1 00:00:14,099 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,399 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:26,899 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,619 --> 00:00:37,780 Yeah, Lord, we thank you that you are the great physician. 5 00:00:38,780 --> 00:00:43,240 You know our bodies better than we do, better than the doctors do. 6 00:00:43,780 --> 00:00:46,280 And, Lord, you can heal anything and everything. 7 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,320 So, Lord, we do pray for complete healing. 8 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,439 Lord, we thank you for all the times you've done miracles in our lives to this point 9 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:56,759 and trust you for even more. 10 00:00:56,820 --> 00:00:58,460 Lord, you're not finished with us, Lord. 11 00:00:58,579 --> 00:01:01,219 You're going to do more and more great things in our lives. 12 00:01:01,979 --> 00:01:03,100 And, Lord, we pray for Kat. 13 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,579 Lord, thank you that she's such a steadfast worker and shows up. 14 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,120 And, you know, right now she's watching, Lord. 15 00:01:10,359 --> 00:01:14,719 And, Lord, we just ask you to bless her and know that she is loved 16 00:01:14,719 --> 00:01:18,260 and that her shoulder is going to heal quickly. 17 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,540 And, also, Dottie, Lord God, we just pray for clarity, 18 00:01:22,799 --> 00:01:25,260 that you would give her equilibrium back 19 00:01:25,899 --> 00:01:29,340 and that you would clear anything that's going on in her body 20 00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:31,739 and repair anything that's happening. 21 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:34,819 And we cherish them, Lord God. 22 00:01:35,019 --> 00:01:38,500 So, we thank you and we love you in Jesus' name. 23 00:01:39,239 --> 00:01:39,480 Amen. 24 00:01:40,439 --> 00:01:41,879 And, you know what? Let's pray for me, too. 25 00:01:42,579 --> 00:01:45,140 Father God, please help me right now. 26 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:49,780 Just present Acts chapter 6 in a clear way, Lord. 27 00:01:50,599 --> 00:01:52,879 Just take away any distractions. 28 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,519 And, Lord God, I ask that your Spirit would use your Word 29 00:01:57,519 --> 00:02:01,299 to do your work in each one of our hearts and minds, Lord. 30 00:02:01,879 --> 00:02:03,840 And I would get out of the way, Lord. 31 00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:06,780 Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. 32 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:12,159 I like to think of myself as like a waiter, okay? 33 00:02:12,159 --> 00:02:15,020 Bringing food that the Lord prepared 34 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:18,919 and all my job is not to spill it, okay? 35 00:02:18,939 --> 00:02:19,759 Not to trip. 36 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,919 And that's not easy because I don't have the best balance. 37 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,759 So, thank you, Lord, for doing that. 38 00:02:26,479 --> 00:02:29,280 Today, we're looking at Acts chapter 6. 39 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:32,360 Give you a minute to look that up. 40 00:02:32,759 --> 00:02:34,360 I don't know about you, but throughout school, 41 00:02:34,699 --> 00:02:36,879 I always missed the announcement. 42 00:02:37,599 --> 00:02:39,039 I don't know if any of you can relate to that. 43 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:41,719 They would say where to turn and I'd always miss it 44 00:02:41,719 --> 00:02:42,319 every time. 45 00:02:42,759 --> 00:02:44,300 And then I'm peeking over somewhere else. 46 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:45,740 And I still do it today. 47 00:02:46,099 --> 00:02:46,840 I turn to Jill. 48 00:02:46,939 --> 00:02:48,520 I'm like, where did they say to turn? 49 00:02:48,979 --> 00:02:50,840 Because I just don't listen. 50 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,919 So, it's Acts chapter 6. 51 00:02:54,219 --> 00:02:54,860 Amen to that. 52 00:02:55,699 --> 00:02:58,780 And so, we're just going to thank the Lord 53 00:02:58,780 --> 00:03:01,759 and we're looking at Acts chapter 6. 54 00:03:03,099 --> 00:03:05,460 And it's about Stephen. 55 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,219 And it's an introduction to Stephen. 56 00:03:07,340 --> 00:03:08,840 So, we're not going to go all through it today. 57 00:03:08,939 --> 00:03:10,379 Just Acts chapter 6. 58 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,180 And, you know, I noticed that whenever you buy something online, 59 00:03:16,460 --> 00:03:18,080 let's say Amazon, okay? 60 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,520 And, you know, it used to be that it was typically a blue van 61 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,759 that would pull up, right, and deliver a package. 62 00:03:26,319 --> 00:03:28,539 But are you noticing more and more vehicles 63 00:03:28,539 --> 00:03:30,979 of all different shapes, sizes, colors, 64 00:03:31,219 --> 00:03:32,620 everything just showing up? 65 00:03:33,060 --> 00:03:35,139 And I don't know about you, but we live on a busy road. 66 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:38,919 And so, anybody could just pull up on our driveway real easy. 67 00:03:38,919 --> 00:03:41,379 And so many times, I'm like, who's that? 68 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,620 And now, I realize it's just a delivery. 69 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,039 It's just a delivery. 70 00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:46,439 What else did you buy, Jill? 71 00:03:47,740 --> 00:03:49,800 But what are we buying now? 72 00:03:50,340 --> 00:03:52,139 I turn out for me for some reason. 73 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:53,280 But anyway. 74 00:03:54,379 --> 00:03:57,240 And it's because, like, they're just getting anyone 75 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,139 to be able to distribute what is being purchased. 76 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,060 I know the other day, actually a couple weeks back, 77 00:04:03,159 --> 00:04:08,039 I bought bill code doors on a project I'm working on from Lowe's. 78 00:04:08,039 --> 00:04:11,479 And I order it, and it says it'll be there 79 00:04:11,479 --> 00:04:12,599 by the end of the day. 80 00:04:12,919 --> 00:04:14,419 And they didn't even have them in stock. 81 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,420 I'm like, how is that possible, right? 82 00:04:16,939 --> 00:04:19,860 And so, there I am thinking, I'll believe that when I see it. 83 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,000 There it is, almost 5 p.m. 84 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,399 in this little Subaru station wagon, 85 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:28,459 pulls up, backs in. 86 00:04:28,819 --> 00:04:29,740 I'm thinking, is that it? 87 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,699 This thing looked like it had been through a battle, okay? 88 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,180 I mean, the fenders are multicolored, 89 00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:38,519 and it had, you know, it's seen a thing or two, right? 90 00:04:38,819 --> 00:04:40,439 And it's backing up, and I'm like, 91 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:42,579 could that be delivering bill code doors? 92 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,540 I mean, they're big, and they're heavy, right? 93 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,879 And so, and then I see one guy get out of the car. 94 00:04:48,980 --> 00:04:51,500 I'm like, he's gonna carry bill code doors 95 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:53,560 out of this little car? 96 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:54,319 Are you kidding me? 97 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:57,379 So I go out, I'm like, are you the bill code door guy? 98 00:04:57,579 --> 00:04:58,879 Yeah, yeah, that's me, you know? 99 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,699 And so, he opens up the thing, and I'm like, 100 00:05:02,540 --> 00:05:03,620 how'd you get it in there? 101 00:05:03,620 --> 00:05:05,899 Well, I had help, and I'm thinking, 102 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:08,500 well, how was he planning to get it out of there? 103 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:10,579 Good thing I'm here. 104 00:05:10,879 --> 00:05:12,620 So we got it out, we put it in my SUV, 105 00:05:13,199 --> 00:05:14,439 and then, you know, he drives away, 106 00:05:14,519 --> 00:05:15,920 but I was just thinking, like, it's interesting, 107 00:05:16,060 --> 00:05:18,060 like, these packages are being delivered 108 00:05:18,060 --> 00:05:20,300 from, like, anyone, everywhere, right? 109 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,839 In fact, sometimes I've actually seen groceries 110 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,500 delivered in BMWs, you know? 111 00:05:25,579 --> 00:05:27,899 Because, hey, everyone's getting in on the act, right? 112 00:05:28,019 --> 00:05:29,819 There's money there, but why? 113 00:05:29,819 --> 00:05:33,279 It's because companies have the supply, 114 00:05:34,020 --> 00:05:37,379 and there is a demand for the supply, 115 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:39,740 but they lack distributors. 116 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:44,819 They need to distribute the supply to the demand, right? 117 00:05:45,339 --> 00:05:47,259 And so, they're like, all hands on deck, 118 00:05:47,399 --> 00:05:49,660 anyone they can find, you have four wheels, 119 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:51,399 we need you, you know? 120 00:05:51,579 --> 00:05:53,800 Soon, they're gonna have bicycles delivering this stuff. 121 00:05:53,879 --> 00:05:55,459 I don't know, they'll have to be electric bikes, 122 00:05:55,459 --> 00:06:00,100 but anyway, and I liken that really to the gospel, 123 00:06:00,779 --> 00:06:05,420 because, you know, there is an endless supply of God's grace, 124 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:11,319 an endless supply of forgiveness, of salvation. 125 00:06:11,660 --> 00:06:15,360 I mean, God doesn't run out of grace. 126 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,019 He wants his heaven filled with humanity. 127 00:06:20,620 --> 00:06:24,980 He wants to fill up heaven with the body of Christ. 128 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:26,819 That's what he's trying to do. 129 00:06:26,980 --> 00:06:29,300 So, there's tons of supply, okay? 130 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,980 And I believe there's a lot of demand, pent up demand, 131 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:36,500 but they just don't know what they need yet. 132 00:06:37,259 --> 00:06:39,319 What we're lacking is distributors, 133 00:06:40,139 --> 00:06:45,279 people to deliver the grace of God to those who need it, amen? 134 00:06:46,379 --> 00:06:50,160 And as I'm thinking about this, that's us, that's us. 135 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,699 And even Jesus said in Matthew chapter nine, verses 37, 38, 136 00:06:56,060 --> 00:06:59,240 he said, the fields are ripe for the harvest. 137 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,860 Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send out workers. 138 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:04,819 Amen. 139 00:07:05,660 --> 00:07:08,420 You know, and he said, because it's an endless supply. 140 00:07:08,879 --> 00:07:12,519 Do you remember that parable when he was, 141 00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:16,019 he likened the Lord to a landowner, 142 00:07:16,180 --> 00:07:18,060 and Jesus was saying, you know, the kingdom of heaven 143 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:20,319 is like a landowner who, you know, 144 00:07:21,139 --> 00:07:24,379 it was ripe for harvest, the fields, right? 145 00:07:24,779 --> 00:07:26,279 And he went out in the morning, 146 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:28,779 hired somebody in the beginning of the day, 147 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,480 the third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour, even the 11th hour, 148 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:37,600 he's still looking for anyone to reap the harvest 149 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,680 because that's what he's looking for. 150 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,920 People who are willing to say yes. 151 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:47,839 We're gonna read today about Stephen who said yes. 152 00:07:48,060 --> 00:07:52,420 He said yes to something that would seem so insignificant, 153 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:58,060 serving tables, something that is not a prestigious position. 154 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,360 It's not a glamorous role. 155 00:08:02,959 --> 00:08:07,220 And yet they wanted someone who was close with God, 156 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,079 who would feed the early church, 157 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:12,699 the widows of the early church. 158 00:08:13,259 --> 00:08:15,319 And we're gonna read about him and the six others 159 00:08:15,319 --> 00:08:19,720 and what the Lord did to them because they said yes. 160 00:08:20,339 --> 00:08:23,439 You know, sometimes things start off with humble beginnings, 161 00:08:23,439 --> 00:08:28,519 but they have glorious endings, glorious results, amen. 162 00:08:29,079 --> 00:08:32,580 So let's dive in and we're gonna read Acts chapter six, 163 00:08:32,700 --> 00:08:34,580 I think just straight through. 164 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,000 And why am I in John? 165 00:08:37,980 --> 00:08:39,379 Okay, there we go, okay. 166 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:42,399 And let's dive in. 167 00:08:43,180 --> 00:08:46,700 Now in those days when the number of the disciples 168 00:08:47,399 --> 00:08:51,600 was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews 169 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,419 by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected 170 00:08:55,419 --> 00:08:57,019 in the daily distribution. 171 00:08:58,039 --> 00:09:01,139 And then the 12 summoned the multitude of the disciples 172 00:09:01,139 --> 00:09:05,259 and said, it is not desirable that we should leave 173 00:09:05,259 --> 00:09:07,580 the word of God and serve tables. 174 00:09:07,580 --> 00:09:12,100 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you 175 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:15,820 seven men of good reputation, 176 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,340 full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, 177 00:09:20,019 --> 00:09:22,600 whom we may appoint over this business 178 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,320 that we will give ourselves continually to prayer 179 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,480 and to the ministry of the word. 180 00:09:29,399 --> 00:09:33,279 Verse five, and the saying, please the whole multitude. 181 00:09:34,059 --> 00:09:37,000 And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith 182 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:42,120 and the Holy Spirit and Philip and Prakuris, 183 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,480 as well as Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, 184 00:09:48,919 --> 00:09:52,100 and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, 185 00:09:53,279 --> 00:09:55,000 whom they set before the apostles 186 00:09:55,519 --> 00:09:59,320 and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 187 00:10:00,220 --> 00:10:02,700 By the way, this is to serve tables, right? 188 00:10:03,340 --> 00:10:05,100 And then the word of God spread 189 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:09,399 and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem 190 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:14,860 and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. 191 00:10:14,940 --> 00:10:16,519 We're talking about the priests, 192 00:10:16,879 --> 00:10:19,399 the Jewish priests were actually converted. 193 00:10:20,419 --> 00:10:25,259 Verse eight, and Stephen, full of faith and power, 194 00:10:25,299 --> 00:10:28,440 did great wonders and signs among the people. 195 00:10:29,279 --> 00:10:32,320 And then there arose some from what is called 196 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,320 the synagogue of the freed men, 197 00:10:35,039 --> 00:10:39,580 Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cecelia and Asia, 198 00:10:40,459 --> 00:10:41,980 disputing with Stephen, 199 00:10:42,580 --> 00:10:45,600 and they were not able to resist the wisdom 200 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,700 and the spirit by which he spoke. 201 00:10:49,539 --> 00:10:50,139 Did you hear that? 202 00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:50,759 Yeah. 203 00:10:51,620 --> 00:10:54,559 And then they secretly induced men to say, 204 00:10:55,059 --> 00:10:57,779 we have heard him speak blasphemous words 205 00:10:57,779 --> 00:10:59,340 against Moses and God. 206 00:10:59,340 --> 00:11:02,879 And they stirred up the people and the elders 207 00:11:02,879 --> 00:11:07,080 and the scribes and they came upon him, seized him, 208 00:11:07,139 --> 00:11:09,360 and brought him to the council. 209 00:11:10,039 --> 00:11:13,620 They also set up a false witnesses who said, 210 00:11:13,899 --> 00:11:18,080 this man does not cease to speak blasphemous words 211 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:22,000 against this holy place and the law. 212 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:26,340 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth 213 00:11:26,590 --> 00:11:31,269 will destroy this place and change the customs 214 00:11:31,269 --> 00:11:33,490 which Moses delivered to us. 215 00:11:34,090 --> 00:11:39,110 And all who sat in the council looking steadfastly at him 216 00:11:39,110 --> 00:11:43,250 saw his face as the face of an angel. 217 00:11:44,549 --> 00:11:47,590 Now we're gonna talk about the face of an angel next week 218 00:11:47,590 --> 00:11:50,149 because it ties in with what goes on 219 00:11:50,149 --> 00:11:51,590 from there in chapter seven. 220 00:11:52,590 --> 00:11:58,129 And so we see here a lot of great things are happening, right? 221 00:11:58,509 --> 00:11:59,629 People are getting saved. 222 00:11:59,870 --> 00:12:02,669 People are getting healed signs, wonders, miracles. 223 00:12:03,049 --> 00:12:05,230 People are getting delivered from evil spirits. 224 00:12:05,830 --> 00:12:07,789 I mean, it's glorious, right? 225 00:12:09,230 --> 00:12:10,409 And yet there's problems. 226 00:12:11,509 --> 00:12:12,470 There's trouble. 227 00:12:14,009 --> 00:12:18,169 And so today I would like us to consider three realities, 228 00:12:19,169 --> 00:12:22,409 three realities of church growth. 229 00:12:23,309 --> 00:12:25,929 One, growth creates opportunity, 230 00:12:26,370 --> 00:12:28,730 like we just saw in Stephen, okay? 231 00:12:29,230 --> 00:12:30,750 Yeah, I'll serve tables. 232 00:12:31,549 --> 00:12:34,450 And next he knew it, he's doing signs and wonders. 233 00:12:35,049 --> 00:12:37,549 And then he's engaged in disputes 234 00:12:37,549 --> 00:12:40,090 and talking about the wisdom of God. 235 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:44,830 Growth activates opposition, which we just saw, okay? 236 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:46,409 We have a problem. 237 00:12:46,409 --> 00:12:48,330 They have a problem with him. 238 00:12:49,370 --> 00:12:51,210 Growth activates opposition. 239 00:12:51,830 --> 00:12:54,850 And finally, growth requires order. 240 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:59,169 We're gonna look at all three of those things in detail 241 00:12:59,169 --> 00:13:02,789 because we have experienced all of these things 242 00:13:02,789 --> 00:13:06,549 in this church over the 12 years we've existed. 243 00:13:07,610 --> 00:13:11,210 I've experienced these things personally in my life, 244 00:13:11,210 --> 00:13:13,110 and you probably have too. 245 00:13:13,570 --> 00:13:15,549 So as we think about these three realities, 246 00:13:15,549 --> 00:13:17,830 we're not just talking about a church body, 247 00:13:18,409 --> 00:13:20,730 we're talking about each one of us. 248 00:13:21,149 --> 00:13:24,889 Because I promise you, the more you grow in Christ, 249 00:13:25,450 --> 00:13:27,909 you're going to realize that there's more 250 00:13:27,909 --> 00:13:30,149 and more opportunities opening up to you. 251 00:13:31,190 --> 00:13:32,490 Because the Lord, you know, remember, 252 00:13:32,889 --> 00:13:35,269 we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus 253 00:13:35,269 --> 00:13:37,550 for good works, which God prepared 254 00:13:38,070 --> 00:13:40,690 in advance for us to walk in. 255 00:13:41,210 --> 00:13:43,550 So that means the Lord already had silos 256 00:13:43,830 --> 00:13:46,350 full of good works that he has planned 257 00:13:46,350 --> 00:13:47,950 for each one of us to do. 258 00:13:48,750 --> 00:13:50,909 And the closer we get with God, 259 00:13:51,330 --> 00:13:55,389 the more we realize what he's calling us to do. 260 00:13:55,850 --> 00:13:58,509 But they usually start in small places, 261 00:13:58,509 --> 00:14:01,110 just like with Stephen, serving tables. 262 00:14:01,529 --> 00:14:04,190 It starts small, and then it just grows. 263 00:14:05,090 --> 00:14:07,110 So I've noticed this in my own life. 264 00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:11,529 And so let's start with growth creates opportunity. 265 00:14:11,529 --> 00:14:14,970 I think I have a little slider, yeah, of growth. 266 00:14:15,309 --> 00:14:17,409 And really, that's what happens. 267 00:14:17,690 --> 00:14:20,029 Like the more we get close with God, 268 00:14:20,429 --> 00:14:22,210 we suddenly see opportunities. 269 00:14:22,389 --> 00:14:23,549 Have you experienced that? 270 00:14:24,269 --> 00:14:26,610 Suddenly, you know, we see things 271 00:14:26,610 --> 00:14:28,450 or are asked to do things. 272 00:14:28,570 --> 00:14:30,370 And we're like, well, it really wasn't, 273 00:14:30,629 --> 00:14:32,990 I couldn't see myself doing this, but okay. 274 00:14:33,750 --> 00:14:35,929 And then all of a sudden it leads to something else. 275 00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:37,450 And then to something else. 276 00:14:37,629 --> 00:14:38,950 And before you know it, 277 00:14:38,950 --> 00:14:42,309 well, I never thought I'd see myself doing these things. 278 00:14:42,870 --> 00:14:43,990 But we have to start with, 279 00:14:44,330 --> 00:14:47,590 why was Stephen chosen to serve tables? 280 00:14:47,750 --> 00:14:50,690 Like you think it's such a, just grab anybody, okay? 281 00:14:51,230 --> 00:14:55,730 I mean, they're widows and they take anything. 282 00:14:56,190 --> 00:14:58,210 No, no, it doesn't go that way, right? 283 00:14:58,669 --> 00:15:00,590 They want someone spirit-filled. 284 00:15:01,309 --> 00:15:03,750 Why was Stephen and the other six chosen? 285 00:15:03,970 --> 00:15:05,750 Well, it says, first of all, 286 00:15:05,750 --> 00:15:11,049 he is full of faith and the Holy Spirit, you know? 287 00:15:11,549 --> 00:15:15,070 And later it says he was full of faith and power. 288 00:15:16,169 --> 00:15:20,450 The more you say yes to God, the more you are empowered. 289 00:15:20,870 --> 00:15:21,889 Did you ever notice that? 290 00:15:22,149 --> 00:15:24,830 Like, you know, when you say yes to the small things, 291 00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:27,769 all of a sudden you realize that the Lord 292 00:15:27,769 --> 00:15:29,509 is really upon me right now. 293 00:15:29,570 --> 00:15:31,870 He's anointing me for even this little task. 294 00:15:32,129 --> 00:15:33,750 And suddenly there's another task, 295 00:15:33,750 --> 00:15:35,490 and then there's another task, you know? 296 00:15:35,750 --> 00:15:37,169 And he's growing you. 297 00:15:37,730 --> 00:15:40,789 In fact, you know, it's true that, you know, 298 00:15:40,950 --> 00:15:45,129 when you do a good job, you're asked to do more jobs, okay? 299 00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:47,350 That's why when Jill asked me to do the dishes, 300 00:15:47,929 --> 00:15:49,370 I make sure I don't fully clean. 301 00:15:49,389 --> 00:15:49,769 No, I'm kidding. 302 00:15:50,429 --> 00:15:51,009 I do that. 303 00:15:52,750 --> 00:15:54,750 No, I'm a good cleaner, aren't I? 304 00:15:55,110 --> 00:15:56,649 I do, I'm a good cleaner. 305 00:15:57,190 --> 00:15:58,669 But, no, really, but, you know, 306 00:15:58,850 --> 00:16:00,169 because they say that's the, 307 00:16:00,330 --> 00:16:01,809 you know what I've actually seen this is, 308 00:16:01,809 --> 00:16:04,610 I'm just saying, in a lot of churches, what happens, 309 00:16:04,789 --> 00:16:06,490 and I'm so glad it's not this church. 310 00:16:07,049 --> 00:16:11,429 I've been in churches that there's like phenomenal people 311 00:16:11,429 --> 00:16:13,389 that are just great at everything, okay? 312 00:16:14,649 --> 00:16:18,450 And they're just, they're asked to do more and more 313 00:16:18,450 --> 00:16:20,289 and more and more and more and more. 314 00:16:20,490 --> 00:16:21,909 And before you know it, 315 00:16:22,210 --> 00:16:24,830 all the jobs are being taken by a few. 316 00:16:25,429 --> 00:16:28,289 Like, they say 10%, 90% of the work is done 317 00:16:28,289 --> 00:16:29,889 by 10% of the people. 318 00:16:29,889 --> 00:16:33,350 I think that's in every, in every, in every sector, 319 00:16:33,769 --> 00:16:36,370 but especially in the church because they do it well. 320 00:16:36,470 --> 00:16:38,830 But what happens is they're not leaving room 321 00:16:38,830 --> 00:16:41,649 for other people to step into roles 322 00:16:42,169 --> 00:16:44,029 and say, you know, I'll try that. 323 00:16:44,169 --> 00:16:47,029 I won't do it as good as that person, but I'll try it. 324 00:16:47,509 --> 00:16:49,830 And that's what happens when you start saying yes, 325 00:16:50,529 --> 00:16:52,789 you mess up, but guess what? 326 00:16:53,529 --> 00:16:54,490 All of a sudden you learn 327 00:16:54,490 --> 00:16:56,710 and you get better for the next time. 328 00:16:56,909 --> 00:16:58,690 You know, we've all been through these things. 329 00:16:58,690 --> 00:17:01,269 Anything you do for the first time, you're never good at, 330 00:17:01,409 --> 00:17:02,309 let's face it, right? 331 00:17:02,690 --> 00:17:04,789 Even if you're exceptional, you still mess up. 332 00:17:05,529 --> 00:17:08,970 And so that's the idea is we've all experienced these things. 333 00:17:09,230 --> 00:17:11,289 So he was full of faith and just said, yes, 334 00:17:11,450 --> 00:17:12,910 I will serve tables. 335 00:17:13,470 --> 00:17:16,250 These Hellenists, widows, you know, 336 00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:17,769 and by the way, I'll just explain. 337 00:17:18,190 --> 00:17:21,529 Hellenists, they were Greek speaking Jews, okay? 338 00:17:21,970 --> 00:17:24,369 As opposed to Hebrew speaking Jews. 339 00:17:24,589 --> 00:17:27,589 So there was probably a little kind of vibe of, 340 00:17:27,589 --> 00:17:30,410 I can't really figure you out yet, you know? 341 00:17:30,750 --> 00:17:33,230 They weren't from around Jerusalem, perhaps. 342 00:17:34,029 --> 00:17:36,750 So, you know, they didn't really understand each other fully. 343 00:17:37,109 --> 00:17:40,809 So naturally there would be this cultural rub, you know? 344 00:17:41,250 --> 00:17:44,130 And you see that in churches all the time today, right? 345 00:17:44,430 --> 00:17:45,390 There's rubs. 346 00:17:45,549 --> 00:17:48,829 You came from this background, I came from this background. 347 00:17:49,210 --> 00:17:51,009 You know, there's a little rub, but you know what? 348 00:17:51,210 --> 00:17:53,589 Don't you love that we're living stones, okay? 349 00:17:54,170 --> 00:17:56,089 You ever hear this comparison, this analogy, 350 00:17:56,089 --> 00:17:58,910 where the church, we're each living stones 351 00:17:58,910 --> 00:18:01,829 and we all have jagged edges, okay? 352 00:18:02,190 --> 00:18:05,089 But for us to fit in together and build the church, 353 00:18:05,470 --> 00:18:07,529 we got to rub off on each other, all right? 354 00:18:07,529 --> 00:18:10,130 We got to sand each other's rough edges down 355 00:18:10,130 --> 00:18:14,089 so that we become smooth, so that we fit in to the walls, 356 00:18:14,809 --> 00:18:16,349 the building of the church. 357 00:18:16,890 --> 00:18:19,089 But anyway, so he was filled with the Spirit. 358 00:18:19,269 --> 00:18:20,490 If you don't mind putting that up again, 359 00:18:21,490 --> 00:18:22,470 thank you so much. 360 00:18:22,470 --> 00:18:25,930 And the next thing, he is open to God's leading. 361 00:18:26,769 --> 00:18:28,609 You know, the door was opening and he said, 362 00:18:28,890 --> 00:18:30,569 all right, I'll do it, okay? 363 00:18:30,849 --> 00:18:31,869 There's an opportunity. 364 00:18:32,390 --> 00:18:34,490 He was open to God's leading. 365 00:18:35,309 --> 00:18:39,509 And the next thing is he says yes to small things. 366 00:18:39,670 --> 00:18:42,509 I love in Zechariah, it actually says that, you know, 367 00:18:42,670 --> 00:18:45,690 don't be grudged, don't despise small beginnings. 368 00:18:46,710 --> 00:18:48,509 You know, everything starts small. 369 00:18:48,630 --> 00:18:49,369 I mean, think about it. 370 00:18:49,369 --> 00:18:52,450 Like the Lord didn't choose Moses 371 00:18:52,450 --> 00:18:54,210 when he was the prince of Egypt. 372 00:18:55,410 --> 00:18:56,769 He had to get him out of there 373 00:18:56,769 --> 00:18:59,269 and he chose him when he was a shepherd in the desert 374 00:18:59,269 --> 00:19:01,470 for a bunch of sheep, right? 375 00:19:02,210 --> 00:19:07,089 And so he chooses, David was not the first, the oldest son. 376 00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:08,630 He was the youngest son 377 00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:10,630 and he wasn't even considered by his dad. 378 00:19:11,029 --> 00:19:12,849 That's what the Lord loves to do. 379 00:19:13,049 --> 00:19:16,569 He loves to choose those that you would never consider. 380 00:19:16,750 --> 00:19:17,910 He's like, yeah, that's the one. 381 00:19:17,910 --> 00:19:19,309 That's the one for me. 382 00:19:19,650 --> 00:19:21,309 Because watch what I do through them. 383 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:23,529 And that's what boggles everyone's mind. 384 00:19:24,029 --> 00:19:24,930 I love what Paul says. 385 00:19:25,130 --> 00:19:28,230 None of you were fantastic when you were chosen, okay? 386 00:19:28,490 --> 00:19:30,049 You all had a lot of problems 387 00:19:30,630 --> 00:19:33,470 and yet that's to prove how glorious God is, 388 00:19:33,470 --> 00:19:35,630 that he would actually choose broken vessels, 389 00:19:36,170 --> 00:19:40,730 clay vessels to carry his wonderful, glorious power, amen? 390 00:19:41,670 --> 00:19:43,430 And so this is the first thing, 391 00:19:43,569 --> 00:19:46,690 is that growth creates opportunity 392 00:19:46,690 --> 00:19:49,890 and it's really, I've seen it in my life. 393 00:19:51,509 --> 00:19:54,390 I've shared this, I'll just say it real quick, 394 00:19:54,509 --> 00:19:57,130 a short testimony of how I ended up here. 395 00:19:57,849 --> 00:20:03,130 I mean, first of all, you know, I wasn't ever a teacher, 396 00:20:03,250 --> 00:20:05,470 didn't go to seminary back then. 397 00:20:05,990 --> 00:20:09,670 And I just was in worship at our church, 398 00:20:09,970 --> 00:20:11,869 at our previous church and the last church. 399 00:20:12,470 --> 00:20:13,710 And all of a sudden opening, 400 00:20:13,710 --> 00:20:17,230 Jesse was in fifth and sixth grade youth group. 401 00:20:18,009 --> 00:20:19,609 And so I wanted to be around him, 402 00:20:20,210 --> 00:20:21,690 Zach already moved on. 403 00:20:22,190 --> 00:20:23,170 And so they said, you know, 404 00:20:23,309 --> 00:20:25,710 we need a helper in fifth and sixth grade. 405 00:20:26,049 --> 00:20:28,609 And I'm like, all right, I want to be around Jesse, 406 00:20:28,710 --> 00:20:29,769 I'll do that, okay? 407 00:20:30,269 --> 00:20:31,849 And so before you know it, 408 00:20:32,170 --> 00:20:33,829 the leader of fifth and sixth grade, 409 00:20:33,829 --> 00:20:37,369 he stepped down for kinds of different reasons. 410 00:20:37,809 --> 00:20:39,369 And he said, you should ask Chris 411 00:20:39,369 --> 00:20:41,849 because he teaches sometimes, he'll be good. 412 00:20:41,849 --> 00:20:44,089 They asked me, I'm like, okay. 413 00:20:44,789 --> 00:20:45,990 And all of a sudden I'm doing that. 414 00:20:46,230 --> 00:20:49,210 And I went on a couple junior high missions trips. 415 00:20:49,869 --> 00:20:53,910 And all of a sudden the junior high pastor stepped down. 416 00:20:54,890 --> 00:20:57,109 You should ask Chris, okay. 417 00:20:57,690 --> 00:20:59,049 I mean, it was just, I was just asked. 418 00:20:59,230 --> 00:20:59,769 I'm like, okay. 419 00:21:00,150 --> 00:21:02,970 I just kept saying yes, senior high, yes. 420 00:21:03,390 --> 00:21:05,789 Before I knew it, it was like getting carried away 421 00:21:05,789 --> 00:21:09,930 because I was asked to like oversee children's and youth. 422 00:21:09,930 --> 00:21:11,789 And I'm like, this isn't really my thing. 423 00:21:12,690 --> 00:21:15,369 And I'm not an administrator, it's too much. 424 00:21:15,769 --> 00:21:18,990 And that's when we realized the Lord was moving us out. 425 00:21:19,369 --> 00:21:22,130 And our pastor was so gracious about it. 426 00:21:22,269 --> 00:21:24,069 He says, okay, we don't want to see you go. 427 00:21:24,269 --> 00:21:25,549 But if that's what the Lord's saying, 428 00:21:26,250 --> 00:21:28,710 we're going to lay hands on you and send you out. 429 00:21:28,950 --> 00:21:29,930 And that's what he did. 430 00:21:30,109 --> 00:21:32,470 But we all have stories like this, 431 00:21:32,549 --> 00:21:34,809 that when you say yes to little things, 432 00:21:35,170 --> 00:21:37,390 before you know it, you're like, how did I get here? 433 00:21:37,869 --> 00:21:39,089 Oh, how did I get here? 434 00:21:39,089 --> 00:21:41,210 You know, I haven't shared this with many of you, 435 00:21:41,269 --> 00:21:44,250 but I'll just share it now because it's kind of interesting. 436 00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:48,390 But I'm going for my doctorate in ministry, my D-men. 437 00:21:48,490 --> 00:21:49,970 That's a bad word to say. 438 00:21:50,250 --> 00:21:51,490 I'm going for my D-men. 439 00:21:51,869 --> 00:21:55,670 No, my D-men, doctorate ministry. 440 00:21:56,069 --> 00:21:58,789 But you know, and I only say it not to say, 441 00:21:59,190 --> 00:22:01,210 it's really because a lot of people say, 442 00:22:01,349 --> 00:22:02,029 why are you doing that? 443 00:22:02,150 --> 00:22:04,569 Like at this point in your life, what's the point? 444 00:22:05,329 --> 00:22:07,710 Because I love, I love learning. 445 00:22:07,710 --> 00:22:09,069 I love the challenge. 446 00:22:09,470 --> 00:22:11,630 And, you know, I don't always love working that much, 447 00:22:11,650 --> 00:22:13,569 but it's a challenge. 448 00:22:13,789 --> 00:22:14,549 It's growth. 449 00:22:14,849 --> 00:22:16,569 It's personal growth. 450 00:22:17,130 --> 00:22:19,970 You know, it's refining me. 451 00:22:20,109 --> 00:22:22,910 And it's like, we're never done in this life, right? 452 00:22:23,150 --> 00:22:24,630 Until the Lord calls us home. 453 00:22:24,910 --> 00:22:29,450 Why not press on and grow more and learn more? 454 00:22:29,509 --> 00:22:31,410 It's a good thing to grow, right? 455 00:22:31,970 --> 00:22:34,789 And so, you know, that's just an encouragement to everyone 456 00:22:34,789 --> 00:22:36,250 that just never say never. 457 00:22:36,250 --> 00:22:37,250 It's funny. 458 00:22:37,589 --> 00:22:41,349 You know who actually encouraged me to go on to one of the voices, 459 00:22:41,710 --> 00:22:46,410 but PB, Bill Devlin, Pastor Bill Devlin. 460 00:22:47,369 --> 00:22:49,750 He got his doctorate at, I think, like 72. 461 00:22:50,769 --> 00:22:53,150 And he says, I'm the longest student they've ever had. 462 00:22:54,049 --> 00:22:56,109 I think he said, I think it took him like 10 years or so, 463 00:22:56,250 --> 00:22:57,589 just because he's so busy. 464 00:22:57,769 --> 00:22:59,069 He's in Nigeria. 465 00:22:59,529 --> 00:23:00,130 He's in Cuba. 466 00:23:00,549 --> 00:23:02,549 He's all over the place, right? 467 00:23:03,190 --> 00:23:03,569 Serving the Lord. 468 00:23:03,710 --> 00:23:04,470 He finally finished. 469 00:23:04,470 --> 00:23:06,970 But he said, you know, go for it. 470 00:23:07,049 --> 00:23:07,630 You know what I'm like? 471 00:23:08,170 --> 00:23:10,470 So, but it's, it's, we just, it's all about growth. 472 00:23:11,369 --> 00:23:11,569 Amen. 473 00:23:12,329 --> 00:23:15,089 And the more you just say yes, suddenly more opportunities. 474 00:23:15,410 --> 00:23:16,970 I found some interesting quotes. 475 00:23:17,170 --> 00:23:20,730 I figured that we'd post up here is one opportunity. 476 00:23:21,049 --> 00:23:23,029 Thomas Edison said this, it's funny. 477 00:23:23,990 --> 00:23:25,490 And it definitely was in my life. 478 00:23:25,650 --> 00:23:28,930 He said, opportunity is missed by most people because it is 479 00:23:28,930 --> 00:23:32,049 dressed in overalls and looks like work. 480 00:23:32,870 --> 00:23:34,730 Can you relate to that? 481 00:23:35,470 --> 00:23:37,690 I don't know about you, but that's a lot of the time. 482 00:23:37,990 --> 00:23:39,190 Like you want me to do what? 483 00:23:39,730 --> 00:23:41,690 Oh, you know, I don't know. 484 00:23:41,829 --> 00:23:43,029 That doesn't look like fun. 485 00:23:43,569 --> 00:23:43,829 Okay. 486 00:23:44,450 --> 00:23:48,890 The next is luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. 487 00:23:49,450 --> 00:23:52,190 I believe that your Steven was prayed up. 488 00:23:52,430 --> 00:23:54,049 He was filled with the Holy Spirit. 489 00:23:54,190 --> 00:23:56,769 He was loaded with faith opportunity. 490 00:23:57,289 --> 00:23:59,190 Just the door opens. 491 00:23:59,190 --> 00:24:04,549 The next one is opportunities often found at the intersection of God's 492 00:24:04,549 --> 00:24:07,309 calling and our availability. 493 00:24:08,049 --> 00:24:08,589 Isn't that true? 494 00:24:09,369 --> 00:24:12,990 God is not always looking for the most talented person. 495 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:14,069 That's certainly with me. 496 00:24:14,549 --> 00:24:18,269 He is often looking for the most available person. 497 00:24:18,430 --> 00:24:20,089 Just I'm here. 498 00:24:20,930 --> 00:24:21,529 I'll do it. 499 00:24:21,869 --> 00:24:22,029 Right. 500 00:24:22,769 --> 00:24:24,630 And then finally, when opportunity knocks, 501 00:24:24,630 --> 00:24:29,589 God frequently uses those who are already standing near the door, 502 00:24:30,589 --> 00:24:32,210 you know, and that's all of us. 503 00:24:32,349 --> 00:24:34,650 He's trying to recruit anyone that will come. 504 00:24:34,730 --> 00:24:39,049 Just like that guy who is standing there on the 11th hour of the harvest 505 00:24:39,049 --> 00:24:40,549 saying, what are you doing standing there? 506 00:24:40,690 --> 00:24:41,150 I don't know. 507 00:24:41,390 --> 00:24:42,170 Nobody invited me. 508 00:24:42,490 --> 00:24:44,289 Well, get on in here and start working. 509 00:24:44,490 --> 00:24:44,690 Right. 510 00:24:45,150 --> 00:24:46,150 And that's what he wants. 511 00:24:46,150 --> 00:24:48,369 All of us all hands on deck. 512 00:24:48,990 --> 00:24:50,829 He's just calling all of us to serve. 513 00:24:50,829 --> 00:24:59,730 So, again, you know, growth definitely creates opportunity. 514 00:25:00,589 --> 00:25:05,210 Next thing I'd like to share is growth activates opposition. 515 00:25:06,390 --> 00:25:06,970 Okay. 516 00:25:07,849 --> 00:25:11,170 And that's certainly the case, isn't it? 517 00:25:11,450 --> 00:25:16,269 Because when good things, we've seen it so far several times. 518 00:25:16,529 --> 00:25:16,549 Right. 519 00:25:16,849 --> 00:25:18,069 People are getting saved. 520 00:25:18,470 --> 00:25:19,710 There's people getting healed. 521 00:25:19,710 --> 00:25:23,069 There's people getting delivered from demonic oppression, 522 00:25:23,170 --> 00:25:24,849 which by the way, still exists today. 523 00:25:25,589 --> 00:25:29,490 We might call it other things like they have this syndrome. 524 00:25:29,650 --> 00:25:31,210 They have this condition. 525 00:25:31,589 --> 00:25:33,569 Just give them more pills or give them this. 526 00:25:33,869 --> 00:25:38,170 I'm not saying there's mental, you know, there are mental illnesses 527 00:25:38,170 --> 00:25:41,789 and all that, but I'm saying there is still the, you know, 528 00:25:42,109 --> 00:25:46,609 Jesus Christ is the same today, same yesterday, today and forever. 529 00:25:46,609 --> 00:25:48,089 You know who also is? 530 00:25:49,049 --> 00:25:51,130 The devil, but he's not forever. 531 00:25:52,329 --> 00:25:54,470 He has the same tactics he's always done. 532 00:25:55,750 --> 00:26:00,410 He loves, he loves stealing, killing and destroying. 533 00:26:01,369 --> 00:26:04,970 He loves separating you from your calling. 534 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:09,410 He loves blocking you from saying yes. 535 00:26:09,609 --> 00:26:10,829 He wants it to be a no. 536 00:26:11,470 --> 00:26:14,170 Well, you keep saying no or maybe, guess what? 537 00:26:14,170 --> 00:26:18,650 You never step in to that sweet spot of your life 538 00:26:18,650 --> 00:26:21,130 that God has already planned for you in advance. 539 00:26:21,329 --> 00:26:23,910 Like we read in Ephesians chapter two verse 10, 540 00:26:24,049 --> 00:26:26,609 like the workmanship that he created you to be, 541 00:26:26,809 --> 00:26:28,450 when you're listening to the enemy, 542 00:26:28,529 --> 00:26:31,750 you never actually step into that 543 00:26:31,750 --> 00:26:34,609 because you're saying no or maybe, 544 00:26:35,230 --> 00:26:37,470 but he's always yes and amen, right? 545 00:26:37,910 --> 00:26:39,069 When we do things in Christ, 546 00:26:39,490 --> 00:26:42,849 the answer is yes and amen, the enemy. 547 00:26:42,849 --> 00:26:45,609 And you know, this is for each one of us. 548 00:26:46,009 --> 00:26:51,410 The enemy loves to have his way with our thoughts, our heart. 549 00:26:52,230 --> 00:26:56,309 He loves penetrating those things to separate us. 550 00:26:56,670 --> 00:26:58,009 You know, you see in the back, and what? 551 00:26:59,329 --> 00:27:01,630 He will flee. He's going to run from you. 552 00:27:01,970 --> 00:27:04,329 That means like, no, no, I'm over here devil. 553 00:27:04,650 --> 00:27:07,750 I'm with, I'm in my spot with the Lord. 554 00:27:07,990 --> 00:27:10,329 I'm carrying out my calling. 555 00:27:10,990 --> 00:27:12,430 You can't touch me. 556 00:27:12,930 --> 00:27:15,549 I'm right where I'm meant to be. 557 00:27:16,289 --> 00:27:18,109 You can't, you know, Jesus said, 558 00:27:18,349 --> 00:27:22,029 the enemy has nothing in me and we are in Christ, right? 559 00:27:22,329 --> 00:27:24,269 So he can't do anything to us 560 00:27:24,269 --> 00:27:26,589 unless we let him or invite him in. 561 00:27:27,049 --> 00:27:29,950 And so, you know, the enemy often is within 562 00:27:29,950 --> 00:27:31,430 playing with our thoughts and minds. 563 00:27:31,829 --> 00:27:33,450 He's often in the church. 564 00:27:34,410 --> 00:27:35,630 He penetrates the church. 565 00:27:35,769 --> 00:27:36,849 We just saw this, you know, 566 00:27:36,930 --> 00:27:40,170 this trauma started in the church 567 00:27:40,170 --> 00:27:41,269 Think about it. 568 00:27:41,569 --> 00:27:44,890 So people were getting saved, healed, delivered, 569 00:27:45,009 --> 00:27:46,890 all these things leading up to this point. 570 00:27:47,369 --> 00:27:50,049 What happens every time something great happens? 571 00:27:50,929 --> 00:27:53,869 Problems, problems, right? 572 00:27:54,210 --> 00:27:57,369 The enemy starts stoking the Sadducees, 573 00:27:57,470 --> 00:27:59,109 the Pharisees, the scribes, and all. 574 00:27:59,470 --> 00:28:03,029 It's like into envy, into all these things, right? 575 00:28:03,430 --> 00:28:06,769 And they arrest them, okay? 576 00:28:07,190 --> 00:28:08,450 They beat them. 577 00:28:09,049 --> 00:28:10,589 Soon they're gonna kill them. 578 00:28:10,869 --> 00:28:13,029 We're gonna read in Stephen in a week or two 579 00:28:13,029 --> 00:28:14,970 that he actually gets stoned to death. 580 00:28:15,670 --> 00:28:19,869 They're gonna ramp up more and more division 581 00:28:21,210 --> 00:28:22,289 for the church. 582 00:28:22,609 --> 00:28:25,289 But it's sad when it happens in the church. 583 00:28:26,170 --> 00:28:26,829 And it does. 584 00:28:27,029 --> 00:28:28,710 This happened in the church 585 00:28:28,710 --> 00:28:33,630 because our widows aren't getting fed properly, okay? 586 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:35,549 All right, well, let's work it out. 587 00:28:35,809 --> 00:28:37,910 Well, then Stephen comes on the scene. 588 00:28:37,910 --> 00:28:41,569 Why is Stephen trying to teach us, okay? 589 00:28:42,170 --> 00:28:43,430 Who says he's our teacher? 590 00:28:43,690 --> 00:28:49,609 And maybe I am paraphrasing or surmising some things, 591 00:28:50,009 --> 00:28:52,910 but certainly there's some envy going on in here. 592 00:28:53,269 --> 00:28:55,069 Stephen, you're a waiter. 593 00:28:55,869 --> 00:28:57,450 Why are you teaching us? 594 00:28:58,029 --> 00:28:59,369 Who gives you the right? 595 00:28:59,670 --> 00:29:01,289 You know, wisdom comes from anyone 596 00:29:01,289 --> 00:29:02,549 who's spending time with the Lord. 597 00:29:03,089 --> 00:29:04,829 We're all wise, you know? 598 00:29:05,210 --> 00:29:05,849 That's what's great. 599 00:29:05,849 --> 00:29:08,130 Wednesday nights, when you come on Wednesday night, 600 00:29:08,490 --> 00:29:11,109 we hear the word most Wednesday nights 601 00:29:11,109 --> 00:29:13,930 and then we break into small groups 602 00:29:13,930 --> 00:29:15,910 and we talk about the word. 603 00:29:16,369 --> 00:29:19,329 And it's amazing how enlightened you can be 604 00:29:19,329 --> 00:29:21,289 just from someone you're sitting next to 605 00:29:21,289 --> 00:29:22,850 as they're sharing their perspective 606 00:29:23,529 --> 00:29:26,269 and what they've learned and their journey with the Lord 607 00:29:26,269 --> 00:29:29,109 because iron sharpens iron, right? 608 00:29:29,789 --> 00:29:33,109 Faith feeds faith and we empower one another. 609 00:29:33,109 --> 00:29:35,869 We encourage one another in all this. 610 00:29:36,210 --> 00:29:39,430 And so, yeah, we really want to be careful 611 00:29:39,430 --> 00:29:43,190 of what the enemy is trying to do. 612 00:29:45,130 --> 00:29:49,190 In fact, we're worn quite often in Scripture. 613 00:29:49,970 --> 00:29:54,210 And I have a bunch of verses lined up together, 614 00:29:54,529 --> 00:29:58,470 but it's reminding us how if I have unforgiveness, 615 00:29:59,450 --> 00:30:00,769 the enemy can get in there. 616 00:30:00,769 --> 00:30:05,690 If I am bitter with someone, the enemy can get in there. 617 00:30:05,910 --> 00:30:09,450 If I am disappointed and hold a grudge, 618 00:30:09,730 --> 00:30:11,170 the enemy can get in there. 619 00:30:11,289 --> 00:30:13,170 That's what happens inside the church. 620 00:30:13,890 --> 00:30:15,730 Oh, I wasn't given that opportunity. 621 00:30:15,890 --> 00:30:17,430 I wasn't given that position. 622 00:30:18,250 --> 00:30:19,490 I'm not being noticed. 623 00:30:19,650 --> 00:30:22,849 I'm not being appreciated, you know, whatever it is. 624 00:30:23,190 --> 00:30:24,670 And there's so much bitterness. 625 00:30:25,469 --> 00:30:27,670 And then all of a sudden the... 626 00:30:32,229 --> 00:30:33,490 You know, I don't know. 627 00:30:33,589 --> 00:30:34,529 That's gossip, by the way. 628 00:30:34,890 --> 00:30:36,289 It doesn't make any sense to me, 629 00:30:36,450 --> 00:30:37,910 but that's what it's supposed to be. 630 00:30:38,390 --> 00:30:40,269 You know, did you notice? 631 00:30:40,549 --> 00:30:41,970 This is probably better, okay? 632 00:30:42,289 --> 00:30:43,609 I didn't think this through too much. 633 00:30:44,170 --> 00:30:44,970 Did you notice that? 634 00:30:45,369 --> 00:30:47,769 And all of a sudden, it's the murmuring, 635 00:30:48,849 --> 00:30:50,630 the murmuring, the gossiping. 636 00:30:50,630 --> 00:30:52,650 In fact, the word says it's like tasty morsels. 637 00:30:52,650 --> 00:30:54,349 It's like fondue. 638 00:30:54,710 --> 00:30:57,549 You're dipping it in the chocolate or whatever. 639 00:30:57,970 --> 00:31:02,650 It's like, you know, we can get high on gossip. 640 00:31:03,609 --> 00:31:06,029 We can get high on like, oh, really? 641 00:31:06,650 --> 00:31:07,609 Yeah, yeah, you know. 642 00:31:08,029 --> 00:31:10,670 In fact, be honest, when people come from other churches 643 00:31:10,670 --> 00:31:12,829 and they're like, oh, the problem, like, 644 00:31:13,150 --> 00:31:15,569 you know, I would rather just be naive. 645 00:31:16,349 --> 00:31:19,250 And unless it has an impact on, 646 00:31:19,250 --> 00:31:23,250 like, I don't need to hear, you know, what's going on there, 647 00:31:23,309 --> 00:31:25,109 I'd rather just stay out of it, you know, 648 00:31:25,390 --> 00:31:26,829 unless I can help. 649 00:31:27,410 --> 00:31:30,109 But like, just hearing things, what does that accomplish, really? 650 00:31:30,430 --> 00:31:34,410 And by the way, there's always three stories, okay? 651 00:31:34,990 --> 00:31:41,250 Mine, my paradigm, your paradigm, and God's paradigm. 652 00:31:41,569 --> 00:31:42,430 The real one. 653 00:31:43,269 --> 00:31:44,890 We're probably both a little wrong. 654 00:31:45,289 --> 00:31:47,250 And he's always right, right? 655 00:31:47,250 --> 00:31:49,869 So no matter how we're both seeing it, 656 00:31:49,869 --> 00:31:53,869 it's probably not the accurate way to see it anyway, right? 657 00:31:54,329 --> 00:31:56,150 But anyway, this division. 658 00:31:56,549 --> 00:31:58,589 And then before you know it, this is what's really sad. 659 00:31:58,970 --> 00:32:00,490 It doesn't end in the church. 660 00:32:01,029 --> 00:32:05,089 They go outside the church and start telling on Stephen 661 00:32:05,089 --> 00:32:10,049 and going to unbelievers and saying, he's saying this, 662 00:32:10,269 --> 00:32:13,990 he's saying that, he's blaspheming Moses and the temple 663 00:32:13,990 --> 00:32:14,910 and all that. 664 00:32:14,930 --> 00:32:16,430 He's going outside the church. 665 00:32:16,430 --> 00:32:19,730 I mean, that is like, we're told, why would you go 666 00:32:19,730 --> 00:32:25,410 to a court of unbelievers to settle a matter with believers? 667 00:32:26,210 --> 00:32:29,490 Like, that is just, that's foolish. 668 00:32:30,170 --> 00:32:39,289 You're asking the world to solve your spiritual solution. 669 00:32:39,930 --> 00:32:41,650 And they can't, right? 670 00:32:41,650 --> 00:32:44,750 Now, I will say, just because I think I should, 671 00:32:47,009 --> 00:32:51,509 when it comes to anything in children's ministry 672 00:32:51,509 --> 00:32:54,289 or anything that could result in harm of anyone, 673 00:32:54,630 --> 00:32:58,109 I just want to let you know, we don't handle anything interior. 674 00:32:58,990 --> 00:33:02,049 If we hear anything about a child situation, 675 00:33:02,430 --> 00:33:03,930 which we've never, praise the Lord. 676 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:08,009 We've never had any problem with anything that is, 677 00:33:08,150 --> 00:33:09,650 I don't even know what you're going to call it, 678 00:33:09,650 --> 00:33:11,509 abuse or whatever in this church. 679 00:33:11,890 --> 00:33:12,509 Praise the Lord. 680 00:33:12,809 --> 00:33:15,170 We have such great background checks. 681 00:33:15,890 --> 00:33:18,069 We fully, like, we don't trust anybody. 682 00:33:18,250 --> 00:33:18,970 They don't trust me. 683 00:33:19,289 --> 00:33:19,670 I'm just saying. 684 00:33:19,930 --> 00:33:22,930 No, we really, trust but verify. 685 00:33:23,190 --> 00:33:24,609 We all have background checks. 686 00:33:25,009 --> 00:33:29,509 We all have like, because we need to be fully sure 687 00:33:29,509 --> 00:33:32,990 who we're employing in this church body to take care 688 00:33:32,990 --> 00:33:37,390 of the saints and especially children are okay. 689 00:33:37,390 --> 00:33:37,890 Okay? 690 00:33:38,450 --> 00:33:41,150 Or are supposed to be there, right? 691 00:33:41,690 --> 00:33:43,769 And if we've ever, we've been trained that if anything 692 00:33:43,769 --> 00:33:45,549 ever happens that you hear about, 693 00:33:45,809 --> 00:33:47,549 you call the authorities like that. 694 00:33:48,630 --> 00:33:52,390 Because so many churches have foolishly believed 695 00:33:52,930 --> 00:33:55,650 what someone's side of the story is 696 00:33:55,650 --> 00:33:58,289 and allowed things to go on. 697 00:33:58,450 --> 00:33:59,670 And we don't do that here. 698 00:33:59,990 --> 00:34:01,609 And we were trained at our old church 699 00:34:01,609 --> 00:34:05,549 by really tremendous ministers of all this. 700 00:34:05,549 --> 00:34:08,070 In fact, it's actually Billy Graham's nephew 701 00:34:08,070 --> 00:34:11,469 has a whole ministry about protecting youth 702 00:34:11,469 --> 00:34:15,469 from abuse in churches, right? 703 00:34:15,869 --> 00:34:18,849 So anyway, I wanted to say that because it's important, 704 00:34:19,030 --> 00:34:21,429 you know, but most of the time, you know, 705 00:34:21,630 --> 00:34:22,650 we shouldn't be going out. 706 00:34:22,750 --> 00:34:23,829 It's like social media. 707 00:34:24,170 --> 00:34:25,530 Like, they're going on social media 708 00:34:25,530 --> 00:34:29,730 and broadcasting it into the internet 709 00:34:29,730 --> 00:34:33,409 all the negative things about Christians. 710 00:34:33,409 --> 00:34:37,510 I'm like, like, dude, come on, just solve it in house. 711 00:34:38,429 --> 00:34:40,590 Like talk to the person directly. 712 00:34:41,349 --> 00:34:43,190 Do you have to like tell unbelievers 713 00:34:43,190 --> 00:34:44,869 how screwed up Christians are? 714 00:34:45,449 --> 00:34:45,869 Like, really? 715 00:34:46,130 --> 00:34:47,210 Is that what you want to do? 716 00:34:47,630 --> 00:34:49,929 From your perspective, by the way, right? 717 00:34:50,550 --> 00:34:53,690 Why can't we just walk through these things together 718 00:34:53,690 --> 00:34:55,889 and say, yeah, I totally disagree with that, 719 00:34:56,050 --> 00:34:57,210 but love you anyway, 720 00:34:57,789 --> 00:34:59,750 but let's not put it out on the internet 721 00:34:59,750 --> 00:35:02,909 and demonstrate to the world how we're not unified 722 00:35:02,909 --> 00:35:06,230 in the Spirit of God because they can't grasp 723 00:35:06,230 --> 00:35:08,289 that there's disparities. 724 00:35:08,670 --> 00:35:09,570 I don't know, does that make sense? 725 00:35:10,650 --> 00:35:11,750 But let's move on. 726 00:35:12,289 --> 00:35:14,309 So the final thing, so we, you know, 727 00:35:14,429 --> 00:35:17,369 we realize that there is an apposer, 728 00:35:17,510 --> 00:35:20,190 there is someone coming against us. 729 00:35:20,989 --> 00:35:21,349 And you know what? 730 00:35:21,389 --> 00:35:22,730 Let me just stick on that another minute 731 00:35:22,730 --> 00:35:24,849 because it's important, you know, 732 00:35:25,070 --> 00:35:27,449 we are down visiting Tevin and Morgan 733 00:35:27,449 --> 00:35:31,949 and our two grandsons in Florida, 734 00:35:31,949 --> 00:35:34,530 Orlando, Florida, we just got back yesterday 735 00:35:34,530 --> 00:35:36,929 and we were at a wedding down there. 736 00:35:37,389 --> 00:35:38,570 But while we were there, you know, 737 00:35:38,949 --> 00:35:42,650 Kingston and Coase, these two grandsons of ours, 738 00:35:43,110 --> 00:35:44,210 I mean, they are tight. 739 00:35:44,670 --> 00:35:45,170 They're tight. 740 00:35:45,730 --> 00:35:47,650 They're less than two years apart. 741 00:35:47,849 --> 00:35:49,489 They're probably, what are they, 18 months? 742 00:35:49,929 --> 00:35:50,349 Something like that. 743 00:35:51,550 --> 00:35:52,949 But they're always together. 744 00:35:53,130 --> 00:35:54,389 They're always doing everything together. 745 00:35:54,769 --> 00:35:56,429 And it's so just adorable. 746 00:35:56,869 --> 00:35:58,969 I mean, they actually, when they're walking down the street 747 00:35:58,969 --> 00:36:00,369 next to their mom, they're holding hands. 748 00:36:00,369 --> 00:36:02,369 Like, it's just so cute, right? 749 00:36:02,889 --> 00:36:04,030 And they're just, you know, 750 00:36:05,730 --> 00:36:09,869 but if Coase tries to play with one of Kingston's toys, 751 00:36:12,130 --> 00:36:13,329 it's go time. 752 00:36:14,710 --> 00:36:15,989 Just like that, right? 753 00:36:16,329 --> 00:36:21,070 Or if Kingston starts to bully Coase, 754 00:36:21,610 --> 00:36:23,050 he's not putting up with it. 755 00:36:23,429 --> 00:36:25,190 So it's all of a sudden before you go, 756 00:36:26,070 --> 00:36:27,010 it's mayhem. 757 00:36:27,269 --> 00:36:28,809 We stayed in their house for five days. 758 00:36:28,809 --> 00:36:30,289 We know, right? 759 00:36:31,690 --> 00:36:32,969 And it's like, but it's fun. 760 00:36:33,030 --> 00:36:34,050 Isn't that every child? 761 00:36:34,829 --> 00:36:37,929 But, you know, some of those traits we don't grow out of, 762 00:36:37,929 --> 00:36:39,809 it just looks differently, okay? 763 00:36:40,389 --> 00:36:43,769 We may not scream to our mommy or go hit the person, 764 00:36:43,769 --> 00:36:46,929 but we still hold these grudges and like, 765 00:36:46,929 --> 00:36:49,170 ah, they took my this, they took my that. 766 00:36:49,489 --> 00:36:52,610 You know, and we could just hold on to things, you know? 767 00:36:53,030 --> 00:36:54,369 And really, the Lord's just saying, 768 00:36:54,409 --> 00:36:56,949 look, love others better than yourself. 769 00:36:57,530 --> 00:36:59,130 If you put them first, 770 00:36:59,750 --> 00:37:02,989 it's easy to get over the fact that they stole your hot wheel. 771 00:37:03,949 --> 00:37:03,989 Okay? 772 00:37:04,489 --> 00:37:05,489 It's, you know, it's okay. 773 00:37:05,690 --> 00:37:08,989 You can move on and love them in spite of that, you know? 774 00:37:09,289 --> 00:37:14,309 Because resistance always comes when good things are happening. 775 00:37:14,429 --> 00:37:15,269 Did you ever notice that? 776 00:37:15,329 --> 00:37:19,610 Because the enemy wants to stop what God is doing. 777 00:37:20,510 --> 00:37:22,630 I was actually thinking about, for some reason, 778 00:37:22,630 --> 00:37:29,949 recently, SpaceX shot off a rocket into space, the Falcon 9, 779 00:37:30,829 --> 00:37:35,730 and it shot off, I think, 29 satellites into space and all this, 780 00:37:35,869 --> 00:37:37,389 and it actually landed again. 781 00:37:37,469 --> 00:37:39,389 That's for the 35th time. 782 00:37:39,610 --> 00:37:44,449 So this is really a good pattern of recyclable rockets, you know? 783 00:37:44,929 --> 00:37:47,590 But anyway, as I was thinking about this, 784 00:37:47,630 --> 00:37:49,030 I saw this picture of it, 785 00:37:49,030 --> 00:37:54,230 and you ever notice, like, a rocket when it's taking off all the resistance? 786 00:37:55,250 --> 00:37:57,670 I mean, it's like an explosion, right? 787 00:37:57,929 --> 00:38:01,309 It's surprising it even leaves the ground and just doesn't blow up. 788 00:38:01,750 --> 00:38:06,010 But all that, because it's trying to push through the atmosphere 789 00:38:06,010 --> 00:38:10,929 and penetrate the atmosphere and leave gravity behind, you know? 790 00:38:11,429 --> 00:38:13,969 And as I was thinking about all that resistance, 791 00:38:14,550 --> 00:38:16,949 a lot of that is just like the church, 792 00:38:16,949 --> 00:38:19,909 when the church is really starting to get to new levels, 793 00:38:19,909 --> 00:38:22,010 like this early church was. 794 00:38:22,570 --> 00:38:24,610 You know, thousands of salvations, 795 00:38:25,349 --> 00:38:30,530 you know, thousands of healings, of deliverances, amazing things. 796 00:38:31,070 --> 00:38:33,530 They're hitting new levels, right? 797 00:38:33,869 --> 00:38:36,909 They're no longer held to the natural realm. 798 00:38:37,210 --> 00:38:38,389 It's a spiritual realm. 799 00:38:38,690 --> 00:38:42,289 They're experiencing kingdom results here on earth. 800 00:38:43,150 --> 00:38:44,650 What do you think is going to happen? 801 00:38:45,590 --> 00:38:47,710 Resistance. Resistance. 802 00:38:49,010 --> 00:38:52,170 It's kind of like the plane we took off on to come back home. 803 00:38:52,650 --> 00:38:54,210 You ever notice right before you're taking off? 804 00:38:54,730 --> 00:38:56,849 I'm thinking, is this thing even going to stay together? 805 00:38:57,130 --> 00:39:01,590 But, you know, once it lifts off, it's like, oh, okay, we got this. 806 00:39:02,050 --> 00:39:05,309 But a lot of times, just before you're going to get to new levels, 807 00:39:05,929 --> 00:39:09,929 the enemy is causing a great deal of resistance. 808 00:39:10,769 --> 00:39:13,349 I found that in my own life so often, 809 00:39:13,349 --> 00:39:16,050 sometimes you just have to keep pushing through. 810 00:39:16,230 --> 00:39:20,389 Winston Churchill said, if you're going through hell, keep going, okay? 811 00:39:20,670 --> 00:39:22,150 There's a light at the end of the tunnel. 812 00:39:22,369 --> 00:39:23,309 But anyway, let's move on. 813 00:39:23,829 --> 00:39:30,329 So finally, the third thing we're looking at is growth requires order. 814 00:39:31,610 --> 00:39:34,789 And, you know, we could say it was kind of like, 815 00:39:35,130 --> 00:39:37,329 it's only people getting served food. 816 00:39:38,010 --> 00:39:39,690 Well, it was important to the widows. 817 00:39:39,690 --> 00:39:43,710 It was important to the Hellenistic Jews. 818 00:39:44,150 --> 00:39:46,650 It was important to the church to keep unity. 819 00:39:47,409 --> 00:39:49,590 I mean, it's important, right? 820 00:39:50,550 --> 00:39:53,050 And it's important to do things right. 821 00:39:54,070 --> 00:39:56,849 And the Lord loves organization. 822 00:39:57,530 --> 00:40:00,269 Yes, the spirit moves, and he said, you know, 823 00:40:00,329 --> 00:40:02,570 you don't know which way it's going to go when the spirit moves. 824 00:40:02,570 --> 00:40:09,110 But he still operates in a sense that is organized. 825 00:40:10,150 --> 00:40:12,090 It's orderly, you know? 826 00:40:12,730 --> 00:40:17,289 And just to remind you of 1 Corinthians 14, 33, and 40, 827 00:40:17,449 --> 00:40:20,730 it says, for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, 828 00:40:21,730 --> 00:40:23,610 as in all the churches of the saints. 829 00:40:24,329 --> 00:40:28,369 But all things should be done decently and in order. 830 00:40:29,230 --> 00:40:31,170 When Paul was setting up all the churches, 831 00:40:31,170 --> 00:40:35,050 he wrote to Titus, and he said, this is why I left you in Crete 832 00:40:35,050 --> 00:40:38,969 so that you might not, I'm sorry, so that you might put 833 00:40:38,969 --> 00:40:43,150 what remained in order and appoint elders 834 00:40:43,150 --> 00:40:45,809 in every town as I directed you. 835 00:40:46,050 --> 00:40:48,349 In other words, order is good. 836 00:40:48,909 --> 00:40:51,489 You know, I plan a lot for messages. 837 00:40:52,010 --> 00:40:53,929 You might say you should have planned longer today. 838 00:40:54,429 --> 00:40:55,590 But, you know, I plan. 839 00:40:56,690 --> 00:41:00,329 But then, I really, once I'm done, I'm done. 840 00:41:00,329 --> 00:41:03,429 And I just come here and whatever the spirit's going to do. 841 00:41:03,690 --> 00:41:09,170 But I still plan enough to have an order in my head. 842 00:41:09,730 --> 00:41:12,210 And if the Lord wants to do something else, he does something else. 843 00:41:12,590 --> 00:41:17,210 But I don't just fall off the tracks and go anywhere 844 00:41:17,210 --> 00:41:18,650 because I plan. 845 00:41:18,829 --> 00:41:20,530 Like, the Lord loves plans. 846 00:41:21,429 --> 00:41:25,030 In fact, you remember when Moses was out in the desert, 847 00:41:25,030 --> 00:41:30,570 and he's judging hundreds and hundreds of disputes per day. 848 00:41:31,510 --> 00:41:33,590 And finally, his father-in-law was really, 849 00:41:33,610 --> 00:41:35,550 must have been hit with some Godly wisdom 850 00:41:35,550 --> 00:41:39,010 because he had his mixed religious background, 851 00:41:39,010 --> 00:41:41,230 but he came out and he honored God 852 00:41:41,230 --> 00:41:42,650 after he saw everything that was happening. 853 00:41:42,929 --> 00:41:44,690 And he said, what are you doing? You're going to kill yourself. 854 00:41:45,250 --> 00:41:46,530 And you're going to kill these people, 855 00:41:46,769 --> 00:41:49,489 trying to judge hundreds of cases per day. 856 00:41:49,949 --> 00:41:52,889 And it's at that point they set up a whole judicial system 857 00:41:52,889 --> 00:41:55,449 of having others also in charge. 858 00:41:55,889 --> 00:41:59,070 Because the Lord realizes it's good to delegate, 859 00:41:59,230 --> 00:42:02,489 it's good to have order and structure in church. 860 00:42:03,329 --> 00:42:05,269 And also, remember when Moses was like, 861 00:42:05,329 --> 00:42:06,789 I can't take these people anymore 862 00:42:06,789 --> 00:42:07,829 when he's leading them in the wilderness. 863 00:42:08,530 --> 00:42:09,409 And what did the Lord do? 864 00:42:09,429 --> 00:42:12,570 He gave the spirit of Moses to 70 other elders 865 00:42:12,570 --> 00:42:14,050 and said, they'll help you. 866 00:42:14,769 --> 00:42:16,630 You can now delegate things. 867 00:42:17,090 --> 00:42:19,909 The Lord loves structure and systems 868 00:42:19,909 --> 00:42:23,949 so that the Holy Spirit can move efficiently. 869 00:42:24,590 --> 00:42:26,630 If we're always trying to relearn things like, 870 00:42:26,769 --> 00:42:28,170 all right, so what are we going to do here today? 871 00:42:28,630 --> 00:42:30,750 You know, like, what's the plan again? 872 00:42:30,989 --> 00:42:31,829 When are we doing worship? 873 00:42:32,670 --> 00:42:34,070 When are we going to do an announcement? 874 00:42:34,630 --> 00:42:35,969 When are we going to, it's mayhem. 875 00:42:36,130 --> 00:42:39,170 And the Holy Spirit can't move through mayhem, right? 876 00:42:39,429 --> 00:42:41,130 Because he likes order. 877 00:42:41,670 --> 00:42:45,369 And in the same way of congregational order, 878 00:42:46,170 --> 00:42:47,590 in an individual's life, 879 00:42:47,590 --> 00:42:49,429 we, I need order. 880 00:42:50,449 --> 00:42:53,789 Like, I can't be up all hours watching weird shows 881 00:42:53,789 --> 00:42:55,309 and getting my mind twisted 882 00:42:55,309 --> 00:42:59,070 and, you know, stuff that is just, you know, 883 00:42:59,250 --> 00:43:01,110 not just bad, just weird, you know, 884 00:43:01,150 --> 00:43:03,789 things that get my mind off track of things. 885 00:43:04,250 --> 00:43:06,570 And then all of a sudden try to go to sleep, right, 886 00:43:07,010 --> 00:43:09,309 and not be thinking about those weird shows. 887 00:43:09,710 --> 00:43:11,309 And then get up early in the morning 888 00:43:11,309 --> 00:43:14,570 and go down and pray and study the Word 889 00:43:14,570 --> 00:43:16,250 and be right, you know. 890 00:43:16,250 --> 00:43:18,630 I mean, we have to have ordered lives. 891 00:43:18,769 --> 00:43:19,909 In fact, the Lord said, you know, 892 00:43:19,989 --> 00:43:24,250 He gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, 893 00:43:24,989 --> 00:43:26,809 or a sound mind, depending on the version. 894 00:43:27,510 --> 00:43:29,949 But that's the idea, having self-discipline. 895 00:43:30,110 --> 00:43:32,309 You know, that's a fruit of the Spirit 896 00:43:32,309 --> 00:43:36,110 and it's a gift of the Spirit, is self-discipline, you know. 897 00:43:36,389 --> 00:43:38,929 He wants us to have structure in our lives 898 00:43:38,929 --> 00:43:41,889 so that the Holy Spirit can move. 899 00:43:42,429 --> 00:43:45,730 If we always have clutter, how can the Spirit move? 900 00:43:45,730 --> 00:43:48,650 Think about how specific He was 901 00:43:48,650 --> 00:43:51,849 when He was designing the tabernacle and the temple. 902 00:43:52,329 --> 00:43:55,130 I mean, down to every little thing. 903 00:43:55,909 --> 00:43:59,230 He had it perfectly designed. Why? 904 00:43:59,650 --> 00:44:01,429 Because the Holy Spirit was gonna be there. 905 00:44:02,130 --> 00:44:05,630 The Holy Spirit wants a clean house. 906 00:44:06,130 --> 00:44:08,989 He wants a house that's ready for Him. 907 00:44:09,309 --> 00:44:10,469 Now, we all have clutter. 908 00:44:11,250 --> 00:44:13,050 Okay, if you look at my office at home, 909 00:44:13,429 --> 00:44:15,110 that's a cluttered office. 910 00:44:15,110 --> 00:44:16,630 I mean, it's a mess, okay. 911 00:44:16,909 --> 00:44:18,489 I'm just admitting, don't tell anyone. 912 00:44:19,030 --> 00:44:20,289 I'm confessing right now. 913 00:44:20,670 --> 00:44:22,110 Confess your sins one to another. 914 00:44:22,710 --> 00:44:26,309 Everything that Jill, every room she's in, that's clear. 915 00:44:26,969 --> 00:44:28,389 Anything I touch is a mess. 916 00:44:28,630 --> 00:44:30,469 That's just the way to the garage, you know. 917 00:44:31,190 --> 00:44:35,309 But, so, but I'm talking about in your heart, 918 00:44:35,909 --> 00:44:40,309 in your mind, in your lifestyle, you know. 919 00:44:40,309 --> 00:44:43,289 Having a clear heart and mind. 920 00:44:43,309 --> 00:44:45,590 Not cluttering it with things, you know. 921 00:44:45,949 --> 00:44:48,449 Because the Lord can't move through clutter. 922 00:44:49,389 --> 00:44:51,469 You know, He can't. 923 00:44:51,469 --> 00:44:54,329 But He'd rather have a clear vessel. 924 00:44:54,789 --> 00:44:56,269 You know, just think about plumbing. 925 00:44:56,730 --> 00:44:59,230 If there's a clog in there, the plumbing doesn't get through. 926 00:44:59,650 --> 00:45:02,250 You know, if we have clogs in our conduit, 927 00:45:02,670 --> 00:45:05,429 the Holy Spirit can't just flush right through. 928 00:45:05,869 --> 00:45:08,929 But when we just say, Lord, I wanna be cleaned out, 929 00:45:08,929 --> 00:45:10,650 that was Stephen, he was clean. 930 00:45:10,949 --> 00:45:13,809 He was ready to be used, amen. 931 00:45:14,550 --> 00:45:16,590 As the worship team comes up, 932 00:45:18,670 --> 00:45:20,449 I just wanna repeat. 933 00:45:23,530 --> 00:45:26,650 Our three things that we talked about today 934 00:45:26,650 --> 00:45:30,630 is that growth creates opportunity. 935 00:45:33,289 --> 00:45:35,869 Growth creates opportunity. 936 00:45:39,070 --> 00:45:44,250 The next thing is, if you have that slide, 937 00:45:44,389 --> 00:45:45,829 there you go, creates opportunity. 938 00:45:45,989 --> 00:45:48,969 The next thing is growth activates opposition. 939 00:45:50,489 --> 00:45:52,809 And growth requires order. 940 00:45:53,730 --> 00:45:56,030 So, when we're thinking about this 941 00:45:56,030 --> 00:45:57,630 for each one of our lives, 942 00:45:59,329 --> 00:46:01,170 if you're walking with the Lord, 943 00:46:01,250 --> 00:46:03,969 He's going to be opening up opportunities. 944 00:46:05,110 --> 00:46:07,949 Because He wants to use your life. 945 00:46:09,769 --> 00:46:13,090 You know, your life has eternal significance. 946 00:46:14,170 --> 00:46:14,630 Now, I don't know about you, 947 00:46:14,710 --> 00:46:18,070 but sometimes that gets me like pretty sober-minded 948 00:46:18,070 --> 00:46:21,090 and wow, like, you know, 949 00:46:21,210 --> 00:46:24,090 at least the mistakes don't get carried into heaven, amen. 950 00:46:25,409 --> 00:46:28,269 Sin does not follow us into heaven, okay? 951 00:46:28,769 --> 00:46:31,010 Neither do possessions, all right? 952 00:46:31,010 --> 00:46:35,269 But, so those will be washed away 953 00:46:35,269 --> 00:46:36,650 and they are washed away. 954 00:46:36,750 --> 00:46:39,150 So we don't carry that with us, right? 955 00:46:39,849 --> 00:46:41,329 And we don't want to. 956 00:46:42,949 --> 00:46:44,969 But the things we do for the Lord, 957 00:46:45,590 --> 00:46:50,289 they pay out eternally, eternal dividends. 958 00:46:51,110 --> 00:46:52,190 That's what they pay out. 959 00:46:53,550 --> 00:46:55,829 And the Lord is saying, look, you are created. 960 00:46:56,269 --> 00:46:58,349 You are my workmanship created. 961 00:46:58,349 --> 00:47:01,150 And if you walk in me, 962 00:47:01,630 --> 00:47:05,050 I will show you the things that I have called you to do. 963 00:47:05,269 --> 00:47:07,989 They might start small and little and insignificant, 964 00:47:08,510 --> 00:47:10,610 but they're going to get more and more challenging. 965 00:47:11,349 --> 00:47:13,769 You're going to have to trust me more and more. 966 00:47:14,409 --> 00:47:17,690 But eventually you're going to say, wow, this is actually fun. 967 00:47:17,869 --> 00:47:18,789 Looking back and saying, 968 00:47:18,829 --> 00:47:20,570 I don't even know who that person was. 969 00:47:21,469 --> 00:47:24,309 I mean, that's why I feel sometimes like, who was that person? 970 00:47:25,210 --> 00:47:27,010 I don't even know who that person was. 971 00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:30,670 Think about maybe what I'll be in another 10 years. 972 00:47:30,989 --> 00:47:32,389 I'll be looking back at today and say, 973 00:47:32,469 --> 00:47:34,190 why did they sit there and listen to me? 974 00:47:35,309 --> 00:47:37,230 I've come a long way since then. 975 00:47:37,730 --> 00:47:41,909 And we're all being refined and transformed. 976 00:47:42,750 --> 00:47:44,269 Growth activates opposition. 977 00:47:44,570 --> 00:47:47,010 Don't be surprised when the devil's coming at you. 978 00:47:47,989 --> 00:47:50,550 That means you're doing something right for the Lord. 979 00:47:50,690 --> 00:47:51,309 Well, I can. 980 00:47:51,570 --> 00:47:52,650 It can mean that. 981 00:47:53,269 --> 00:47:56,409 If you're loaded up with all kinds of sinful behavior, 982 00:47:56,409 --> 00:47:58,389 then that's not why. 983 00:47:58,690 --> 00:48:00,309 It's because you're letting the enemy in. 984 00:48:00,929 --> 00:48:03,730 But if you're serving the Lord, expect opposition. 985 00:48:04,030 --> 00:48:04,989 It's just going to happen. 986 00:48:05,269 --> 00:48:06,010 It's a way of life. 987 00:48:06,110 --> 00:48:08,190 You're like that rocket ship taking off. 988 00:48:08,949 --> 00:48:12,750 You know, it's like for you to distribute those 29 satellites, 989 00:48:13,730 --> 00:48:14,809 you're going to have some friction. 990 00:48:15,369 --> 00:48:15,829 OK. 991 00:48:16,650 --> 00:48:20,070 And then finally, growth requires order. 992 00:48:20,690 --> 00:48:22,170 Get the clutter out of your life. 993 00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:24,730 It's not worth keeping there. 994 00:48:25,309 --> 00:48:28,710 You know, the Lord wants to organize us, you know, 995 00:48:29,050 --> 00:48:31,730 so that we can flow with the Holy Spirit, 996 00:48:31,909 --> 00:48:36,570 that we're not bogged down with the chaos of the world. 997 00:48:36,849 --> 00:48:36,869 Amen. 998 00:48:38,050 --> 00:48:38,809 Let's pray. 999 00:48:39,210 --> 00:48:40,230 Father God, we thank you. 1000 00:48:41,769 --> 00:48:45,210 We thank you, Lord God, that you've called us for great things, 1001 00:48:45,389 --> 00:48:48,690 that you want us to grow in you, Lord. 1002 00:48:49,789 --> 00:48:52,710 We ask you, Lord, to just help us 1003 00:48:52,710 --> 00:48:55,769 see the opportunities that are opening up to us 1004 00:48:55,769 --> 00:48:58,989 so that we could step into them and say yes, Lord. 1005 00:49:01,150 --> 00:49:04,070 And Lord, when we are opposed by the devil, Lord God, 1006 00:49:04,349 --> 00:49:08,590 may we see who it is, why it's happening, Lord, 1007 00:49:09,030 --> 00:49:13,429 and press on, knowing that greater is he who is in us 1008 00:49:13,429 --> 00:49:14,769 than he who is in the world. 1009 00:49:14,889 --> 00:49:18,010 The enemy cannot separate us from your love 1010 00:49:18,010 --> 00:49:20,170 or your workmanship, Lord. 1011 00:49:20,409 --> 00:49:21,170 Thank you for that. 1012 00:49:22,809 --> 00:49:27,690 And then finally, Lord, we thank you, Lord, 1013 00:49:27,730 --> 00:49:30,349 that you've called us to order 1014 00:49:31,269 --> 00:49:35,070 so that we can live self-disciplined lives, 1015 00:49:35,809 --> 00:49:38,469 casting out any of the things of our old life 1016 00:49:38,469 --> 00:49:41,190 and embracing everything that's new, 1017 00:49:41,710 --> 00:49:45,389 because we are new creations created in Christ Jesus 1018 00:49:45,389 --> 00:49:50,190 for these things, Lord God, to walk in the newness of life. 1019 00:49:50,750 --> 00:49:52,230 So we thank you, Lord. 1020 00:49:52,409 --> 00:49:54,409 We worship you in Jesus' name. 1021 00:49:55,110 --> 00:49:55,329 Amen. 1022 00:49:55,630 --> 00:49:58,590 Let's all stand up and let's give the Lord a round of applause. 1023 00:50:20,190 --> 00:50:28,570 Thank you.