WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:08.842 John Six, have you guys ever had a task or responsibility that was so large you didn't know where to start? 00:00:08.842 --> 00:00:12.454 She has Tell you what you know. 00:00:12.454 --> 00:00:17.425 Maybe you have to like clean the garage or have to do laundry. 00:00:17.425 --> 00:00:19.830 It's like okay, this is like impossible. 00:00:19.830 --> 00:00:25.852 So back in the day-day I used to work at Costco and we did this thing called inventory. 00:00:25.852 --> 00:00:28.606 Some of y'all know inventories. 00:00:28.606 --> 00:00:32.610 We had to count every single item at Costco. 00:00:32.610 --> 00:00:38.226 Now I don't know if y'all have been to Costco recently there's a lot of items there. 00:00:38.226 --> 00:00:48.215 So I show up on inventory day to do inventory and I find out that I'm doing inventory in the wine department. 00:00:49.801 --> 00:00:50.421 Now a couple things. 00:00:50.421 --> 00:00:53.347 First of all, I know nothing about wines. 00:00:53.347 --> 00:01:04.575 Second thing, I don't work in that department and they tell me, they say, nate, you have to go to the wine department and count every single bottle of wine. 00:01:04.575 --> 00:01:04.724 And I'm like where is it even at in the store? 00:01:04.724 --> 00:01:05.156 And count every single bottle of wine. 00:01:05.156 --> 00:01:08.149 And I'm like, where is it even at in the store? 00:01:08.149 --> 00:01:10.085 I'm like this is impossible. 00:01:10.085 --> 00:01:11.325 They said, well, you got to do it. 00:01:11.325 --> 00:01:22.171 So I'm like walking to the part of the store where some of y'all are very familiar with in Costco and as I'm taking this walk, I'm thinking I'm going to get fired. 00:01:22.171 --> 00:01:25.902 I don't know what I did Like. 00:01:25.902 --> 00:01:26.786 Why am I doing this? 00:01:26.786 --> 00:01:31.953 They got the wrong guy doing this job to inventory the wines. 00:01:31.953 --> 00:01:38.927 So I take the walk to the back of the store and there was somebody that greeted me. 00:01:38.927 --> 00:01:44.427 It was the manager of the wine department. 00:01:44.427 --> 00:01:46.611 And the guy goes. 00:01:46.611 --> 00:01:53.581 The manager goes oh, you're the guy that's going to help me do the inventory of the wines. 00:01:53.581 --> 00:01:55.424 They didn't even they didn't tell me that before. 00:01:55.424 --> 00:02:02.912 They said I was the one that was doing the wines when I went over there and I was there to help him. 00:02:02.912 --> 00:02:20.971 Not only was it like a relief to me I'm like I'm not going to get fired it was a oh, like we can actually do this because I can help you and, believe it or not, we got done with the inventory faster than anybody else and we got to go home early on that day, and how many of y'all know, when you go home early from work, it's a good day. 00:02:20.971 --> 00:02:26.759 Yeah, right. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:33.028 And the reason why this happened is because what seemed impossible became possible when I was connected to the right person. 00:02:33.028 --> 00:02:42.086 When I was connected to the right person, we're going to go to a text of scripture in John 6. 00:02:42.086 --> 00:02:52.308 When they were in a situation that was impossible, they didn't have answers, they didn't have solutions, they didn't know what to do. 00:02:52.308 --> 00:03:00.991 You ever been in a situation like that, where you didn't have answers, you didn't have solutions, you didn't know what to do? 00:03:00.991 --> 00:03:03.828 If you're human, the answer is yes. 00:03:03.828 --> 00:03:06.860 If you're chat GPT, you have all the answers. 00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:15.062 These people, they didn't know what to do, but they discovered something that I hope that you'll discover today. 00:03:15.062 --> 00:03:22.562 They discovered that in the hands of Jesus, the impossible can become possible. 00:03:22.562 --> 00:03:29.775 In the hands of Jesus, the impossible can become possible. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:32.348 We're actually in this series called Signs. 00:03:32.348 --> 00:03:34.548 Everybody say signs together, ready. 00:03:34.548 --> 00:03:36.526 This is what we're doing. 00:03:36.526 --> 00:03:48.407 We're looking at the signs, the miracles of Jesus, and something that you'll find about the miracles of Jesus is he often used people like you and people like me to be a part of his signs. 00:03:48.407 --> 00:03:49.591 Now you think about this. 00:03:49.931 --> 00:03:50.673 This was Jesus. 00:03:50.673 --> 00:03:55.292 He could have done anything he wanted to do to show that he was the son of God. 00:03:55.292 --> 00:04:05.503 He could have taken a building and just kind of tossed it up and like spun it around on his hand like it was a basketball or something and said, hey, just so you all know I'm the son of God. 00:04:05.503 --> 00:04:13.502 He could have been like hey guys, I'm going to fly Ready One, two, cue the music. 00:04:13.502 --> 00:04:15.106 I believe I can fly Three. 00:04:15.106 --> 00:04:16.290 He could have done that. 00:04:16.290 --> 00:04:19.057 He didn't do it. 00:04:19.057 --> 00:04:22.384 He chose to use normal people like you and like me. 00:04:22.384 --> 00:04:23.625 Why? 00:04:23.625 --> 00:04:31.904 Because he loves people and he cares about people and he has compassion on people. 00:04:31.904 --> 00:04:46.620 And what seems like an impossibility for people can become possible when they're connected to Jesus and when they put their impossibilities, their limitations, in the hands of Jesus. 00:04:47.523 --> 00:04:50.670 This is what we're going to see in John, chapter number six. 00:04:50.670 --> 00:04:52.440 If you're ready for it, would you say amen? 00:04:52.440 --> 00:04:55.206 It says in John six, verse number one. 00:04:55.206 --> 00:05:03.889 It says after this, jesus crossed the sea of Galilee or Tiberias, in verse 2. 00:05:03.889 --> 00:05:06.473 There was a huge crowd that was following him. 00:05:06.473 --> 00:05:08.867 Because they what's that word? 00:05:08.867 --> 00:05:16.809 Because they they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 00:05:16.809 --> 00:05:20.988 Jesus at this point is a celebrity. 00:05:20.988 --> 00:05:23.026 Let's put this in our vernacular. 00:05:23.026 --> 00:05:24.845 Jesus had gone viral. 00:05:24.845 --> 00:05:28.180 He is a celebrity. 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:28.862 Let's put this in our vernacular. 00:05:28.862 --> 00:05:29.283 Jesus had gone viral. 00:05:29.283 --> 00:05:29.805 He is healing everybody. 00:05:29.805 --> 00:05:30.966 He is doing all kinds of stuff. 00:05:30.966 --> 00:05:33.173 He had a blue check mark next to his name. 00:05:33.173 --> 00:05:36.747 Some of you know what that means these people? 00:05:36.747 --> 00:05:38.151 They were coming for the thrills. 00:05:38.151 --> 00:05:38.961 They were like man. 00:05:38.961 --> 00:05:40.064 They see the signs. 00:05:40.064 --> 00:05:41.267 They're like Jesus. 00:05:41.267 --> 00:05:42.350 What else are you going to do? 00:05:42.350 --> 00:05:48.985 In verse three, jesus goes up to a mountain and he sat down there with his disciples. 00:05:50.447 --> 00:06:00.113 This story is also in Matthew, mark and Luke, and what we know from Matthew's account is that Jesus actually came to this place to rest. 00:06:00.113 --> 00:06:03.528 How many of you have ever needed to take a break? 00:06:03.528 --> 00:06:06.127 You've ever needed to rest rest. 00:06:06.127 --> 00:06:08.014 How many of you have ever needed to take a break? 00:06:08.014 --> 00:06:08.798 You've ever needed to rest? 00:06:08.798 --> 00:06:13.968 Busy, a lot going on. 00:06:13.968 --> 00:06:15.439 You're like I just need a break, I need a vacation, I need a nap. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:21.634 Come on, mom, say hallelujah. 00:06:21.634 --> 00:06:24.261 Jesus, he went here to rest. 00:06:24.261 --> 00:06:29.391 On top of this, matthew tells us that his cousin had just died, john the Baptist, so he was grieving. 00:06:29.391 --> 00:06:36.242 So he comes to this place not because he's like, oh, there's going to be a bunch of crowds, I'm going to teach them, I can't wait, this is going to be awesome. 00:06:36.242 --> 00:06:40.093 No, he goes to this place because he's tired and he's grieving. 00:06:40.093 --> 00:06:42.221 He wants to rest. 00:06:42.221 --> 00:06:44.245 You know what that's like. 00:06:44.266 --> 00:06:49.141 In and verse four, it tells us the time of year that it was. 00:06:49.141 --> 00:06:52.949 It says the passover jewish festival was near. 00:06:52.949 --> 00:07:01.206 So when jesus looked up verse five and he noticed a huge crowd coming towards him. 00:07:01.206 --> 00:07:09.596 He asked philip, where will we buy bread so that these people can eat? 00:07:09.596 --> 00:07:14.625 Philip, there's all these people that are coming. 00:07:14.625 --> 00:07:16.488 Where can we buy bread? 00:07:16.488 --> 00:07:21.165 Do you know any place that we can make a large takeout order from? 00:07:21.165 --> 00:07:24.291 Do you have any idea? 00:07:24.291 --> 00:07:26.918 But here's the thing about this question. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.846 Jesus didn't ask him this question because he wanted to know the answer. 00:07:30.846 --> 00:07:37.867 He asked him this question verse number six because he wanted to test Philip. 00:07:37.867 --> 00:07:45.185 He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 00:07:45.185 --> 00:07:49.240 Philip had already spent a lot of time with Jesus. 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:56.762 Philip had seen Jesus heal the sick and Jesus tested him to see if Philip was going to respond with faith. 00:07:56.762 --> 00:08:02.314 To see if Philip was going to say okay, jesus, there's a bunch of people here. 00:08:02.314 --> 00:08:06.651 I'm not really sure, but I do know this you can heal the sick, you're a miracle worker. 00:08:06.651 --> 00:08:09.947 You do all kinds of amazing things. 00:08:09.947 --> 00:08:12.728 Whatever you think it's going to happen. 00:08:12.728 --> 00:08:19.531 Jesus tested him to see how he would respond. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:24.290 And look at Philip's answer. 00:08:24.290 --> 00:08:33.945 Philip answered him 200 denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little Now. 00:08:33.945 --> 00:08:39.594 A denarii, it's a silver coin and it's one day's wages. 00:08:39.594 --> 00:08:41.803 This is what a denarii looked like in the first century. 00:08:41.803 --> 00:08:46.033 So you work for an entire day, you got one denarii. 00:08:46.033 --> 00:08:56.241 Philip says with all these people, we could have 200 of those things, we could have eight-month salary and it still wouldn't be enough. 00:08:56.241 --> 00:08:59.164 And Philip was right. 00:08:59.164 --> 00:09:09.816 But even though what he was saying is true, it was the wrong answer Because Jesus was trying to test him. 00:09:09.816 --> 00:09:20.311 And what good teachers do? 00:09:20.311 --> 00:09:22.299 Teachers give students a test for them to apply what they've learned. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:28.022 And in this moment, what Jesus is doing? 00:09:28.022 --> 00:09:29.625 Jesus is inviting Philip to apply what Philip has seen and learned about Jesus. 00:09:29.625 --> 00:09:34.254 And I don't know if you realize this, but there are times where God will test us. 00:09:34.254 --> 00:09:48.106 There are times where God will give us hardships and challenges and sometimes God will give us opportunities to have faith and obey him, because he wants to test you, because he wants you to grow. 00:09:48.106 --> 00:09:54.092 You realize that this whole Christianity thing is not just about having a head full of knowledge. 00:09:54.092 --> 00:09:56.446 It's like oh, I know a lot about God. 00:09:56.446 --> 00:09:59.327 Pastor Nate, he gave this story three weeks ago. 00:09:59.327 --> 00:10:00.846 It's kind of crazy, but I remember it. 00:10:00.846 --> 00:10:03.788 Jesus went to this well and talked to this Samaritan woman. 00:10:03.788 --> 00:10:10.419 No-transcript. 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:16.542 I know some things about the Bible. 00:10:16.542 --> 00:10:22.793 Guys, the goal of this whole thing is not to have a head full of facts, but it's to apply in our lives what we learn about Jesus, what we know about him. 00:10:22.793 --> 00:10:28.942 Learn about Jesus what we know about him. 00:10:28.942 --> 00:10:34.049 And here what Jesus is inviting Philip to do is to invite him to apply what he's learned. 00:10:34.049 --> 00:10:48.682 And sometimes in our lives, what can happen is we can have a lot more information than we can have application into our lives, information than we can have application into our lives. 00:10:48.682 --> 00:10:51.168 And sometimes what God will do is God will invite you often to apply what you're learning. 00:10:51.168 --> 00:11:03.654 And even though in this situation, philip, he didn't pass the test, he was going to experience the power of Jesus. 00:11:03.654 --> 00:11:14.354 Because when Philip sees this limitation and it was a very real limitation he's going to see what Jesus can do in this situation. 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:30.126 In verse number eight, one of his disciples, andrew Simon's Peter brother, said to him there's a boy here who's got five barley loaves and two fish. 00:11:30.126 --> 00:11:36.245 Now when we say like barley loves, we're not talking about like a loaf of bread, like wonder bread, you know I'm saying. 00:11:36.245 --> 00:11:38.850 Or we're not talking about like french bread, which. 00:11:38.850 --> 00:11:46.500 Can we just stop for a moment and just say is there anything more amazing than a fresh loaf of French bread from the grocery store? 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.583 It's just amazing. 00:11:47.583 --> 00:11:49.808 I guess it's just wonderful. 00:11:49.808 --> 00:11:50.932 Sorry, I just made you guys hungry. 00:11:50.932 --> 00:11:55.030 I probably shouldn't give that example in the 1115 service because somebody will probably walk out. 00:11:55.030 --> 00:11:57.889 We're not talking about a loaf of bread. 00:11:57.889 --> 00:11:59.238 We're not talking about two big fishes. 00:11:59.238 --> 00:12:03.888 We're talking about like five little biscuits and two little sardines. 00:12:03.888 --> 00:12:06.894 That ain't a whole lot of food. 00:12:06.894 --> 00:12:09.725 That's not going to feed one man. 00:12:09.725 --> 00:12:11.629 It ain't going to feed this man. 00:12:11.629 --> 00:12:12.150 I'll tell you that. 00:12:15.520 --> 00:12:19.210 So he asked the question what are these among so many? 00:12:19.210 --> 00:12:20.732 What are they among so many? 00:12:20.732 --> 00:12:23.706 And this is Jesus' response in verse number 10. 00:12:23.706 --> 00:12:26.392 Have the people sit down. 00:12:26.392 --> 00:12:30.446 Jesus' response is I'm about to show you. 00:12:30.446 --> 00:12:38.942 There was plenty of grass there in that place, so they sat down. 00:12:38.942 --> 00:12:43.346 The men numbered about what's that number? 00:12:43.346 --> 00:12:44.986 5,000. 00:12:44.986 --> 00:12:46.928 Oh, that's a crowd y'all. 00:12:46.928 --> 00:12:56.134 Can you imagine having to provide food for 5,000 people, my goodness? 00:12:56.134 --> 00:12:59.600 And that's not even including the women and the children. 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:03.158 That's 5,000 people. 00:13:04.450 --> 00:13:05.011 Verse 11,. 00:13:05.011 --> 00:13:11.592 Jesus took the loaves and, after giving thanks, hold on. 00:13:11.592 --> 00:13:12.736 I got to stop here for a second. 00:13:12.736 --> 00:13:21.744 Jesus gave thanks for what was there before, what was there was ever in abundance for everybody else to share. 00:13:21.744 --> 00:13:27.857 It is, bro, because you think about this. 00:13:27.857 --> 00:13:31.938 He said Heavenly Father, thank you for this. 00:13:31.938 --> 00:13:42.052 A really good habit in our lives would be for us to practice gratitude is, before we eat, for us just to stop for a second and just say Lord, thank you for this food. 00:13:42.052 --> 00:13:44.178 Lord, I just thank you for this. 00:13:44.178 --> 00:13:51.938 Whether it's a PB&J or a T-bone steak, you know what I'm saying, it's just, lord, thank you for this meal that I'm about to eat. 00:13:52.679 --> 00:14:00.761 Jesus gave thanks and, after giving thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. 00:14:00.761 --> 00:14:02.043 Who were seated? 00:14:02.043 --> 00:14:04.740 It was the 5,000 men and all the women and children. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:07.533 So also with the fish. 00:14:07.533 --> 00:14:12.323 What's that underlined phrase? 00:14:12.323 --> 00:14:13.796 Can we say that to the last part of that verse? 00:14:13.796 --> 00:14:23.684 As much as they wanted, hold on, we went from five loaves and two fishes to a seafood buffet. 00:14:23.684 --> 00:14:28.533 As much as they wanted. 00:14:28.533 --> 00:14:33.764 And verse 12, when they were full, he told his disciples. 00:14:33.764 --> 00:14:37.289 And verse 12, when they were full, he told his disciples collect the leftovers. 00:14:37.289 --> 00:14:40.154 Oh, so we got leftovers too. 00:14:40.154 --> 00:14:41.958 They had leftovers, so nothing's wasted. 00:14:41.958 --> 00:14:43.201 So they collected them. 00:14:43.201 --> 00:15:07.239 They filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten 12 baskets One would say one for each of the apostles and when the people saw the sign that he had done, they said this truly is the prophet who has come into the world. 00:15:10.751 --> 00:15:14.578 When you think about this text, there's some kingdom of God principles here. 00:15:14.578 --> 00:15:15.511 What's the kingdom of God? 00:15:15.511 --> 00:15:18.524 The kingdom of God is the place where God reigns and rules. 00:15:18.524 --> 00:15:23.360 So when the kingdom of God is in your life, you're allowing God to reign and rule in your life. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:31.110 When you want to move God's kingdom forward, what that means is I want God's reign, god's rule, god's purposes to move forward. 00:15:31.110 --> 00:15:38.379 There's some kingdom of God principles here that cannot be overlooked and will be incredibly powerful in your life. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:47.822 Here's the first one is that limitations are invitations to experience the power of Jesus in your life. 00:15:47.822 --> 00:15:57.985 Let's think about this text here Five barley loaves and two fish versus 5,000 men. 00:15:57.985 --> 00:16:05.339 That's a limitation and that's the best option they had. 00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:10.721 There's no restaurant that's doing takeout for 5,000 men. 00:16:10.721 --> 00:16:14.799 The best option is five loaves and two fishes. 00:16:15.581 --> 00:16:19.758 Now let's put this kind of in our context. 00:16:19.758 --> 00:16:21.923 Let's say everybody was hungry. 00:16:21.923 --> 00:16:25.947 Here Some of you are like stop talking about food, man, I'm getting more hungry. 00:16:25.947 --> 00:16:26.870 I didn't eat breakfast. 00:16:26.870 --> 00:16:28.195 Let's say all of us were hungry. 00:16:28.195 --> 00:16:31.244 You just listened to, let's say, a long, boring sermon. 00:16:31.244 --> 00:16:32.808 You just listen to, let's say, a long, boring sermon. 00:16:32.808 --> 00:16:35.672 Y'all are used to those. 00:16:36.514 --> 00:16:41.140 And somebody says Keith says you know what I'm going to do, I'm going to go get some food for everybody. 00:16:41.140 --> 00:16:42.101 We're like great. 00:16:42.101 --> 00:16:43.865 So he goes to Kingdom Kids. 00:16:43.865 --> 00:16:53.970 He notices a little kid has a little cup of goldfish crackers. 00:16:53.970 --> 00:16:55.232 Keith says hey, everybody wants people. 00:16:55.232 --> 00:16:58.095 People are hungry and they're getting kind of hangry. 00:16:58.095 --> 00:16:59.833 Pastor Nate gave one of those long ones again. 00:16:59.833 --> 00:17:02.778 You know it's kind of boring and he brings it in. 00:17:02.778 --> 00:17:04.503 He brings it in. 00:17:04.503 --> 00:17:10.161 Keith goes everybody let's eat. 00:17:10.161 --> 00:17:14.252 We're like ha ha ha. 00:17:14.252 --> 00:17:17.501 Okay, for real, what's going on, keith? 00:17:17.501 --> 00:17:22.477 We'd be like that's not possible. 00:17:23.798 --> 00:17:24.480 Now think about this. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:33.903 In this story there's at least a hundred more people here than there is in this room right now. 00:17:33.903 --> 00:17:37.971 There's 15,000, 20,000 people this place. 00:17:37.971 --> 00:17:39.394 There's people everywhere. 00:17:39.394 --> 00:17:47.471 All they had five loaves, two fishes, limitation, limitation. 00:17:47.471 --> 00:17:48.794 There was nothing they could do. 00:17:48.794 --> 00:17:53.163 But in the kingdom of God, our limitations. 00:17:53.163 --> 00:18:01.791 But in the kingdom of God, our limitations are invitations through which God chooses to work. 00:18:01.791 --> 00:18:07.616 In the kingdom of God, our limitations are invitations for which God chooses to work. 00:18:07.656 --> 00:18:18.807 Some of you look at your life and you think, oh man, I have this limitation, I have this over here, I have that over here, I have this difficulty, I have this over here, I have that over here, I have this difficulty, I have this in my family, I have this in my past, I have this struggle. 00:18:18.807 --> 00:18:22.752 God works through limitations. 00:18:22.752 --> 00:18:27.844 In fact, your weakness and limitations are not something God has to work around. 00:18:27.844 --> 00:18:32.150 They're the space through which God chooses to work through. 00:18:32.150 --> 00:18:34.414 They're the space through which God chooses to work through. 00:18:34.414 --> 00:18:38.884 God doesn't see your limitations and your challenges and say, okay, I got to work around this. 00:18:38.884 --> 00:18:46.307 No, god chooses to work through your limitations. 00:18:46.307 --> 00:18:50.050 God chooses to work through your challenges and through your difficulties. 00:18:50.050 --> 00:18:53.875 This is a theme time and time and time again in Scripture. 00:18:53.875 --> 00:18:56.438 It's what the kingdom of God is about. 00:18:57.058 --> 00:18:58.519 You think about the Old Testament, moses. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:04.786 God said Moses, I want you to lead millions of people out of Egypt. 00:19:04.786 --> 00:19:09.549 You're going to lead them. 00:19:09.549 --> 00:19:13.568 Moses couldn't talk. 00:19:13.568 --> 00:19:23.671 God I stutter. 00:19:23.671 --> 00:19:26.116 God said no problem, your limitation is an invitation for my power to work on your behalf and through you. 00:19:26.116 --> 00:19:27.842 And the children of Israel went out of Egypt. 00:19:29.269 --> 00:19:29.872 How about Gideon? 00:19:29.872 --> 00:19:35.184 Gideon was filled with fear and self-doubt. 00:19:35.184 --> 00:19:37.431 Gideon didn't want to be around people. 00:19:37.431 --> 00:19:38.375 He was hiding out. 00:19:38.375 --> 00:19:40.542 When I was a kid, we would call them a scaredy cat. 00:19:40.542 --> 00:19:42.671 He didn't have courage. 00:19:42.671 --> 00:19:47.039 God said hey, gideon, I know you're unsure of yourself. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:55.523 I know you're fear-filled, I know you have some anxiety in your life, but I want to use you to defeat the largest standing army in the world. 00:19:55.523 --> 00:20:00.957 I can't, I'm like, I don't even like to be around people. 00:20:00.957 --> 00:20:02.616 Like how can I get up in front of people? 00:20:02.616 --> 00:20:04.996 God says hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. 00:20:04.996 --> 00:20:16.133 Your limitation is an invitation for my power to work in and through your life, and what you think is your limitation is the way that you can experience my power in your life. 00:20:17.474 --> 00:20:18.215 What about Rahab? 00:20:18.215 --> 00:20:21.060 Rahab was a prostitute. 00:20:21.060 --> 00:20:23.644 She had a stained past. 00:20:23.644 --> 00:20:31.022 She didn't have this perfect church upbringing, but she knew about the city of Jericho. 00:20:31.022 --> 00:20:33.414 She knew a lot about the city of Jericho. 00:20:33.414 --> 00:20:41.315 And God said hey, we are going to. 00:20:41.315 --> 00:20:42.740 I want the people of God to overtake the city of Jericho. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.040 In Rahab. 00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:45.028 I'm going to use you to have a major part in this. 00:20:45.028 --> 00:20:45.167 Who me? 00:20:45.167 --> 00:20:45.710 I got a stained past. 00:20:45.710 --> 00:20:47.612 There's no way I can do that. 00:20:47.612 --> 00:20:54.044 God said no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, your limitation is an invitation for my power to work in and through you. 00:20:55.789 --> 00:20:56.752 How about the Apostle Paul? 00:20:56.752 --> 00:20:58.538 The Apostle Paul of 1 Corinthians? 00:20:58.538 --> 00:20:59.942 He had this thorn in the flesh. 00:20:59.942 --> 00:21:03.194 He prayed and prayed and said, god, would you change this? 00:21:03.194 --> 00:21:06.563 God said no, come on. 00:21:06.563 --> 00:21:08.672 Well, god must not love him. 00:21:08.672 --> 00:21:10.175 God said no to his prayer requests. 00:21:10.175 --> 00:21:11.598 No, this is what it was. 00:21:11.598 --> 00:21:26.479 Is that God wanted to work through his limitation so the power of God could work in and through Paul, and his limitation was the thing that would keep him humble, so God could use him to make Jesus known all around the known world. 00:21:26.479 --> 00:21:38.056 And here's what we see time and time and time again is that God uses our limitations because they're invitations for his power to work through us. 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:40.343 Some of you, you look at your life. 00:21:40.343 --> 00:21:42.209 You're like Nate. 00:21:42.209 --> 00:21:42.810 You don't know me. 00:21:42.810 --> 00:21:49.162 Maybe you have this hardness in your heart like God can't use me. 00:21:49.162 --> 00:21:53.819 You don't know me because I have this over here. 00:21:53.819 --> 00:22:08.916 Well, the, this over here might be the very thing that God could use mightily, the very thing that God can work through the anxiety, the difficulty, the challenge, the past, the you name it. 00:22:08.916 --> 00:22:27.640 That God can use that to work through you and we can experience his power in our lives if we'll put those things in the hand of Jesus, because in the hands of Jesus what seems impossible becomes possible. 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:36.320 You think about this small little meal that was placed in the hands of an all-powerful Savior. 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:39.493 That meal was multiplied. 00:22:40.837 --> 00:22:47.501 Now I also want to say can we just give this kid in the story a shout out Because he gave up his lunch? 00:22:47.501 --> 00:22:52.655 Growing up, I never gave my lunch away to nobody. 00:22:52.655 --> 00:22:54.540 You try to take my lunch. 00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:55.021 We're going to fight. 00:22:55.021 --> 00:23:02.770 Man, I might give you a snack, maybe a piece of my fruit by the foot, but I'm not giving you my whole lunch. 00:23:02.770 --> 00:23:06.078 And I also have a question for John while we're at it. 00:23:06.078 --> 00:23:09.770 John, if you wrote this, why didn't you put the little boy's name in the story? 00:23:09.770 --> 00:23:12.332 I mean, I would like to know that. 00:23:12.332 --> 00:23:13.472 I want to give him a shout out. 00:23:13.472 --> 00:23:33.884 And this little boy gave up his lunch and he sacrificed his lunch and because of this, thousands of people were fed and this became a sign that Jesus was the Son of God, because a little boy gave up his little lunch. 00:23:35.684 --> 00:23:50.674 And some of you think this, some of you think, man, I just don't have a lot to offer God, I don't have a lot of gifts, I don't have a lot of ability, I just, I just I can't. 00:23:50.674 --> 00:23:59.450 Can you imagine if the little boy would have had that same mindset when it said I don't have a lot, god, I can't give this to Jesus, because you know, it's like five loaves, two fishes, like this isn't a really big deal. 00:23:59.450 --> 00:24:01.233 I mean, what are these among so many? 00:24:01.233 --> 00:24:08.872 But because he gave it and he sacrificed, there was a seafood buffet for thousands of people. 00:24:08.872 --> 00:24:25.652 And in your life, if you will say, lord, maybe I can't do everything, maybe I have some limitations, but you will put those in the hands of Jesus, I'm telling you, god can do the impossible through your life. 00:24:25.652 --> 00:24:31.571 I want us to have a little family talk as a church on Mother's Day and it's a really encouraging one. 00:24:31.571 --> 00:24:34.438 Maybe growing up you had family talks that weren't very encouraging. 00:24:34.438 --> 00:24:36.883 We have an encouraging family talk on Mom's Day. 00:24:39.750 --> 00:24:44.882 Is that God is doing great works in our church right now, like he's doing great things. 00:24:44.882 --> 00:24:55.733 Just a few weeks ago, on Easter Sunday, we had 575 people here across three services and the last, I think, three years or so. 00:24:55.733 --> 00:25:00.463 Our growth rate is 50 to 70 percent year over year. 00:25:00.463 --> 00:25:06.500 We have Connect, that is for newish people to our church. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:13.616 We used to do it every other month and we thought, hey, we're going to start doing it again every month, so it'll be a little bit smaller Now that we do it every month. 00:25:13.616 --> 00:25:16.001 It's just as big as it was when we did it every other month. 00:25:17.330 --> 00:25:20.732 And I could go on and on about what God is doing in our church. 00:25:20.732 --> 00:25:25.171 And I say that to say that we are a part of a great work that God is doing. 00:25:25.171 --> 00:25:44.445 And for us to help more people know Jesus, it's going to have to have us have the heart of this little boy that say I'm going to take a step and I'm going to sacrifice, and I'm going to take a step and I'm going to sacrifice and I'm going to grow and I'm willing maybe to do something I've never done before so other people can know Jesus. 00:25:44.445 --> 00:25:45.971 And I want to. 00:25:45.971 --> 00:25:58.097 As we wrap up, I want to give us maybe a little nudge of some things we can do this morning to help us to be like that little boy and to say, hey, this is what I want to do, to be a part of what God is doing. 00:25:58.097 --> 00:26:01.259 The bigger work For some of us, number one, is to join a serve team. 00:26:02.491 --> 00:26:10.378 As our church is growing, we have more opportunities than ever before for people to use their skills and gifts and I'll be honest, we need more people serving. 00:26:10.378 --> 00:26:18.839 And if we could have like five to seven people, even in this service that don't serve, that would say hey, I'll serve once or twice a month, that would be huge. 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.421 It would be huge. 00:26:20.421 --> 00:26:30.316 Five or seven people that would either take the connect card and mark you want to serve and drop it in the brown boxes or go to the next steps and information table and say, hey, I want to serve. 00:26:30.316 --> 00:26:32.402 This would be a massive thing. 00:26:33.625 --> 00:26:38.601 Number two for some of us it'd be to consider parking in the street or surrounding neighborhood. 00:26:38.601 --> 00:26:41.898 Now, I know not everybody can do this, I know that. 00:26:41.898 --> 00:26:50.344 But when we do this, what happens is it opens up a space for somebody that doesn't yet know Jesus to have a parking spot. 00:26:50.344 --> 00:26:55.761 Every week we have people that come here for the first time and the parking lot is full. 00:26:55.761 --> 00:26:58.324 And how frustrating is that for people to come here for the first time and parking lot is full. 00:26:58.324 --> 00:27:10.101 And how frustrating is that for people to come here for the first time and there's no place to park and they drive around and they're like, ah, and when we, if we would be willing to park on the street, if you're able to? 00:27:10.101 --> 00:27:10.722 This is what happened. 00:27:10.722 --> 00:27:12.835 It would open up a spot for somebody. 00:27:12.835 --> 00:27:16.351 It would open up a spot and we'd have more people come and know Jesus. 00:27:16.351 --> 00:27:20.621 Literally, it takes like I park in the neighborhood and it's like a two-minute walk every morning. 00:27:20.621 --> 00:27:22.972 It's a nice little walk and if you're able to do it, that'd be awesome. 00:27:22.992 --> 00:27:26.923 Number three learn to trust God with the tithe. 00:27:26.923 --> 00:27:38.780 When we learn this principle that we see in Scripture of giving financially, god takes what we give and multiplies it and it really, I believe, changes our heart. 00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:41.115 It changes our trust and I know this is a hard one, guys. 00:27:41.115 --> 00:27:43.330 I live in the exact same world that you live in. 00:27:43.330 --> 00:27:46.116 I got bills, just like y'all do, and I get it. 00:27:46.116 --> 00:27:53.680 And when we give and when we choose to trust God, and when you do the math, it's like this is some crazy math. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.902 I don't give this much when you. 00:27:54.902 --> 00:27:56.903 I think God does some things in our heart. 00:27:56.903 --> 00:28:01.867 But I also believe and know that God uses our giving to multiply things. 00:28:02.851 --> 00:28:15.698 We right now have a small line item in our church budget this year that says future facility, future facility. 00:28:15.698 --> 00:28:17.355 Here's what we believe. 00:28:17.355 --> 00:28:31.123 If we're gonna reach the people that God wants us to reach, this building is not going to be big enough to hold all those people and if we have a 50 to 60 to 70 percent growth rate year over year, it ain't going to be long. 00:28:31.123 --> 00:28:34.695 Some of y'all talked to me about four services. 00:28:34.695 --> 00:28:35.660 Here's my response. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:37.977 You can start preaching the fourth one, bro. 00:28:37.977 --> 00:28:43.924 To me about four services, here's my response. 00:28:43.924 --> 00:28:45.589 You can start preaching the fourth one, bro. 00:28:45.589 --> 00:28:49.105 And as we learn to trust God and give, what's going to happen is going to prepare us for the future, prepare us for what God's going to do. 00:28:49.105 --> 00:28:49.567 That's what I believe. 00:28:49.567 --> 00:28:54.678 I believe in a few years from now, we're going to look back on this season of our church and we're going to say, look, what we got to be a part of. 00:28:54.678 --> 00:29:01.498 Because right now I'm standing where I am right now and I'm like I just looked back three years ago and I'm like, whoa, what happened in the last three years? 00:29:01.498 --> 00:29:03.294 We had one service three years ago. 00:29:03.294 --> 00:29:03.996 Now we got three. 00:29:03.996 --> 00:29:07.256 And this is what we believe, guys, the best is yet to come. 00:29:07.256 --> 00:29:09.692 As we give, it's going to happen. 00:29:09.692 --> 00:29:13.041 And then, number four. 00:29:14.190 --> 00:29:17.273 Go from the crowd of the church to the core. 00:29:17.273 --> 00:29:19.817 Fcc go from the crowd of the church to the core. 00:29:19.817 --> 00:29:24.201 Fcc has a really strong core of people, people that are faithful. 00:29:24.201 --> 00:29:27.224 Every Sunday they serve, they're part of groups. 00:29:27.224 --> 00:29:37.018 It's amazing and we actually have a larger group of people that we love and we care about and we pray for, and they're in the crowd of our church. 00:29:37.018 --> 00:29:45.635 They come when church is convenient for them, they come when things work for their schedule, but they're not in the court. 00:29:47.029 --> 00:30:00.875 They haven't said okay, I'm going to lay roots down, I'm going to commit, I'm going to be a part of this, I'm going to serve, I'm going to take steps of growth and for us as a church to help more people know Jesus and make Jesus known, this is what we really need. 00:30:00.875 --> 00:30:26.630 We need some people that are out here in the periphery, that are in the crowd, to say I'm going to take a step or two and I'm going to move into the core of the church, because the church moves forward through the sacrifices of many people and the commitment of many people and if we are better than me, when we all come together and we're a part of this, great things can happen than ever before in the history of our church and if we could have people that would say I'm no longer on the peripheral, but I'm willing to take some steps in my faith. 00:30:26.630 --> 00:30:49.234 I'm telling you, guys, the best is yet to come and we're going to experience what only God can do and that little boy had, and I was willing to commit to something that Jesus did in me and through me, and I saw the power of God work through me. 00:30:49.234 --> 00:30:57.191 Guys, we could be those people y'all you know we think about, we think about limitations. 00:30:57.191 --> 00:31:04.865 Man, I'll tell you what I do the first draft for Sunday's message on Monday and every Monday, literally, I'm just like praying to God. 00:31:08.218 --> 00:31:09.163 I'm like God, how can I even preach? 00:31:09.163 --> 00:31:13.253 Like I can't do this, like why did you call me to do this? 00:31:13.253 --> 00:31:14.096 Like I'm being obedient. 00:31:14.096 --> 00:31:23.652 I'm trying my best Last night. 00:31:23.652 --> 00:31:25.018 I'm like reviewing this message and I'm praying through it. 00:31:25.038 --> 00:31:27.248 And I'm like God, if you don't show up, like it's not gonna happen, I can't preach. 00:31:27.248 --> 00:31:33.911 That's what I can do. 00:31:33.911 --> 00:31:36.317 I can say Lord, here it is, it's in your hands, have your will and have your way in my life. 00:31:36.317 --> 00:31:42.517 And then sometimes I'm reminded that's not about me, because some of y'all come and say really kind things about how God used the message in your heart. 00:31:42.517 --> 00:31:46.056 And literally I'm sitting there, y'all tell me stuff and I'm like I don't even know how that happened. 00:31:46.056 --> 00:31:55.018 And it just shows that God's grace is real and it shows that God's power can work through my limitations and there's a whole heck of a lot of them. 00:31:55.018 --> 00:32:04.594 And if we'll just say, hey, here it is, lord, here's my five loves, here's my two fishes, guys, you're going to see the power of God work in your life. 00:32:04.594 --> 00:32:06.978 Let's have a word of prayer, let's bow our heads and close our eyes.