1 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,339 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,660 --> 00:00:27,019 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,820 --> 00:00:36,979 It's great to be in the house of the Lord. 5 00:00:37,119 --> 00:00:39,939 You know, we're like away even just a week. 6 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:47,219 As you know, we're out in Colorado last week and I got to watch on Monday morning. 7 00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:49,799 Well, Danny Jackson just did an amazing job. 8 00:00:50,079 --> 00:00:50,600 Didn't he? 9 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:51,719 Just phenomenal. 10 00:00:51,719 --> 00:00:54,240 In fact, do you remember what the key points were? 11 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:56,240 Rise and run. 12 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:58,500 Remember the next one? 13 00:00:59,320 --> 00:00:59,640 Ask. 14 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:02,060 And the last one is? 15 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:04,099 Open your mouth. 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:05,319 Or speak. 17 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:07,579 Someone listen. 18 00:01:08,019 --> 00:01:08,500 No, I'm kidding. 19 00:01:09,359 --> 00:01:10,579 But anyway, it was great. 20 00:01:10,939 --> 00:01:12,400 And it's great to be back. 21 00:01:12,579 --> 00:01:15,060 In fact, Jill and I drove up from the shore this morning. 22 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:19,879 We're going back down after this to my sister has a house down there. 23 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:23,140 So once a year, we all meet at her house and it's a good time. 24 00:01:23,519 --> 00:01:26,140 So it's a long beach island, but it was great. 25 00:01:26,799 --> 00:01:27,719 It's, you know, it's great. 26 00:01:27,879 --> 00:01:30,299 It's fast driving on Sunday mornings. 27 00:01:30,379 --> 00:01:32,260 You know that we got here in like an hour and a half. 28 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:35,200 It was great, but it's great to be with you guys. 29 00:01:35,659 --> 00:01:41,180 And so and this morning, the message is from blindness to breakthrough. 30 00:01:41,420 --> 00:01:43,879 If you've been reading through acts, you know what's next, 31 00:01:44,019 --> 00:01:45,640 even just by looking at that title, right? 32 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:52,599 We're talking about Paul today when he was blinded and then he received his sight back. 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:54,579 And I love this story. 34 00:01:54,719 --> 00:01:55,400 It's phenomenal. 35 00:01:55,819 --> 00:01:56,439 It's amazing. 36 00:01:56,739 --> 00:02:02,719 And so let's pray and ask the Lord to really pierce through any blindness. 37 00:02:02,719 --> 00:02:04,739 We might even have this morning. 38 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,819 Any short sightedness that we might have. 39 00:02:10,539 --> 00:02:16,819 Lord God, we ask you to really pierce through any, any worldly cataract 40 00:02:16,819 --> 00:02:21,080 we've allowed to grow over our spiritual sight. 41 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:26,020 Lord God, we ask you to open our eyes so we could see the way you see. 42 00:02:26,159 --> 00:02:29,000 Lord, that we could see ourselves the way you see us, 43 00:02:29,159 --> 00:02:32,460 that we can see our lives the way you see our lives, 44 00:02:32,460 --> 00:02:36,659 that we can see our destiny that lies ahead of us. 45 00:02:36,659 --> 00:02:43,139 It's such an amazing destiny, an amazing future, Lord, that we can live into. 46 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,500 And so, Father God, we ask you to move powerfully in here. 47 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,199 Lord God, we ask your Holy Spirit to speak. 48 00:02:50,419 --> 00:02:55,659 Lord God, I just want to default to you and just ask you to do all the heavy lifting today. 49 00:02:55,659 --> 00:02:59,479 Lord God, all the surgery that's needed to be done today, 50 00:02:59,580 --> 00:03:01,680 all the healing that's needed to be done. 51 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,500 We ask your Holy Spirit to just flood through us. 52 00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:09,840 Lord God, and just wash away anything that needs to go. 53 00:03:10,479 --> 00:03:13,080 Lord God, you would just burn it up and wash it away. 54 00:03:13,479 --> 00:03:19,479 And Lord God, we would be revived, Lord God, to see ourselves the way you see us. 55 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,139 We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. 56 00:03:24,060 --> 00:03:25,080 I like that title. 57 00:03:25,199 --> 00:03:27,120 Isn't that a kind of catchy title? 58 00:03:27,500 --> 00:03:29,000 From blindness to breakthrough. 59 00:03:29,780 --> 00:03:32,099 You know, have you ever had an epiphany moment? 60 00:03:32,860 --> 00:03:35,219 Like that aha moment. 61 00:03:36,119 --> 00:03:40,800 Where suddenly you realize, wow, like everything I'm doing is wrong. 62 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,520 Like, I mean, like, you know, I've had lots of them, by the way. 63 00:03:44,599 --> 00:03:46,439 And you're like, I'm sure you have, you know. 64 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:51,060 But really, I mean, you're just suddenly realizing that, like, I am way off. 65 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,780 I'm going in the wrong direction. 66 00:03:54,879 --> 00:03:56,740 And I've had several of them in my life. 67 00:03:56,900 --> 00:03:57,379 I really have. 68 00:03:57,500 --> 00:03:58,400 I mean, they keep going. 69 00:03:58,659 --> 00:04:01,900 But when I was young, I was very irresponsible. 70 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:03,479 So most kids are. 71 00:04:04,060 --> 00:04:07,580 But I was just really apathetic, had no drive, no focus. 72 00:04:08,460 --> 00:04:11,080 And I was just, you know, you know, just a real, 73 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,539 I would just say a disappointment as a son, I'll just say. 74 00:04:14,860 --> 00:04:17,519 And I lived my early life and adolescence, 75 00:04:17,519 --> 00:04:21,939 just, you know, without any drive to do or be anything. 76 00:04:22,639 --> 00:04:26,600 And there I was, a junior in college, okay, 77 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,319 still a mess up, just still partying in no direction. 78 00:04:30,319 --> 00:04:33,740 And also, I got the phone call, you've heard this before, 79 00:04:33,779 --> 00:04:37,360 that my father had died tragically in a car accident. 80 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,339 And I was just like, boom, like, what, you know? 81 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,459 So, of course, that took some time to process. 82 00:04:46,199 --> 00:04:49,879 But one thing that happened out of that is suddenly I had, 83 00:04:49,879 --> 00:04:51,620 and I was an unbeliever, by the way, of course, 84 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,319 but I had a rude awakening that, like, you know, 85 00:04:56,339 --> 00:04:58,319 I have to gain some responsibility. 86 00:04:58,819 --> 00:05:02,699 Like, if I don't take control of my life, like, who is? 87 00:05:03,079 --> 00:05:05,500 I mean, daddy's not around anymore, okay? 88 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,500 Mom, you know, she doesn't have the answers for my life. 89 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,139 And, you know, and just suddenly I realized, like, 90 00:05:11,300 --> 00:05:14,000 I have to get my life under control. 91 00:05:14,139 --> 00:05:16,759 And I really just started, the Lord just almost gave me 92 00:05:16,759 --> 00:05:19,620 this aha moment, even before knowing him, 93 00:05:20,019 --> 00:05:22,560 to like, say, you got to get some responsibility, 94 00:05:22,899 --> 00:05:26,139 some self-discipline, and go after life. 95 00:05:26,139 --> 00:05:28,199 Because life is just blowing you by. 96 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,040 And it was, from that point on, I could just go back 97 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:37,019 to that point that I started having a drive to do things, 98 00:05:37,199 --> 00:05:38,660 to accomplish things. 99 00:05:39,220 --> 00:05:42,720 And I really credit it to that moment that God did that, 100 00:05:42,759 --> 00:05:43,819 even though I didn't know him yet. 101 00:05:43,980 --> 00:05:46,480 I had an aha moment realizing that, 102 00:05:46,860 --> 00:05:51,560 if I don't do something to better my life, no one else can. 103 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,060 And so many things happened after that. 104 00:05:54,060 --> 00:05:57,379 I started pursuing business, doing really well and everything. 105 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:03,000 And there I was, suddenly I was married to Jill, okay? 106 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:04,220 And you say, how did that happen? 107 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:05,860 I still don't know, okay? 108 00:06:06,319 --> 00:06:10,180 But, you know, she was saved, but she was backslidden 109 00:06:10,180 --> 00:06:11,360 or else we wouldn't have been married 110 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,399 because I was unsaved and we got married. 111 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,819 And her church wouldn't marry us 112 00:06:16,819 --> 00:06:18,759 because they said you're unequally yoked. 113 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:19,600 I don't blame it. 114 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,040 In fact, I thanked the pastor after I got saved 115 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,860 for being truthful with me. 116 00:06:24,060 --> 00:06:25,660 But I was saved at that point. 117 00:06:26,379 --> 00:06:28,019 But we were married 118 00:06:28,019 --> 00:06:29,839 and then she started going back to church. 119 00:06:30,660 --> 00:06:32,279 And by then we had Zach and Jesse. 120 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:33,720 So they were like two and one 121 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,420 and they were going to church. 122 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,639 And I was just like, I had no meaning, 123 00:06:38,980 --> 00:06:40,579 like eternal meaning. 124 00:06:40,939 --> 00:06:42,540 I was pretty successful. 125 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:45,500 I had a wonderful wife, two wonderful kids, 126 00:06:45,620 --> 00:06:48,259 but I was empty, really empty. 127 00:06:48,519 --> 00:06:52,800 Like I knew I just had no significant purpose for my life. 128 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,120 Is it really all just about this little bit of things 129 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,660 that's going on and then it's over? 130 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,279 And finally the Lord just saved me. 131 00:07:00,540 --> 00:07:02,040 I just cried out to him. 132 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:06,399 I got saved and that was my second huge aha moment. 133 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,879 I now knew I had an eternal purpose. 134 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,139 I had an eternal destiny 135 00:07:12,139 --> 00:07:16,500 and I knew that my identity was tethered to Jesus Christ. 136 00:07:17,019 --> 00:07:20,180 But I still pursued worldly things 137 00:07:20,180 --> 00:07:22,980 and I still really chased after the money. 138 00:07:23,540 --> 00:07:26,480 And I still really just wanted to build my earthly empire 139 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,639 knowing that, oh yeah, but I'm a citizen of heaven 140 00:07:28,639 --> 00:07:30,199 and all that, you know. 141 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:35,300 And so finally I had this financial big loss. 142 00:07:35,660 --> 00:07:36,600 I won't go into detail. 143 00:07:36,699 --> 00:07:37,160 I don't have time. 144 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,600 But suddenly the rug was pulled out from under us 145 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:41,939 in the mortgage business. 146 00:07:41,939 --> 00:07:43,500 It was before 2008. 147 00:07:43,500 --> 00:07:44,540 That happened again. 148 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:50,180 And I realized like, really, I am addicted to money. 149 00:07:51,019 --> 00:07:55,019 I am like still like a slave to money. 150 00:07:56,279 --> 00:07:58,480 Again, another aha moment. 151 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,660 And the Lord said, you have to get your priorities straight. 152 00:08:03,439 --> 00:08:05,180 Stop living for this stuff. 153 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:08,920 And I realized that when I just started serving God 154 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:10,319 and that's when I started getting involved 155 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:11,579 in ministry at our church, 156 00:08:11,579 --> 00:08:14,600 I started to spiritually thrive. 157 00:08:15,139 --> 00:08:18,100 And I realized I needed less and less of that stuff 158 00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:20,120 and more and more of God's stuff. 159 00:08:20,740 --> 00:08:23,160 And my life just started again flourishing 160 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,660 because it was that aha moment that I finally realized, 161 00:08:28,180 --> 00:08:30,839 wow, like now I'm starting to gain 162 00:08:30,839 --> 00:08:34,360 understanding of what this life is really all about. 163 00:08:34,580 --> 00:08:38,120 Haven't you gone through an aha moment of your own 164 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,820 from time to time or that epiphany, 165 00:08:41,820 --> 00:08:44,799 that personal great awakening that you realize, 166 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,740 I'm going, I'm wasting my time. 167 00:08:48,399 --> 00:08:53,460 I really need to rededicate my life and gain sight 168 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:55,500 and vision for what's happening. 169 00:08:55,659 --> 00:08:58,840 But did you ever notice a lot of that happens after darkness. 170 00:09:00,179 --> 00:09:06,639 It's after like loss or like a sudden like dark period. 171 00:09:06,759 --> 00:09:07,860 Like my father dying. 172 00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:08,580 Wow. 173 00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:11,259 Like what now? 174 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,039 Like, you know, this is, what am I going to do now? 175 00:09:14,519 --> 00:09:19,059 Like it took that God didn't do that, 176 00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:23,659 but it took that from me to gain a breakthrough. 177 00:09:24,100 --> 00:09:28,460 You know, it took me needing to have a financial crisis 178 00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:31,919 to suddenly realize I don't even need that stuff. 179 00:09:32,580 --> 00:09:33,340 I got God. 180 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,220 I got what God gave me. 181 00:09:35,299 --> 00:09:36,200 I got a family. 182 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,279 You know, I have everything I need to succeed. 183 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,220 I don't need, you know, it's suddenly that dark period 184 00:09:42,220 --> 00:09:48,519 that when suddenly you experience how lonely you are 185 00:09:48,519 --> 00:09:50,440 and how worthless all that stuff is 186 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,039 that you suddenly have a breakthrough. 187 00:09:52,220 --> 00:09:54,799 And that's what Paul is going to experience, 188 00:09:54,799 --> 00:09:56,879 a real breakthrough. 189 00:09:57,740 --> 00:10:01,879 This is the same man who wrote in Romans 12 too 190 00:10:01,879 --> 00:10:07,360 that he said, don't conform to the patterns of this world. 191 00:10:08,279 --> 00:10:10,320 I like NIV throws in patterns, 192 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,019 although it's not in any other version, 193 00:10:12,399 --> 00:10:14,460 but patterns of this don't conform, 194 00:10:15,059 --> 00:10:19,440 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 195 00:10:19,779 --> 00:10:21,580 Then you will be able to prove the good, 196 00:10:21,759 --> 00:10:24,659 acceptable and perfect will of God. 197 00:10:25,019 --> 00:10:27,120 It's when your mind suddenly gets blown 198 00:10:27,879 --> 00:10:29,779 and you suddenly have a breakthrough and say, 199 00:10:29,779 --> 00:10:31,860 wait a minute, I'm doing everything wrong. 200 00:10:32,879 --> 00:10:35,399 I got to get right with God. 201 00:10:35,460 --> 00:10:37,940 We have to have the right trajectory, don't we? 202 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:40,799 Towards heaven, we can't get skewed off 203 00:10:40,799 --> 00:10:42,279 to all kinds of other things. 204 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,580 We need to be tethered to our destiny. 205 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,120 And that's when we live that abundant life 206 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,139 in Jesus Christ. 207 00:10:50,519 --> 00:10:56,120 So anyway, let's dive right in to Acts 9. 208 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,139 And we're only going to stop once here 209 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:00,460 as we go through. 210 00:11:10,039 --> 00:11:11,279 You got it? 211 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:12,799 Acts 9. 212 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:17,639 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder 213 00:11:17,639 --> 00:11:19,600 against the disciples of the Lord, 214 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:23,980 went to the high priest and asked letters from him 215 00:11:23,980 --> 00:11:26,139 to the synagogues of Damascus 216 00:11:26,139 --> 00:11:29,919 so that if he found any who were of the way, 217 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:31,620 whether men or women, 218 00:11:31,879 --> 00:11:34,639 he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 219 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,200 And as he journeyed, he came near to Damascus 220 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,940 and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 221 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,080 And then he fell to the ground 222 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,779 and heard a voice saying to him, 223 00:11:47,259 --> 00:11:50,419 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 224 00:11:51,259 --> 00:11:53,259 And then he said, who are you, Lord? 225 00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:57,980 And then he said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 226 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:02,620 It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 227 00:12:03,460 --> 00:12:04,480 Now, if you don't have that verse, 228 00:12:04,539 --> 00:12:05,779 we'll talk about that in a minute, 229 00:12:05,980 --> 00:12:07,000 depending on your version. 230 00:12:07,940 --> 00:12:11,259 Verse six, so he trembling and astonished said, 231 00:12:12,019 --> 00:12:14,200 Lord, what do you want me to do? 232 00:12:15,039 --> 00:12:19,340 And then the Lord said to him, arise and go into the city 233 00:12:19,340 --> 00:12:21,980 and you will be told what you must do. 234 00:12:22,779 --> 00:12:26,240 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, 235 00:12:27,039 --> 00:12:30,100 hearing a voice, but seeing no one. 236 00:12:30,659 --> 00:12:33,139 And then Saul arose from the ground 237 00:12:33,740 --> 00:12:37,179 and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one, 238 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,679 but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 239 00:12:42,539 --> 00:12:45,919 And he was there three days without sight 240 00:12:45,919 --> 00:12:48,580 and neither ate nor drank. 241 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,720 So if you're scratching your head and say, 242 00:12:52,879 --> 00:12:54,039 what did you just read there? 243 00:12:54,779 --> 00:12:56,980 It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 244 00:12:57,899 --> 00:12:59,860 Who didn't see that in your verse? 245 00:13:00,940 --> 00:13:03,360 In your verse, what verse was it? 246 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,460 Five, okay. 247 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:07,799 Did a few of you not have it? 248 00:13:08,220 --> 00:13:13,100 Anyway, well, the earliest versions 249 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:14,980 didn't have that part of the verse. 250 00:13:16,420 --> 00:13:18,639 So the new King James version, 251 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:21,480 the King James and a few others do have it. 252 00:13:21,899 --> 00:13:24,059 But we know that it happened. 253 00:13:24,419 --> 00:13:25,620 And how do we know that it happened? 254 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,940 Because Paul retold this story when he was in custody 255 00:13:29,940 --> 00:13:32,320 and he was speaking to King Agrippa 256 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,740 and he was recounting what happened on his way to Damascus, 257 00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:37,779 how he ended up getting saved. 258 00:13:38,179 --> 00:13:39,820 And as he was sharing what happened, 259 00:13:40,159 --> 00:13:42,220 he said in Acts 26, 14, 260 00:13:42,220 --> 00:13:45,000 and when we all had fallen to the ground, 261 00:13:45,340 --> 00:13:46,960 I heard a voice speaking to me 262 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,720 and saying in the Hebrew language, 263 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:52,559 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 264 00:13:53,059 --> 00:13:56,139 It is hard for you to kick against the goads, 265 00:13:56,299 --> 00:13:57,340 the Greek word kentron. 266 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:58,440 So what does that mean? 267 00:13:58,919 --> 00:14:01,700 How do you kick against the goads? 268 00:14:01,860 --> 00:14:02,700 What's a goad? 269 00:14:03,039 --> 00:14:04,539 Anybody know what a goad is? 270 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:04,940 Okay. 271 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,779 Well, a goad, I had to investigate 272 00:14:07,779 --> 00:14:09,139 because I didn't know what a goad was, 273 00:14:09,139 --> 00:14:13,720 but a goad is like a prod, okay? 274 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,320 It's when you're farming and your oxen 275 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,379 are starting to get tired and lazy 276 00:14:19,379 --> 00:14:20,980 and you start poking them in the butt. 277 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:21,500 Let's go. 278 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:22,159 Come on, come on. 279 00:14:22,220 --> 00:14:23,320 You got to pull this plow 280 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:27,759 and we got to dig this ground up to plant crops, right? 281 00:14:28,059 --> 00:14:28,740 Plant some seed. 282 00:14:29,059 --> 00:14:30,820 So that's what a goad is. 283 00:14:30,980 --> 00:14:32,340 It's you prod them. 284 00:14:32,679 --> 00:14:33,399 You prod them. 285 00:14:33,820 --> 00:14:35,440 Isn't it interesting that Jesus said, 286 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,500 it's hard for you to kick against the prodding. 287 00:14:40,620 --> 00:14:42,559 And we're going to think about that for a minute, right? 288 00:14:43,759 --> 00:14:45,840 But it also means something else. 289 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:48,440 The same word means stinger. 290 00:14:49,740 --> 00:14:52,100 Stinger, like at the end of a scorpion 291 00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:56,799 or the end of a bay or something like that. 292 00:14:56,860 --> 00:14:59,279 It's a stinger and revelation. 293 00:14:59,740 --> 00:15:01,320 Actually, if you have revelation, 294 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:06,919 revelation chapter nine, 295 00:15:07,399 --> 00:15:11,379 it recounts the story of these locusts 296 00:15:11,379 --> 00:15:12,480 that have stingers 297 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,820 that are tormenting mankind for five years, okay? 298 00:15:16,279 --> 00:15:19,179 Except for those who have the seal of God upon them. 299 00:15:19,899 --> 00:15:23,080 And so there you see the same word goad for a stinger. 300 00:15:23,279 --> 00:15:26,039 So why am I even talking about the stinger 301 00:15:26,039 --> 00:15:27,559 and the goad and so forth? 302 00:15:28,039 --> 00:15:29,399 Well, there's a reason 303 00:15:29,399 --> 00:15:32,879 because Paul himself talks about the goads 304 00:15:32,879 --> 00:15:38,080 and the sting, the sting of death, which is sin. 305 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,220 And we have that first Corinthians chapter 15. 306 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:44,799 And you've heard this verse before. 307 00:15:45,580 --> 00:15:47,019 Death is swallowed up in victory. 308 00:15:47,460 --> 00:15:50,659 Oh death, where is your goad or sting? 309 00:15:51,460 --> 00:15:53,740 Oh Hades, where is your victory? 310 00:15:53,899 --> 00:15:55,320 The sting of death is sin 311 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,820 and the strength of sin is the law. 312 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,480 But thanks be to God 313 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,399 who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 314 00:16:04,159 --> 00:16:05,899 So you look at all this, okay? 315 00:16:06,220 --> 00:16:07,940 And what does it all mean? 316 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:09,740 We think about the sting, 317 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,240 the sting of sin, okay? 318 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:13,639 Causes the death. 319 00:16:14,620 --> 00:16:15,580 Who does it kill? 320 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,120 So I was thinking about this. 321 00:16:17,860 --> 00:16:23,960 You know, when you ever get stung by a wasp, okay? 322 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,320 I remember one time I was doing something in my garage 323 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:28,799 when I was growing up as a kid. 324 00:16:28,799 --> 00:16:32,220 And suddenly I saw this nasty looking wasp 325 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:33,299 flying around in the air. 326 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,500 I'm like, that thing looks nasty. 327 00:16:35,980 --> 00:16:38,299 Suddenly I'm like, ow, ow, ow. 328 00:16:38,460 --> 00:16:40,019 And here they got under my shirt. 329 00:16:40,059 --> 00:16:40,879 There's more than one. 330 00:16:41,059 --> 00:16:42,179 There's always more than one. 331 00:16:42,519 --> 00:16:45,000 And it got under my shirt and they're stinging me. 332 00:16:45,399 --> 00:16:46,879 But they don't stop there. 333 00:16:47,399 --> 00:16:48,320 They keep stinging. 334 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:49,980 And then I got one of my shorts. 335 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:51,360 And he's like, ow, right? 336 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:54,960 And they said, but they can keep stinging and stinging, okay? 337 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,039 But you know, bumblebees, they're a one and done. 338 00:16:58,039 --> 00:16:58,879 Okay? 339 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,100 I have a picture if you have that, Christine. 340 00:17:01,860 --> 00:17:03,879 They sting you once, okay? 341 00:17:04,220 --> 00:17:06,259 And it's like a barb, okay? 342 00:17:06,380 --> 00:17:07,400 It pierces you. 343 00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:11,339 And then when they leave the stinger behind, 344 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,619 its intestines come out with the stinger, okay? 345 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,319 And it dies within an hour or a little longer than that. 346 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:19,259 And it dies. 347 00:17:20,140 --> 00:17:25,500 It's basically stinging is its death sentence. 348 00:17:26,259 --> 00:17:27,900 Well, you know, it's the same thing with us. 349 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:30,160 Sin kills us. 350 00:17:31,180 --> 00:17:33,799 You know, it could cause someone else a lot of grief 351 00:17:33,799 --> 00:17:36,299 and aggravation and problems too. 352 00:17:36,839 --> 00:17:42,700 But sin killed us until we came to Jesus Christ, right? 353 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,700 Then he became our sin, right? 354 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,099 On the cross. 355 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,619 So now we don't have to die because of it. 356 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:53,700 So what is Jesus saying to Paul? 357 00:17:53,859 --> 00:17:55,240 Here Paul is, think about this. 358 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,539 He's going to prove himself to God, how righteous he is 359 00:17:59,539 --> 00:18:01,920 because he's going to stamp out all the blasphemy 360 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:07,319 from these crazy, you know, ludicrous, blasphemous Jews 361 00:18:07,319 --> 00:18:10,279 that are now believing in this guy who already died 362 00:18:10,279 --> 00:18:12,240 and supposedly went up to heaven, right? 363 00:18:12,539 --> 00:18:13,940 I'm going to crush it out. 364 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,480 And I'm going to prove to God how good I am 365 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,720 and all my fellow, you know, religious people. 366 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:21,720 I'm earning righteousness. 367 00:18:22,220 --> 00:18:23,480 I'm proving my righteousness. 368 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:28,039 And he brags about how ridiculous he used to be 369 00:18:28,039 --> 00:18:30,480 on all the things he was doing so right 370 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,660 and he was doing everything so wrong. 371 00:18:33,599 --> 00:18:35,539 He was doing the exact opposite 372 00:18:35,539 --> 00:18:38,200 of what he should have been doing in his life. 373 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:43,279 He was pursuing, killing, wiping out the body of Christ. 374 00:18:43,839 --> 00:18:46,519 And so now Jesus said, it's hard for you. 375 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:50,019 You know, you're trying to be righteous through your actions 376 00:18:50,019 --> 00:18:52,720 but your sin is right behind you. 377 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,759 It's like that pride behind the ox. 378 00:18:55,180 --> 00:18:57,519 It's going to keep pushing you and keep pushing you. 379 00:18:57,839 --> 00:19:00,339 You're never going to outwork sin. 380 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,019 You know, the law is going to always own you 381 00:19:04,019 --> 00:19:07,400 until you allow Jesus Christ to be the fulfillment 382 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,519 of the law in your life. 383 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,059 Once you say, no, Jesus Christ is my law and I have him. 384 00:19:13,599 --> 00:19:17,980 Now I'm not working and working to get rid of this sin 385 00:19:17,980 --> 00:19:21,039 because the sin's right behind me, prodding me and prodding. 386 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:21,819 No, I'm still here. 387 00:19:21,819 --> 00:19:23,160 I'm still here. 388 00:19:23,420 --> 00:19:24,680 No, I'm with you. 389 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,019 And you got to keep working and working 390 00:19:27,019 --> 00:19:28,779 and you're never going to be enough 391 00:19:29,599 --> 00:19:32,940 until you come to Jesus Christ and say, Lord, I can't do this. 392 00:19:33,339 --> 00:19:35,119 I surrender my life. 393 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:40,359 I'm dying with my sin so that I can have your new life. 394 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:41,259 Does that make sense? 395 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,140 So Paul is just striving for this 396 00:19:44,140 --> 00:19:46,599 and he's also striving so that, you know, 397 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,539 the sting of death is not present 398 00:19:48,539 --> 00:19:53,059 but Jesus is saying you're not going to outwork your own sins 399 00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:55,799 because it's always going to catch up to you. 400 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:56,480 Does that make sense? 401 00:19:57,779 --> 00:19:59,940 And so let's read on 402 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:05,259 and just one thing about the blindness too. 403 00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:11,240 So Paul is struck blind, named Saul at that time. 404 00:20:11,700 --> 00:20:13,779 He was struck blind, you know. 405 00:20:13,779 --> 00:20:18,660 Now, why would Jesus have to strike him blind for three days? 406 00:20:19,500 --> 00:20:19,680 Okay. 407 00:20:20,380 --> 00:20:22,319 I really believe it's kind of like saying, 408 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:23,759 all right, you're taking a time out. 409 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:25,920 It's so funny when I hear, you know, 410 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,539 my kids now telling their little kids, 411 00:20:30,619 --> 00:20:32,180 do you want a time out? 412 00:20:32,819 --> 00:20:33,140 Okay. 413 00:20:33,779 --> 00:20:35,380 And they're like, no, no. 414 00:20:35,579 --> 00:20:37,519 And they put them away for a time out. 415 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,400 And meanwhile, they're screaming and hollering 416 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,480 in their bedroom and, you know, 417 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:43,779 because they don't like being in time out. 418 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,400 You know, it's so gracious of God 419 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,660 when we're making a mess of our lives. 420 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:49,160 Okay. 421 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:51,200 And we're doing all the wrong things 422 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,599 when he finally intervenes and says, 423 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,980 all right, you're taking a time out then. 424 00:20:57,460 --> 00:20:57,680 All right. 425 00:20:58,299 --> 00:21:00,460 We're just going to shut this thing down 426 00:21:00,460 --> 00:21:03,059 because you're going in the wrong direction. 427 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,660 You know, we're putting a stop to this. 428 00:21:06,380 --> 00:21:08,440 Thank God that he doesn't. 429 00:21:08,519 --> 00:21:11,220 Many times God uses people to intervene 430 00:21:11,220 --> 00:21:12,160 and come up to us and say, 431 00:21:12,299 --> 00:21:12,799 Hey, you know what? 432 00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:14,220 I think you ought to stop that. 433 00:21:15,099 --> 00:21:16,759 Do you realize what you're doing? 434 00:21:17,220 --> 00:21:18,319 I mean, thank God. 435 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,480 Sometimes it's a little tough when you first hear it. 436 00:21:20,519 --> 00:21:22,099 You're like, I don't want to hear this. 437 00:21:23,079 --> 00:21:25,000 But we need to like, think about it 438 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,480 and say maybe there's some validity to this. 439 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:30,640 Maybe this is God sending that messenger 440 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,240 to say, stop what you're doing 441 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,279 because you're going in the wrong direction. 442 00:21:37,539 --> 00:21:40,299 The Lord had to shut Paul down 443 00:21:40,299 --> 00:21:42,799 with blindness for three days. 444 00:21:42,940 --> 00:21:44,940 So he could mull over this thing 445 00:21:44,940 --> 00:21:47,099 that he could pray for three days, 446 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:49,880 that he could fast for three days and say, 447 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,819 I thought I was going so right. 448 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,900 Like Jesus, like where was he? 449 00:21:55,140 --> 00:21:56,819 Like he came shouting down from heaven. 450 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:58,720 All these things, you know, 451 00:21:58,859 --> 00:22:00,819 the Lord often does things like this 452 00:22:00,819 --> 00:22:04,079 that are gracious by producing blindness. 453 00:22:04,259 --> 00:22:05,240 Just a couple of examples. 454 00:22:05,619 --> 00:22:09,599 Do you remember when the two angels went into Sodom 455 00:22:09,599 --> 00:22:11,559 to rescue Lot and his family 456 00:22:11,559 --> 00:22:14,319 and all the perverts are around the house 457 00:22:14,319 --> 00:22:17,460 trying to rape the angels? 458 00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:19,500 And if you don't know where that is, 459 00:22:19,519 --> 00:22:23,019 it's in Genesis 19, 11, two, 460 00:22:23,279 --> 00:22:24,559 and they're banging on the door 461 00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:25,319 and then Lot goes out. 462 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,119 No, no, no, no, please don't, please don't. 463 00:22:27,339 --> 00:22:28,279 I have my daughters. 464 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,180 That's the sickest part of scripture 465 00:22:30,180 --> 00:22:31,240 that we'll ever read. 466 00:22:32,099 --> 00:22:33,940 But we don't have time to get into 467 00:22:33,940 --> 00:22:35,359 that sick and twisted thing. 468 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:37,099 He'd been in Sodom too long. 469 00:22:37,220 --> 00:22:38,279 Let me just say that much. 470 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,279 And so they're pushing against him. 471 00:22:41,380 --> 00:22:42,140 The angels bring him in 472 00:22:42,140 --> 00:22:44,700 and they strike the men with blindness 473 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:47,460 so that they couldn't even find the door anymore. 474 00:22:47,980 --> 00:22:50,200 I mean, he's going to bring the wrath anyway, 475 00:22:50,220 --> 00:22:52,559 but it's almost like a little bit of grace 476 00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:55,400 saying you don't want to try to rape an angel 477 00:22:56,360 --> 00:22:58,839 or this man's daughters either. 478 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:01,740 It's like he's shutting them down. 479 00:23:02,140 --> 00:23:05,000 I remember another time when Elisha, 480 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,380 the prophet, was living in Dothan 481 00:23:07,380 --> 00:23:11,400 and he was hearing the king of Syria 482 00:23:12,860 --> 00:23:15,400 speak or dream in his own bedroom 483 00:23:16,020 --> 00:23:20,079 about how he was going to attack the Israelites. 484 00:23:20,980 --> 00:23:24,059 And Elisha was getting visions 485 00:23:24,059 --> 00:23:26,400 and hearing in the spiritual realm 486 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,779 exactly what the king of Syria 487 00:23:28,779 --> 00:23:30,940 was going to do when he came to Syria. 488 00:23:31,180 --> 00:23:32,819 We're going to block them off at this path. 489 00:23:33,099 --> 00:23:34,299 We're going to attack their supply. 490 00:23:34,539 --> 00:23:37,019 He's making all these strategic planning 491 00:23:37,380 --> 00:23:39,940 and Elisha is listening to all of it 492 00:23:39,940 --> 00:23:44,420 in his spiritual soul. 493 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:47,240 He's hearing the king of Syria speak. 494 00:23:47,779 --> 00:23:49,759 And so he would go and tell Elisha, 495 00:23:49,779 --> 00:23:51,039 I mean, the king of Israel, 496 00:23:51,140 --> 00:23:52,839 make sure you stay away from this area 497 00:23:52,839 --> 00:23:55,839 because the king of Syria is going to attack you. 498 00:23:56,279 --> 00:23:57,380 And he would tell them everything 499 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,619 that the king of Syria is going to do. 500 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:00,740 Finally, king of Syria is saying, 501 00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:02,740 do I have a spy in this place? 502 00:24:03,140 --> 00:24:04,619 Like, what is going on here? 503 00:24:05,079 --> 00:24:08,019 How do they know exactly where we're going to be, 504 00:24:08,099 --> 00:24:08,920 when we're going to be there? 505 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,859 They say, oh, no, they have a prophet in Israel. 506 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:15,519 And so he sent a team of men 507 00:24:15,519 --> 00:24:17,460 to go and capture Elisha 508 00:24:17,460 --> 00:24:20,339 and bring that valuable resource back to Syria. 509 00:24:21,039 --> 00:24:23,299 So he went and as they're surrounding his city, 510 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:27,859 Dothan, suddenly Elisha is there 511 00:24:27,859 --> 00:24:29,119 and his servant says, 512 00:24:29,619 --> 00:24:32,140 you know, master, they're surrounding us. 513 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:33,019 There's an army here. 514 00:24:33,099 --> 00:24:34,240 He goes, Lord, open up his eyes. 515 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,420 So he opened up his eyes to see the Lord's arm, 516 00:24:38,059 --> 00:24:39,920 the chariots of fire, 517 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:42,180 and the horses of heaven. 518 00:24:42,619 --> 00:24:44,240 You know, I think if we ever really thought 519 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,000 we were outnumbered by the enemy 520 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:47,680 and we just ask Lord, 521 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:49,539 show me how many you have 522 00:24:49,539 --> 00:24:51,400 that are fighting for me. 523 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,220 He would open up your eyes. 524 00:24:53,380 --> 00:24:55,259 You realize nothing to worry about. 525 00:24:55,819 --> 00:24:58,119 I mean, I am victorious in this world. 526 00:24:58,140 --> 00:24:59,420 I don't have to worry, right? 527 00:24:59,519 --> 00:25:00,720 We don't have to worry. Amen. 528 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,359 And so he opened up his eyes 529 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:05,519 and he sees this fiery, 530 00:25:05,759 --> 00:25:07,920 you know, glowing army from heaven. 531 00:25:08,039 --> 00:25:08,759 He's like, wow. 532 00:25:09,460 --> 00:25:10,680 And then Elisha said, 533 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,079 strike the Syrians with blindness. 534 00:25:14,099 --> 00:25:15,839 So the Syrians came in. 535 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:16,819 I couldn't even picture it, 536 00:25:16,819 --> 00:25:18,140 but they're blind and they're like, 537 00:25:18,259 --> 00:25:19,559 yeah, we're looking for this guy Elisha. 538 00:25:19,759 --> 00:25:20,960 Oh, I'll take you to him. 539 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:21,680 Meanwhile, it's him. 540 00:25:22,339 --> 00:25:24,539 And so he leads this mini army, 541 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,180 the squad, okay, 542 00:25:26,539 --> 00:25:29,680 about 12 miles journey to Samaria. 543 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:31,319 They get into Samaria. 544 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:32,359 He's bringing them in. 545 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:33,660 And all of a sudden he says, 546 00:25:33,859 --> 00:25:35,660 Lord, open their eyes. 547 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:37,819 And they suddenly open their eyes 548 00:25:37,819 --> 00:25:40,900 and they're surrounded by the Israeli army. 549 00:25:41,839 --> 00:25:42,680 And the king said, 550 00:25:43,799 --> 00:25:45,279 master, should I kill them? 551 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,160 He was calling Elisha master at this point. 552 00:25:47,619 --> 00:25:48,799 Should we kill them all? 553 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,200 He goes, no, no, no, no. 554 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:52,420 Make a feast for them. 555 00:25:53,180 --> 00:25:56,539 Just treat them well 556 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:58,940 and then send them back. 557 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,059 And that's what they did. 558 00:26:01,059 --> 00:26:03,519 They blessed the Syrian army 559 00:26:03,519 --> 00:26:07,259 who was coming to kill Elisha 560 00:26:07,259 --> 00:26:10,579 and to wreak havoc in Israel. 561 00:26:11,500 --> 00:26:12,819 And he sent them away. 562 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:13,779 And the word says that 563 00:26:13,779 --> 00:26:16,319 that squad never came back to Israel again, 564 00:26:16,319 --> 00:26:20,059 because they learn and they appreciated 565 00:26:20,579 --> 00:26:23,660 the blessings of the God of Israel. 566 00:26:23,740 --> 00:26:24,480 I bring that up 567 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:25,460 because a lot of times 568 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:28,400 we need to experience darkness 569 00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:30,519 as grace. 570 00:26:31,079 --> 00:26:31,920 When we're not really 571 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,539 seeing things properly, 572 00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:35,039 maybe we should just take a break 573 00:26:35,039 --> 00:26:35,640 and say, Lord, 574 00:26:36,559 --> 00:26:38,019 I don't want to just keep going 575 00:26:38,019 --> 00:26:40,119 if I'm going in the wrong direction. 576 00:26:40,980 --> 00:26:42,519 Lord, speak to me. 577 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:44,480 It was because of that blindness 578 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,900 that the Syrians had a chance 579 00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:49,160 to appreciate and experience 580 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,079 the grace of Yahweh, 581 00:26:51,339 --> 00:26:52,359 the God of Israel, 582 00:26:52,559 --> 00:26:53,579 that they could go home 583 00:26:53,579 --> 00:26:54,980 to the king of Syria 584 00:26:54,980 --> 00:26:56,119 and say, you know what? 585 00:26:56,539 --> 00:26:57,660 They're not so bad. 586 00:26:57,660 --> 00:26:59,559 In fact, we like them 587 00:27:00,220 --> 00:27:01,619 and we love their God. 588 00:27:02,660 --> 00:27:04,180 And he struck us with blindness 589 00:27:04,180 --> 00:27:06,000 and then he opened our eyes. 590 00:27:06,220 --> 00:27:07,220 And so that time, 591 00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:09,720 don't always think of blindness 592 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:11,279 as a bad thing. 593 00:27:11,380 --> 00:27:12,660 If you're suddenly seeing, 594 00:27:13,380 --> 00:27:15,640 you're not experiencing clarity. 595 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,259 Say, God, all right, 596 00:27:17,259 --> 00:27:19,339 I'm just going to wait until I do. 597 00:27:20,059 --> 00:27:21,880 One more blindness story. 598 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:23,220 You okay with me? 599 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:24,460 You're tracking. 600 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:28,119 So Paul, 601 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:29,720 the very man 602 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,200 who is now sitting in blindness, 603 00:27:31,319 --> 00:27:32,400 we didn't move on yet, 604 00:27:33,759 --> 00:27:35,319 later on down the road, 605 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:36,720 once he received his sight 606 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:38,579 and he's in a great evangelist 607 00:27:38,579 --> 00:27:39,160 and he's preaching, 608 00:27:40,299 --> 00:27:43,279 he's on the actually island of Cyprus 609 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:45,980 in this town of Pathos. 610 00:27:46,859 --> 00:27:47,779 And as he's there, 611 00:27:48,079 --> 00:27:50,420 this sorcerer named Elimus, 612 00:27:50,420 --> 00:27:51,059 okay, 613 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:54,339 he starts trying to turn 614 00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:55,819 the whole proconsul 615 00:27:55,819 --> 00:27:57,400 in the town against Paul. 616 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,680 And he's saying all kinds of things to them 617 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:01,839 and say, don't believe them. 618 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:02,460 He's a liar. 619 00:28:02,980 --> 00:28:03,799 And all of a sudden, 620 00:28:04,079 --> 00:28:05,279 Paul is looking at him 621 00:28:05,279 --> 00:28:06,220 and he just, 622 00:28:06,539 --> 00:28:08,079 in fact, we have that verse up there. 623 00:28:08,259 --> 00:28:11,200 I think Acts chapter 13. 624 00:28:11,759 --> 00:28:12,759 It's a lot of reading, 625 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,180 but let's do it. 626 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:15,299 Then Saul, 627 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:16,920 who also is called Paul, 628 00:28:17,220 --> 00:28:18,579 filled with the Holy Spirit, 629 00:28:18,779 --> 00:28:20,140 looked intently at him 630 00:28:20,140 --> 00:28:20,480 and said, 631 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,660 oh, full of all deceit and all fraud, 632 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:25,200 you son of the devil, 633 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:26,960 you enemy of all righteousness. 634 00:28:27,859 --> 00:28:29,900 Will you not cease perverting 635 00:28:29,900 --> 00:28:31,640 the straight ways of the Lord? 636 00:28:32,180 --> 00:28:33,079 And now, indeed, 637 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,920 the hand of the Lord is upon you. 638 00:28:35,279 --> 00:28:36,240 And what is he going to do? 639 00:28:36,559 --> 00:28:38,059 And you shall be blind, 640 00:28:38,279 --> 00:28:42,019 not seeing the sun for a time. 641 00:28:42,619 --> 00:28:43,079 And immediately, 642 00:28:43,259 --> 00:28:45,240 a dark mist fell on him 643 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,900 and he went around seeking someone 644 00:28:47,900 --> 00:28:49,319 to lead him by the hand. 645 00:28:49,319 --> 00:28:50,200 And you know, 646 00:28:50,339 --> 00:28:51,720 because of that blindness, 647 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:53,980 the people of the town believe 648 00:28:53,980 --> 00:28:55,420 in the power of God. 649 00:28:55,519 --> 00:28:57,019 They actually received the gospel 650 00:28:57,019 --> 00:28:59,859 because Elemis the sorcerer was blinded. 651 00:29:00,279 --> 00:29:01,839 So why am I telling you that story? 652 00:29:02,380 --> 00:29:03,299 Because notice, 653 00:29:04,359 --> 00:29:06,059 Paul was blind too. 654 00:29:07,619 --> 00:29:09,420 But then he received his sight. 655 00:29:09,839 --> 00:29:09,980 You know, 656 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:12,000 is this really just a curse 657 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,559 that Paul was pronouncing 658 00:29:13,559 --> 00:29:14,519 on Elemis? 659 00:29:15,299 --> 00:29:16,759 Or was he possibly 660 00:29:17,319 --> 00:29:18,500 giving him some grace? 661 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:20,279 Saying, you know, 662 00:29:20,980 --> 00:29:23,299 I had to be blind for a bit of time too, 663 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,019 so I could actually see the light. 664 00:29:27,140 --> 00:29:28,059 You need some blindness 665 00:29:28,059 --> 00:29:28,900 for a little while. 666 00:29:29,039 --> 00:29:31,400 You need a time out, Elemis, okay? 667 00:29:31,799 --> 00:29:34,779 So you can suddenly gain insight. 668 00:29:34,940 --> 00:29:35,460 You ever notice 669 00:29:35,460 --> 00:29:37,099 when you send a kid into time out 670 00:29:37,099 --> 00:29:38,779 and they stay there long enough, 671 00:29:39,220 --> 00:29:40,440 then you come back in 672 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:40,919 and then they're, 673 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:42,279 oh, sorry. 674 00:29:43,420 --> 00:29:45,160 And you're giving them a hug 675 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:46,039 and you're like, you know, 676 00:29:46,359 --> 00:29:47,799 and hopefully, right? 677 00:29:47,799 --> 00:29:50,240 Sometimes it takes longer, okay? 678 00:29:50,660 --> 00:29:52,640 But how many days of blindness do you want? 679 00:29:53,759 --> 00:29:54,759 But yeah, you see this, 680 00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:56,480 and this is Saul 681 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,259 now going to be named Paul 682 00:29:58,259 --> 00:29:59,519 from this point forward, 683 00:30:00,079 --> 00:30:02,180 that he actually said, 684 00:30:02,279 --> 00:30:02,640 you know what? 685 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,640 I know exactly what you need. 686 00:30:05,599 --> 00:30:06,720 You need some blindness. 687 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:08,380 No thanks, you know? 688 00:30:08,819 --> 00:30:10,940 But sometimes we need a time out. 689 00:30:11,339 --> 00:30:12,519 We get full of ourselves. 690 00:30:12,859 --> 00:30:13,819 Oh, I'm sure of this. 691 00:30:14,079 --> 00:30:15,059 I'm sure of this. 692 00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:16,099 I'm sure of this. 693 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:17,880 Stop. 694 00:30:18,619 --> 00:30:20,619 You know, we see it in ministry all the time. 695 00:30:20,740 --> 00:30:21,539 You know, I've been there. 696 00:30:21,619 --> 00:30:22,240 I've done that. 697 00:30:22,299 --> 00:30:23,740 I'm saying, I'm so sure of something. 698 00:30:23,859 --> 00:30:24,900 And all of a sudden, like, you know what? 699 00:30:25,259 --> 00:30:26,140 I'm not so sure. 700 00:30:26,380 --> 00:30:28,160 It's so good to have accountability. 701 00:30:29,519 --> 00:30:30,339 It really is. 702 00:30:30,519 --> 00:30:32,140 It's like anyone who thinks 703 00:30:32,140 --> 00:30:34,599 they are the lone ranger 704 00:30:35,359 --> 00:30:37,279 and they don't have a bunch of tantos, 705 00:30:37,500 --> 00:30:38,819 you're in trouble, okay? 706 00:30:39,140 --> 00:30:39,940 You really are. 707 00:30:40,259 --> 00:30:44,839 You need a council of Godly people 708 00:30:44,839 --> 00:30:47,660 to just say, yeah, I'm not so sure about this. 709 00:30:47,779 --> 00:30:48,619 Have you thought of this? 710 00:30:48,859 --> 00:30:49,720 Have you thought of that? 711 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,099 It's awesome to have accountability. 712 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:53,460 It really is. 713 00:30:53,660 --> 00:30:55,920 Because we can just be off in this trajectory 714 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:57,579 so far off. 715 00:30:57,940 --> 00:30:59,880 And God is saying, no, no, no. 716 00:31:01,140 --> 00:31:03,980 No, come back and listen to me. 717 00:31:04,039 --> 00:31:05,680 Until then, you're blind. 718 00:31:05,940 --> 00:31:06,900 So anyway, let's read on. 719 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:08,660 I'm going to finish it now. 720 00:31:09,599 --> 00:31:12,160 And so now there was a certain disciple 721 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,539 at Damascus named Ananias. 722 00:31:14,839 --> 00:31:17,140 And to him, the Lord said, in a vision, 723 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,220 and Ananias, and he said, here I am, Lord. 724 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:21,339 So the Lord said to him, 725 00:31:21,420 --> 00:31:23,799 arise and go to the street of strait, 726 00:31:23,859 --> 00:31:27,099 called strait, and inquire at the house of Judas 727 00:31:27,099 --> 00:31:29,700 for one called Saul of Tarsus. 728 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,420 For behold, he is praying. 729 00:31:33,059 --> 00:31:38,380 And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias 730 00:31:38,380 --> 00:31:41,160 coming in and putting his hand on him 731 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:43,960 so that he might receive his sight. 732 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:48,539 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard, 733 00:31:52,500 --> 00:31:56,259 I have heard from many about this man 734 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:02,339 how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 735 00:32:03,119 --> 00:32:06,519 And here he has authority from the chief priest 736 00:32:06,519 --> 00:32:09,660 to bind all who call on your name. 737 00:32:10,619 --> 00:32:12,099 But the Lord said to him, 738 00:32:12,099 --> 00:32:16,319 for he is a chosen vessel of mine 739 00:32:16,319 --> 00:32:19,019 to bear my name before Gentiles, 740 00:32:19,279 --> 00:32:21,019 kings and the children of Israel. 741 00:32:21,579 --> 00:32:24,460 For I will show him how many things 742 00:32:24,460 --> 00:32:26,960 he must suffer for my name's sake. 743 00:32:28,319 --> 00:32:31,779 And Ananias went his way and entered the house 744 00:32:31,779 --> 00:32:33,700 and laying his hands on him, 745 00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:35,160 he said, Brother Saul, 746 00:32:35,579 --> 00:32:37,779 the Lord Jesus who appeared to you 747 00:32:37,779 --> 00:32:39,660 on the road as you came 748 00:32:39,660 --> 00:32:43,119 has sent me that you may receive your sight 749 00:32:43,119 --> 00:32:45,400 and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 750 00:32:46,099 --> 00:32:48,660 Immediately there fell from his eyes 751 00:32:48,660 --> 00:32:50,079 something like scales 752 00:32:50,079 --> 00:32:54,039 and he received his sight at once 753 00:32:54,039 --> 00:32:56,700 and he arose and was baptized. 754 00:32:57,559 --> 00:33:00,359 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 755 00:33:00,900 --> 00:33:03,579 Then Saul spent some days with the disciples 756 00:33:03,579 --> 00:33:04,880 and at Damascus. 757 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,539 Immediately he preached the Christ 758 00:33:08,539 --> 00:33:12,259 in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. 759 00:33:12,859 --> 00:33:16,039 Then all who heard were amazed and said, 760 00:33:16,039 --> 00:33:19,019 is this not he who destroyed those 761 00:33:19,019 --> 00:33:21,660 who called on his name in Jerusalem 762 00:33:22,379 --> 00:33:24,740 and has come here for the purpose 763 00:33:24,740 --> 00:33:27,819 so that he might bring them bound 764 00:33:27,819 --> 00:33:29,099 to the chief priests? 765 00:33:29,819 --> 00:33:32,980 But Saul increased all the more in strength 766 00:33:33,659 --> 00:33:36,740 and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, 767 00:33:37,380 --> 00:33:42,019 proving that this Jesus is the Christ. 768 00:33:43,099 --> 00:33:44,559 So there was a transformation 769 00:33:44,559 --> 00:33:49,259 in Saul who will be called Paul 770 00:33:49,980 --> 00:33:52,000 and he was preaching Jesus. 771 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:55,059 Now some of us look at this and say, 772 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:56,460 all right, well, I looked at this 773 00:33:57,220 --> 00:34:00,299 and so he knew the law, 774 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:01,660 he knew the scriptures, 775 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:04,740 and now he knew Jesus. 776 00:34:05,380 --> 00:34:06,880 He had the Holy Spirit. 777 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:08,619 So he was certainly equipped 778 00:34:08,619 --> 00:34:11,380 with most people that you would say today 779 00:34:11,380 --> 00:34:12,639 who are saved 780 00:34:12,639 --> 00:34:14,039 and suddenly they want to go out 781 00:34:14,039 --> 00:34:15,139 and be an evangelist. 782 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,380 But yet the Holy Spirit gives us 783 00:34:18,380 --> 00:34:19,780 the utterance to do so. 784 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:21,619 But one thing we don't realize 785 00:34:21,619 --> 00:34:23,340 is during this time, 786 00:34:23,860 --> 00:34:24,360 believe it or not, 787 00:34:24,539 --> 00:34:26,960 between verses 20 and 22, 788 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,639 there's a three-year period of time 789 00:34:29,639 --> 00:34:33,559 because Paul would be in Damascus 790 00:34:33,559 --> 00:34:36,199 and he was sent out to Arabia 791 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:37,840 where the Lord Jesus 792 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,860 actually personally preached to him. 793 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:42,199 In fact, we read about that 794 00:34:42,199 --> 00:34:47,239 in Galatians 1, 16 to 18, 17. 795 00:34:48,219 --> 00:34:49,599 To reveal his son in me 796 00:34:49,599 --> 00:34:51,699 that I might preach him among the Gentiles, 797 00:34:51,820 --> 00:34:53,380 I did not immediately confer 798 00:34:53,380 --> 00:34:54,980 with the flesh and blood, 799 00:34:55,519 --> 00:34:57,960 nor did I go up to Jerusalem 800 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,619 to those who were apostles before me, 801 00:35:00,619 --> 00:35:02,699 but I went to Arabia 802 00:35:02,699 --> 00:35:04,780 and returned again to Damascus. 803 00:35:05,099 --> 00:35:06,420 I bring that up only because 804 00:35:06,420 --> 00:35:07,800 it looks like it just went 805 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:09,139 from one verse to the next, 806 00:35:09,380 --> 00:35:09,920 but there's actually 807 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:11,360 a three-year period of time 808 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,780 that Saul at the time 809 00:35:14,780 --> 00:35:16,860 went and learned directly 810 00:35:16,860 --> 00:35:18,059 from Jesus Christ, 811 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,920 not in the spiritual realm. 812 00:35:21,420 --> 00:35:23,699 And so he learned from Jesus. 813 00:35:24,119 --> 00:35:25,519 And so, in fact, 814 00:35:26,559 --> 00:35:27,780 we have a little map 815 00:35:27,780 --> 00:35:29,539 just to kind of give you a glimpse 816 00:35:29,539 --> 00:35:30,900 of what that looks like. 817 00:35:33,019 --> 00:35:34,800 There's Jerusalem down there, 818 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:35,940 but Arabia is kind of 819 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:38,659 southwest of Damascus. 820 00:35:39,340 --> 00:35:40,599 So at some point he went 821 00:35:40,599 --> 00:35:42,699 and was tutored by the Lord 822 00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:44,400 to equip him. 823 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:46,400 I just bring this up because 824 00:35:46,980 --> 00:35:49,300 there's a lot of celebrities 825 00:35:49,300 --> 00:35:50,739 that get saved 826 00:35:51,579 --> 00:35:53,500 or they claim Jesus Christ 827 00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:54,420 was the Lord and Savior. 828 00:35:55,380 --> 00:35:56,500 And a lot of times 829 00:35:56,500 --> 00:35:58,079 they immediately plunge 830 00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:01,699 into preaching Jesus, 831 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:02,719 which is great. 832 00:36:02,940 --> 00:36:04,639 But we have to be careful. 833 00:36:05,059 --> 00:36:06,319 I mean, we've seen a thing or two. 834 00:36:08,860 --> 00:36:11,300 Kanye and some others 835 00:36:11,300 --> 00:36:12,059 that suddenly, 836 00:36:13,559 --> 00:36:15,039 are they really grounded 837 00:36:15,039 --> 00:36:15,780 in the Lord? 838 00:36:16,019 --> 00:36:17,440 You know, Paul was 839 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:20,300 because he spent time with Jesus 840 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:22,059 and he already knew the law 841 00:36:22,059 --> 00:36:24,400 and he already had the Holy Spirit. 842 00:36:24,860 --> 00:36:25,320 But it's like, 843 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:26,840 we have to be careful 844 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,420 when people are saved 845 00:36:29,420 --> 00:36:30,500 and then immediately 846 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:32,519 they want to do it all. 847 00:36:33,380 --> 00:36:34,539 All right, just take a little bit of, 848 00:36:35,039 --> 00:36:36,219 just take some time 849 00:36:36,219 --> 00:36:38,280 to really learn 850 00:36:38,780 --> 00:36:40,360 before you go out there 851 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:41,559 and just start sharing. 852 00:36:41,739 --> 00:36:42,199 Because you know, 853 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:43,119 a lot of times 854 00:36:43,119 --> 00:36:45,500 you can have a gift of the Spirit, 855 00:36:45,519 --> 00:36:47,760 but not yet have the wisdom 856 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:50,139 to know how to use it. 857 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:50,760 Did you know that? 858 00:36:50,820 --> 00:36:51,340 You ever notice 859 00:36:51,340 --> 00:36:52,900 in 1 Corinthians 12, 860 00:36:53,179 --> 00:36:55,380 the first gift of the Spirit is what? 861 00:36:56,199 --> 00:36:56,719 Wisdom. 862 00:36:57,559 --> 00:36:58,619 Like, you need wisdom 863 00:36:58,619 --> 00:37:00,159 to be able to carry everything else 864 00:37:00,159 --> 00:37:01,599 that's coming your way, right? 865 00:37:02,019 --> 00:37:02,820 Because otherwise, 866 00:37:02,860 --> 00:37:06,019 we can really mishandle 867 00:37:06,019 --> 00:37:07,420 gifts of the Spirit 868 00:37:07,420 --> 00:37:09,940 if we're not wise and mature. 869 00:37:10,159 --> 00:37:10,860 So I just say that 870 00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:12,480 because Paul did receive 871 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:14,280 a lot of tutoring from the Lord 872 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:15,519 before he went out 873 00:37:15,519 --> 00:37:17,039 and did his ministry 874 00:37:17,039 --> 00:37:18,079 and actually went back 875 00:37:18,079 --> 00:37:19,179 to Jerusalem again. 876 00:37:20,199 --> 00:37:22,079 And so, as we think about this, 877 00:37:22,219 --> 00:37:23,380 you know, this is, you know, 878 00:37:24,579 --> 00:37:28,019 Saul, Paul, is now born again 879 00:37:28,019 --> 00:37:29,199 and he's going to be 880 00:37:29,199 --> 00:37:32,420 just an amazing voice for God. 881 00:37:32,519 --> 00:37:34,679 He can now finally see. 882 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:36,239 You know, a lot of times 883 00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:38,079 the truth is like right there. 884 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:40,079 I grew up in religion 885 00:37:41,260 --> 00:37:43,320 and the truth was right there. 886 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:45,199 It's in even all the words we're reading. 887 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:49,099 But it wasn't until I got born again 888 00:37:49,759 --> 00:37:51,739 that the light went on. 889 00:37:51,739 --> 00:37:53,059 I'm like, wow, 890 00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:55,199 like all those things 891 00:37:55,199 --> 00:37:58,340 I was reading in church 892 00:37:59,100 --> 00:38:00,340 and singing about. 893 00:38:00,780 --> 00:38:02,340 Now I get it. 894 00:38:02,539 --> 00:38:05,079 Like the light suddenly went on. 895 00:38:05,199 --> 00:38:06,300 It was like right there 896 00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:07,019 in front of me 897 00:38:07,019 --> 00:38:08,140 and I didn't get it 898 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,400 until suddenly the Holy Spirit hit me 899 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:12,980 and I got it. 900 00:38:13,159 --> 00:38:14,579 You know, it's amazing. 901 00:38:14,940 --> 00:38:16,579 I love reading all about 902 00:38:16,579 --> 00:38:19,099 like entrepreneurs and inventors, 903 00:38:19,099 --> 00:38:20,639 you know, and 904 00:38:22,260 --> 00:38:25,760 how things don't suddenly get invented. 905 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:28,340 There's always other inventors 906 00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:30,619 who had tried it in the past, right? 907 00:38:31,980 --> 00:38:32,639 And failed. 908 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,099 But the next inventor 909 00:38:35,099 --> 00:38:36,780 kind of studies what they did. 910 00:38:36,900 --> 00:38:38,340 They augmented a little bit. 911 00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:40,280 They tweak it and suddenly 912 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:41,360 it's working a little better. 913 00:38:41,980 --> 00:38:44,019 And so the next guy gets a hold of it. 914 00:38:44,519 --> 00:38:45,980 Rarely do you hear about anything 915 00:38:45,980 --> 00:38:47,320 that just suddenly happened 916 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:48,219 in one moment. 917 00:38:48,619 --> 00:38:49,599 And the Wright brothers 918 00:38:49,599 --> 00:38:51,880 always like struck me 919 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:52,420 because, you know, 920 00:38:52,500 --> 00:38:53,639 people were trying to fly 921 00:38:53,639 --> 00:38:58,539 since like, you know, before 1000 AD. 922 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:00,340 There's a story about this one guy. 923 00:39:00,500 --> 00:39:01,900 He literally made wings. 924 00:39:02,559 --> 00:39:03,300 Like he was like, 925 00:39:03,340 --> 00:39:05,239 what do they call the glider suits? 926 00:39:05,500 --> 00:39:07,099 And they fly through the air. 927 00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:09,500 That is the most insane sport 928 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:11,059 I've ever seen. 929 00:39:11,519 --> 00:39:11,960 Like who? 930 00:39:12,380 --> 00:39:13,559 How do you practice that? 931 00:39:14,039 --> 00:39:15,280 Yeah, I'm going to fly by 932 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,159 at about 90 miles an hour 933 00:39:17,159 --> 00:39:19,460 and just miss that cliff. 934 00:39:20,940 --> 00:39:22,659 And I still don't have a rush enough. 935 00:39:23,119 --> 00:39:23,159 Okay. 936 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:24,480 I need a bigger thrill. 937 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:25,659 Like how do you, 938 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:27,639 what, where are they invented 939 00:39:27,639 --> 00:39:28,679 these people, right? 940 00:39:29,219 --> 00:39:30,340 And so, well, this guy 941 00:39:30,340 --> 00:39:32,840 back in 900 some AD 942 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:34,139 actually made the first, 943 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:35,360 what's that suit called? 944 00:39:35,519 --> 00:39:36,019 Anybody know? 945 00:39:37,579 --> 00:39:39,019 I still don't hear anybody. 946 00:39:39,739 --> 00:39:40,579 A squirrel suit? 947 00:39:40,860 --> 00:39:41,219 Oh, yeah. 948 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:41,599 All right. 949 00:39:41,619 --> 00:39:41,840 Cool. 950 00:39:43,380 --> 00:39:45,699 So he had the first squirrel suit 951 00:39:45,699 --> 00:39:47,800 in nine something AD 952 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:50,039 and he literally leaped off 953 00:39:50,039 --> 00:39:51,940 of a cathedral rooftop 954 00:39:52,619 --> 00:39:54,119 and he didn't make it too far. 955 00:39:54,559 --> 00:39:56,480 He did make it 600 feet. 956 00:39:57,159 --> 00:39:58,460 Then he hit the ground 957 00:39:58,460 --> 00:40:00,260 and then he became a paraplegic. 958 00:40:00,619 --> 00:40:01,780 So sad stuff, 959 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:02,840 but he tried it, you know, 960 00:40:03,219 --> 00:40:03,599 but like, 961 00:40:04,179 --> 00:40:06,039 but until the Wright brothers, 962 00:40:06,039 --> 00:40:07,900 they were like working on this thing 963 00:40:08,599 --> 00:40:09,659 and, you know, 964 00:40:09,659 --> 00:40:11,360 they had seen other crashings 965 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:11,679 and everything 966 00:40:11,679 --> 00:40:12,960 and everyone always thought 967 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:14,340 all we need is a bigger engine, 968 00:40:14,340 --> 00:40:15,420 a faster engine 969 00:40:15,420 --> 00:40:17,659 to lift this thing off the ground. 970 00:40:18,699 --> 00:40:20,900 And yet, as they keep kept working 971 00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:21,519 or they finally, 972 00:40:21,639 --> 00:40:22,980 I think there's something else. 973 00:40:23,159 --> 00:40:23,980 We have to worry more 974 00:40:23,980 --> 00:40:25,300 about staying in the air. 975 00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:27,079 If we worry more, 976 00:40:27,199 --> 00:40:30,119 if we consider focus on staying in the air, 977 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:31,219 it's going to lift off, 978 00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:32,860 but we won't crash. 979 00:40:33,340 --> 00:40:34,079 That's even better. 980 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,400 And so they designed wider wing spans 981 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:40,079 with curvature and warping 982 00:40:40,079 --> 00:40:41,039 and warping 983 00:40:41,039 --> 00:40:41,860 so that you could turn. 984 00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:42,579 I can't do it 985 00:40:42,579 --> 00:40:43,599 because I got a broken wing. 986 00:40:43,599 --> 00:40:44,420 But like, 987 00:40:44,639 --> 00:40:46,019 you can kind of turn it this way 988 00:40:46,019 --> 00:40:47,619 and turn it this way, you know, 989 00:40:47,639 --> 00:40:48,840 so that you can turn. 990 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:50,619 I'm not supposed to be rotating right now, 991 00:40:50,619 --> 00:40:51,539 but anyway, 992 00:40:51,739 --> 00:40:52,079 but like, 993 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:52,820 so, 994 00:40:53,119 --> 00:40:53,960 but you could turn 995 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,079 and suddenly when they design that, 996 00:40:56,420 --> 00:40:57,420 they could fly. 997 00:40:57,840 --> 00:40:59,000 And now here they are, 998 00:40:59,139 --> 00:40:59,360 you know, 999 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,420 the inventors of modern day flight, 1000 00:41:02,420 --> 00:41:02,860 really, 1001 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:03,440 you know, 1002 00:41:03,659 --> 00:41:05,840 sometimes the answer is right there, 1003 00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:08,199 but we're just not seeing it. 1004 00:41:09,159 --> 00:41:10,119 Sometimes it's not about, 1005 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:11,460 I need a new job 1006 00:41:12,179 --> 00:41:13,539 because this job, 1007 00:41:14,679 --> 00:41:15,639 I can't, 1008 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:17,440 I can't do what God wants me to do. 1009 00:41:17,519 --> 00:41:17,920 Why not? 1010 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:19,400 Why not? 1011 00:41:19,539 --> 00:41:19,659 I mean, 1012 00:41:19,679 --> 00:41:20,360 they were fishermen 1013 00:41:20,940 --> 00:41:22,800 and they still fished probably. 1014 00:41:24,059 --> 00:41:24,960 Paul was a tent maker 1015 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:28,059 and he still made tents, right? 1016 00:41:29,239 --> 00:41:30,480 Lydia was a purple maker 1017 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:32,559 and she kept making purple, 1018 00:41:32,559 --> 00:41:33,219 I guess, you know, 1019 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:34,900 you could keep doing things. 1020 00:41:35,579 --> 00:41:36,679 Sometimes it's not about, 1021 00:41:36,980 --> 00:41:38,340 I got to like quit everything 1022 00:41:38,340 --> 00:41:39,719 and I got to, you know, 1023 00:41:39,780 --> 00:41:40,900 like sometimes just about 1024 00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:43,440 having the correct perspective 1025 00:41:44,099 --> 00:41:46,119 of why you're where you are, 1026 00:41:46,599 --> 00:41:46,780 you know, 1027 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:48,059 because God doesn't make mistakes. 1028 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:50,079 You might be in that place 1029 00:41:50,820 --> 00:41:52,199 to do the exact thing, 1030 00:41:52,199 --> 00:41:53,960 but you're not seeing it correctly, 1031 00:41:54,199 --> 00:41:54,599 you know, 1032 00:41:55,099 --> 00:41:55,780 I'll never forget 1033 00:41:55,780 --> 00:41:58,360 hearing about these Filipinos 1034 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:01,639 that were living in Saudi Arabia 1035 00:42:02,380 --> 00:42:03,559 for jobs 1036 00:42:03,559 --> 00:42:05,219 because Saudi hires like, 1037 00:42:05,260 --> 00:42:06,380 they have more employees 1038 00:42:06,380 --> 00:42:09,159 in that country than citizens. 1039 00:42:09,599 --> 00:42:09,719 I mean, 1040 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:10,699 they're loaded with, 1041 00:42:11,099 --> 00:42:11,199 you know, 1042 00:42:11,199 --> 00:42:12,280 they hire all the countries 1043 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:13,039 everywhere. 1044 00:42:13,699 --> 00:42:14,840 And so these Filipinos 1045 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:17,119 are there working 1046 00:42:17,119 --> 00:42:19,119 in these rich households, 1047 00:42:19,119 --> 00:42:19,699 okay, 1048 00:42:20,219 --> 00:42:21,139 doing their laundry, 1049 00:42:21,159 --> 00:42:21,619 cook, 1050 00:42:21,679 --> 00:42:22,539 everything, right? 1051 00:42:23,119 --> 00:42:25,500 And it wasn't until a mission, 1052 00:42:25,820 --> 00:42:28,320 a mission group 1053 00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,480 went to Saudi Arabia 1054 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:34,300 and told them why 1055 00:42:34,300 --> 00:42:35,480 they're really there. 1056 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,199 Like the eternal purpose, 1057 00:42:38,219 --> 00:42:38,880 they're there. 1058 00:42:39,719 --> 00:42:40,840 That they suddenly realize, 1059 00:42:40,980 --> 00:42:41,159 you know, 1060 00:42:41,239 --> 00:42:43,619 we can witness to these people. 1061 00:42:44,119 --> 00:42:44,480 Like maybe 1062 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:45,880 this is why we're really here, 1063 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:47,159 not just to earn money 1064 00:42:47,159 --> 00:42:48,260 and send it back home 1065 00:42:48,260 --> 00:42:49,960 to the poor village we came from, 1066 00:42:50,420 --> 00:42:51,559 but maybe we're here 1067 00:42:51,559 --> 00:42:52,739 to bring the gospel. 1068 00:42:53,420 --> 00:42:54,619 Like the light went on, 1069 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:54,820 like, 1070 00:42:55,559 --> 00:42:55,840 oh, 1071 00:42:55,940 --> 00:42:56,800 and they share that 1072 00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:57,480 at this convention 1073 00:42:57,480 --> 00:42:58,820 went to in South Korea 1074 00:42:58,820 --> 00:42:59,559 that they say, 1075 00:42:59,579 --> 00:43:00,059 we own it, 1076 00:43:00,199 --> 00:43:01,500 we owe it to the South Koreans 1077 00:43:01,500 --> 00:43:02,780 to show us 1078 00:43:02,780 --> 00:43:04,099 why we're in Saudi Arabia 1079 00:43:04,099 --> 00:43:05,300 because we didn't understand it 1080 00:43:05,300 --> 00:43:05,619 before, 1081 00:43:05,860 --> 00:43:06,940 except to make money. 1082 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:08,800 Sometimes you are 1083 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:10,400 where you're supposed to be. 1084 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:12,400 You just haven't been enlightened 1085 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:14,179 as to why you're there. 1086 00:43:15,219 --> 00:43:16,579 And he wants to open up your eyes 1087 00:43:16,579 --> 00:43:16,880 and say, 1088 00:43:17,079 --> 00:43:18,860 no, you're in the right place. 1089 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:20,920 You're even with the right people. 1090 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:23,039 You're just not doing 1091 00:43:23,039 --> 00:43:24,119 the right thing. 1092 00:43:25,260 --> 00:43:25,460 You know, 1093 00:43:25,739 --> 00:43:26,940 I remember Jesus said this 1094 00:43:26,940 --> 00:43:28,179 after he healed the man, 1095 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:30,400 John 939. 1096 00:43:31,860 --> 00:43:32,460 He said, 1097 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:34,539 and Jesus said, 1098 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:35,460 for judgment, 1099 00:43:35,659 --> 00:43:36,739 I came into this world 1100 00:43:36,739 --> 00:43:38,139 that those who do not 1101 00:43:38,139 --> 00:43:39,460 see may see. 1102 00:43:40,579 --> 00:43:42,079 And those who see 1103 00:43:42,619 --> 00:43:43,579 may be blind. 1104 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:46,260 There's some people, 1105 00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:47,099 though I got this, 1106 00:43:47,119 --> 00:43:47,340 God, 1107 00:43:47,460 --> 00:43:48,579 I got this all figured out. 1108 00:43:48,719 --> 00:43:50,599 I know what my life's all about. 1109 00:43:50,780 --> 00:43:51,320 I'm good. 1110 00:43:52,159 --> 00:43:52,940 No, you're not. 1111 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:54,900 You need a little blindness 1112 00:43:54,900 --> 00:43:56,480 until you can really 1113 00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:57,780 take a break 1114 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:00,860 and receive my sight. 1115 00:44:01,119 --> 00:44:01,239 You know, 1116 00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:02,400 we want his sight. 1117 00:44:02,900 --> 00:44:05,519 We could see with his eyes 1118 00:44:05,519 --> 00:44:06,199 and see, 1119 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:06,519 wow, 1120 00:44:06,659 --> 00:44:07,019 this is, 1121 00:44:07,019 --> 00:44:09,039 this is his world. 1122 00:44:09,980 --> 00:44:10,199 This is, 1123 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:11,659 I belong to him. 1124 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:12,539 I'm his messenger. 1125 00:44:13,500 --> 00:44:14,679 I'm acting as him. 1126 00:44:14,980 --> 00:44:15,940 I'm his ambassador. 1127 00:44:16,719 --> 00:44:17,840 It's suddenly your eyes 1128 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:19,659 are open to all the opportunities 1129 00:44:19,659 --> 00:44:21,840 you have all around you. 1130 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:23,480 So I have a couple questions. 1131 00:44:23,900 --> 00:44:24,119 Okay. 1132 00:44:25,460 --> 00:44:26,659 And the questions are, 1133 00:44:27,320 --> 00:44:28,539 what am I doing? 1134 00:44:29,559 --> 00:44:30,699 I'm putting it to myself 1135 00:44:31,259 --> 00:44:32,880 because I asked myself all this time. 1136 00:44:33,039 --> 00:44:33,739 Jill says it to, 1137 00:44:33,840 --> 00:44:34,519 what are you doing? 1138 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:35,860 She says it to me too. 1139 00:44:36,420 --> 00:44:36,900 By the way, 1140 00:44:37,019 --> 00:44:38,679 she has a prod at home too 1141 00:44:38,679 --> 00:44:39,519 and she, 1142 00:44:39,619 --> 00:44:40,199 when I'm not there, 1143 00:44:40,340 --> 00:44:40,900 get moving. 1144 00:44:42,780 --> 00:44:43,659 I'm just kidding. 1145 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:46,840 But what am I doing? 1146 00:44:47,619 --> 00:44:49,900 And why am I doing it? 1147 00:44:50,719 --> 00:44:50,860 Really? 1148 00:44:51,159 --> 00:44:51,599 I mean, it's like, 1149 00:44:52,380 --> 00:44:53,679 we have to have purpose. 1150 00:44:54,079 --> 00:44:54,980 I'm not saying you have to 1151 00:44:54,980 --> 00:44:56,539 count for every minute of your day, 1152 00:44:56,599 --> 00:44:57,139 every second, 1153 00:44:57,340 --> 00:44:57,599 you know, 1154 00:44:58,199 --> 00:44:59,619 I get caught up in my YouTube 1155 00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:02,039 shorts too much. 1156 00:45:02,260 --> 00:45:02,820 Sometimes I'm like, 1157 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:04,800 where did that 20 minutes just go? 1158 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:05,880 Like, I'm like, 1159 00:45:06,039 --> 00:45:07,000 I can't believe it. 1160 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:07,760 And here it is, 1161 00:45:07,780 --> 00:45:08,780 another road rage thing 1162 00:45:08,780 --> 00:45:09,719 and I'm addicted again. 1163 00:45:10,039 --> 00:45:10,960 Oh my gosh. 1164 00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:11,559 Yeah. 1165 00:45:12,119 --> 00:45:12,559 It's like, 1166 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:13,719 I know one thing, 1167 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:14,940 I learned a lot from that. 1168 00:45:16,159 --> 00:45:17,019 Just wave. 1169 00:45:19,340 --> 00:45:20,420 You don't get mean, 1170 00:45:20,699 --> 00:45:21,539 you don't do anything, 1171 00:45:21,679 --> 00:45:22,679 especially the older you get. 1172 00:45:23,219 --> 00:45:23,320 Just, 1173 00:45:23,519 --> 00:45:24,400 I don't know where they get 1174 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:25,739 these old Karens 1175 00:45:25,739 --> 00:45:26,880 that think they're going to beat up 1176 00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,400 these young motorcycle riders. 1177 00:45:29,719 --> 00:45:29,739 Like, 1178 00:45:29,860 --> 00:45:30,719 are you crazy? 1179 00:45:31,340 --> 00:45:31,699 Just like, 1180 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:32,460 don't you, 1181 00:45:32,980 --> 00:45:34,139 you haven't appraised 1182 00:45:34,139 --> 00:45:35,019 yourself properly. 1183 00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:36,659 Let me just say that much. 1184 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:37,780 Let it go, 1185 00:45:37,980 --> 00:45:38,159 dude, 1186 00:45:38,440 --> 00:45:40,340 it's going to end up badly for you. 1187 00:45:40,780 --> 00:45:41,099 But anyway, 1188 00:45:41,519 --> 00:45:42,719 but sometimes you can get hooked 1189 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:43,519 on that stuff 1190 00:45:43,519 --> 00:45:44,500 and before you know it, 1191 00:45:44,539 --> 00:45:45,260 where's the time going? 1192 00:45:45,559 --> 00:45:47,139 I'm not saying get crazy about, 1193 00:45:47,599 --> 00:45:49,000 but what am I doing? 1194 00:45:49,559 --> 00:45:51,719 And why am I doing it? 1195 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:54,139 We have to have God's perspective. 1196 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:56,280 Remember Elijah suddenly flipped out 1197 00:45:56,280 --> 00:45:57,679 when Jezebel's going to kill him 1198 00:45:57,679 --> 00:46:00,260 and he gets out to the mountain of God. 1199 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:01,000 He's in the, 1200 00:46:01,099 --> 00:46:01,980 and he's in the, 1201 00:46:01,980 --> 00:46:03,659 in the cave. 1202 00:46:04,320 --> 00:46:05,980 And he's complaining to God, 1203 00:46:06,420 --> 00:46:06,639 you know, 1204 00:46:06,840 --> 00:46:08,179 I've been zealous for you 1205 00:46:08,179 --> 00:46:09,219 and you know, 1206 00:46:09,260 --> 00:46:09,360 they, 1207 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:10,079 they have, 1208 00:46:10,239 --> 00:46:12,380 they have forsaken your covenant 1209 00:46:13,659 --> 00:46:16,139 and they have torn down your altars 1210 00:46:16,139 --> 00:46:18,059 and they have killed all your prophets. 1211 00:46:18,619 --> 00:46:19,280 I'm the only one left 1212 00:46:19,280 --> 00:46:20,579 and they're even trying to kill me. 1213 00:46:22,340 --> 00:46:22,860 Suddenly, 1214 00:46:23,599 --> 00:46:24,300 God says, 1215 00:46:24,860 --> 00:46:25,260 go out 1216 00:46:26,699 --> 00:46:27,659 of the cave. 1217 00:46:28,019 --> 00:46:29,019 Get out of the darkness. 1218 00:46:29,679 --> 00:46:29,739 Okay, 1219 00:46:29,820 --> 00:46:30,780 it's time to come out, 1220 00:46:31,039 --> 00:46:31,360 right? 1221 00:46:32,340 --> 00:46:33,139 And remember, 1222 00:46:33,619 --> 00:46:35,599 he wasn't in the wind. 1223 00:46:36,340 --> 00:46:37,519 He wasn't in the earthquake. 1224 00:46:37,699 --> 00:46:39,000 He wasn't in the fire. 1225 00:46:39,699 --> 00:46:40,980 It was that little whisper. 1226 00:46:42,699 --> 00:46:45,079 And he says the same exact thing to him again. 1227 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:48,380 Why did you come here, 1228 00:46:48,579 --> 00:46:48,840 Elijah? 1229 00:46:49,960 --> 00:46:50,159 Like, 1230 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:51,280 what are you doing? 1231 00:46:52,699 --> 00:46:53,659 What are you doing? 1232 00:46:53,820 --> 00:46:55,119 And why are you doing it? 1233 00:46:55,179 --> 00:46:55,280 Like, 1234 00:46:55,460 --> 00:46:56,820 you're out here to complain. 1235 00:46:56,940 --> 00:46:57,280 I love, 1236 00:46:57,460 --> 00:46:58,119 he blessed him. 1237 00:46:58,280 --> 00:46:59,920 I'd rather God whisper to me 1238 00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:01,719 than yell at me, 1239 00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:01,900 right? 1240 00:47:02,460 --> 00:47:04,099 And he just whispered to him again, 1241 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:04,960 Elijah, 1242 00:47:05,820 --> 00:47:07,579 why did you come here? 1243 00:47:08,219 --> 00:47:08,480 I mean, 1244 00:47:09,119 --> 00:47:10,760 sometimes the Lord just wants to say, 1245 00:47:10,820 --> 00:47:10,900 look, 1246 00:47:11,019 --> 00:47:11,900 I have you 1247 00:47:11,900 --> 00:47:14,099 and you are in the right place 1248 00:47:14,099 --> 00:47:15,360 at the right time. 1249 00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:17,599 Just keep the focus. 1250 00:47:17,900 --> 00:47:19,480 You have a calling, 1251 00:47:20,079 --> 00:47:21,039 a great calling. 1252 00:47:21,340 --> 00:47:22,360 Every one of us 1253 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:25,119 have an amazing calling in our lives. 1254 00:47:25,239 --> 00:47:26,019 Do you realize that? 1255 00:47:26,480 --> 00:47:27,420 Well, how can we all 1256 00:47:27,420 --> 00:47:28,380 be that important? 1257 00:47:29,179 --> 00:47:29,719 We are. 1258 00:47:30,719 --> 00:47:31,559 Each one of you 1259 00:47:31,559 --> 00:47:32,800 have a sphere of influence 1260 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:33,960 and everywhere you go, 1261 00:47:35,099 --> 00:47:36,119 it's the Lord's, 1262 00:47:36,780 --> 00:47:39,280 it's the Lord has already taken it. 1263 00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:40,880 And he's saying, 1264 00:47:40,900 --> 00:47:41,400 go, 1265 00:47:41,599 --> 00:47:42,739 everywhere you step foot, 1266 00:47:43,159 --> 00:47:44,539 I've given you that land 1267 00:47:44,539 --> 00:47:45,380 just like Joshua. 1268 00:47:45,659 --> 00:47:45,699 Like, 1269 00:47:45,739 --> 00:47:48,420 you are that important to God. 1270 00:47:50,260 --> 00:47:51,039 And of course, 1271 00:47:51,199 --> 00:47:52,079 not that he needs us. 1272 00:47:52,260 --> 00:47:53,780 Well, he chooses to need us. 1273 00:47:53,880 --> 00:47:54,159 Okay. 1274 00:47:54,900 --> 00:47:57,079 And you are that significant to him. 1275 00:47:57,579 --> 00:47:59,699 We're going to have communion together. 1276 00:48:00,500 --> 00:48:01,920 But I just want to say you, 1277 00:48:03,500 --> 00:48:06,480 we have to have the right perspective, 1278 00:48:08,239 --> 00:48:09,199 God's perspective. 1279 00:48:09,579 --> 00:48:10,099 We need to, 1280 00:48:10,199 --> 00:48:13,719 we need to just come out of that blindness 1281 00:48:16,559 --> 00:48:18,539 and really have breakthrough. 1282 00:48:21,820 --> 00:48:24,599 As the worship team is coming up, 1283 00:48:26,700 --> 00:48:28,599 let's just take a little bit of time 1284 00:48:28,599 --> 00:48:34,139 to contemplate some things. 1285 00:48:45,400 --> 00:48:46,380 Anyone feeling, 1286 00:48:46,880 --> 00:48:48,739 I'm not going to ask you to raise your hands, 1287 00:48:48,860 --> 00:48:50,599 but anyone kind of feel 1288 00:48:50,599 --> 00:48:52,940 like you're like kind of stuck in a pattern. 1289 00:48:55,260 --> 00:48:57,179 And it's all the same. 1290 00:48:58,599 --> 00:48:59,639 Day in, 1291 00:49:00,139 --> 00:49:00,460 day out, 1292 00:49:00,619 --> 00:49:02,260 it's nothing's changing. 1293 00:49:02,579 --> 00:49:03,420 Nothing's different. 1294 00:49:05,039 --> 00:49:07,400 And you're not sensing that you are 1295 00:49:13,159 --> 00:49:15,260 being fueled by the Holy Spirit. 1296 00:49:15,380 --> 00:49:17,179 You're not really gaining 1297 00:49:17,179 --> 00:49:20,619 any new perspective or purpose. 1298 00:49:22,420 --> 00:49:22,940 Instead, 1299 00:49:22,940 --> 00:49:24,559 you're just going through the motions. 1300 00:49:29,239 --> 00:49:31,079 We're going to pray about that. 1301 00:49:38,639 --> 00:49:39,519 And I know, 1302 00:49:39,559 --> 00:49:39,960 you know, 1303 00:49:40,119 --> 00:49:42,199 I know there's people here 1304 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:45,780 that have so much capability 1305 00:49:47,340 --> 00:49:48,940 and calling. 1306 00:49:50,599 --> 00:49:52,460 And yet they're choosing 1307 00:49:53,960 --> 00:49:54,880 temporal, 1308 00:49:55,480 --> 00:49:57,280 less important things. 1309 00:49:58,680 --> 00:50:00,760 To fill their time with. 1310 00:50:02,199 --> 00:50:03,519 I don't know if that's you, 1311 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:08,039 but time waits for no one. 1312 00:50:10,900 --> 00:50:12,579 We're only here but amidst. 1313 00:50:17,940 --> 00:50:20,860 That funeral Jill and I were at last week 1314 00:50:20,860 --> 00:50:23,000 for my son-in-law's brother, 1315 00:50:23,139 --> 00:50:24,079 who's 32, 1316 00:50:25,580 --> 00:50:27,539 who died suddenly. 1317 00:50:28,599 --> 00:50:30,900 On a bicycle, 1318 00:50:31,800 --> 00:50:35,000 riding up a hill in Lake Tahoe 1319 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:35,480 and just, 1320 00:50:35,860 --> 00:50:36,360 you know, 1321 00:50:36,519 --> 00:50:36,860 this six, 1322 00:50:37,099 --> 00:50:39,420 seven amazing athlete kid 1323 00:50:40,640 --> 00:50:42,039 just dies, 1324 00:50:42,400 --> 00:50:42,920 you know? 1325 00:50:45,100 --> 00:50:48,340 And there's something about funerals 1326 00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:51,519 when you're at the right kind of funeral 1327 00:50:51,519 --> 00:50:53,219 that can be so inspiring. 1328 00:50:56,139 --> 00:50:58,699 And his funeral was inspired. 1329 00:51:00,679 --> 00:51:02,360 It was so motivating. 1330 00:51:03,179 --> 00:51:04,599 And he wasn't some great, 1331 00:51:04,619 --> 00:51:05,860 you know, evangelist. 1332 00:51:06,019 --> 00:51:06,679 And he didn't, 1333 00:51:06,679 --> 00:51:06,920 you know, 1334 00:51:06,940 --> 00:51:08,260 he didn't have this big ministry. 1335 00:51:08,460 --> 00:51:09,599 He was a business guy, 1336 00:51:09,699 --> 00:51:10,139 you know? 1337 00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:12,980 But he had a lot of friends 1338 00:51:13,700 --> 00:51:14,920 that loved them. 1339 00:51:17,179 --> 00:51:19,340 And they spoke so highly of him. 1340 00:51:21,500 --> 00:51:24,440 And he had amazing testimonies there 1341 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:26,579 at this funeral. 1342 00:51:27,940 --> 00:51:29,099 And as I listened to them, 1343 00:51:29,460 --> 00:51:29,659 it just, 1344 00:51:29,900 --> 00:51:31,039 it made me really do 1345 00:51:31,039 --> 00:51:32,900 some self-analysis, you know? 1346 00:51:33,699 --> 00:51:35,000 Am I that kind of friend 1347 00:51:35,000 --> 00:51:35,800 to other people? 1348 00:51:35,960 --> 00:51:39,760 Am I really going all in 1349 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:41,659 with relationships, you know? 1350 00:51:42,519 --> 00:51:44,599 Am I really investing 1351 00:51:45,340 --> 00:51:47,900 the best I have in people? 1352 00:51:49,340 --> 00:51:51,340 Or am I kind of going through motions, 1353 00:51:51,599 --> 00:51:52,460 you know, routine? 1354 00:51:53,420 --> 00:51:54,679 Am I really appreciating 1355 00:51:54,679 --> 00:51:56,360 everyone that's around me 1356 00:51:57,940 --> 00:51:59,420 and seeing it as 1357 00:52:00,019 --> 00:52:02,320 like an eternal relationship, 1358 00:52:03,260 --> 00:52:03,480 you know? 1359 00:52:03,619 --> 00:52:04,619 Even if they don't know the Lord, 1360 00:52:04,719 --> 00:52:05,460 it's still eternal. 1361 00:52:05,599 --> 00:52:07,159 What can happen is eternal. 1362 00:52:07,820 --> 00:52:08,440 And it's important. 1363 00:52:08,639 --> 00:52:09,900 Everything we do down here 1364 00:52:09,900 --> 00:52:12,599 has eternal dividends. 1365 00:52:13,019 --> 00:52:14,039 Thank God the bad stuff 1366 00:52:14,039 --> 00:52:14,960 gets left behind. 1367 00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:17,619 Thank God, you know, 1368 00:52:17,880 --> 00:52:18,880 you've sinned. 1369 00:52:18,880 --> 00:52:19,420 Guess what? 1370 00:52:19,940 --> 00:52:21,320 You already died to that sin. 1371 00:52:21,780 --> 00:52:22,559 He already rose. 1372 00:52:22,800 --> 00:52:23,659 He became your sin. 1373 00:52:23,820 --> 00:52:24,219 You're forgiven. 1374 00:52:25,219 --> 00:52:26,539 But how about the good things, man? 1375 00:52:26,619 --> 00:52:28,239 There's so many good things 1376 00:52:28,239 --> 00:52:30,340 that are waiting for us 1377 00:52:30,340 --> 00:52:32,320 to step into and do. 1378 00:52:32,860 --> 00:52:33,719 You know, the words, 1379 00:52:34,719 --> 00:52:35,519 Ephesians 2.10, 1380 00:52:35,840 --> 00:52:37,159 we are his workmanship 1381 00:52:37,159 --> 00:52:39,239 created in Christ Jesus 1382 00:52:39,840 --> 00:52:41,059 for good works, 1383 00:52:41,219 --> 00:52:43,719 which God prepared in advance 1384 00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:45,940 for us to walk in. 1385 00:52:46,139 --> 00:52:47,119 Like, think of that. 1386 00:52:47,119 --> 00:52:49,360 There are so many amazing things 1387 00:52:49,360 --> 00:52:50,940 waiting for you 1388 00:52:51,380 --> 00:52:53,219 to say yes to God. 1389 00:52:54,300 --> 00:52:55,300 Lord, I'm going to do it. 1390 00:52:56,360 --> 00:52:57,019 I'm going to do it. 1391 00:52:57,199 --> 00:52:58,219 I'm going this direction, 1392 00:52:58,360 --> 00:52:58,880 but suddenly, 1393 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:01,800 I want to go in the right direction. 1394 00:53:03,300 --> 00:53:04,500 And I think maybe the Lord 1395 00:53:04,500 --> 00:53:06,420 is just going to give each one of us 1396 00:53:06,420 --> 00:53:08,300 a sense of like an aha moment 1397 00:53:08,300 --> 00:53:09,159 right now, 1398 00:53:09,320 --> 00:53:10,059 like an epiphany, 1399 00:53:10,780 --> 00:53:13,239 like a great awakening in our heart 1400 00:53:13,239 --> 00:53:13,880 and say, Lord, 1401 00:53:14,159 --> 00:53:15,420 what have I been missing? 1402 00:53:16,019 --> 00:53:17,260 What have I been doing 1403 00:53:17,260 --> 00:53:18,500 that's not right, 1404 00:53:19,739 --> 00:53:21,300 that doesn't line up 1405 00:53:21,860 --> 00:53:24,000 with your calling for my life? 1406 00:53:25,119 --> 00:53:26,500 I don't want to miss out. 1407 00:53:27,099 --> 00:53:28,380 That's the fear of the Lord, 1408 00:53:28,739 --> 00:53:30,199 fear of missing out. 1409 00:53:31,460 --> 00:53:33,719 I saw someone walk by us 1410 00:53:33,719 --> 00:53:35,000 with a shirt. 1411 00:53:35,480 --> 00:53:36,599 Jill pointed it out and says, 1412 00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:37,519 you see that shirt? 1413 00:53:37,679 --> 00:53:38,039 I said, no. 1414 00:53:38,500 --> 00:53:39,659 He said he had a shirt 1415 00:53:39,659 --> 00:53:40,559 that said, 1416 00:53:40,679 --> 00:53:43,000 I don't got to, I get to. 1417 00:53:43,179 --> 00:53:43,619 I'm like, wait a minute. 1418 00:53:43,659 --> 00:53:44,840 He stole my saying. 1419 00:53:44,840 --> 00:53:45,940 I didn't know anybody else 1420 00:53:45,940 --> 00:53:47,019 knew about that saying. 1421 00:53:48,139 --> 00:53:49,260 But I love, 1422 00:53:49,460 --> 00:53:50,760 I thought God gave it to me. 1423 00:53:50,900 --> 00:53:51,880 Well, gave it to him too. 1424 00:53:52,960 --> 00:53:55,719 You don't got to, you get to. 1425 00:53:56,579 --> 00:53:59,179 Walking in the perfect will of God, 1426 00:53:59,239 --> 00:54:00,360 not that we're perfect ever, 1427 00:54:00,880 --> 00:54:02,340 but saying yes to the Lord. 1428 00:54:02,539 --> 00:54:03,300 Lord, just guide me. 1429 00:54:03,380 --> 00:54:05,480 I want to do you on earth 1430 00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:08,500 as Christ is so are we in this world. 1431 00:54:08,739 --> 00:54:10,820 I want to be you in this world. 1432 00:54:10,900 --> 00:54:11,840 I'm not going to be you, 1433 00:54:12,260 --> 00:54:14,260 but I carry you everywhere I go. 1434 00:54:14,260 --> 00:54:16,239 We are the fragrance of Christ. 1435 00:54:16,340 --> 00:54:17,659 That's why you smell so good 1436 00:54:18,460 --> 00:54:20,559 because we are the fragrance of Christ. 1437 00:54:22,159 --> 00:54:24,400 So let's have communion together. 1438 00:54:24,599 --> 00:54:28,460 This is just such a great time to enjoy. 1439 00:54:29,280 --> 00:54:30,360 You don't mind stop picking 1440 00:54:30,360 --> 00:54:31,340 for a minute, do you guys? 1441 00:54:35,320 --> 00:54:36,800 Thanks for joining us 1442 00:54:36,800 --> 00:54:38,139 at Lansdale Life Church 1443 00:54:38,139 --> 00:54:39,320 as we praise God 1444 00:54:39,320 --> 00:54:40,659 and discuss his word. 1445 00:54:41,320 --> 00:54:42,599 Don't forget to join us 1446 00:54:42,599 --> 00:54:44,420 for Worship Live Sunday mornings 1447 00:54:44,420 --> 00:54:46,820 at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 1448 00:54:47,820 --> 00:54:49,920 Be blessed and have a great day!