1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: Come in the kitchen with me and let me show 7 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: you something that God is speaking to me about. Lick 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: the bowl and taste and see that the Lord is good. 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: I love y'all so much. Acts Chapter one, verse four. 10 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: On one occasion, while he was eating with them, see 11 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: us in the Bible. Come in the kitchen, lick the ball. 12 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: He was eating with them, he gave them this command, 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: father promise which you have heard me speak about. For 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: John baptized with water, but in a few days you 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Then they gathered 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: around him and asked him, Lord, are you at this 18 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said 19 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: to them, it is not for you to know the 20 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 21 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: But you will received power when the Holy Spirit comes 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: and in all Judea and Samaria, into the ends of 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 1: the earth. After he said this, he was taken up 25 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky 27 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in 28 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: white stood beside them, men of Galilee. They said, why 29 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: do you stand here looking into the sky? This same 30 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will 31 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: come back wow in the same way you have seen 32 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: him go into heaven verse twelve. And I'll stop. Then 33 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,279 Speaker 1: Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day walk from the city. 35 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: I lied, I need verse thirteen two to tell you 36 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: what I'm supposed to say. When they arrived, they went 37 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present 38 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: were Peter, John James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas Bartholomew 39 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: and Matthew James, son of Alpheus, and Simon the Zealot, 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: and Judas, son of James. They all joined together, I 41 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,399 Speaker 1: promise this last verse. They all joined together constantly in prayer, 42 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: along with the women. I can't leave that out and 43 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: marry the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. Now, y'all, 44 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: I stared at this text so long. I didn't want 45 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: the familiarity of this text to eclipse its significance for 46 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: this moment. So the first thing that I kept seeing 47 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: was the word that y'all all shouted in this section 48 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: right here in Acts one, a power. You will receive power. 49 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: And for the longest I thought that was the message 50 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: God had for us, that when we re leaves our pride, 51 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: we receive God's power. The Lord said, that is true, 52 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: and you can preach it sometime, but not this time. 53 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: That's not the message. So I said, well, what else 54 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: could it be? And there's all kinds of things that 55 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: that you see in this passage that are amazing, like 56 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: when they said this same Jesus will return like he 57 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: doesn't change. His nature, doesn't change, his character, doesn't change, 58 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: his purpose, doesn't change, not controlled by some political power. 59 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: What Jesus looks like. He's not made in our image. 60 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 1: We're made in his. So he doesn't change. We change 61 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: as we behold him. The Lord said, that's not the 62 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: message for Elevation leader either, And I thought, well, we're 63 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: running out of stuff here. Lord, that's the best stuff 64 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: in the passage. You know, what does it do not 65 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: leave Jerusalem? Does it do not leave? Am I supposed 66 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: to tell him don't run off and join another church, 67 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: you know, don't don't sign the divorce papers or whatever. 68 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: Is that the message do not leave? The Lord said no, no, 69 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: it's not there. And so what the Lord told me 70 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: to focus on today is in verse six, and this 71 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: is my message. Then they gathered. I want to preach 72 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: to you today on those three words. Then they gathered. 73 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: Then they gathered, say it one time before you take 74 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: your seat. Then they gathered, be seated. One of our 75 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: volunteers is kids play sports with our kids. And he 76 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: asked me right at the beginning, when he sew me 77 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: up here sweating on the stage. But Chris and John 78 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: sal and Jennohn Stools preaching back in February of twenty 79 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: he said, is that weird? I said what he said, 80 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: learning to preach in an empty room? And I said, 81 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: it's not learning to preach in an empty room, it's remembering. Huh. 82 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: I found out a long time ago. A lot of 83 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: spiritual growth isn't about learning anything. It's about remembering, remember 84 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: who you are the Book of First Simba. No, it 85 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: wasn't weird at all. It just took me to remember. 86 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: Like how David said, this is an unusual circumstance with 87 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: a nine foot giant whose helmet outweighs me. I really 88 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: didn't come here to fight, but I do remember how 89 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: to because I've done that before. I never thought this before, 90 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: but I have fought. And so the key in the 91 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: David and Goliath passage just to realize that the God 92 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: who delivered me from the Paul the line and Beryl 93 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: delivered from some circumcised philistine, that the enemy's changed, but 94 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,559 Speaker 1: the power that you're fighting in doesn't. So every time 95 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: that you shift from one stage of your life to another, 96 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: or one mode of leadership to another, or when you 97 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,479 Speaker 1: shift in the role that you're playing, you know, like 98 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: our campus pastors when everything shut down, and I'm not 99 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: trying to take us so far back because i know 100 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: we just got good news that everything is gonna and 101 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: I'm really hesitant to trust it. So I'm kind of 102 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: just like dipping my toe in feeling happy about that, 103 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: you know, But just to go back to that time, 104 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: a lot of them that were used to hugging people, 105 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: praying for people, and being with people basically did the 106 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: job as if they were hired at a call center. 107 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: And instead of, to quote the great lin Manuelmoranda, the 108 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: room where it happened, it was all of a sudden, 109 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: the zoom where it happened, and the adaptation of this 110 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: church in that time was one of the greatest proofs 111 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: that I've ever seen in my life of the grace 112 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: of God upon this ministry. There is a grace for adaptation. 113 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: There is a grape for adaptation. Just ask Moses, who 114 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: needed a sign that God was with him, and all 115 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden, the shepherd's staff that he had carried 116 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: in the wilderness of his decision to kill an Egyptian 117 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: became the instrument as he threw it on the ground 118 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: and it turned into a snake to prove to him 119 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: that God can change anything. There is a grace for adaptation, 120 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: just as the disciples who were also in a desert 121 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: place trying to feed some hungry crowds. You know, crowds 122 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: become mobs real quick. I'll talk about that momentarily. So 123 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: on the verge of that turn, when you realize that 124 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: a crowd is not a church. A crowd is not 125 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: a church. Would you please write that down so you 126 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: can come back to it. A crowd is not a church. 127 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: That you understand. When the disciples came to Jesus and 128 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: placed the meager resource, you know, the feeding of the 129 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: five thousand into his hand, it became enough as he 130 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: touched it, as they brought it. There is a grace 131 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: for adaptation in your life. Right now. I want you 132 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: to know there is a grace for adaptation. There is 133 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: a grace for you by the supernatural power of the 134 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit. In God taught words what Paul teaches and 135 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: Corinthians for us to express in our lives, realities that 136 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: we have no experience of. But God gives it to 137 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: us as we need it. That's the grace of adaptation. 138 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: And in Acts Chapter one, particularly, the Holy Spirit of 139 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: God is coming to these disciples who we listed a 140 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: moment ago, Peter, James and John, the famous ones, Philip 141 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: and Thomas, who make some cameo appearances. Bartholomew shout out, 142 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: Bartholomew I ever preached about him before. The women marry 143 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: the mother of Jesus and his brothers, they're all standing 144 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: at a moment where it's very different than it is 145 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: for us, because everything is changing in their world. It 146 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: was different to be a disciple of Jesus back then 147 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: because back then there was a lot of political unrest. 148 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: It was different. Everybody say, back then, you're so quick. 149 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: It was different back then because back in those times 150 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 1: there were many arguments about gender equality. And back then, 151 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: to be a disciple of Jesus was hard, you know. 152 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: Back then it was complicated because as the Jewish believers 153 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: were becoming Christians, many within the religious communities saw their 154 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: conversion to Christ as traitorous to their identity nationally. It 155 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: was different than people used to divide themselves by things 156 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: like skin color or custom, and so it was really 157 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: different then. And the challenge becomes for me to bring 158 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: you out of this irrelevant context in which the Bible 159 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: was written. But there is grace for adaptation. And even 160 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: when you think about this, the way they would experience 161 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,839 Speaker 1: the presence of God was changing as they stood on 162 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: the mount of Olives, which is itself a place of transition. Remember, 163 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: the olives only become oil as they are crushed, and 164 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: that's exactly what has happened to the disciples as their 165 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: tears are barely dried from watching Jesus die. It's only 166 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: been forty days, and now he's leaving them for good. 167 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: You felt like God left you a few times last year. 168 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: You felt like God left you, like maybe you did 169 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: something wrong and he took his hand off you. You 170 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: didn't tell your volunteer team that. I hope you didn't. 171 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: And that's too heavy for your volunteer team to know about. 172 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: If you're a leader, we carry things as leaders, don't we. 173 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: I'm not just talking about as a pastor. I mean 174 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: even if you're a leader in your home, or if 175 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: you're a leader in your business, or if you're leading 176 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: a volunteer team. Had a had a Gideon opportunity over 177 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: the last year, do you know what that is? Gideon 178 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: started with thirty six thousand and got down to three 179 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: hundred before God gave him the victory. How many of 180 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: y'all's volunteer teams is coming out of a Gideon season? 181 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: You still don't look like you're good with it. That's 182 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: I wanted to preach to you today about then they gathered. 183 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: Then they gathered. Back then, when they gathered, there was 184 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: no multi psych technology back then, when they gathered. There 185 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: was no nonprofit exemption for charitable giving. Back then, when 186 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: they gathered, there was no guarantee that they could worship 187 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: in safety. And I'm not talking about masks back then, 188 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: and they gathered, which is a miracle in itself that 189 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: they're together again. If you remember at the Cross, it 190 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: says that all of Jesus disciples, the one we just listed, 191 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: they all scattered when he died. So I was happy 192 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: to see in Acts chapter one, then they gathered that 193 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: although the disappointment and disfiguration of their picture of the 194 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: way the Kingdom of God would look when it came 195 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: in power had been completely devastating to their faith and 196 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: even caused them to fail, that God brought them back 197 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: to this moment to give them a divine, supernatural empowerment 198 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: for the task of taking the Gospel to the world. 199 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: They gathered everybody shall gather. We went through a season 200 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: where the way that we gathered changed so much. But 201 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: I found a verse that I want to show you 202 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: that all of you good Baptists. Are there any Baptist 203 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: in the house, Are there any recovering Baptists in the house. 204 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: I went to a Baptist school and before that I 205 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: spent a lot of time in Baptist Church before you know, 206 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: I grew up Methodists. But they always quoted this verse 207 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: in prayer meeting because nobody really came to prayer meeting. 208 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: I'm telling you the truth. There would be nobody at 209 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: prayer meeting because Brother Wilson would pray for fifty five 210 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: minutes and I'm hungry. So nobody came to prayer meeting, 211 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: not because they didn't love God, but brother Wilson didn't 212 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: know when to shut up, so it be a very 213 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: few people there, and it could feel kind of discouraging. 214 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: So somebody would quote at the beginning of the prayer 215 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: meeting Matthew eighteen nineteen. Again, I tell you truly that 216 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: if two of you on earth agree about anything to 217 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: ask for by the puck no Heaven, watch us verse 218 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: twenty for where two or three gather in my name, 219 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: there I am with them. I only ever heard that 220 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: verse as an excuse for bad attendance. You know, well, 221 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: the word says, if it's only two or three, Lord, 222 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: you're here with us, and we know sister Mary has 223 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: a cold, But Lord, is me and Wilson show up? Lord? 224 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: But I started quoting that verse with renewed fervor and 225 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: a revived vigor. Last year, I'd be looking out to 226 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: preach back in March, and the cameras were on, and 227 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: nobody was really in the room but Chunks over there 228 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: underneath the camera. And you know, Chunks loves the Lord, 229 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: but his face doesn't know he loves the Lord yet 230 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: when I'm preaching and he's my guy, he's my guy. Well, 231 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: I look over at Chunks and I'd be like, Lord, 232 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: you said two or three. I look at Holly. I 233 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: got Holly. I got Chunks. We can do this. Have 234 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: you ever had to gather something that was but what 235 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: I love about our church that I saw last year, 236 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: what's that We didn't stop gathering. We had to adapt, 237 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: but we gathered and we stood on the promise of 238 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: Matthew eighteen that was spoken by Jesus. If it's just 239 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: two or three, God, I have to count the cat 240 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: right now because I'm a part of Epham and I 241 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: didn't plan to be. But hold hands with me, little kiddie, 242 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: because the biple said, if two or three, I'll be two, 243 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: you'll be three. And let's phrase the Lord together. I'll 244 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: be Paul, you'll be silas, we gotta get out of 245 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: this prison. You'll stop. They gathered. Now watch this, not 246 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: the crowd. The crowd was long gone. And we talked 247 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: about gathered. Let's talk about they. They blind, Bartimaeus didn't gather. 248 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: The woman with the issue of blood who was healed 249 00:16:54,240 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: by Jesus is not reporting as having gathered. We're where's Lazarus? 250 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: Isn't it crazy how certain seasons will thin out? Who 251 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: is your perception of they? And before we give the 252 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: disciples too much credit, they didn't stay till the end either. 253 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: Just John and the women. Just go to the narrative. 254 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: Go to your favorite Easter story. Look at the cross. 255 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: You're not gonna find loudmouth Peter. You're not gonna find 256 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: honest Thomas. Y'all remember we renamed him. None of them 257 00:17:51,440 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: are there? Just John and Jesus Mama. Then they Yeah. 258 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: The the reason I was excited to come preach today 259 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: is I wanted to talk today. I still happy, you know. 260 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: Did you see Holly tear up? She teared up because 261 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: it's a difference between them and they. Yeah. Yeah, I 262 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 1: don't think you're perfect or anything like that. I would 263 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: have ever put that pressure on you. I don't think 264 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: there's people in this room, you know who haven't who 265 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 1: haven't struggled. I don't think you know there's there's thousands 266 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: of people right, so I'm not I would say, by 267 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: the law of averages that there are leaders in this 268 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: room who got high in the last day or two 269 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 1: and are still trying to press forward and still do 270 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: what God called you to do. I have to be 271 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: real about that, because if we think that the day 272 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: that God uses are the ones who never cussed anybody 273 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: out in target trying to get some toilet paper, I'm 274 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: gonna have to update that reference never cussed anybody out 275 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: at a gas pump and beat you over the head 276 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: with this gas pump. Look, that's not an excuse for 277 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: us to not grow up in the wisdom and maturity 278 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: of God. But it is a permission for us to 279 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: realize that there is grace for adaptation and you are 280 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: not yet all that you will be, but that doesn't 281 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: stop you from being. They shout, they they. I think 282 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:17,239 Speaker 1: who you include in that day in your life is 283 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: maybe the biggest determining factor in where your life ends up. 284 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: In some days, you don't get to choose. Some of 285 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: that is determined by circumstances outside of your control. But 286 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: for me, this is my day, this is what God 287 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: called me to give my life to. They gather even 288 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 1: though Peter cut off Malcus's ear in the garden. He 289 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: gathered on the mount of Olives, even though he couldn't 290 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: stay away. While Jesus was sweating like drops of great 291 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: blood as the capillaries were bursting as he was preparing 292 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 1: to go to the cross, Peter, James and John were sleeping. 293 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: They gathered. What I'm trying to say, don't beat yourself 294 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: up too much where you can't receive the grace that 295 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 1: God gave you to change who needs this. Sometimes I 296 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: don't feel like they honestly, Sometimes, as I observe myself 297 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 1: in contrast to the standard of Jesus Christ, you know, 298 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: there's a lot of unworthiness that can get in. And 299 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: what the enemy would love to do is to use 300 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,719 Speaker 1: just to believe in the devil more than ever. Pastor Fernick, 301 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: I'll tell you right now, sleeps in the room next door. 302 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: I see the NFL. I'll introduce you to him. I'll 303 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 1: show you a picture. But what the enemy loves to 304 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: do is to use the condemnation to keep you from 305 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: receiving the grace that would enable you to change, to 306 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: get you to think that you are not they. But 307 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: it said then they gathered the same ones that scattered 308 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: at the cross gathered at the ascension, and there weren't 309 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: many left. There weren't many left at the upper room. 310 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: One hundred and twenty, to be exact, one hundred and 311 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: twenty young people we had when we start our church. 312 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: The first Sunday we ever gathered one hundred and twenty one. 313 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: I wish it was exactly one twenty, but I got 314 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: to tell the truth that was one twenty one. But 315 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: let's pretend the one was Judas one hundred and twenty. Guy, 316 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: we got to make this an illustration work. It's only 317 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: what I got. And I'm telling you something about this 318 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: last season, y'all. Is there an acoustic guitar? Just bring 319 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: me a guitar? Something about this season of church and ministry. 320 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 1: I thought I should share this with you today. It 321 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: brought me back to realizing that God didn't just give 322 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: us a crowd called Elevation Church that buys tickets at 323 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: tour stops and listens to songs on Pandora and watch 324 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: us sermons on YouTube once every five weeks. God gave 325 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: us a core of committed disciples, imperfect disciples, and we 326 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: wanted to remind you is it coming. We wanted to 327 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: remind you, I'm gonna do like the disciples and wait 328 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,199 Speaker 1: for the gift in the upper I'm waiting for it. 329 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,239 Speaker 1: I'm waiting for it. I came to remind you that 330 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: you're still they. God gave us Holly a they when 331 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 1: we were praying back in Dellwood Drive, three point thirty 332 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: Delwood Drive, back in Shelby, our first home that we 333 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:27,600 Speaker 1: bought for ninety two thousand, five hundred dollars in Shelby, 334 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 1: North Carolina, when we were there praying, and back then, 335 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: back then, back then, back then, when we were praying 336 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: back then, these are they? Does that blow your mind? Now? 337 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: They're dysfunctional, just like us, and they got bad tempers sometimes, 338 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: just like us. And they don't read their Bibles every 339 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: morning like they should, just like us. Oh, you're a pastor. 340 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: I'm a person too. When I'm there, Peter preached on 341 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: the day of Pentecost after cussing to the girl at 342 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: the campfire. All the days makes some noise, Yeah, when 343 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: they see us like Elevation Church out in the community 344 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: doing good and giving cars to single moms and giving 345 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: education and supplying. I want them to say, there they 346 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 1: go again, there they go again, acting like they really 347 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 1: believe that it's more blessed to give than they received. 348 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: But see, you know, there's there's there's a great value 349 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: for me in realizing back back in the day, how 350 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: when it was just one. We have these cool worship 351 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 1: songs like graves into Guard the blessing, but we we 352 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: would just sing like the old songs like Robin Mark 353 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: songs like these are the days of Elijah declaring the 354 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: word of the Lord, and these are the days of 355 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:29,679 Speaker 1: your servant Moses, righteousness being restored. And though these are 356 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: days of great trial, of famine and darknesses, now pull up. 357 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: I was the worship leader because I could afford me. 358 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: I couldn't afford Carrie Job and Chris Brown, and I 359 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: couldn't afford all of that. So it was just me saying, oh, 360 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 1: he come ride in on the clouds, he dine in 361 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 1: like the sun at the trumpet, call your scar of 362 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: jubilee out of science, Sili this god like jehul Now 363 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: what was the blessing for me of the last fourteen months, 364 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: as our church has had to reinvent from the inside out, 365 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: has been to realize, just like the disciples received the 366 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 1: greatest gift of God's presence in between what they had 367 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: already known and what they couldn't possibly predict, that God 368 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: was creating for our church a space for what we 369 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: didn't even know to pray for yet. And in January 370 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:04,479 Speaker 1: we got together with Elevation Worship in Maverick City and 371 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: recorded this album called Old Church Basement. And even though 372 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: the campuses are open and some people aren't going back, 373 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: I mean, God love them. They'll go everywhere else but church, 374 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,159 Speaker 1: but God when it comes to church. All right, now, 375 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,119 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell y'all that story. I wasn't gona tell you. 376 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: I was at an establishment recently, and normally the people 377 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: that are so nice that say we love your church, 378 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 1: thank you for all that y'all do in the community. 379 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: And usually they say y'all, which makes me feel good 380 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: because this church is not me, it's they all right. 381 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: So anyway, this woman was not saying any of that. 382 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: She said. This woman said, what are y'all doing having 383 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: church right now? I said, oh, man, well you know, 384 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: there's multiple things. We have our online ministry for people 385 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: who aren't able to come, and we do all that 386 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: and it's amazing. And God positioned us for that because 387 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: we look really smart when this pandemic hit, like we 388 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: had foreseen the strategic global pandemic and we'd set up 389 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 1: our online ministry so that we could have a dispersion 390 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 1: of no no, no, no no no. That was just God 391 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: setting us up. That was just the grace of God 392 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: that he knew we needed for the transition. We given 393 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: the glory for that. So I said, our teams are 394 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: amazing and they can watch and we put all of 395 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: that out. And I said, but I said, but the 396 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: people who want to come, we open it up. It's safe. 397 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: Our teams are doing a great job. Our volunteers are 398 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: doing a great job. And she goes, I don't know 399 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: if I believe you. That's a lot of people. I said, 400 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: it is a lot of people. And what I'm telling 401 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: you is you don't have to come. Is online nine thirty. 402 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: You know, I just forgive me, Lord, I am day 403 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: and and so. And I should have walked out. I 404 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 1: should have walked out what I did. And she kept going, 405 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: I mean, just going and going, and then it hit me, 406 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: Wait a minute, she's arguing with me about having church, 407 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: and she's standing right here with no mask on, one 408 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: of those one of those saints of God, one of 409 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: those that has nothing to do with my point. But 410 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: what I'm saying was it was a gift for me. 411 00:30:58,080 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: It was a gift for me. In the last year, 412 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: I wasn't happy about people who lost their jobs. I 413 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: wasn't happy about nurses working eighteen twenty hour shifts. I 414 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: wasn't happy about kids not being able to go to school. 415 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: I wasn't happy about people that were sick, obviously, people 416 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 1: whose lives were hanging in the balance, and even those 417 00:31:13,320 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: who lost loved ones. But what I became thankful for 418 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: through the process of navigating ministry in the time of 419 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: such isolation, was that the space that God left us 420 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: was the room for something new that he wanted to do. 421 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: And I never forget. I don't think I've told anybody this, 422 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: maybe not even Holly, But we were writing this song. 423 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: It was one of the last songs we finished for 424 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: the album Old Church Basement, and the song was called 425 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: Come Again. And Holly put in an air sermon last 426 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: week and it talks about I'm open and so get 427 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: this at a time where we have all of these 428 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: empty seats in this church. We came in. It was 429 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: a two night recording and everybody was tested before they 430 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 1: came in and everything, and we did everything right, okay, 431 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 1: And but then we came in here and we turned 432 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 1: this whole church like right there where you're sitting, sir, yeah, 433 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 1: right there with the hood right there. Yeah, well you two, 434 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 1: but like right yeah, yeah, that's what I was talking too, 435 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:29,040 Speaker 1: right there, and the whole room was empty. And I 436 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: asked Chandler and Brandon to meet me and finish the 437 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: song because it needed to be finished. And it said, 438 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: it's not a building you want to fill, it's my 439 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: heart and that's all it said. And I didn't know 440 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 1: what would come next, and we had to record it 441 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:50,640 Speaker 1: that night. We had written songs for six months and 442 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: we just needed one more line. A building you want 443 00:32:54,680 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: to feel. It's not hot, feel it up, God, feel 444 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: it up, feel it up, feel it up, just trying 445 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:07,920 Speaker 1: stuff like an hour. I sat right there, I sat 446 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 1: right there where you are, and the Chandler is on 447 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 1: a piano and Brendan's on a microphone, and then a 448 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 1: prayer came to me and I sang it, and I'm 449 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: not the best singer, but I can get the job 450 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:23,960 Speaker 1: done when I need to. And I said, it's not 451 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: a building you want a film, it's my heart. And 452 00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 1: I looked up at all the seats in this room, 453 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: this room, Valentine. I know everybody's in different rooms, but 454 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: this room that I'm in right now, and I said, 455 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:41,479 Speaker 1: this empty space, it's what you want it all along. 456 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: And I'm looking at the empty seats and a part 457 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,960 Speaker 1: of me wants to cry because these seats are so expensive. 458 00:33:56,040 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: This building costs so much money, like Ladon Norman and Riverwalk, 459 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: and all these empty buildings give me an ulcer as 460 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 1: a leader and a CEO, but as a pastor. What 461 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 1: if this empty space is what God wanted to where 462 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 1: When Jesus left the disciples in bodily form, he sent 463 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: the spirit to live within. And when the spirit came, 464 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 1: he said, greater works will you do in my name 465 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:43,720 Speaker 1: than I did in my body. But for the spirit 466 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 1: to be received, the body had to be released before 467 00:34:55,600 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: we shout about you will receive power. In X one eight, 468 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: we have to talk about releasing our need to control 469 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 1: or understand everything that God does, And isn't that the 470 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: hardest thing in the world? After all we've been through together, 471 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,600 Speaker 1: y'all won't be honest with me. Isn't it the hardest 472 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:25,799 Speaker 1: thing in the world to release your death grip on 473 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:30,239 Speaker 1: your plans for God? Because you know what Jeremih twenty 474 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: nine to eleven says, God says for I know the 475 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: plans you have for me. Oh, it doesn't say that 476 00:35:38,040 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 1: I know the plans I have for you. But the 477 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 1: first step for those plans to be activated in a 478 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: community or in an individual life is that you have 479 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: to release the plans that were in the place where 480 00:35:56,440 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 1: God wanted to do something that you didn't even know 481 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: to pray for him to do. So the more I 482 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,800 Speaker 1: sang it, the more I understood it. This empty space 483 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,279 Speaker 1: is not that God isn't going to rebuild our church 484 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 1: or our churches are gonna be full against. These buildings 485 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:13,319 Speaker 1: are gonna be full against, These buildings are gonna be 486 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:16,720 Speaker 1: full again. These buildings are gonna be full again. These 487 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:20,200 Speaker 1: buildings are gonna be full again. These seats are gonna 488 00:36:20,239 --> 00:36:23,759 Speaker 1: be full again. That orange seat, that gray seat, It's 489 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: gonna be full again. Shout is gonna be full again. 490 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 1: It's gonna be Don't get used to having all that 491 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:33,280 Speaker 1: elbow room, baby, because I promise it's gonna be packed 492 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:38,439 Speaker 1: out again real soon soon, and very soon, somebody's coming 493 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:41,640 Speaker 1: to take your seat. We're not doing empty rows for 494 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 1: the next three years. No, We're about to build this 495 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: thing up for the glory of God. How prophesie of you, 496 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: empty row, Here comes a sinner, Here comes a sinner. 497 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:59,200 Speaker 1: Here comes a sinner. Here comes a sinner, Here comes 498 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:04,919 Speaker 1: a sinner. Somebody shout here they come here, they come, here, 499 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 1: they come, here, they come the line, the lane, here 500 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: they come to hurry the broken. Here they come here, 501 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: they come. Here they come, and the glory on the 502 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 1: lower house shouting greater. Whoa, I'm feeling annointing on this 503 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: empty row that represents everything that is exceedingly abundantly My Papa, 504 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: that you ask for a matt, He's able to do it. 505 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: Here they come boot, Oh God, then they gather. God said, 506 00:37:49,640 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 1: I had to make some space for they space for 507 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 1: the Huh. Make room, you remember, make room, make room. 508 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:11,719 Speaker 1: Stretch your tent curtains wide, Do not hold back, do 509 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:14,520 Speaker 1: not bear. You will not be ashamed. You will not 510 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: be disgrace. That's the prophet I say. I'm preaching to us. 511 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 1: I'll pour you out of blessing that you will not 512 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 1: have room enough to receive it. Question, is that a 513 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: promise or a problem? So I wonder is this what 514 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: God wanted all along? Not the virus or any of that. 515 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 1: Please don't misinterpret, y'all know me better than that, right, 516 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:46,080 Speaker 1: Come on, there's no trolls in here today. Are they 517 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:56,320 Speaker 1: trying to taste? Okay, okay, I'm just saying, then they gathered, 518 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:04,319 Speaker 1: then it would be one thing to say then they 519 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 1: gathered after they had received the Holy Spirit. But the 520 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:16,160 Speaker 1: profundity of it is that they gathered while they were waiting. 521 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 1: That's why I love y'all, because these are they that 522 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 1: didn't wait, that didn't wait for restrictions to be lifted, 523 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 1: that didn't wait to have more answers. You know what, 524 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 1: the best thing Jesus said in Acts one was for 525 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,560 Speaker 1: those of us who are control freaks and have a 526 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,439 Speaker 1: hard time releasing the way it used to be. It 527 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 1: is not for you to know. Did y'all skip over 528 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:54,920 Speaker 1: that part? I know you did. You wanted to get 529 00:39:54,920 --> 00:40:02,360 Speaker 1: to the part you shall receive power but in the unknown, 530 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:10,719 Speaker 1: that's the space. I don't like not knowing. I don't 531 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:15,360 Speaker 1: like not knowing. I don't even like not knowing. In 532 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:18,320 Speaker 1: it funny, God gave me a sermon that he changed 533 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 1: at the last minute while I was telling you that 534 00:40:23,160 --> 00:40:31,080 Speaker 1: it's okay not to know. The Lord is funny, got 535 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:36,719 Speaker 1: jokes for it. But I wonder did God put this 536 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:40,560 Speaker 1: on the calendar because he knew the moment that we 537 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 1: would be in as a as a global ministry. Then 538 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:59,120 Speaker 1: they gathered when after they scattered. So this is something 539 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:01,839 Speaker 1: God gave me too. He said, tell the church, tell 540 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:06,279 Speaker 1: the ministry across every location. This is not anymore. There's 541 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: the local church and then there's the global church. It's 542 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:17,200 Speaker 1: one family. Now this is they, this is they, And 543 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 1: the last year is forced us to be more creative. 544 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:22,560 Speaker 1: We had to figure out. Thank God for the teams 545 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:25,640 Speaker 1: that God gave us just to keep the gospel going 546 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 1: out no matter what. That's amazing. And I'm talking about you. 547 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:39,760 Speaker 1: But the Lord said you were scathered to gather together. 548 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:42,719 Speaker 1: Let me say it again without messing up the point 549 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:54,480 Speaker 1: by mispronouncing the word. You were scattered to gather. What 550 00:41:54,600 --> 00:42:02,080 Speaker 1: else is scattered together? Let's think about it. Someone twenty six, 551 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:04,719 Speaker 1: sit down. I have a little more teaching to do. 552 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:11,360 Speaker 1: This is a psalm of a scent, so means they 553 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 1: would sing this song going up to church, going up 554 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:17,400 Speaker 1: to the House of the Lord, they would sing this. 555 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,280 Speaker 1: This one's a little different because it was written after exile, 556 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:25,560 Speaker 1: so it was a song about what God had done 557 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:28,440 Speaker 1: for them after they had spent a long time in 558 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:32,839 Speaker 1: another place. And that's what I thought was significant about this. 559 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:36,480 Speaker 1: And we have our songs of a scent, right, we 560 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 1: have our songs that we sing in church as people 561 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:42,600 Speaker 1: are coming in. And sometimes that's the ones where those 562 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:44,719 Speaker 1: people who really like don't have a lot of rhythm. 563 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:46,480 Speaker 1: They just stand there and kind of watch and they 564 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,920 Speaker 1: wait for them. They're just waiting for the worship song. 565 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,040 Speaker 1: I just love the glory in the present. I don't 566 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:52,759 Speaker 1: want to walk how you walk on weather. I don't 567 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:56,359 Speaker 1: want to do any of that. It's fine, it's fine, 568 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:00,719 Speaker 1: it's fine, you don't have to do it. But the 569 00:43:00,760 --> 00:43:02,560 Speaker 1: Lord gave his people a song for when they were 570 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:04,239 Speaker 1: going to the House of the Lord. And listen what 571 00:43:04,280 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 1: he said. I want to read you the whole song. 572 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:14,919 Speaker 1: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion. We were 573 00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 1: like those who dreamed. We couldn't even believe that it happened. 574 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:22,480 Speaker 1: We could not even get our mind. We were like 575 00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:26,319 Speaker 1: those who dreamed. It seemed so crazy, it seemed like 576 00:43:26,760 --> 00:43:30,480 Speaker 1: a dream. Our mouths were filled for laughter. Now this 577 00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 1: is five eighty six p. See, they've been in exile. 578 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:35,919 Speaker 1: The people are coming back. This is the song. God 579 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:44,560 Speaker 1: gave them. Our tongues with songs of joy. Then everybody shout. 580 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:51,120 Speaker 1: Then then then it was said among the nations, the 581 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:55,719 Speaker 1: Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has 582 00:43:55,760 --> 00:44:02,920 Speaker 1: done great things for them. Then it was said among 583 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:09,839 Speaker 1: the nations. Then verse three, when we came back, when 584 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:14,319 Speaker 1: we saw what God brought us through, then it was 585 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:24,799 Speaker 1: said among the nations, this is then this is then 586 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:29,920 Speaker 1: if you have ears to hear today God is saying 587 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:37,280 Speaker 1: this is. Then then they gathered. Then the nations will say, 588 00:44:38,239 --> 00:44:41,160 Speaker 1: and it is a trick for you to always think. 589 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:47,800 Speaker 1: Then is somewhere out there when I get my teams 590 00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:52,480 Speaker 1: back up, they ain't all coming back. Judas is dead. Okay, 591 00:44:53,120 --> 00:44:56,400 Speaker 1: we gotta pick Matthias and build another thing. Right, we 592 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:02,200 Speaker 1: gotta cast some lots and get another disciple. I'm not 593 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:04,440 Speaker 1: calling that sweet lady who couldn't come back and be 594 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:12,360 Speaker 1: a greeter Judas, I'm just using an analogy. Then it 595 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:16,640 Speaker 1: was said, after we spend a time in a foreign place, 596 00:45:17,480 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: but trusted in God to get us through it, that's 597 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:24,400 Speaker 1: what you've done, That's what you've not perfectly. Then it 598 00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:28,479 Speaker 1: will be said. Then they gathered then, and the Lord 599 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:33,560 Speaker 1: is saying, this is then, this now or never. The 600 00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:37,120 Speaker 1: Church either has a message or we don't have a message. 601 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:39,360 Speaker 1: We either are the bride of Christ or we're just 602 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:45,880 Speaker 1: playing around, just dating Jesus, just conveniently hooking up with 603 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:50,600 Speaker 1: God when we need something. This is then, and this 604 00:45:50,680 --> 00:45:54,680 Speaker 1: is they. He said, when the Lord brought us back, 605 00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:58,359 Speaker 1: we could not believe. When the Lord restored the God, 606 00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:02,480 Speaker 1: would you restore the fortune of Zion? Would you visit 607 00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:06,279 Speaker 1: your people again with an outpouring of wisdom, with a 608 00:46:06,320 --> 00:46:10,839 Speaker 1: message of reconciliation God, with peace flooding our veins, so 609 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:14,160 Speaker 1: that we walk in the earth as Christ was, so 610 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:16,520 Speaker 1: that we stand in the stead of the Living God, 611 00:46:16,920 --> 00:46:20,520 Speaker 1: urging men be reconciled to God. Turn the times of 612 00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:23,919 Speaker 1: refreshing may come from the Lord. I declare that these 613 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:27,440 Speaker 1: are the days of Elijah These are the days of Esekiel, 614 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:35,080 Speaker 1: the dry bones becoming as flesh. This is then you 615 00:46:35,160 --> 00:46:39,959 Speaker 1: are vain. We have gathered in the name of him 616 00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:45,040 Speaker 1: who became sin, who knew no sin, that we might 617 00:46:45,160 --> 00:46:50,600 Speaker 1: become the righteousness of God. And you are a chosen people, 618 00:46:50,960 --> 00:47:00,600 Speaker 1: a royal priest, a holy nation. The Lord Word has 619 00:47:00,719 --> 00:47:05,680 Speaker 1: done great things for them. The Lord has done verse 620 00:47:05,719 --> 00:47:15,279 Speaker 1: three great things for us. We are filled with joy. 621 00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:21,960 Speaker 1: Restore our fortune flory like streams in the Negath, like 622 00:47:22,040 --> 00:47:26,600 Speaker 1: streams in the Negath. That's a dry place than Agath. 623 00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:33,000 Speaker 1: Oh God, it barely reigns in the Negath. But when 624 00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:38,319 Speaker 1: it does, it rips through so suddenly that if you're 625 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:42,279 Speaker 1: not ready for it, it'll wash you out. And in in 626 00:47:42,400 --> 00:47:47,960 Speaker 1: a dry place so long. But this is then God, 627 00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:52,080 Speaker 1: When when God releases his spirit, when God floods your heart, 628 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:56,200 Speaker 1: when God does what he said he would do, you 629 00:47:56,320 --> 00:47:59,800 Speaker 1: have to be prepared beforehand, because it happens so suddenly. 630 00:48:00,880 --> 00:48:07,480 Speaker 1: If you're not ready, you won't have room to receive them. 631 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:15,680 Speaker 1: Restore our Fortune's Lord, restore Goddess. In a season of 632 00:48:15,719 --> 00:48:20,000 Speaker 1: restoring the years that the canker worm and the palmer 633 00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:30,000 Speaker 1: worm and the coronavirus have eaten. But this is the 634 00:48:30,080 --> 00:48:34,959 Speaker 1: verse that I thought I would leave you with, where 635 00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:45,680 Speaker 1: he said, those who is so with tears, for everybody 636 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:55,200 Speaker 1: who has been mourning a disappointment in your life, for 637 00:48:55,880 --> 00:49:02,160 Speaker 1: everyone who has been crying like the disciples cried at 638 00:49:02,160 --> 00:49:11,000 Speaker 1: the cross, and your life has been scattered. The promise 639 00:49:11,160 --> 00:49:17,200 Speaker 1: is that those who sow with tears will reap with 640 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:23,920 Speaker 1: songs of joy. And those wait, let me ask a question. 641 00:49:24,280 --> 00:49:29,080 Speaker 1: Who are those that God is speaking to today? If this, 642 00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:33,359 Speaker 1: you lift your hands to heaven. If this you lift 643 00:49:33,400 --> 00:49:34,840 Speaker 1: your hands to heaven, you don't have to be in 644 00:49:34,880 --> 00:49:40,000 Speaker 1: this room. You know that by now those who go 645 00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:47,560 Speaker 1: out weeping carrying seed to sew, Because even though you've 646 00:49:47,560 --> 00:49:54,439 Speaker 1: been weeping, you never stop sewing. That's the thing about it. 647 00:49:54,640 --> 00:49:57,480 Speaker 1: Even though you've had you've had depression that's been in 648 00:49:57,520 --> 00:50:00,560 Speaker 1: your own life, but you kept, you kept doing what 649 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:02,759 Speaker 1: God called you to do. You kept your eyes on 650 00:50:02,800 --> 00:50:08,000 Speaker 1: the joy set before you. You kept sewing. So the 651 00:50:08,080 --> 00:50:13,520 Speaker 1: promises that those who go out weeping carrying seed to sow, 652 00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:18,160 Speaker 1: these are they that sowed anyway. These are those that 653 00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:24,040 Speaker 1: gave anyway, These are those that prayed anyway. These are 654 00:50:23,560 --> 00:50:27,440 Speaker 1: those that quoted Matthew eighteen over your two person e 655 00:50:27,520 --> 00:50:30,840 Speaker 1: group on a zoom call in April. These are they 656 00:50:31,120 --> 00:50:36,480 Speaker 1: that sewed anyway. So you're ready for this, Here comes 657 00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:39,520 Speaker 1: the promise. Get ready. It's a gully washing promise, like 658 00:50:39,600 --> 00:50:43,920 Speaker 1: a stream in a dry place, will return with songs 659 00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:52,680 Speaker 1: of joy, carrying sheets with them. So for a season 660 00:50:54,080 --> 00:51:03,920 Speaker 1: they weeked, but then they gathered. For a season they 661 00:51:04,000 --> 00:51:11,520 Speaker 1: had to weep. But God said, it's reebig time for 662 00:51:11,760 --> 00:51:19,680 Speaker 1: indue season. You're sorry if you faith not. If you 663 00:51:19,760 --> 00:51:25,040 Speaker 1: faith not, these are they that did not faith. These 664 00:51:25,080 --> 00:51:28,959 Speaker 1: are they that waited. Lift your hands up, stay that way, 665 00:51:29,680 --> 00:51:34,200 Speaker 1: abo the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount 666 00:51:34,320 --> 00:51:41,200 Speaker 1: up on wings like eagles, so running acrow wary they 667 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:49,760 Speaker 1: shall walk, eh not faith, These are they that waited. 668 00:51:52,960 --> 00:51:58,880 Speaker 1: And now God, now that we have made room, not 669 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:03,120 Speaker 1: for our old period of church, now for our limited 670 00:52:03,120 --> 00:52:04,960 Speaker 1: confides of what ministry looks like that was limited to 671 00:52:04,960 --> 00:52:09,080 Speaker 1: physical buildings. But I believe that you scattered us for 672 00:52:09,120 --> 00:52:15,920 Speaker 1: a season to gather a harvest for an eternal purpose. 673 00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:28,000 Speaker 1: I can't say that again. He scattered you for a 674 00:52:28,120 --> 00:52:35,160 Speaker 1: season to gather for an eternal purpose harvest unto himself. 675 00:52:38,480 --> 00:52:45,440 Speaker 1: These are the days of the greatest ministry that we 676 00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:50,919 Speaker 1: have ever seen. But it's been scattered, it's been all 677 00:52:50,920 --> 00:52:56,360 Speaker 1: over the place God knows it has. Does that feel 678 00:52:56,360 --> 00:53:04,440 Speaker 1: like your life, your mind, even your priorities? I felt scattered, 679 00:53:05,680 --> 00:53:10,319 Speaker 1: really disoriented at times. Who cannot trust who's with me? 680 00:53:10,440 --> 00:53:13,000 Speaker 1: What's going on? What will it be like on the 681 00:53:13,040 --> 00:53:26,000 Speaker 1: other side. Then they gather from my heart. Thank you 682 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:30,160 Speaker 1: for sowing in the season when you were personally struggling, 683 00:53:32,760 --> 00:53:36,319 Speaker 1: even if you scattered for a little while. Welcome back. 684 00:53:47,520 --> 00:53:50,080 Speaker 1: There's room for you in the heart of God. There's 685 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:52,200 Speaker 1: room for you in the plan of God. There's room 686 00:53:52,200 --> 00:53:55,960 Speaker 1: for you in the story that He's telling. And now 687 00:53:55,960 --> 00:53:59,440 Speaker 1: we have all this room to receive from God whatever 688 00:53:59,480 --> 00:54:02,479 Speaker 1: he wants to do next in our ministry. I thought 689 00:54:02,480 --> 00:54:06,240 Speaker 1: I would end my portion of this time by turning 690 00:54:06,280 --> 00:54:11,640 Speaker 1: our our auditoriums and living rooms and cafes where people 691 00:54:11,640 --> 00:54:16,080 Speaker 1: are meeting. They got through that in cafes. I just 692 00:54:16,120 --> 00:54:21,160 Speaker 1: imagine someone's in a cafe somewhere. But maybe we can 693 00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:25,880 Speaker 1: make it in upper room for a moment. Maybe we 694 00:54:25,960 --> 00:54:32,480 Speaker 1: can be one twenty. Maybe we can offer God our 695 00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:35,680 Speaker 1: lives as a foundation on which to build whatever he 696 00:54:35,719 --> 00:54:39,279 Speaker 1: wants to build next. But I don't want you to 697 00:54:39,320 --> 00:54:42,799 Speaker 1: miss it, because I slipped this end. At the very end. 698 00:54:46,200 --> 00:54:52,120 Speaker 1: They scattered seed in the dry season. Gather the harvest. 699 00:54:55,400 --> 00:54:59,480 Speaker 1: You've got so much to look forward to. Please don't 700 00:54:59,480 --> 00:55:01,520 Speaker 1: give up on God. Please don't give up on yourself. 701 00:55:01,560 --> 00:55:04,319 Speaker 1: Please don't diminish your gifts. We've got so much to 702 00:55:04,400 --> 00:55:08,920 Speaker 1: look for with you. And there's grace. There's grace for adaptation, 703 00:55:09,320 --> 00:55:15,680 Speaker 1: there's grace for mistakes. But we've got to gather. We've 704 00:55:15,680 --> 00:55:23,760 Speaker 1: got to gather. Then they gathered, They sowed in tears. 705 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:33,359 Speaker 1: They brought home a harvest. They sowed in tears, and 706 00:55:33,400 --> 00:55:39,480 Speaker 1: they reaped enjoy. So Lord, we're going up there with 707 00:55:40,120 --> 00:55:46,440 Speaker 1: Bartholomew and Philip and Peter, James and John, the sons 708 00:55:46,480 --> 00:55:50,120 Speaker 1: of Thunder. They were so messed up they asked which 709 00:55:50,160 --> 00:55:51,560 Speaker 1: one of them could sid at their right hand, your 710 00:55:51,640 --> 00:55:53,480 Speaker 1: right hand and left hand, and you still let them come. 711 00:55:53,520 --> 00:55:57,000 Speaker 1: So we're good coming up here with the women Mary 712 00:55:57,040 --> 00:56:02,239 Speaker 1: Magdalen married, the mother of Jesus, and the brother. We're 713 00:56:02,280 --> 00:56:07,279 Speaker 1: coming up like the one twenty, and we realize that 714 00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:10,960 Speaker 1: you're reinventing us even in this moment, because we'll look 715 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:16,640 Speaker 1: back on this day where we gathered and felt so good, 716 00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:20,520 Speaker 1: and then you send us out, and you scatter us 717 00:56:21,880 --> 00:56:26,480 Speaker 1: that you might gather us again. Lord, I thank you 718 00:56:26,520 --> 00:56:28,560 Speaker 1: for everybody in this room, beyond what they do in 719 00:56:28,600 --> 00:56:32,839 Speaker 1: our church. God knows they're more than an usher. God 720 00:56:32,880 --> 00:56:35,440 Speaker 1: knows they're more than not that these things are little, 721 00:56:35,480 --> 00:56:41,399 Speaker 1: But God, they're walking in multiple roles. And I thank 722 00:56:41,440 --> 00:56:44,640 Speaker 1: you that you scatter your people everywhere in the world. 723 00:56:44,680 --> 00:56:46,920 Speaker 1: You put some to be dentists, and some to be doctors, 724 00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:48,960 Speaker 1: and some to be lawyers, and some to be teachers. 725 00:56:49,920 --> 00:56:52,839 Speaker 1: You've got your people everywhere. That's how your kingdom advances. 726 00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:58,640 Speaker 1: As you scatter us so that you might gather unto yourself, 727 00:56:59,480 --> 00:57:07,200 Speaker 1: a renewed people. Then they gathered whatever happens next Lord, 728 00:57:07,239 --> 00:57:11,640 Speaker 1: in our local communities, whatever limitations are, unforeseen, turns or 729 00:57:11,640 --> 00:57:19,080 Speaker 1: twists it takes. We're not leaving Jerusalem. We're waiting for 730 00:57:19,120 --> 00:57:26,960 Speaker 1: the gift. So in this upper room right now, come 731 00:57:26,960 --> 00:57:37,959 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, Come breathe into these slang that they may live. 732 00:57:40,120 --> 00:57:41,880 Speaker 1: I want to pray for somebody who's been out of 733 00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:49,439 Speaker 1: church and they miss you and you miss them. Bring 734 00:57:49,480 --> 00:57:57,040 Speaker 1: them back. Rejoice Signore we've got room for them. I 735 00:57:57,080 --> 00:57:59,000 Speaker 1: want to pray for those who kept coming to church. 736 00:58:01,160 --> 00:58:03,800 Speaker 1: But because we didn't really know, we just got so 737 00:58:03,960 --> 00:58:11,920 Speaker 1: turned around and confused. But then they gathered without knowing 738 00:58:11,960 --> 00:58:18,040 Speaker 1: the answers, they gathered in faith, and you moved. And 739 00:58:18,120 --> 00:58:23,880 Speaker 1: now this same Jesus who was taken up, this this 740 00:58:24,040 --> 00:58:26,160 Speaker 1: same power that raised him from the dead, it lives 741 00:58:26,160 --> 00:58:31,120 Speaker 1: in us. Your church. Restore the fortunes of Zion. Lord, 742 00:58:32,800 --> 00:58:38,240 Speaker 1: and the glory of the latter house will be greater 743 00:58:39,320 --> 00:58:42,280 Speaker 1: than the glory of the former house. This is then, 744 00:58:43,560 --> 00:58:48,320 Speaker 1: This is then, not when we were back in quadruple 745 00:58:48,360 --> 00:58:54,040 Speaker 1: overflow at Valentine. No, no, no, this is then. Then 746 00:58:54,080 --> 00:58:59,120 Speaker 1: they gathered. Then they gathered, Then they gathered. I thank 747 00:58:59,160 --> 00:59:03,000 Speaker 1: you Lord for our gatherings. Tomorrow they'll be like some 748 00:59:03,080 --> 00:59:08,760 Speaker 1: of them will be one ninth full. Then they gathered. Yeah. God, Yeah, God, Yeah, 749 00:59:08,800 --> 00:59:12,880 Speaker 1: God redeemed the empty space, give us a new norm. 750 00:59:12,880 --> 00:59:16,160 Speaker 1: We thank you that this ministry never stopped reaching. We 751 00:59:16,240 --> 00:59:19,160 Speaker 1: reached more people in this last season than we ever reached. 752 00:59:19,440 --> 00:59:23,240 Speaker 1: You did a greater work than our linds could company. 753 00:59:25,920 --> 00:59:29,400 Speaker 1: So I release your people in the power of your spirit. Now, God, 754 00:59:30,080 --> 00:59:35,040 Speaker 1: these ministry gifts that you've placed, their intelligence, their brilliance, 755 00:59:35,280 --> 00:59:40,880 Speaker 1: their love, their compassion, their consistency, Be multiplied into the earth, 756 00:59:41,120 --> 00:59:47,800 Speaker 1: Be multiplied into our cities, Be multiplied into your kingdom, 757 00:59:47,840 --> 00:59:54,360 Speaker 1: Your kingdom. Come. You will be done on earth as 758 00:59:54,400 --> 01:00:05,520 Speaker 1: it is in heaven. Then they gathered in Jesus' name. Amen, 759 01:00:07,480 --> 01:00:14,880 Speaker 1: we love you, Thank you, scattered together. I hope you 760 01:00:14,920 --> 01:00:17,720 Speaker 1: receive that word today. I hope it was just what 761 01:00:17,800 --> 01:00:20,720 Speaker 1: you needed. I'm telling you, I felt like our whole 762 01:00:20,760 --> 01:00:23,760 Speaker 1: church was supposed to experience it. I don't know if 763 01:00:23,800 --> 01:00:25,440 Speaker 1: you heard what I said at the beginning, but I 764 01:00:25,480 --> 01:00:27,760 Speaker 1: wasn't planning on showing that message to our whole church. 765 01:00:28,320 --> 01:00:30,000 Speaker 1: But God gave me something and said, I want you 766 01:00:30,080 --> 01:00:32,520 Speaker 1: to release it to everybody. And I believe it's what 767 01:00:32,560 --> 01:00:34,320 Speaker 1: he's saying to us right now. It's what he's saying 768 01:00:34,360 --> 01:00:36,800 Speaker 1: to me right now. And I prayed that this week 769 01:00:36,840 --> 01:00:39,520 Speaker 1: God would just surround you with his favor. I know 770 01:00:39,560 --> 01:00:43,280 Speaker 1: I've already prayed. I know I've already declared this over 771 01:00:43,320 --> 01:00:45,880 Speaker 1: your life. But I pray that God would restore the 772 01:00:45,960 --> 01:00:50,320 Speaker 1: fortunes of Zion, restore your joy, your peace. I prayed 773 01:00:50,320 --> 01:00:53,200 Speaker 1: that he would restore your health, anything that you've been lacking. 774 01:00:53,280 --> 01:00:55,480 Speaker 1: We agree with you in prayer that God is a 775 01:00:55,520 --> 01:00:58,200 Speaker 1: restoer and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 776 01:00:58,680 --> 01:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you to the thousands of you, tens 777 01:01:01,560 --> 01:01:04,200 Speaker 1: of thousands of you who are a part of this ministry. 778 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:07,960 Speaker 1: Thank you forgiving financially. Maybe God would lead you to 779 01:01:08,000 --> 01:01:11,640 Speaker 1: begin doing that right now. You know you're they right. 780 01:01:12,520 --> 01:01:14,880 Speaker 1: You're the one that God is going to use. And 781 01:01:15,280 --> 01:01:17,800 Speaker 1: I thank you so much for sharing these messages with others. 782 01:01:17,840 --> 01:01:20,240 Speaker 1: That's how we spread the gospel. You'll always pick on 783 01:01:20,280 --> 01:01:23,400 Speaker 1: me because it comes so close on these videos. Just 784 01:01:23,480 --> 01:01:25,480 Speaker 1: like to get right up in your face, invade your 785 01:01:25,480 --> 01:01:28,160 Speaker 1: personal space and let you know that it is an 786 01:01:28,160 --> 01:01:30,640 Speaker 1: absolute privilege to minister the word of God to you. 787 01:01:31,080 --> 01:01:31,760 Speaker 1: Bless you.