Those are what I call
the gods of tradition.
00:24:31.93\00:24:34.60
Are you going to do it
00:24:34.64\00:24:35.97
because it's the
way you were raised?
00:24:36.00\00:24:37.44
Are you gonna do it
00:24:37.47\00:24:38.81
because it's the
way we always did it.
00:24:38.84\00:24:41.71
And sometimes I
fall into that trap.
00:24:41.74\00:24:43.45
Well, I don't know why we do it,
00:24:43.48\00:24:44.81
but we always do it that way.
00:24:44.85\00:24:46.18
Well, I don't know
why we make that decision,
00:24:46.21\00:24:47.78
but it's the way that
decision has always been done.
00:24:47.82\00:24:50.22
The danger of tradition
00:24:50.25\00:24:52.95
of making decisions
based on past tradition,
00:24:52.99\00:24:58.39
but that's not the only God
00:24:58.43\00:24:59.76
that Joshua
challenged them to beware of,
00:24:59.79\00:25:01.96
not just the god of tradition
00:25:02.00\00:25:03.47
or the god that
their father served,
00:25:03.50\00:25:05.20
but he also says, or
the gods of the Amorites
00:25:05.23\00:25:08.47
in whose land you dwell.
00:25:08.50\00:25:11.27
I look at that as the
gods of our acquaintances,
00:25:11.31\00:25:14.14
the gods of our friends.
00:25:14.18\00:25:15.58
You see, we can grow up
00:25:15.61\00:25:17.21
and maybe make
a decision for God
00:25:17.25\00:25:19.31
and put the past
00:25:19.35\00:25:20.68
or those traditions in the past,
00:25:20.72\00:25:22.35
if they were ungodly,
we can put them behind us.
00:25:22.38\00:25:24.89
But then we are influenced
00:25:24.92\00:25:27.49
by the people we associate with.
00:25:27.52\00:25:29.12
We are influenced by
friends and neighbors
00:25:29.16\00:25:31.79
and coworkers and acquaintances.
00:25:31.83\00:25:33.80
So Joshua was
telling the people,
00:25:33.83\00:25:35.16
don't be influenced by the past
00:25:35.20\00:25:37.60
or what you have always done.
00:25:37.63\00:25:39.73
Don't be
influenced by the present
00:25:39.77\00:25:42.57
and those who surround you.
00:25:42.60\00:25:46.01
Make a choice, choose the
Lord, study your decisions.
00:25:46.04\00:25:51.91
Are they based on others?
00:25:51.95\00:25:53.28
Are they based on traditions?
00:25:53.31\00:25:54.65
Or they based on the Word of God
00:25:54.68\00:25:56.52
and on principle?
00:25:56.55\00:25:58.65
So the first danger
or pitfall for leaders
00:25:58.69\00:26:01.32
is the danger of comfort.
00:26:01.36\00:26:02.86
The second danger is
the danger of tradition.
00:26:02.89\00:26:05.19
The third danger,
00:26:05.23\00:26:06.56
the danger of complacency
or the fear of hardship.
00:26:06.59\00:26:12.97
You see the journey to Judah.
00:26:13.00\00:26:14.77
It was long and
it was difficult.
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.30
In fact, if you
look at Ezra Chapter 7,
00:26:16.34\00:26:18.84
Ezra delineates that
he left on the first day
00:26:18.87\00:26:21.84
of the first
month of a certain year,
00:26:21.88\00:26:24.25
and he got to Jerusalem
00:26:24.28\00:26:27.08
on the first day
00:26:27.12\00:26:28.45
of the fifth
month of the same year.
00:26:28.48\00:26:31.05
That means the
journey was four months long.
00:26:31.09\00:26:34.29
He started, we
would say January 1st
00:26:34.32\00:26:36.32
and he arrived in Jerusalem,
00:26:36.36\00:26:37.96
we would say May 1st,
that is a long journey.
00:26:37.99\00:26:41.83
And it was arduous, and
it was across the desert.
00:26:41.86\00:26:47.70
It was dangerous.
00:26:47.74\00:26:49.07
It is dangerous when we
refuse to serve the Lord
00:26:49.10\00:26:53.54
because of our unwillingness
to encounter hardship.
00:26:53.58\00:26:58.78
Have you ever made a
decision and went this way?
00:26:58.81\00:27:03.32
Because this way
over here looked hard,
00:27:03.35\00:27:05.45
it looked difficult.
00:27:05.49\00:27:07.02
It looked maybe like
00:27:07.06\00:27:08.59
something you did
not want to encounter.
00:27:08.62\00:27:10.99
Paul talking to
his son in the faith.
00:27:11.03\00:27:12.89
I love 1 and 2 Timothy and
talking to his son Timothy,
00:27:12.93\00:27:17.93
of course, this
is not biological,
00:27:17.97\00:27:19.73
but he had mentored Timothy.
00:27:19.77\00:27:21.57
And now of
course, Paul is in prison
00:27:21.60\00:27:23.54
right at the end of his life.
00:27:23.57\00:27:25.97
And he gives counsel to Timothy.
00:27:26.01\00:27:28.08
2 Timothy 2:3,
00:27:28.11\00:27:31.25
"You therefore
must endure a hardship
00:27:31.28\00:27:33.98
as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ."
00:27:34.02\00:27:36.42
Did you catch that?
00:27:36.45\00:27:37.79
You and I are in a
warfare, we are in a battle.
00:27:37.82\00:27:39.99
We are called to be
soldiers of Jesus Christ.
00:27:40.02\00:27:44.86
Endure hardship, not okay,
it's gonna be a life of roses.
00:27:44.89\00:27:49.33
It's gonna be easy.
It's gonna be painless.
00:27:49.36\00:27:52.93
No.
00:27:52.97\00:27:54.30
Endure hardship
00:27:54.34\00:27:56.60
as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
00:27:56.64\00:27:59.24
The danger of
the fear of hardship.
00:27:59.27\00:28:01.61
Have you ever made a decision
00:28:01.64\00:28:04.15
because the right
decision was too hard?
00:28:04.18\00:28:07.68
And so you took
the wrong decision.
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.85
I think of Ruth and
Orpah, remember them.
00:28:09.88\00:28:12.45
They were
daughters-in-law of Naomi.
00:28:12.49\00:28:15.16
Now, Naomi and her
husband and two sons
00:28:15.19\00:28:17.79
had left Bethlehem.
00:28:17.83\00:28:20.33
It was a time of famine
00:28:20.36\00:28:22.23
and they felt like
00:28:22.26\00:28:23.60
maybe God had
deserted the Israelites.
00:28:23.63\00:28:25.50
I don't know what they
felt, but they left Bethlehem.
00:28:25.53\00:28:28.27
And they went to
the land of Moab.
00:28:28.30\00:28:30.67
And when they got to Moab,
it was not a life of roses.
00:28:30.71\00:28:33.34
It might have
initially started out good.
00:28:33.38\00:28:35.91
Her two sons got
married, Ruth and Orpah.
00:28:35.94\00:28:38.61
They took Moabites
woman and they lived happily.
00:28:38.65\00:28:42.45
And then all of a
sudden Naomi's husband died.
00:28:42.48\00:28:45.25
And then Naomi's two sons died
and they were left destitute,
00:28:45.29\00:28:50.83
penniless widows.
00:28:50.86\00:28:52.86
Now in their
society and their culture
00:28:52.89\00:28:56.26
being a widow as a
woman was a lot worse
00:28:56.30\00:28:59.40
even than it would be
being a widow as a woman today.
00:28:59.43\00:29:02.37
They weren't
allowed to own property.
00:29:02.40\00:29:04.01
They weren't allowed to
do that, buying and selling.
00:29:04.04\00:29:06.57
They weren't allowed to
speak up for themselves.
00:29:06.61\00:29:09.01
And so, Naomi decided
00:29:09.04\00:29:11.51
she's going to
return to her homeland.
00:29:11.55\00:29:14.38
She's going back
to the land of Israel.
00:29:14.42\00:29:16.48
And Ruth and Orpah
started the journey with her.
00:29:16.52\00:29:19.45
And then what happened?
00:29:19.49\00:29:20.82
She says, "Please go back.
00:29:20.86\00:29:22.19
There's nothing for you.
00:29:22.22\00:29:23.56
I can't provide for you.
00:29:23.59\00:29:25.19
I don't have finances for you.
00:29:25.23\00:29:27.06
I don't have another
child for you to marry.
00:29:27.10\00:29:30.27
Please go back to your home."
00:29:30.30\00:29:33.03
Orpah went home,
00:29:33.07\00:29:34.40
but Ruth said this
incredible statement.
00:29:34.44\00:29:36.54
This is in Ruth 1:16 and 17.
00:29:36.57\00:29:40.98
Ruth said, "Entreat me,
00:29:41.01\00:29:42.54
she's talking to
her mother-in-law Naomi,
00:29:42.58\00:29:45.01
"and treat me not to leave you."
00:29:45.05\00:29:47.22
Don't make me leave you
00:29:47.25\00:29:49.78
or to turn back
from following after you.
00:29:49.82\00:29:53.49
"For ever you go, I will go.
00:29:53.52\00:29:56.83
And wherever you
lodge, I will lodge.
00:29:56.86\00:30:00.60
Your people shall be my
people and your God, my God,
00:30:00.63\00:30:05.83
where you die, I will die.
00:30:05.87\00:30:08.40
And there I will be buried.
00:30:08.44\00:30:11.21
The Lord do so
to me and more also,
00:30:11.24\00:30:14.41
if anything, but
death part you and me."
00:30:14.44\00:30:18.41
Now, this is an
incredible statement
00:30:18.45\00:30:21.12
of devotion of love.
00:30:21.15\00:30:23.28
A decision to follow
not only her mother-in-law
00:30:23.32\00:30:26.65
and take care of her,
00:30:26.69\00:30:28.02
but to follow her
mother-in-law's God.
00:30:28.06\00:30:30.49
She was choosing
our God as her God.
00:30:30.53\00:30:34.26
But what's interesting
to me in that passage,
00:30:34.30\00:30:36.20
and I never really
unpacked this before
00:30:36.23\00:30:38.33
or really
understood this before.
00:30:38.37\00:30:40.20
What's interesting to
me is that we always say,
00:30:40.24\00:30:42.90
God's the one who lives,
who is with us, do we not?
00:30:42.94\00:30:45.87
Hebrews 13, it says,
00:30:45.91\00:30:47.68
"I will never leave
you nor forsake you,
00:30:47.71\00:30:51.05
so that we may boldly say,
00:30:51.08\00:30:52.48
'The Lord is my helper,
what can man do unto me?'"
00:30:52.51\00:30:55.42
So we say, praise the
Lord, God is with us always.
00:30:55.45\00:30:58.62
I'm so grateful that
He's with us and He is.
00:30:58.65\00:31:01.59
We say, "Praise the Lord
that He will walk with us
00:31:01.62\00:31:04.76
through the valley and
through the dark times,"
00:31:04.79\00:31:06.80
and He does.
00:31:06.83\00:31:08.16
We say, "Praise God
that He will never leave us."
00:31:08.20\00:31:11.20
And He won't.
00:31:11.23\00:31:12.57
But in this case, it's
Ruth making that statement,
00:31:12.60\00:31:16.27
that what she is going to do.
00:31:16.30\00:31:18.51
To me, it's a
flip of the statement,
00:31:18.54\00:31:20.48
instead of God is
with me I'm so grateful.
00:31:20.51\00:31:22.81
He'll never leave
me. That's wonderful.
00:31:22.84\00:31:24.48
And that is true.
But Ruth says what?
00:31:24.51\00:31:26.98
I will follow you, God anywhere,
00:31:27.02\00:31:30.42
I will stay with
you, God, for always,
00:31:30.45\00:31:34.92
I will follow
you even unto death.
00:31:34.96\00:31:39.53
You know, there's a story told
of a man by the name of Garrow.
00:31:39.56\00:31:43.37
And he was in a
remote Indian village
00:31:43.40\00:31:46.70
with his wife
and a couple of kids
00:31:46.74\00:31:48.27
and some
missionaries were sent out
00:31:48.30\00:31:50.91
from the foreign mission field
sent to the country of India,
00:31:50.94\00:31:54.34
sent to teach the
people about Jesus.
00:31:54.38\00:31:57.38
And he came night by night,
00:31:57.41\00:32:00.15
listened to the meetings,
00:32:00.18\00:32:02.22
learned about
Jesus and was so excited.
00:32:02.25\00:32:07.72
Wow, I wanna follow this God.
00:32:07.76\00:32:10.36
He died for me. He loves me.
00:32:10.39\00:32:13.29
I'm going to become a Christian.
00:32:13.33\00:32:16.06
I'm going to give my
life in service to Him.
00:32:16.10\00:32:20.04
And so Garrow and his wife
00:32:20.07\00:32:22.87
and their two
children accepted Jesus.
00:32:22.90\00:32:26.91
Well, then, no
sooner does one of us,
00:32:26.94\00:32:30.55
any of us, except Jesus
then is born in our heart
00:32:30.58\00:32:34.15
a desire to share
Him with someone else.
00:32:34.18\00:32:36.79
Have you experienced that?
00:32:36.82\00:32:38.15
When we know Him,
when we've walked with Him,
00:32:38.19\00:32:41.42
when we've experienced
Him, what do we want?
00:32:41.46\00:32:44.59
We want to share
that with others.
00:32:44.63\00:32:47.86
In fact, that reminds me,
00:32:47.90\00:32:49.23
let's jump over there real fast.
00:32:49.26\00:32:51.07
2 Peter 2:9, but you are what?
00:32:51.10\00:32:53.84
A chosen generation,
00:32:53.87\00:32:56.14
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation.
00:32:56.17\00:32:59.87
I gave you the wrong reference.
00:32:59.91\00:33:01.24
It's actually 1 Peter 2:9,
00:33:01.28\00:33:05.31
His own special people, why?
00:33:05.35\00:33:08.05
Why are we
called? Why are we chosen?
00:33:08.08\00:33:10.15
Why are we His people?
00:33:10.19\00:33:12.45
That we may
proclaim the praises of Him
00:33:12.49\00:33:15.72
who called us out of darkness
into this marvelous light.
00:33:15.76\00:33:21.16
Who once were not a people.
00:33:21.20\00:33:23.53
You and I walked far from God.
00:33:23.57\00:33:25.47
I know I have, I
did my own thing.
00:33:25.50\00:33:29.20
I went my own way.
00:33:29.24\00:33:30.81
Who once were not a people,
00:33:30.84\00:33:32.44
but now are the people of God
00:33:32.47\00:33:35.01
who had not obtained mercy,
00:33:35.04\00:33:37.41
but now we have obtained mercy.
00:33:37.45\00:33:41.62
So we are called into
relationship with Him.
00:33:41.65\00:33:46.49
We are justified in the
process of being sanctified.
00:33:46.52\00:33:49.86
Why?
00:33:49.89\00:33:51.23
So that we can
proclaim His praises,
00:33:51.26\00:33:53.13
so that we can share
what He has done with us,
00:33:53.16\00:33:56.83
with someone else so
that we can be His witness.
00:33:56.87\00:34:01.57
So Garrow in
this Indian village,
00:34:01.60\00:34:03.51
he decided I want
to be His witness.
00:34:03.54\00:34:05.17
He had just accepted Jesus.
00:34:05.21\00:34:06.68
He's a brand new Christian.
His wife's a Christian.
00:34:06.71\00:34:09.61
His two kids are a Christian.
00:34:09.64\00:34:11.58
Now, what does he wanna do?
00:34:11.61\00:34:13.01
He wants to share
the love of Jesus,
00:34:13.05\00:34:15.98
the gospel, the Word of God,
00:34:16.02\00:34:18.65
with those
people in his village.
00:34:18.69\00:34:20.46
And so he started.
00:34:20.49\00:34:21.86
And so they
started to accept Jesus,
00:34:21.89\00:34:23.59
one villager after
another, after another.
00:34:23.63\00:34:26.93
And Christianity began
to spread in that village.
00:34:26.96\00:34:31.03
And the village
chief began to be upset.
00:34:31.07\00:34:34.84
He didn't like this very much.
00:34:34.87\00:34:36.27
He didn't want these people
00:34:36.30\00:34:37.94
leaving behind
those heathen customs
00:34:37.97\00:34:41.74
and accepting Jesus.
00:34:41.78\00:34:44.71
So he went to Garrow and
the whole family was there.
00:34:44.75\00:34:48.35
And he said,
"Renounce your faith in Jesus,
00:34:48.38\00:34:52.52
or I'm going to
kill your children."
00:34:52.55\00:34:56.46
And Garrow looked at
the chief and he said,
00:34:56.49\00:34:59.56
"I have decided
to follow Jesus."
00:34:59.59\00:35:02.96
Do you know that song?
00:35:03.00\00:35:04.33
This is the origin of that song.
00:35:04.37\00:35:06.03
I have decided to follow Jesus.
00:35:06.07\00:35:08.94
I have decided to follow Jesus,
00:35:08.97\00:35:12.24
no turning
back, no turning back.
00:35:12.27\00:35:16.34
And so the chief
killed both of his children.
00:35:16.38\00:35:22.12
And as they're
there on the floor,
00:35:22.15\00:35:24.15
the chief looked at
Garrow again and said,
00:35:24.19\00:35:26.09
okay, you know, I'm serious
'cause your children are dead.
00:35:26.12\00:35:30.19
'Renounce your faith in Jesus,
00:35:30.23\00:35:33.86
or I'm going to kill your wife."
00:35:33.90\00:35:37.70
And Garrow said,
00:35:37.73\00:35:39.07
"Though no one joins
me, still I will follow."
00:35:39.10\00:35:44.31
Though no one
joins me, I will follow.
00:35:44.34\00:35:47.58
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:35:47.61\00:35:50.35
And so the
chief killed the wife.
00:35:50.38\00:35:53.48
And then the chief
looked back again at Garrow
00:35:53.52\00:35:56.95
and said, "Your last
chance, I'm gonna kill you.
00:35:56.99\00:35:59.69
Renounce your faith in Jesus."
00:35:59.72\00:36:05.33
And Garrow said,
"The world behind me,
00:36:05.36\00:36:09.50
the cross before
me, no turning back,
00:36:09.53\00:36:14.70
no turning back."
00:36:14.74\00:36:16.50
And he was killed.
00:36:16.54\00:36:17.87
That is the origin of that song.
00:36:17.91\00:36:20.21
I have decided to follow Jesus.
00:36:20.24\00:36:23.01
But the incredible thing is
that the influence of Garrow
00:36:23.04\00:36:28.38
and his family
00:36:28.42\00:36:29.75
who made a
choice to follow Jesus,
00:36:29.78\00:36:32.29
even if it involved hardship,
even if it involved suffering,
00:36:32.32\00:36:35.99
even if it
involved death, they said,
00:36:36.02\00:36:39.33
I want to follow
You, God, regardless.
00:36:39.36\00:36:42.46
The chief accepted Jesus
00:36:42.50\00:36:45.13
and many other
people did as well.
00:36:45.17\00:36:48.00
We have the danger of comfort,
00:36:48.04\00:36:49.70
the danger of tradition,
00:36:49.74\00:36:52.17
the danger of complacency
and the fear of hardship.
00:36:52.21\00:36:56.68
Danger number four,
00:36:56.71\00:36:58.05
the danger of
avoiding responsibility.
00:36:58.08\00:37:02.18
The Levites, the
ones who had not chosen
00:37:02.22\00:37:05.02
to go back with Ezra,
00:37:05.05\00:37:06.99
they weren't serving
in the temple of Babylon.
00:37:07.02\00:37:10.19
Perhaps they didn't
want that responsibility.
00:37:10.23\00:37:13.53
If they went back with Ezra,
00:37:13.56\00:37:15.30
if they went back to
Jerusalem, what would happen?
00:37:15.33\00:37:18.27
They would go to work.
00:37:18.30\00:37:19.63
They would be put into
service there in the temple,
00:37:19.67\00:37:23.61
serving God.
00:37:23.64\00:37:25.27
It is dangerous
when we shirk a duty
00:37:25.31\00:37:28.74
that God has placed upon us.
00:37:28.78\00:37:32.21
I don't know what duty
God has put before you,
00:37:32.25\00:37:34.55
what command He's
put in your heart.
00:37:34.58\00:37:36.55
Maybe He said, I
want you to do this.
00:37:36.58\00:37:38.89
Maybe He's
saying, I want you to make
00:37:38.92\00:37:40.59
this decision for your
family, for your church,
00:37:40.62\00:37:43.53
for the organization
that you're a leader in.
00:37:43.56\00:37:46.49
It is dangerous if we
avoid the responsibility
00:37:46.53\00:37:50.53
that comes with the position
that God has placed us in.
00:37:50.57\00:37:54.77
This is Galatians 6.
00:37:54.80\00:37:56.27
Galatians 6:4-5.
00:37:56.30\00:37:58.31
This comes from the NIV
00:37:58.34\00:37:59.81
'cause I like the way
the translation is here.
00:37:59.84\00:38:03.28
Galatians 6:4-5,
00:38:03.31\00:38:05.15
"Each one should
test their own actions,
00:38:05.18\00:38:08.78
then they can take
pride in themselves alone
00:38:08.82\00:38:11.29
without comparing
themselves to someone else,
00:38:11.32\00:38:15.69
for each one should
carry," what's that word?
00:38:15.72\00:38:18.73
"Their own load."
00:38:18.76\00:38:21.23
We're not called to
depend on other people.
00:38:21.26\00:38:23.43
We're not called to say,
00:38:23.47\00:38:25.07
I don't really
like the responsibility
00:38:25.10\00:38:27.40
of my position
00:38:27.44\00:38:28.77
or what I'm supposed to do here.
00:38:28.80\00:38:30.47
I'm going to pass
that off on someone else.
00:38:30.51\00:38:34.04
No, each one should
carry their own load.
00:38:34.08\00:38:37.55
Meaning whatever
God has given you to do,
00:38:37.58\00:38:39.88
that is what you need to do.
00:38:39.91\00:38:41.38
That is what you
need to step up and say,
00:38:41.42\00:38:43.99
okay, God, I don't know
how, but I'm gonna do it.
00:38:44.02\00:38:47.79
You know, when I first stepped
into my position here at 3ABN,
00:38:47.82\00:38:52.93
Mollie had retired and
this was start of 2018.
00:38:52.96\00:38:57.90
Mollie had retired, and
I remember the first day
00:38:57.93\00:39:00.27
sitting behind her desk saying,
00:39:00.30\00:39:02.47
God, I have no
idea how to do this.
00:39:02.50\00:39:05.97
I don't know what to
say. I don't know what to do.
00:39:06.01\00:39:09.74
I don't know what
decisions to make.
00:39:09.78\00:39:13.31
And when the
decisions become hard
00:39:13.35\00:39:15.62
and things need to be said,
00:39:15.65\00:39:17.19
that need to be
said, God, I'm afraid.
00:39:17.22\00:39:19.85
God, I don't
know if I can do this.
00:39:19.89\00:39:22.82
And He said, my daughter,
I want you to look to me,
00:39:22.86\00:39:25.59
for I am your
source of strength.
00:39:25.63\00:39:28.43
I want you to
look to me for wisdom.
00:39:28.46\00:39:30.73
I want you to
look to me for peace.
00:39:30.77\00:39:32.97
I want you to look to me
any time you have a question.
00:39:33.00\00:39:37.51
What a gift to be able to depend
00:39:37.54\00:39:40.88
on our Father,
00:39:40.91\00:39:42.24
no matter what God
has called you to do,
00:39:42.28\00:39:44.65
you can choose to depend on Him.
00:39:44.68\00:39:46.51
You can go to Him in
your time of need and say,
00:39:46.55\00:39:49.25
"I need wisdom.
00:39:49.28\00:39:50.62
I need help. I need assurance.
00:39:50.65\00:39:52.85
Please, God, would you teach me.
00:39:52.89\00:39:54.72
Please, would you show
me? Would you instruct me?
00:39:54.76\00:39:58.73
And go to God
00:39:58.76\00:40:00.10
instead of avoiding
that responsibility.
00:40:00.13\00:40:04.37
I know there's some times
00:40:04.40\00:40:05.73
where I have felt like
avoiding that responsibility.
00:40:05.77\00:40:07.34
And there's been times
00:40:07.37\00:40:08.70
when I have
avoided the responsibility
00:40:08.74\00:40:11.54
and it's not worked out so well.
00:40:11.57\00:40:13.24
Romans 14:12 says,
00:40:13.27\00:40:15.31
"So then each of us
00:40:15.34\00:40:17.21
shall give an
account of himself to God."
00:40:17.25\00:40:21.88
We don't give an
account of our neighbor.
00:40:21.92\00:40:23.59
We don't say, well, I
think Sally didn't serve
00:40:23.62\00:40:25.62
in the way she was supposed to.
00:40:25.65\00:40:27.32
I don't think
John or Harry over here
00:40:27.36\00:40:29.96
did what God had
called them to do.
00:40:29.99\00:40:31.63
No, we're not
responsible for other people.
00:40:31.66\00:40:34.63
And we're not
responsible for their salvation.
00:40:34.66\00:40:36.40
We're not
responsible for their work.
00:40:36.43\00:40:37.90
We are responsible
for ourselves before God
00:40:37.93\00:40:41.57
and whatever duty
God has given you,
00:40:41.60\00:40:44.41
whatever responsibility
God has instructed you with
00:40:44.44\00:40:48.54
and placed in your hands,
00:40:48.58\00:40:51.35
that is what we're called to do.
00:40:51.38\00:40:54.25
What has God called you to
do? I think of little maid.
00:40:54.28\00:40:57.89
You know that story.
00:40:57.92\00:40:59.25
She was taken as a
captive from the land of Israel,
00:40:59.29\00:41:03.02
captive in a heathen country.
00:41:03.06\00:41:04.69
She was placed in service
at the home of captain Naaman.
00:41:04.73\00:41:09.46
Now she could have clearly said,
00:41:09.50\00:41:11.53
well, I don't want
this responsibility.
00:41:11.57\00:41:13.30
I'm going to cry in the corner.
00:41:13.34\00:41:15.34
I'm going to sulk.
00:41:15.37\00:41:16.74
I'm only going to work
when they make me work.
00:41:16.77\00:41:19.41
No. Did she
avoid responsibility?
00:41:19.44\00:41:22.21
Absolutely not.
00:41:22.24\00:41:23.58
I think of Peter
and John, New Testament.
00:41:23.61\00:41:25.78
This is now the Peter
and John after Pentecost.
00:41:25.81\00:41:28.92
We know what the Peter and
John were like before Pentecost.
00:41:28.95\00:41:32.12
Remember at the crucifixion,
they all forsook Him and fled.
00:41:32.15\00:41:36.32
Remember Peter
saying, I will not deny you.
00:41:36.36\00:41:39.09
And then he turns and
denies his Lord and master.
00:41:39.13\00:41:42.16
But after they were converted,
00:41:42.20\00:41:44.73
after Pentecost
happened in Acts Chapter 2,
00:41:44.77\00:41:47.67
what happened?
00:41:47.70\00:41:49.04
Their lives were changed.
00:41:49.07\00:41:51.41
They were transformed
00:41:51.44\00:41:53.38
by the infilling
of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:53.41\00:41:55.81
In fact, they
were changed so much
00:41:55.84\00:41:59.31
that when the
priests and the leaders,
00:41:59.35\00:42:01.98
the scribes and
the Pharisees sought
00:42:02.02\00:42:04.59
to throw them in
prison, sought to question them,
00:42:04.62\00:42:07.39
sought to
challenge them and say,
00:42:07.42\00:42:09.42
you cannot speak of
Jesus, we forbid you.
00:42:09.46\00:42:13.03
What did they say?
00:42:13.06\00:42:14.40
We ought to obey
God rather than men,
00:42:14.43\00:42:17.27
and the Pharisees
and the religious leaders
00:42:17.30\00:42:19.80
were amazed that
these were unlearned,
00:42:19.83\00:42:23.94
unlettered men from
Galilee, simple fishermen.
00:42:23.97\00:42:27.91
And yet they spoke
with such boldness.
00:42:27.94\00:42:31.21
Did they avoid
their responsibility?
00:42:31.25\00:42:33.21
Absolutely not.
I think of Abraham.
00:42:33.25\00:42:35.82
Remember the call
of God came to him,
00:42:35.85\00:42:38.62
leave Ur of the
Chaldees, leave your home,
00:42:38.65\00:42:42.52
leave your family.
00:42:42.56\00:42:44.66
Of course, he took his wife,
00:42:44.69\00:42:46.36
leave those who
are your associates,
00:42:46.39\00:42:49.30
leave your job,
leave everything there
00:42:49.33\00:42:51.87
and go to a land
that I will show you.
00:42:51.90\00:42:54.84
He didn't know
where he was going,
00:42:54.87\00:42:56.47
but he set out because why?
00:42:56.50\00:42:59.64
God had called him to
a certain responsibility.
00:42:59.67\00:43:04.71
Did he avoid responsibility?
00:43:04.75\00:43:06.28
Absolutely not.
I think of Moses.
00:43:06.31\00:43:08.85
Turn with me to the
Book of Hebrews Chapter 11.
00:43:08.88\00:43:10.79
If you want a list
of men and women of God
00:43:10.82\00:43:13.46
who did not
shirk responsibility,
00:43:13.49\00:43:15.46
who did what God
called them to do
00:43:15.49\00:43:18.29
at the risk of ridicule,
at the risk of persecution,
00:43:18.33\00:43:22.70
at the risk of
failure, at the risk of death,
00:43:22.73\00:43:26.43
all you have to do is
read Hebrews Chapter 11,
00:43:26.47\00:43:29.90
to see these heroes,
men and women of faith.
00:43:29.94\00:43:34.04
Moses is one of those.
00:43:34.08\00:43:35.54
Hebrews 11:24- 26,
00:43:35.58\00:43:38.68
"By faith Moses,
00:43:38.71\00:43:40.85
when he became of age, refused,"
00:43:40.88\00:43:44.39
what?
00:43:44.42\00:43:45.75
"To be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter,
00:43:45.79\00:43:47.46
choosing rather
to suffer affliction
00:43:47.49\00:43:50.49
with the people of God
00:43:50.53\00:43:52.03
than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin."
00:43:52.06\00:43:55.30
King James says
the pleasures of sin
00:43:55.33\00:43:57.07
for a season.
00:43:57.10\00:43:58.43
"Esteeming the
reproach of Christ,
00:43:58.47\00:44:00.97
greater riches than
the treasures in Egypt,
00:44:01.00\00:44:04.61
for he looked to the reward."
00:44:04.64\00:44:08.28
Did Moses avoid responsibility?
00:44:08.31\00:44:11.11
He could have
stayed in the palace
00:44:11.15\00:44:12.48
where it was cushy.
00:44:12.51\00:44:13.85
He could have enjoyed
those pleasures of sin.
00:44:13.88\00:44:16.18
He forsook that. Why?
00:44:16.22\00:44:18.22
Because God had
given him a responsibility
00:44:18.25\00:44:21.99
and he did not shake that.
00:44:22.02\00:44:24.26
Danger number five,
00:44:24.29\00:44:25.63
the danger of
feeling insignificant.
00:44:25.66\00:44:29.06
You know, the
Levites could have thought,
00:44:29.10\00:44:31.27
but we're only Levites.
00:44:31.30\00:44:33.00
We're not priests,
we're not at as important.
00:44:33.03\00:44:38.34
We don't do
service in the tabernacle.
00:44:38.37\00:44:40.28
We don't serve as
judges or teachers of the law.
00:44:40.31\00:44:42.98
Our job is just to
care for the tabernacle
00:44:43.01\00:44:45.31
and its furnishings.
00:44:45.35\00:44:46.95
Have you ever
felt insignificant?
00:44:46.98\00:44:49.58
Have you ever felt not valued?
00:44:49.62\00:44:52.39
Have you ever felt not needed?
00:44:52.42\00:44:55.36
It is dangerous when we
measure the responsibilities
00:44:55.39\00:44:58.69
that God has given to us
00:44:58.73\00:45:00.73
against someone
else's responsibilities,
00:45:00.76\00:45:05.00
instead of
doing what we're given
00:45:05.03\00:45:06.84
to the best of our ability.
00:45:06.87\00:45:09.30
2 Corinthians 10:12,
00:45:09.34\00:45:11.37
"We dare not class
ourselves or compare ourselves
00:45:11.41\00:45:14.64
with those who
commend themselves,
00:45:14.68\00:45:16.54
but they measuring
themselves by themselves
00:45:16.58\00:45:19.21
and comparing themselves
among themselves are not wise."
00:45:19.25\00:45:24.22
You know, I
could sit here and say,
00:45:24.25\00:45:25.59
I surely wish I
could sing like Ryan.
00:45:25.62\00:45:27.62
I wish I could
play the piano like Tim.
00:45:27.66\00:45:29.92
I wish I could
preach like Pastor John,
00:45:29.96\00:45:32.06
but that's not,
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.43
none of those is who
God has called me to be.
00:45:33.46\00:45:36.23
We are called to be
what God has called us to be.
00:45:36.26\00:45:41.54
We're called to be who
God has called us to be.
00:45:41.57\00:45:44.27
I can't tell you
the number of times,
00:45:44.31\00:45:46.01
people call the
office at 3ABN and say,
00:45:46.04\00:45:48.44
but I only wish I
could be doing this for God.
00:45:48.48\00:45:51.05
I only wish I had whatever.
00:45:51.08\00:45:53.45
Oh, if I could be at 3ABN
00:45:53.48\00:45:54.98
and doing this and
I always tell them,
00:45:55.02\00:45:57.05
God has called you
00:45:57.09\00:45:58.62
with a certain
responsibility in your sphere.
00:45:58.65\00:46:02.89
Do what God has
called you to be.
00:46:02.92\00:46:05.79
That is not insignificant.
00:46:05.83\00:46:07.96
That is the greatest gift
00:46:08.00\00:46:09.33
is to be who God
has called you to be,
00:46:09.36\00:46:12.23
to serve, to minister
where God has called you to be.
00:46:12.27\00:46:16.20
Danger number six,
the danger of family ties.
00:46:16.24\00:46:21.28
You know, we already established
00:46:21.31\00:46:22.64
that the first return,
this is under Zerubbabel
00:46:22.68\00:46:26.98
from Babylon back to Jerusalem
00:46:27.02\00:46:29.62
that not everybody went back
00:46:29.65\00:46:31.45
and that
families were split apart.
00:46:31.49\00:46:35.02
Perhaps this
time, the second return,
00:46:35.06\00:46:38.69
perhaps the Levites felt,
00:46:38.73\00:46:40.70
but some of my family
doesn't wanna return to Judah.
00:46:40.73\00:46:43.10
What then?
00:46:43.13\00:46:44.47
Were they willing to
leave their family behind
00:46:44.50\00:46:47.80
to answer that call of God?
00:46:47.84\00:46:50.74
It is dangerous when
we place family above God.
00:46:50.77\00:46:54.81
Matthew 10:37,
00:46:54.84\00:46:57.11
"He who loves father
or mother more than Me
00:46:57.15\00:47:01.62
is not worthy of Me.
00:47:01.65\00:47:04.35
And he who loves son
or daughter more than Me
00:47:04.39\00:47:07.66
is not worthy of Me."
00:47:07.69\00:47:09.32
Now, I wanna be careful here
00:47:09.36\00:47:10.69
'cause we are called
to love our families.
00:47:10.73\00:47:12.39
We are called to honor our
husbands or love our wives.
00:47:12.43\00:47:16.00
We are called to
have a family unit
00:47:16.03\00:47:18.30
that is vitally important.
00:47:18.33\00:47:20.40
At the same time
when you are faced
00:47:20.44\00:47:23.00
with a decision of principle
00:47:23.04\00:47:25.77
and you choose your
family over God's call,
00:47:25.81\00:47:30.48
over your life,
that is a problem.
00:47:30.51\00:47:33.72
Greg and I talk
about this sometimes.
00:47:33.75\00:47:35.65
What are we going to
do if we were persecuted?
00:47:35.68\00:47:38.85
What if we were in
a country right now,
00:47:38.89\00:47:40.56
and we were being
persecuted for our faith?
00:47:40.59\00:47:43.76
What would we do?
Would we be faithful to God?
00:47:43.79\00:47:46.43
If someone came in and said,
00:47:46.46\00:47:47.80
okay, Greg, I'm
going to kill your wife
00:47:47.83\00:47:49.16
if you renounced Jesus.
00:47:49.20\00:47:50.53
Would he still
be faithful to God?
00:47:50.57\00:47:52.67
Well, it's
important that we place
00:47:52.70\00:47:55.17
first allegiance to
God and not to our family.
00:47:55.20\00:48:00.44
Finally, the seventh danger
is the danger of the unknown.
00:48:00.48\00:48:05.15
There were many
unknowns in Jerusalem.
00:48:05.18\00:48:07.32
They'd have to find
a new place to live.
00:48:07.35\00:48:08.92
They'd have to find a house.
00:48:08.95\00:48:10.29
They would have new
neighbors, a new job, new,
00:48:10.32\00:48:13.02
everything would be new.
00:48:13.05\00:48:15.72
It's dangerous when
you and I allow fear
00:48:15.76\00:48:18.63
to dictate our current choices.
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.93
1 John 4:18, says what?
00:48:21.96\00:48:23.93
"There is no fear in
love, but perfect love,
00:48:23.97\00:48:27.34
it casts out fear
because fear involves torment.
00:48:27.37\00:48:31.44
He who fears has not
been made perfect in love."
00:48:31.47\00:48:34.31
We don't have to be afraid.
00:48:34.34\00:48:35.68
We don't have to
fear the unknown.
00:48:35.71\00:48:37.25
If God is
calling you to something,
00:48:37.28\00:48:39.35
if He wants you to do
a certain responsibility,
00:48:39.38\00:48:41.72
a certain job,
if He says my child,
00:48:41.75\00:48:43.85
this is what I've
put before you right now,
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.45
you do not have
to fear the unknown.
00:48:46.49\00:48:49.59
Why? Because God is with you.
00:48:49.62\00:48:53.56
The danger of
the Levite mentality,
00:48:53.60\00:48:56.93
the danger of comfort,
the danger of tradition,
00:48:56.97\00:48:59.90
the danger of complacency
and the fear of hardship.
00:48:59.93\00:49:03.27
The danger of
avoiding responsibility,
00:49:03.30\00:49:06.51
the danger of
feeling insignificant.
00:49:06.54\00:49:09.81
The danger of family
ties, the danger of the unknown.
00:49:09.84\00:49:14.65
It was a rainy day
00:49:14.68\00:49:16.02
and I had forgotten my umbrella,
00:49:16.05\00:49:17.85
which is not unusual for me.
00:49:17.89\00:49:20.06
And as I ran into Walmart,
00:49:20.09\00:49:22.09
I kind of dodged the raindrops
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.89
and I just started into my list.
00:49:24.93\00:49:28.23
When I shop at
Walmart, I'm always in a hurry
00:49:28.26\00:49:30.30
and I run as fast as
I can behind the cart.
00:49:30.33\00:49:32.90
And I just started
down the shampoo aisle.
00:49:32.93\00:49:36.30
And all of a sudden I saw her,
00:49:36.34\00:49:38.64
older woman hair
swept up from her face,
00:49:38.67\00:49:42.31
kind looking face,
00:49:42.34\00:49:43.88
but her hand was
wrapped in a bandage.
00:49:43.91\00:49:46.28
And instantly I
felt an impression
00:49:46.31\00:49:48.18
from the Holy Spirit,
00:49:48.22\00:49:49.55
"Jill, go over and
talk to her right now."
00:49:49.58\00:49:51.55
And so I went over and I said,
00:49:51.59\00:49:53.09
"Hey, my name's
Jill and how are you?
00:49:53.12\00:49:55.26
And what happened to your hand?"
00:49:55.29\00:49:57.03
And so she was very
friendly and we talked a bit,
00:49:57.06\00:50:00.10
she shared how
she'd been to Mayo clinic.
00:50:00.13\00:50:02.20
She'd been to
many different places,
00:50:02.23\00:50:04.13
hoping to get help for her hand
00:50:04.17\00:50:07.30
and she still didn't
know what to do for it.
00:50:07.34\00:50:10.24
Just then I felt
the second impression
00:50:10.27\00:50:13.48
of the Holy Spirit,
00:50:13.51\00:50:15.11
"Jill, pray with her right now."
00:50:15.14\00:50:18.01
And I thought, "What, God?
00:50:18.05\00:50:20.15
You want me to pray with her?
00:50:20.18\00:50:23.15
Are you serious?
We're in Walmart.
00:50:23.18\00:50:24.69
Did you forget about that?
00:50:24.72\00:50:26.05
Did you forget that
there's a lot of people here.
00:50:26.09\00:50:27.96
Did you forget
that that might be
00:50:27.99\00:50:29.59
embarrassing for me?
00:50:29.62\00:50:32.83
I'm not going to do that."
00:50:32.86\00:50:34.46
And so I said no
00:50:34.50\00:50:36.77
to the responsibility
that God had given to me
00:50:36.80\00:50:41.30
to the job,
00:50:41.34\00:50:42.67
you could say he had
given me at that moment.
00:50:42.70\00:50:45.47
And so instead I said,
00:50:45.51\00:50:47.74
my husband and I
keep a prayer journal
00:50:47.78\00:50:51.25
and we'll write
you on our prayer list.
00:50:51.28\00:50:53.18
And I promise you
we'll pray for you.
00:50:53.21\00:50:55.12
Now that's good to tell people
you're going to pray for them,
00:50:55.15\00:50:57.49
but that's not
what God had told me.
00:50:57.52\00:50:59.12
God had told me to pray with her
00:50:59.15\00:51:00.56
then and I had refused.
00:51:00.59\00:51:03.43
She said, Oh honey,
00:51:03.46\00:51:04.79
thank you for being
willing to pray for me.
00:51:04.83\00:51:06.43
And so sure.
00:51:06.46\00:51:07.80
And so I wrote it
down in my little book
00:51:07.83\00:51:09.70
and I went away,
00:51:09.73\00:51:11.07
but my
conscience was not at peace
00:51:11.10\00:51:12.80
because I had been
called to do a job.
00:51:12.83\00:51:15.77
I had been called to
pray with her there in Walmart
00:51:15.80\00:51:20.34
and I had refused.
00:51:20.38\00:51:22.08
And so I walked away
and went around the corner.
00:51:22.11\00:51:24.51
And just a few minutes later,
00:51:24.55\00:51:25.98
I'm passing the candle aisle.
00:51:26.01\00:51:28.02
And there she was,
I couldn't believe it.
00:51:28.05\00:51:30.32
The same lady, and I
felt the third impression
00:51:30.35\00:51:34.06
from the Holy Spirit,
00:51:34.09\00:51:36.02
"Jill, go pray
with her right now."
00:51:36.06\00:51:38.49
And I thought, God, I agree.
00:51:38.53\00:51:40.06
I should've prayed
in the shampoo aisle.
00:51:40.10\00:51:41.80
I get that.
00:51:41.83\00:51:43.67
But God, I'm not
gonna say, excuse me.
00:51:43.70\00:51:45.57
I was supposed to
pray with you before
00:51:45.60\00:51:46.97
and I'm supposed
to pray with you now,
00:51:47.00\00:51:48.34
would you let me pray?
00:51:48.37\00:51:49.70
No.
00:51:49.74\00:51:51.07
And so for the second time
00:51:51.11\00:51:52.57
I refused to
answer the call of God.
00:51:52.61\00:51:57.08
We went parted way.
00:51:57.11\00:51:58.98
She just kinda smiled,
00:51:59.01\00:52:00.35
you know, that
smile of recognition.
00:52:00.38\00:52:01.72
And we went
00:52:01.75\00:52:03.15
and I went back around Walmart
00:52:03.18\00:52:08.09
till you get to
the food section.
00:52:08.12\00:52:09.89
And I saw her again, in
the butter and eggs section,
00:52:09.92\00:52:13.60
and God said, this is
now the fourth impression,
00:52:13.63\00:52:17.33
"Pray with her."
00:52:17.37\00:52:21.04
And I said, no, God,
00:52:21.07\00:52:24.01
it's been probably 20 minutes.
00:52:24.04\00:52:25.47
And it's a little embarrassing.
00:52:25.51\00:52:26.84
And I didn't even know
00:52:26.88\00:52:28.21
how to bring it up again and no.
00:52:28.24\00:52:30.88
And so I went around the corner,
00:52:30.91\00:52:32.41
she and I kind of
smiled and nodded when we pass,
00:52:32.45\00:52:34.35
that was it.
00:52:34.38\00:52:35.72
And I started
going up and forth,
00:52:35.75\00:52:37.09
back and forth
through the food aisles.
00:52:37.12\00:52:39.69
And I was in the baking aisle.
00:52:39.72\00:52:41.06
You know, the one
with the chocolate chips.
00:52:41.09\00:52:42.76
It also has flour
and oil and those things.
00:52:42.79\00:52:45.09
So I was in the baking aisle
00:52:45.13\00:52:47.50
and finally God broke
through all my defenses,
00:52:47.53\00:52:51.00
all my resistance,
00:52:51.03\00:52:55.17
my disobedience, and said,
00:52:55.20\00:52:57.77
"How many times
Jill do I have to ask you
00:52:57.81\00:53:01.24
to do something?
00:53:01.28\00:53:02.61
How many times do I
have to ask you to obey
00:53:02.64\00:53:06.61
before you will say, yes, God."
00:53:06.65\00:53:10.09
And I cried
right there in Walmart.
00:53:10.12\00:53:12.55
And I said, "God, I'm so sorry.
00:53:12.59\00:53:14.99
I want to be obedient.
00:53:15.02\00:53:18.16
I want to do what
You've called me to do.
00:53:18.19\00:53:20.63
I don't wanna shirk
this responsibility.
00:53:20.66\00:53:22.66
I don't want to
sit back in comfort.
00:53:22.70\00:53:25.07
I don't want to be complacent.
00:53:25.10\00:53:27.07
I don't want to be
afraid of the unknown.
00:53:27.10\00:53:31.01
I want to be obedient.
00:53:31.04\00:53:32.97
Will you give me
one more opportunity
00:53:33.01\00:53:37.51
to do what I should have
done in the first place?"
00:53:37.55\00:53:40.62
And so I went to the
end of the baking aisle
00:53:40.65\00:53:43.32
and I peaked to the
right all the way at the back.
00:53:43.35\00:53:46.52
The last place,
remember I'd seen her
00:53:46.55\00:53:47.89
was in the
butter and egg section
00:53:47.92\00:53:49.26
in the back of the store
00:53:49.29\00:53:50.63
and she was there.
00:53:50.66\00:53:51.99
And so I ran to the back
of the store and I thought,
00:53:52.03\00:53:54.43
God, I don't even
know how I'm gonna do this,
00:53:54.46\00:53:56.06
but I want to be obedient.
00:53:56.10\00:53:58.03
And so I ran to
the back of the store
00:53:58.07\00:53:59.90
and there was a couple of there
00:53:59.93\00:54:02.40
talking with her
and they walked away
00:54:02.44\00:54:05.37
just as I
walked up and she said,
00:54:05.41\00:54:08.08
"Oh, hi, Jill, this
couple's from my church.
00:54:08.11\00:54:11.71
And I was just telling
them about the nice girl
00:54:11.75\00:54:14.72
I met in Walmart,
00:54:14.75\00:54:16.08
who said she would pray for me."
00:54:16.12\00:54:18.25
You know what?
00:54:18.29\00:54:19.62
God gave me the
opening that I needed.
00:54:19.65\00:54:22.39
And I said, actually,
that's why I came back.
00:54:22.42\00:54:24.36
I wanna know, can I
pray with you right now?
00:54:24.39\00:54:26.59
And she said, "Oh
honey, I'd love that."
00:54:26.63\00:54:28.40
And so she held
out her good hand
00:54:28.43\00:54:30.13
and we held hands right
there in the middle of Walmart
00:54:30.17\00:54:33.03
in the middle of
this major thoroughfare.
00:54:33.07\00:54:35.00
And we petitioned
the throne of grace,
00:54:35.04\00:54:37.11
knowing that we
would find grace and mercy
00:54:37.14\00:54:41.81
and help in our time of need.
00:54:41.84\00:54:46.21
I turned around and walked away.
00:54:46.25\00:54:48.22
And she said, "Thank you
00:54:48.25\00:54:49.58
for coming back
to pray with me."
00:54:49.62\00:54:50.95
You see she had no idea
of the challenge in my heart.
00:54:50.99\00:54:52.95
She had no idea of
the battle I had faced.
00:54:52.99\00:54:54.69
She had no idea that
I had been disobedient,
00:54:54.72\00:54:57.46
not once, not twice,
00:54:57.49\00:54:59.16
but three times
00:54:59.19\00:55:00.53
to the prompting
of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:00.56\00:55:02.83
She had no idea of the victory
00:55:02.86\00:55:04.73
that God had given me that day
00:55:04.77\00:55:06.27
when I had said finally, I said,
00:55:06.30\00:55:08.70
"Yes, God, I'm a
Levite in Babylon,
00:55:08.74\00:55:11.71
but I'm willing to
go back to Jerusalem.
00:55:11.74\00:55:14.01
You know how the
story ends in Ezra?
00:55:14.04\00:55:17.05
Those Levites,
they answered the call.
00:55:17.08\00:55:20.75
Remember they were not
willing to go and Ezra says,
00:55:20.78\00:55:23.39
"Where are the Levites?"
00:55:23.42\00:55:25.12
And so they sent out
people searching for Levites
00:55:25.15\00:55:28.22
and 38 Levites
answered the call of God,
00:55:28.26\00:55:32.66
as well as several
hundred temple servants.
00:55:32.69\00:55:35.13
And they came back
00:55:35.16\00:55:38.20
and they decided to
go back to Jerusalem.
00:55:38.23\00:55:41.10
Will you be a leader?
00:55:41.14\00:55:42.57
You are a leader
00:55:42.60\00:55:44.21
because you
influence other people.
00:55:44.24\00:55:48.94
Don't sit when
you're supposed to stand.
00:55:48.98\00:55:51.91
Don't walk when
you're supposed to run.
00:55:51.95\00:55:54.98
Stand for truth, come what may.
00:55:55.02\00:55:58.09
Do what you're called to
do, no matter how difficult,
00:55:58.12\00:56:01.19
no matter if you wanna do
it, no matter if it hurts,
00:56:01.22\00:56:04.16
do what's right,
00:56:04.19\00:56:05.53
because I have
decided to follow Jesus.
00:56:05.56\00:56:09.90
I have decided to follow Jesus.
00:56:09.93\00:56:13.17
I have decided to follow Him.
00:56:13.20\00:56:15.70
No turning back.
00:56:15.74\00:56:17.41
No turning back.
00:56:17.44\00:56:18.91
Though none go with
me still I will follow.
00:56:18.94\00:56:24.51
Though none go with
me still I will follow.
00:56:24.55\00:56:28.18
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:56:28.22\00:56:32.92
The world behind
me, the cross before me.
00:56:32.95\00:56:37.19
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:56:37.23\00:56:40.66
Will you make a choice
today and say, yes, God,
00:56:40.70\00:56:44.37
I want to be the leader
that You've called me to be.
00:56:44.40\00:56:47.70
I don't wanna walk
in comfort anymore.
00:56:47.74\00:56:50.61
I don't want to
walk in the tradition
00:56:50.64\00:56:53.27
of my fathers or
what I was taught before.
00:56:53.31\00:56:55.74
I don't want to
walk in complacency.
00:56:55.78\00:56:58.75
I don't want to let
the fear of hardship
00:56:58.78\00:57:02.15
keep me from doing something
that God has called me to do.
00:57:02.18\00:57:06.32
I don't want to avoid
responsibility anymore.
00:57:06.35\00:57:10.59
I don't want to
feel insignificant.
00:57:10.63\00:57:13.33
I don't want to put family
00:57:13.36\00:57:15.63
or friends
00:57:15.66\00:57:17.00
or anything else ahead of Jesus.
00:57:17.03\00:57:20.07
I don't wanna be
afraid of the unknown anymore.
00:57:20.10\00:57:22.77
Yes, Lord, I have
decided to follow You.
00:57:22.80\00:57:27.21
Is that your prayer
and commitment today?
00:57:27.24\00:57:29.24
Let's pray.
00:57:29.28\00:57:30.61
Father, we come before You
00:57:30.65\00:57:31.98
grateful that
You are our Father.
00:57:32.01\00:57:35.48
Right now, we choose You
and we trust You in Jesus name.
00:57:35.52\00:57:40.06
Amen.
00:57:40.09\00:57:41.42